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The Celestial Sea
Madness and ruin at the ragged edge of deep space.
The Magnetar heads for the gu’ul world of Garoar, where the Combined Service ship Askja has gone missing. Thinking the local pirates might know something, Captain Chalk decides to capture some and find out. But the pirates have a weapon no one anticipated, and the battle is costly for the Magnetar’s crew. It’s costly for Charlie Cooke, she saves one life, but loses someone she cares about.
When the Magnetar limps into Garoar for repair. Charlie, grieving and plagued by nightmares, doesn’t want to take shore leave. Her gu’ul friend Breccia has family on the surface, though, and she insists that Charlie come. It seems as if this trip to the surface might heal Charlie’s Breccia’s brother, Coltan, has brought Charlie a gift from Fortuna. But Charlie’s own encounter with the pirates creates danger for Breccia’s family—and bears unexpected fruit in the search for the Askja.
With the repairs still incomplete, the Magnetar leaves Garoar, determined to find the Askja. That unfortunate ship may have been lost in a mysterious—and dangerous—region of space known as the Celestial Sea. The Sea, it is said, devours ships, after driving their crews to madness and ruin. In the Celestial Sea, Charlie and the rest of the crew will have to face their own haunted pasts. They went to save the Askja… but can they save themselves?
The Magnetar heads for the gu’ul world of Garoar, where the Combined Service ship Askja has gone missing. Thinking the local pirates might know something, Captain Chalk decides to capture some and find out. But the pirates have a weapon no one anticipated, and the battle is costly for the Magnetar’s crew. It’s costly for Charlie Cooke, she saves one life, but loses someone she cares about.
When the Magnetar limps into Garoar for repair. Charlie, grieving and plagued by nightmares, doesn’t want to take shore leave. Her gu’ul friend Breccia has family on the surface, though, and she insists that Charlie come. It seems as if this trip to the surface might heal Charlie’s Breccia’s brother, Coltan, has brought Charlie a gift from Fortuna. But Charlie’s own encounter with the pirates creates danger for Breccia’s family—and bears unexpected fruit in the search for the Askja.
With the repairs still incomplete, the Magnetar leaves Garoar, determined to find the Askja. That unfortunate ship may have been lost in a mysterious—and dangerous—region of space known as the Celestial Sea. The Sea, it is said, devours ships, after driving their crews to madness and ruin. In the Celestial Sea, Charlie and the rest of the crew will have to face their own haunted pasts. They went to save the Askja… but can they save themselves?
539 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 11, 2024
Excellent sci fi adventure
I love this series. Celestial Sea answers some questions but raises even more and takes the Magnetar's story in a totally unexpected direction, as the looming threat is revealed. Charlie is a wonderful character with a fascinating ensemble of crewmates. The chaplain continues to be a personal favorite, as do Wiley, Chalk, St. Clair, Mimsy, and Arcus. Jawardhal and Kumay offer several humorous interludes, especially on the science vessel. The new crewmate is an interesting addition (nothing further may be said without spoiling the surprise). This series is thrilling, fascinating, well-written, and simply fantastic science fiction. I read Celestial Sea in KU but will buy it to add it to my library, so that I can reread the three books many times. I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Charlie and the Magnetar.
I love this series. Celestial Sea answers some questions but raises even more and takes the Magnetar's story in a totally unexpected direction, as the looming threat is revealed. Charlie is a wonderful character with a fascinating ensemble of crewmates. The chaplain continues to be a personal favorite, as do Wiley, Chalk, St. Clair, Mimsy, and Arcus. Jawardhal and Kumay offer several humorous interludes, especially on the science vessel. The new crewmate is an interesting addition (nothing further may be said without spoiling the surprise). This series is thrilling, fascinating, well-written, and simply fantastic science fiction. I read Celestial Sea in KU but will buy it to add it to my library, so that I can reread the three books many times. I'm looking forward to the further adventures of Charlie and the Magnetar.
December 27, 2025
Exciting conclusion to The Combined Service saga!
