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Central Corps #2
Remnants of Trust
In this follow-up to the acclaimed military science fiction thriller The Cold Between, a young soldier finds herself caught in the crosshairs of a deadly conspiracy in deep space
Six weeks ago, Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster were court-martialed for their role in an event Central Gov denies ever happened. Yet instead of a dishonorable discharge or time in a military prison, Shaw and Foster and are now back together on Galileo. As punishment, they’ve been assigned to patrol the nearly empty space of the Third Sector.
But their mundane mission quickly turns treacherous when the Galileo picks up a distress call: Exeter, a sister ship, is under attack from raiders. A PSI generation ship—the same one that recently broke off negotiations with Foster—is also in the sector and joins in the desperate battle that leaves ninety-seven of Exeter’s crew dead.
An investigation of the disaster points to sabotage. And Exeter is only the beginning. When the PSI ship and Galileo suffer their own “accidents,” it becomes clear that someone is willing to set off a war in the Third Sector to keep their secrets, and the clues point to the highest echelons of power . . . and deep into Shaw’s past.
Six weeks ago, Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster were court-martialed for their role in an event Central Gov denies ever happened. Yet instead of a dishonorable discharge or time in a military prison, Shaw and Foster and are now back together on Galileo. As punishment, they’ve been assigned to patrol the nearly empty space of the Third Sector.
But their mundane mission quickly turns treacherous when the Galileo picks up a distress call: Exeter, a sister ship, is under attack from raiders. A PSI generation ship—the same one that recently broke off negotiations with Foster—is also in the sector and joins in the desperate battle that leaves ninety-seven of Exeter’s crew dead.
An investigation of the disaster points to sabotage. And Exeter is only the beginning. When the PSI ship and Galileo suffer their own “accidents,” it becomes clear that someone is willing to set off a war in the Third Sector to keep their secrets, and the clues point to the highest echelons of power . . . and deep into Shaw’s past.
516 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2016
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955 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
December 24, 2016
Bonesteel is terrific. Before starting this, I reread its predecessor - straight through till almost 4AM. Which is pretty impressive for a reread of a murder mystery.
Remnants of Trust is *better.* The author is more deft and consistent in tone: the only drawback to The Cold Between was its shifts in genre/tone, from romance to murder mystery to space opera. Here we have a complex political thriller that's consistent from end to end. Bonesteel builds out the Central Corps universe and the intrigue established in the first book. We get to see more of the enigmatic PSY Fleet, through another terrific character, the young, pregnant captain, Guanyin.
One of the best things about the book is that one of its main, and viewpoint, characters, is a self-acknowledged thorough-going bastard. Elena's first captain, Celik, is a horrible person. And yet, Bonesteel brings him to life as a real and complex person, thoroughly motivated, self-aware - and yet our empathy doesn't become sympathy: Bonesteel never lets him off the hook. Celik's one of the most interesting characters I've read in ages.
Elena's representative of a maturity in military SF: she's so much more real and nuanced than the mil-SF heroines of the past couple decades. It's probably no coincidence that she reminds me more of Cordelia Vorkosigan, another series character written by a woman, than, say, Honor Harrington. She's *people* - kind of messed up, learning, choosing a path other than a heroic career, trying to do the right thing. I can't wait to see what's ahead for her.
Remnants of Trust is *better.* The author is more deft and consistent in tone: the only drawback to The Cold Between was its shifts in genre/tone, from romance to murder mystery to space opera. Here we have a complex political thriller that's consistent from end to end. Bonesteel builds out the Central Corps universe and the intrigue established in the first book. We get to see more of the enigmatic PSY Fleet, through another terrific character, the young, pregnant captain, Guanyin.
One of the best things about the book is that one of its main, and viewpoint, characters, is a self-acknowledged thorough-going bastard. Elena's first captain, Celik, is a horrible person. And yet, Bonesteel brings him to life as a real and complex person, thoroughly motivated, self-aware - and yet our empathy doesn't become sympathy: Bonesteel never lets him off the hook. Celik's one of the most interesting characters I've read in ages.
Elena's representative of a maturity in military SF: she's so much more real and nuanced than the mil-SF heroines of the past couple decades. It's probably no coincidence that she reminds me more of Cordelia Vorkosigan, another series character written by a woman, than, say, Honor Harrington. She's *people* - kind of messed up, learning, choosing a path other than a heroic career, trying to do the right thing. I can't wait to see what's ahead for her.
December 18, 2019
Ahoy me mateys! Grab your grog! Here be book 2 of the ninth installment of the 3 Bells trilogy showcase. Arrrr!!!
remnants of trust (Elizabeth Bonesteel)
This be an impromptu 3 Bells Showcase. I have been meaning to read the Central Corps trilogy ever since Matey Sarah brought it to me attention. So not too long ago I checked out the entire series from the library via interlibrary loan. Then it sat and waited patiently for me to get to it. Time passed and on Sunday I realized the books are due back at the end of the week. Crunch time!
Greg and Elena have survived their court martial after the events in book one but their punishment is to be banished to the empty Third Sector. What is supposed to be a boring posting becomes a disaster when a sister ship the Exeter is attacked. With a lost ship and many dead, the Central Government wants revenge. The Galileo is assigned to clean up the mess. But it looks more like sabotage . . .
I actually liked this book better than book one. Much of the delight of this one comes from the new characters. Ye get insight into a PSI ship and life onboard. I really loved Captain Guanyin. She be fierce and I don't feel like I have ever read about a very pregnant ship captain before! The highlight though is Captain Çelik. He is basically a jerk who rules with sarcasm and spite. Yet he be intelligent and competent and even respected. His wish for revenge for the lost Exeter and how he manipulates and fights for his goal is admirable. I rather love the dastardly captain. It was fun to see the differences of how Captain Foster and Captain Çelik run their ships and deal with the Central Government.
The plot was also lots of fun. I really enjoyed the politics of this one and thought they made a lot more sense. I can't really get into it because of major spoilers but I ended up being very satisfied by how everything worked out. I especially liked went down on the planet. I didn't even mind the big cliff hanger which makes me excited for the next book.
Small gripes with this book include that I immediately knew the traitor as soon as they appeared. Plus the Elena / Greg angst continues and I just don't care. I don't like the romance vibes and wish it would go away. I do happen to care about all of the characters individually though. Besides Captain Çelik, I continued to love Jessica and Elena in this one.
I can't wait to find out what happens next. Check in tomorrow for what me thinks of book three. Arrrr!
remnants of trust (Elizabeth Bonesteel)
This be an impromptu 3 Bells Showcase. I have been meaning to read the Central Corps trilogy ever since Matey Sarah brought it to me attention. So not too long ago I checked out the entire series from the library via interlibrary loan. Then it sat and waited patiently for me to get to it. Time passed and on Sunday I realized the books are due back at the end of the week. Crunch time!
Greg and Elena have survived their court martial after the events in book one but their punishment is to be banished to the empty Third Sector. What is supposed to be a boring posting becomes a disaster when a sister ship the Exeter is attacked. With a lost ship and many dead, the Central Government wants revenge. The Galileo is assigned to clean up the mess. But it looks more like sabotage . . .
I actually liked this book better than book one. Much of the delight of this one comes from the new characters. Ye get insight into a PSI ship and life onboard. I really loved Captain Guanyin. She be fierce and I don't feel like I have ever read about a very pregnant ship captain before! The highlight though is Captain Çelik. He is basically a jerk who rules with sarcasm and spite. Yet he be intelligent and competent and even respected. His wish for revenge for the lost Exeter and how he manipulates and fights for his goal is admirable. I rather love the dastardly captain. It was fun to see the differences of how Captain Foster and Captain Çelik run their ships and deal with the Central Government.
The plot was also lots of fun. I really enjoyed the politics of this one and thought they made a lot more sense. I can't really get into it because of major spoilers but I ended up being very satisfied by how everything worked out. I especially liked went down on the planet. I didn't even mind the big cliff hanger which makes me excited for the next book.
Small gripes with this book include that I immediately knew the traitor as soon as they appeared. Plus the Elena / Greg angst continues and I just don't care. I don't like the romance vibes and wish it would go away. I do happen to care about all of the characters individually though. Besides Captain Çelik, I continued to love Jessica and Elena in this one.
I can't wait to find out what happens next. Check in tomorrow for what me thinks of book three. Arrrr!
June 11, 2021
3.5*
It was a bit dragging but Bonesteel always packs a punch at some point that makes me go "wait what". I feel I come for the fun drama and I always stay for the thrilling space opera - and this one continued with all the political conspiracies that begun during the first book in a new way that makes the bad guys seem very insanely inhuman. The book made me go 'holy F' a few times with what some people do to others for """a greater good""" (which I see means something different for everybody, huh?).
And now unto the fangirling because this wouldn't be me without it:
- This needed more preposterous romance/drama stuff. I'm all here for Foster and Shaw. All here for it. And this had but a shadow of what The Cold Between had (and I don't do romance EVER but it's so bad that it's good?)
- The rolling pin did not appear and I missed it.
