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Voidwitch Saga #1
Killing Gravity
Mariam Xi can kill you with her mind. She escaped the MEPHISTO lab where she was raised as a psychic supersoldier, which left her with terrifying capabilities, a fierce sense of independence, a deficit of trust and an experimental pet named Seven. She’s spent her life on the run, but the boogeymen from her past are catching up with her. An encounter with a bounty hunter has left her hanging helpless in a dying spaceship, dependent on the mercy of strangers.
Penned in on all sides, Mariam chases rumors to find the one who sold her out. To discover the truth and defeat her pursuers, she’ll have to stare into the abyss and find the secrets of her past, her future, and her terrifying potential.
Penned in on all sides, Mariam chases rumors to find the one who sold her out. To discover the truth and defeat her pursuers, she’ll have to stare into the abyss and find the secrets of her past, her future, and her terrifying potential.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
February 27, 2020
2.5ish stars. So I downloaded this one as a Tor free ebook, with their eBook of the Month club. (https://ebookclub.tor.com/), opened it to check out the first chapter or two, and before I knew it I was halfway through and decided to finish it up, though I wasn't particularly impressed with, well, anything going on here: plot, main character, writing, and the sheer level of blood and guts and violence. That's on me for wasting my brain on this, but maybe I can save someone else the trouble.
I've seen a lot of grimdark fantasy but not so much grimdark science fiction. This is pretty bleak and violent SF, with a few rays of hope and light.
Our main character is Mariam ("Mars") Xi, who has incredibly strong telekinetic powers, which she mostly uses to rip people to shreds and kill them. Before the story begins, she was in a lab of a Very Bad Corporation called MEPHISTO, being trained as a psychic soldier and killer. She managed to escape with the help of an older girl, who died in the process, and has been on the run from them ever since.
As the story begins, Mars is being rescued from her wrecked spaceship by another small ship with three people in it, not counting the AI of their ship. They don't trust her, and she certainly doesn't trust them. But as MEPHISTO figures out where she is and who she's with, they may need to help each other.
If kickass superpowered heroines are your literary flavor of choice, this might be worth checking out. There's lots of action (mostly of the violent sort) and it's a quick, fast-paced read. But I didn't see anything new or noteworthy here, I couldn’t identify with the main character, and the high level of violence turned me off. There's a slight cliffhanger ending, but I'm not planning on checking out more of Mariam Xi's adventures.
Content note: Strong R rating for language and violence.
I've seen a lot of grimdark fantasy but not so much grimdark science fiction. This is pretty bleak and violent SF, with a few rays of hope and light.
Our main character is Mariam ("Mars") Xi, who has incredibly strong telekinetic powers, which she mostly uses to rip people to shreds and kill them. Before the story begins, she was in a lab of a Very Bad Corporation called MEPHISTO, being trained as a psychic soldier and killer. She managed to escape with the help of an older girl, who died in the process, and has been on the run from them ever since.
As the story begins, Mars is being rescued from her wrecked spaceship by another small ship with three people in it, not counting the AI of their ship. They don't trust her, and she certainly doesn't trust them. But as MEPHISTO figures out where she is and who she's with, they may need to help each other.
If kickass superpowered heroines are your literary flavor of choice, this might be worth checking out. There's lots of action (mostly of the violent sort) and it's a quick, fast-paced read. But I didn't see anything new or noteworthy here, I couldn’t identify with the main character, and the high level of violence turned me off. There's a slight cliffhanger ending, but I'm not planning on checking out more of Mariam Xi's adventures.
Content note: Strong R rating for language and violence.
July 4, 2017
A fast and action-paced space opera with a woman who is powerful living weapon on the run from the people who created her.
Mariam Xi ("Mars") has miscalculated and left herself in a vulnerable position after a run-in with a bounty hunter. When she's picked up by a small spaceship crew who befriend her it's the first in a series of events where she learns more about her past and confronts the people who are pursuing her and would use her for their own ends.
This is a tight story that gives the barest sketches of the Empire that these people live in while providing plenty of detail on the immediately relevant stuff, like MEPHISTO the weapons research group that made Mars into what she is today and their horrific methods and results. Characterization of Mars and her friends is also great and done in a very small space.
Fair warning though: Mariam's powers aren't for the squeamish and the results of using them on living beings is bloody and violent.
Mariam Xi ("Mars") has miscalculated and left herself in a vulnerable position after a run-in with a bounty hunter. When she's picked up by a small spaceship crew who befriend her it's the first in a series of events where she learns more about her past and confronts the people who are pursuing her and would use her for their own ends.
This is a tight story that gives the barest sketches of the Empire that these people live in while providing plenty of detail on the immediately relevant stuff, like MEPHISTO the weapons research group that made Mars into what she is today and their horrific methods and results. Characterization of Mars and her friends is also great and done in a very small space.
Fair warning though: Mariam's powers aren't for the squeamish and the results of using them on living beings is bloody and violent.
December 13, 2020
Let's see, what can I say about this literary masterpiece? Well, there's about zero world-building. And the characters are all unlikable as fish. And so one-dimensional that they're flatter than my favorite herd of ironing boards. (Then again everything is flat in this book/world/whatever, so maybe the cast is just trying real hard to practice mimicry.) Also, the storyline is about as interesting as watching lethargic barnacles go into hibernation.
What else? Well, the author obviously attended a How to Write More Diverse and Inclusive Books 101 class before writing this fascinating story, because we've got a) a non-binary character, b) gay/bisexual/whatever/choose all that apply characters, c) disabled/physically impaired characters and d a Space Kitty Thingie (SKT™) character. While I commend Mr White's efforts in terms of diversity (especially when it comes to the SKT™, since puny humans have the revolting tendency to completely ignore the—superior—animal kingdom in their books—as my murderous children will attest to), doing so as if going through a checklist defeats the purpose and feels ridiculously fabricated, contrived, forced and generally artificial and unnatural and stuff.
