Honor entre ladrones

The Honors #1

by Rachel Caine, Ann Aguirre

Zara Cole es una joven ladrona con un doloroso pasado que ha elegido vivir en Nueva Detroit en lugar de irse a Marte con su familia.

Tras huir de la escena de un crimen, es reclutada para la ceremonia de los Honores. Los Honores son un grupo de cien jóvenes seleccionados para pilotar a los Leviatanes, una raza de naves alienígenas inteligentes que exploran el universo. Y la única raza extraterrestre que ha contactado con la humanidad... hasta el momento.

Cuando Zara conoce a Nadim, la nave alienígena que le han asignado, empieza a sentirse como en casa por primera vez. Pero Zara está a punto de descubrir que la ceremonia que ha unido a los Honores y los Leviatanes oculta un oscuro secreto.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Aliens, Space, Fiction, Dystopia

520 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2018

About the author

Rachel Caine was a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.

She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell

Her Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/rachelcainef...

Her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/rachelcaine...

Reviews

[Emily May · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with Honor Among Thieves pretty much immediately.

The book opens with Zara Cole running around the streets of New Detroit until a few lifeless action scenes see her accidentally robbing the daughter of an important mobster. She turns herself in to a youth detention center, where she feels she will be safer, but then suddenly finds herself selected for the Honors program - a program that allows a "lucky" few to join the Leviathan, sentient alien ships that explore the dark reaches of space.

Despite having enjoyed books from both Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre, this one really lacked a sense of urgency or tension or something to make it interesting and compelling. I actually put it down and came back to it several times before I could finally make myself push through. Everything about it seemed to lack a hook, a spark, some charm to make me care about the characters' fate.

But then, about a third of the way in, I began to realize something else. I had read this book before. A much more exciting, far less flawed version called Railhead.

I am sure that with names like Caine's and Aguirre's behind it, Honor Among Thieves will do better than Railhead ever did. I am sure lots of people will never read the latter and think that the sentient transport here are a really unique and exciting idea. BUT they are very similar.

Reeve's book is about a petty thief in space called Zen Starling; this book is about a petty thief in space called Zara Cole. Reeve's book features the characters travelling on sentient trains; this book features the characters travelling on sentient ships. Both books see their petty thief getting caught up in something bigger than they could ever have imagined.

The similarities stop when it comes to depth, though. Reeve's world is far more richly-imagined with fascinating politics, moral issues to consider, and complex villains. Both books feature a largely non-white cast, but Reeve avoids the racial stereotyping that, unfortunately, Caine and Aguirre sometimes fall into. And Reeve's trains are so much more charming than the ships in this book.

What we've read before definitely influences how we see new books and I just couldn't get past it here. That being said, however, I do think the book was, at best, an average read, even before I noted all the similarities to a better work. In case it wasn't obvious, I would recommend Railhead instead.

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[High Lady of The Night Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the most unique, amazing things I've ever read. The sci-fi aspect is completely new, atleast to me, and I remained entranced throughout the book. The book is written well but maintains a casual undertone which I really enjoyed.  The characters were the cherry on top. They are great people who came together on this journey and formed a great friendship. 

We follow Zara, a girl from the worst end of society as she is selected to be an honor. An honor is a person who is chosen to embark on a journey inside a Leviathan in outer space for an year and if they are deemed fit, they are chosen to go on a Journey. But no one knows what happens in a Journey because the people who were chosen and accepted never communicated with Earth or ever returned to it. A Leviathan is an alien which like humans has a mind and conscience of its own. The Leviathan saved Earth and many other civilizations from the brink of war and ultimately extinction and started the concept of honors so the species could learn from each other. Now the Leviathan can modify their bodies for human survival and act as the ship in which the honors travel.

Unlike the other honors Zara views the Leviathan, Nadim, as you would any other human being with feelings. And by her doing so it allowas us to see just how human and alive Nadim is. Zara adapts to her life on the Leviathan very quickly and finds that she is more comfortable on Nadim than she ever did back on earth and begins forming a friendship with him. 
There is beauty around this book I didn't expect. Zaras connection with Nadim really proves that humanity is not something achieved by being human.

Zara is not alone on the ship, she is partnered with Beatriz and seeing Zara realise that she can actually form a true friendship with Bea and that she doesnt have to worry about being betrayed or hurt is a great experience. Watching Zara grow more accustomed to having people who she can trust and moving out of her untrusting hard exterior is marvelous. Both of them make a great pair and I couldn't have asked for  any better people to lead this story.

Zara and Bea along with Nadim are doing every task they were assigned but the further and longer they venture in space they come to realise how inconsequential they are in a bigger picture they couldn't have possibly anticipated.

I loved every word that made this book and the next book will be one of my most anticipated releases. I rate this book 5 stars and recommend it to all Sci-Fi lovers and even if you're not particularly a fan of the genre I encourage you to try it.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the freaking hell outta this book! Slapped this baby on my favorites list!!


Creator on pic

They better not have an unhappy ending when they finish these books!!

Happy Reading!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[carol. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so interesting! It starts rather familiarly: a young thief marks a target, steals a purse, and a ton of trouble comes their way. It's a post-Earth destruction kind of story where Earth's population has been saved by alien technology. Wars seem to have ended, environmental destruction has stopped, and suddenly, all is right on the planet. The protagonist resents this orderly society that has failed her and finds the freedom of the streets preferable. All the aliens want in exchange is a mere 100 candidates a year to be their attendants on voyages around the stars. We all know there's more to the story, and if there is one thing life has taught Zara, it's that even people who profess to know best really don't, and that hidden agendas abound.

