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Pangu's Shadow
There are no second chances in the Pangu Star System. Ver and Aryl, apprentices at the most prestigious biology lab among the system’s moons, know this better than anyone. They’ve left behind difficult pasts and pinned their hopes for the future on Cal, their brilliant but difficult boss. But one night while working late in the lab, they find Cal sprawled on the floor, dead.
Murdered.
And they immediately become the prime suspects.
Their motives seem obvious. Ver, who left her home moon to study the life-threatening disease wracking her body, had a hopeless attachment to Cal that could’ve become twisted by jealousy. Aryl, on the other hand, clashed with workaholic Cal because she valued more in her life besides research.
To clear their names, Ver and Aryl put aside their mutual suspicion and team up to investigate Cal’s death. As they search for the real murderer, they uncover secrets that have shaped all of Pangu’s moons… and must decide what kind of future they really want.
Murdered.
And they immediately become the prime suspects.
Their motives seem obvious. Ver, who left her home moon to study the life-threatening disease wracking her body, had a hopeless attachment to Cal that could’ve become twisted by jealousy. Aryl, on the other hand, clashed with workaholic Cal because she valued more in her life besides research.
To clear their names, Ver and Aryl put aside their mutual suspicion and team up to investigate Cal’s death. As they search for the real murderer, they uncover secrets that have shaped all of Pangu’s moons… and must decide what kind of future they really want.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published February 6, 2024
7 people are currently reading
2974 people want to read
About the author
Karen Bao
5 books186 followersKaren Jialu Bao does science in the lab, then goes home and writes about it. A Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University, she studies mosquito brains by blasting them with an electron beam. She has eight ear piercings for no reason. Her favorite activities include cooking, tending her plants, singing, and playing her violin. She is the author of Pangu’s Shadow (Lerner, 2024), the Dove Chronicles trilogy (Penguin Teen), and a contributor to the upcoming YA anthology (AB)SOLUTELY NORMAL (Candlewick Press, 2023).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 14, 2023
Pangu's Shadow by Karen Bao is a YA sci-fi murder mystery that immerses readers in a beautifully written world brimming with science and intriguing social commentary. From start to finish, this book captivates with its engrossing plot, well-developed characters, and exploration of themes related to capitalism, inequality, queerness, and immigration.
Bao's storytelling prowess shines brightly as she expertly weaves a tale that seamlessly blends elements of mystery, science fiction, and social critique. The author's ability to create relatable characters and meaningful relationships within a futuristic setting is commendable. Furthermore, Bao's exploration of topics such as disability, queerness, and xenophobia in academia adds depth and relevance to the story without feeling forced or preachy.
While a minor drawback is noted in terms of pacing during the middle section, the overall experience of reading Pangu's Shadow is highly enjoyable. The intricate world-building and the race to uncover evidence of innocence keep readers engaged and invested in the outcome. The science explanations are both informative and accessible, making the book appealing to a wide range of readers.
Pangu's Shadow is a must-read for fans of thoughtful space mysteries and YA sci-fi. Karen Bao masterfully combines elements of mystery, science, and social issues to create a compelling story that balances entertainment and thought-provocation. This book showcases the author's talent for crafting relatable characters and exploring meaningful themes, making it a highly recommended addition to any reader's collection.
November 11, 2023
I wasn't actually looking to start a new book when I requested this one, but the name and description hooked me, and so did the story itself. I read this over the course of about two sittings; it's always fun to have that "can't put it down" feeling line up with a night when you have hours to actually not put it down, and that's the experience I got with Pangu's Shadow. The part that appealed to me - a sci-fi mystery - delivered, keeping me engaged the whole time. Throughout, Bao layered in nuanced world building, slow burn relationship development, and a thoughtful exploration of the characters and their experiences. As she writes in the author's note (I'm paraphrasing), it's a mystery, but it's also a book about science, about racism and xenophobia, about queerness, about disability, about the experience of being an immigrant. It really delivered on all fronts - engaging and thoughtful but still accessible. Bao really did a masterful job of utilizing a sci-fi setting to explore relatable experiences, especially regarding disability, queerness, and xenophobia in academia, without the whole thing feeling like a story that exists solely to comment on the real world. I'd thoroughly recommend this book to anyone, but fans of thoughtful space mysteries in particular!
February 26, 2024
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. Pangu's Shadow was a thrilling read, I loved it. Academic Rivals who must work together and end up falling in love and its sapphic - of course its beautiful. I really enjoyed reading from both Aryl and Ver's perspective and following along as they solved the murder of their boss. The science was fascinating and I loved the world building. I really felt for both characters and could empathize with them being others, and Ver being disabled. I loved how through solving this murder, we got a close look at the problems plaguing society in Pangu's moons and the inequality between One, Two and Three. The tension and suspicion between Ver and Aryl was really enjoyable to read, as well as watching them slowly trust each other and fall in love. I knew I really enjoyed when the genres fantasy and mystery are combined, but Pangu's Shadow made me realize that sci-fi blended with mystery is also really fun. This book was really fast paced and fun to read!
January 24, 2024
This book surprised me! A really interesting science fiction mystery focused on two women from disadvantaged backgrounds who are apprentices at a prestigious lab and are accused of murdering their boss when he is suddenly killed. It is an action-packed adventure as they are forced to work together to try to clear their names while knowing they shouldn't trust anyone, not even each other.
This novel tackles a lot of important themes (sexism, queerness, capitalism, immigration, inequality, wealth inequality, etc.), and I thought it approached each of them carefully and impactfully. Learning at the end that the author faced similar experiences made sense; this is a great own-voice story.
As someone who has read some sci-fi but not a ton, I thought the world was built in such an interesting way as well, and I'm glad we got to explore a lot of aspects of it. The best part of the story is the characters, especially the way the two main characters grow after having to work together to try to clear their names. I wasn't sure how I felt about them at first, but by the end, I loved them and would love to continue to read about their lives if the author ever wanted to write a sequel, even though this made a great standalone novel.
I don't think I ever would have picked this up if not for the Netgalley review copy, so thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm so glad I picked this up.