It was a bit dragging but Bonesteel always packs a punch at some point that makes me go "wait what". I feel I come for the fun drama and I always stay for the thrilling space opera - and this one continued with all the political conspiracies that begun during the first book in a new way that makes the bad guys seem very insanely inhuman. The book made me go 'holy F' a few times with what some people do to others for """a greater good""" (which I see means something different for everybody, huh?).
And now unto the fangirling because this wouldn't be me without it:
- This needed more preposterous romance/drama stuff. I'm all here for Foster and Shaw. All here for it. And this had but a shadow of what The Cold Between had (and I don't do romance EVER but it's so bad that it's good?)
- The rolling pin did not appear and I missed it.
November 18, 2016
REMNANTS OF TRUST was great.
Still not perfect, mind (I suspect this is going to be one of the YMMV books, similar to Seanan McGuire’s Toby Daye books, which I adore and others just… don’t), but something about Bonesteel’s writing just hits the spot for me.
The story held my attention throughout. There’s some excellent and breath-taking action sequences, interspersed with quiet (and not-so-quiet) conversations. And then there’s the immediate whodunnit (and why), overlaid with bigger-picture political manoeuvring, all in a space opera setting (which is basically my catnip).
Bonesteel has a knack of writing protagonists that you grow to care about, with several new faces being introduced here. She uses the trick of multiple POVs to create reader empathy with her characters, and it worked for me here.
I also appreciated how she wove diversity into her SF world, without it being in your face. One thing that I want to mention specifically: one of the central characters in REMNANTS is of (implied) Chinese descent, and with the recent discussions of othering being at the forefront of my mind, I did wince at how she was presented initially. In the end though, I felt that Guanyin turned out to be as human and vulnerable as the other characters, and it ended up being the right balance for me.
My criticisms about pseudo-MilSF from the first book still hold true, but I’ve decided to think of Central Corps as an alt-MilSF world where people can freely fraternise with anyone regardless of rank (yes, I can rationalise with the best of them). I’m also on the fence on the unresolved relationship arc – part of me wants to bang heads together and say enough already, while the other part of me just wants to sit back and see what happens next.
Regardless of these niggles, safe to say Elizabeth Bonesteel is now firmly on my list on autobuy authors, and I can only hope she writes many more stories.
************
A version originally published on my blog: https://bookdaze.wordpress.com/2016/1...
Still not perfect, mind (I suspect this is going to be one of the YMMV books, similar to Seanan McGuire’s Toby Daye books, which I adore and others just… don’t), but something about Bonesteel’s writing just hits the spot for me.
The story held my attention throughout. There’s some excellent and breath-taking action sequences, interspersed with quiet (and not-so-quiet) conversations. And then there’s the immediate whodunnit (and why), overlaid with bigger-picture political manoeuvring, all in a space opera setting (which is basically my catnip).
Bonesteel has a knack of writing protagonists that you grow to care about, with several new faces being introduced here. She uses the trick of multiple POVs to create reader empathy with her characters, and it worked for me here.
I also appreciated how she wove diversity into her SF world, without it being in your face. One thing that I want to mention specifically: one of the central characters in REMNANTS is of (implied) Chinese descent, and with the recent discussions of othering being at the forefront of my mind, I did wince at how she was presented initially. In the end though, I felt that Guanyin turned out to be as human and vulnerable as the other characters, and it ended up being the right balance for me.
My criticisms about pseudo-MilSF from the first book still hold true, but I’ve decided to think of Central Corps as an alt-MilSF world where people can freely fraternise with anyone regardless of rank (yes, I can rationalise with the best of them). I’m also on the fence on the unresolved relationship arc – part of me wants to bang heads together and say enough already, while the other part of me just wants to sit back and see what happens next.
Regardless of these niggles, safe to say Elizabeth Bonesteel is now firmly on my list on autobuy authors, and I can only hope she writes many more stories.
************
A version originally published on my blog: https://bookdaze.wordpress.com/2016/1...
February 6, 2017
Elizabeth Bonesteel has created a fascinating universe in her Central Corps series. Remnants of Trust, the second book in the series, builds on the promising beginning from the first book and takes her storytelling to the next level.
The story begins with an out of character attack on a Central Corps ship by raiders. The Galileo, home to Captain Greg Foster and Commander Elena Shaw, is near enough to respond to the Exeter’s distress call, but not near enough to prevent its destruction. The intervention of the closer PSI ship, Orunmula, is able to avert that disaster, but not the loss of nearly 100 crew members from the Exeter. Signs point to sabotage, but by whom and for what reasons is a deeper mystery. Hidden agendas and factions within the Central Corps government further complicate the mystery and put everyone in danger.
Elena and Greg, as well as Jessica are among the characters who return from the first novel and their characters are further developed here. Strong new characters such as Captain Celik of the doomed Exeter are introduced. None are more fascinating than the very pregnant captain of the Orunmula, Shiang Guanyin. I could read a whole book just about her. We get to spend a lot of time with her and her PSI generation ship which is a fascinating contrast in cultures from the Central Corps ships. We get to take the time to understand how these different cultures frame the perspectives of the individuals who live in them.
Bonesteel perfectly captures people's imperfect understanding of each other. She uses this to show how it influences decision-making and outcomes. The relationships between and among her characters are realistic and nuanced. There are a lot of things to like about Bonesteel’s books. The plot moves along steadily, there are great action scenes, a complicated mystery and a government with agendas within agendas manipulating people and events for reasons that remain murky. The greatest accomplishment, though, is a full cast of characters who are complex, have depth, and have realistic motivations. Bonesteel skillfully lends perspective to show that individual motivations are more complex than simple good or evil.
Remants of Trust is a great entry in the series. It is an exciting story with a solid mystery. Even as the mystery is solved, it leads to more questions to be explored in future entries in the series. The characters and their development is a cut above ordinary military sci-fi and reason enough to read these books by themselves.
Sign me up for more adventures in the Central Corps universe as well as anything else Bonesteel wants to write. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
The story begins with an out of character attack on a Central Corps ship by raiders. The Galileo, home to Captain Greg Foster and Commander Elena Shaw, is near enough to respond to the Exeter’s distress call, but not near enough to prevent its destruction. The intervention of the closer PSI ship, Orunmula, is able to avert that disaster, but not the loss of nearly 100 crew members from the Exeter. Signs point to sabotage, but by whom and for what reasons is a deeper mystery. Hidden agendas and factions within the Central Corps government further complicate the mystery and put everyone in danger.
Elena and Greg, as well as Jessica are among the characters who return from the first novel and their characters are further developed here. Strong new characters such as Captain Celik of the doomed Exeter are introduced. None are more fascinating than the very pregnant captain of the Orunmula, Shiang Guanyin. I could read a whole book just about her. We get to spend a lot of time with her and her PSI generation ship which is a fascinating contrast in cultures from the Central Corps ships. We get to take the time to understand how these different cultures frame the perspectives of the individuals who live in them.
Bonesteel perfectly captures people's imperfect understanding of each other. She uses this to show how it influences decision-making and outcomes. The relationships between and among her characters are realistic and nuanced. There are a lot of things to like about Bonesteel’s books. The plot moves along steadily, there are great action scenes, a complicated mystery and a government with agendas within agendas manipulating people and events for reasons that remain murky. The greatest accomplishment, though, is a full cast of characters who are complex, have depth, and have realistic motivations. Bonesteel skillfully lends perspective to show that individual motivations are more complex than simple good or evil.
Remants of Trust is a great entry in the series. It is an exciting story with a solid mystery. Even as the mystery is solved, it leads to more questions to be explored in future entries in the series. The characters and their development is a cut above ordinary military sci-fi and reason enough to read these books by themselves.
Sign me up for more adventures in the Central Corps universe as well as anything else Bonesteel wants to write. Highly recommended.
I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
November 12, 2016
Review originally found on Looking Glass Reads.
This week marked the release of Remnants of Trust, the second novel in the Central Corps series by Elizabeth Bonesteel. This is a fast paced military science fiction novel that has a lot going for it. The story begins with Captain Greg Foster and Commander Elena Shaw, freshly returned from a court martial and assigned to the relatively empty Third Sector. But things aren’t quite as quiet as they assumed as the Exeter, another ship from Central Gov, is attacked by raiders. Even after the Orunmila, a PSI ship, comes to the rescue the ship is destroyed, half the crew is dead, and the captain maimed. To top it off, a traitorous saboteur is on the loose.
The book is written in third person point of view with semi-omniscience. We jump around in various characters heads, most notably at chapter changes but other times as well. For the most part we see the story through the eyes of the three captains and their second in commands, plus Elena Shaw, of course. This works in the story’s favor. However, if you don’t enjoy a book switching between characters, be forewarned.
There are a good number of characters to keep track of here. It never felt out of hand, though, and I never had any issue with keeping who’s who straight. All of the characters were very well rounded. They felt like people. Real people. Normal people. And that’s something I love about this book.
