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The Sky Pirates of Imperia #1
Cello's Gate
“The most fun I've had reading this year.”
- Smitty (Smitty1423)
“Cello’s Gate truly was the wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure I didn’t know I needed in my life. It’s epic yet intimate, dark yet light-hearted, playful yet emotional, and it’s got a fun factor that just soars higher than the sky. Ghandammit frens, this is how you write one hell of a debut!”
- Esmay Rosalyne (Grimdark Magazine)
"My absolute favorite book of the year. Africh is a lyrical wordsmith, a poet who can turn a phrase into a strand of gold."
- Phoenix McDonald (Author of The Talent Continuum)
“The pacing is brisk, like being chased through a collapsing cathedral… (Africh) clearly understands the balance between character development, creative bloodshed, and pitch-black humor… The world-building is dense and rich, a fusion of tech and magic; cities ruled by immortal tyrants, knights who fight like the wind, and monsters. The magic system is sparse, just enough to salt the story. The prose is witty. Occasionally poetic. Frequently unhinged. It feels like (Africh) dared you to laugh at tragedy, and then made you cry in the next paragraph.”
- Florian Armas (Author of Chronicle of the Seer)
"From the start, this book gripped me."
- Jonathan Neves Mayers (Author of Vevin Song)
"I swear I've been WAITING for someone to write this book."
- Ash (Readers Quadrant Art)
Captain Grey and his crew of sky pirates have a reputation for doing the impossible. From breaking into high-security military research facilities to conning the iCity elite—there isn’t a lock they can’t pick, a safe they can’t break, or a hidden treasure they can’t find. Until now.
Returning from a harrowing heist involving a neon battery and a trash chute, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor—and she has an offer.
The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo—seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that’s protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that’s where things get a little complicated.
The stones don’t exist. They’re a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough.
And to make matters infinitely worse, Grey’s never trusted immortals, and Dalia’s definitely hiding something. Something bad. And if they don’t figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives.
ONE CREW OF SKY PIRATES
SEVEN MYTHOLOGICAL STONES
A RACE TO FIND THEM ALL
- Smitty (Smitty1423)
“Cello’s Gate truly was the wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure I didn’t know I needed in my life. It’s epic yet intimate, dark yet light-hearted, playful yet emotional, and it’s got a fun factor that just soars higher than the sky. Ghandammit frens, this is how you write one hell of a debut!”
- Esmay Rosalyne (Grimdark Magazine)
"My absolute favorite book of the year. Africh is a lyrical wordsmith, a poet who can turn a phrase into a strand of gold."
- Phoenix McDonald (Author of The Talent Continuum)
“The pacing is brisk, like being chased through a collapsing cathedral… (Africh) clearly understands the balance between character development, creative bloodshed, and pitch-black humor… The world-building is dense and rich, a fusion of tech and magic; cities ruled by immortal tyrants, knights who fight like the wind, and monsters. The magic system is sparse, just enough to salt the story. The prose is witty. Occasionally poetic. Frequently unhinged. It feels like (Africh) dared you to laugh at tragedy, and then made you cry in the next paragraph.”
- Florian Armas (Author of Chronicle of the Seer)
"From the start, this book gripped me."
- Jonathan Neves Mayers (Author of Vevin Song)
"I swear I've been WAITING for someone to write this book."
- Ash (Readers Quadrant Art)
Captain Grey and his crew of sky pirates have a reputation for doing the impossible. From breaking into high-security military research facilities to conning the iCity elite—there isn’t a lock they can’t pick, a safe they can’t break, or a hidden treasure they can’t find. Until now.
Returning from a harrowing heist involving a neon battery and a trash chute, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor—and she has an offer.
The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo—seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that’s protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that’s where things get a little complicated.
The stones don’t exist. They’re a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough.
And to make matters infinitely worse, Grey’s never trusted immortals, and Dalia’s definitely hiding something. Something bad. And if they don’t figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives.
ONE CREW OF SKY PIRATES
SEVEN MYTHOLOGICAL STONES
A RACE TO FIND THEM ALL
588 pages, Paperback
Published March 27, 2025
288 people are currently reading
7087 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
September 17, 2025
One of my most fun reads of the year. This novel had a mix of all my favorite stories wrapped up in a bow. I think this is going to be a series (based on the stones) and I am excited to read the rest.
4.3/5
4.3/5
Read
December 22, 2025I loved it. But then again, I'm biased.
"Cello's Gate" is my debut novel. It's about sky pirates and mythic knights and immortals. It's a love letter to all the nerdy stuff I spent my formative years building my personality around—Firefly and Final Fantasy and Star Wars. But as a result of that wild amalgamation, it's become something wholly its own.
"The Sky Pirates of Imperia" starts here, but we've still got a long way to go, so buckle up, choose your exit buddy, and don't take your eyes off those propulsion engines; we need those full and functional, yeah? The current flight path is mighty hectic, more than a little bumpy, maybe a little bit ✨️dangerous✨️. That said, don't be expectin' smooth winds, but I'll try my ghandamn best to land this thing in one piece—two pieces, max.
Stay sturdy, frens.
Talk soon.
"Cello's Gate" is my debut novel. It's about sky pirates and mythic knights and immortals. It's a love letter to all the nerdy stuff I spent my formative years building my personality around—Firefly and Final Fantasy and Star Wars. But as a result of that wild amalgamation, it's become something wholly its own.
"The Sky Pirates of Imperia" starts here, but we've still got a long way to go, so buckle up, choose your exit buddy, and don't take your eyes off those propulsion engines; we need those full and functional, yeah? The current flight path is mighty hectic, more than a little bumpy, maybe a little bit ✨️dangerous✨️. That said, don't be expectin' smooth winds, but I'll try my ghandamn best to land this thing in one piece—two pieces, max.
Stay sturdy, frens.
Talk soon.
February 25, 2025
Boy am I glad I requested this from Netgalley because this book turned out to be outstanding. This really scratches my sci-fi itch because I’m always trying to get into it but I need more of a fantasy feel with light sci-fi elements like Christopher Ruocchio, and that’s exactly what this gives me!
This book is about space pirates that get a job from an “Immortal” to find 7 “stones” that are scattered all over the place. What seems to be an easy job turns out to be very difficult since they are shot down on an “abandoned” island and have to survive horrific creatures and a long lost Immortal.
That’s pretty much the sci-fi aspect of it but the fantasy element is that there are people who will come back to life after death, people who can heal wounds or manipulate fauna, etc. It’s a fun romp and I would urge anyone to read it because the characters are amazing, prose is fast and easy, and it’s full of action and adventure.
The only thing I’m worried about is this becoming a 7 book series with 1 book per stone. I think it will become redundant after a point but I had so much fun with this that I’ll read them anyway.
2025 5 Star Reads in Preferential Order
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
Heart of the Mountain by Larry Correia
Once There Were Heroes by Philip C Quaintrell
Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
In The Shadow of Kings by Philip C Quaintrell
Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh
This book is about space pirates that get a job from an “Immortal” to find 7 “stones” that are scattered all over the place. What seems to be an easy job turns out to be very difficult since they are shot down on an “abandoned” island and have to survive horrific creatures and a long lost Immortal.