"I’d always been about running away. Once, I’d seen some gorgeous street art in the Lower Eight: the words INERTIA=DEATH, surrounded by exquisite color and Leviathan-inspired patterns. It had made a lasting impression, and I’d been living by that principle ever since. So, maybe taking them up on this Honors thing was as far as I could ever go. If I looked at it that way, I might warm up to the idea. In time."

Really, I loved it. It gave me solid A Deadly Education vibes with a misanthropic narrator discovering more about her self, forming friendships, and kicking the bejeesus out of whatever she needs to. The ships seem something like giant solar-powered whales/flying fish, and are absolutely magnificent.

"Everything shifted as energy rippled through us, and Beatriz let out a surprised cry and grabbed at the table edge. I pictured a dolphin leaping in the sea, a kind of joyful burst of unleashed motion."

There's some great friendship stuff in here, some non-traditional love and a bunch of discovery. Oh, and lots of humor, particularly when her friend reprograms the medical bot. It is as fun watching her friend discover her sass and power as it is watching Zara discover her ability to connect.

“You must have already used Plans F and U.” She got out with a touch of sass.

Yes, occasionally the writing could use some gloss. But I was so interested to see where it would go next that I hardly noticed. Of course I downloaded the next. I hope to get to it very soon.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zara Cole has been separated from her family for quite awhile after having medical issues as a young child. Zara's mother and sister have gone to live on Mars but for Zara that would feel too much like being caged in. She has been surviving on the outskirts of New Detroit living off her wits and what she can steal but when Zara picks the wrong target to steal from and she finds herself in quite a bit of danger.

After stealing the purse guards are sent to retrieve the contents from Zara so she let's herself get sent to a home for wayward youth that she had done everything to escape from in the past. Just when Zara thinks that her plan to get locked up might keep her safe the man after her makes an appearance but lucky for Zara she is recruited into the Honors, one of the one hundred humans this year selected by the Leviathan, a race of sentient alien ships, to board and explore outer space with them.

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre is the first book in the new young adult science fiction fantasy series, The Honors. The story revolves around street smart Zara who has shunned the alien advancements and technology and chose to live on the streets until she needs an escape. The ship that Zara boards is actually a sentient being with whom Zara forms an intense connection.

There is plenty of action in this new series to keep the pages turning and the excitement level up while reading. The world the authors have built within this first book was one that was quite intriguing and done rather well so far although my one complaint came with just wanting more with a few unanswered questions at the end of this first book. I definitely became hooked on the series though and would rate this one at 4.5 stars while hoping that the story continues to grow and thrive in the next book.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Edelweiss.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honor Among Thieves started brilliantly, but eventually derailed into a very familiar YA relationship-focused story… I really wish I’d liked it more.

I’ve had good experiences with Caine’s Morganville Vampires and Weather Wardens series, but Ann Aguirre is one of my all-time favorite authors, so to say my expectations were high is an understatement.

The book is separated into three parts, and I had vastly different experiences with each one. Here was my progressive thought process, followed by some positive notes.

Part 1: [4.5/5 stars] Wow!! I was hooked from the first page. It set the framework for a fantastic training-driven plot. And it included one of the first female MCs I’ve liked in ages. Her story wasn’t typical, and reading about her struggles before being pulled into the Honors was gripping. I thought for the first time in as long as I can remember that I was going to passionately enjoy a YA novel.

And then Part 2 happened.

Part 2: [1.5/5 stars] The story devolved into a dialogue-heavy exploration of a relationship between the main character and the alien. It was page after page of endless conversations of the characters explaining things to each other with absolutely nothing to break it up. You know those YA books where the girl meets a boy and the entire book shifts gears to focus on only their love story? Yeah, replace the boy with the Leviathan, and you have a book that was, in essence, a cookie-cutter YA romance trope. Ugh. I think the authors did themselves a huge disservice isolating these characters, especially when considering how many other cool elements introduced in the first part could’ve been expanded on. Overall, it was a huge disappointment for me. I expected so much more with the premise – I wanted a sci-fi adventure novel. What I got was a non-sexually driven love story. The connection between the characters was done really well, so I can see why readers who rate higher on character development were pleased with the book, it just missed the mark for me.

Part 3: [2.5/5 stars] This is where they pulled back in some other characters and briefly yanked the story out of its laser-focus on the relationship. Some cool stuff happened, and it happened with a lot of energy and excitement. Had I not just suffered through part 2, I probably would’ve rated this section higher. However, I still think the plot went in a weirder direction than it needed to. While reading part 1, I quickly reserved the next two books in the series, but after finishing the book I’m not sure I liked the direction of the story enough to invest time in the sequel anytime soon (if at all).

Some positives: Here’s the thing, a lot of the things I love about these authors made an appearance here. They’re both good at creating characters with compelling personalities and difficult back-stories (Aguirre being a bit grittier of the two). They’re also proficient at dialogue (Caine being the most adept, IMO). And Aguirre has written some of my favorite relationships to date – some of which were between aliens and humans (it’s always about the CONNECTION and chemistry rather than the romantic aspect). All of these things were present here, so I think my overall issue with the story has more to do with plot decisions and the general focus of the novel (as it differed from my expectations) rather than any lack of craft or execution.

Recommendation: if you like character-driven stories and don’t mind a disproportionate focus on a relationship, you’ll probably like the sci-fi twist the book adds to that plot structure. If, like me, you were cravings something more akin to Sanderson’s Skyward, it’s a bit of a letdown. I had conflicting thoughts between every section of this book, mostly based on plot decisions, but still recognize the quality of what was presented (it’s coffee. I wanted tea). I think most YA fans will love it.

Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com

Other books you might like:

[Yodamom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aliens come to earth offering help and more to humans. These are not your typical two legged, upright aliens no these are like spaceships. You can travel in them, and some humans go on a kind of foreign exchange program traveling out into the universe with them. How cool is that ? Oh but it gets so much better, they can communicate with humans, in ways that I'm not going to tell you but they are awesome. The book centers on one alien, and his honors (humans) two very different girls. This alien is a kind of runt of the litter, and on his last chance mission. Yes, there is a tug on the heart strings. One of the girls is not a follow the rules type and quickly crosses the line with questions and bonding with her host more than she should. There are space fights, dramatic encounters, emotional breakthroughs, and revelations that shock.
I loved it, I want to hear it on audio now. It was so visually written it would be a fabulous movie. Please make the movie somebody. I was on the edge of my seat through the whole book. it had a slight Star Trek vibe going- bonus. The characters where all so well developed I was felt for all of them. I'm shocked I'm not a SciFi reader, I expected to not like this. It ends with a cliffhanger so be ready to grab the next book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read Honor Among Thieves ever since I heard Ann Aguirre give a reading last year, let's face it you don't often get to read stories about a girl who falls in love with a sentient space ship so the concept had me hooked! This was such a fun story and the writing switched seamlessly between Ann Aguirre and Rachel Caine, I definitely couldn't pinpoint who wrote which parts.

The story starts by showing us Zara's life on earth, things have been hard for her and she ended up living on the streets and working with a gang to survive, she's done things she's not proud of but she's only ever done what she needed to do to survive. When things go badly she ends up in a young offenders institute and without drastic changes she knows her life is on the line when her old gang eventually manage to catch up with her. It's then that she is offered the chance to take part in the Honors Program, a highly specialised training program that gives her the opportunity to travel through space with one of the Leviathans. The Leviathans are huge, whale like aliens that swim through the galaxy like it's an ocean, they are ancient and powerful and they have the ability to allow humans to live inside them to join them on their journeys.

After training Zara and her crew mate Bea are paired with Nadim, one of the younger Leviathans who is only just beginning his own journey. Working together the girls have to figure out how to survive in space and when Nadim gets injured in a fight with one of his own they start to realise how little humans really know about the Leviathans and what they want with us.

I really enjoyed this story, the world building was great but it was once Zara and Bea go to space and start to bond with Nadim that things really get interesting. I loved that both girls were immediate allies and friends rather than two women facing off against each other like you so often see in YA. They both have different strengths and personalities but they're happy to work together so there are no petty issues to worry about. What I liked most was getting to know Nadim though and seeing the girls through his eyes, the way the Leviathans are described and the way they see and hear the universe was just fascinating and the authors made it so easy to picture what was happening. Leviathans form a psychic bond with their crew and the developing feelings between Nadim and Zara were really well written, there is definitely love there but it's more of a soul bond than anything particularly romantic so there was nothing that weirded me out.

This was a great introduction to the series and it definitely left me excited to see how the story continues. I think we still have so much to uncover about the Leviathans and the reason they contacted humans in the first place and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how that plays out.

Oh and in case you're interested in knowing what Nadim looks like check out this gorgeous illustration from the book:



____________________

A book about a girl who falls in love with a sentient space ship? Written by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre? Colour me curious.

We actually heard Ann Aguirre give a reading from this at the Love Letter Convention in Berlin & she totally sold me on it so this is a must read!

[Brittany McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noooooooooooooooooooo..... Why is Book 2 not already in my hands? This was a wild, wonderful ride. I have some ideas about which parts were pure Ann that reminded me so much of Grimspace, but the powerhouse combination of both Ann Aguirre & Rachel Caine was a blessing to us all as readers.

I was a little meh... in the beginning, but not for long, and then I became so emotionally invested that I was ready to kill off characters and then forgive others and want new ones to die, and ahhh.... Book hangover in a fantastic way.

I just had to pause writing this review to go reserve Honor Bound at the library... Annnnd I'm back.

I had many feelings about Illuminae and the relationship between Kady & AIDAN. And yet this is deeper, more intimate, and just wow! I loved this book, I came into it with EXTREMELY high expectations as a huge fan of both of these authors, and it was a WIN for me.

5+ Stars. Bring on the Journey!

[Chelsies Reading Escape · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could only recommend 1 Scifi book this would be it!

This book hooked me right from the prologue. From that point on I just knew I was reading my next favorite book. The concept was so incredibly fascinating. Living alien ships have made contact with Earth and agreed to share planet saving technology in exchange for 100 chosen human representatives every year who are willing to go on a 1 year tour of space with them. They tell the world their goal is to learn from the cultural exchange, but not everyones convinced their motives are that simple.

Our main character Zara is a runaway thief who is suddenly chosen to go on the tour. Despite not knowing why aliens would choose a criminal with violent tendencies for the tour, she does know this is her only chance to avoid the long reach of a dangerous mobster with a serious grudge. Her background story and developpement added a lot of depth to her character. Her criminal side taught her to be resourceful and cunning. She wasnt afraid to ask the hard questions and I loved that about her. She was just an amazing character.