Elena Shaw is tough as nails, but enjoys practicing ballet and struggles internally with happenings both in book #1 of the series and farther in her past. Captain Shiang Guanyin of the Orunmila is a twenty nine year old captain, married, mother of five children, and currently pregnant with number six, a side of a female starship captain that isn’t often explored which Bonesteel does very well. Celik, captain of the destroyed Exeter, is now down a leg, a ship, half a crew, and bent on revenge, closure, anything to try and fix what happened. Yet Celik retains both common sense and sense of duty to what crew he has left, his captain-ness, if you will, and never turns into the single minded vengeance happy character he could have easily fallen into.
These characters, along with all the rest, are dynamic. They have personalities, hopes, dreams, and real, understandable reasons for the positions they hold on ongoing events throughout the book. None of them really felt like cookie-cutter military officers as can sometimes happen within this and similar genres.
Now, I didn’t read the first book. I jumped right into the series at book two (as per normal). However, I would suggest reading the first book in the series, The Cold Between, before picking up book #2. While the immediate story isn’t at all confusing without reading the first book, there are overarching series long plots and political subterfuge that would probably benefit from starting from the beginning of the series.
In the same vein, I did have one other problem. I wasn’t exactly positive what Central and PSI were. I mean, I do understand that they have/are a military force, send assistance to colonies, etc. I just wasn’t positive if they were governments, some sort of other peace keeping organizations in space, and, if they were separate governing bodies, why they were working within the same territory. Again, this isn’t anything I can truly fault the author for as I didn’t read the first book, but I felt it was something to point out nonetheless.
Overall, I would recommend giving Remnants of Trust by Elizabeth Bonesteel a read. It is a highly enjoyable read. I will definitely be going back and reading the first book in the Central Corps series. If you like military sci-fi this is definitely a book for the TBR pile.
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
This week marked the release of Remnants of Trust, the second novel in the Central Corps series by Elizabeth Bonesteel. This is a fast paced military science fiction novel that has a lot going for it. The story begins with Captain Greg Foster and Commander Elena Shaw, freshly returned from a court martial and assigned to the relatively empty Third Sector. But things aren’t quite as quiet as they assumed as the Exeter, another ship from Central Gov, is attacked by raiders. Even after the Orunmila, a PSI ship, comes to the rescue the ship is destroyed, half the crew is dead, and the captain maimed. To top it off, a traitorous saboteur is on the loose.
The book is written in third person point of view with semi-omniscience. We jump around in various characters heads, most notably at chapter changes but other times as well. For the most part we see the story through the eyes of the three captains and their second in commands, plus Elena Shaw, of course. This works in the story’s favor. However, if you don’t enjoy a book switching between characters, be forewarned.
There are a good number of characters to keep track of here. It never felt out of hand, though, and I never had any issue with keeping who’s who straight. All of the characters were very well rounded. They felt like people. Real people. Normal people. And that’s something I love about this book.
Elena Shaw is tough as nails, but enjoys practicing ballet and struggles internally with happenings both in book #1 of the series and farther in her past. Captain Shiang Guanyin of the Orunmila is a twenty nine year old captain, married, mother of five children, and currently pregnant with number six, a side of a female starship captain that isn’t often explored which Bonesteel does very well. Celik, captain of the destroyed Exeter, is now down a leg, a ship, half a crew, and bent on revenge, closure, anything to try and fix what happened. Yet Celik retains both common sense and sense of duty to what crew he has left, his captain-ness, if you will, and never turns into the single minded vengeance happy character he could have easily fallen into.
These characters, along with all the rest, are dynamic. They have personalities, hopes, dreams, and real, understandable reasons for the positions they hold on ongoing events throughout the book. None of them really felt like cookie-cutter military officers as can sometimes happen within this and similar genres.
Now, I didn’t read the first book. I jumped right into the series at book two (as per normal). However, I would suggest reading the first book in the series, The Cold Between, before picking up book #2. While the immediate story isn’t at all confusing without reading the first book, there are overarching series long plots and political subterfuge that would probably benefit from starting from the beginning of the series.
In the same vein, I did have one other problem. I wasn’t exactly positive what Central and PSI were. I mean, I do understand that they have/are a military force, send assistance to colonies, etc. I just wasn’t positive if they were governments, some sort of other peace keeping organizations in space, and, if they were separate governing bodies, why they were working within the same territory. Again, this isn’t anything I can truly fault the author for as I didn’t read the first book, but I felt it was something to point out nonetheless.
Overall, I would recommend giving Remnants of Trust by Elizabeth Bonesteel a read. It is a highly enjoyable read. I will definitely be going back and reading the first book in the Central Corps series. If you like military sci-fi this is definitely a book for the TBR pile.
*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
December 11, 2019
59% - I am so fucking done with Greg and Elena's bullshit. Elena needs to get her head out of her ass already. I think she's right about what happened when Keita pulled the gun on Ruby and she got in between them and saved Keita from destroying himself mentally by slaughtering an unarmed teenager. Greg's reaction is completely justified, but as the reader, I am ready for him to fucking let go already so we can get on with the mystery.
I can say this, I do appreciate how Bonesteel handles fertility issues. As someone who has miscarried very early, I know what Elena went thru, and her... reaction to Guanyin's very obvious pregnancy.
"I do not really understand that... that there should be some hierarchy of loss, that someone's pain should be dismissed simply because it is not the only pain there is. We all know that there is no fairness in this life, but I do not think it is wrong to be angry because of that." For someone so young, Guanyin is very wise.
62% GODDAMN IT, ELENA, YOU NINNY.
And, done. It was good. I'm invested. I still want to slap Foster and Elena upside their stupid heads. And go postal on the Admiralty. How dare they split them up!
I can say this, I do appreciate how Bonesteel handles fertility issues. As someone who has miscarried very early, I know what Elena went thru, and her... reaction to Guanyin's very obvious pregnancy.
"I do not really understand that... that there should be some hierarchy of loss, that someone's pain should be dismissed simply because it is not the only pain there is. We all know that there is no fairness in this life, but I do not think it is wrong to be angry because of that." For someone so young, Guanyin is very wise.
62% GODDAMN IT, ELENA, YOU NINNY.
And, done. It was good. I'm invested. I still want to slap Foster and Elena upside their stupid heads. And go postal on the Admiralty. How dare they split them up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2017
I won this book in a recent Goodreads First Reads giveaway.
I enjoyed this book, even though it is not a book that I would normally choose. It is the first time that I have read any books by this author and would like to read more in the near future.
I enjoyed this book, even though it is not a book that I would normally choose. It is the first time that I have read any books by this author and would like to read more in the near future.
December 30, 2017
http://delivreenlivres.blogspot.fr/20...
Ce tome est à mon avis moins marquant que le précédent, mais j'ai néanmoins passé un bon moment, notamment avec la fin que j'ai dévoré.
Pour remettre les choses dans leur contexte nous suivons ici Elena Shaw, technicienne principale du vaisseau Galileo de la flotte de Central Corps, le gouvernement de la terre et de ces alliés. Ce qu'elle est son capitaine, Grag Foster ont découvert l'an passé les mets dans une situation embarrassante pour leur supérieur, qui les tiennent donc à l’œil depuis.
Alors qu'ils viennent d'arriver dans le secteur 5, leur nouvelle affectation, ils reçoivent un appel de détresse du vaisseau de leur flotte dans la zone, l'Exeter, il est en train de se faire attaquer par toute une armée de vaisseaux de pillards qui normalement ne s'attaquent jamais aux plus gros poissons militaires. Ils n'arrivent sur place que trop tard et assistent donc à la destruction de l'Exeter. Celui ci, touché par une bombe de gros calibre dans sa zone des moteurs ne peux plus assurer la survie de son équipage et ce sont 97 personnes qui perdent la vie en quelques minutes.
Le Galileo est chargé de mener l'enquête et de poursuivre les attaquants. Le capitaine Foster, ainsi que le capitaine de l'Exeter, le capitaine Celik, décident de s'allier avec le vaisseau des PSI, les nomades de l'espace, qui a réussi à sauver les survivant de l'attaque en arrivant en premier sur place. En effet les PSI combattent les tribus de pillards depuis des générations et sont donc bien plus au fait de comment les aborder et trouver ceux responsables du massacre.
Mais dans le voyage pour arriver à la base des pillards, en compilant les données ils commencent à trouver que les coïncidences sont vraiment nombreuses et en plus les deux vaisseaux commencent à être victimes d'accidents bizarre qui ressemblent fortement à du sabotage ...
*****
Je tiens à préciser d’abord que malgré le contexte militaire on est ici totalement dans du Space opera et pas du tout dans de la SF militaire. Le coté militaire n'est ici qu'un décor en fait, et si on retrouve les codes et les relations typique du genre, on se concentre surtout sur ce qu'il se passe pour les personnages derrières les uniformes.
On n'est pas non plus du tout dans de la hard SF, même si nous avons comme personnage principal une technicienne, on ne nous explique jamais la science derrière la technologie ou comment ça marche, on assume juste que ça fonctionne.