That’s pretty much the sci-fi aspect of it but the fantasy element is that there are people who will come back to life after death, people who can heal wounds or manipulate fauna, etc. It’s a fun romp and I would urge anyone to read it because the characters are amazing, prose is fast and easy, and it’s full of action and adventure.
The only thing I’m worried about is this becoming a 7 book series with 1 book per stone. I think it will become redundant after a point but I had so much fun with this that I’ll read them anyway.
2025 5 Star Reads in Preferential Order
The Tyranny of Faith by Richard Swan
Heart of the Mountain by Larry Correia
Once There Were Heroes by Philip C Quaintrell
Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
In The Shadow of Kings by Philip C Quaintrell
Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh
April 29, 2025
9/10
TLDR: you follow a group of space pirates, on a quest to retrieve a mythological god stone.
It might sound like a basic premise, but it was a non stop action packed, puzzle solving, rodeo that rarely lets up is pace, and never gets boring.
It feels like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Firefly, and Supernatural all packed into a space pirate bonanza.
Everything and everyone was bursting with so much charm, that this 630 pages went in no time at all.
Maurice has achieved something special here, because the writing just flowed unlike so many books I’ve read before.
And I am really looking forward to continuing the series!
Excellent Maurice! Truly excellent!
TLDR: you follow a group of space pirates, on a quest to retrieve a mythological god stone.
It might sound like a basic premise, but it was a non stop action packed, puzzle solving, rodeo that rarely lets up is pace, and never gets boring.
It feels like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Firefly, and Supernatural all packed into a space pirate bonanza.
Everything and everyone was bursting with so much charm, that this 630 pages went in no time at all.
Maurice has achieved something special here, because the writing just flowed unlike so many books I’ve read before.
And I am really looking forward to continuing the series!
Excellent Maurice! Truly excellent!
March 30, 2025
This review was originally published on Grimdark Magazine
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Well, I don’t know what I was expecting from a sci-fantasy following sky pirates going on a fool’s quest of a treasure hunt, but Cello’s Gate truly was the wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure I didn’t know I needed in my life. It’s epic yet intimate, dark yet light-hearted, playful yet emotional, and it’s got a fun factor that just soars higher than the sky. Ghandammit frens, this is how you write one hell of a debut!
Okay so Cello’s Gate is really one of those books that just hits the ground running and never lets up. And while I am usually not the type of reader who likes to be thrown straight into the action, Africh just made it work oh so well. When we first meet our motley crew of loveable rogues, they are mid-heist, which not only instantly set the stakes and tension sky-high, but which also showcased how this diverse cast of characters works together like an oiled machine as everyone’s unique skills are put on full display.
And so, the sturdy foundation for this absolute romp of an adventure is laid. From the very first page, I totally believed that the charming captain Grey and his ragtag crew would be able to pull off the impossible. So when the immortal daughter of the infamous Archgovernor tasks them with a treasure hunt to steal the Stones of Indigo, which are widely believed to be nothing but pure myth, in return for a bounty that sounds too good to be true? Let’s go baby, we got this, I am IN.
From the very first page, I felt like I was part of this crew; they are my frens, whether they know it or not. Captain Grey immediately captured my heart with his snarky attitude and amusing swagger, but the main reason why I fell head over heels in love with him is because he is not afraid to show his softer, vulnerable side or to admit that he was wrong when things go sideways. The man truly has a heart of gold, and seeing how deeply he cared for his crew and trusted blindly in their abilities just made me feel all the feels.
Though as big a presence as he is on the page, he somehow never overshadowed all the other intriguing and endearing characters who each have their own important role to play in Cello’s Gate. I honestly couldn’t pick a favourite character if I had to (okay lies, it’s probably my girl Dot), and I just loved unpacking everyone’s own emotional baggage throughout all these wild trials and tribulations. I personally loved the balance between the light-hearted banter, soul-stirring introspection, emotionally impactful conversations, and bursts of exhilarating (and often horrifying) action, which all really built up that deep emotional investment and made me fully feel and believe the stakes. Also, do not get me started on the found family vibes; just perfect, no notes.
Now, I do have to admit that the enigmatic big baddie of the story maybe felt a bit underdeveloped compared to the main cast, but I honestly didn’t mind that too much. See, I was just along for the wild ride, and the captivating present tense narration combined with the irresistible air of mystery and intrigue had me so deeply immersed that I honestly felt like I was living and breathing this story myself. Especially once we reached the mysterious abandoned island (which cleverly cancels out all tech), I was just glued to the page, and the section in the maze-like catacombs where everyone got tragically separated had my anxiety and claustrophobia running wild in all the best ways.
Plus, this future (queer-normative!) sci-fantasy world is just SO COOL! Like, not only does it have a fascinating detailed history, rich lore, tense political landscape, and unique flora and fauna, but it’s also inhabited by sky pirates in spaceships, enigmatic immortal baddies, powerful mystics, honourable sword wielding knights, and gunslinging guardians. Africh’s wild imagination just continued to surprise me with each new turn of the page, and I absolutely loved how he was able to capture and maintain that mystical fantasy vibe I so adore while also bringing in so many excitingly fresh modern tech elements.
While Cello’s Gate is truly unlike anything I have ever read, I think especially fans of Django Wexler’s Burningblade & Silvereye series, Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, and Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb series will find so much to love here. There truly wasn’t a single dull moment in Cello’s Gate for me, and the diabolical twists and turns during the heart pounding ending would’ve made me fly straight into book 2 if that had been available. Honestly, forget about the Ghandamned mythical Stones, this book itself was the true treasure all along.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
Well, I don’t know what I was expecting from a sci-fantasy following sky pirates going on a fool’s quest of a treasure hunt, but Cello’s Gate truly was the wickedly wild and uniquely imaginative adventure I didn’t know I needed in my life. It’s epic yet intimate, dark yet light-hearted, playful yet emotional, and it’s got a fun factor that just soars higher than the sky. Ghandammit frens, this is how you write one hell of a debut!
Okay so Cello’s Gate is really one of those books that just hits the ground running and never lets up. And while I am usually not the type of reader who likes to be thrown straight into the action, Africh just made it work oh so well. When we first meet our motley crew of loveable rogues, they are mid-heist, which not only instantly set the stakes and tension sky-high, but which also showcased how this diverse cast of characters works together like an oiled machine as everyone’s unique skills are put on full display.
And so, the sturdy foundation for this absolute romp of an adventure is laid. From the very first page, I totally believed that the charming captain Grey and his ragtag crew would be able to pull off the impossible. So when the immortal daughter of the infamous Archgovernor tasks them with a treasure hunt to steal the Stones of Indigo, which are widely believed to be nothing but pure myth, in return for a bounty that sounds too good to be true? Let’s go baby, we got this, I am IN.
From the very first page, I felt like I was part of this crew; they are my frens, whether they know it or not. Captain Grey immediately captured my heart with his snarky attitude and amusing swagger, but the main reason why I fell head over heels in love with him is because he is not afraid to show his softer, vulnerable side or to admit that he was wrong when things go sideways. The man truly has a heart of gold, and seeing how deeply he cared for his crew and trusted blindly in their abilities just made me feel all the feels.