But hey, it's not ALL bad. Of course not. There's something to be learned from every single book one reads and something positive to get out of the experience. In this particular case, I learned that it was probably not a good idea to read another book by Corey J. White. "What about the something positive," you ask? Well, the book was free.
P.S. Not even the delicious gore and lovely violence made this story work better for me. This should tell you something, methinks.
What else? Well, the author obviously attended a How to Write More Diverse and Inclusive Books 101 class before writing this fascinating story, because we've got a) a non-binary character, b) gay/bisexual/whatever/choose all that apply characters, c) disabled/physically impaired characters and d a Space Kitty Thingie (SKT™) character. While I commend Mr White's efforts in terms of diversity (especially when it comes to the SKT™, since puny humans have the revolting tendency to completely ignore the—superior—animal kingdom in their books—as my murderous children will attest to), doing so as if going through a checklist defeats the purpose and feels ridiculously fabricated, contrived, forced and generally artificial and unnatural and stuff.
But hey, it's not ALL bad. Of course not. There's something to be learned from every single book one reads and something positive to get out of the experience. In this particular case, I learned that it was probably not a good idea to read another book by Corey J. White. "What about the something positive," you ask? Well, the book was free.
P.S. Not even the delicious gore and lovely violence made this story work better for me. This should tell you something, methinks.
March 30, 2020
Killing Gravity is full of great ideas, but they fail to flesh themselves out.
Mars is a voidwitch (an engineered telekinetic) on a mission of self-discovery/revenge/reunion. She doesn’t give a damn and will probably kill you.
What I like: the inclusion of non-binary characters, atypical sexualities, cute experimental flying-squirrel-cat-things, and space witches.
What I dislike: the pacing (things move too quickly) and the lack of depth, which really is due to the short length of the book. So many interesting concepts are introduced, but so many of those interesting ideas stick around for no more than a page or two.
I am not opposed to reading more about this universe. There is potential.
2.5
Mars is a voidwitch (an engineered telekinetic) on a mission of self-discovery/revenge/reunion. She doesn’t give a damn and will probably kill you.
What I like: the inclusion of non-binary characters, atypical sexualities, cute experimental flying-squirrel-cat-things, and space witches.
What I dislike: the pacing (things move too quickly) and the lack of depth, which really is due to the short length of the book. So many interesting concepts are introduced, but so many of those interesting ideas stick around for no more than a page or two.
I am not opposed to reading more about this universe. There is potential.
2.5
June 18, 2017
Ive been craving space books lately so I was excited when I received a review copy of this. I was hopeful this would satisfy my craving but I didnt expect to love it as much as I did. The main character and her telekinisis abilities were compelling. I loved the relationships she formed and her experimental cat was just the best thing ever. I need one thats trained that well and sits on my shoulder ready to claw someone face off if they piss me off.
The main character is bisexual but no attention was called to it. It wasnt added for entertainment value which I really appreciated. I would have loved more character developpement. The side characters were interesting, especially the captain of the Nova. They're some kind of alien that the main character refers to as they. The main characters mushroom trip was a little confusing but it was probably meant to be. I also thought the upgraded humans were all really fun to read about.
There was only a couple of scifi things I didnt completely understand but the stuff I did understand was fascinating. I loved exploring the new planets and learning about the different customs, like relationship triples. The plot was fast pace and gripping. I enjoyed this so much I wish it was longer but I also love being able to finish a book really fast so Im not too disapointed. I need more books like this in my life. I hope we get a sequel soon. Id recommend this if you enjoy scifi.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
UPDATE: This was so freaking good. When is the sequel coming out. I really want it now.
The main character is bisexual but no attention was called to it. It wasnt added for entertainment value which I really appreciated. I would have loved more character developpement. The side characters were interesting, especially the captain of the Nova. They're some kind of alien that the main character refers to as they. The main characters mushroom trip was a little confusing but it was probably meant to be. I also thought the upgraded humans were all really fun to read about.
There was only a couple of scifi things I didnt completely understand but the stuff I did understand was fascinating. I loved exploring the new planets and learning about the different customs, like relationship triples. The plot was fast pace and gripping. I enjoyed this so much I wish it was longer but I also love being able to finish a book really fast so Im not too disapointed. I need more books like this in my life. I hope we get a sequel soon. Id recommend this if you enjoy scifi.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
UPDATE: This was so freaking good. When is the sequel coming out. I really want it now.
November 1, 2018
I was underwhelmed. The world building and character development both left a lot to be desired for me. Not enough background. The plot felt sketchy, as if I had been hitting the fast forward button on my remote a few times too many.
The magic (well, for lack of a better explanation of the author) aka telekinesis (maybe?) was interesting and different. However, almost no explanations of the dynamics of it. And our MC just flung it around with so little effort and lack of reflection or emotional investment, it was almost boring.
Our MC is emotionally flat. Is she supposed to be a sociopath or is this a writing issue? I couldn‘t say. I found it impossible to connect to her.
The supporting characters are cardboard cutouts. They all have one way to behave and one emotional expression. One buddy, one character that hates our MCs guts, a token non-binary character, the farcical bad guy.
A lot of pointless, too casual, un-reflected and over the top violence. Oh, splat, there goes another head. Moving on...
The only thing I liked and actually loved: the cat-thing. I want one.
That truly was the only redeeming feature of this novella for me. And maybe the possibility that the characters might come to life in the next book. This is the first published work by the author, so I am hopeful and might be tempted.
PS: Most of my reading buddies loved this.