Pour en revenir au contexte il faut savoir qu'en fait ils sont dans une période difficile pour le gouvernement Central concernant les corps. En fait on n'est pas du tout dans un mode de fonctionnement de type flotte de vaisseaux, mais plus comme des casques bleus. ils sont la pour apporter de l'aide aux colonies, aider à ramener la paix si il y a un gros conflit. Chaque vaisseau fonctionne seul dans sa mission, sous les ordres d'un amiral qui lui est sur le Terre et dirige de loin tout un secteur.
Mais vu qu'ils sont en paix depuis des années (plus personne ne se rappelle une guerre quelconque), les budgets deviennent de plus en plus bas, et avec eux les salaires des officiers, le nombre de vaisseaux etc ... Résultat ils sont en gros manque d'officiers motivés et compétant, n'ayant rien pour les retenir. Du coup quand ils en trouvent un ils ont tendance à un peu fermer les yeux sur ses comportements pas toujours très respectable, ce qui explique que Foster n'ai pas été condamné des suites de ses actes du premier tome. De même que le capitaine Celik qui lui a la vilaine habitude de coucher régulièrement avec ses subordonnées ce qui devrait normalement ne pas être autorisé.
*****
Pour moi ce roman a été en trois phases.
J'ai bien aimé la première, ou on découvre le mystère et ou on commence à se poser pas mal de questions. On s'aperçoit que tout ce qu'il se passe et plus ou moins lié aux événements précédent et du coup ça complexifie pas mal la situation.
Cette phase d'approche avait un bon rythme et la tragédie de l'Exeter était vraiment bien dosée. On rencontre les nouveaux personnages, certains étant liés au passé d'Elena car elle avait passé 6 mois sur l'Exeter au début de sa carrière. Elle a d'ailleurs perdu pas mal d'anciennes connaissances et d'amis dans la catastrophe.
Tout se corse dans la seconde partie qui correspond au voyage pour aller à la rencontre des pillards. En fait ce voyage est totalement en huis clos et c'est la que les actes de sabotage commencent.
J'avoue que je n'ai pas particulièrement aimé cette partie.
Non pas qu'elle n'avait pas de bon points, comme une tension qui monte entre les protagonistes qui commencent à tous se méfier les uns des autres. La grosse question étant "à qui faire confiance?". Ils pensent qu'il y a un traître parmi eux mais pourtant tout ceux qui sont impliqués sont quasiment mis hors de cause du coup on ne comprend pas du tout ce qu'il peut bien se passer et c'est ça qui fait monter la tension.
Mais du coup comme ils sont dans un huis clos tout se résume à des dialogues et des questionnements où plus personne ne fait confiance à personne et ou tout le monde analyse les motivations et les alibis des autres. D’où aussi une impression de lenteur, même si l'ambiance est vraiment super sympa.
Ce que je n'ai pas aimé dans cette partie concerne les personnages de Greg et Elena, qui sont deux personnage parmi les 5-6 points de vue que nous suivons dans ce tome.
Pour résumé la situation les concernant en fait ceux deux la étaient les meilleurs amis du monde depuis une 10ène d'années. Mais le capitaine Foster (Greg) a eu un divorce difficile récemment, qui a remis en cause toute sa vie. Il était de toute façon bien plus marié à son devoir et à ce qu'il pensait juste qu'a sa femme. Mais de cette remise en cause est ressorti le fait qu'il c'est brusquement rendu compte que ses sentiments à l'égard d'Elena étaient plus de l'ordre de l'amour que de l'amitié. Il est totalement perdu, ne sait plus du tout quoi faire et fini limite obsédé par ça à force de ressasser tout ça dans sa tête.
Mais du coup Elena de son coté ne ressent pas du tout la même chose et donc ça la met vraiment très mal à l'aise et lui fait perdre toute confiance en Greg car elle se demande si il lui a mentit depuis le début et si elle était la seule à avoir vraiment de l'amitié. Sans parler bien sur du problème d'une relation entre leurs grades qui serait in-envisageable.
Greg choisi donc de se mettre en retrait, pour lui laisser le temps de décider de ce qu'elle souhaite faire de leur relation. Mais Elena prend très mal cette réaction car elle voudrait au contraire retrouver son ami et faire comme ci sa déclaration n'était jamais arrivée.
Du coup la situation est vraiment très tendue entre les deux et toutes leurs discutions se transforment quasiment toujours en grosse engueulade quelque soit le sujet de départ car ils semblent ne plus arriver à se mettre d'accord sur rien et ou l'un des deux fini invariablement par dire une phrase sui tue et à blesser l'autre sans le vouloir vraiment.
Vous mettez tout ça dans une boite dans l'espace ou tout le monde soupçonne tout le monde et vous imaginez un peu le décor.
Et pourquoi je n'ai pas aimé? Surtout parce qu'ils n'arrivent pas à arranger les choses et que j'avais vraiment envie de leur donner des gants de boxe en leur disant de se taper dessus un peu pour se calmer.
En fait ils m'ont vraiment tapé sur le système sans jeu de mot.
Bon c'est sur que résumé comme ça on pourrait se demander si on est dans un soap opéra plutôt que dans un space opera mais rassurez vous ils ne sont pas les seuls personnes qu'on suis (heureusement d'ailleurs) et les autres n'ont pas du tout ce genre de relations. Donc pas de souci la dessus même si ma patience a été mise à rude épreuve sur ce passage j'avoue.
Mais heureusement la troisième et dernière partie du livre fini par arriver et j'ai été vraiment soulagée parce qu'elle est passé vraiment super bien.
J'ai adoré en fait, je l'ai dévoré. On en a fini avec les tensions et on passe un peu à l'action.
Cette fin a sauvé le livre pour moi et j'avoue que pendant ma lecture j'ai totalement oublié le passage précédent et j'ai retrouvé mon sourire et tout ce qui me plaisait dans le premier tome de la série.
*****
J'ai quand même trouvé que sur l'ensemble cette histoire était moins percutante que la précédente et je pense que c'est principalement parce qu'on sait déjà contre qui on se bat. Peut être pas dans les détails parce qu'ils sont bien cachés mais du coup ça retire quand même une partie de la surprise et de la découverte que j'avais ressentit dans le tome précédent.
Pour ce qui est des personnages secondaire, je dois dire que malgré ses défauts qu'il ne cache pas, j'ai bien aimé le personnage de Celik. Non pas que j'aime son comportement, il est bien trop excessif pour moi et il joue vraiment avec l'adulation que lui porte son équipage et en profite outrageusement. Mais du coup il apporte vraiment un coté mauvais garçon grande gueule et c'était bien fait en contraste avec la sévérité de l'attitude de Foster par exemple qui est toujours bien sur lui et sobre. Ou avec le sérieux de Elena.
J'ai adoré leurs dialogue ces deux la d'ailleurs, toujours à se clacher plus ou moins amicalement.
Les autres étaient plus neutres. Même si j'ai bien aimé le capitaine PSI, Guanyin, elle est ouverte et très respectée par tous. Au début on se demande bien comment une femme si jeune est arrivé à un poste si important car elle gère une tribu de 800 personnes. Mais on fini bien par comprendre que ce n'est pas par hasard. En fait elle fait bien le tampon lors des tensions du milieu du tome. Elle est très diplomate et elle sait élever la voix quand il le faut.
Je dois même dire que des fois, en comparaison avec les autres personnages des Central Corps qui sont censés justement être militaires, elle était bien plus à sa place qu'eux et elle savait garder son calme.
*****
Au final on pourra vraiment dire qu'il y avait des points aussi bien très bons que très moyen sur ce tome. Mais finalement en y repensant, la partie que j'ai mois aimé était courte, elle ne concernait que la partie centrale du livre, sans parler du fait que je l'ai vite oublié quand on est repassé à autre chose.
Du coup je ne peux non plus dire que c'était une mauvaise lecture. J'ai passé un bon moment.
16/20
Ce tome est à mon avis moins marquant que le précédent, mais j'ai néanmoins passé un bon moment, notamment avec la fin que j'ai dévoré.
Pour remettre les choses dans leur contexte nous suivons ici Elena Shaw, technicienne principale du vaisseau Galileo de la flotte de Central Corps, le gouvernement de la terre et de ces alliés. Ce qu'elle est son capitaine, Grag Foster ont découvert l'an passé les mets dans une situation embarrassante pour leur supérieur, qui les tiennent donc à l’œil depuis.
Alors qu'ils viennent d'arriver dans le secteur 5, leur nouvelle affectation, ils reçoivent un appel de détresse du vaisseau de leur flotte dans la zone, l'Exeter, il est en train de se faire attaquer par toute une armée de vaisseaux de pillards qui normalement ne s'attaquent jamais aux plus gros poissons militaires. Ils n'arrivent sur place que trop tard et assistent donc à la destruction de l'Exeter. Celui ci, touché par une bombe de gros calibre dans sa zone des moteurs ne peux plus assurer la survie de son équipage et ce sont 97 personnes qui perdent la vie en quelques minutes.
