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The Alliance #2
Teo's Durumi
The dazzling and cinematic sequel to space opera Ocean’s Godori takes Ocean and her crew deep into the cloisters of the Moon and the conflicts of the heart.
“As ever, Elaine U. Cho takes us on a twisting journey that further expands on her haunting themes around grief, memory, and sacrifice, bringing us breathlessly to the end of a story we’ll never forget.” –Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, and Naomi Funabashi, Hillman Grad Books
Teo Anand, former ne’er-do-well second son of the Anand Tech empire and current solar fugitive, has just crash-landed on the Moon after escaping the latest attempt on his life. But if anyone can help exonerate him, it’s his best friend, bold Korean space pilot Ocean Yoon.
Falsely accused of murdering his family, Teo is running out of both time and options. But loyalties are uncertain in their group of steadfast comrades and tentative new allies, and it’s difficult to know who to trust in the tangled web that awaits them in Artemis, a city on the Moon rich in Korean history and haunted by ghosts from Teo’s and Ocean’s pasts. Further complicating matters are Haven—the pensive medic whose beliefs challenge Ocean’s—and the dashing Phoenix—a space raider who’s come blazing into Teo’s life in more ways than one.
All the while, Corvus, the real culprit behind the slaying of the Anands, is sowing a path of destruction that threatens to swallow the solar whole. The crew will wrestle with clashing ideals, flying bullets, and undeniable feelings as they race toward a stunning final stand.
Teo’s Durumi brings Cho’s space opera duology to an exhilarating close, one that contends with questions of identity and acceptance; grief and redemption; and loyalty and sacrifice.
“As ever, Elaine U. Cho takes us on a twisting journey that further expands on her haunting themes around grief, memory, and sacrifice, bringing us breathlessly to the end of a story we’ll never forget.” –Lena Waithe, Rishi Rajani, and Naomi Funabashi, Hillman Grad Books
Teo Anand, former ne’er-do-well second son of the Anand Tech empire and current solar fugitive, has just crash-landed on the Moon after escaping the latest attempt on his life. But if anyone can help exonerate him, it’s his best friend, bold Korean space pilot Ocean Yoon.
Falsely accused of murdering his family, Teo is running out of both time and options. But loyalties are uncertain in their group of steadfast comrades and tentative new allies, and it’s difficult to know who to trust in the tangled web that awaits them in Artemis, a city on the Moon rich in Korean history and haunted by ghosts from Teo’s and Ocean’s pasts. Further complicating matters are Haven—the pensive medic whose beliefs challenge Ocean’s—and the dashing Phoenix—a space raider who’s come blazing into Teo’s life in more ways than one.
All the while, Corvus, the real culprit behind the slaying of the Anands, is sowing a path of destruction that threatens to swallow the solar whole. The crew will wrestle with clashing ideals, flying bullets, and undeniable feelings as they race toward a stunning final stand.
Teo’s Durumi brings Cho’s space opera duology to an exhilarating close, one that contends with questions of identity and acceptance; grief and redemption; and loyalty and sacrifice.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2025
48 people are currently reading
4852 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
August 15, 2025
I wasn't nearly as charmed with this second book in this exciting sci fi adventure duology as the first so I struggled whether to rate it 3 or 4 stars, but I love this Korean Firefly universe so much that I pushed it up to 4. I would read any books that the author decides to write in this wonderful, unique series.
Despite the recap at the beginning, I had a hard time getting into the story because the first half was mostly a large cast of characters sitting around and talking, and two romances took up a majority of the plot. I would have benefited from rereading the first book close to reading this one since it had been so long since I'd read it, and I'd forgotten a lot.
In the second book Ocean has only small parts and it focuses on Teo, the pretty boy heir to tech moguls who's on the run from being framed for murder. They join a pirate crew and Teo falls for the head pirate, a brooding man named Phoenix. And Ocean has a tender slow-burn romance with a crewmember called Sasani, whose people are reviled because they manage death rites. Both romances similarly got a bit too juvenile and angsty but both were sweet.
I just wish the story focused more on the crew and the found family than the romances. I was glad to get to know Teo better but I felt like I didn't know the crew very well.
The villain in this is an ex crewmember named Corvus who has the ability to suck memories from people, leaving them dry husks. I found him to be kind of a cartoonish, bland villain. I also wish more had been done with the deepfake suits because that was interesting sci fi. But it ended up being more of a space opera romantic adventure than a thriller.
Overall I had a lot of fun with this and I love all these characters. I love how aggressively pro-Korean this universe is; there aren't even any Americans in this, which is refreshing considering how America is such a hellhole country these days.
This is just good, old fashioned science fiction adventure like they used to make in the golden age of sci fi. I'd love to see a film adaptation of this because it's quite cinematic.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Despite the recap at the beginning, I had a hard time getting into the story because the first half was mostly a large cast of characters sitting around and talking, and two romances took up a majority of the plot. I would have benefited from rereading the first book close to reading this one since it had been so long since I'd read it, and I'd forgotten a lot.