Though as big a presence as he is on the page, he somehow never overshadowed all the other intriguing and endearing characters who each have their own important role to play in Cello’s Gate. I honestly couldn’t pick a favourite character if I had to (okay lies, it’s probably my girl Dot), and I just loved unpacking everyone’s own emotional baggage throughout all these wild trials and tribulations. I personally loved the balance between the light-hearted banter, soul-stirring introspection, emotionally impactful conversations, and bursts of exhilarating (and often horrifying) action, which all really built up that deep emotional investment and made me fully feel and believe the stakes. Also, do not get me started on the found family vibes; just perfect, no notes.
Now, I do have to admit that the enigmatic big baddie of the story maybe felt a bit underdeveloped compared to the main cast, but I honestly didn’t mind that too much. See, I was just along for the wild ride, and the captivating present tense narration combined with the irresistible air of mystery and intrigue had me so deeply immersed that I honestly felt like I was living and breathing this story myself. Especially once we reached the mysterious abandoned island (which cleverly cancels out all tech), I was just glued to the page, and the section in the maze-like catacombs where everyone got tragically separated had my anxiety and claustrophobia running wild in all the best ways.
Plus, this future (queer-normative!) sci-fantasy world is just SO COOL! Like, not only does it have a fascinating detailed history, rich lore, tense political landscape, and unique flora and fauna, but it’s also inhabited by sky pirates in spaceships, enigmatic immortal baddies, powerful mystics, honourable sword wielding knights, and gunslinging guardians. Africh’s wild imagination just continued to surprise me with each new turn of the page, and I absolutely loved how he was able to capture and maintain that mystical fantasy vibe I so adore while also bringing in so many excitingly fresh modern tech elements.
While Cello’s Gate is truly unlike anything I have ever read, I think especially fans of Django Wexler’s Burningblade & Silvereye series, Scott Lynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora, and Tamsyn Muir’s The Locked Tomb series will find so much to love here. There truly wasn’t a single dull moment in Cello’s Gate for me, and the diabolical twists and turns during the heart pounding ending would’ve made me fly straight into book 2 if that had been available. Honestly, forget about the Ghandamned mythical Stones, this book itself was the true treasure all along.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 6, 2025
THIS! This is the book I've been waiting for!
Years ago, I was lucky enough to read and experience the adventure that was Kings of the Wyld, but since then, I’ve struggled to find something as equally fun and engaging - until now.
Enter Cello’s Gate. This is the most fun I’ve had reading a book in years, and I already can’t wait for the sequel. This first installment lays the groundwork for what has the potential to be an incredible series, and what impresses me most is Africh’s ability to balance action and exposition.
Unlike much of the uninspired writing found in contemporary sci-fi novels and overhyped streaming shows from Netflix and Disney+, Cello’s Gate doesn’t rely on clunky, ham-handed exposition dumps or over-contrived action sequences desperate for attention. Instead, Africh seamlessly pulls readers into the story, throwing us in with a ragtag, unapologetic, motley crew of mercenaries/pace pirates as they embark on a mission that seems more impossible with every new revelation.
While some might compare this to Firefly, to me, it feels closer in spirit to Big Trouble in Little China - one of my all-time favorite films. What I mean by that is, this crew isn’t just fun to watch; they’re the kind of people you’d want to go on an adventure with.
Africh masterfully balances action, humor, tension, and character depth, which is especially impressive given the size of the ensemble cast. The result? A thrilling, laugh-out-loud, edge-of-your-seat ride that left me completely hooked.
Cello’s Gate is, without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read in the last 25 years.
Years ago, I was lucky enough to read and experience the adventure that was Kings of the Wyld, but since then, I’ve struggled to find something as equally fun and engaging - until now.
Enter Cello’s Gate. This is the most fun I’ve had reading a book in years, and I already can’t wait for the sequel. This first installment lays the groundwork for what has the potential to be an incredible series, and what impresses me most is Africh’s ability to balance action and exposition.
Unlike much of the uninspired writing found in contemporary sci-fi novels and overhyped streaming shows from Netflix and Disney+, Cello’s Gate doesn’t rely on clunky, ham-handed exposition dumps or over-contrived action sequences desperate for attention. Instead, Africh seamlessly pulls readers into the story, throwing us in with a ragtag, unapologetic, motley crew of mercenaries/pace pirates as they embark on a mission that seems more impossible with every new revelation.
While some might compare this to Firefly, to me, it feels closer in spirit to Big Trouble in Little China - one of my all-time favorite films. What I mean by that is, this crew isn’t just fun to watch; they’re the kind of people you’d want to go on an adventure with.
Africh masterfully balances action, humor, tension, and character depth, which is especially impressive given the size of the ensemble cast. The result? A thrilling, laugh-out-loud, edge-of-your-seat ride that left me completely hooked.
Cello’s Gate is, without a doubt, one of the best books I’ve read in the last 25 years.
February 9, 2025
Thank you to the author for the review copy !
I freaking adored this. And I usually hate heist books! I need the next one IMMEDIATELY but obviously no rush to the author to finish it. I had already preordered a physical copy when I was only 40% of the way through, that's how much I knew this book was great. This was sold to me as inspired by Firefly, Treasure Planet, Star Wars and Final Fantasy, and BOY DID IT DELIVER.
I loved each character (except the BBEG, ofc because FUCK THAT GUY). I think my favorite character is probably a tie between Grey and Dot. DOT MY BELOVED. And obviously Grey is great, too. I love how he refuses to leave any of his crew behind; such a good captain!
RUN, DO NOT WALK to pick this up!
I freaking adored this. And I usually hate heist books! I need the next one IMMEDIATELY but obviously no rush to the author to finish it. I had already preordered a physical copy when I was only 40% of the way through, that's how much I knew this book was great. This was sold to me as inspired by Firefly, Treasure Planet, Star Wars and Final Fantasy, and BOY DID IT DELIVER.
I loved each character (except the BBEG, ofc because FUCK THAT GUY). I think my favorite character is probably a tie between Grey and Dot. DOT MY BELOVED. And obviously Grey is great, too. I love how he refuses to leave any of his crew behind; such a good captain!
RUN, DO NOT WALK to pick this up!
December 20, 2025
3.75 rounded up to a 4!
This has such a fun plot line and I loved the adventure/mysterious aspects to this! It started sky pirates but turns into Indiana jones treasure hunt and I enjoyed the plot twists. The crew was fun and the GOMAS!!!! Loved the gomas. (You won’t know what a goma is until you read it).
I wish we had a bit more character depth this was definitely a plot-driven book rather than a character driven book and I do feel that it took about half of the book before I fully got into it.
I’m definitely interested in continuing the series when future books release as I’m invested in the storyline but I do hope we see the writing tighten up and some more depth in the characters.
Overall, would recommend for a fun time!
This has such a fun plot line and I loved the adventure/mysterious aspects to this! It started sky pirates but turns into Indiana jones treasure hunt and I enjoyed the plot twists. The crew was fun and the GOMAS!!!! Loved the gomas. (You won’t know what a goma is until you read it).
I wish we had a bit more character depth this was definitely a plot-driven book rather than a character driven book and I do feel that it took about half of the book before I fully got into it.
I’m definitely interested in continuing the series when future books release as I’m invested in the storyline but I do hope we see the writing tighten up and some more depth in the characters.
Overall, would recommend for a fun time!