Le Galileo est chargé de mener l'enquête et de poursuivre les attaquants. Le capitaine Foster, ainsi que le capitaine de l'Exeter, le capitaine Celik, décident de s'allier avec le vaisseau des PSI, les nomades de l'espace, qui a réussi à sauver les survivant de l'attaque en arrivant en premier sur place. En effet les PSI combattent les tribus de pillards depuis des générations et sont donc bien plus au fait de comment les aborder et trouver ceux responsables du massacre.
Mais dans le voyage pour arriver à la base des pillards, en compilant les données ils commencent à trouver que les coïncidences sont vraiment nombreuses et en plus les deux vaisseaux commencent à être victimes d'accidents bizarre qui ressemblent fortement à du sabotage ...
*****
Je tiens à préciser d’abord que malgré le contexte militaire on est ici totalement dans du Space opera et pas du tout dans de la SF militaire. Le coté militaire n'est ici qu'un décor en fait, et si on retrouve les codes et les relations typique du genre, on se concentre surtout sur ce qu'il se passe pour les personnages derrières les uniformes.
On n'est pas non plus du tout dans de la hard SF, même si nous avons comme personnage principal une technicienne, on ne nous explique jamais la science derrière la technologie ou comment ça marche, on assume juste que ça fonctionne.
Pour en revenir au contexte il faut savoir qu'en fait ils sont dans une période difficile pour le gouvernement Central concernant les corps. En fait on n'est pas du tout dans un mode de fonctionnement de type flotte de vaisseaux, mais plus comme des casques bleus. ils sont la pour apporter de l'aide aux colonies, aider à ramener la paix si il y a un gros conflit. Chaque vaisseau fonctionne seul dans sa mission, sous les ordres d'un amiral qui lui est sur le Terre et dirige de loin tout un secteur.
Mais vu qu'ils sont en paix depuis des années (plus personne ne se rappelle une guerre quelconque), les budgets deviennent de plus en plus bas, et avec eux les salaires des officiers, le nombre de vaisseaux etc ... Résultat ils sont en gros manque d'officiers motivés et compétant, n'ayant rien pour les retenir. Du coup quand ils en trouvent un ils ont tendance à un peu fermer les yeux sur ses comportements pas toujours très respectable, ce qui explique que Foster n'ai pas été condamné des suites de ses actes du premier tome. De même que le capitaine Celik qui lui a la vilaine habitude de coucher régulièrement avec ses subordonnées ce qui devrait normalement ne pas être autorisé.
*****
Pour moi ce roman a été en trois phases.
J'ai bien aimé la première, ou on découvre le mystère et ou on commence à se poser pas mal de questions. On s'aperçoit que tout ce qu'il se passe et plus ou moins lié aux événements précédent et du coup ça complexifie pas mal la situation.
Cette phase d'approche avait un bon rythme et la tragédie de l'Exeter était vraiment bien dosée. On rencontre les nouveaux personnages, certains étant liés au passé d'Elena car elle avait passé 6 mois sur l'Exeter au début de sa carrière. Elle a d'ailleurs perdu pas mal d'anciennes connaissances et d'amis dans la catastrophe.
Tout se corse dans la seconde partie qui correspond au voyage pour aller à la rencontre des pillards. En fait ce voyage est totalement en huis clos et c'est la que les actes de sabotage commencent.
J'avoue que je n'ai pas particulièrement aimé cette partie.
Non pas qu'elle n'avait pas de bon points, comme une tension qui monte entre les protagonistes qui commencent à tous se méfier les uns des autres. La grosse question étant "à qui faire confiance?". Ils pensent qu'il y a un traître parmi eux mais pourtant tout ceux qui sont impliqués sont quasiment mis hors de cause du coup on ne comprend pas du tout ce qu'il peut bien se passer et c'est ça qui fait monter la tension.
Mais du coup comme ils sont dans un huis clos tout se résume à des dialogues et des questionnements où plus personne ne fait confiance à personne et ou tout le monde analyse les motivations et les alibis des autres. D’où aussi une impression de lenteur, même si l'ambiance est vraiment super sympa.
Ce que je n'ai pas aimé dans cette partie concerne les personnages de Greg et Elena, qui sont deux personnage parmi les 5-6 points de vue que nous suivons dans ce tome.
Pour résumé la situation les concernant en fait ceux deux la étaient les meilleurs amis du monde depuis une 10ène d'années. Mais le capitaine Foster (Greg) a eu un divorce difficile récemment, qui a remis en cause toute sa vie. Il était de toute façon bien plus marié à son devoir et à ce qu'il pensait juste qu'a sa femme. Mais de cette remise en cause est ressorti le fait qu'il c'est brusquement rendu compte que ses sentiments à l'égard d'Elena étaient plus de l'ordre de l'amour que de l'amitié. Il est totalement perdu, ne sait plus du tout quoi faire et fini limite obsédé par ça à force de ressasser tout ça dans sa tête.
Mais du coup Elena de son coté ne ressent pas du tout la même chose et donc ça la met vraiment très mal à l'aise et lui fait perdre toute confiance en Greg car elle se demande si il lui a mentit depuis le début et si elle était la seule à avoir vraiment de l'amitié. Sans parler bien sur du problème d'une relation entre leurs grades qui serait in-envisageable.
Greg choisi donc de se mettre en retrait, pour lui laisser le temps de décider de ce qu'elle souhaite faire de leur relation. Mais Elena prend très mal cette réaction car elle voudrait au contraire retrouver son ami et faire comme ci sa déclaration n'était jamais arrivée.
Du coup la situation est vraiment très tendue entre les deux et toutes leurs discutions se transforment quasiment toujours en grosse engueulade quelque soit le sujet de départ car ils semblent ne plus arriver à se mettre d'accord sur rien et ou l'un des deux fini invariablement par dire une phrase sui tue et à blesser l'autre sans le vouloir vraiment.
Vous mettez tout ça dans une boite dans l'espace ou tout le monde soupçonne tout le monde et vous imaginez un peu le décor.
Et pourquoi je n'ai pas aimé? Surtout parce qu'ils n'arrivent pas à arranger les choses et que j'avais vraiment envie de leur donner des gants de boxe en leur disant de se taper dessus un peu pour se calmer.
En fait ils m'ont vraiment tapé sur le système sans jeu de mot.
Bon c'est sur que résumé comme ça on pourrait se demander si on est dans un soap opéra plutôt que dans un space opera mais rassurez vous ils ne sont pas les seuls personnes qu'on suis (heureusement d'ailleurs) et les autres n'ont pas du tout ce genre de relations. Donc pas de souci la dessus même si ma patience a été mise à rude épreuve sur ce passage j'avoue.
Mais heureusement la troisième et dernière partie du livre fini par arriver et j'ai été vraiment soulagée parce qu'elle est passé vraiment super bien.
J'ai adoré en fait, je l'ai dévoré. On en a fini avec les tensions et on passe un peu à l'action.
Cette fin a sauvé le livre pour moi et j'avoue que pendant ma lecture j'ai totalement oublié le passage précédent et j'ai retrouvé mon sourire et tout ce qui me plaisait dans le premier tome de la série.
*****
J'ai quand même trouvé que sur l'ensemble cette histoire était moins percutante que la précédente et je pense que c'est principalement parce qu'on sait déjà contre qui on se bat. Peut être pas dans les détails parce qu'ils sont bien cachés mais du coup ça retire quand même une partie de la surprise et de la découverte que j'avais ressentit dans le tome précédent.
Pour ce qui est des personnages secondaire, je dois dire que malgré ses défauts qu'il ne cache pas, j'ai bien aimé le personnage de Celik. Non pas que j'aime son comportement, il est bien trop excessif pour moi et il joue vraiment avec l'adulation que lui porte son équipage et en profite outrageusement. Mais du coup il apporte vraiment un coté mauvais garçon grande gueule et c'était bien fait en contraste avec la sévérité de l'attitude de Foster par exemple qui est toujours bien sur lui et sobre. Ou avec le sérieux de Elena.
J'ai adoré leurs dialogue ces deux la d'ailleurs, toujours à se clacher plus ou moins amicalement.
Les autres étaient plus neutres. Même si j'ai bien aimé le capitaine PSI, Guanyin, elle est ouverte et très respectée par tous. Au début on se demande bien comment une femme si jeune est arrivé à un poste si important car elle gère une tribu de 800 personnes. Mais on fini bien par comprendre que ce n'est pas par hasard. En fait elle fait bien le tampon lors des tensions du milieu du tome. Elle est très diplomate et elle sait élever la voix quand il le faut.
Je dois même dire que des fois, en comparaison avec les autres personnages des Central Corps qui sont censés justement être militaires, elle était bien plus à sa place qu'eux et elle savait garder son calme.
*****
Au final on pourra vraiment dire qu'il y avait des points aussi bien très bons que très moyen sur ce tome. Mais finalement en y repensant, la partie que j'ai mois aimé était courte, elle ne concernait que la partie centrale du livre, sans parler du fait que je l'ai vite oublié quand on est repassé à autre chose.
Du coup je ne peux non plus dire que c'était une mauvaise lecture. J'ai passé un bon moment.
16/20
October 26, 2017
The story was good. The characters were developed.