In the second book Ocean has only small parts and it focuses on Teo, the pretty boy heir to tech moguls who's on the run from being framed for murder. They join a pirate crew and Teo falls for the head pirate, a brooding man named Phoenix. And Ocean has a tender slow-burn romance with a crewmember called Sasani, whose people are reviled because they manage death rites. Both romances similarly got a bit too juvenile and angsty but both were sweet.
I just wish the story focused more on the crew and the found family than the romances. I was glad to get to know Teo better but I felt like I didn't know the crew very well.
The villain in this is an ex crewmember named Corvus who has the ability to suck memories from people, leaving them dry husks. I found him to be kind of a cartoonish, bland villain. I also wish more had been done with the deepfake suits because that was interesting sci fi. But it ended up being more of a space opera romantic adventure than a thriller.
Overall I had a lot of fun with this and I love all these characters. I love how aggressively pro-Korean this universe is; there aren't even any Americans in this, which is refreshing considering how America is such a hellhole country these days.
This is just good, old fashioned science fiction adventure like they used to make in the golden age of sci fi. I'd love to see a film adaptation of this because it's quite cinematic.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 16, 2024
I reallyreallyreally want to read this, the cover looks just as gorg as the first!
August 11, 2025
The thing with this one is (and ditto Ocean), there are a lot of characters to keep track of. (And the narration switched between using their first names and last names, which added extra confusion to the pile, so I could do without that, honestly). And I was feeling overwhelmed, I was. But when I finally got into the story and started to remember the characters, things really took off. And I daresay I liked this one a bit better than the first, even! The excitement is ramped up, and the characters felt even more fully developed, as did their relationships. The ending felt completely satisfying, and while it doesn't say whether the series has officially concluded, it could be and feel complete and wrapped up, so I love that for us.
Bottom Line: An exciting space adventure with some great (albeit numerous) characters makes for a very entertaining and satisfying sequel!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Bottom Line: An exciting space adventure with some great (albeit numerous) characters makes for a very entertaining and satisfying sequel!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
August 10, 2025
This one didn’t hook me as fast as the first one did; it’s slower paced, takes its time setting everything up, and I have to admit the plot was secondary - but I like character-driven stories, so I don’t mind.
The writing threw me off a little in the beginning; it felt stiff and a little forced, but it may have settled later on or I got used to it because I stopped noticing. I also missed Ocean a bit, but there were more POVs here that allowed us to get to know some other characters better. I loved the way the relationships were built brick by brick and layered with little symbolism that makes them unique, and the ending hit me in the feels and I almost cried so I’ll round it all up to 5 stars!
All in all a fun and light space opera with big themes of found family, companionship and trust!
The writing threw me off a little in the beginning; it felt stiff and a little forced, but it may have settled later on or I got used to it because I stopped noticing. I also missed Ocean a bit, but there were more POVs here that allowed us to get to know some other characters better. I loved the way the relationships were built brick by brick and layered with little symbolism that makes them unique, and the ending hit me in the feels and I almost cried so I’ll round it all up to 5 stars!
All in all a fun and light space opera with big themes of found family, companionship and trust!
August 1, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Warning: spoilers for Teo's Durumi ahead (placed behind spoiler tags).
For such an action packed novel, Teo's Durumi maintains the intimate nature of its predecessor, emphasising the complicated but heartwarming nature of found families comprised of those who have never fit into their pre-ordained place in society. Teo's Durumi picks up right where we left Ocean and her crew crash landing on the Moon at the end of Ocean's Godori after being chased by both the authorities of the galaxy and their enemies who want to destroy the alliance. Teo is now a fugitive who's been set up and falsely accused of murdering his family and this sequel centres around him with the aid of Ocean trying to clear his name and getting justice not only for himself and his family but also for the millions of people his family has exploited.
The first half is a introspective comedown from the ship chase we ended on and focuses on the crew recuperating on the Moon with two political players who are important figures from Ocean and Teo's past. Cho spends a lot of this time exploring the ever increasingly complicated relationships Ocean and Teo have as their past and present clash. There's a lot of angst on both sides but Teo and Phoenix's relationship gets most of the development alongside their initial attraction and it was nice to read how well they complement each other. I will get to Ocean and Haven's angst as they deserve their own paragraph... The second half focuses around their final stand . I think it was a fun and creative plan and Cho can write a good action scene and overall I was satisfied with the ending even if it was conveniently tied off.
Interspersed throughout this are scenes about Corvus, the antagonist and his followers where his tragic backstory and motivations are revealed. They aim to humanise and shed light into his actions and his past suffering due to Teo's father's mining empire but there's a lot of cognitive dissonance going on given his current actions are horrifying. It's hard to sympathise with a character who is basically a hypocrite and refuses to have any insight into the harm they are causing. I think this plot point was also abruptly introduced making it quite jarring and ultimately Corvus felt like a melodramatic villain. The ideas he represents are good and worth exploring but the execution could have been more elegant.