Charlie, Wiley, Captain Chalk, St. Clair, young Jawaharlal, Aerrett the Chaplain and the entire team of the intergalactic starship Magnetar are back in this exhilarating series conclusion. A wonderful, sprawling space opera, with multiple storylines and memorable characters interleaved in an exciting and well-paced novel.
The four species still struggle with integration, cooperation and extremist saboteurs, and this novel introduces great new characters like Charlie’s budding love interest Coltan, Urao the space pirate and the odd and curious Forvitnir. Halfway through the novel, Captain Chalk’s confidant reveals “You couldn’t surprise me more had you come in search of the Celestial Sea,” giving voice to the reader’s thoughts. This book is full of gripping scenes: Captain Ceyx adventures on the scout ship Stardiver; Arcus and his shuttle crew attempting a rescue in a dangerous realm; Charlie’s induction into Brecca’s Gu’ul family; the Avian historian Kamuy and Jawaharlal’s trip to the dusty, abandoned city Byrjun and capture by the alien Forvitnir; and the wild, multi-threaded climax where the spiritual and physical worlds combine on the edge of a tear in space. As the author writes, “Anywhere you have a culture, you have the ongoing construction of myth.”
What I enjoyed about this book was the thrilling action sequences, well-crafted foreshadowing, such as when the captain of the Stardiver tells us “Ceyx had spent long enough in intelligence to know something that didn’t fit his understanding of the circumstances could turn out to be the most important detail of all.” And pithy thoughts delivered by characters we have learned to trust, such as when Wiley says “That’s what life is… These are your fellow travelers; you can make friends, or you can make enemies.” This is a well written story worth reading. If you love fast-paced space opera, don’t miss this great book!
Charlie, Wiley, Captain Chalk, St. Clair, young Jawaharlal, Aerrett the Chaplain and the entire team of the intergalactic starship Magnetar are back in this exhilarating series conclusion. A wonderful, sprawling space opera, with multiple storylines and memorable characters interleaved in an exciting and well-paced novel.
The four species still struggle with integration, cooperation and extremist saboteurs, and this novel introduces great new characters like Charlie’s budding love interest Coltan, Urao the space pirate and the odd and curious Forvitnir. Halfway through the novel, Captain Chalk’s confidant reveals “You couldn’t surprise me more had you come in search of the Celestial Sea,” giving voice to the reader’s thoughts. This book is full of gripping scenes: Captain Ceyx adventures on the scout ship Stardiver; Arcus and his shuttle crew attempting a rescue in a dangerous realm; Charlie’s induction into Brecca’s Gu’ul family; the Avian historian Kamuy and Jawaharlal’s trip to the dusty, abandoned city Byrjun and capture by the alien Forvitnir; and the wild, multi-threaded climax where the spiritual and physical worlds combine on the edge of a tear in space. As the author writes, “Anywhere you have a culture, you have the ongoing construction of myth.”
What I enjoyed about this book was the thrilling action sequences, well-crafted foreshadowing, such as when the captain of the Stardiver tells us “Ceyx had spent long enough in intelligence to know something that didn’t fit his understanding of the circumstances could turn out to be the most important detail of all.” And pithy thoughts delivered by characters we have learned to trust, such as when Wiley says “That’s what life is… These are your fellow travelers; you can make friends, or you can make enemies.” This is a well written story worth reading. If you love fast-paced space opera, don’t miss this great book!
January 2, 2025
There's problems with Boone's story. On one hand, she presents a newly formed military, most officers made up from the other, established military of the other sentient races. Unfortunately, the voice of the characters don't sound anything like an armed forces and instead sounds more like a civilian exploration ship. Star Trek is more martial in their performance than this series. Everything is done casually, with the attitude of civilians on a job, rather than a military on patrol. Rank is rarely if ever used. Instead, everyone is addressed by their first name.
In addition to the weak setting, the other keeps using passive voice and overwhelming use of the word "seem," seems," "seemingly," etc which is more of a writing tic that's wholely unnecessary when present. In fiction, it doesn't "seem like" something, it just *is*.
In addition to the weak setting, the other keeps using passive voice and overwhelming use of the word "seem," seems," "seemingly," etc which is more of a writing tic that's wholely unnecessary when present. In fiction, it doesn't "seem like" something, it just *is*.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews