Matt McAvoy Book Review

Another action-packed outing for Lily Starling and the crew, and I think I actually enjoyed this one a little more than the first instalment.  This, I would argue, is a simpler affair, with a more straightforward storyline and unambiguous villain – there is something more like A New Hope or The Wrath of Khan about this entry into the series; it is pure space opera.

The dialogue and interaction are sharp and witty, the characters genuinely quite likeable – even the villains, I would say, bring a smile – if perhaps of some contemporary appeal.  The action sequences, though not abundant until the book’s final third, present exciting and genuinely satisfying setpieces.  That’s not to say that the first two-thirds are slow – they are not at all – but the pace really picks up late in Act Two, with some epic scenes.  And that would be a good word to describe this saga: epic.

I couldn’t quite give it the full five stars because some of the pacing is a little off, and at times it was a little more of a struggle to stay gripped, though this wasn’t often, and I think perhaps a great deal in part because of the long chapters, unbroken for sometimes quite significant periods; it did feel at times as if the narrative should organically move on to the next chapter, the mood and context changing – and indeed even more than once that the book may have passed its natural ending.  Personally, too, I would have liked to see a little more page-time given when the action really kicks off.  But these subjective gripes are a small deal in the grand scheme of what is otherwise a pretty decent sci-fi adventure fantasy read – not normally my cup of tea, but I am coming to enjoy Lily’s adventures and her endearing team.  Fortunately, too, this doesn’t leave you hanging in quite the same way as book one, though it does still set up a few strands for resolution very nicely for book three, which I hope to read soon.

A recommended read, though some time investment is required.  If you’re a fan of the genre – and who isn’t these days? – I think you’ll do well to take a look at Christian’s space epic, though you will need to read Voyage of the Salamander first, and I do recommend that as soon as the second sequel comes out you might also want to get your hands on that one first.