What do you think?
Rate this book
Firmament #1
Radialloy
The year is 2320. Andi Lloyd is content with her life as the assistant to her adoptive father, a starship doctor, but her secure world turns upside down when she begins uncovering secrets from her past. When her father mysteriously starts losing his mind, she finds that she can no longer count on him to guide or help her. With mutiny breaking out on the ship, and two factions desperate for a valuable secret she holds, she must race to save her father and herself before time runs out.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2012
49 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
J. Grace Pennington
44 books144 followersJ. Grace Pennington has been telling stories since she could talk, and writing them down since age five. Now she lives in the great state of Texas, where she writes as much as adult life permits. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading good books, having adventures with her husband and daughters, and looking up at the stars.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 63 reviews
June 29, 2017
Whew! Wowza!
I loved this book. And let me start with a disclaimer: I don't read a lot\am not a fan of the sci-fi genre. It's SO hard to find clean books in that genre, which I the main reason I don't read a lot. That's the main thing I loved about this book. It was completely clean. The minimal amount of non-graphic violence aside, there was no language, no weird creepy sci-fi stuff, no romantic\sexual content. I would gladly recommend this to my little siblings, which I not something I can often do with this genre.
The characters were all fantastic. I instantly connected with many of them, especially Andi. She struggled throughout the book with what to do in certain situations, whom to trust, etc, which made her such a great character. So many heroines in books these days are perfect and have all the answers, which is so unrealistic! I think that's why I connected with Andi so well; she's a "real" and relatable character. I also loved her father, the doctor. He was so sweet, yet a bit tough too. One of those "grizzly bears on the outside, teddy bears on the inside" type of characters. The main villain, was great as well; for awhile I actually kinda liked him! (before I knew who he really was, of course. A well-rounded villain, with a plausible motive. Also, Crash was pretty amazing. I loved his humor, his arrogance, and his flaws. He wasn't perfect, which was great. Definitely my favorite character.
The plot was very well done; everything laid out at just the right time with perfect pacing. There were a few plot twists that were nicely done, although I saw more than one of them coming. (per usual, for me, I guess). It was very believable (well, as believable as a sci-fi plot can get!) and realistic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and freaking out a good portion of the time. Kudos to the author!
CONTENT NOTE: Clean except for some non-graphic violence, and death.
All in all, I would highly recommend this!
I loved this book. And let me start with a disclaimer: I don't read a lot\am not a fan of the sci-fi genre. It's SO hard to find clean books in that genre, which I the main reason I don't read a lot. That's the main thing I loved about this book. It was completely clean. The minimal amount of non-graphic violence aside, there was no language, no weird creepy sci-fi stuff, no romantic\sexual content. I would gladly recommend this to my little siblings, which I not something I can often do with this genre.
The characters were all fantastic. I instantly connected with many of them, especially Andi. She struggled throughout the book with what to do in certain situations, whom to trust, etc, which made her such a great character. So many heroines in books these days are perfect and have all the answers, which is so unrealistic! I think that's why I connected with Andi so well; she's a "real" and relatable character. I also loved her father, the doctor. He was so sweet, yet a bit tough too. One of those "grizzly bears on the outside, teddy bears on the inside" type of characters. The main villain, was great as well; for awhile I actually kinda liked him! (before I knew who he really was, of course. A well-rounded villain, with a plausible motive. Also, Crash was pretty amazing. I loved his humor, his arrogance, and his flaws. He wasn't perfect, which was great. Definitely my favorite character.
The plot was very well done; everything laid out at just the right time with perfect pacing. There were a few plot twists that were nicely done, although I saw more than one of them coming. (per usual, for me, I guess). It was very believable (well, as believable as a sci-fi plot can get!) and realistic. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, and freaking out a good portion of the time. Kudos to the author!
CONTENT NOTE: Clean except for some non-graphic violence, and death.
All in all, I would highly recommend this!
January 21, 2018
Wow. Seriously--wow!
I honestly can't remember how I stumbled across this book, which makes me sad, because if all the "you-might-also-like" suggestions (or whatever similar list I found this in) are this good, I would be in clover--or maybe some variety of space-clover? ;)
I really love sci-fi--or truthfully, I really want to love sci-fi--but it's so hard to find it a) clean and b) without magical elements that I don't get to enjoy it that much. (Inventions with bizarre powers--great! Aliens--I'll let it slide. Super mind-powers--nope, you've lost me.) This book was exactly the kind of sci-fi I've always wanted, with a Christian message to boot!
The writing style was excellent with exactly the amount of detail that I like--enough to give me a very real sense of place but not bog me down with descriptions of every knob, uniform, and hallway. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat without making me want to scream. And the characters--wow, the characters! I really don't mind stock characters in action/mystery stories, but if every author could layer characters and keep me guessing like this, I might have to change my mind. At different points in the book, I came up against someone I didn't trust but thought maybe I was supposed to, someone I really wanted to trust but wasn't sure I could, and someone I knew was one of the good guys but wasn't sure would actually be any help. Did I mention the characters?!?
Bumping the rest of this series to the top of my to-read list, effective immediately!
I honestly can't remember how I stumbled across this book, which makes me sad, because if all the "you-might-also-like" suggestions (or whatever similar list I found this in) are this good, I would be in clover--or maybe some variety of space-clover? ;)
I really love sci-fi--or truthfully, I really want to love sci-fi--but it's so hard to find it a) clean and b) without magical elements that I don't get to enjoy it that much. (Inventions with bizarre powers--great! Aliens--I'll let it slide. Super mind-powers--nope, you've lost me.) This book was exactly the kind of sci-fi I've always wanted, with a Christian message to boot!