Her interactions with the alien ship Nadim were super compelling. I got completely invested in their relationship. I also loved how Zara and Beas friendship evolved. I thought the mystery behind the aliens motivations was very intriguing. I enjoyed the little parts between chapters implying the aliens might have more sinister motivations than they let on. The idea of living alien ships and reading from their perspective was so captivating. This was definitely my number one favorite book of 2017 and I read quite a few incredible books.

The writing was easy to immerse myself in and the descriptions sprinkled in made the world come to life. I loved its addictive quality. I read it in less than 2 days because I just couldnt put it down. When they first start traveling in space we get to explore Zara and Nadims relationship. The action mixed witg the character development was perfect and the ending was just so freaking epic. I love the direction the plot took and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel. Id totally recommend this if you like scifi because it was phenomenal.

*received for review consideration*

[Lilly (Lair Of Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 AMAZING STARS! This was what I needed from YA Sci-Fi! Diversity, EPIC adventure, sarcasm, aliens, awesome crew, and mystery! Gahhhhh! need sequel..and so my watch begins :)

Full Review may also be viewed on Lair Of Books:
https://lairofbooksblog.wordpress.com...

Content Warning: Physical/Child abuse

PLOT

My first YA Sci-Fi of the year & I ABSO-FRIGGIN-LUTELY LOVED IT! When we meet our MC Zara, she is on the streets trying to survive in a cut throat world. Her mother & sister have moved to Mars, she opted to stay behind as a emancipated young adult and her father…whelp more on that situation in the characters section of this review down below. I inhale read 90% of this book in 24hrs, sleep ended up winning the battle in the end but I picked it up as soon as I woke up the next morning & GAHHHH! well worth my time! as previously mentioned, Zara is on the streets and has turned to petty crime. She has one friend who is addicted to drugs & they have a very co-dependent relationship. Stealing & selling to street sharks is how she gets by until the day she steals from the daughter of a very wealthy & powerful man. Once she realizes she’s being hunted for a very specific gadget she stole, Zara goes ghost in an effort to avoid being captured. She goes through drastic measures to ensure she is tossed back into a rehabilitation program that focuses on “helping” youth by reconditioning them to go back into society as upstanding citizens. This is all in efforts to avoid the powerful clutches of those intent on squeezing her for info on the gadget she stole.

The story then truly begins while Zara is keeping her head low in the rehab facility where she realizes there really isn’t anywhere she can hide. The Honors program recruits her, a never before seen move. This program was created in partnership with the Leviathan who are Aliens that are credited for saving the human race from total annihilation. They have saved many planets from extinction and in turn, The Honors Program allows the recruitment of 100 youth from Earth & other planets. Until Zara’s recruitment, there was always a type the Leviathan chose. Selected in pairs, there is always 1 musician & 1 scientist…Zara is neither of these. Seeing as she doesn’t have much of a choice if she wan’ts to stay alive, she accepts her role. The Leviathan are aliens that act sort of like spaceships in the sense that the Honors all have to board a Leviathan. The Objective of the year long program is for humans & Leviathans to learn from each other in order to improve their quality of life. Of course there’s more than meets the eye to this program & finding out just what that is will be Zara’s real objective…

CHARACTERS

Zara- at first I thought we’d be getting the same kick a** strong female MC we’ve grown accustomed to in YA. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Zara is the first of her kind I’ve seen in any of the books I’ve come across. To say she’s had a rough life would be downplaying it. From the age of 6 she’s suffered from chronic headaches & having a hardcore religious father meant being subjected to unorthodox methods of healing. As a survivor of child abuse, Zara has detached herself from her parents. Her only loyalties are to herself & she’s managed to stay alive on the streets by always being on the move. Getting recruited into the Leviathan program has a major effect on her fierce need to not be tethered to any person,place, or thing. She’s also not used to having anyone care for her & I really enjoyed seeing the character development with Zara as the story progressed.

Parents & Sibling- We see that Zara does love her mother but unfortunately, her mother didn’t know how to protect her when she had the chance. It leads to sort of a love from afar type of situation that aches whenever they’re close & things are great because it’s temporary. Zara does have a younger sister she loves deeply & plays the overprotective sister role to.It’s her relationship with her father that is beyond repair. There were some tough scenes where she recollects moments of physical abuse at the hands of her very religious father. Zara’s dad really gives a whole new meaning to scumbag.

Beatrice- Zara’s partner on the Leviathan she is assigned to. Beatrice aka Bea is musically inclined, with a beautiful voice it makes sense why the Leviathan have chosen her to join the expedition. Bea is Brazilian and knows 4 different languages, with a large family waiting for her return to Earth, she is the exact opposite of Zara. Thankfully, their friendship was very positive & I LOVED seeing how well they meshed together.

Nadim- Saved the best for last! The Leviathan Zara & Bea are assigned to could not have been a better match. Nadim is a young alien & shares one thing in common with Zara…an aversion to following the rules. Nadim does try to adhere but more often that not, he goes off course. In this book Nadim is referred to as being a “he” but I loved how that was discussed because Leviathan don’t really have a assigned gender. The relationship that develops between Zara & Nadim can be described as unconventional & I still can’t tell you what exactly these two have going on LOL! but ummm…it gets innnneresting ;)

