I received a copy of Insiders for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Insiders is a science fiction space opera story revolving around a small
ship in the business of long-distance hauling of materials over vast distances,
even between galaxies. As with any great story, Insiders is heavily character
driven with a cast of diverse individuals. Characters are developed over time
in the tale by the changing of point of view - each chapter is a snapshot of
the activities and thoughts of the players. I wasn't long before I began caring
about the people on the small ship who, through no fault of their own, became
entangled in a series of life-threatening events presented in multiple
situations focusing on one character in particular who turns out to be the
unlikely hero.
I enjoyed this book. It was engaging right from the opening and the action
never lets up until the end.
The universe is being overrun by a deadly virus, and everyone has to be very
careful. The Hibravian virus is robust. It spreads easily and kills quickly. A
planet touched by this plague can be wiped out almost instantly. Those who are
infected are promised a painful and swift death.
Onboard the Jacks, a small, long-haul vessel, a "barnacle" is
discovered to have attached itself to the hull after departing a deep space
station. When the crew investigates this, they find they have taken on a young
girl and an unusual companion in the form of a sentient plant. The crew of the
Jacks soon establishes that the girl's plant guardian may be the key to a cure
for the virus.
There are others who believe the plant to be the path to a cure, and they
all head for the Jacks to claim the lucrative prize to be had.
It is a race for wealth and health, and there are numerous sacrifices and
many deaths along the way.
This tale is heavily character driven. Each chapter is from the point of
view of a single character, and that is how we get to know them. The crew of
the Jacks are a collection of diverse people who each have their own talent.
The reader will soon learn that each crew member is a vital part of the story.
Particularly enjoyed how the author developed each character from the inside
out and did a fine job of giving each their own voice.
My favorite character was the captain of the little ship, Karasi. She is a
strong character who knows how to lead. She is clever and knows how to get out
of a bad situation and land on her feet. Her leadership style is to allow her
crew to do their jobs, and they are all very capable.
My favorite point of plot in Insiders is just how much the crew of the Jacks
is facing. They have to evade an empire, mercenaries, and the virus itself to
survive, and on top of all that, there are obstacles in space itself that get
in the way. Each crewmember brings their special talents to the table, and it
is fascinating how they work together while also fighting their own personal
demons.
My takeaway from Insiders is that no matter how many obstacles stand in the
way of reaching a goal, perseverance and imagination will win in the end.
Insiders is a great space opera that has a flavor reminiscent of Firefly.
Each crew member contributes to the whole, but each also has their own
identity. The action starts from the beginning and doesn't let up until the
last page. I found the ending quite satisfying and was entertained all the way
through. There are several scenes of death some readers may find disturbing,
but they are not over the top or gratuitous in any way.
I look forward to future sci-fi books from this author! Her command of
creating characters to care about and the use of voice is amazing.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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