The writing style was excellent with exactly the amount of detail that I like--enough to give me a very real sense of place but not bog me down with descriptions of every knob, uniform, and hallway. The plot kept me on the edge of my seat without making me want to scream. And the characters--wow, the characters! I really don't mind stock characters in action/mystery stories, but if every author could layer characters and keep me guessing like this, I might have to change my mind. At different points in the book, I came up against someone I didn't trust but thought maybe I was supposed to, someone I really wanted to trust but wasn't sure I could, and someone I knew was one of the good guys but wasn't sure would actually be any help. Did I mention the characters?!?
Bumping the rest of this series to the top of my to-read list, effective immediately!
October 15, 2016
This book was a great read! It's a shorter book but brilliantly done. You're drawn in from the beginning and the plot moves along quite nicely, never too fast and definitely not slow. I'd have trouble deciding who was my favorite character, but I might have to settle on Andi who also happens to be the main character.
Even though this is a science fiction book it all felt and sounded real. The author has obviously done her research and put in the time to create a plausible situation. As a med student I appreciated the medical jargon sprinkled in, but it was all explained so one would never feel lost.
If I had to pick one thing I really liked about the book, it would have to be the characters. They're all well developed and you find instant connections with all of them. I also appreciated the parts where Andi refers to her Christian faith, especially to help herself and another crew member through a tough situation. You never really get Christianity put into science fiction and I enjoyed the fresh take. I look forward to reading more in the Firmament series.
Even though this is a science fiction book it all felt and sounded real. The author has obviously done her research and put in the time to create a plausible situation. As a med student I appreciated the medical jargon sprinkled in, but it was all explained so one would never feel lost.
If I had to pick one thing I really liked about the book, it would have to be the characters. They're all well developed and you find instant connections with all of them. I also appreciated the parts where Andi refers to her Christian faith, especially to help herself and another crew member through a tough situation. You never really get Christianity put into science fiction and I enjoyed the fresh take. I look forward to reading more in the Firmament series.
January 10, 2019
I love this book so much. I was sick today so I listened through this book. I really enjoyed the audio.
November 6, 2021
I enjoyed this first book in J. Grace Pennington's Firmament series! The plot kept me guessing, and for awhile I wasn't sure it would all tie together. (It did. 😉)
Andi was a likeable and relatable character, although there were a couple instances when I thought it was unrealistic how she managed to figure out what was going on. Maybe that's just because I couldn't figure out what was going on!
The entire story took place on a spaceship, so I didn't get to see much of the worldbuilding, but it felt genuine. I hope to find out more in the next book!
Andi was a likeable and relatable character, although there were a couple instances when I thought it was unrealistic how she managed to figure out what was going on. Maybe that's just because I couldn't figure out what was going on!
The entire story took place on a spaceship, so I didn't get to see much of the worldbuilding, but it felt genuine. I hope to find out more in the next book!
November 28, 2024
I really liked Radialloy! I wasn't sure what to expect, but the premise with Andi as a doctor's daughter, plus the sinister villain who called to mind Long John Silver, made this an engaging read. The plot kept me guessing, the characters were well-developed, and there was a good amount of suspense and action.
The book started a bit slowly, but picked up nicely at the 1/3rd mark. My only complaints were that it sometimes didn't feel like sci-fi, and the faith aspect felt downplayed until the end. However, it was a great read and I'd read the rest of the series, if I had the time. Hopefully some day!
The book started a bit slowly, but picked up nicely at the 1/3rd mark. My only complaints were that it sometimes didn't feel like sci-fi, and the faith aspect felt downplayed until the end. However, it was a great read and I'd read the rest of the series, if I had the time. Hopefully some day!
May 25, 2014
4.5 Stars
Okay, so I think this might be the first "real" sci-fi book I've ever read. I've read fantasy/sci-fi blends, but not the usual sci-fi story that takes place in space on a space ship . I admit, I don't like sci-fi, but since this was written by a homeschool author and I had it on my Kindle, I decided to give it a try one afternoon. I was very pleasantly surprised. It actually held my interest. I got almost 25% finished in just that first sitting even when I was crazy busy. I thought the characters all acted believably and were likeable. My favorite, I would have to say, was Crash even though he wasn't in much of the book. I guess he just made the biggest impression on me. What can I say? I love characters who make me laugh. I also really liked Guilders. I really can't think of anything I disliked about the story. It was just a good, quick read that I enjoyed even though sci-fi isn't my thing. I look forward to reading the next one when I get a chance.
Okay, so I think this might be the first "real" sci-fi book I've ever read. I've read fantasy/sci-fi blends, but not the usual sci-fi story that takes place in space on a space ship . I admit, I don't like sci-fi, but since this was written by a homeschool author and I had it on my Kindle, I decided to give it a try one afternoon. I was very pleasantly surprised. It actually held my interest. I got almost 25% finished in just that first sitting even when I was crazy busy. I thought the characters all acted believably and were likeable. My favorite, I would have to say, was Crash even though he wasn't in much of the book. I guess he just made the biggest impression on me. What can I say? I love characters who make me laugh. I also really liked Guilders. I really can't think of anything I disliked about the story. It was just a good, quick read that I enjoyed even though sci-fi isn't my thing. I look forward to reading the next one when I get a chance.
October 31, 2017
I love this book! Clean, heart-pounding, sci-fi adventure! What more could a girl ask for?
The characters are superb. Andi is a lovable and easy to connect to protagonist, the Doctor is a well-layered character, Crash is...well, Crash, August is sooo dang sweet! <3 I want to see more August! Mr. Guilders, the Captain, Almira, all of them are great. And the baddies? Ooh. CREEPY! So, :D well done!
