Stars Uncharted

Starred review from June 1, 2018
Nika Rik Terri is a famous body-modification artist who does occasional work for a company that is the space-age equivalent of the Mafia, but without the code of honor. She runs afoul of her employer and escapes off-world, accidentally dragging along a rookie modder named Snow who knows far more than he should about weapons and war. Meanwhile, Josune Arriola, pretending to work as a junior engineer on Hammond Roystan's ship, is revealed to be so much more than a humble spacefarer. These two women's paths cross when Nika ends up on Hammond's ship, where the rest of the colorful crew also have reason to stay below the company's radar. The chapters careen back and forth from Nika's to Josune's lives, masterfully weaving hard science, such as telomeres and theoretical chemical elements, with engaging characters and a touch of romance, resulting in a brilliant female-driven tale. A steady pace keeps the reader engaged, and occasional humorous situations and dialogue ease the constant tension felt by the characters. Readers of Asimov, Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan saga, or Anne McCaffrey's Pern series will enjoy this story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)