The magic (well, for lack of a better explanation of the author) aka telekinesis (maybe?) was interesting and different. However, almost no explanations of the dynamics of it. And our MC just flung it around with so little effort and lack of reflection or emotional investment, it was almost boring.
Our MC is emotionally flat. Is she supposed to be a sociopath or is this a writing issue? I couldn‘t say. I found it impossible to connect to her.
The supporting characters are cardboard cutouts. They all have one way to behave and one emotional expression. One buddy, one character that hates our MCs guts, a token non-binary character, the farcical bad guy.
A lot of pointless, too casual, un-reflected and over the top violence. Oh, splat, there goes another head. Moving on...
The only thing I liked and actually loved: the cat-thing. I want one.
That truly was the only redeeming feature of this novella for me. And maybe the possibility that the characters might come to life in the next book. This is the first published work by the author, so I am hopeful and might be tempted.
PS: Most of my reading buddies loved this.
March 27, 2018
Great fun, good world-building, fast pace. If anything, it's too short. Lots of action and events, but lots of elapsed-time is skipped over, when there could be character building. "Lots of meat, but not enough bones" perhaps?
Unusually, in this case, I enjoyed the mixing of "super powers" with the science fiction, though... And Mars is a fun and interesting character, if a bit blood-thirsty.
I very much liked this quote:
Ring One is where my people live. Well, not my people, but the closest thing I want to find: the freaks, the runaways, the perpetual wanderers, the organized crime, the genehackers, the bodychoppers, the digital-wannabes, the loose, the inebriated, the ones with no common sense, no career and no desire for one, the fed up, fucked up, and flamed out. The whole place is like a dangerous chemical concoction. You never know what might set off a reaction, and the threat of violence hangs in the air thick as the smell.
Unusually, in this case, I enjoyed the mixing of "super powers" with the science fiction, though... And Mars is a fun and interesting character, if a bit blood-thirsty.
I very much liked this quote:
Ring One is where my people live. Well, not my people, but the closest thing I want to find: the freaks, the runaways, the perpetual wanderers, the organized crime, the genehackers, the bodychoppers, the digital-wannabes, the loose, the inebriated, the ones with no common sense, no career and no desire for one, the fed up, fucked up, and flamed out. The whole place is like a dangerous chemical concoction. You never know what might set off a reaction, and the threat of violence hangs in the air thick as the smell.
July 28, 2017
Another great novella!
Very quickly, the narration pulls you in through the eyes of Mariam Xi, or Mars. The action starts with her being rescued from the wreck of a spaceship, but all is not as it seems. White succeeds in creating a colourful and complex setting in a few sentences, never weighing us down with extraneous descriptions, and through the microcosm of the story, we are given glimpses of something huge and fascinating. This universe is peopled with a myriad of different beings, from aliens with neuter genders and AIs to humans 'augmented' by genetic or/and technologic experiments, and where a military super force tries to dominate all by creating the ultimate supersoldier. Nothing is new per se but the author puts it all together in a very captivating and thrilling fashion.
Mars does have shades of River Tam (I guess the comparison was inevitable to a certain degree) and yet this character is her own too, combining power with fragility. And she has Seven, her pet, result of an experiment like her, who is a brilliant addition.
Very quickly, the narration pulls you in through the eyes of Mariam Xi, or Mars. The action starts with her being rescued from the wreck of a spaceship, but all is not as it seems. White succeeds in creating a colourful and complex setting in a few sentences, never weighing us down with extraneous descriptions, and through the microcosm of the story, we are given glimpses of something huge and fascinating. This universe is peopled with a myriad of different beings, from aliens with neuter genders and AIs to humans 'augmented' by genetic or/and technologic experiments, and where a military super force tries to dominate all by creating the ultimate supersoldier. Nothing is new per se but the author puts it all together in a very captivating and thrilling fashion.
Mars does have shades of River Tam (I guess the comparison was inevitable to a certain degree) and yet this character is her own too, combining power with fragility. And she has Seven, her pet, result of an experiment like her, who is a brilliant addition.
July 11, 2017
Mariam Xi is a voidwitch, transformed into an experimental posthuman weapon with telekinetic powers so strong, she can crush spaceships like so much wadded up tissue and hurl asteroids at any foe who hasn’t the good sense to get out of her way. All this transforming was done by an evil militaristic lab with the awesomely unsubtle name of MEPHISTO, and I must say, there’s something rather comforting about the idea of a universe where villains just openly give themselves villainous names due to a fuck-giving deficit. MEPHISTO. SPECTRE. HYDRA. Legion of Doom. The Tories. I mean, confident villains would own it, wouldn’t they? Just come right out and announce you’re the bad guys and you don’t care who knows!
Killing Gravity is Corey White’s publishing debut, with this novella and a sequel picked up by Tor.com when they had their doors open to unsolicited submissions. It’s tight as a drum, paced for maximum visceral impact, and wastes not a word as it advances its plot. Mariam, or Mars, has escaped MEPHISTO’s clutches with the aid of her only friend, fellow experimentee Sera, whom Mars saw gunned down as her escape pod jettisoned. As the novella opens, Mars, accompanied only by her little alien kitty cat Seven, has just sent a bounty hunter on to his great reward, after which she’s rescued by the space tug Nova, captained by the gender-neutral Squid, and crewed by a couple of ex-soldiers, Trix and Mookie.
Discovering something rather shocking about who sent the bounty hunter after her, Mars dashes off to find the truth, even as MEPHISTO’s soldiers, led by this dude Briggs (who really ought to go “Bwa-ha-ha-ha-haaa!” more, because why not?), are coming after her with everything they’ve got.
The story delivers on action, in spades. Don’t examine the plot too closely, or you’ll wonder why MEPHISTO, presumably knowing full well they’re chasing an X-Woman of their own making with the power to fling spaceships and soldiers about like so many Legos, sends lots of them after her anyway. Or why, if there’s a simple post-hypnotic phrase that shuts her powers down like a light switch, it’s almost never spoken.