Now Ocean and Haven, where do I even start. I love this pair and I think Elaine Cho writes yearning so incredibly well. She's able to create fantastic romantic chemistry which is impressive for a new author. The will-they-won't-they aspect is such a key draw for me but I also think it was dragged out to ad infinitum until literally the final page. The tension is mostly on Haven's side, he is, I think, quite desperately trying to cling onto his old identity and original goal of returning back home after his adventure to avoid the inevitable hurt of rejection by society and in extension Ocean which is something he is used to but nonetheless still hurts. Ocean herself tries to push him away, emphasising her choices that she knows Haven hates in theory but they can never really stay away from each other. Haven is my favourite character, he grows a lot but never strays away from his core self and I think his acceptance of Ocean demonstrates this. Killing is bad but it's also complicated for Ocean who never regrets her actions to protect the ones she loves which is something Haven accepts is more nuanced than he previously thought. The contrast is smart given that his culture revolves around death rites. I also love the theme of people who've gone on a journey and realising that they have changed and can never really return to home or the person/life they used to be/have.
Warning: spoilers for Teo's Durumi ahead (placed behind spoiler tags).
For such an action packed novel, Teo's Durumi maintains the intimate nature of its predecessor, emphasising the complicated but heartwarming nature of found families comprised of those who have never fit into their pre-ordained place in society. Teo's Durumi picks up right where we left Ocean and her crew crash landing on the Moon at the end of Ocean's Godori after being chased by both the authorities of the galaxy and their enemies who want to destroy the alliance. Teo is now a fugitive who's been set up and falsely accused of murdering his family and this sequel centres around him with the aid of Ocean trying to clear his name and getting justice not only for himself and his family but also for the millions of people his family has exploited.
The first half is a introspective comedown from the ship chase we ended on and focuses on the crew recuperating on the Moon with two political players who are important figures from Ocean and Teo's past. Cho spends a lot of this time exploring the ever increasingly complicated relationships Ocean and Teo have as their past and present clash. There's a lot of angst on both sides but Teo and Phoenix's relationship gets most of the development alongside their initial attraction and it was nice to read how well they complement each other. I will get to Ocean and Haven's angst as they deserve their own paragraph... The second half focuses around their final stand . I think it was a fun and creative plan and Cho can write a good action scene and overall I was satisfied with the ending even if it was conveniently tied off.
Interspersed throughout this are scenes about Corvus, the antagonist and his followers where his tragic backstory and motivations are revealed. They aim to humanise and shed light into his actions and his past suffering due to Teo's father's mining empire but there's a lot of cognitive dissonance going on given his current actions are horrifying. It's hard to sympathise with a character who is basically a hypocrite and refuses to have any insight into the harm they are causing. I think this plot point was also abruptly introduced making it quite jarring and ultimately Corvus felt like a melodramatic villain. The ideas he represents are good and worth exploring but the execution could have been more elegant.
Now Ocean and Haven, where do I even start. I love this pair and I think Elaine Cho writes yearning so incredibly well. She's able to create fantastic romantic chemistry which is impressive for a new author. The will-they-won't-they aspect is such a key draw for me but I also think it was dragged out to ad infinitum until literally the final page. The tension is mostly on Haven's side, he is, I think, quite desperately trying to cling onto his old identity and original goal of returning back home after his adventure to avoid the inevitable hurt of rejection by society and in extension Ocean which is something he is used to but nonetheless still hurts. Ocean herself tries to push him away, emphasising her choices that she knows Haven hates in theory but they can never really stay away from each other. Haven is my favourite character, he grows a lot but never strays away from his core self and I think his acceptance of Ocean demonstrates this. Killing is bad but it's also complicated for Ocean who never regrets her actions to protect the ones she loves which is something Haven accepts is more nuanced than he previously thought. The contrast is smart given that his culture revolves around death rites. I also love the theme of people who've gone on a journey and realising that they have changed and can never really return to home or the person/life they used to be/have.
September 21, 2025
Over all a very good two book series. I think it was written in one piece as a whole and the publisher decided to split it in two rather than one 600+ page book. The story is good, the writing is also good but -for me- where she really shines is in her characters. I liked this crew so much and even the bad guy was treated as a human being .... at least in the beginning; he did get a strong pure evil super villian persona towards the end. And if there was a weak spot -for me- it was in that ending which went on a little long for me and followed the same old path.
I can't wait to see what she writes next.
I can't wait to see what she writes next.
June 9, 2025
WOWIE KAZOWIE! This duology was so fantastic!! Not a word was wasted. I am anxiously and impatiently awaiting Elaine’s next book✨
October 21, 2025
I really like the way characters look and think about each other in this duology.
June 29, 2025
When a pilot crash lands and loses her ship, she must think of who she is without it. Such is the beginning of the second installment of The Alliance series by Elaine Cho. Ocean is the pilot who is the central character in the first novel, but she is just one of many personalities here. This novel titled Teo’s Durumi, seems to be so different from the last. I did not get the excitement that I found in the last novel, as this one was mostly conversations between many characters. The author seemed to be wanting to reveal these characters’ pasts and utilized small scenes between them to do so. I missed the science fiction that was in the first one, which is minimized while putting dialogue in. Despite the added information of the characters, there was no real drive for me to push forward in this novel. I enjoyed more of the Korean food and culture, but the ending was predictable and could have been revealed much sooner. However I appreciate the chance to read it, thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Zando.