June 13, 2025
If you like Guardians of the Galaxy and lots of action in your fantasy, then this is for you. This is exactly what it says it is. Pirates in space with adventure and a fun magic system.
I liked all the characters. Even though we didn't get to meet Cello until 67% into the book, he was my favorite one. The world took little inspirations and vibes from the Marvel universe, specifically Guardians of the Galaxy and I saw an A Team reference too.
The place where I thought this book shined the most was the action scenes. They were vivid, well thought out, exciting and kept me flipping pages. I also liked this world that Maurice has built. Its gritty, and feels familiar while having unique elements.
THOUGHTS:
Edit. Edit. Edit. There is no reason why this book should be 588 pages. Between the scenes that go on too long, descriptions of world building that is described and then summarized (we don't need both), some repetitious dialogue and a few grammar moments, this could easily be 200 pages shorter. If a book is over 400 pages, it better be because every page was beyond necessary and the story can't live without it. This does not fit that for me.
It took too long for the book to feel like it had great flow. At 85% I felt like it was finally moving along nicely. This is a debut, so while this is a critique now, I can see the potential Maurice has for future books.
The writing feels and sounds young adult until brains and guts are being mutilated, adult language is thrown in and some random people are described while having sex. I don't mind this content, but it was a mental whiplash for the writing style to not match the content.
OVERALL:
This is a good debut, and I think the author has wonderful potential for an even better sequel. If space pirates sound fun and you value great action scenes, then give it a try. I'm in the minority with this book.
I liked all the characters. Even though we didn't get to meet Cello until 67% into the book, he was my favorite one. The world took little inspirations and vibes from the Marvel universe, specifically Guardians of the Galaxy and I saw an A Team reference too.
The place where I thought this book shined the most was the action scenes. They were vivid, well thought out, exciting and kept me flipping pages. I also liked this world that Maurice has built. Its gritty, and feels familiar while having unique elements.
THOUGHTS:
Edit. Edit. Edit. There is no reason why this book should be 588 pages. Between the scenes that go on too long, descriptions of world building that is described and then summarized (we don't need both), some repetitious dialogue and a few grammar moments, this could easily be 200 pages shorter. If a book is over 400 pages, it better be because every page was beyond necessary and the story can't live without it. This does not fit that for me.
It took too long for the book to feel like it had great flow. At 85% I felt like it was finally moving along nicely. This is a debut, so while this is a critique now, I can see the potential Maurice has for future books.
The writing feels and sounds young adult until brains and guts are being mutilated, adult language is thrown in and some random people are described while having sex. I don't mind this content, but it was a mental whiplash for the writing style to not match the content.
OVERALL:
This is a good debut, and I think the author has wonderful potential for an even better sequel. If space pirates sound fun and you value great action scenes, then give it a try. I'm in the minority with this book.
April 16, 2025
At over 500 pages, I enjoyed every second of this sky-pirate adventure! It certainly helps that I really love Firefly and can clearly see the inspiration, especially in Mal…I mean Grey 😉 Smuggler captain with a heart of gold who is protective of his crew and knows when to quip? Check! While there are other inspirations, from Indiana Jones to Guardians of the Galaxy, the intricate world Africh created is entirely his own. And I especially enjoyed the creative twists on familiar story beats.
Readers who love heists or competitions and trials will eat up Cello’s Gate! The action scenes felt cinematic and the tension the author created was so palpable that I was invested the whole time.
The sheer amount of terrifying obstacles the team encounters was enough to keep my eyes glued to the page. But yet by the time their lives are in danger I had already fallen in love with so many characters that feared for them, and had genuine moments of hand-wringing and emotion welling up as I felt the stakes.
Africh’s use of the prologue was clever. It served not only for world-building but it endeared me to Grey, Minn and Farlow as children. So when I saw them again as adults, I already felt like they had to be protected at all costs. Other standout characters were Dot, a Crest Knight and Mars, an ex-gladiator turned guardian and a secret character I won’t say much about because spoilers. I will say that I figured out a plot twist before it happened, but to me that doesn’t take away any of its appeal. In fact it enhanced my enjoyment as it felt satisfying to pick up on cues and be right for once! 😜
Cello’s Gate has a fun present-tense narration style which felt intimate and works well to create tension. But therein also lies the only thing in this book I’m unsure about. I’m unable to figure out if the narrator was simply omniscient but a bit sassy or if the narrator is a specific person and if so, who? Maybe I’m just not used to present-tense narration but there were a few ‘breaking the fourth wall’ type of comments and there is one in particular that I keep wondering and thinking about.
Either way, I’m eager to continue the series and I certainly consider myself a fan! I can’t wait to find out more about the wider world and especially about the knights and the immortals; both factions I found fascinating. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to dive into a new sci-fantasy action adventure. It’s compulsively readable with a certain can’t-put-it-down quality and a crew of fun and distinct characters you’ll want to be frens with! ;)
Thanks to the author for the ARC, thoughts are my own.
Readers who love heists or competitions and trials will eat up Cello’s Gate! The action scenes felt cinematic and the tension the author created was so palpable that I was invested the whole time.
The sheer amount of terrifying obstacles the team encounters was enough to keep my eyes glued to the page. But yet by the time their lives are in danger I had already fallen in love with so many characters that feared for them, and had genuine moments of hand-wringing and emotion welling up as I felt the stakes.
Africh’s use of the prologue was clever. It served not only for world-building but it endeared me to Grey, Minn and Farlow as children. So when I saw them again as adults, I already felt like they had to be protected at all costs. Other standout characters were Dot, a Crest Knight and Mars, an ex-gladiator turned guardian and a secret character I won’t say much about because spoilers. I will say that I figured out a plot twist before it happened, but to me that doesn’t take away any of its appeal. In fact it enhanced my enjoyment as it felt satisfying to pick up on cues and be right for once! 😜
Cello’s Gate has a fun present-tense narration style which felt intimate and works well to create tension. But therein also lies the only thing in this book I’m unsure about. I’m unable to figure out if the narrator was simply omniscient but a bit sassy or if the narrator is a specific person and if so, who? Maybe I’m just not used to present-tense narration but there were a few ‘breaking the fourth wall’ type of comments and there is one in particular that I keep wondering and thinking about.
Either way, I’m eager to continue the series and I certainly consider myself a fan! I can’t wait to find out more about the wider world and especially about the knights and the immortals; both factions I found fascinating. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to dive into a new sci-fantasy action adventure. It’s compulsively readable with a certain can’t-put-it-down quality and a crew of fun and distinct characters you’ll want to be frens with! ;)
Thanks to the author for the ARC, thoughts are my own.
January 31, 2025
A DEBUT THAT SOARS LIKE THE SKY PIRATES IT FOLLOWS!
(This is 4.5 Stars for me, personally, I just can’t set that rating on GoodReads and for me, it falls closer to 5 than 4.)
This may be author Maurice Africh’s debut novel, but it does NOT read like a typical debut.
Cello’s Gate is a slick, visceral, engaging and, best of all, wholly and completely unique addition to the crowded space of Genre Fiction. It rides the line that is Science Fantasy like a pro surfer on a perfect wave, standing out with swaggering ease.
If I absolutely had to make a comparison, I would say Cello’s Gate feels like a mix of Treasure Planet, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Mistborn with the ‘heist’ angle and a little splash of Star Wars - but it feels like drawing comparisons to other works is almost rude.