White creates likable characters in the crew of the Nova (though few readers, I think, will be reminded of Firefly, as the book wants), and he even makes Mars sympathetic, tough but not lacking humanity. Still, if all this X-Men stuff sounds a bit too comic booky to you, that’s because it is, and Briggs is never more than a stock bad guy with no substance to speak of. I was entertained plenty by Mariam’s saga, but there could have been much more in the way of nail-biting tension. As it stands, the climactic battle is forced to rely more on carnage than suspense to seal the deal. But White is good at most of his scenes of character interaction, and there’s never a dull moment despite all the liberal borrowing of elements from comics, ’80s cyberpunk and SF cinema. In fact, you’re most likely to come away from Killing Gravity thinking it would make a pretty decent movie on Netflix.
Killing Gravity is Corey White’s publishing debut, with this novella and a sequel picked up by Tor.com when they had their doors open to unsolicited submissions. It’s tight as a drum, paced for maximum visceral impact, and wastes not a word as it advances its plot. Mariam, or Mars, has escaped MEPHISTO’s clutches with the aid of her only friend, fellow experimentee Sera, whom Mars saw gunned down as her escape pod jettisoned. As the novella opens, Mars, accompanied only by her little alien kitty cat Seven, has just sent a bounty hunter on to his great reward, after which she’s rescued by the space tug Nova, captained by the gender-neutral Squid, and crewed by a couple of ex-soldiers, Trix and Mookie.
Discovering something rather shocking about who sent the bounty hunter after her, Mars dashes off to find the truth, even as MEPHISTO’s soldiers, led by this dude Briggs (who really ought to go “Bwa-ha-ha-ha-haaa!” more, because why not?), are coming after her with everything they’ve got.
The story delivers on action, in spades. Don’t examine the plot too closely, or you’ll wonder why MEPHISTO, presumably knowing full well they’re chasing an X-Woman of their own making with the power to fling spaceships and soldiers about like so many Legos, sends lots of them after her anyway. Or why, if there’s a simple post-hypnotic phrase that shuts her powers down like a light switch, it’s almost never spoken.
White creates likable characters in the crew of the Nova (though few readers, I think, will be reminded of Firefly, as the book wants), and he even makes Mars sympathetic, tough but not lacking humanity. Still, if all this X-Men stuff sounds a bit too comic booky to you, that’s because it is, and Briggs is never more than a stock bad guy with no substance to speak of. I was entertained plenty by Mariam’s saga, but there could have been much more in the way of nail-biting tension. As it stands, the climactic battle is forced to rely more on carnage than suspense to seal the deal. But White is good at most of his scenes of character interaction, and there’s never a dull moment despite all the liberal borrowing of elements from comics, ’80s cyberpunk and SF cinema. In fact, you’re most likely to come away from Killing Gravity thinking it would make a pretty decent movie on Netflix.
August 1, 2022
Killing Gravity
By Corey J. White
You know that feeling when you're looking for a book, like standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open and you are staring in and not sure what you feel like having today. Nothing looks good. Feeling like everything is boring even though you have like 40,000 ebooks. I was having one of those moments when this book caught my eye. It had everything I was hungry for!
Wow!!! Boy, this book hit the spot! What a great mix of elements. A strong female lead. Sci-fi kick @ss gal that everyone is after but the puzzle was why. Then when you find out, the book doesn't make her a whining b!tch about her past but sorrowful at times and always looking forward.
She was a loner before but meets people on a ship, a small crew, and it works out in the end that they all except each other. It didn't start that way. Lots of action, adventure, great world building, wonderful characters!
The gal also has a pet that is her only friend. It is a creature she rescued from a research lab. Seven is its name. She describes it as similar to a cat but much shorter legs and it fit in her helmet. Seven was definitely one of my favorite characters!
I definitely want to follow this series.
By Corey J. White
You know that feeling when you're looking for a book, like standing in front of the refrigerator with the door open and you are staring in and not sure what you feel like having today. Nothing looks good. Feeling like everything is boring even though you have like 40,000 ebooks. I was having one of those moments when this book caught my eye. It had everything I was hungry for!
Wow!!! Boy, this book hit the spot! What a great mix of elements. A strong female lead. Sci-fi kick @ss gal that everyone is after but the puzzle was why. Then when you find out, the book doesn't make her a whining b!tch about her past but sorrowful at times and always looking forward.
She was a loner before but meets people on a ship, a small crew, and it works out in the end that they all except each other. It didn't start that way. Lots of action, adventure, great world building, wonderful characters!
The gal also has a pet that is her only friend. It is a creature she rescued from a research lab. Seven is its name. She describes it as similar to a cat but much shorter legs and it fit in her helmet. Seven was definitely one of my favorite characters!
I definitely want to follow this series.
June 19, 2022
Reread, and while I still really like it, a star update too - I've read so many good books in the five (!) years since I've read this, and they've expanded my expectations. I also almost completely forgot what happened in this when I tried to go on to the second, which is a ding. Still - short, and for my time, completely worth it.
Meriam Xi - voidwitch (maybe not to her face) on the run - leads this novella from Corey J White. Once the product of those determined to either create or enhance psionic abilities (she's not sure), she's been running free - ish - since a dramatic escape left her an unexpectedly free agent. Now, with her freedom, as she puts it: This is stand-up tragedy; this is the free jazz of destruction; this is interpretive death.
I've had a run of great books recently and this stands out even among them. Though it's a novella, we have a fully-developed galaxy here, and it didn't take me long to sink right in. Meriam herself is definitely damaged, and inevitably she'll be compared to River from Firefly. Think much less muddled, and a lot more lethal.