This novel tackles a lot of important themes (sexism, queerness, capitalism, immigration, inequality, wealth inequality, etc.), and I thought it approached each of them carefully and impactfully. Learning at the end that the author faced similar experiences made sense; this is a great own-voice story.
As someone who has read some sci-fi but not a ton, I thought the world was built in such an interesting way as well, and I'm glad we got to explore a lot of aspects of it. The best part of the story is the characters, especially the way the two main characters grow after having to work together to try to clear their names. I wasn't sure how I felt about them at first, but by the end, I loved them and would love to continue to read about their lives if the author ever wanted to write a sequel, even though this made a great standalone novel.
I don't think I ever would have picked this up if not for the Netgalley review copy, so thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm so glad I picked this up.
February 18, 2024
What a remarkable book! It is no easy task to write a page-turning, space-academia, sci-fi murder mystery that YA audiences will love while ALSO delivering gentle insights and consideration of social inequity. Somehow, Karen does just that with Pangu's Shadow. The murder mystery plot kept me guessing - I kept a list of who I suspected as I read the book and had three entirely wrong guesses before I found the right culprit JUST shy of the end of the book and the big reveal.
As a scientist, I enjoyed Karen's obvious grasp of complicated scientific topics and her accurate distillation of them into engaging plot points. On top of the science, she captures the way that science research intersects with profit-driven capitalism and social stratification. I couldn't put this down until I found out "whodunit", and since finishing have been pondering the massive, existential questions she posed along the way.
I highly recommend this book for teens, for sci-fi lovers, for academics, for people who like whodunit-style mysteries, and for anyone who wants a well-grounded journey through pondering how science, society, and capitalism relate to each other.
As a scientist, I enjoyed Karen's obvious grasp of complicated scientific topics and her accurate distillation of them into engaging plot points. On top of the science, she captures the way that science research intersects with profit-driven capitalism and social stratification. I couldn't put this down until I found out "whodunit", and since finishing have been pondering the massive, existential questions she posed along the way.
I highly recommend this book for teens, for sci-fi lovers, for academics, for people who like whodunit-style mysteries, and for anyone who wants a well-grounded journey through pondering how science, society, and capitalism relate to each other.
November 7, 2023
The murder of a famous scientist within a laboratory at the most prestigious institute in the universe forces Aryl and Ver, scientific apprentices, and Jaha, the lab manager, to either team up or rat each other out to save their skin. This murder mystery marries science, friendship, queerness, classism, and racism in an epic story that crosses many moons as Aryl and Ver discover secrets they were never meant to learn.
I found the only drawback to be the middle lagged for me. I would have liked to pace from the beginning and end to match the middle section better! Once I got to the last quarter of the book, I was dialed in. I really enjoyed the theme of people from different backgrounds trying to find a place in a world that wouldn’t support them. I think it was a well-written story with a very intricate world built into it, I am very happy to get to read an ARC copy of Pangu's Shadow.
I found the only drawback to be the middle lagged for me. I would have liked to pace from the beginning and end to match the middle section better! Once I got to the last quarter of the book, I was dialed in. I really enjoyed the theme of people from different backgrounds trying to find a place in a world that wouldn’t support them. I think it was a well-written story with a very intricate world built into it, I am very happy to get to read an ARC copy of Pangu's Shadow.
January 31, 2024
I am not much of science fiction reader, but I did enjoy Karen Bao's writing. The well developed characters deal with inequality, xenophobia, debilitating physical diseases, addiction and more.
A lot of science, a murder mystery, and action packed throughout. Rated for grades 7-12. Definitely for a reader that likes science fiction and mystery.
***I received this book from Carolrhoda Lab (a Lerner Publishing Imprint) for Multicultural Children's book day in exchange for a fair review.***
A lot of science, a murder mystery, and action packed throughout. Rated for grades 7-12. Definitely for a reader that likes science fiction and mystery.
***I received this book from Carolrhoda Lab (a Lerner Publishing Imprint) for Multicultural Children's book day in exchange for a fair review.***
August 31, 2023
I was lucky to read an early version of this YA sci-fi murder mystery. It’s beautifully written, with an amazing world, lots of science, and a sharp look at capitalism and inequality. Highly recommended!
February 25, 2024
I didn't think I would like this book. I am not a sci-fi reader but it got good reviews so I gave it a try. I am glad I did. After the first few chapters, the drama starts and just keeps increasing through the book. Trying to figure out the mystery with the two main characters took me along on their journey.
It was suspenseful, frightening, and heartfelt read.
It was suspenseful, frightening, and heartfelt read.
January 12, 2024
This review was made possible via an ARC through NetGalley.
Pangu’s Shadow by Karen Bao is a Sapphic science fiction mystery YA featuring chronic illness, Asian, and immigrant representation. Ver has a degenerative illness that leaves her needing a cane and aware that she could die before the age of thirty. She and Aryl are both students working in a medical research lab and both are immigrants from Moon Three and Moon Two, respectively. The pair do not get along but are brought together when Cal, their mentor, dies in the lab in front of them.
The novel explores the intersections of classism, immigration, and illness against this backdrop of a murder mystery. The social critique worked for me as did the use of scientific terms and explanations. It’s very easy to veer into sounding condescending or to use terminology that is hard to parse when discussing concepts that are often learned in the science classroom, but Bao made these explanations feel more like a reinforcement than a lesson. It felt organic and true to the characters.
Ver and Aryl’s character arcs are linked to their identities as immigrants and to each other. Aryl is a dancer who is attracted to her teammate, Rhea, and frustrated by the way her family is treated on Moon One. Aryl herself is often treated as less than and an outsider despite being born on Moon One; what matters is where her parents came from, even if they are intelligent and hardworking. Ver’s mother suffers from addiction while Ver’s main goal is to find a way to slow down her illness.
I recommend this to fans of YA sci-fi, shorter chapters, and those looking for stories about immigrants with a bit of an SFF twist.