August 21, 2025
Sadly I didn’t enjoy this one either. There’s very little plot and what plot there is all happens in the final 20% of the book. This is supposed to be a character driven story but sadly none of the characters are really compelling and all feel half baked. The romances especially are not convincing whatsoever and also felt incomplete. Even the villain’s motivations were really weak, even though ironically enough his POV chapters were the most well written. The 2 books really suffered from not having a solid identity, they tried to do too many different things and sadly did none of them well
October 12, 2025
Ocean's Godori felt like a introduction. It set the stage, introduced the cast, and gave us a big bad to watch out for. This, on the other hand, was all payoff. Which is nice, since this is a duology. It took all the loose plot lines of book one and threaded it into a satisfying end.
The way that the romance is written is also sooooo good. Like all the lingering glances and subtle touches that send pulses racing was so fun to read. Plus with 2 different relationships to follow it was nice to have a more fast pace romance and a slow burn one develop side by side. Like I love slow burn, but it was nice to have the more immediate passion between Teo and Phoenix while the slow burn for Ocean plays out.
I thought the action scenes involving the car and spaceship chases were well choreographed, though when it came to the hand to hand combat I had a harder time understanding what was going on.
And for some spoilery commentary;
I really appreciate having this short series to finish, and I can't say I really have much to complain about. This was just a solid sci fi series from start to finish.
The way that the romance is written is also sooooo good. Like all the lingering glances and subtle touches that send pulses racing was so fun to read. Plus with 2 different relationships to follow it was nice to have a more fast pace romance and a slow burn one develop side by side. Like I love slow burn, but it was nice to have the more immediate passion between Teo and Phoenix while the slow burn for Ocean plays out.
I thought the action scenes involving the car and spaceship chases were well choreographed, though when it came to the hand to hand combat I had a harder time understanding what was going on.
And for some spoilery commentary;
I really appreciate having this short series to finish, and I can't say I really have much to complain about. This was just a solid sci fi series from start to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2025
I may have squealed wildly when I received this ebook ARC from Netgalley. Ocean's Godori was one of my favorite sci-fi reads in recent times, a rare reread even before I knew the sequel was imminent. This picks up almost immediately after where the last book left off -- shortly after the crew crash landed into the swimming pool of a Korean scholar commune on the Moon. A lot more of this story is intrigue and action than the last one, and at times seems to suffer from an overabundance of POVs, but ultimately it all serves well to make for an exceedingly vivid narrative. Even though the title indicates a Teo-centric plot, this is still a continuation of the utterly heartwarming and pure bond between Ocean and Teo, and the extremely lovable and quirky crew of misfits and rebels that coalesces around them. Their individual romance plots progress in very distinct and believable ways, with Teo and Phoenix being Shakespearean, while Haven and Ocean's KDrama levels of impossible yearning. Literally every single crew member gets to have their own little arc that intersects with everyone else's emotional arc. It is such a brilliant way to simultaneously do effective worldbuilding and also ground the narrative in the absolutely crackling chemistry in a large crew of characters. This more than covers up for the occasional clunkiness of the pacing and the villain trajectory and the improbability of certain convenient resolutions to complicated political and societal knots that the crew is stuck in. But I'm more than willing to chalk it up to a debut author quirk. While I'm glad there isn't more sequel bait, I will miss this crew and think of them for a long time. Definitely will be checking out the audiobook when it releases. Now someone PLEASE adapt this for the screen!
August 5, 2025
Teo's Durumi was a great read. It continued Ocean's Godori, an action-packed space drama with the focus on Ocean (the Crane, Humingbird, or Headshot), an ace pilot or crack shot or both at the same time, and her best friend Teo, the second son of an intergalactically wealthy family, who gives everyone the impression he's a wastrel but is much more. And we get the cornucopia of the crew and soon-to-be-found family of Phoenix, Gemini, Aries, Cass, Maggie, Lupus, Dae, and Haven. What was just hinted at in Ocean's Godori is fleshed out in Teo's Durumi. We get POVs from everyone, and it is fantastic. Throw in super bad guy Corvus, his clan of psychologically damaged crew, and others, and it makes for an, at times, heartbreaking adventure.
Elaine Cho takes the time to make her characters more than what is on the surface. Although the relationship between Ocean and Haven nearly had me pulling my hair out, it did fit perfectly in the setting and atmosphere of the book. That atmosphere where Korea is a major player in the world, and that culture colors everything. There is classicism, prejudice, and the ever-present Korean ideal of obedient children honoring the family, and what it does to the psyche of the children when they don't meet those familial expectations. There's a lot going on, interspersing into this book's main subject, stop Corvus. My angst levels were so high, I didn't want to read the final showdown out of fear that I was going to lose one of the gang. I made it through--you will have to read for yourself to know if my fears were unfounded.
This made for an excellent duology and this will be one of my favorites from 2025.
Thank you, NetGalley and Zando|Hillman Grad Books, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.