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m going to keep this section short cause when I love a book it’s really tough for me to pick it apart. I think it’s so bad a** when I come across a book collaboration where the synchronicity between the authors make for a seamless reading experience. I really couldn’t tell you where Rachel Caine’s writing stops & Ann Aguirre’s begins. I’ve read books in the past that take place in one specific setting for the entirety of the story & it just didn’t work. Honor Among Thieves takes place for the most part inside of Nadim the Leviathan in outer space & I could not get enough of these characters & their world. The only thing I would’ve liked to have a bit more insight on is the subplot involving Zara & the very powerful man she stole from when we first start this journey. Since I feel as if this will be explained in the follow-up, It didn’t take away from the story for my reading experience. We know early on that there’s more than meets the eye to the whole Leviathan program & Zara is hell bent on discovering their secrets & whether or not they have a hidden agenda. This plot progresses at a steady pace but it’s the evolution of Zara & Nadim that made for a story I just couldn’t put down. I also love the fact that we get to see some of the aliens that inhabit other worlds who have joined the Leviathan program. We get introduced to a diverse set of characters that represent all corners of the worlds & who will need to band together if they want to survive what’s to come. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves Sci-Fi, I’m probably going to be gushing about this one for a while & have already sent my arc copy along to another blogger buddy who I know will LOVE this book to pieces! I’ve also gone ahead & added both Rachel Caine’s & Ann Aguirre’s previous series to my TBR cause they’re my new favorites! <3 <3 <3

*HUGE thanks to Katherine Tegen Books/Harper, Edelweiss, Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre for the early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5/5 stars*

I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning was not good, at all, but I did feel somewhat hooked in the second half.

One of the things that absolutely did not work for me was the Zara's (MC) voice. It was like the authors tried so hard for her to have this "I'm so egy and don't care about any of you suckers" (while of course it wasn't true) voice, and oh god... it seemed so fake. It came out as forced and cringe worthy. And I just couldn't enjoy reading it as much with Zara's inner monologue sounding this way.

The thing that in the end worked for me was the plotline. It definitely kept me enteratined for a time.

Zara's relationship - not necessarily romantic, but there were a lot of instances where it seemed very close to it.. I know I'm confused too - with the alien ship, Nadin, was just w.h.a.t is happening even?? I don't know where the authors are going with it, but I want to both laught at the absurdity while also being morbidly curious.


Don't believe that it reads like a YA instalove? Here's a proof (one of many):

"I paused in the hall and patted the first organic part of him I could reach, and it happened again: warmth pulsed down my palm and into my wrist. Leaving my hand in place while balancing trays and boxes of water with the other, I sensed something deep in my bones, almost like a purr radiating from Nadim’s depths. It could be his pulse or a subharmonic communication I couldn’t quite understand. It made me want to keep touching him."

I told you so.


I agree that this book tries to be like Illuminae and a bit like Warcross, but I wouldn't honestly recommend it to fans of either, as I love the former and enjoyed the latter. While this book was a weird, mixed experience for me.

In conclusion, this book was an ok sci-fi read focusing instead of on action or great plot twists (I know that sounds harsh) on feelings, the freaky alien ship and Zahra coming ot of her shell, later on on some action. While the plot in the second half kept me reading, I don't think it delivered what I hoped it would, something more, Illuminae style.

All in all, I had high hopes for this book as the premis and the cover and even the title all sound so interesting, and while I did like some aspects of the novel, it was nevertheless dissapointing.

Beginning - 1 star
First half - 2 stars
Second half and ending - 3 stars

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Honor Among Thieves by Rachel Caine & Ann Aguirre
Book One of the Honors series
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: February 13, 2018
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by publicist

Summary (from Goodreads):

Petty criminal Zara Cole has a painful past that’s made her stronger than most, which is why she chose life in New Detroit instead moving with her family to Mars. In her eyes, living inside a dome isn’t much better than a prison cell.

Still, when Zara commits a crime that has her running scared, jail might be exactly where she’s headed. Instead Zara is recruited into the Honors, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan—a race of sentient alien ships—to explore the outer reaches of the universe as their passengers.

Zara seizes the chance to flee Earth’s dangers, but when she meets Nadim, the alien ship she’s assigned, Zara starts to feel at home for the first time. But nothing could have prepared her for the dark, ominous truths that lurk behind the alluring glitter of starlight.

What I Liked:

I was expecting to love this book, because it's science fiction, and I adore Rachel Caine's books, and I adore Ann Aguirre's books, and this book sounded really great in general. How awesome is it that these two powerhouse authors collaborated to create this story! Honor Among Thieves was thrilling, shocking, and nail-biting, and I am hooked and ready for more.

This book starts with Zara Cole stealing a rich woman's purse, and some unintended consequences follow. She is hiding from the rich man who is the father of the woman from whom she stole, when she (Zara) is notified that she has been selected to be an Honor. An Honor is a person selected to board a sentient alien ship to explore the universe while working with the ship to help the ship learn more about humans. At first, Zara refuses, but what choice does she have? Becoming an Honor seems safer than waiting for Deluca to hunt her down. But she quickly finds out that being an Honor is infinitely more dangerous than it's made out to be. There is something sinister out in the universe, and Zara may find out about it the hard way.

It took me some to get into this story - maybe the first hundred pages or so. But when Zara is ready to go on the Tour with the alien ship and another Honor (Bea), then I started to get more interested. The first couple of chapters are very necessary to the story, to get a peek into Zara's background and also her desperation to follow the safer path. Once Zara and Bea get started on the tour with the alien ship (Nadim), things start to pick up.

This story relies a lot on secrets and hidden information that Zara is determined to find. The alien ships - called Leviathans - are very secretive and as much as Nadim wants to reveal information to Zara, he can't - not without punishment from the Elder Leviathan. So there is a lot that a reader won't know, because Zara won't know, up until the last few chapters. I was reading intently, trying my best not to peek at the ending (I didn't!), but I really wanted to know some of those secrets! The authors set up the reveals well and I didn't feel clueless or lost throughout the story (in terms of the "missing" information that we as readers and Zara are not privy to, until the end).