Pangu’s Shadow by Karen Bao is a Sapphic science fiction mystery YA featuring chronic illness, Asian, and immigrant representation. Ver has a degenerative illness that leaves her needing a cane and aware that she could die before the age of thirty. She and Aryl are both students working in a medical research lab and both are immigrants from Moon Three and Moon Two, respectively. The pair do not get along but are brought together when Cal, their mentor, dies in the lab in front of them.
The novel explores the intersections of classism, immigration, and illness against this backdrop of a murder mystery. The social critique worked for me as did the use of scientific terms and explanations. It’s very easy to veer into sounding condescending or to use terminology that is hard to parse when discussing concepts that are often learned in the science classroom, but Bao made these explanations feel more like a reinforcement than a lesson. It felt organic and true to the characters.
Ver and Aryl’s character arcs are linked to their identities as immigrants and to each other. Aryl is a dancer who is attracted to her teammate, Rhea, and frustrated by the way her family is treated on Moon One. Aryl herself is often treated as less than and an outsider despite being born on Moon One; what matters is where her parents came from, even if they are intelligent and hardworking. Ver’s mother suffers from addiction while Ver’s main goal is to find a way to slow down her illness.
I recommend this to fans of YA sci-fi, shorter chapters, and those looking for stories about immigrants with a bit of an SFF twist.
November 6, 2025
Stories set in the future are likely more often than not allegories for present day, a way to critique current power structures through the guise of an alien environment. That’s certainly the case with PANGU’S SHADOW, for which a big part of its overarching plot is a morality tale about anti-immigrant sentiment. There’s also conversation-starters within the book about sexism, ableism, classism, colorism, gender essentialism, homophobia, and likely more. All of this is undoubtedly intended to apply as much to present-day life as it does to the future world of Gui-Moons 1-3.
The book’s dual protagonists, Aryl and Ver, both struggle due to negative views held by the majority regarding their immigration status (a coded way of saying “race”). The system is set up pretty straightforwardly: the wealthiest, most pure-blooded live on Gui-Moon 1; the white-collar working class primarily on Gui-Moon 2; and the “essential workers” on Gui-Moon 3. Ver is a transplant to 1 from 3, plus she is quite visibly disabled – she faces explicit discrimination because of this. Aryl is a second-generation immigrant, born on 1 but to parents who arrived from 2. As such, she’s still seen as a “Two-er” by her peers, who include her resentfully and would relish an opportunity to see her “put in her place”. That opportunity arrives when the lead scientist of the government science lab they work at is killed during a one-minute electrical blackout and both Aryl and Ver are fingered as the likely killers.
Aryl’s peers see the allegation as evidence she is “unclean”, so to speak, and turn on her at once. Despite not liking each other very much (likely for the same culturally ingrained reasons that their native One-er acquaintances dislike them), Ver and Aryl nevertheless have to team up to clear each other’s names. Over the course of the mystery plot the pair find themselves embroiled in, they learn to see each other as human beings and then as romantic partners (culminating in one brief kiss—this is still a YA book). They interrogate suspects, follow leads, have an action scene or two, and suspect three or four possible culprits before the actual killer is revealed in a monologue explaining his whole dastardly plan. That is, the A-plot goes through familiar story beats. There are a couple of interesting images involving seemingly possessed appendages, but beyond this the plot as a whole isn’t breaking new ground. The writing generally does not call attention to itself, either, save for when characters begin regularly using the word “giga” (meaning many or very) midway through the book.
None of this is meant to imply the book is bad. To the contrary, especially as I got further into it, I found myself wrapped up in the urgency of the mystery, albeit not necessarily invested in identifying who the killer was. The pace quickened, though; the stakes rose. It may have hit familiar beats but it does so in a fairly satisfying way and with the additional layer(s) of progressive meditation on identity I mentioned above, which I do appreciate.
Although, with that said, one way in which I was disappointed in the book’s progressivism was in its approach to criminal justice. Author Karen Bao seems to be cognizant of issues with the criminal justice system at the start, with comments that the police would “find any excuse” to send Aryl and Ver to “the Sandbag”, a notoriously ill-maintained and unendurable prison located (no surprise) on Moon 3; an acknowledgment that computer-run trials are not objective because “when machines are programmed by humans, they absorb human biases”; and reference to wealthy individuals buying influence in the administration of the law. Toward the end, though, her characters are actively rooting for the antagonist to be imprisoned for a lifetime, or to “burn” as Ver puts it. You don’t get to by appalled by the torturous conditions of American prisons and then revel in those same conditions for those who you think deserve it. I wish the book had offered a vision of a more just future than one which simply repeats the same patterns of revenge and counter-revenge as our current system.
I have other problems with the story, too. Though this didn’t bother me in the reading, the dual narrator conceit doesn’t accomplish much. Both Aryl and Ver have essentially the same voice and the trade-off between chapters doesn’t seem to serve a purpose except to allow us to hear each character’s internal dialogue. Why not just do it as third-person omniscient, then? What I was irritated by in the reading, however, is the whole ending. The entire cast of characters is brought together in one room for a final police interrogation. It is simply unbelievable that this would happen. Then, one of the police officers who was heretofore dismissive toward Ver and Aryl suddenly becomes their advocate. Ver has managed to secretly record the bad guy admitting his whole plan, but the bad guy (who is there in the room) claims the recording is fake. Just when it seems he’s going to get away with this, a co-conspirator (also present) inexplicably blurts out that he was involved and confirms the truth of the recording. The police, in that moment, declare that Ver and Aryl are no longer being charged and are free to go… even though moments before they were being charged with a whole slew of additional crimes in addition to the murder they’d allegedly committed: including theft, destruction of property, assault, identity theft, and more. All these knock-on crimes were undertaken in their effort to clear their names, yes, but I still find it hard to fathom that prosecutors would drop everything against them or that it would be done so swiftly. It all comes together so tidily and therefore ultimately unrealistically.