Elaine Cho takes the time to make her characters more than what is on the surface. Although the relationship between Ocean and Haven nearly had me pulling my hair out, it did fit perfectly in the setting and atmosphere of the book. That atmosphere where Korea is a major player in the world, and that culture colors everything. There is classicism, prejudice, and the ever-present Korean ideal of obedient children honoring the family, and what it does to the psyche of the children when they don't meet those familial expectations. There's a lot going on, interspersing into this book's main subject, stop Corvus. My angst levels were so high, I didn't want to read the final showdown out of fear that I was going to lose one of the gang. I made it through--you will have to read for yourself to know if my fears were unfounded.
This made for an excellent duology and this will be one of my favorites from 2025.
Thank you, NetGalley and Zando|Hillman Grad Books, for the eArc. These opinions are mine.
July 29, 2025
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review
This continuation of Ocean’s Goderi wraps up the story started in book one in a satisfying way,
I enjoyed this book, but it paled a little in comparison to the first. Not in terms of the characterization or the prose, but more so because it feels like it lost momentum from the first book. It takes a great while to get this one started, as the characters spend the first third to almost one half just sort of sitting around for the most part - rather than over the plot, they react to things that happened ot them, which wasn’t as engaging as their circumstances in the previous novel. There were times when I wondered why this couldn’t have been trimmed down a little bit, as I struggled a) to remember who everyone was despite the handy re-cap at the start and b) to see where the story was going.
But once it shook this off, the novel is very compelling with interesting character arcs and interactions, and two love stories that are similar in circumstance but different in approach. The depth of feeling between the two pairs of lovers is really well developed, though some might find it overly dramatic (but I liked it). The villain, Corvus, also gets some backstory, which was helpful in understanding him, though while his invention was really fascinating, his motives were a bit suspect, given that he has the same background as Phoenix (yet Phoenix wasn’t a lunatic). If why they diverged had been approached more, it might have worked better for me.
The action scenes were great and the dialogue slaps, so if you enjoyed Ocean’s Godori, it is well worth checking out the conclusion!
This continuation of Ocean’s Goderi wraps up the story started in book one in a satisfying way,
I enjoyed this book, but it paled a little in comparison to the first. Not in terms of the characterization or the prose, but more so because it feels like it lost momentum from the first book. It takes a great while to get this one started, as the characters spend the first third to almost one half just sort of sitting around for the most part - rather than over the plot, they react to things that happened ot them, which wasn’t as engaging as their circumstances in the previous novel. There were times when I wondered why this couldn’t have been trimmed down a little bit, as I struggled a) to remember who everyone was despite the handy re-cap at the start and b) to see where the story was going.
But once it shook this off, the novel is very compelling with interesting character arcs and interactions, and two love stories that are similar in circumstance but different in approach. The depth of feeling between the two pairs of lovers is really well developed, though some might find it overly dramatic (but I liked it). The villain, Corvus, also gets some backstory, which was helpful in understanding him, though while his invention was really fascinating, his motives were a bit suspect, given that he has the same background as Phoenix (yet Phoenix wasn’t a lunatic). If why they diverged had been approached more, it might have worked better for me.
The action scenes were great and the dialogue slaps, so if you enjoyed Ocean’s Godori, it is well worth checking out the conclusion!
April 30, 2025
4.5⭐️
Thank you so much to Zando and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!
SPOILERS FOR Ocean’s Godori
This book picks up exactly where Ocean’s Godori left off. The joint crew of the Pandia and Ohnuel have landed on the Moon. Narrowly avoiding an attack by the group that framed Teo for the murder of his family, they now have to figure out their next steps. Both towards clearing Teo’s name and fixing where his family went wrong all those years ago.
This book was brilliant. It was super action packed while also taking time to focus on the characters personal lives and the more severe issues regarding interplanetary trade.
This book is definitely more focused on the plot rather than the characters. By this point, a few relationships are already established and the others still have that push and pull dynamic. It was interesting to see the latter evolve as the plot forced them closer together.
I was honestly kind of worried as we encroached the halfway point that this book wouldn’t wrap up and cleanly as it needed to. I was very wrong. Despite so much of the final confrontation being packed into the last 30% of the book, it didn’t feel rushed at all. The final scenes pulled on the characters strengths and weaknesses and formed a satisfying conclusion for both the character relationships and the overarching conflict.
Thank you so much to Zando and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book!
SPOILERS FOR Ocean’s Godori
This book picks up exactly where Ocean’s Godori left off. The joint crew of the Pandia and Ohnuel have landed on the Moon. Narrowly avoiding an attack by the group that framed Teo for the murder of his family, they now have to figure out their next steps. Both towards clearing Teo’s name and fixing where his family went wrong all those years ago.
This book was brilliant. It was super action packed while also taking time to focus on the characters personal lives and the more severe issues regarding interplanetary trade.
This book is definitely more focused on the plot rather than the characters. By this point, a few relationships are already established and the others still have that push and pull dynamic. It was interesting to see the latter evolve as the plot forced them closer together.