The plot is so excting! This is like Star Trek without the aliens and without the junk! The storyline layered and developed. I love all the medical references, you can tell J. Grace did a great job researching them.
Well done, Ms. Pennington!
Also, may I just say, LOVE that cover!
The characters are superb. Andi is a lovable and easy to connect to protagonist, the Doctor is a well-layered character, Crash is...well, Crash, August is sooo dang sweet! <3 I want to see more August! Mr. Guilders, the Captain, Almira, all of them are great. And the baddies? Ooh. CREEPY! So, :D well done!
The plot is so excting! This is like Star Trek without the aliens and without the junk! The storyline layered and developed. I love all the medical references, you can tell J. Grace did a great job researching them.
Well done, Ms. Pennington!
Also, may I just say, LOVE that cover!
May 11, 2014
I gave it 25% before I gave up on it. The collision of a merchant ship with an asteroid at "warp 8" instead of vaporizing the ship, and asteroid, yielded no significant damage, or injuries, just some "malfuctions".. "Propulsion" which should be a force, was treated like a speed. Totally ignoring physical laws(Google Newtons Laws). And the characters were barely developed.
September 10, 2015
Book two? ;)
July 15, 2017
I had really high expectations for Radialloy because of all the glowing reviews I’ve seen, but from the first chapter my expectations were shattered. I really wanted to find something to like, and while there’s nothing questionable about the story, it just . . . lacked quality.
The first thing that bothered me was the writing style. It completely lacked subtlety and subtext and faith that the reader isn’t stupid. Everything had to be thoroughly explained to make sure that the readers understands every iota of the story.
The second big thing that bothered me was the main character, Andi. She was completely flat and unrealistic. Her emotional journey was choppy, and big, important things happened to her that left absolutely no emotional impact on her. Also she didn’t develop or grow in any way by the end. The biggest thing, however, that bothered me, was that she was an absolutely inactive character. Pretty much all she does in the book is react to things that happen to her. No goal, no purpose whatsoever. When she does get something like a purpose, it was fifty percent into the book, and when she actually starts acting on it, it was seventy percent into the book. And even then, when she gets resistance from the other characters who don’t want her to accomplish that goal, she’s not the one who gets herself out. Other characters were always magically coming in to save her when she was in trouble.
Which leads me straight to the climax. It was somewhat tense and all, but the climax scene had absolutely nothing to do with Andi’s goal. In fact, once she gets saved from it via deux ex machina, she finds out that another character completed her goal and that’s that. Honestly the story would’ve been a lot more interesting if told from the POV of one of the bad guys.
Some positivity: I did get a bit interested by a certain theme (and the only theme I could identify) during the climax scene, but it was just dropped in there without being developed at all from the beginning. Some other things I liked where the medical facts. I could tell that the author had done research to get that part realistic. Also the whole sci-fi setting was refreshing. Hello more optimistic-views-of-the-future??
So basically, all in all, Radialloy could’ve been a good story, but it just wasn’t. I have no doubt that the author has improved her talent since its publication, but I would not recommend this book in particular.
The first thing that bothered me was the writing style. It completely lacked subtlety and subtext and faith that the reader isn’t stupid. Everything had to be thoroughly explained to make sure that the readers understands every iota of the story.
The second big thing that bothered me was the main character, Andi. She was completely flat and unrealistic. Her emotional journey was choppy, and big, important things happened to her that left absolutely no emotional impact on her. Also she didn’t develop or grow in any way by the end. The biggest thing, however, that bothered me, was that she was an absolutely inactive character. Pretty much all she does in the book is react to things that happen to her. No goal, no purpose whatsoever. When she does get something like a purpose, it was fifty percent into the book, and when she actually starts acting on it, it was seventy percent into the book. And even then, when she gets resistance from the other characters who don’t want her to accomplish that goal, she’s not the one who gets herself out. Other characters were always magically coming in to save her when she was in trouble.
Which leads me straight to the climax. It was somewhat tense and all, but the climax scene had absolutely nothing to do with Andi’s goal. In fact, once she gets saved from it via deux ex machina, she finds out that another character completed her goal and that’s that. Honestly the story would’ve been a lot more interesting if told from the POV of one of the bad guys.
Some positivity: I did get a bit interested by a certain theme (and the only theme I could identify) during the climax scene, but it was just dropped in there without being developed at all from the beginning. Some other things I liked where the medical facts. I could tell that the author had done research to get that part realistic. Also the whole sci-fi setting was refreshing. Hello more optimistic-views-of-the-future??
So basically, all in all, Radialloy could’ve been a good story, but it just wasn’t. I have no doubt that the author has improved her talent since its publication, but I would not recommend this book in particular.
September 30, 2020
2 1/2 stars. The plot was interesting enough to keep me from DNFing, but something about the writing was not quite working for me, and while I found the characters interesting enough overall, I also found the main character irritating at times. The worst part is, the ways she was irritating that I suspect the author thought were neutral or even positive character traits. (Pro tip: Girls, do not call out a young man's health conditions and how much he needs to rest when you're in front of his coworkers. Actually, how about no call call out ANY one else's health conditions in public, and we just all let everyone make their own decisions about when and how to talk about private information?)
The story resolution was pretty good, and worth resisting my urges to DNF, but I won't be continuing the series.
One good thing is content issues were very low. Some angst around birth vs adoption families, and some descriptions of injuries and medical treatments, plus a bit of violence in general, but for the most part suitable for even young readers.
The story resolution was pretty good, and worth resisting my urges to DNF, but I won't be continuing the series.
One good thing is content issues were very low. Some angst around birth vs adoption families, and some descriptions of injuries and medical treatments, plus a bit of violence in general, but for the most part suitable for even young readers.