It really is its own thing, a true rarity.
With brilliant action, an instantly lovable ensemble cast, a highly enjoyable setting and a truly intriguing plot, there was very little for me to criticize. The only thing that keeps this from being 5 Stars for me is that, somehow, it felt like it needed a little MORE space in its length. And that’s with it sitting right around 620 pages! It just felt as though a few sequences could have breathed a longer.
If it’s not obvious, I’m saying that my one critique is that I wanted more of it to read.
So… book two, anyone?
(This is 4.5 Stars for me, personally, I just can’t set that rating on GoodReads and for me, it falls closer to 5 than 4.)
This may be author Maurice Africh’s debut novel, but it does NOT read like a typical debut.
Cello’s Gate is a slick, visceral, engaging and, best of all, wholly and completely unique addition to the crowded space of Genre Fiction. It rides the line that is Science Fantasy like a pro surfer on a perfect wave, standing out with swaggering ease.
If I absolutely had to make a comparison, I would say Cello’s Gate feels like a mix of Treasure Planet, The Lies of Locke Lamora, Mistborn with the ‘heist’ angle and a little splash of Star Wars - but it feels like drawing comparisons to other works is almost rude.
It really is its own thing, a true rarity.
With brilliant action, an instantly lovable ensemble cast, a highly enjoyable setting and a truly intriguing plot, there was very little for me to criticize. The only thing that keeps this from being 5 Stars for me is that, somehow, it felt like it needed a little MORE space in its length. And that’s with it sitting right around 620 pages! It just felt as though a few sequences could have breathed a longer.
If it’s not obvious, I’m saying that my one critique is that I wanted more of it to read.
So… book two, anyone?
February 11, 2025
Wow wow wow! This book sounded like it was going to be good but my god did it blow all of my expectations out of the water! Once I got going I couldn’t put it down. The pacing of the book was PERFECT, it never felt to rushed or to slow it was just right and it brought up so many nostalgic feelings. I fell in love with all of the characters and their back stories! My god this was an amazing debut novel and I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy AND the next book.
February 3, 2025
Absolutely no hesitation to give 5 stars to this incredible debut by Maurice Africh
A sci-fi/high fantasy series, The Sky Pirates of Imperia has hit the mark on every front in Book 1, Cello’s Gate.
The symmetry of magic & science is spot on, the action sequences are easily followed and left my heart in my throat at times. I am an enormous fan of the beasts that have been a part of the story so far.
As always my ultimate love as a reader is for the characters, and there are plenty to treasure in this book. Mars & Farlow have tied for my absolute favourites, with Eddie inching his way in. The character relationships and banter were perfection!
This entire read through had me craving my next available moment to jump back into the world of Grey and his crew like few other books have been able to. I cannot wait to continue this series!
I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to get us (Jake is keen to read this too!) a physical copy on the release date: 25th March 2025
A sci-fi/high fantasy series, The Sky Pirates of Imperia has hit the mark on every front in Book 1, Cello’s Gate.
The symmetry of magic & science is spot on, the action sequences are easily followed and left my heart in my throat at times. I am an enormous fan of the beasts that have been a part of the story so far.
As always my ultimate love as a reader is for the characters, and there are plenty to treasure in this book. Mars & Farlow have tied for my absolute favourites, with Eddie inching his way in. The character relationships and banter were perfection!
This entire read through had me craving my next available moment to jump back into the world of Grey and his crew like few other books have been able to. I cannot wait to continue this series!
I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to get us (Jake is keen to read this too!) a physical copy on the release date: 25th March 2025
March 19, 2025
This story is purely entertaining!
(The author kindly sent me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
Intricate world-building, smooth prose, precisely executed twists, humor, and tension throughout. It was fun to be in the heads of multiple characters seeing how they process situations and predict a possible outcomes based on their intuition and to see how the author used that to up the tension and feel what the characters felt in those fractional moments.
The pacing was a little slow at the beginning as we’re getting a few for the world and the characters, but it hits a nice stride once we get into the main “hunt” (caveat: I was reading the first bit on the side while focusing on my Sun Eater read through, so that probably affected my perception of the pacing).
The vibe is very Firefly on Treasure Island with a dash of Labyrinth (Sci-fi, with fantasy world-building is always a win for me). There are Immortals that kill a god, Crest Knights that are the pinnacle of mortal human potential on the battlefield, Pirates from all walks of life that make up a lethal team of fighters and personalities, intangible assassins, terrifying monsters, and a badass rail gun!
Also, what an ending! So satisfying and left me wanting more of a good thing! I have preordered my physical copy but I am already waiting on Book 2
(The author kindly sent me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)
Intricate world-building, smooth prose, precisely executed twists, humor, and tension throughout. It was fun to be in the heads of multiple characters seeing how they process situations and predict a possible outcomes based on their intuition and to see how the author used that to up the tension and feel what the characters felt in those fractional moments.
The pacing was a little slow at the beginning as we’re getting a few for the world and the characters, but it hits a nice stride once we get into the main “hunt” (caveat: I was reading the first bit on the side while focusing on my Sun Eater read through, so that probably affected my perception of the pacing).
The vibe is very Firefly on Treasure Island with a dash of Labyrinth (Sci-fi, with fantasy world-building is always a win for me). There are Immortals that kill a god, Crest Knights that are the pinnacle of mortal human potential on the battlefield, Pirates from all walks of life that make up a lethal team of fighters and personalities, intangible assassins, terrifying monsters, and a badass rail gun!
Also, what an ending! So satisfying and left me wanting more of a good thing! I have preordered my physical copy but I am already waiting on Book 2
February 18, 2025
Review: This was cray. Quite the world building experience coupled with constant movement. There is a kind of steampunk vibe that never makes it to the surface, which paled my trusting soul. How the airship flys (fuel source etc.) were an avoided topic within the novel. This may have brought a deeper context to the sky pirate meme. Grey, Dot and Mars were fun characters to follow. There was a fair amount of internal ruminative wallowing that detracted from the movement yet the writing is good enough to cover down on the interludes.
I hope this series continues with separate quests for the disparate stones.
I want to thank the author lending me this ARC when the publisher passed me over.
I did not receive this ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
4.4/5
I hope this series continues with separate quests for the disparate stones.
I want to thank the author lending me this ARC when the publisher passed me over.
I did not receive this ARC from the publisher for an honest review.
4.4/5
December 19, 2025
Firefly meets Guardians of the galaxy meets Indiana jones. Ghandarn perfection!
November 18, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. From the very first page it launches into nonstop action and never lets up pirates in the sky, immortals walking around like living legends, knights wielding energy blades that make lightsabers look dated, and just enough modern sci-tech flair to make the whole thing feel brilliantly fresh.
There’s this Fifth Element vibe to the tone and energy, especially with Captain Grey he is charismatic, sharp-witted, a little unhinged but with a fiercely protective heart. He had me hooked immediately. But the true surprise for me was Dot. Her quiet strength, emotional depth, and the way she navigates everything thrown her way completely gutted me. I was rooting for her with everything I had.