I was honestly kind of worried as we encroached the halfway point that this book wouldn’t wrap up and cleanly as it needed to. I was very wrong. Despite so much of the final confrontation being packed into the last 30% of the book, it didn’t feel rushed at all. The final scenes pulled on the characters strengths and weaknesses and formed a satisfying conclusion for both the character relationships and the overarching conflict.
August 19, 2025
Wowowowowowow, the final saga of The Alliance book series...and it was spectacular! In book one we had a lot of set up of our amazing cast, their motivations, their hopes, and what they want out of the endeavors they are facing. And when the pressure hits, who are they really? Book two really solidifies alliances and enemies, diving deeper into the Alliance world and what our squad is going to do to clear Teo's name for the alleged murder of his whole family. Corvus's motives are better understood which humanized him to me since we got to see at the end of the day he isn't an evil genius, he's a broken human being. I really loved the deeper interplay of the characters today with some crazy action packed fight scenes and the TENSION between Haven and Ocean really had me going crazy (in the best way). I also felt like although we are in a scifi world, this novel is so much more about facing the type of person you were, who you are now, and who you want to be and we see almost all of our characters go through some form of "moving" forward, whether its in their careers or from the Alliance or from their own pasts. I loved loved loved it and this world and I really wish there was another book in the series because I could follow this cast forever.
January 6, 2026
This book had a SPECTACULAR finale, and I truly love the author's style (it really stands out and feels fresh). But I'm conflicted about this book.
There's really original and intriguing sci-fi tech, beautiful action sequences, and great stakes. The author's prose really serve the action sequences, political maneuvering, and gives the characters' internal dialog a sense of urgency and grounding.
That being said, the first 2/3 of this book are almost a slice of life while the crew is in hiding. There's a bit of a repetitive will they/won't they from a few different couples, and the plot takes a while to even settle in. This brings the momentum from the end of the last book (which I adore) to a bit of a screeching halt. This section, unfortunately for me, dragged on too long.
There WERE some beautiful bits of philosophy sprinkled throughout the fiest 2/3, about the nature of family and what children are responsible for and what their parents leave with them.
But ultimately, there was a much more interesting plot that I was waiting on and it took a very long time to get there.
Still love this author, and I'll for sure be picking up the next book they write!
There's really original and intriguing sci-fi tech, beautiful action sequences, and great stakes. The author's prose really serve the action sequences, political maneuvering, and gives the characters' internal dialog a sense of urgency and grounding.
That being said, the first 2/3 of this book are almost a slice of life while the crew is in hiding. There's a bit of a repetitive will they/won't they from a few different couples, and the plot takes a while to even settle in. This brings the momentum from the end of the last book (which I adore) to a bit of a screeching halt. This section, unfortunately for me, dragged on too long.
There WERE some beautiful bits of philosophy sprinkled throughout the fiest 2/3, about the nature of family and what children are responsible for and what their parents leave with them.
But ultimately, there was a much more interesting plot that I was waiting on and it took a very long time to get there.
Still love this author, and I'll for sure be picking up the next book they write!
August 26, 2025
I loved this book so much! I think that the relationships between each of the characters were so well done!
I got the oppressive to listen to the author talk about the book and she explained the POV of the duology being of a fly on the wall. I think this is the perfect explanation.
I also really appreciated the different types of romantic relationships we saw, along with the various types of platonic relationships. I think that the main gay relationship was very well written and it wasn’t like they were “others,” they were just two guys who liked each other. It also didn’t fall into a “male and female” role either. They were both allowed to be big softy manly men.
I liked the slow burn aspect too and the confession of feeling as she was in a verrrry stressful relationship.
I think that the difference between found and forced family was also a nice highlight, there was also great examples of the contrast of friends and obsession.
Honestly recommend this duology to anyone who like cyper punk, space, space ships, romance, comedy, or anything influenced by asian culture!
I got the oppressive to listen to the author talk about the book and she explained the POV of the duology being of a fly on the wall. I think this is the perfect explanation.
I also really appreciated the different types of romantic relationships we saw, along with the various types of platonic relationships. I think that the main gay relationship was very well written and it wasn’t like they were “others,” they were just two guys who liked each other. It also didn’t fall into a “male and female” role either. They were both allowed to be big softy manly men.
I liked the slow burn aspect too and the confession of feeling as she was in a verrrry stressful relationship.
I think that the difference between found and forced family was also a nice highlight, there was also great examples of the contrast of friends and obsession.
Honestly recommend this duology to anyone who like cyper punk, space, space ships, romance, comedy, or anything influenced by asian culture!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
Advanced reader's copy review
This book y’all! I was absolutely blown away! I could fill an entire paragraph with my thoughts on the first six pages alone. It was one of the best openings to a sequel I have ever read, reintroducing the characters and summarizing the major plot points of the last book in such a clever way. And from then on the book was full speed ahead, with a fast pace and lots of action. I was one the edge of my seat the whole time, even in seemingly quiet moments that were secretly politically maneuvering and scheming. But no matter the plot I would have read every word, as I love the characters that much. They are such an amazing found family with so much love. Ocean and Teo are truly platonic soulmates, and they both grew so much over the course of this book. Teo in particular really came into his own and showed his true genius and heart. Ocean was able to process so much of her lingering grief and come out stronger and ready to build a happier future for herself. Sasani had similar development as he wrestled with his place in the world. The last character that had truly phenomenal development was the villain, Corvus. He had an incredibly well written descent into madness that culminated in a dramatic finale for everyone. The ending was absolutely action packed and a thrilling conclusion to the events of the duology. The epilogue was a sweet add on that wrapped up the characters and gave them all beautiful, hopeful futures. All this is to say that I love this book and duology with all my heart and cannot recommend it enough!