A great start, and I can't wait for the rest of the series.
Meriam Xi - voidwitch (maybe not to her face) on the run - leads this novella from Corey J White. Once the product of those determined to either create or enhance psionic abilities (she's not sure), she's been running free - ish - since a dramatic escape left her an unexpectedly free agent. Now, with her freedom, as she puts it: This is stand-up tragedy; this is the free jazz of destruction; this is interpretive death.
I've had a run of great books recently and this stands out even among them. Though it's a novella, we have a fully-developed galaxy here, and it didn't take me long to sink right in. Meriam herself is definitely damaged, and inevitably she'll be compared to River from Firefly. Think much less muddled, and a lot more lethal.
A great start, and I can't wait for the rest of the series.
July 26, 2017
This action-packed SF novella has lots of great things in it: a badass female protagonist with unresolved anger issues; a cute but stalwart furry pet with tiny claws; a loyal ship AI with enough independence that there's the chance they might go rogue; the usual assortment of "characters" including an overt non-binary. As a bonus, there is also, as my friend Lindsay calls it, telekinetic people-smooshing. Good stuff.
December 22, 2022
White's novella Killing Gravity has by now morphed into a series, which features Mariam (Mars) Xi, a Voidwitch. Mars is the product of MEPHISTO, some sort of high tech weapons research corporation. After being sold to them by her father, Mars had all kinds of things done to her and her brain to make her a Voidwitch. What is a Voidwitch? Mars can do amazing things via her mental powers, like crush starships into little balls and turn people into paste. She managed to escape the MEPHISTO 'training' facility and has been on the run since. Killing Gravity starts off with her being trapped in her spaceship after an encounter with a bounty hunter (you should see the bounty hunter!), but is rescued by a rag-tag crew on an old spacetug.
While I liked this, the old 'rag-tag crew on a spaceship on the edge of the 'core' systems' is getting to be a rather old trope to be sure. I loved Firefly, and while this is not quite derivative of that show, the main trope sure is. Mars just wants to live and let live, but it seems the corporation will stop at nothing to get her back. After teaming up with the spacetug crew, you can bet their names on one a similar list. What is unique to this is the sheer mayhem and action here, as Mars is basically forced to kill hundreds, thousands? of 'minions' who keep coming after her on behalf of the corporation. White writes well and this is decently paced. He also do a fine job of giving life to new worlds/space stations/tech without wasting many words. There is a lot going on in this slim novella for sure! YMMV, but I am just getting tired of the Standard Space Opera setting with the obligatory rag-tag crew on the edge trope. Perhaps because this is just a novella, White did not really develop Mars beyond a one-woman wrecking crew seeking freedom and also vengeance and the same could be said of the other characters. Maybe the next installments will do more with Mars and company, but this was enough for me. 3 stars!
While I liked this, the old 'rag-tag crew on a spaceship on the edge of the 'core' systems' is getting to be a rather old trope to be sure. I loved Firefly, and while this is not quite derivative of that show, the main trope sure is. Mars just wants to live and let live, but it seems the corporation will stop at nothing to get her back. After teaming up with the spacetug crew, you can bet their names on one a similar list. What is unique to this is the sheer mayhem and action here, as Mars is basically forced to kill hundreds, thousands? of 'minions' who keep coming after her on behalf of the corporation. White writes well and this is decently paced. He also do a fine job of giving life to new worlds/space stations/tech without wasting many words. There is a lot going on in this slim novella for sure! YMMV, but I am just getting tired of the Standard Space Opera setting with the obligatory rag-tag crew on the edge trope. Perhaps because this is just a novella, White did not really develop Mars beyond a one-woman wrecking crew seeking freedom and also vengeance and the same could be said of the other characters. Maybe the next installments will do more with Mars and company, but this was enough for me. 3 stars!
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March 11, 2020Novella about a woman with psych powers being pursued by the evil corporation that created her. It's a good concept and the world and the secondary characters are well drawn, but the protag is just far too powerful and it completely undermines any tension. Mars is able to kill people with her mind, in their thousands at a time. She has one weakness, which she finds a way to circumvent very early on, after which she's unstoppably powerful. It's not that the stakes aren't high, it's just that the odds are weighted massively in her favour, so we're watching her win rather than having an adventure with her. Pity, as there's a ton to like here.
January 15, 2019
Okay, it’s official. This novella, which packs more incident and chutzpah into its slim length than some novels, made me swoon. The (casually) bisexual main protagonist, her alien cat-like pet creature, and the fact we have a spaceship called the Nova is homage to the grand precursor of cyberpunk, the Samuel R. Delany novel. Easily read in a single sitting, Corey J. White’s writing pops with a frisson of violence, hard tech, and some WTF Voidwitchery. That we end the novella no wiser as to the true nature of Mars Xi is, actually, cause for celebration, as I see there are at least two more instalments. Another sensational debut in the always reliable and often exciting tor.com line-up.
February 9, 2018
Feminine version of Rambo / Terminator / John McClane in space – that pretty much summarize it all.
Mariam Xi (Mars) is an experiment, an ultimate weapon, a soldier with immensely powerful telekinetic powers – too powerful for my suspension of disbelief. There are lots of fight, lots of killings, lots of gore and blood spilled all over.
“We clamber around the hull fast, or as fast as one can in zero gravity.
I sweep my hand across, and they tumble sideways, spinning. The shocktroopers are all tethered together— I send the whole pack plunging left and down away from us, a tangle of bodies and tensile steel.
The first squad is already retracting when the second blasts off from the personnel launch pads. I make a shoving motion, and they go backward, spinning head over ass until they collide with other soldiers on the hull.
A missile shoots toward the Nova’s engines, and I reach out and grab it. I think about sending it back and killing every last one of those troopers, but I don’t. I crush the missile in my hand, and the explosion must be like a declaration of war, because more missiles tear through the void between ships, and I fling them away from the Nova.”