The action scenes are cinematic and vivid, the pacing never falters, and the worldbuilding is so dynamic and imaginative that I felt like I was living this story rather than reading it. And the crew? I didn’t just like them, I desperately want to be part of their ship. They’re chaotic, brilliant, loyal, flawed in the best ways, and that found family chemistry was perfection.
One of the most fun and engaging sci-fantasy adventures I’ve read in a long time. I’m already impatient for the sequel. Run, don’t walk!!!!
There’s this Fifth Element vibe to the tone and energy, especially with Captain Grey he is charismatic, sharp-witted, a little unhinged but with a fiercely protective heart. He had me hooked immediately. But the true surprise for me was Dot. Her quiet strength, emotional depth, and the way she navigates everything thrown her way completely gutted me. I was rooting for her with everything I had.
The action scenes are cinematic and vivid, the pacing never falters, and the worldbuilding is so dynamic and imaginative that I felt like I was living this story rather than reading it. And the crew? I didn’t just like them, I desperately want to be part of their ship. They’re chaotic, brilliant, loyal, flawed in the best ways, and that found family chemistry was perfection.
One of the most fun and engaging sci-fantasy adventures I’ve read in a long time. I’m already impatient for the sequel. Run, don’t walk!!!!
March 23, 2025
Cello’s Gate is an exhilarating and epic adventure sci-fi. I had so much fun reading this.
Captain Grey and his band of misfit sky pirates 🏴☠️ are off on what to them is another seemingly impossible space mission. This then turns into an epic treasure hunt, with more to come.
There was plenty of mystery along the way, with new territories being explored and legends coming to life.
This story is filled with action and adventure, at every turn, despite being an epic quest spanning the skies, the writing is very accessible and flows effortlessly. Among the action we see the realities of life for the crew and their relationships.
I most enjoyed the crew and their dynamics. We have plenty of banter added into the found family vibes, that I just adore. Each character is unique and vivid. I could definitely picture them all.
The action scenes are also really cool, there’s weapons, fist fights, space battles and plenty of tension. Basically I found this to be a very fun and interesting sci-fi. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre and wants something that is creative and fun to read. Thank you to the author for an ARC. I hope there are more adventures to come.
Captain Grey and his band of misfit sky pirates 🏴☠️ are off on what to them is another seemingly impossible space mission. This then turns into an epic treasure hunt, with more to come.
There was plenty of mystery along the way, with new territories being explored and legends coming to life.
This story is filled with action and adventure, at every turn, despite being an epic quest spanning the skies, the writing is very accessible and flows effortlessly. Among the action we see the realities of life for the crew and their relationships.
I most enjoyed the crew and their dynamics. We have plenty of banter added into the found family vibes, that I just adore. Each character is unique and vivid. I could definitely picture them all.
The action scenes are also really cool, there’s weapons, fist fights, space battles and plenty of tension. Basically I found this to be a very fun and interesting sci-fi. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre and wants something that is creative and fun to read. Thank you to the author for an ARC. I hope there are more adventures to come.
March 15, 2025
If Solo x Indiana Jones x Treasure Planet had a baby, it might read a little something like Cello’s Gate. A motley crew of sky pirates take a mysterious job and get (so much) more than they bargained for. This book was fun, chaotic (in a good way), and full of action. Vivid and unique, I found the characters are easy to love and root for. Looking forward to book two!
June 3, 2025
Cello’s Gate is a wild, sky-pirate adventure set in a science-fantasy world where mythical artifacts, immortals, and high-stakes cons collide. The story kicks off with Captain Grey and his quirky crew of outlaws making a heist before getting recruited by Dalia, the immortal daughter of a tyrant, to track down the legendary Stones of Indigo—items said to hold unimaginable power. Naturally, chaos, twists and turns, and fights ensue.
This story hit all the right notes for me. The pacing is snappy, the banter is sharp, and the worldbuilding is detailed. Grey and his crew completely won me over—each one has their own quirks, secrets, and emotional baggage, and I loved the found family vibe that developed between them. Dot, in particular, was a standout for me. She's a total badass.
Dalia was also a very interesting character. I wasn’t sure what to make of her at first, but as her backstory and motivations were more and more unraveled, I was totally hooked.
By the end, I was both satisfied and itching for more. There’s still so much to uncover about the Stones, the ArchGovernor, and what’s coming next—and I’m definitely sticking around for the rest of the series.
Highly recommend this if you're into fantasy with a sci-fi twist, motley crews, and a good dose of clever scheming.
This story hit all the right notes for me. The pacing is snappy, the banter is sharp, and the worldbuilding is detailed. Grey and his crew completely won me over—each one has their own quirks, secrets, and emotional baggage, and I loved the found family vibe that developed between them. Dot, in particular, was a standout for me. She's a total badass.
Dalia was also a very interesting character. I wasn’t sure what to make of her at first, but as her backstory and motivations were more and more unraveled, I was totally hooked.
By the end, I was both satisfied and itching for more. There’s still so much to uncover about the Stones, the ArchGovernor, and what’s coming next—and I’m definitely sticking around for the rest of the series.
Highly recommend this if you're into fantasy with a sci-fi twist, motley crews, and a good dose of clever scheming.
March 22, 2025
This book started out as a solid 10/5 read for me. The writing style strikes the perfect balance—engaging, immersive, and never overly complex. The pacing is just right, with evenly distributed chapters that kept me hooked and eager to see what happened next. I also loved the sense of nostalgia it brought, with clear inspirations from Indiana Jones, Firefly, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Avengers.
The crew was fantastic. Maurice does a great job of making them feel real, giving just enough backstory to make me care without slowing down the plot. Dot’s POV was especially gripping, and every time her chapters came up, I was completely engrossed. Eddie and Mars were also a standout—seeing a tough barbarian absolutely smitten with a beautiful green-eyed man was so fun to read. And of course, having an animal companion like Izzy was an instant win.
That said, my biggest frustration was with Grey. He’s a bold and ambitious leader, but his recklessness had me shaking my head a few times. He makes choices that put his crew at risk, then apologizes after the fact, which became a bit of a pattern. I appreciate that every hero has flaws, and his heart is definitely in the right place, but I found myself wanting him to learn from his mistakes a little faster.
Despite that, the twists in the final act were fantastic and kept me on my toes. The resolution left me in deep thought about where the series is headed, which is always a good sign. The fast-paced, mission-driven plot kept things exciting, though I do hope future books give more depth to the rest of the crew.
While my initial 10/5 star rating dropped slightly, this was still a great debut. 4 stars for a fun, action-packed read, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!
The crew was fantastic. Maurice does a great job of making them feel real, giving just enough backstory to make me care without slowing down the plot. Dot’s POV was especially gripping, and every time her chapters came up, I was completely engrossed. Eddie and Mars were also a standout—seeing a tough barbarian absolutely smitten with a beautiful green-eyed man was so fun to read. And of course, having an animal companion like Izzy was an instant win.
That said, my biggest frustration was with Grey. He’s a bold and ambitious leader, but his recklessness had me shaking my head a few times. He makes choices that put his crew at risk, then apologizes after the fact, which became a bit of a pattern. I appreciate that every hero has flaws, and his heart is definitely in the right place, but I found myself wanting him to learn from his mistakes a little faster.
Despite that, the twists in the final act were fantastic and kept me on my toes. The resolution left me in deep thought about where the series is headed, which is always a good sign. The fast-paced, mission-driven plot kept things exciting, though I do hope future books give more depth to the rest of the crew.