Zara is such a bada** chick! She is tough as nails and made of iron, from the start. She has had a difficult upbringing and my heart broke for her, over and over. I love how deep her characterization runs (as heartbreaking as her backstory is). In science fiction, you don't always see heroines or heroes with so much depth. Zara has had emotional trauma in her past and it has stuck with her throughout her life. But it has made her stronger; she is so fierce and fearless!

Bea is a secondary character but just as important to the story. Think of her as a copilot - she is the second Honor chosen to be aboard Nadim. Bea is unsure and a little timid at the start, but she really grows into her own fierceness and strength as the story goes on. She becomes a great friend to Zara (and vice versa).

Nadim is the alien ship - yup, he's a ship. But he is made of "flesh and blood", like a human, except he is an alien creature that is a ship. He is sentient and what is cool is that Zara can feel him, like an emotional connection, and that is new to him. Nadim is really cool.

This book is a bit of a long one, and it's told in parts. The conflict builds slowly, but the pacing of the story is never too slow. I struggled just a little bit in the beginning, but things really pick up in space, and it wasn't too long before I couldn't turn pages fast enough. The world-building is really cool! I would never have thought about this type of concept (alien ships, Honors, sending humans on Tours and Journeys in the alien ships). Caine and Aguirre have created an intriguing (and sometimes terrifying) world in outer space!

There is technically no romance, though others have mentioned Zara and Nadim as being a romance. They share a very deep emotional connection, which was fascinating to read about. It's pretty cool! It's emotional and not sexual in nature. They are a good match as pilot/ship and work really well together - and their bond is undeniable.

The ending of this book isn't super cliffhanger-y, and I suppose it could end like a standalone would, but I'm glad there will be more books to come (or at least one more, right?). There is a lot out there in space that Zara, Bea, and Nadim haven't encountered, so I'm sure they will be encountering such in the next book(s). I'm ready!

What I Did Not Like:

The only thing worth mentioning on my part is how I had a little bit of a hard time with the beginning of the story - maybe the first hundred pages or so. It was a little slow for me, even if the actual events weren't. If that makes sense? I didn't really get invested until Zara begins her Honor training. But that's okay because the rest of the book really makes up for the slowness of the beginning!

Would I Recommend It:

Any YA science fiction fans out there? You might really enjoy this book. The comparison of "for fans of Illuminae" is a good one. Anyone who likes that series would enjoy this book. And with such a talented duo behind Honor Among Thieves, it's no surprise that this book could be compared to Illuminae (also written by an incredible duo). Even if you're not into YA science fiction, this might be a thrilling ride for you! It's science-y but not too specifically science-y, which is good for non-science-y readers.

Rating:

4 stars. I really enjoyed this book! I've been in a bit of a reading slump over the last couple of months, but this book was the action-packed story that I needed. I can't wait for more!






Pre-read squees:

Meeeeeeeee, I want! Love these two authors and their books. =)

[Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!!!

LOVED IT!!! And I think part of why I loved it is the ship. Reminded me of one of my all time fave tv shows - Farscape.

Such great characters. A story line I had NO CLUE which way the authors were going to take things. A fast paced, action packed plot that kept me at times holding my breath and others smiling bright as I traveled through space, while lost in my own imagination.

Great read.

Just what I needed and now I need more, more, more! Can't wait to see what happens next! Highly recommend.

[Shannon Miz · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

Well that was unexpectedly awesome! See- I expected to like it of course, otherwise I'd not have read it. But one, I didn't expect it to be as awesome and two, it did start off slow, and I wasn't sure it was going to work for me. Clearly, I was incorrect. 

That little bit of initial slowness is the only negative I have with the book whatsoever. So let's get that out of the way. The first maybe 12% didn't wholly capture me (and in hindsight, the level of detail seemed a tad unnecessary). But I was interested enough to keep going, and I am so glad with my life choice! Let's talk about why I loved this, shall we?

•It was one of those incredibly rare books that I literally lost hours of my life in and didn't realize. You ever find yourself reading along, then suddenly look at the clock and actual huge amounts of time had passed? Yeah, me either. This does not ever happen to me, and it did with this book. I was just so completely engrossed in it that I straight up lost track of time- it was that compulsively readable.

•I loved all the moral dilemmas and struggles the characters faced. The stakes were so incredibly high during the whole story, and often there wasn't a good decision to be made.

•Zara's character growth was awesome- and believable. Zara had spent her life going through family issues (we'll get to that) and getting in trouble. She initially rejects the chance to go into space with the Honors, but finds herself in space. She learns about herself, about others, and figures out that she is someone worth fighting for.

•The relationships the characters formed were amazing. There is a romantic relationship, which I shan't spoil (but if you have read the book, I chuckled as I wrote the spoiler tag 😂 (the ship with a ship on a ship?) . But that was far from the only important relationship. Zara and Beatriz becoming friends was such a lovely journey. They complimented each other perfectly, and they brought out the best in each other. And I loved how much Zara cared for her family, even as she knew that her going away from them was probably the best choice she could make for them.

•There was so much freaking action! I am often wary of books that offer a lot of action, but this one was so perfectly balanced. Enough stuff going on that I was always engaged, but never overwhelmed. And of course, the downtime necessary to truly fall in love with the characters!