On the good side, I liked the Nova crew and Mars’ strange pet, Seven, which has behind it the best idea in this book.
All in all, it is pretty entertaining if you like plenty of action and no worldbuilding. I might read the next one if only to learn more about the little pet and Mookie.
Mariam Xi (Mars) is an experiment, an ultimate weapon, a soldier with immensely powerful telekinetic powers – too powerful for my suspension of disbelief. There are lots of fight, lots of killings, lots of gore and blood spilled all over.
“We clamber around the hull fast, or as fast as one can in zero gravity.
I sweep my hand across, and they tumble sideways, spinning. The shocktroopers are all tethered together— I send the whole pack plunging left and down away from us, a tangle of bodies and tensile steel.
The first squad is already retracting when the second blasts off from the personnel launch pads. I make a shoving motion, and they go backward, spinning head over ass until they collide with other soldiers on the hull.
A missile shoots toward the Nova’s engines, and I reach out and grab it. I think about sending it back and killing every last one of those troopers, but I don’t. I crush the missile in my hand, and the explosion must be like a declaration of war, because more missiles tear through the void between ships, and I fling them away from the Nova.”
On the good side, I liked the Nova crew and Mars’ strange pet, Seven, which has behind it the best idea in this book.
All in all, it is pretty entertaining if you like plenty of action and no worldbuilding. I might read the next one if only to learn more about the little pet and Mookie.
March 5, 2018
I'm not 100% how I feel about this book. There are plot holes a mile wide. There are plot strings started but never connected. It certainly is a story that starts in medias res but the author doesn't fully fill in the missing detail...and I truly wish the editors had forced the author to get rid of the name "MEPHISTO." Because really??
In a sense, it's quite a mess. The book needs another 50-100 pages to really get fleshed out...and some serious character work to make me care about the characters. Squid, for example. Why would they keep offering Mariam a job? Especially after Mariam is the one who made them hot. There's no real rhyme or reason as to why Squid would be even remotely interested in anything but getting rid of Mariam. More pages, please.
With all that being said, there are some truly nice moments in this book. I enjoyed what little bit of world-building I received. As Killing Gravity ends on a cliff hanger, I do want to read book #2.
Also, it's worth mentioning that I adore the cover. ;-)
In a sense, it's quite a mess. The book needs another 50-100 pages to really get fleshed out...and some serious character work to make me care about the characters. Squid, for example. Why would they keep offering Mariam a job? Especially after Mariam is the one who made them hot. There's no real rhyme or reason as to why Squid would be even remotely interested in anything but getting rid of Mariam. More pages, please.
With all that being said, there are some truly nice moments in this book. I enjoyed what little bit of world-building I received. As Killing Gravity ends on a cliff hanger, I do want to read book #2.
Also, it's worth mentioning that I adore the cover. ;-)
June 11, 2017
Fun romp through space with all manner of alien, enhanced persons and one of the cutest sidekicks ever!
June 25, 2017
Received to review via Netgalley; publication date was 9th May 2017
Basically: take River Tam, give her telekinesis, take away Simon Tam and the crew of Serenity, and send her off on her own. More or less. That’s what the main character, Mars, is like, except maybe a bit more mentally stable. Mostly.
I found this a lot of fun, and I’ll definitely read more in the same world. I’m a little disappointed about where it cut off, because I really wanted to see a particular character home safe — but at least it offers the promise of more of these characters. Squid and their chromatophores — and their casual gender neutral identity — particularly fascinate me: I want to see a lot more of them. And I want to see more of Seven… sort of. (It’s complicated.)
It’s a little bit Firefly, a little bit The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, a little bit witches in space.
Works for me.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
Basically: take River Tam, give her telekinesis, take away Simon Tam and the crew of Serenity, and send her off on her own. More or less. That’s what the main character, Mars, is like, except maybe a bit more mentally stable. Mostly.
I found this a lot of fun, and I’ll definitely read more in the same world. I’m a little disappointed about where it cut off, because I really wanted to see a particular character home safe — but at least it offers the promise of more of these characters. Squid and their chromatophores — and their casual gender neutral identity — particularly fascinate me: I want to see a lot more of them. And I want to see more of Seven… sort of. (It’s complicated.)
It’s a little bit Firefly, a little bit The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, a little bit witches in space.
Works for me.
Reviewed for The Bibliophibian.
March 5, 2017
Frankly I don't see any reason yet to not give this one a 5/5, I might change my rating after finishing writing my review!
Edit: nah I'm giving this 5/5, it was too good
__________________________________
I loved this novella so much I can’t find the words, so this will be short, but know that I had the greatest time while reading it. I mean, it is set in space and the protagonist has killer powers linked to gravity!
Out of the 106 pages (on my ereader) of this novella, I bookmarked 24 of them. While re-reading those bookmarked pages for this review, I kept on reading a few more again and again : so basically I almost read Killing Gravity twice, which is a first for me for an eARC. I also highlighted so many quotes, it was so difficult to choose only some of them to put in here.
About the story : as a child, Mars was sold to a lab where atrocious experiences where led on young girls and escaped years later with someone she thought was her friend. She finds herself with destructive powers sought after by a military man, mad that she got away.
It is a story about finding out who she is and what to do now that she’s “free” of that awful lab planet, about learning to trust again and appreciate the beauty of the universe she lives in, and finding out some answers for what happened to her.
“I’m about to yell something really badass – just as soon as it comes to me – when the station’s public broadcast system starts up. That’s all that’s needed to set chaos in motion.”
The cast of character is small and I got quite attached to all of them quite fast. I understand why so many people compared it to Firefly, but I feel it might be even stronger in the following volume.