October 3, 2017
I loved this audiobook! I loved it before when I read it in both eBook and Paperback format, but it was so nice to be able to be on my exercise bike, do dishes, and clean the house while listening to the author read her own book. It was great!
September 29, 2016
If you like Christian sci-fi, you'll love Radialloy. Or even if it's not the usual kind of genre you read (like myself), it's still a fascinating and unique story. I like a good adventure, and that's how I connected so well with Radialloy.
The whole book held me captivated. I loved the setting, on a starship about 300 years from now. I feel like the descriptions of the ship and the roles of all the crew is written so well. I kept thinking "how did the author know to use that phrase?" when it was just the perfect way to describe what was happening on the ship.
The medical descriptions are done skillfully. It kept me intrigued in the work that teenage Andi and the Doctor do together on the ship. They have to be prepared for any wounds or health problems with only the resources on board. Sometimes this could mean getting inventive with their medical care, as Andi finds out when the Doctor can only rely on her to save him.
Each of the characters, I felt, has their own quirks and interesting things about them. They're sketched as complex-enough characters that you feel like you know them as real-life people. That's a mark of a well-written book.
There are many Christian references throughout. I love how God was kept in the story, through prayer and scripture.
The other great thing about this book is that it's clean. No foul language, and romance at a minimum.
There are definitely some twists I didn't see coming, and the excitement just kept building as the chapters flew by. I'm excited to read more of the Firmament series.
The whole book held me captivated. I loved the setting, on a starship about 300 years from now. I feel like the descriptions of the ship and the roles of all the crew is written so well. I kept thinking "how did the author know to use that phrase?" when it was just the perfect way to describe what was happening on the ship.
The medical descriptions are done skillfully. It kept me intrigued in the work that teenage Andi and the Doctor do together on the ship. They have to be prepared for any wounds or health problems with only the resources on board. Sometimes this could mean getting inventive with their medical care, as Andi finds out when the Doctor can only rely on her to save him.
Each of the characters, I felt, has their own quirks and interesting things about them. They're sketched as complex-enough characters that you feel like you know them as real-life people. That's a mark of a well-written book.
There are many Christian references throughout. I love how God was kept in the story, through prayer and scripture.
The other great thing about this book is that it's clean. No foul language, and romance at a minimum.
There are definitely some twists I didn't see coming, and the excitement just kept building as the chapters flew by. I'm excited to read more of the Firmament series.
October 29, 2012
After seeing reviews of this book on several blogs, I finally decided I had to buy a copy. I have not read much science fiction, but I was drawn to what people were saying about the story's intriguing characters. I must say, I was not disappointed. We're talking layers of bad guys whose identities are surprising, a cocky cousin who is both amusing and annoying, a kind and semi-eccentric doctor, and his adopted daughter--21-year-old Andi--who is the main character and narrator of the story. As the story progresses, the plot becomes increasingly complex right up to its dramatic climax. I was kept guessing the entire way; just when I thought I had it figured out, something would veer off most delightfully. I wish I could say more, but I don't think I can without giving away spoilers! Suffice it to say, I found this YA science fiction a page-turner and would recommend it to anyone ages 13+ who enjoys adventure and mystery and can handle bad guys.
March 15, 2021
First read: 2017/18 ish, reread: March 2021
Rereading this book is like seeing old friends again 💕
Recommends for fans of: space opera, great Christian sci-fi, plots that will keep you guessing, and complex characters. Radialloy isn't my *favorite* book in the series, but still a very worthy beginning.
Content: Squeaky clean! 🐁
Rereading this book is like seeing old friends again 💕
Recommends for fans of: space opera, great Christian sci-fi, plots that will keep you guessing, and complex characters. Radialloy isn't my *favorite* book in the series, but still a very worthy beginning.
Content: Squeaky clean! 🐁
January 14, 2013
I couldn't put the book down. It was awesome, she had me hooked. I think my favorite part is when a character named Crashed was introduced. I am pretty sure he is my favorite :) this book is masterfully written. I loved every word of it.
May 15, 2022
Just okay for me. There are some scientific inconsistencies that bugged me, but the story is decent.
For my clean readers: violence
For my clean readers: violence
May 16, 2021
I loved this book which is surprising as it’s a sci-fi and I don’t normally connect with or like sci-fi stories. This was very much a Christian Star Trek and it’s totally worthy of such a title. The science/space stuff wasn’t overwhelming or boring (or confusing!) like I find most sci-fi to be (because I’m dumb like that, lol), but just enough to add to the story and not distract from the main plot of Andi’s journey and growth.
I loved Andi as a character—how she felt and sounded real and had her flaws and good points. I wanted to yell at her a few times for the choices she made, but she learned and grew from them which is the most important thing. All the characters were believable and real, and I’m curious about Guilders and Crash’s relationship and past, so I hope we get more of that in later books. The Doctor also sounded and acted a bit like Doctor McCoy from Star Trek who I ADORE so this is high praise coming from me!
The villains were well written and quite scary in their normal way (if that makes any sense, haha) and I loved how much action and plotting went on throughout the story since we’re on a spaceship the whole time. The way the author wove in and showed her theme I thought was masterfully done as were the Christian elements that were in no way heavy handed or preachy which I always appreciate.
The only quibble I have is I have no idea how old Andi is? It’s never mentioned, but I’m guessing she’s around 18 or 19? Like I said it wasn’t mentioned (at least, I never caught it) and I couldn’t tell even though I’d really like to know, haha!
A great intro to a series I would love to (and will!) continue in a genre I don’t normally like.