While my initial 10/5 star rating dropped slightly, this was still a great debut. 4 stars for a fun, action-packed read, and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!
April 20, 2025
Maurice ha fatto davvero un ottimo lavoro in questo suo debutto!! La qualità è molto alta..
La prima cosa che ho apprezzato è il Worldbuilding davvero unico.. non è sci fi nel senso più stretto, ovvero come in molti libri che personalmente non amo, in cui il fantasy è solo scienza chiamata magia per ignoranza degli abitanti di quel mondo.. ma è un mondo fantasy, con la magia vera e propria, che invece di rimanere al medioevo si è evoluta fino ad avere armi automatiche, scudi di protezione, pin di comunicazione, astronavi e via dicendo.. mantenendo però la parte magica come magica!! E il sistema magico è originale, unico e ben strutturato... Ci sono immortali con poteri unici, Imperiali che possono far crescere cose, assassini che si possono trasmutare tra diverse realtà e spostarsi come fumo, guerrieri che rallentano il tempo, e altre divertenti trovate..
Il lavoro sui personaggi è davvero di prim'ordine, con tutto il background che viene rivelato poco a poco, e le tante emozioni che si rivelano e coinvolgono davvero tanto...
La storia dei Crest Knights, poi è davvero originale e appassionante ed è quella che mi è piaciuta di più..
A livello di trama questo è un libro che si prende i suoi tempi.. del tipo che le prime 100 pagine sono di introduzione, ma nonostante questo la storia fila che è un piacere.. ci sono tante scene di azione, divertenti e ironiche, e anche molto adult e sanguinose..
La cosa che mi è piaciuta di meno è la parte centrale, che per me ha almeno un centinaio di pagine di troppo.. rallenta un po' troppo, e tutta la parte dei tunnel poteva essere un po' velocizzata perché non aggiunge molto alla trama generale..
E in fondo in fondo mi è mancato un po' sentire i personaggi davvero in pericolo.. in realtà non si trema quasi mai per loro..
Ma tolto questa poca roba, il libro resta di alto livello.. mille domande, alcune risposte arrivano ma aprono ad altre mille domande.. e con un finale così, è d'obbligo il secondo libro quanto prima!!
La prima cosa che ho apprezzato è il Worldbuilding davvero unico.. non è sci fi nel senso più stretto, ovvero come in molti libri che personalmente non amo, in cui il fantasy è solo scienza chiamata magia per ignoranza degli abitanti di quel mondo.. ma è un mondo fantasy, con la magia vera e propria, che invece di rimanere al medioevo si è evoluta fino ad avere armi automatiche, scudi di protezione, pin di comunicazione, astronavi e via dicendo.. mantenendo però la parte magica come magica!! E il sistema magico è originale, unico e ben strutturato... Ci sono immortali con poteri unici, Imperiali che possono far crescere cose, assassini che si possono trasmutare tra diverse realtà e spostarsi come fumo, guerrieri che rallentano il tempo, e altre divertenti trovate..
Il lavoro sui personaggi è davvero di prim'ordine, con tutto il background che viene rivelato poco a poco, e le tante emozioni che si rivelano e coinvolgono davvero tanto...
La storia dei Crest Knights, poi è davvero originale e appassionante ed è quella che mi è piaciuta di più..
A livello di trama questo è un libro che si prende i suoi tempi.. del tipo che le prime 100 pagine sono di introduzione, ma nonostante questo la storia fila che è un piacere.. ci sono tante scene di azione, divertenti e ironiche, e anche molto adult e sanguinose..
La cosa che mi è piaciuta di meno è la parte centrale, che per me ha almeno un centinaio di pagine di troppo.. rallenta un po' troppo, e tutta la parte dei tunnel poteva essere un po' velocizzata perché non aggiunge molto alla trama generale..
E in fondo in fondo mi è mancato un po' sentire i personaggi davvero in pericolo.. in realtà non si trema quasi mai per loro..
Ma tolto questa poca roba, il libro resta di alto livello.. mille domande, alcune risposte arrivano ma aprono ad altre mille domande.. e con un finale così, è d'obbligo il secondo libro quanto prima!!
March 24, 2025
An exciting space heist novel with a loveable crew, a mysterious island, and twists galore! This is such an engaging story; the well-paced plot was interspersed with interesting world building and thrilling fight scenes, making me flip the pages faster and faster to find out how it all turns out. I enjoyed the interplay of tech and magic in this future fantasy world, which offered lots of unique situations for our ragtag team to untangle on their hunt for legendary artifacts. The sky pirate crew has great found family vibes, but there’s also lots of grit and unpredictable violence, so the tone careens from fun camaraderie to fierce high stakes. I felt all of the tonal shifts and plot twists were balanced really well, so as a result I loved reading this, and can’t wait for the next book.
Thanks so much to Maurice Africh for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks so much to Maurice Africh for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 22, 2025
Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC!
Frens!!!! This was so fun. I’m a sucker for found family and I’m a sucker for a heist. This is giving Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Firefly in the best way possible. I was very impressed with the world building and character depth (Dot girl I luv u). Cello’s Gate is just overall so well rounded. The humor, the action, the tension, the character interactions/relationships were all 💯. Halfway through I pre-ordered a physical copy because I was having that much fun. If you’re looking for some fun and adventure then go pick this up March 25!!
Frens!!!! This was so fun. I’m a sucker for found family and I’m a sucker for a heist. This is giving Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Firefly in the best way possible. I was very impressed with the world building and character depth (Dot girl I luv u). Cello’s Gate is just overall so well rounded. The humor, the action, the tension, the character interactions/relationships were all 💯. Halfway through I pre-ordered a physical copy because I was having that much fun. If you’re looking for some fun and adventure then go pick this up March 25!!
March 25, 2025
Thank you to the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had such a good time with this book! Think space pirates mixed with Indiana Jones style adventures and found family. The unique cast of characters included immortals, knights, and a person who can see other's auras. I would recommend this if you enjoy fast-paced stories with epic action set pieces.
I had such a good time with this book! Think space pirates mixed with Indiana Jones style adventures and found family. The unique cast of characters included immortals, knights, and a person who can see other's auras. I would recommend this if you enjoy fast-paced stories with epic action set pieces.
February 28, 2025
Pirates in space! Cello's Gate is a fun action adventure scifi novel. I enjoyed going on this wild ride with the characters.
The vibes:
magic powers
pirates
secret compartments
immortals
hidden treasure
jungle island
This is a fun jaunt although I think the characters are overpowered, but then not using those powers to their fullest. It was hard to tell what the real limit of the magic was. Not sure any of them should have made it out of these escapades alive. So good on them for not dying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
The vibes:
magic powers
pirates
secret compartments
immortals
hidden treasure
jungle island
This is a fun jaunt although I think the characters are overpowered, but then not using those powers to their fullest. It was hard to tell what the real limit of the magic was. Not sure any of them should have made it out of these escapades alive. So good on them for not dying.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy! All opinions are my own.
March 3, 2025
When author Maurice Africh reached out to tell me about his upcoming sci-fi fantasy debut, I knew I had to read it! He had me at sky pirates. This is a wildly entertaining and action-packed story in a vast universe with a cast of colorful characters. Grey is our pirate captain, and he and his ragtag crew are hired to find seven stones that when combined, would bring about immense power. The stones are a thing of legend and no one knows if they're even real or not. Essentially, this is a grand heist story that takes us on a wild and dangerous adventure! The crew is a fun bunch and Africh writes excellent and witty dialogue amongst them. Dot is a badass female character who I think most readers will love. They have a found family feel and read as tangible characters. The world itself was very well done, with cool tech and magic and creatures... I mean, it has everything and feels fully formed and fleshed out. I would love to enter this world in a videogame and think that the storyline would actually make for a great RPG. The pacing is quick and the scenes play out cinematically, so despite its length, you never get bored. I actually felt like it could have been even longer! I think adding more to certain areas could have potentially provided more narrative depth. The final confrontation was awesome and the cliffhanger will leave you wanting to read the next book in the series! I literally thought to myself while reading this that I was really impressed this is a debut and it's honestly so much better than most books I get propositioned for by authors on IG. I genuinely would recommend this for lovers of epic sci-fi fantasies! It's a really immersive novel of epic proportions.
Thank you to the author, Maurice Africh, for providing an e-ARC for an honest review. Book releases March 25th, 2025!
Thank you to the author, Maurice Africh, for providing an e-ARC for an honest review. Book releases March 25th, 2025!
February 11, 2025
Grey, a sky pirate, is no ordinary man. He and his crew take on the most dangerous jobs, the ones no one else dares attempt. Their latest mission? To hunt down the seven legendary stones said to be scattered across Imperia. But are these mythical relics real, or just a story lost to time? No matter what they are, they are not the only one who are looking for these stones.
This is a book that Maurice said to be a mix between Indiana Jones, Firefly, and Final fantasy. Haven't seen or played the last two, so for me, i got the feeling about Indiana Jones meets Starwars the Last Jedi. But no matter what this book compares to, it's a fantastic sci-fi book that I think every fantasy/sci fi fans should read.
The first thing i noticed when starting reading this is how fast i fell in love with the writing style. Maurice explanation about a character is like throwing you into a game where you design your own. Every explanation pops into your mind in full detail. Of the characters, you will get a nice blend of female and male characters that's been written in different ways to make them all great. Dot is my favorite female character, such a badass woman. With Grey being my favorite male character, with his funny humor and good leadership. But they are all great, so easy to connect with and understand their pain and feelings.
So let's jump on Trench and fly this thing into our TBR. 🚀
This is a book that Maurice said to be a mix between Indiana Jones, Firefly, and Final fantasy. Haven't seen or played the last two, so for me, i got the feeling about Indiana Jones meets Starwars the Last Jedi. But no matter what this book compares to, it's a fantastic sci-fi book that I think every fantasy/sci fi fans should read.
The first thing i noticed when starting reading this is how fast i fell in love with the writing style. Maurice explanation about a character is like throwing you into a game where you design your own. Every explanation pops into your mind in full detail. Of the characters, you will get a nice blend of female and male characters that's been written in different ways to make them all great. Dot is my favorite female character, such a badass woman. With Grey being my favorite male character, with his funny humor and good leadership. But they are all great, so easy to connect with and understand their pain and feelings.
So let's jump on Trench and fly this thing into our TBR. 🚀
March 30, 2025
ok so i need the second book like yesterday… this book was written for me!! found family? a heist? action and adventure? super likeable characters??
speaking of action, this book is literally 600 pages of non-stop action. this made me so nervous, every page i was scared something will happen to my favourite characters (who are farlow and dot btw. minn is a close second). the fight scenes are soooo well written i could imagine everything so vividly! i think the world-building was so unique, but also reminded me of those fantasy/adventure movies i’d watch as a child. genuinely, this book surprised me so much. i didn’t expect to love it THIS MUCH. it also provided the best escapism from my assignments and my upcoming dissertation deadline. i enjoyed absolutely everything about this book. the scifi elements of the book were so cool, but what blew me away was actually the island. when i was reading it, it actually felt like i was there! the writing is not overly descriptive, but it also provides enough information for me to be able to picture everything perfectly. it just felt so atmospheric. my favourite (or least favourite?) scene was the one with the hexspiders. i don’t know why but that scene is engrained in my head, i was so anxious reading it!
i’m so happy i had the opportunity to read this as an arc, as i probably would not have known about it otherwise. this is THE PERFECT adventure book about a found family of sky pirates and one of the best books i’ve ever read! will definitely be buying a physical copy when my student loan comes in 😫
need the sequel immediately!!!
speaking of action, this book is literally 600 pages of non-stop action. this made me so nervous, every page i was scared something will happen to my favourite characters (who are farlow and dot btw. minn is a close second). the fight scenes are soooo well written i could imagine everything so vividly! i think the world-building was so unique, but also reminded me of those fantasy/adventure movies i’d watch as a child. genuinely, this book surprised me so much. i didn’t expect to love it THIS MUCH. it also provided the best escapism from my assignments and my upcoming dissertation deadline. i enjoyed absolutely everything about this book. the scifi elements of the book were so cool, but what blew me away was actually the island. when i was reading it, it actually felt like i was there! the writing is not overly descriptive, but it also provides enough information for me to be able to picture everything perfectly. it just felt so atmospheric. my favourite (or least favourite?) scene was the one with the hexspiders. i don’t know why but that scene is engrained in my head, i was so anxious reading it!
i’m so happy i had the opportunity to read this as an arc, as i probably would not have known about it otherwise. this is THE PERFECT adventure book about a found family of sky pirates and one of the best books i’ve ever read! will definitely be buying a physical copy when my student loan comes in 😫
need the sequel immediately!!!
November 26, 2025
What a wild ride! Cello’s Gate hits the ground running and never lets up. The whole book feels like a genius mash-up of Firefly and National Treasure—which automatically rockets it high into my personal favorites list.
We follow the crew of the Trench, captained by Grey and staffed by a ragtag band of pirates who have built a reputation for taking on the impossible…and somehow pulling it off. So when an immortal and her knight show up with a job that sounds absolutely insane, Grey doesn’t hesitate. The mission? Track down seven stones that each contain a fragment of Indigo—the very first immortal’s soul.
What follows is an adventure that’s fast-paced, clever, and full of heart. The crew’s journey takes them somewhere completely unexpected—somewhere that changes them forever. The stakes are high, the world-building is fantastic, and the characters are the kind you instantly want to spend more time with.
I loved this book and genuinely cannot wait for the sequel. If Maurice Africh keeps this momentum going, this series is going to be something special.
We follow the crew of the Trench, captained by Grey and staffed by a ragtag band of pirates who have built a reputation for taking on the impossible…and somehow pulling it off. So when an immortal and her knight show up with a job that sounds absolutely insane, Grey doesn’t hesitate. The mission? Track down seven stones that each contain a fragment of Indigo—the very first immortal’s soul.
What follows is an adventure that’s fast-paced, clever, and full of heart. The crew’s journey takes them somewhere completely unexpected—somewhere that changes them forever. The stakes are high, the world-building is fantastic, and the characters are the kind you instantly want to spend more time with.
I loved this book and genuinely cannot wait for the sequel. If Maurice Africh keeps this momentum going, this series is going to be something special.
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