The main characters:
-Mars (or Mariam Xi) is a “voidwitch”, she can countrol gravity and destroy someone from the flick of her wrist, or her mind.
“Void-damned space witch,” Mookie says, breathless. He sounds impressed rather than freaked out, but still I say, “Don’t fucking call me that.”
-Seven is some sort of weird cat who suffered from experiences at the hand of the same scientists she did.
-Squid is the ship captain’s, uing the pronoun “they/them”.
-Trix is the muscle of the team, she’s ready to destroy anyone who touches her ship or crewmates.
-Mookie is a deserter from the military, in a relationship with Trix.
“The only talents she’s shown are sleeping and bringing trouble down on us,” Trix says, but she sounds uncertain, and I’m guessing my little telekinetic display unsettled her.”
Mars is ready to kill to get away from those responsible for her state, but she is also unsecure and loath the idea to rely on someone else for her survival. Especially since she knows she’s doomed to kill and spread blood and guts everywhere she goes.
“I walk to the other set of ventilators; the floor is sticky beneath my feet: more blood than I expected, especially since I didn’t go full-murderous on them.”
I’m really looking forward to more stories with these characters. Since it is being released on May 9th, I’m putting it on my birthday wishlist because woooow I want to read that a third time in its final form!
“An echoing doozh sounds through the ship, and my heart rate spikes so high that my Head-Up Display flashes a warning – as though a pulsing red exclamation mark is going to help me relax.”
That cover is also one of my new favourite! Maybe my favourite cover for 2017? Here is the cover reveal on the author’s website, and the website of the artist! And since I read it in January, the cover is still on my phone wallpaper
A review copy (e-galley) of this book was provided by the publisher. Some things might change in the final copy.
This review was originally posted on my blog
Edit: nah I'm giving this 5/5, it was too good
__________________________________
I loved this novella so much I can’t find the words, so this will be short, but know that I had the greatest time while reading it. I mean, it is set in space and the protagonist has killer powers linked to gravity!
Out of the 106 pages (on my ereader) of this novella, I bookmarked 24 of them. While re-reading those bookmarked pages for this review, I kept on reading a few more again and again : so basically I almost read Killing Gravity twice, which is a first for me for an eARC. I also highlighted so many quotes, it was so difficult to choose only some of them to put in here.
About the story : as a child, Mars was sold to a lab where atrocious experiences where led on young girls and escaped years later with someone she thought was her friend. She finds herself with destructive powers sought after by a military man, mad that she got away.
It is a story about finding out who she is and what to do now that she’s “free” of that awful lab planet, about learning to trust again and appreciate the beauty of the universe she lives in, and finding out some answers for what happened to her.
“I’m about to yell something really badass – just as soon as it comes to me – when the station’s public broadcast system starts up. That’s all that’s needed to set chaos in motion.”
The cast of character is small and I got quite attached to all of them quite fast. I understand why so many people compared it to Firefly, but I feel it might be even stronger in the following volume.
The main characters:
-Mars (or Mariam Xi) is a “voidwitch”, she can countrol gravity and destroy someone from the flick of her wrist, or her mind.
“Void-damned space witch,” Mookie says, breathless. He sounds impressed rather than freaked out, but still I say, “Don’t fucking call me that.”
-Seven is some sort of weird cat who suffered from experiences at the hand of the same scientists she did.
-Squid is the ship captain’s, uing the pronoun “they/them”.
-Trix is the muscle of the team, she’s ready to destroy anyone who touches her ship or crewmates.
-Mookie is a deserter from the military, in a relationship with Trix.
“The only talents she’s shown are sleeping and bringing trouble down on us,” Trix says, but she sounds uncertain, and I’m guessing my little telekinetic display unsettled her.”
Mars is ready to kill to get away from those responsible for her state, but she is also unsecure and loath the idea to rely on someone else for her survival. Especially since she knows she’s doomed to kill and spread blood and guts everywhere she goes.
“I walk to the other set of ventilators; the floor is sticky beneath my feet: more blood than I expected, especially since I didn’t go full-murderous on them.”
I’m really looking forward to more stories with these characters. Since it is being released on May 9th, I’m putting it on my birthday wishlist because woooow I want to read that a third time in its final form!
“An echoing doozh sounds through the ship, and my heart rate spikes so high that my Head-Up Display flashes a warning – as though a pulsing red exclamation mark is going to help me relax.”
That cover is also one of my new favourite! Maybe my favourite cover for 2017? Here is the cover reveal on the author’s website, and the website of the artist! And since I read it in January, the cover is still on my phone wallpaper
A review copy (e-galley) of this book was provided by the publisher. Some things might change in the final copy.
This review was originally posted on my blog
March 22, 2018
Well, this one has moments, but it's pretty generic. The Voidwitch superpower is a bit novel. And I like the little space-kitty. Otherwise, it's yard goods and likely to be a DNF, at halfway in. Darn it. Let's see what else is in the light-SF TBR pile....
May 1, 2018
Killing Gravity is another relatively short book I got from the Tor.com newsletter a few months ago. It came together with Witches of Lychford, and I was happy to read both. Of the two, I think I prefer this one, but neither is bad. I found Witches a little lacking, but not in any drastic ways. And Killing Gravity is quite a solid science fiction novel, if a bit on the shorter side.
Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withheld due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
April 18, 2020
Horrid piece of work imo. The only reason why I read it was because I need more sci/fi stories for MacHalo bingo, and it was short.
First person POV did not work well at all for this author. The character building was very lackluster. It was blatantly obvious from the get-go that Corey J. White had a diversity checklist that he needed to tick off. And they had to be visual flaws.
✔Gender fluid characterSeriously dude? You had to make hairless balls a thing? I checked out after that.
