Title: Chromaspace: Conscript
Author: Megan Alcino
Series: Chromaspace
Genre: Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher: Indies United Publishing House
Format: eBook
ASIN: B093JXY1NZ
Summary: Military Field Agent Jacob Zackery had never planned on joining the Union Space Force. After being pressed into service, there was only one way out, complete three missions for Admiral York. But when Jacob is abandoned on a dead planet to starve to death slowly, he must make a deal with an illegal AI to get back to Homeworld and to Helen, the woman he loves. Along the way, he befriends a mechanical savant, a young woman fleeing a planetary invasion, and a doctor with questionable loyalties, all while struggling to regain the life torn from him.
The Chromaspace Saga is an epic space opera set in a densely packed part of the galaxy where only a fraction of a light-year separates star systems. Here the nebula surrounding an embedded cluster of stars is so thick that space is never black, and starships fly against an illuminated backdrop. Part Expanse, part X-Men, Chromaspace is action-adventure, and irreverence rolled into one epic journey.
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My Review
Narrative style: omniscient | Perspective(s): all characters
Tags: Science Fiction, aliens, futuristic tech, military
First Impressions
So I’m not even sure where to start with my first impressions. I was introduced to Megan Alnico through a writer friend, and after a fantastic conversation about our books, I was compelled to pick hers up.
But if you’re searching for a story that follows the storytelling rules… this one doesn’t. This SF tale throws that rulebook out the window and opens the door to a wider world of personalities and motivations for each character.
It reminded me a lot of a more serious Douglas Adams. Instead of the tight third-person narrative, Alnico plays with an invisible narrator who threads the pieces of this story together by weaving small chunks of POV through each chapter like a trail of breadcrumbs. And yet the narrative still stayed tight to the story, guiding readers through an adventure across worlds with a military conscript and an intuitive A.I.
What I Loved About This Story
Aria was one of the best A.I. characters I’ve ever read. She’s an intuitive program, and her decision-making process leads the reader to think there’s a much deeper story there. In many ways, she feels human. One of my favorite moments in her tale is when she comes in contact with another artificial lifeform who’s very, very different in how they speak and work.
The other character I fell in love with was Dyson. He’s an outlaw who understands the thought process and politics of both the Alliance and the Union. And yet again small hints tug me toward a much deeper story for this character. I’d love to read his tale about how he became an outlaw and what he’s really ‘seen’ in this universe.
What I Wanted More Of
The biggest struggle for me in this story is a lot of things weren’t explained. Jacob was never shown picking up this ‘item’, and yet he’s chased and told he did. But no one ever says what this is… not even the main character. I have my theories but the information wasn’t clear enough.
This happened in several instances, where information was hinted at like the breadcrumb to a mystery, but never fully incorporated into the tale. I would have loved to have more things explained and emotions dug into a little.
Is Worthy Of Bookish Valhalla?
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I love how Alnico weaves her worlds together and gives them each a system of laws and culture to make them unique.
If you enjoyed this review, be sure to check out other reviews from the Valkyries at Bookish Valhalla
Reviewer Bio
K. J. Harrowick is a freelance developer, graphic designer, technical coach, and author of the science fantasy novel, Bloodflower. You can find her reviews on Goodreads, Hàlon Chronicles, Bookish Valhalla, and occasionally Amazon and Book Sirens.