In all, PANGU’S SHADOW is a decent example of its genre. There’s aspects of it that rankled me, particularly that ending, but there are also aspects of it that I found… well, impressive might be too strong a word… let’s say encouraging. It mostly meets its objectives and the social critique threaded throughout is welcome even if it takes a bit of a backseat to the murder mystery plot. I wouldn’t necessarily go recommending it to friends, but if they were planning to read the book independently I would support them.
The book’s dual protagonists, Aryl and Ver, both struggle due to negative views held by the majority regarding their immigration status (a coded way of saying “race”). The system is set up pretty straightforwardly: the wealthiest, most pure-blooded live on Gui-Moon 1; the white-collar working class primarily on Gui-Moon 2; and the “essential workers” on Gui-Moon 3. Ver is a transplant to 1 from 3, plus she is quite visibly disabled – she faces explicit discrimination because of this. Aryl is a second-generation immigrant, born on 1 but to parents who arrived from 2. As such, she’s still seen as a “Two-er” by her peers, who include her resentfully and would relish an opportunity to see her “put in her place”. That opportunity arrives when the lead scientist of the government science lab they work at is killed during a one-minute electrical blackout and both Aryl and Ver are fingered as the likely killers.
Aryl’s peers see the allegation as evidence she is “unclean”, so to speak, and turn on her at once. Despite not liking each other very much (likely for the same culturally ingrained reasons that their native One-er acquaintances dislike them), Ver and Aryl nevertheless have to team up to clear each other’s names. Over the course of the mystery plot the pair find themselves embroiled in, they learn to see each other as human beings and then as romantic partners (culminating in one brief kiss—this is still a YA book). They interrogate suspects, follow leads, have an action scene or two, and suspect three or four possible culprits before the actual killer is revealed in a monologue explaining his whole dastardly plan. That is, the A-plot goes through familiar story beats. There are a couple of interesting images involving seemingly possessed appendages, but beyond this the plot as a whole isn’t breaking new ground. The writing generally does not call attention to itself, either, save for when characters begin regularly using the word “giga” (meaning many or very) midway through the book.
None of this is meant to imply the book is bad. To the contrary, especially as I got further into it, I found myself wrapped up in the urgency of the mystery, albeit not necessarily invested in identifying who the killer was. The pace quickened, though; the stakes rose. It may have hit familiar beats but it does so in a fairly satisfying way and with the additional layer(s) of progressive meditation on identity I mentioned above, which I do appreciate.
Although, with that said, one way in which I was disappointed in the book’s progressivism was in its approach to criminal justice. Author Karen Bao seems to be cognizant of issues with the criminal justice system at the start, with comments that the police would “find any excuse” to send Aryl and Ver to “the Sandbag”, a notoriously ill-maintained and unendurable prison located (no surprise) on Moon 3; an acknowledgment that computer-run trials are not objective because “when machines are programmed by humans, they absorb human biases”; and reference to wealthy individuals buying influence in the administration of the law. Toward the end, though, her characters are actively rooting for the antagonist to be imprisoned for a lifetime, or to “burn” as Ver puts it. You don’t get to by appalled by the torturous conditions of American prisons and then revel in those same conditions for those who you think deserve it. I wish the book had offered a vision of a more just future than one which simply repeats the same patterns of revenge and counter-revenge as our current system.
I have other problems with the story, too. Though this didn’t bother me in the reading, the dual narrator conceit doesn’t accomplish much. Both Aryl and Ver have essentially the same voice and the trade-off between chapters doesn’t seem to serve a purpose except to allow us to hear each character’s internal dialogue. Why not just do it as third-person omniscient, then? What I was irritated by in the reading, however, is the whole ending. The entire cast of characters is brought together in one room for a final police interrogation. It is simply unbelievable that this would happen. Then, one of the police officers who was heretofore dismissive toward Ver and Aryl suddenly becomes their advocate. Ver has managed to secretly record the bad guy admitting his whole plan, but the bad guy (who is there in the room) claims the recording is fake. Just when it seems he’s going to get away with this, a co-conspirator (also present) inexplicably blurts out that he was involved and confirms the truth of the recording. The police, in that moment, declare that Ver and Aryl are no longer being charged and are free to go… even though moments before they were being charged with a whole slew of additional crimes in addition to the murder they’d allegedly committed: including theft, destruction of property, assault, identity theft, and more. All these knock-on crimes were undertaken in their effort to clear their names, yes, but I still find it hard to fathom that prosecutors would drop everything against them or that it would be done so swiftly. It all comes together so tidily and therefore ultimately unrealistically.
In all, PANGU’S SHADOW is a decent example of its genre. There’s aspects of it that rankled me, particularly that ending, but there are also aspects of it that I found… well, impressive might be too strong a word… let’s say encouraging. It mostly meets its objectives and the social critique threaded throughout is welcome even if it takes a bit of a backseat to the murder mystery plot. I wouldn’t necessarily go recommending it to friends, but if they were planning to read the book independently I would support them.
June 2, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow.
I've never read any of Bao's books before, but after this, I'm definitely going to. This was not just a story, it was an experience. The characters felt real. You didn't just know what they liked and didn't like. You knew who they were; what they cared about. They were complete people, which made the plot even better.
To me, the worldbuilding and the characters are the two most important pieces of a story. If Aryl and Ver just went about their everyday lives doing absolutely nothing, I still would have read and enjoyed every single page of this.
Of course, they didn't just sit around twiddling their thumbs. Pangu's Shadow is an innovative story that takes you to the moons of a foreign star to solve the murder of Cal. Aryl and Ver, two academic rivals, both accused of murder, must work together to clear their name.
That's where things got good. Having such incredible characters put to such extremes makes for a gripping story that I enjoyed every page of.
Wow.
I've never read any of Bao's books before, but after this, I'm definitely going to. This was not just a story, it was an experience. The characters felt real. You didn't just know what they liked and didn't like. You knew who they were; what they cared about. They were complete people, which made the plot even better.
To me, the worldbuilding and the characters are the two most important pieces of a story. If Aryl and Ver just went about their everyday lives doing absolutely nothing, I still would have read and enjoyed every single page of this.