Captain "Baby on Board" grew on me -- after how confusing the transition was. (I started on book 2 as well -- so that could be part of it.)
But I don't think I'll go to book 1 or 3. The author writes well - but I didn't LIKE any of the characters. Possibly due to the mid-act plot always being fraught with trauma from the first act -- but still.
Your mileage may vary. :)
Captain "Baby on Board" grew on me -- after how confusing the transition was. (I started on book 2 as well -- so that could be part of it.)
But I don't think I'll go to book 1 or 3. The author writes well - but I didn't LIKE any of the characters. Possibly due to the mid-act plot always being fraught with trauma from the first act -- but still.
Your mileage may vary. :)
Read
January 21, 2022Come for the romantic space opera. Stay for the surprise exploration of climate migration.
June 14, 2018
Six weeks ago, Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster were court-martialled for their role in an event Central Gov denies ever happened. Yet instead of a dishonourable discharge or time in a military prison, Shaw and Foster and are now back together on Galileo. As punishment, they’ve been assigned to patrol the nearly empty space of the Third Sector.
But their mundane mission quickly turns treacherous when the Galileo picks up a distress call: Exeter, a sister ship, is under attack from raiders.
This space opera adventure is a cracker – I love the complex characterisation and nuanced responses of the main protagonists. While this is a continuation from the first book, if you haven’t read it, I think you could still work out who was doing what to whom without too much difficulty. And while you might miss out on some of the extra ramifications, you certainly would be able to negotiate the world and follow the action, while appreciating what is at stake – which is a lot.
However, Bonesteel’s great strength is the portrayal of her cast. Elena is a great main character – she is a skilled mechanic as well as brave and stubborn. However, she also has vulnerabilities and weaknesses, too. As does every other character in this engrossing story, where as well as trying to fulfil their mission – or otherwise – they are all reacting off each other in highly stressful circumstances in ways that feel completely realistic. The pacing in this story is slower than the previous headlong pelt through the book, where Elena’s pairing with an unjustly accused PSI captain triggered many of the events that are reverberating through this more complex story with a wider scope.
I took my time reading this one – something I don’t do very often, because I simply didn’t want it to end. I love character-led adventures and Bonesteel’s writing really chimes with me. Other than Elena, whom I love, my favourite character is the abrasive, intelligent Raman Çelik, the captain of poor old Exeter, the ship that is attacked in the opening passage of the book. He isn’t very nice – in fact, he isn’t nice at all. But his charisma and tendency to jab at everyone around him to wind them up and his dogged determination to track down those responsible for the damage done to his ship and crew helps to power this story forward.
The final denouement is suitably exciting and an appropriate payoff for readers who have invested their time to read this gripping story – and I certainly didn’t realise who the traitor was. The initial main plotline – who is responsible for attacking the Exeter and why – is certainly adequately addressed in this adventure, but this is part of a trilogy and there is a massive plotpoint dangling with a sudden heartbreaking twist right near the end of this adventure. I’m very glad that the final book, Breach of Containment is due to arrive on the library shelves any day now – I’ve got an order in to read it as soon as it does, because I really, really want to know what happens next.
Highly recommended for fans of character-led space opera adventure.
9/10
But their mundane mission quickly turns treacherous when the Galileo picks up a distress call: Exeter, a sister ship, is under attack from raiders.
This space opera adventure is a cracker – I love the complex characterisation and nuanced responses of the main protagonists. While this is a continuation from the first book, if you haven’t read it, I think you could still work out who was doing what to whom without too much difficulty. And while you might miss out on some of the extra ramifications, you certainly would be able to negotiate the world and follow the action, while appreciating what is at stake – which is a lot.
However, Bonesteel’s great strength is the portrayal of her cast. Elena is a great main character – she is a skilled mechanic as well as brave and stubborn. However, she also has vulnerabilities and weaknesses, too. As does every other character in this engrossing story, where as well as trying to fulfil their mission – or otherwise – they are all reacting off each other in highly stressful circumstances in ways that feel completely realistic. The pacing in this story is slower than the previous headlong pelt through the book, where Elena’s pairing with an unjustly accused PSI captain triggered many of the events that are reverberating through this more complex story with a wider scope.
I took my time reading this one – something I don’t do very often, because I simply didn’t want it to end. I love character-led adventures and Bonesteel’s writing really chimes with me. Other than Elena, whom I love, my favourite character is the abrasive, intelligent Raman Çelik, the captain of poor old Exeter, the ship that is attacked in the opening passage of the book. He isn’t very nice – in fact, he isn’t nice at all. But his charisma and tendency to jab at everyone around him to wind them up and his dogged determination to track down those responsible for the damage done to his ship and crew helps to power this story forward.
The final denouement is suitably exciting and an appropriate payoff for readers who have invested their time to read this gripping story – and I certainly didn’t realise who the traitor was. The initial main plotline – who is responsible for attacking the Exeter and why – is certainly adequately addressed in this adventure, but this is part of a trilogy and there is a massive plotpoint dangling with a sudden heartbreaking twist right near the end of this adventure. I’m very glad that the final book, Breach of Containment is due to arrive on the library shelves any day now – I’ve got an order in to read it as soon as it does, because I really, really want to know what happens next.
Highly recommended for fans of character-led space opera adventure.
9/10
December 9, 2016
Once again Bonesteel is a bit of a slow start, but it doesn't take long to get swept up in the story. This installment of the Central Corps series takes us back to events that helped shape our heroine, as well as keeping the ball moving re: Shadow Ops. (cue scary sounds) I'll give Miz B this: Regardless of whether or not you're a fan of SF (or military SF in particular) she still writes a solid story with (mostly) solid characters. (Some of the cast felt a bit two-dimensional this time around, but the depth you get with the main folks more than makes up for it.)
All in all, another tally in the Win column for Harper Voyager, and a bonus for me because I got a review copy for free! Love me some free books!
All in all, another tally in the Win column for Harper Voyager, and a bonus for me because I got a review copy for free! Love me some free books!
December 8, 2016
Great space opera. This was the second book in the series, but I had no trouble getting into it without having read the first(which I now want to read). Reminiscent of Douglas Reman's WWII naval books.
The plot twists and I didn't figure it out until the last chapter.
The plot twists and I didn't figure it out until the last chapter.
February 10, 2018
After a slow start, this book took off and really with the fast paced action and dialogue between the characters, it quickly became a great read. You can really feel the tension between some of the characters too.
September 5, 2021
(estimated read date ... I'm cleaning up my bookshelves)
Again, I was eager to read the next, and baffled by why it was a commercial flop.
Again, I was eager to read the next, and baffled by why it was a commercial flop.
October 20, 2021
Maybe it was just because I already knew the characters, maybe not. Or maybe it was because of PSI's greater involvement. But I liked this one better than the first book.
August 2, 2020
Book two of a series and I think one of the problems I had with this one was the fact that i recalled very little from the first book, even after I had gotten a ways into this one and there had been a number of references back to the actions of book one. It's just not a great sign when memory of the first book fades so easily; it's been a while, but it's not like it's been 10 years since book 1 for me!
Looking back at my review of the first book, some of the same issues I had then remain: Greg & Elena circling each other is even more annoying in this book, especially because Greg is kind of a creeper douche about it, and the power imbalance with her being a subordinate read worse today than ever. So not wild about the romance aspects.
The political machinations are pretty interesting, but I still wish we understood more about the government structure, how the military space organization most of our main characters work for really functions, and this Shadow Ops group that serves as both sort of enemy/sort of ally.
The addition of PSI Captain Shiang is a good choice and helps us understand that group much better, and the generation ship she runs is interesting. Slightly less good is Captain Celik from the Exeter (Elena's former Captain) who is so relentlessly dickish it's hard to see a) how he could possibly inspire the high levels of loyalty he's got, or b) manage to be effective enough at his job to get away with it. He's an ass through almost the entire book, and while his trauma makes it understandable to some extent, it's also made clear that he's always this guy and it's not because of the trauma. It's also makes the romance angle Bonesteel runs towards him and Captain Shiang a little harder to deal with: she's consistently mistrustful and crappy towards Greg as a Central Captain, but kind and gentle and supportive of the shitheel Celik? Yes, she has some history with Celik, but Greg is professional, polite, and respectful and it makes her mad and Celik is dickish and pushy and he is the one who is trustworthy? Blegh.
Elena remains a frustrating heroine, but at least we get a better understanding of why she's as closed off as she is much of the time, and see how good she is at her job. It makes it easier to understand why she's held in such esteem, even when she's often not terribly considerate of others.
The core mystery is actually very nicely done and appropriately twisty...but there's some loose ends that I had thought might get either resolved or set up to be pulled on more strongly in a later book. That said, plot-wise this one is pretty well done, if not as well-grounded as it probably should have been.
These are pretty good books that could be great. Until they get better they're going to be a "pick up when you find them" instead of a "rush out to get the next one" series.
Looking back at my review of the first book, some of the same issues I had then remain: Greg & Elena circling each other is even more annoying in this book, especially because Greg is kind of a creeper douche about it, and the power imbalance with her being a subordinate read worse today than ever. So not wild about the romance aspects.