I loved Andi as a character—how she felt and sounded real and had her flaws and good points. I wanted to yell at her a few times for the choices she made, but she learned and grew from them which is the most important thing. All the characters were believable and real, and I’m curious about Guilders and Crash’s relationship and past, so I hope we get more of that in later books. The Doctor also sounded and acted a bit like Doctor McCoy from Star Trek who I ADORE so this is high praise coming from me!
The villains were well written and quite scary in their normal way (if that makes any sense, haha) and I loved how much action and plotting went on throughout the story since we’re on a spaceship the whole time. The way the author wove in and showed her theme I thought was masterfully done as were the Christian elements that were in no way heavy handed or preachy which I always appreciate.
The only quibble I have is I have no idea how old Andi is? It’s never mentioned, but I’m guessing she’s around 18 or 19? Like I said it wasn’t mentioned (at least, I never caught it) and I couldn’t tell even though I’d really like to know, haha!
A great intro to a series I would love to (and will!) continue in a genre I don’t normally like.
April 11, 2020
Good book and enjoyable to read. It's hard to find clean sci-fi, so I was glad to see this one.
January 21, 2013
I'm not a big fan of sci-fi in general. Maybe it's because people group sci-fi and fantasy together all the time when they are completely different (in my humble opinion), or maybe it's because I've read very little of it. I like the idea of space travel and awesome new technology and things like that, but generally I come away from blurbs and descriptions of sci-fi with a bored feeling. However, I have read some science fiction that I do like, such as War of the Worlds and Aubrey Hanson's 'Red Rain'. And now this. 'Radialloy' may be a debut novel, but it is very well written and not only technically, but in an engaging, quick-paced way too.
Andi Lloyd, adopted by a doctor on earth when she was left on his doorstep as a baby, has now been with her father (whom she generally calls Doctor) in space for about half of her life; it never says her age, but I think she's about twenty. She is the Doctor's helper, basically a nurse though without the certification. Everything is going well until the day her cousin, Eagle Crash, a reckless and sometimes thoughtless guy without a lot of respect for authority, comes aboard the spaceship.
Crash ends up crashing the Surveyor I into an asteroid and that's when things begin to happen. Andi, who has a metal implant in her knee, feels extreme pain in her knee just after the crash, although she didn't land on her knee at all. Then the new Commander of the ship, Howitz, and two agents of the ILA, tell Andi that the implant in her knee is a rare and valuable metal called radialloy; in fact, it's the only known piece of radialloy in the world. Commander Howitz tells her it is the only thing keeping her from dying of a fatal and rare disease that she has, while the ILA agents tell her it is dangerous and has to be removed.
Before she knows it, Andi is completely unsure of who to trust. Not only that, but her beloved adoptive father, the Doctor, seems to be losing his mind.
Ms. Pennington starts the book out at an easy pace, introducing us to the characters, showing us their personalities and quirks. I thought that they were all really fun and well-written. After the introductions are over, however, the action begins, and hardly stops once it gets going. I read it in just a few hours and could hardly put it down.
Andi is a likable main character, and the Doctor and August and others are wonderful supporting cast. I was also very happy to see no romance. I'm not opposed to romance as such, but it seems like every book I read has to have it, and it's nice to see one that doesn't.
It also wasn't preachy at all, though several of the characters (including Andi) are Christians. It was just a rollicking good tale from first to last.
I do have a few criticisms, mostly technical, however. The word 'laying' was used a lot, when it should have been 'lying'. And near the end of the book I thought that Andi screamed a bit too much; some synonyms would have been good. Other than that, and a few words where there were typos scattered throughout (such as words with the first or last letter missing), this was an excellent book that I'll probably end up reading again. And I hope to get the next book in the series whenever it comes out. Overall, highly recommended to anyone of any age.
Andi Lloyd, adopted by a doctor on earth when she was left on his doorstep as a baby, has now been with her father (whom she generally calls Doctor) in space for about half of her life; it never says her age, but I think she's about twenty. She is the Doctor's helper, basically a nurse though without the certification. Everything is going well until the day her cousin, Eagle Crash, a reckless and sometimes thoughtless guy without a lot of respect for authority, comes aboard the spaceship.
Crash ends up crashing the Surveyor I into an asteroid and that's when things begin to happen. Andi, who has a metal implant in her knee, feels extreme pain in her knee just after the crash, although she didn't land on her knee at all. Then the new Commander of the ship, Howitz, and two agents of the ILA, tell Andi that the implant in her knee is a rare and valuable metal called radialloy; in fact, it's the only known piece of radialloy in the world. Commander Howitz tells her it is the only thing keeping her from dying of a fatal and rare disease that she has, while the ILA agents tell her it is dangerous and has to be removed.
Before she knows it, Andi is completely unsure of who to trust. Not only that, but her beloved adoptive father, the Doctor, seems to be losing his mind.
Ms. Pennington starts the book out at an easy pace, introducing us to the characters, showing us their personalities and quirks. I thought that they were all really fun and well-written. After the introductions are over, however, the action begins, and hardly stops once it gets going. I read it in just a few hours and could hardly put it down.
Andi is a likable main character, and the Doctor and August and others are wonderful supporting cast. I was also very happy to see no romance. I'm not opposed to romance as such, but it seems like every book I read has to have it, and it's nice to see one that doesn't.
It also wasn't preachy at all, though several of the characters (including Andi) are Christians. It was just a rollicking good tale from first to last.
I do have a few criticisms, mostly technical, however. The word 'laying' was used a lot, when it should have been 'lying'. And near the end of the book I thought that Andi screamed a bit too much; some synonyms would have been good. Other than that, and a few words where there were typos scattered throughout (such as words with the first or last letter missing), this was an excellent book that I'll probably end up reading again. And I hope to get the next book in the series whenever it comes out. Overall, highly recommended to anyone of any age.