Of course, they didn't just sit around twiddling their thumbs. Pangu's Shadow is an innovative story that takes you to the moons of a foreign star to solve the murder of Cal. Aryl and Ver, two academic rivals, both accused of murder, must work together to clear their name.
That's where things got good. Having such incredible characters put to such extremes makes for a gripping story that I enjoyed every page of.
November 9, 2023
The different worlds are fascinating, and I enjoyed the race to find evidence of innocence. The main characters go from hate to love a little quickly to be believable, in my opinion. The science explanations were informative without being overly complicated.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2024
This is a fine book for the younger side of YA. As it progressed, the messages became more and more heavy-handed, and the “hard realities” of them sat a bit weirdly with the easy resolutions to a lot of plot points.
June 4, 2023
Blurb to come, I wholeheartedly loved this book!
January 27, 2025
"Everyone thinks they know what's best for the moons. Schoolkids, senators, farmers, factory workers. But so many of them disagree in their answer to one question: Who's human to you?"
Ver and Aryl work in the same science lab, when their mentor, Cal, is mysteriously killed in a variation on a locked-room mystery. The two girls are framed, when neither of them are the ones who did it. Despite being from very different backgrounds and not really knowing the other all that well, the two band together to clear their names, but end up becoming closer as well, as they navigate Ver's wasting disease she was attempting to cure, and Aryl's dream of being a dancer.
It wasn't a bad book, but I felt like it was lacking something to make me feel more for the characters. Ver's chapters, in particular, are written in a certain style to drive home that she's from a different background with different views. I like the science-y factoids/ruminations her chapters open with, but the rest of her chapters were very clinical, like how someone deep in the science world would think. Aryl, in contrast, is very flip, unpredictable, and kind of a party girl in the beginning, despite having lofty goals for herself.
I feel like the relationship that develops between these two needed more time to cook for it to feel authentic. As it is, beyond a few throwaway lines about being impressed by the other, noticing the other being a bit attractive, and silently respecting the other's intelligence, nothing is really expanded on until a switch flips and they're overtly in love with each other. It all felt very instalove-y, which was a bit grating.
Finally, while I liked the undertones about social divides and living with disability in the beginning, it felt increasingly heavy-handed as the book went on. The author has talent in painting the world this book exists in and the society issues it has, but what started subtle and left to the reader to infer ended as a blunt hammer to the head by the end, and I kind of didn't like that.
Still, it was a bit cute, and I did really like the world as depicted by the author.
Ver and Aryl work in the same science lab, when their mentor, Cal, is mysteriously killed in a variation on a locked-room mystery. The two girls are framed, when neither of them are the ones who did it. Despite being from very different backgrounds and not really knowing the other all that well, the two band together to clear their names, but end up becoming closer as well, as they navigate Ver's wasting disease she was attempting to cure, and Aryl's dream of being a dancer.
It wasn't a bad book, but I felt like it was lacking something to make me feel more for the characters. Ver's chapters, in particular, are written in a certain style to drive home that she's from a different background with different views. I like the science-y factoids/ruminations her chapters open with, but the rest of her chapters were very clinical, like how someone deep in the science world would think. Aryl, in contrast, is very flip, unpredictable, and kind of a party girl in the beginning, despite having lofty goals for herself.
I feel like the relationship that develops between these two needed more time to cook for it to feel authentic. As it is, beyond a few throwaway lines about being impressed by the other, noticing the other being a bit attractive, and silently respecting the other's intelligence, nothing is really expanded on until a switch flips and they're overtly in love with each other. It all felt very instalove-y, which was a bit grating.
Finally, while I liked the undertones about social divides and living with disability in the beginning, it felt increasingly heavy-handed as the book went on. The author has talent in painting the world this book exists in and the society issues it has, but what started subtle and left to the reader to infer ended as a blunt hammer to the head by the end, and I kind of didn't like that.
Still, it was a bit cute, and I did really like the world as depicted by the author.
September 9, 2024
Told in alternating voices 2 science interns try and figure out who killed their boss, when they were the only ones in the room. I loved the world-building, and how one of the heroines is disabled yet still manages to be a productive part of the detective team clearing their names. This is obviously written by someone who knows how it is to work in the sciences while not being the stereotypical straight white male, and the constant stress that brings on. Give this to your favorite nerd because it's filled with actual science.
July 28, 2024
I just finished "Pangu's Shadow," and it was a mixed bag for me.
First off, the premise is really intriguing. Set on moons around a distant star, the story follows Aryl and Ver, two academic rivals who get accused of murdering their boss. They have to team up to clear their names, which sounds exciting.
The characters were interesting, and I appreciated their depth. Aryl is focused on helping her immigrant family, while Ver is dealing with serious health issues. However, I sometimes struggled to connect with them. Aryl’s party-girl behavior didn’t quite align with her serious goals, which made it hard for me to fully root for her.
The world-building is a highlight. Karen Bao created a vivid universe that felt alive, and I enjoyed the themes about race and disability woven throughout the plot. However, the pacing was uneven. Some parts felt slow, and while there were some cool twists, they didn’t always have the impact I hoped for.
The romance was cute but felt rushed and underdeveloped. I wanted more tension and growth between Aryl and Ver to really make it work.
Overall, I’d give "Pangu's Shadow" a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a fun read if you enjoy sci-fi and mysteries, but it didn’t quite reach the potential I was hoping for. If you’re looking for something unique with great world-building, it might be worth checking out.
First off, the premise is really intriguing. Set on moons around a distant star, the story follows Aryl and Ver, two academic rivals who get accused of murdering their boss. They have to team up to clear their names, which sounds exciting.
The characters were interesting, and I appreciated their depth. Aryl is focused on helping her immigrant family, while Ver is dealing with serious health issues. However, I sometimes struggled to connect with them. Aryl’s party-girl behavior didn’t quite align with her serious goals, which made it hard for me to fully root for her.
The world-building is a highlight. Karen Bao created a vivid universe that felt alive, and I enjoyed the themes about race and disability woven throughout the plot. However, the pacing was uneven. Some parts felt slow, and while there were some cool twists, they didn’t always have the impact I hoped for.