•Despite the complexity of the world, it never confused me. I don't necessarily understand it all yet, but the authors did a phenomenal job of giving the right amount of information at the right times. The world itself became a huge part of the plot as a result, and I felt fully immersed, yet always excited to learn more.

Will I Read the Next Book? Um yeah, can I have it this actual second? Of course I will read it! I feel like with such a vast world, there is unlimited potential, and I cannot freaking wait.

Bottom Line : In the end, the slow start was a non-issue because the rest of the book was just that epic. This book had it all: fabulous characters I was rooting for, a world I couldn't get enough of, and super high stakes that made it impossible to put the book down!

*Copy provided for review

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

HONOR AMONG THIEVES is the first book in The Honors series by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre. I've previously read a book by Rachel Caine that I greatly enjoyed, SMOKE AND IRON from The Great Library series. However, this is the first time I've anything Ann Aquirre. I came to really enjoy this science fiction series.

READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

“Here we sing to the stars. Deep in the dreaming, we have come and gone for many evers. Until the joining. Until journey’s end. Sing back to us when you come, so that we may know the silence is never eternal. Our sun, your stars, their gods, they have sailed in other skins, far beyond the dark and into the hollow, where all light sleeps.”

This book was such a beautiful surprise. I expected a fun space story with an interesting relationship between Zara, the main character, and Nadim the sentient alien ship she’s partnered with. Honor Among Thieves was so much more than a simple story, it was an exploration of self, personal connection, and fighting for what is right. And I am so incredibly happy to have read it.

Things I Liked
Nadim was the greatest! He was so easy to connect to and I loved him so so so much. He was hones,tearnest, and endearing . I just really like learning about all the Leviathans. They were so interesting and I loved their admiration for space and the stars.

The relationships were stellar and filled with such reverence and respect. I was utterly captivated by the emotional bonds that formed between Zara and Nadim. I felt their relationship and it was glorious. I also loved the deep friendship that forms between Zara and Beatriz through the story. Again, it so respectful and honest and I’m here for all the lady friendships. I also really loved seeing Beatriz and Nadim slowly bond through the story.

There was a ton of diversity in the story! We get two female leads who are people of color, Zara is black and Beatriz is Brazilian. There are also a Chinese side character, Chao-Xang. I also loved seeing the balance of STEM fields and creative fields, showing people can excel in both areas.

There was really good tension and suspense in the action scenes. The threats felt real and dangerous creating drama and high stakes. I wasn’t expecting much action wise, but all the scenes were incredibly well done and I FELT it.

Things I Didn’t Like
Part One was so weak compared to the rest of the book, it honestly felt like it was part of another story. It was incredibly fast paced and jumped over all the learning and training that would have been really interesting. And I didn’t care at all about the Deluca side plot that completely fell away after part one ended. Part One really seemed like weak filler until we got to the amazingness that is the rest of the book.

This books was so heartwarming and beautiful and I was completely captivated by the emotions in the story. It was honesty a beautiful surprise that I genuinely loved. Honor Among Thieves is a captivating story of connection and emotion that completely grips you and takes you on a marvelous ride.

I received a copy of the book from Katherine Tegen Books via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Linaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never cared more for the romance between a sentient space-whale ship and a juvenile delinquent.

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DETAILS
❯ THE HONORS #1
❯ TWO POV'S
❯ AND HERE
❯ FINAL DETAILS
❯ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➸ 12 HOURS, 33 MINUTES
❯ I LISTENED THROUGH MY LIBRARY


MY RATING➼ 2¾ STARS

Full disclosure: In the beginning, I was totally into this but once she (Zara) started "bonding" with the spaceship (Alien Life-form), I became more interested in winning the games of Free-Cell I was playing (while listening to audio) than in actually comprehending what was going on in this story. The "bonding" threw me off, it was like an odd sexual experience reminiscent of the 80's movie Cocoon.

Freaky!

From there, I'm not fully sure what went on in this…I believe there was a lot of action and more freaky bonding. I just didn't connect with this, but clearly, there are many who have.

Overall, for me personally, the writing and the narration were there...but I definitely wasn't...


⬇BREAKDOWN⬇
Narration ➸ 3¾ STARS
Plot ➸ 3.5/5
Characters ➸ 3.5/5
The Feels ➸ 2/5
Pacing ➸ 3/5
Addictiveness ➸ 2.5/5
Theme, Tone or Intensity ➸ 2/5
Originality ➸ 3.7/5
Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➸ 4/5
World-Building ➸ 4/5
Ending ➸ 3/5
SUMMATION ➸ 2¾ STARS

[Gem (The Creepy Geek) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOT FREAKING DAMN!!!!!!

I loved this so much. I loved the world building, the leviathans, my two badass babes Zara and Bea, and of course Nadim! I loved their bond, the plot, the action! Everything. This is everything I wanted from a sci-fi!

I listened to the audiobook but I'm pretty tempted to buy book one and book two in hardback because not only are they awesome books, they're goddamn beautiful!

[Vicky Again · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Zara Cole, petty criminal with a past, chooses to live in New Detroit instead of moving to her family in Mars. She'd rather fend for herself than live inside a dome. But when Zara commits a crime that lands her in trouble, she might end up inside a dome after all--a prison shaped one, that is.

Luckily, Zara manages to escape this fate through the surprise announcement of her recruitment in the Honors program, an elite team of humans selected by the Leviathan, a race of sentient alien ships, to explore the universe as the Leviathan's passengers.

Zara takes this chance, but when she meets Nadim, the ship she's paired with, she finally starts to feel at home. Yet the truths behind the alluring glitter of starlight is darker than what Zara could have expected, and she'll have to face these in order to live the life she's always wanted.