Thank you Zando/Hillman Grad Books and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book y’all! I was absolutely blown away! I could fill an entire paragraph with my thoughts on the first six pages alone. It was one of the best openings to a sequel I have ever read, reintroducing the characters and summarizing the major plot points of the last book in such a clever way. And from then on the book was full speed ahead, with a fast pace and lots of action. I was one the edge of my seat the whole time, even in seemingly quiet moments that were secretly politically maneuvering and scheming. But no matter the plot I would have read every word, as I love the characters that much. They are such an amazing found family with so much love. Ocean and Teo are truly platonic soulmates, and they both grew so much over the course of this book. Teo in particular really came into his own and showed his true genius and heart. Ocean was able to process so much of her lingering grief and come out stronger and ready to build a happier future for herself. Sasani had similar development as he wrestled with his place in the world. The last character that had truly phenomenal development was the villain, Corvus. He had an incredibly well written descent into madness that culminated in a dramatic finale for everyone. The ending was absolutely action packed and a thrilling conclusion to the events of the duology. The epilogue was a sweet add on that wrapped up the characters and gave them all beautiful, hopeful futures. All this is to say that I love this book and duology with all my heart and cannot recommend it enough!
Thank you Zando/Hillman Grad Books and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
August 5, 2025
✨ ARC Book Review ✨
Thanks to NetGalley and Zando Projects for the eARC of this novel!
Teo’s Durumi picks up almost exactly where Ocean’s Godori ends. To understand this novel, you need to have read Ocean’s Godori as this novel does not work as a standalone. Truthfully, my recommendation would be to read these books back to back because they almost read as one long novel instead of two separate ones.
I enjoyed this novel, but I think I liked Ocean’s Godori more. For me, there were a few too many points of view in this book, and I definitely cared about some of the characters more than others. Additionally, I felt like this book slowed down a bit in the middle before its action-packed ending, which I really enjoyed!
If you are looking for a fun space duology, or are looking for a series based on Korean culture, I would definitely check both of these books out.
Thanks to NetGalley and Zando Projects for the eARC of this novel!
Teo’s Durumi picks up almost exactly where Ocean’s Godori ends. To understand this novel, you need to have read Ocean’s Godori as this novel does not work as a standalone. Truthfully, my recommendation would be to read these books back to back because they almost read as one long novel instead of two separate ones.
I enjoyed this novel, but I think I liked Ocean’s Godori more. For me, there were a few too many points of view in this book, and I definitely cared about some of the characters more than others. Additionally, I felt like this book slowed down a bit in the middle before its action-packed ending, which I really enjoyed!
If you are looking for a fun space duology, or are looking for a series based on Korean culture, I would definitely check both of these books out.
August 5, 2025
I liked the first book a lot and was really looking forward to this sequel, but I honestly didn't expect to LOVE this book as much as I did.
Teo's Durumi made me feel so many feelings, but mostly it made me feel happy. In this story full of heartbreak, grief, fighting and self-doubts... there was so much warmth. People talking to each other. People misunderstanding each other. People trying *again*. Not giving up on someone.
It was so nice to see a group of people I actually believed was learning to genuinely LIKE each other.
Also. Teo and Phoenix. Chef's kiss!
My other little ship that could didn't sail, but I totally understood. (Still think there should be at least one more book and then we can have an OT3. I think it could totally work. I WILL die on this hill.)
I really want to read more stories about these characters and their adventures together.
Teo's Durumi made me feel so many feelings, but mostly it made me feel happy. In this story full of heartbreak, grief, fighting and self-doubts... there was so much warmth. People talking to each other. People misunderstanding each other. People trying *again*. Not giving up on someone.
It was so nice to see a group of people I actually believed was learning to genuinely LIKE each other.
Also. Teo and Phoenix. Chef's kiss!
My other little ship that could didn't sail, but I totally understood. (Still think there should be at least one more book and then we can have an OT3. I think it could totally work. I WILL die on this hill.)
I really want to read more stories about these characters and their adventures together.
March 5, 2025
A really great sequel to Ocean’s Godori that completes each main characters arc in a satisfying way.
This book picks up right where the first one left off, after a very helpful recap on the characters from the last book. It continues the main conflict and introduces a few more characters. I really appreciated that the main antagonist of the story was fleshed out. It really helped pull things together. The main romance is also continued and I thought the way it wrapped up was nice, but the love triangle bit went on for just a bit too long. I really enjoyed how to the conflict wrapped up and how the stakes were raised more from the last book.
It was really great to dive back into this story and serves as a great conclusion.