The romance was cute but felt rushed and underdeveloped. I wanted more tension and growth between Aryl and Ver to really make it work.
Overall, I’d give "Pangu's Shadow" a solid 3 out of 5 stars. It’s a fun read if you enjoy sci-fi and mysteries, but it didn’t quite reach the potential I was hoping for. If you’re looking for something unique with great world-building, it might be worth checking out.
January 1, 2024
This was basically a one sitting read for me. I only paused to grab a snack and ensure my kids were surviving without me. From page one, I was taken into this world. I think it's brilliant and engrossing. The sci-fi murder mystery blends well with the social discrepancies we see between the three moons. The bias everyone throws upon those not of their world, it was done very well.
There was so much frustration on the first pages when the police nabbed their two suspects and decided to look no where else. Then while they try to find the murderer to save themselves how they find more than they were looking for.
I think this was a beautifully done book about social injustices and those who can walk away because of money, power and perceived importance by a supposed un-biased system.
Merged review:
This was basically a one sitting read for me. I only paused to grab a snack and ensure my kids were surviving without me. From page one, I was taken into this world. I think it's brilliant and engrossing. The sci-fi murder mystery blends well with the social discrepancies we see between the three moons. The bias everyone throws upon those not of their world, it was done very well.
There was so much frustration on the first pages when the police nabbed their two suspects and decided to look no where else. Then while they try to find the murderer to save themselves how they find more than they were looking for.
I think this was a beautifully done book about social injustices and those who can walk away because of money, power and perceived importance by a supposed un-biased system.
There was so much frustration on the first pages when the police nabbed their two suspects and decided to look no where else. Then while they try to find the murderer to save themselves how they find more than they were looking for.
I think this was a beautifully done book about social injustices and those who can walk away because of money, power and perceived importance by a supposed un-biased system.
Merged review:
This was basically a one sitting read for me. I only paused to grab a snack and ensure my kids were surviving without me. From page one, I was taken into this world. I think it's brilliant and engrossing. The sci-fi murder mystery blends well with the social discrepancies we see between the three moons. The bias everyone throws upon those not of their world, it was done very well.
There was so much frustration on the first pages when the police nabbed their two suspects and decided to look no where else. Then while they try to find the murderer to save themselves how they find more than they were looking for.
I think this was a beautifully done book about social injustices and those who can walk away because of money, power and perceived importance by a supposed un-biased system.
January 14, 2024
"Pangu’s Shadow" by Karen Bao is an interesting, futuristic mystery that blends sci fi with so many relatable themes.
I found the author's note as intriguing as the story: within the author's note, Bao explains that it is a mystery, but also about science, disability, racism and xenophobia, queerness, and immigrant issues. It was interesting how the story was able to tie in all of these topics in a mystery format. Bao's writing style made the story relatable and kept you intrigued the whole time.
Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group who provided a free and pre-publication print copy of this #gifted book as part of promotion for Read Your World Day and in exchange for an honest review. I am excited to share it with my students!
Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves.
#ReadYourWorld
#mcbd24
I found the author's note as intriguing as the story: within the author's note, Bao explains that it is a mystery, but also about science, disability, racism and xenophobia, queerness, and immigrant issues. It was interesting how the story was able to tie in all of these topics in a mystery format. Bao's writing style made the story relatable and kept you intrigued the whole time.
Thank you to Lerner Publishing Group who provided a free and pre-publication print copy of this #gifted book as part of promotion for Read Your World Day and in exchange for an honest review. I am excited to share it with my students!
Read Your World’s mission is to raise awareness of the need to include kids’ books celebrating diversity in homes and school bookshelves.
#ReadYourWorld
#mcbd24
July 3, 2024
Well. This is a difficult book for me to rate. The summary makes it sound so fantastic, and in many ways it is. It's well-thought-out, well crafted, and very relevant, and it should appeal to older teens--and adults--who enjoy hard SF. But--
I found it a bit of a slog, and I think that's because I couldn't relate to the characters. Aryl, in particular, bugged me. I found it hard to believe that someone with her stated goals and background would be such a party animal (those stated goals: she wants to help her immigrant parents, be a role model for her sister, and become a famous dancer. Then why all the partying? Why do things that work directly against those goals?)
Perhaps for that reason, the enemies-to-lovers trope in this book didn't quite come off for me, either.
Still, on the level of plot and theme Pangu's Shadow is excellent. It certainly deserves readers and will find them.
I found it a bit of a slog, and I think that's because I couldn't relate to the characters. Aryl, in particular, bugged me. I found it hard to believe that someone with her stated goals and background would be such a party animal (those stated goals: she wants to help her immigrant parents, be a role model for her sister, and become a famous dancer. Then why all the partying? Why do things that work directly against those goals?)
Perhaps for that reason, the enemies-to-lovers trope in this book didn't quite come off for me, either.
Still, on the level of plot and theme Pangu's Shadow is excellent. It certainly deserves readers and will find them.
January 3, 2024
This was a fun and interesting story about two very different girls falsely accused of killing their mentor. I enjoyed the futuristic sci-fi world Bao built, complete with robotic limbs programmed with host DNA. The alternation between each girl's perspective made their initial dislike of each other and eventual romance that much more layered. It was interesting how Bao embedded deeper cultural themes in the novel, which mirror some of the prejudices and struggles we see here on Earth-everything from disabilities, skin color, heritage, class, and LGBT+ issues. I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys YA fiction, science fiction, and murder mysteries.
I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this ARC through NetGalley!
I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this ARC through NetGalley!
February 14, 2024
I wasnt too sure what I was getting into with this book, but I was suprised how much I enjoyed it.
The plot of the book flowed freely and I barely wanted to put it down. This was actually one of the rare books I didnt check how many pages I had left with. I think I read about 80% of it in one sitting.
Far as characters- I wish we saw a bit more development. Sometimes they felt very flat to me, even with all the background we got on them.
**Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for a honest reveiw**
The plot of the book flowed freely and I barely wanted to put it down. This was actually one of the rare books I didnt check how many pages I had left with. I think I read about 80% of it in one sitting.
Far as characters- I wish we saw a bit more development. Sometimes they felt very flat to me, even with all the background we got on them.
**Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for a honest reveiw**
December 27, 2024
In Pangu’s Shadow, Karen Bao spins an intriguing sci-fi thriller set against the backdrop of the Pangu Star System, where the stakes are as high as the cold vacuum of space. The novel follows Ver and Aryl, two apprentices at the most prestigious biology lab on one of the system's moons. Both have escaped troubled pasts, clinging to their hopes for a better future under the tutelage of Cal, their brilliant but exacting boss.
The writing in Pangu's Shadow is vibrant and immersive, pulling readers deep into its futuristic world. Bao masterfully weaves technical jargon with emotional depth, blending the cold, sterile atmosphere of the lab with the warmth of the characters' evolving relationships. The Pangu Star System feels alive with its sleek, high-tech environments and the tension that lingers in every shadowed corner.
The true brilliance of the book lies in its characters. Ver and Aryl are complex and dynamic, both carrying emotional scars that make their bond with each other feel real. As they grapple with the shocking discovery of Cal's body, the pacing quickens, and so does their development. Their struggle to unravel the mystery of Cal's death and uncover the secrets buried deep within the lab is thrilling and full of unexpected twists.
While the book delivers on suspense, it also brings forward deeper questions about loyalty, trust, and the price of ambition in a world where there are no second chances. The relationships between the characters, particularly the strong connection between Ver and Aryl, ground the plot in emotional realism despite the high-stakes scientific backdrop.
The tension is relentless, but the pacing occasionally falters in the middle of the book, where some of the world-building feels slightly overwhelming. However, Bao does an excellent job of pulling everything back together in the final act, keeping readers hooked with revelations and emotional depth that resonate long after the last page is turned.
Pangu's Shadow is a stellar debut for fans of speculative fiction who crave smart, intricate plots and compelling characters. It’s a fast-paced ride with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With a strong foundation of emotional character arcs and a richly developed world, this novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good mystery wrapped in science fiction.
The writing in Pangu's Shadow is vibrant and immersive, pulling readers deep into its futuristic world. Bao masterfully weaves technical jargon with emotional depth, blending the cold, sterile atmosphere of the lab with the warmth of the characters' evolving relationships. The Pangu Star System feels alive with its sleek, high-tech environments and the tension that lingers in every shadowed corner.
The true brilliance of the book lies in its characters. Ver and Aryl are complex and dynamic, both carrying emotional scars that make their bond with each other feel real. As they grapple with the shocking discovery of Cal's body, the pacing quickens, and so does their development. Their struggle to unravel the mystery of Cal's death and uncover the secrets buried deep within the lab is thrilling and full of unexpected twists.
While the book delivers on suspense, it also brings forward deeper questions about loyalty, trust, and the price of ambition in a world where there are no second chances. The relationships between the characters, particularly the strong connection between Ver and Aryl, ground the plot in emotional realism despite the high-stakes scientific backdrop.
The tension is relentless, but the pacing occasionally falters in the middle of the book, where some of the world-building feels slightly overwhelming. However, Bao does an excellent job of pulling everything back together in the final act, keeping readers hooked with revelations and emotional depth that resonate long after the last page is turned.
Pangu's Shadow is a stellar debut for fans of speculative fiction who crave smart, intricate plots and compelling characters. It’s a fast-paced ride with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With a strong foundation of emotional character arcs and a richly developed world, this novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys a good mystery wrapped in science fiction.
February 7, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Pangu's Shadow is a very well written and engaging YA mystery SF standalone novel by Karen Bao. Released 6th Feb 2024 by Lerner, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The advice for writers has always been "write what you know". This is an *intelligent* story, written with the surety of experience in STEM science and labwork. She clearly gets it (including the minor day to day irritations of working in close proximity to other brilliant and driven colleagues.
At its heart, it's a murder mystery with two frenemy lab assistants who need to cooperate if they're going to prove their innocence of a murder of which they're suspected. The setting and world building are wonderfully detailed and believable, despite being set in deep space. The characterization is nuanced and intricately rendered.
Despite being marketed as a YA novel, this is going to be a highlight in SF/speculative fiction releases for the year for YA-adult audiences. Watch for it on the awards lists.
Four and a half stars. Very satisfying, and a real insider's look at life as a "lab rat" (except for the bionic body parts and manned deepspace research facility, those are still fiction currently).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Pangu's Shadow is a very well written and engaging YA mystery SF standalone novel by Karen Bao. Released 6th Feb 2024 by Lerner, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The advice for writers has always been "write what you know". This is an *intelligent* story, written with the surety of experience in STEM science and labwork. She clearly gets it (including the minor day to day irritations of working in close proximity to other brilliant and driven colleagues.
At its heart, it's a murder mystery with two frenemy lab assistants who need to cooperate if they're going to prove their innocence of a murder of which they're suspected. The setting and world building are wonderfully detailed and believable, despite being set in deep space. The characterization is nuanced and intricately rendered.
Despite being marketed as a YA novel, this is going to be a highlight in SF/speculative fiction releases for the year for YA-adult audiences. Watch for it on the awards lists.
Four and a half stars. Very satisfying, and a real insider's look at life as a "lab rat" (except for the bionic body parts and manned deepspace research facility, those are still fiction currently).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
December 4, 2024
#48:
The Good
I. The world- I really enjoyed the science fiction and speculative elements.
II. Allusions to real world issues: such as ableism, ableism in lab, xenophobia, immigration, prejudice, addiction, and etc
III. The mystery – twist on locked room mystery
IV. Having sci-fi integrated well: with characters & mystery & world & everything.
V. Full characters with conflicts and opinions
The Bad
The suspense and momentum felt like it got sidelined from the centering of the characters telling us about their issues.
The Meh
The romance
Did it feel like Ver personality became her disability? If it is a part of so much of her life and something that needs to be acknowledged, is it a bad thing to really talk about what she (and others deal with)?