February 12, 2013
Andi Lloyd has been in the care of Dr Lloyd for as long as she can remember, and loves him as her father. She enjoys working alongside him in sickbay aboard the starship, Surveyor; but her world is jeopardized when she finds that a searing pain in her knee is connected with a rather foggy part of her history, and the doctor--her father--starts losing his mind when she needs him most.
As those she trusts are taken from her, and more doubts arise, Andi has no one to trust but herself--or so she feels. It will be a strong faith and, ultimately, the grace of God that carries her through a whirlwind of danger, emotion, and deceit.
Firmament: Radialloy is book one of an eighteen-part series of Sci-Fi novellas written by J. Grace Pennington. And it isn't your standard deep-space science fiction. Instead of being driven by humanistic and evolutionary assumptions, it is told from a Christian point of view. As her world falls apart about her, Andi realizes that she must rely on God in the end, no matter what happens. But neither is it your standard--flat, dead, stupid, cliché--Christian fiction. Though Firmament does indeed have moral messages, the story takes precedence, the story communicates with you. There is no "preaching" to be found here.
The story itself is ingenious. Written in first person perspective, it pulls you in on the first page with charm and likeable characters, then drags you on when things start to get ugly, exciting, and outright mysterious. As I read (for the second time in less than a year), I felt like I was on a starship with good friends, and treacherous potential enemies. I felt like I was Andi. Every thought of hers became mine. When she made mistakes, I (sometimes) knew it, but could hardly argue in most cases...I was her as long as I had the book open, and even some time after I finished.
My rating: 5 of 5
Breakdown:
Writing: 5 of 5
Flows very well, really easy and pleasant to read.
Setting: 5 of 5
Interesting and fun technology, not super weird, believable, but still very Sci-Fi (definitely nice for people like me that don't read a lot of Science Fiction).
Characters: 5 of 5
You will have a hierarchy of your favorite characters (or, like me, just have six favorites) by the end of this book. The main character is someone you can easily and deeply sympathize with. I smiled when she was happy, hyperventilated when she was in danger (only slightly exaggerating ;) ), and felt sad when she was sad. The side characters are all very vivid and real as well.
Plot: 5 of 5
Intricate, unpredictable, fast-moving but nowhere near "empty", or rushed.
As those she trusts are taken from her, and more doubts arise, Andi has no one to trust but herself--or so she feels. It will be a strong faith and, ultimately, the grace of God that carries her through a whirlwind of danger, emotion, and deceit.
Firmament: Radialloy is book one of an eighteen-part series of Sci-Fi novellas written by J. Grace Pennington. And it isn't your standard deep-space science fiction. Instead of being driven by humanistic and evolutionary assumptions, it is told from a Christian point of view. As her world falls apart about her, Andi realizes that she must rely on God in the end, no matter what happens. But neither is it your standard--flat, dead, stupid, cliché--Christian fiction. Though Firmament does indeed have moral messages, the story takes precedence, the story communicates with you. There is no "preaching" to be found here.
The story itself is ingenious. Written in first person perspective, it pulls you in on the first page with charm and likeable characters, then drags you on when things start to get ugly, exciting, and outright mysterious. As I read (for the second time in less than a year), I felt like I was on a starship with good friends, and treacherous potential enemies. I felt like I was Andi. Every thought of hers became mine. When she made mistakes, I (sometimes) knew it, but could hardly argue in most cases...I was her as long as I had the book open, and even some time after I finished.
My rating: 5 of 5
Breakdown:
Writing: 5 of 5
Flows very well, really easy and pleasant to read.
Setting: 5 of 5
Interesting and fun technology, not super weird, believable, but still very Sci-Fi (definitely nice for people like me that don't read a lot of Science Fiction).
Characters: 5 of 5
You will have a hierarchy of your favorite characters (or, like me, just have six favorites) by the end of this book. The main character is someone you can easily and deeply sympathize with. I smiled when she was happy, hyperventilated when she was in danger (only slightly exaggerating ;) ), and felt sad when she was sad. The side characters are all very vivid and real as well.
Plot: 5 of 5
Intricate, unpredictable, fast-moving but nowhere near "empty", or rushed.
January 20, 2015
What I enjoyed:
I have wanted to read Sci-Fi for a long time, but most of it has magic. I was so grateful to finally find a truly Christian Science Fiction book!
It is always enjoyable to have a girl and boy adventure, and have them depend on each other, but most books take it too far. They make this adventure into a romance. I was relieved to find out that Andi was able to foster adventure and relationship making I thought it was brilliant how J. Grace made this brotherly love come about in a most unexpected way.
I read most of this book between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m two nights in a row. I fell asleep reading it and had to finish the last chapter the next morning. Needless to say, Radialloy has a gripping storyline.
I love how J. Grace was able to have her characters be drawn closer to God through the story, and keep Him a big part of the story, while not feeling like you are reading a theology book. Don't get me wrong, books on theology are great too, but sometimes you just want to read a thrilling novel!
This is a story about friendship. It is about trust, letting go of your worries, and giving them over to Christ. It is about loyalty and betrayal. It is about secrets and the finding of truth. It is about a girl with a rare disease, that will not give up.
What I didn't like as much:
I always really try to be honest about this so readers won't be surprised by some unpleasant part of the book, and so my opinion is valid. Nonetheless, there is nothing questionable! :)
Who I'd recommend this book to:
Pre-Teens to Young Adults would enjoy this book most. I, at 14, enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to read the second book, "In His Image."
*I received a free copy of Radialloy in exchange for my honest review. You can also see this review on Dancing In His Reign (http://learningtodanceinthereign.blog...)