The political machinations are pretty interesting, but I still wish we understood more about the government structure, how the military space organization most of our main characters work for really functions, and this Shadow Ops group that serves as both sort of enemy/sort of ally.
The addition of PSI Captain Shiang is a good choice and helps us understand that group much better, and the generation ship she runs is interesting. Slightly less good is Captain Celik from the Exeter (Elena's former Captain) who is so relentlessly dickish it's hard to see a) how he could possibly inspire the high levels of loyalty he's got, or b) manage to be effective enough at his job to get away with it. He's an ass through almost the entire book, and while his trauma makes it understandable to some extent, it's also made clear that he's always this guy and it's not because of the trauma. It's also makes the romance angle Bonesteel runs towards him and Captain Shiang a little harder to deal with: she's consistently mistrustful and crappy towards Greg as a Central Captain, but kind and gentle and supportive of the shitheel Celik? Yes, she has some history with Celik, but Greg is professional, polite, and respectful and it makes her mad and Celik is dickish and pushy and he is the one who is trustworthy? Blegh.
Elena remains a frustrating heroine, but at least we get a better understanding of why she's as closed off as she is much of the time, and see how good she is at her job. It makes it easier to understand why she's held in such esteem, even when she's often not terribly considerate of others.
The core mystery is actually very nicely done and appropriately twisty...but there's some loose ends that I had thought might get either resolved or set up to be pulled on more strongly in a later book. That said, plot-wise this one is pretty well done, if not as well-grounded as it probably should have been.
These are pretty good books that could be great. Until they get better they're going to be a "pick up when you find them" instead of a "rush out to get the next one" series.
January 31, 2018
In “Remnants of Trust” the second book in the imaginative and exciting military science fiction thriller series “Central Corps” Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster have been court-martialed and assigned with the CCSS Galileo to patrol the Third Sector as punishment. Yet never far from trouble the Galileo heeds a stress call from the CCSS Exeter and fight alongside the PSI ship, the Orunmila to save her sister ship from a destructive Syndicate attack. But when the smoke settles ninety-seven crew of the Exeter’s crew are dead, its Captain Raman Celik seriously injured, and the prisoner on board having escaped.
With the investigation into the scuttled starship’s loss of its weapons system pointing to sabotage and its recovering Captain out for revenge the thrill-ride begins when Raman Celik, Elena Shaw and Greg Foster join forces with Captain Shiang Granyin on the Orunmila. Together they travel to the planet of Canberra with its deadly atmosphere and horrific past to find the Syndicate raiders who brought death and destruction to the Exeter while freeing its prisoner convicted of inciting a war. Smoothly-paced, the action continually mounts with sabotage, raider attacks and a bomb planted on the Orunmila as past secrets and a conspiracy are revealed.
Elizabeth Bonesteel has a gift for building intensity and suspense with the revelation and consequences of Exeter’s failed mission to Canberra; Jessica Lockwood’s interaction with Admiral Herrod; and the ongoing clash of wills between Elena and Greg. Tension escalates as the plot moves all too quickly to an explosive confrontation and a painful separation near the end that promises another thrilling book.
Like the plot the author has created complex and unforgettable characters who infuse the latest adventure with tension, passion and drama like smart, perceptive yet tender-hearted Commander Elena Shaw a mechanic and pilot on the Galileo. She’s driven and often impulsive, wanting to provide to help those in need but unable to deal with her own emotions. Newly divorced Captain Greg Foster has made himself more open to his crew, although still finds it difficult dealing with his feelings for Elena. Honourable, but interpreting his orders his own way, he’s determined and protective but disciplined when the need arises. Abrasive and blunt, Captain Raman Celik intimidating and ill-tempered but patriotic, loyal to Command and his crew changes in personality as the story progresses.
I loved “ Remnants of Trust” an absorbing story you can’t put down until finished and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
With the investigation into the scuttled starship’s loss of its weapons system pointing to sabotage and its recovering Captain out for revenge the thrill-ride begins when Raman Celik, Elena Shaw and Greg Foster join forces with Captain Shiang Granyin on the Orunmila. Together they travel to the planet of Canberra with its deadly atmosphere and horrific past to find the Syndicate raiders who brought death and destruction to the Exeter while freeing its prisoner convicted of inciting a war. Smoothly-paced, the action continually mounts with sabotage, raider attacks and a bomb planted on the Orunmila as past secrets and a conspiracy are revealed.
Elizabeth Bonesteel has a gift for building intensity and suspense with the revelation and consequences of Exeter’s failed mission to Canberra; Jessica Lockwood’s interaction with Admiral Herrod; and the ongoing clash of wills between Elena and Greg. Tension escalates as the plot moves all too quickly to an explosive confrontation and a painful separation near the end that promises another thrilling book.
Like the plot the author has created complex and unforgettable characters who infuse the latest adventure with tension, passion and drama like smart, perceptive yet tender-hearted Commander Elena Shaw a mechanic and pilot on the Galileo. She’s driven and often impulsive, wanting to provide to help those in need but unable to deal with her own emotions. Newly divorced Captain Greg Foster has made himself more open to his crew, although still finds it difficult dealing with his feelings for Elena. Honourable, but interpreting his orders his own way, he’s determined and protective but disciplined when the need arises. Abrasive and blunt, Captain Raman Celik intimidating and ill-tempered but patriotic, loyal to Command and his crew changes in personality as the story progresses.
I loved “ Remnants of Trust” an absorbing story you can’t put down until finished and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
July 26, 2017
I wasn't as fond of this installment as I was the last.
The plot is still tied up in Sci-Ops, Ellis, the Corp, and PSI all maneuvering around each other. It's complex without being convoluted, and I felt like the sides and the breakdown of intentions was clearer this time around, though that could simply be because I read the previous book and remember the details.
Jessica is quickly becoming my favorite character and I'm hoping there is more of a focus on her in the future. Her attitude, intelligence, and wit are fun to read about and most of the other characters seem to agree. The PSI captain reminded me a lot of her as well, and having two of them around wasn't a bad thing. The captain was slightly more empathetic and less sarcastic, but that wasn't too much of a loss. Celik was annoying, partly because his character was supposed to be annoying but also because he was very cliched; he was the stereotypical bombastic, overconfident commander that believes he can do no wrong, and he never really broke from that mold.
The main characters annoyed me. Elena was walking around like a wounded puppy for most of the book, except for a few occasions where she was just being a brilliant engineer. I could understand her position given the events of the book, but it was a bit trying to get through. Most of the reason for that was Greg. I swear he was useless this entire book; he was just there as a passenger or as someone for people to yell at. He seemed to have no agency at all, and was late to the party on figuring out almost everything that was going on. That, combined with his basically teenage reaction to events with Elena, turned me off of him completely for this book.
I put the third book on my reading list for when it comes out but I'm guarded about its prospects. if it continues in this same vein, I don't know if I'll be able to finish it.
The plot is still tied up in Sci-Ops, Ellis, the Corp, and PSI all maneuvering around each other. It's complex without being convoluted, and I felt like the sides and the breakdown of intentions was clearer this time around, though that could simply be because I read the previous book and remember the details.
Jessica is quickly becoming my favorite character and I'm hoping there is more of a focus on her in the future. Her attitude, intelligence, and wit are fun to read about and most of the other characters seem to agree. The PSI captain reminded me a lot of her as well, and having two of them around wasn't a bad thing. The captain was slightly more empathetic and less sarcastic, but that wasn't too much of a loss. Celik was annoying, partly because his character was supposed to be annoying but also because he was very cliched; he was the stereotypical bombastic, overconfident commander that believes he can do no wrong, and he never really broke from that mold.
The main characters annoyed me. Elena was walking around like a wounded puppy for most of the book, except for a few occasions where she was just being a brilliant engineer. I could understand her position given the events of the book, but it was a bit trying to get through. Most of the reason for that was Greg. I swear he was useless this entire book; he was just there as a passenger or as someone for people to yell at. He seemed to have no agency at all, and was late to the party on figuring out almost everything that was going on. That, combined with his basically teenage reaction to events with Elena, turned me off of him completely for this book.
I put the third book on my reading list for when it comes out but I'm guarded about its prospects. if it continues in this same vein, I don't know if I'll be able to finish it.
September 13, 2017
I was super excited for this follow up to the first book but I have to say I was kind of disappointed. It was not nearly as good as the first one and it was hard to get through but it got to a point where there was no going back and I just wanted to finish.
Were back with Greg and Chief! (I like that name better) after they are court marshaled for the stuff in the last book and they are sent to a far place in the galaxy seeming as punishment. But than another Corps ship is attacked, who conveniently has MacBride on it and they have to rescue it. This starts a chain of events where there is no going back for anybody.
There was not really any romance in this book. You had the tension between Greg and Chief but that is about it. Honestly she needs to lighten up. I liked Trey so much better and he's not in the series anymore...well this book anyway. There was action and that was about the best parts overall for the story but they were in between. I did like the new character the new PSI caption who is pregnant and super bad ass I LOVED her. Ramen was okay....is he a grump or does he have a heart of gold? People love him or hate him...it's interesting and he was a great change of pace. They should have stuck to one name with him thou because he had so many different names used it got confusing at times.