Thoughts
I. Ableism & Disability
A. ableism of the laboratory spaces= ideas of who belongs in a lab and to be a part of science.
B. Disability being almost in opposition to high tech- It is complicated because technology can be helpful for many but there are connotations or something around tech that can be oppositional to disability.
C. The moon colony and some of their issues reminds me of Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms by Mackenzie Lee
D. I like science fiction & mystery as a combination.
E. I would enjoy seeing more from this world.
I won this from Karen Bao via goodreads
The Good
I. The world- I really enjoyed the science fiction and speculative elements.
II. Allusions to real world issues: such as ableism, ableism in lab, xenophobia, immigration, prejudice, addiction, and etc
III. The mystery – twist on locked room mystery
IV. Having sci-fi integrated well: with characters & mystery & world & everything.
V. Full characters with conflicts and opinions
The Bad
The suspense and momentum felt like it got sidelined from the centering of the characters telling us about their issues.
The Meh
The romance
Did it feel like Ver personality became her disability? If it is a part of so much of her life and something that needs to be acknowledged, is it a bad thing to really talk about what she (and others deal with)?
Thoughts
I. Ableism & Disability
A. ableism of the laboratory spaces= ideas of who belongs in a lab and to be a part of science.
B. Disability being almost in opposition to high tech- It is complicated because technology can be helpful for many but there are connotations or something around tech that can be oppositional to disability.
C. The moon colony and some of their issues reminds me of Gamora and Nebula: Sisters in Arms by Mackenzie Lee
D. I like science fiction & mystery as a combination.
E. I would enjoy seeing more from this world.
I won this from Karen Bao via goodreads
September 25, 2025
YA Space Mystery
YA sapphic space academia murder mystery. All things I enjoy reading!
Pangu's Shadow lends itself to the YA reading structure, with fast paced chapters and a fast moving story line. Set in a backdrop on moons in a system different from Earth's, I loved learning about the different moons and the backgrounds and people behind them.
Some scenes felt a bit jumpy and there was at least one time that we were told they had three days left before their trial, then it turned to four, then back to three. The storyline was easy to follow though, and I didn't notice any other errors.
I liked learning about the characters back stories but I feel like they could have been fleshed out more, maybe with a few flashback chapters to show us their backstory rather than just tell us. I feel that this would have helped make all the supporting characters and their relationships (Ford, Rhea, Kricket, Aryls family) more relatable and hard hitting that they either fell apart or came back together.
I feel like the romance could have been more believable if the characters spent more time talking with each other or learning about each other, rather than just going through a hard thing together. That's not love, that's a trauma bond babes. It should have been fleshed out more, in my opinion, even for a YA book.
I did enjoy the read overall. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
YA sapphic space academia murder mystery. All things I enjoy reading!
Pangu's Shadow lends itself to the YA reading structure, with fast paced chapters and a fast moving story line. Set in a backdrop on moons in a system different from Earth's, I loved learning about the different moons and the backgrounds and people behind them.
Some scenes felt a bit jumpy and there was at least one time that we were told they had three days left before their trial, then it turned to four, then back to three. The storyline was easy to follow though, and I didn't notice any other errors.
I liked learning about the characters back stories but I feel like they could have been fleshed out more, maybe with a few flashback chapters to show us their backstory rather than just tell us. I feel that this would have helped make all the supporting characters and their relationships (Ford, Rhea, Kricket, Aryls family) more relatable and hard hitting that they either fell apart or came back together.
I feel like the romance could have been more believable if the characters spent more time talking with each other or learning about each other, rather than just going through a hard thing together. That's not love, that's a trauma bond babes. It should have been fleshed out more, in my opinion, even for a YA book.
I did enjoy the read overall. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
March 18, 2024
MG - no sexual content. Swearing is made up and minimal, e.g. "she tried to vack with his life." Also, the content skims the surface of difficult material and is repetitive.
Ver - closeted bisexual with a degenerative disease is doing secret experiments with researcher Cal to see if they can find a treatment for her condition. When Cal dies, she loses a respected mentor and hope.
Aryl - lesbian. Working as a scientist because the reliable pay allows her to help her immigrant family out. Wants to become a dancer.
Good for 6-8th grade students who are interested in science and a murder mystery. Lots of scientific explanations and terminology. I found them interesting and fresh, but for someone unfamiliar with the vocabulary, this could be a difficult read.
Ver - closeted bisexual with a degenerative disease is doing secret experiments with researcher Cal to see if they can find a treatment for her condition. When Cal dies, she loses a respected mentor and hope.
Aryl - lesbian. Working as a scientist because the reliable pay allows her to help her immigrant family out. Wants to become a dancer.
Good for 6-8th grade students who are interested in science and a murder mystery. Lots of scientific explanations and terminology. I found them interesting and fresh, but for someone unfamiliar with the vocabulary, this could be a difficult read.
December 29, 2024
I *really* loved the amount of uncommon representation in this book. The two main characters are both some sort of queer (not specified totally- but they're gay don't worry) and one is disabled. Plus they're both science girls, which I love. Although I liked the characters, I wasn't as invested in the plot. It mightve been the uncomfortable student teacher relationship in the beginning that threw me off, and that I didn't care for the murder victim (I doubt I was supposed to, but still). The world was cool: its a sort of sci-fi dystopia mix that manages to tackle some deeper themes. I liked the book. Didn't love it, but I'm always looking to recommend anything with these sorts of main characters.
March 8, 2024
Mix science fiction, good old desperation detective work, and an enemies to more-than-friends situation. This is what you get. Ver and Aryl are different physically, but inside there's plenty of commonality. Ver is fighting a terrible genetic disease that's going to eat away until she's dead. Aryl is tall, quite graceful, and an accomplished dancer. Both are interns in an advanced lab, working for Cal who is both brilliant and driven. When an emergency warning is activated and the lights go out, Cal is injected with a substance that kills him. Both girls are accused of his murder, but neither had reason to off their mentor. How they go about solving his murder makes for a dandy story.
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