I have wanted to read Sci-Fi for a long time, but most of it has magic. I was so grateful to finally find a truly Christian Science Fiction book!
It is always enjoyable to have a girl and boy adventure, and have them depend on each other, but most books take it too far. They make this adventure into a romance. I was relieved to find out that Andi was able to foster adventure and relationship making I thought it was brilliant how J. Grace made this brotherly love come about in a most unexpected way.
I read most of this book between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m two nights in a row. I fell asleep reading it and had to finish the last chapter the next morning. Needless to say, Radialloy has a gripping storyline.
I love how J. Grace was able to have her characters be drawn closer to God through the story, and keep Him a big part of the story, while not feeling like you are reading a theology book. Don't get me wrong, books on theology are great too, but sometimes you just want to read a thrilling novel!
This is a story about friendship. It is about trust, letting go of your worries, and giving them over to Christ. It is about loyalty and betrayal. It is about secrets and the finding of truth. It is about a girl with a rare disease, that will not give up.
What I didn't like as much:
I always really try to be honest about this so readers won't be surprised by some unpleasant part of the book, and so my opinion is valid. Nonetheless, there is nothing questionable! :)
Who I'd recommend this book to:
Pre-Teens to Young Adults would enjoy this book most. I, at 14, enjoyed it immensely and can't wait to read the second book, "In His Image."
*I received a free copy of Radialloy in exchange for my honest review. You can also see this review on Dancing In His Reign (http://learningtodanceinthereign.blog...)
December 3, 2014
Age Appropriate For: All Ages
Best for Ages: 10 and up (mild violence)
The book has the setting of Star Trek, the drama of Star Wars, and a huge dose of originality from Pennington. I cannot wait to get the next book.
I haven’t read a lot of sci-fi. I am just very picky about my sci-fi. Most of the sci-fi written is not God-honoring and is pretty bizarre. However, ever since I heard about Firmament by J. Grace Pennington, I have wanted to read it. I picked up a copy for my Kindle on sale. I would be willing to pay full price for this story. Yes, it was that good.
Andi was awesome! Normally, I hate girl characters with boy names. However, Andi was too likable to hate. She was very feminine, which made up for her name in my opinion. Pennington created a deep and relatable character when she created Andi. I cannot wait to see Andi in the books to come.
The setting was pretty awesome. I like watching the original Star Trek series and the Surveyor felt a little like the Enterprise. However, before you start thinking “Oh great, a Christian Star Trek, this story is very original. J. Grace Pennington has a lot of talent, and it shines in this book.
There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns that kept me up way past when I needed to be asleep. Firmament: Radialloy definitely kept me reading to the last page and made me very eager for the next book.
I highly recommend this book for sci-fi and/or adventure lovers, and for those who enjoy well told stories.
Best for Ages: 10 and up (mild violence)
The book has the setting of Star Trek, the drama of Star Wars, and a huge dose of originality from Pennington. I cannot wait to get the next book.
I haven’t read a lot of sci-fi. I am just very picky about my sci-fi. Most of the sci-fi written is not God-honoring and is pretty bizarre. However, ever since I heard about Firmament by J. Grace Pennington, I have wanted to read it. I picked up a copy for my Kindle on sale. I would be willing to pay full price for this story. Yes, it was that good.
Andi was awesome! Normally, I hate girl characters with boy names. However, Andi was too likable to hate. She was very feminine, which made up for her name in my opinion. Pennington created a deep and relatable character when she created Andi. I cannot wait to see Andi in the books to come.
The setting was pretty awesome. I like watching the original Star Trek series and the Surveyor felt a little like the Enterprise. However, before you start thinking “Oh great, a Christian Star Trek, this story is very original. J. Grace Pennington has a lot of talent, and it shines in this book.
There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns that kept me up way past when I needed to be asleep. Firmament: Radialloy definitely kept me reading to the last page and made me very eager for the next book.
I highly recommend this book for sci-fi and/or adventure lovers, and for those who enjoy well told stories.
May 20, 2022
This book is awesome. The first page was intriguing, amusing, and just the teeniest bit heartwarming, and I was delighted with the character Grace portrayed. Somehow she manages to, throughout the book, keep a familiar, simple feeling, like the feeling you have when you drive down a road you've been down all your life, even in her fresh and fascinating setting of a medic on a starship. The problems come home to you, and so do the answers.
The characters are real – when they make mistakes, or do something they shouldn't, you get upset. But you also feel uncomfortable, because if you had been them...you might have done it too. Every character is a unique person, and even when you don't get under their skin much, they are far from the common I've-seen-this-guy-a-thousand-times character.
The climax is a see-sawing slide (I didn't know there was such a thing...) that keeps you wincing and startled up til the very end, hoping against hope that -It- won't happen, even though all your brilliant ideas about how it mightn't keep happening, and keep failing.
And above all – well, maybe not, I think the doctor might be above all ;) – everything makes sense. It's like poetry. When something happens, you can't be skeptical, because there are too many reasons why it should happen that way.
The characters are real – when they make mistakes, or do something they shouldn't, you get upset. But you also feel uncomfortable, because if you had been them...you might have done it too. Every character is a unique person, and even when you don't get under their skin much, they are far from the common I've-seen-this-guy-a-thousand-times character.
The climax is a see-sawing slide (I didn't know there was such a thing...) that keeps you wincing and startled up til the very end, hoping against hope that -It- won't happen, even though all your brilliant ideas about how it mightn't keep happening, and keep failing.
And above all – well, maybe not, I think the doctor might be above all ;) – everything makes sense. It's like poetry. When something happens, you can't be skeptical, because there are too many reasons why it should happen that way.
