Review by Booklist Review
The eighth book of the popular space-opera series The Expanse (starting with Leviathan Wakes, 2011) finds High Consul Winston Duarte and his Laconian government ruthlessly holding power over the 1,300 star systems colonized with the help of alien technology. James Holden, the reluctant hero of previous novels, is a prisoner of Duarte, and many of his original crew are working with the underground to upset the balance of power. As Duarte commits to an ambitious and sinister plan to discover the unknown power behind the ring gates, both sides must deal with the ramifications of his actions. Corey deftly weaves multiple points of view to create a dense and colorful tapestry of political intrigue, personal relationships, and sophisticated technology that bursts with action but also delivers an introspective view of the characters as they age and reflect on their purposes and the value of their lives. Part of what is projected to be a nine-book series, this story at once provides a satisfying conclusion and maneuvers the story lines to a propulsive confrontation that will have readers eagerly awaiting the final chapter.--Craig Clark Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Part empire-building space opera, part alien contact thriller, and all epic blockbuster, the eighth chapter in the Expanse series delivers supernovae of action and intrigue. With the death of Chrisjen Avasarala, the hard-nosed former U.N. Secretary-General, back on Earth, human space is effectively under the control of the distant empire of Laconia and its ruler, Winston Duarte. Duarte is determined to force the next stage in human evolution using the mysteriously powerful alien "protomolecule," key to the ring gates that give humans access to over a thousand worlds. While Duarte pursues the secrets of the long-lost protomolecule creators, the rebel underground-including the surviving members of the gunship Rocinante, around whom the series revolves-schemes to free humankind from his rule. The final wild card is Duarte's 14-year-old daughter, whose sense of family duty doesn't necessarily include bonding with the protomolecule. Corey delivers just enough backstory to bring new readers up to speed without slowing the overall pace. Brimming with vivid characters and intrigue, this tightly plotted space thriller gives readers an electrifying future carved by alien science and human ambition. Agent: Danny Baror, Baror International. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Volume eight (of, reportedly, nine) of The Expanse (Persepolis Rising, 2017, etc.), Corey's (aka Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) sprawling alien-contact space opera.Fashioned by an alien life form, the protomolecule opened an interstellar portal to thousands of other planets. As humans began to spread into the galaxy, civil wars flared across the solar system. But the protomolecule also proved the key to unlocking a highly advanced alien science. Thirty years ago, Martian dissidents fled through a portal and founded an aggressive, technologically sophisticated empire, Laconia, ruled by immortal dictator Winston Duarte. In the previous book, the Laconians returned to the solar system, effortlessly conquering it and capturing iconic ship's captain Jim Holden, who's managed to survive since the inaugural volume. He now languishes on Laconia, talking with Duarte's young daughter, Teresa, whom the dictator is training as his successor. Back in the solar system, a few freedom fightersinspired by Holden's ex Naomi Nagata and space marine Bobbie Drapercontinue the resistance, but even they are faltering against Laconia's protomolecule science-powered superiority. The empire, meanwhile, has its own problems. Millions of years ago, enigmatic but even more advanced aliens wiped out the protomolecule's builders and have already reacted with horrific violence to Laconia's attempts to reactivate ancient protomolecular artifacts. But rather than delicately investigate these aliens, Duarte recklessly orders his chief scientist, Elvi Okoye, to provoke them. The Expanse has always been, well, expansive, but recent developments have exponentially amplified it in scope. As an intriguing side effect, where previously the solar system yawned unfathomably vast, on a galactic scale it feels almost claustrophobic. So, what with the plentiful palace intrigue, freedom fighters battling desperately, an existential alien menace, and characters both familiar and fresh, the stage is set for another churning, relentlessly gripping, mind-boggling episode. The well-received TV series tie-in will help.With only one installment to come, the tension and excitement show no sign of flagging. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
