Review by Booklist Review
The Sisters of the Order of St. Rita are on the run in a new ship, hiding from the Earth Central Governance after the tragic events at Phoyongsa III. Their new Mother Superior is wilting under her new responsibilities, everyone is on edge, and no one knows what to do next. Then a new postulant requests to join the order, a sister's past catches up to her, and the seed of anti-Earth revolution begins to blossom as rumors of the sisters' actions spread through the outer systems. The sisters must decide their next move or have it forced on them. At the core of this story lies the struggle to maintain faith in the face of betrayal and disillusionment. People hide secrets, which change who they seem to be. The call to welcome strangers with open arms can present grave dangers. The desire for safety opposes the responsibility to act. Finding a path through the morass, a way to do the right thing, is complicated and messy. Rather's follow-up to Sisters of the Vast Black (2019) is a deeply honest and empathic parable for our times.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rather tenderly explores the nuances of moral obligation and faith against a backdrop of government conspiracy in her second Our Lady of Endless Worlds space opera (after Sisters of the Vast Black). The Catholic nuns of the Order of Saint Rita are on the run from Central Governance after witnessing its attempt to wipe out the inhabitants of a newly colonized moon in the Phoyongsa system using the highly contagious ringeye plague. One of the most captivating worldbuilding elements here is the Order's living spaceship, and Rather skillfully folds in biological details of this massive life-form while developing the emotional bond between the sisters and their ship as they struggle to survive their exile. During a supply stop, the sisters learn that rumors about the ringeye outbreak on Phoyongsa III have become a rallying cry for a group of religious radicals, who've weaponized the disaster to foment revolution. Despite the overt religious aspects, Rather focuses on faith instead of dogma and the sisters' personality quirks and lightly explored backstories build empathy as they head for the University of St. Ofra to find out who's behind the cult. The quirky premise will draw readers in while the depth of the characters and mounting stakes will keep them hooked. This is a worthy sequel. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
The Catholic nuns of the Order of Saint Rita, adhering to their ecclesiastical mission to supply aid and mercy, have defied Central Governance on Phoyongsa III. But they continue to travel and practice their calling, and their work is gaining notice, particularly by a group that's trying to overthrow Earth rule. The Sisters of Saint Rita also have their own struggles: Sister Ewostatewos is reminded of her past when her sister arrives on her own journey; Mother Lucia must come to terms with their former Mother Superior's past; a new shipwright could bring strife; and revolution seems to follow them no matter what they do. The nuns must decide if they are going to claim their place in the revolution murmurs, and face what will come next. VERDICT Both the combined and individual storylines weave a solid braid of strength and vulnerability as Rather's follow-up to Sisters of the Vast Black continues the path to a galaxy-wide revolution.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