Again good writing no issues there and I can see where she is going but after this I will not be reading the third book at all.
Were back with Greg and Chief! (I like that name better) after they are court marshaled for the stuff in the last book and they are sent to a far place in the galaxy seeming as punishment. But than another Corps ship is attacked, who conveniently has MacBride on it and they have to rescue it. This starts a chain of events where there is no going back for anybody.
There was not really any romance in this book. You had the tension between Greg and Chief but that is about it. Honestly she needs to lighten up. I liked Trey so much better and he's not in the series anymore...well this book anyway. There was action and that was about the best parts overall for the story but they were in between. I did like the new character the new PSI caption who is pregnant and super bad ass I LOVED her. Ramen was okay....is he a grump or does he have a heart of gold? People love him or hate him...it's interesting and he was a great change of pace. They should have stuck to one name with him thou because he had so many different names used it got confusing at times.
Again good writing no issues there and I can see where she is going but after this I will not be reading the third book at all.
May 4, 2018
#2 in the Central Corps series. Author Bonesteel has written an excellent sequel to The Cold Between (2016). This series entry was also published in 2016 and I offer the following caveat to prospective readers. The second novel takes place 6 weeks after the first and there is an intricate plot that carries over affecting interpersonal relationships. While there is some backstory in this novel, I strongly suggest reading them in order, and if significant time has passed since reading the first novel, skimming it before plunging into the second would not be remiss. This complex psychological/military science fiction series will reward the attentive reader.
ix weeks ago, Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster were court-martialed for their role in an event Central Gov denies ever happened. Instead of a dishonorable discharge, Shaw and Foster and are now back together on Galileo. As punishment, they’re assigned to patrol the empty space of the Third Sector. Their mission quickly turns treacherous when the Galileo picks up a distress call: Exeter, a sister ship, is under attack from raiders. A PSI generation ship is also in the sector and joins in the battle that leaves ninety-seven of Exeter’s crew dead. An investigation points to sabotage, but Exeter is only the beginning. When the PSI ship and Galileo suffer their own "accidents", it seems someone is willing to set off a war to keep their secrets.
ix weeks ago, Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster were court-martialed for their role in an event Central Gov denies ever happened. Instead of a dishonorable discharge, Shaw and Foster and are now back together on Galileo. As punishment, they’re assigned to patrol the empty space of the Third Sector. Their mission quickly turns treacherous when the Galileo picks up a distress call: Exeter, a sister ship, is under attack from raiders. A PSI generation ship is also in the sector and joins in the battle that leaves ninety-seven of Exeter’s crew dead. An investigation points to sabotage, but Exeter is only the beginning. When the PSI ship and Galileo suffer their own "accidents", it seems someone is willing to set off a war to keep their secrets.
March 26, 2018
I usually don't read Sci-Fi, but this series is excellent!
This is book #2 and yes, you should read the first book to really understand what is going on. Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster are finding their footing in the new sector that the Galileo is assigned to. Elena is still dealing with the revelations and losses from the last year as she continues to be in charge of engineering on the ship. Foster is trying to find his place in the new sector and in life after his divorce. This book finds the Galileo drawn into another strange series of events that have Shadow Ops written all over it, but are they really the ones behind this?
This is a very well written book! The characters are interesting and they react in often unpredictable ways. The mystery in this book is not as deep as in the first, but there are still plenty of revelations that kept me interested and involved with the story. This is really a character driven sci-fi series and I am very much enjoying it. There isn't tons of time spent on explaining the tech. I am very much looking forward to the next book!
This is book #2 and yes, you should read the first book to really understand what is going on. Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster are finding their footing in the new sector that the Galileo is assigned to. Elena is still dealing with the revelations and losses from the last year as she continues to be in charge of engineering on the ship. Foster is trying to find his place in the new sector and in life after his divorce. This book finds the Galileo drawn into another strange series of events that have Shadow Ops written all over it, but are they really the ones behind this?
This is a very well written book! The characters are interesting and they react in often unpredictable ways. The mystery in this book is not as deep as in the first, but there are still plenty of revelations that kept me interested and involved with the story. This is really a character driven sci-fi series and I am very much enjoying it. There isn't tons of time spent on explaining the tech. I am very much looking forward to the next book!
May 22, 2017
Space opera is alive and well in the very capable hands of Ms. Bonesteel. The first Central Corps novel was excellent, especially in its portrayal of diverse characters and strong female protagonists. This one's even better.
On the heels of her court martial, Commander Elena Shaw is sent to the backwaters of space to patrol a nearly empty sector, or so she's led to believe. There events from years past return to haunt her, and an attack on a Corps ship leaves more questions than answers.
What I'm loving about this series is the diverse nature of the women characters. The captain of the PSI generation ship is a heavily pregnant mother of six, not the usual starship captain we're used to. I saw a review that said the Central Corps novels are like "Star Trek for grown-ups", and I felt that way as I was reading it. I look forward to more novels in the Central Corps series and following Elena Shaw on her complicated career path.
On the heels of her court martial, Commander Elena Shaw is sent to the backwaters of space to patrol a nearly empty sector, or so she's led to believe. There events from years past return to haunt her, and an attack on a Corps ship leaves more questions than answers.
What I'm loving about this series is the diverse nature of the women characters. The captain of the PSI generation ship is a heavily pregnant mother of six, not the usual starship captain we're used to. I saw a review that said the Central Corps novels are like "Star Trek for grown-ups", and I felt that way as I was reading it. I look forward to more novels in the Central Corps series and following Elena Shaw on her complicated career path.
October 30, 2024
Like its predecessor, the world-building that informs this book is really well done. I can't say how much I appreciate the recognition of the great difficulties of gravity wells, interstellar distances (even with a cheat to make human travel possible), and terra-forming. It won't be easy, there's no way to evacuate a population, and moving more than emergency rations is unlikely so even in a high-tech situation starvation can be regularly on the horizon.
I also really appreciate the primary characters (there are 3-5 per book) that the narrative follows closely. Even the ones I'm not intended to like are carefully drawn with a good bit of empathy.
I do wish the endless unrequited romance that infuses all of this series could be edited down. I think each book could be about 15% less without all that ... mooning.
I also really appreciate the primary characters (there are 3-5 per book) that the narrative follows closely. Even the ones I'm not intended to like are carefully drawn with a good bit of empathy.
I do wish the endless unrequited romance that infuses all of this series could be edited down. I think each book could be about 15% less without all that ... mooning.
February 6, 2017
As a novel of politics in space, how they influence events, actions and people, Remnants was a fine example spread over years of service and how the past influences the present. Once again, I started with the second book of the series, missing The Cold Between, & so missed some of the tension that novel placed with the main characters. That serving officers would indulge in emotional entanglements seems foreign to me, but then it is long trip between stars. That a corporation would kill off a colony and escape scott-free-even without 'smoking gun proof' seems to me to cheapen life far to radically to be called human.
The story works well as two cultures are forced to blend to accomplish the mission, working out the quirks as they go. I'll find the first book and read it also.
The story works well as two cultures are forced to blend to accomplish the mission, working out the quirks as they go. I'll find the first book and read it also.
June 2, 2017
3.5 stars. An interesting second book to this series. The characters were very well written and I enjoyed the interaction between all of them as well as the introspection by some of the main characters. I had a more difficult time understanding some of the actions or wherefores and whys of some of the things that were happening. For example, the colonists mistrust or hatred of Central even though they repeatedly refused the help offered. I liked the military aspects of the story but thought that the fraternization amongst some of the ranks seemed out of place. It provided a good example of why it's not allowed in most military settings. All in all a good read. I look forward to diving into the next book.
September 4, 2017
Things are not going well on the Galileo. After all that happened in The Cold Between I was looking forward to how events would proceed in book two. There is a lot of action and build up for the next book but I was a little disappointed as I felt the book just wandered around and never came to the point. Commander Elena Shaw and Captain Greg Foster are back. There was no conclusion here. Nothing was solved but there were hints about things to come. Like many book in the middle of a trilogy it was not as good as the first book but did leave me wanting to read book three.
August 24, 2017
I loved the first book in the series, but this one was not very good. Very political and not nearly enough action. I found myself almost putting this one down because it was slog to get through. Plus, Trey is not in this one and I felt the loss keenly. It focused a lot on Greg, who I never really liked. I enjoyed Elena again, and the new characters especially Captain Shaing. But over all I was disappointed.
April 9, 2018
It's funny when you finish a book and you are not sure if it was any good and if you actually liked it? I hovered between 2 and 3 stars; but on balance as I decided to get number 3 to read down the line that it must be more 3 than 2 as I wouldn't normally stick with a series having given a book a two star ratings.
Pretty by the numbers Space Opera that had just about enough intrigue for me to want to find out what happens to the characters.
Pretty by the numbers Space Opera that had just about enough intrigue for me to want to find out what happens to the characters.
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