✔Butch looking female character with prosthetic arm
✔And poor Mookie has no hair on his balls.
June 21, 2019
This would have made a decent comic book or possibly a 1980s grade B SF movie. Well narrated, but as an SF story, it was just too pat. I never worried about the heroine. She managed to always make things work out with her psi powers. Occasionally she'd push too hard & pass out, but then she had time to rest up. If she didn't, somehow she found the strength to go on. The worst parts were the descriptions of space. It's as if huge ships were just across the street & they seemed to be easier to destroy than many of the individual troops on the ground. The conversations & actions of secondary characters were often stilted just for the main character.
I made it through & since I was in the middle of mowing, I started the second. I hoped it would be better, but it was even worse.
I made it through & since I was in the middle of mowing, I started the second. I hoped it would be better, but it was even worse.
June 23, 2017
So good with such amazing world-building (space-building?)! Definitely didn't read like a novella to me, more like a full-fledged book because of how detailed it is. The characters are quite well-developed and the plot is great. Loved all the sci-fi elements favorite definitely being Seven and her cool little trick, the brutality of it all and the revenge plot. Can't wait to read more adventures of this mini crew in the next book!
March 11, 2018
I really appreciate novella-length sci-fi and fantasy because I don't always want to pick up a book with hundreds and hundreds of pages, but I find it even more important that the story fits the format and Killing Gravity should have been a full-length novel, maybe even a long-ish one.
The premise, the setting, the characters...they all have so much potential, but none of these are fully developed and remain rather superficial. I was the most disappointed in the lack of character depth. Neither the characters themselves nor their interactions between them are written in a way that made them real. I didn't even understand some of their actions because their motivation remains hidden - and not on purpose, you can tell.
While I liked the book alright and even had a good time reading it, there remains a bitter taste of disappointment because, man, could this have been awesome.
I am not even sure I will read the sequel, to be honest.
_________________________________
Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Genderqueer secondary character
Rating: 3.5 stars
I received this book for free via my newsletter subscription to Tor.com
The premise, the setting, the characters...they all have so much potential, but none of these are fully developed and remain rather superficial. I was the most disappointed in the lack of character depth. Neither the characters themselves nor their interactions between them are written in a way that made them real. I didn't even understand some of their actions because their motivation remains hidden - and not on purpose, you can tell.
While I liked the book alright and even had a good time reading it, there remains a bitter taste of disappointment because, man, could this have been awesome.
I am not even sure I will read the sequel, to be honest.
_________________________________
Genre: Science Fiction
Tags: Genderqueer secondary character
Rating: 3.5 stars
I received this book for free via my newsletter subscription to Tor.com
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January 11, 2022
Loved the casual queerness of this book, but I kept feeling like I've read this before, even though I know I hadn't.
The plot was fast-paced and drove the storyline, and Mars' character was interesting. The concept of a voidwitch is fascinating, although I don't know if I'll explore the rest of the series or not. Only time will tell, I suppose.
My biggest hesitation for continuing on is the weird sense of deja vu, although, again, I *know* I have not read this before. The only reason I picked this up is because I saw it on bookstagram from someone with very similar tastes, and yes, it's a three-star read, but I am not unhappy about that. It was a high three!
The plot was fast-paced and drove the storyline, and Mars' character was interesting. The concept of a voidwitch is fascinating, although I don't know if I'll explore the rest of the series or not. Only time will tell, I suppose.
My biggest hesitation for continuing on is the weird sense of deja vu, although, again, I *know* I have not read this before. The only reason I picked this up is because I saw it on bookstagram from someone with very similar tastes, and yes, it's a three-star read, but I am not unhappy about that. It was a high three!
March 4, 2020
Mariam Xi a.k.a. Mars is a Psychic user who is on the run from the people who made her. Can she and her companion Seven outrun them before it is too late? Read on and find out for yourself.
This was a great action packed scifi story. If you love science-fiction, be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever ebooks are sold.
This was a great action packed scifi story. If you love science-fiction, be sure to check this book out at your local library and wherever ebooks are sold.
October 2, 2020
Had some cool elements, but kind of clunky writing.
April 5, 2018
Actual rating: 2.5
Mariam “Mars” Xi is a telekinetic space-witch capable of crushing a ship with a flick of her fingers. She was left to die in the void but a crew of a spaceship rescues her. Mariam wants a revenge and rematch. She finds out that she was betrayed by a woman she used to consider as her sister. Mephisto, the company that Mariam escaped from and that made her who she is, wants to get her back. In order to do so, they target the Nova crew.
The story is short and quick to read. You can call it space opera blockbuster. The final shutdown is spectacular and would put action movies icon to shame. Mariam faces starships, armed soldiers and few of Mephisto's creations.
The worldbuilding and fight sequences are quite imaginative. The writing is good. Sadly, there's not much substance in this book. Characters feel flat and unrelatable. The plot is rather simplistic.
All in all, it's a fast read that was ok. And nothing more. Hopefully, the sequel will be better.
Mariam “Mars” Xi is a telekinetic space-witch capable of crushing a ship with a flick of her fingers. She was left to die in the void but a crew of a spaceship rescues her. Mariam wants a revenge and rematch. She finds out that she was betrayed by a woman she used to consider as her sister. Mephisto, the company that Mariam escaped from and that made her who she is, wants to get her back. In order to do so, they target the Nova crew.
The story is short and quick to read. You can call it space opera blockbuster. The final shutdown is spectacular and would put action movies icon to shame. Mariam faces starships, armed soldiers and few of Mephisto's creations.
The worldbuilding and fight sequences are quite imaginative. The writing is good. Sadly, there's not much substance in this book. Characters feel flat and unrelatable. The plot is rather simplistic.
All in all, it's a fast read that was ok. And nothing more. Hopefully, the sequel will be better.
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