This book picks up right where the first one left off, after a very helpful recap on the characters from the last book. It continues the main conflict and introduces a few more characters. I really appreciated that the main antagonist of the story was fleshed out. It really helped pull things together. The main romance is also continued and I thought the way it wrapped up was nice, but the love triangle bit went on for just a bit too long. I really enjoyed how to the conflict wrapped up and how the stakes were raised more from the last book.
It was really great to dive back into this story and serves as a great conclusion.
Did not finish
August 3, 2025This is a character driven space adventure, with romance, politics, and action. It's the kind of book i will occasionally love beyond reason. But so many times they just fall short. Not even for any specific reason. With this book I was intrigued by the excellent world building and diverse characters with interesting back stories. But I found myself never really engaging with the plot or feeling a connection with the characters. I felt the same with oceans godori but thought I liked it enough to try this second in the series. At the halfway point I felt like I was forcing myself to read it and gave up.
September 9, 2025
Man. Oh man. Elaine U. Cho has written an absolutely killer sequel, and now I think I would follow this woman's words to the edge of the earth. Her characters are some of the most compelling I've ever read, and her ability to create a strong emotional atmosphere, to play with tension, is at its peak here.
March 19, 2025
*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book.*
If you enjoyed Ocean's Godori, you will also enjoy Theo's Durumi. I just love the crew, the story is somewhat secondary for me and not all of it made sense. The slow burn romance bits were tragic and hilarious at the same time, I especially love Haven. I'm glad the story has been somewhat concluded though I would love to read more stories set in this universe and with the dramatic personnel from this series.
4 stars because the story is a bit much & I got confused by some of the characters
If you enjoyed Ocean's Godori, you will also enjoy Theo's Durumi. I just love the crew, the story is somewhat secondary for me and not all of it made sense. The slow burn romance bits were tragic and hilarious at the same time, I especially love Haven. I'm glad the story has been somewhat concluded though I would love to read more stories set in this universe and with the dramatic personnel from this series.
4 stars because the story is a bit much & I got confused by some of the characters
August 9, 2025
I really love this duology. This was a great conclusion to the story. It was exciting and touching and I love the character growth from the last book. I’m also a sucker for found family. Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc but it came on publication day so I had already preordered the audiobook so that’s how I read this one. I had a blast with this series and I kind hope we get to do more space robin hooding with this crew.
August 21, 2025
I love ‘Ocean’s Godori’ with every fibre of my being and found ‘Teo’s Durumi’ to be a very worthwhile continuation. The story brought the characters to an excellent pause point in what I sincerely hope will be just the first of many more stories in this fictional universe.
This duology is an absolute must-read for fans of space opera who appreciate character depth and complicated relationships, and I will be eagerly anticipating more stories from this author in the future.
This duology is an absolute must-read for fans of space opera who appreciate character depth and complicated relationships, and I will be eagerly anticipating more stories from this author in the future.
September 13, 2025
This is a testament to Cho's writing because a vast majority of this book was just people sitting and talking and I was still enthralled.
Ocean's Godori drops you into this future world and then rockets off with a sprawling and epic space opera plot that draws you in for a wild ride. Teo's Durumi on the other hand takes its gas off the pedal and lets everything simmer for a good long while, focusing more on the character drama it is. It's quite fitting for the two characters the books are named after.
The final battle had me turning pages at break neck speed and it was all wonderfully finished in a completely satisfying way.
Ocean's Godori drops you into this future world and then rockets off with a sprawling and epic space opera plot that draws you in for a wild ride. Teo's Durumi on the other hand takes its gas off the pedal and lets everything simmer for a good long while, focusing more on the character drama it is. It's quite fitting for the two characters the books are named after.
The final battle had me turning pages at break neck speed and it was all wonderfully finished in a completely satisfying way.
February 20, 2025
EArc provided by NetGalley
Von's little recap at the start is something which should be present in more books
Once this is published I will be acquiring a copy
I can't heap enough praise upon this series, it scratches the itch in my gay lil heart. The queer rep combined with said queer people not all being white, interracial relationships not being white/other. This is a book that makes me feel seen, despite the utter idiocy of some characters. I'm looking at you Ocean/Sasani angst.
The ending was A** and I felt fulfilled by it, if we are blessed by a sequel I'll be reading if not I'll be rereading.
Von's little recap at the start is something which should be present in more books
Once this is published I will be acquiring a copy
I can't heap enough praise upon this series, it scratches the itch in my gay lil heart. The queer rep combined with said queer people not all being white, interracial relationships not being white/other. This is a book that makes me feel seen, despite the utter idiocy of some characters. I'm looking at you Ocean/Sasani angst.
The ending was A** and I felt fulfilled by it, if we are blessed by a sequel I'll be reading if not I'll be rereading.
September 10, 2025
The next book after the Master of Djinn that heavily carries the Made in the US stamp despite wanting to be different and in this case explicitly Korean. Well, the universe is interesting but the characters behave and talk like a mix of Hollywood and high-school. This is where these books sadly fall short of the Becky Chambers comparison. Also, what tech level are we on? Deep fake suits but no iv painkillers in a medic's bag?
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