February 9, 2013
I read this book in less than 24 hours.
Rarely do books grab one in such a way, but J. Grace Pennington's debut novel Firmament: Radialloy, did just that.
This is the story of young Andi Lloyd, who lives with her father aboard the starship Surveyor. But when her father starts to go insane and mysterious new people arrive on the ship, Andi must figure out who she can trust and who just wants the valuable secret hidden in her body before her father dies.
The book does not start out with immediate action, but rather draws the reader in with lovable characters and intrigue. As the story progresses, it gains in speed and intensity, until the book is impossible to put down, before going up to a dramatic climax and finishing off with a brilliant ending.
My favourite thing about this book is the characters. Not just Andi, either, but all of them. J. Grace Pennington's novel is a wonderful example of character-based fiction.
As a bonus, the book is clean and suitable for many ages, which helped me to enjoy it even more.
I can recommend this book for any sci-fi lover. Or any Christian reader. Or anyone who likes reading. Join the adventure with Andi Lloyd in the far-reaches of the galaxy; you won't regret it!
Rarely do books grab one in such a way, but J. Grace Pennington's debut novel Firmament: Radialloy, did just that.
This is the story of young Andi Lloyd, who lives with her father aboard the starship Surveyor. But when her father starts to go insane and mysterious new people arrive on the ship, Andi must figure out who she can trust and who just wants the valuable secret hidden in her body before her father dies.
The book does not start out with immediate action, but rather draws the reader in with lovable characters and intrigue. As the story progresses, it gains in speed and intensity, until the book is impossible to put down, before going up to a dramatic climax and finishing off with a brilliant ending.
My favourite thing about this book is the characters. Not just Andi, either, but all of them. J. Grace Pennington's novel is a wonderful example of character-based fiction.
As a bonus, the book is clean and suitable for many ages, which helped me to enjoy it even more.
I can recommend this book for any sci-fi lover. Or any Christian reader. Or anyone who likes reading. Join the adventure with Andi Lloyd in the far-reaches of the galaxy; you won't regret it!
July 25, 2014
I finally read it! I've been hearing about this book for so long, but for some reason it took me a long time to get to it. Now I can finally add it to my "read" shelf.
Teenager Andi enjoys her life aboard the surveyor, a class-A vessel that travels through outer space. She works alongside the Doctor, her adopted father. When her swashbuckling cousin, Eagle Crash, comes aboard with warnings of imminent danger, Andi doesn't know what to make of it. Most of the trouble seems to be coming from Crash's arrogance. Unfortunately, the problems don't leave with him.
It took me a while to get really engrossed in this story, but that's probably because I'm not used to sci-fi. It took J. Grace Pennington a while to set up the conflict that drives the second half of the book. Once I reached the tipping point and everything started coming together and making sense, I couldn't stop reading. It was pretty intense. I won't ruin it for you. \
Radialloy is a unique story about loyalty, trust, and family.
Teenager Andi enjoys her life aboard the surveyor, a class-A vessel that travels through outer space. She works alongside the Doctor, her adopted father. When her swashbuckling cousin, Eagle Crash, comes aboard with warnings of imminent danger, Andi doesn't know what to make of it. Most of the trouble seems to be coming from Crash's arrogance. Unfortunately, the problems don't leave with him.
It took me a while to get really engrossed in this story, but that's probably because I'm not used to sci-fi. It took J. Grace Pennington a while to set up the conflict that drives the second half of the book. Once I reached the tipping point and everything started coming together and making sense, I couldn't stop reading. It was pretty intense. I won't ruin it for you. \
Radialloy is a unique story about loyalty, trust, and family.
April 26, 2020
(Reread 4/23/20) Since it’s been over two years since I first read this, I had to reread it before reading the next six books in the series. I’m not a sci-fi reader normally, but I make exceptions for indie authors with similar life perspectives to my own. :) Because of that, I found this a fascinating story. The details are so well written. I can picture the setting, the ship, the rooms. The characters are unique and memorable, all with distinct personalities. Guilders is my favorite, I think. :)
I enjoyed how the characters each struggle in real areas that feel like real characters. It’s just relatable enough to life today and yet believable enough as a future reality.
The Christian messages shone through clearly, but were on the subtle end. Many of the characters aren’t Christian and that provides an interesting perspective.
There is some violence (cleanly shown and not graphic, but if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing, you might want to skim a paragraph or two).
Excellent story of faith, choices, trust, decisions, and danger.
I enjoyed how the characters each struggle in real areas that feel like real characters. It’s just relatable enough to life today and yet believable enough as a future reality.
The Christian messages shone through clearly, but were on the subtle end. Many of the characters aren’t Christian and that provides an interesting perspective.
There is some violence (cleanly shown and not graphic, but if you’re sensitive to that sort of thing, you might want to skim a paragraph or two).
Excellent story of faith, choices, trust, decisions, and danger.
August 4, 2013
Before this week, I'd never have imagined myself enjoying a sci-fi book enough to give it a five-star rating, but I certainly did this one! I was thoroughly engrossed from beginning to end. Of course I can't comment intelligently on the science aspect, but I thought it was neat how the whole system of (real and imagined) scientific and medical technology was woven through the story and matter-of-factly employed by all the characters. You can tell that the author knows and loves her subjects. But what I really loved was the cast of characters, and the network of different relationships and rivalries running among them. Aside from Andi, who's a lovable heroine you can feel for and cheer for, my favorites were August, Crash and Guilders. The plot is clever and twisting, with all the little links and motivations gradually falling into place as it goes. And it's very well written and suitable for all ages. Altogether, a great read!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 63 reviews