This book is so awesome!

I had a hefty pile of sci-fi e-ARCs to conquer, and this was the second one I approached & absolutely adored!

It was put together so well. Everything felt very cohesive, which is one of the reasons why I enjoyed this so much.

The plot was well structured and really helped build up the mystery gradually throughout the novel. The novel wasn't super twisty, but rather mysterious until the final reveal which zaps us into a book two I cannot wait to read!

I also really liked the main character. I admired her a lot yet she wasn't put on a pedestal. Zara was brave and cool and badass without being weirdly contradicting (like Celeana) or not actually badass (like countless others). She seemed level headed most of the time and was able to fight yet still hold value in proper hair care.

I love the diversity in this book because Zara's at least a portion black, I'm not sure, and as I mentioned before, she cares a lot about using proper hair care products. I thought introducing her race was done very tastefully and it wasn't a super huge deal but it also wasn't awkward like in some novels.

The other characters were also nice to read, such as Zara's companion on Nadim who is a singer & she establishes a healthy friendship with and Nadim himself.

I love the concept behind this book because the idea that the Leviathan came and helped save the human race was pretty relevant (look at our poor environment) and the mystery behind the Leviathan helped establish the "foraying into the great unknown" feeling that Zara has when being one of the chosen ones to take the tour with the Leviathan.

My only problem with this book was that I had no idea what a Leviathan looked like. In retrospect, this is a petty issue, but it bugged me throughout the whole novel that I didn't know what Nadim or any of the other Leviathans looked like.

I nearly tore out my hair (not literally, of course) trying to figure out if I just somehow missed the passage on Leviathan description or if it really wasn't elaborated enough.

I learned a lot about how they operated, but the actual features were kind of blurry to me. They have tails and solar wings, but what does their skin look like? What's the shape of them? Approximately how large are they? Where do you land--is it like they have a mouth?

All of these questions made it kind of confusing to me, but the important parts of a Leviathan were well established.

There wasn't really any romance in this novel, but Zara and Nadim form this bond that humans and Leviathans make, and it's kind of unusual. I don't know how Leviathans reproduce, but it was kind of weird sometimes to see Zara and Nadim together and I got this feeling that there was more behind it than just "friendship."

I'm really not sure where that's going to go, but I didn't really mind it in this novel & can't wait to see what going to happen in the next.

I can't spoil much about the actual plot, but seeing Zara and Nadim travel in space was really cool, and I like the thought that was put into setting this series up for other things in space. This novel was paced really well and I think the reveal of things happening in space was done very nicely.

Side note: I'm super confused on what the cover is supposed to be. I just don't really understand it. Is it like a bulls eye or something else? I'd love some clarification if anyone knows what it is!

Overall, I very much enjoyed reading Honor Among Thieves and would recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy, science fiction, and other action-y novels. I will definitely be reading the sequel when it comes out and can't wait to buy a copy!

You can preorder Honor Among Thieves now or buy it in stores on February 13th, 2018!

Thank you to Katherine Tegen Books / Harper Collins / Edelweiss for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!

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[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book?? I know I liked it. I just um... have no memory of it. This is largely my fault because I'm reviewing it two and half months late, but also this book was not at all memorable, so that sorta says something about this book too haha.

It had good characters. I liked them. The plot was cool. The world was semi memorable and cool.

I give up. This was good and worth reading but not memorable that is the review goodbye.

***Initial Reaction, November 6,2018***

I have no clue what on earth I just read. In the very best way. But wow. This book was unique and unlike anything I have ever read, and it was just SO GOOD!!!! RTC.

[tappkalina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If y'all had said two days ago that I'll read a ya sci-fi not knowing anything about it other than its genre and that it's probably about thieves, and end up shipping a human girl and an alien that is a literal SHIP, I would have thought y'all are weird. But I do. I ship them lol. Please, somehow make it happen!

Also, the found family! I'm so here for it.

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat! I could barely put this book down and was almost late for the family Mothers Day celebration as a result.

The beginning was quite transparent—you have an Earth that has been contacted by aliens known as the Leviathan. Enormous whale-like interplanetary travelers, they can create spaces for humans inside their bodies and a small number of humans are chosen each year to go travel the stars with them. These people are known as the Honors and they are (by and large) star mathematicians and musicians. Into this mix, introduce Zara, someone who hasn’t really adjusted to the new situation on Earth, who is a petty criminal trying to stay one step ahead of the law and her enemies. Of course she’s going to be chosen as one of the new crop of Honors, confounding her and her contemporaries.

The story plays on our notion of what whales are all about—gentle giants, intelligent, worthy of our regard and our love. But are the Leviathan the universe’s equivalent? They’ve rescued Earth from environmental and political disaster, but it that rescue a freebie? It takes a con-woman to ask the questions and to deal with the answers! And of course, I came to love Zara because she wasn’t a bad person, but someone pushed into a bad life by her circumstances. She gets to be the skeptic, who is reluctantly won over by contact with Nadim, the Leviathan that she is matched with.

There are many twists and turns to the story, including a sequence that reminded me of Dave & the computer Hal in 2001, where Zara dons what is called a skinsuit to go make necessary but risky repairs! The tension was fabulous!

I’d be really interested to know about the process of the two authors, who contributed what and how they shared the manuscript! But mostly I’m glad that book two is in the works and I have a chance to see how Zara, her co-pilot Bea, and Nadim progress from here.

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and it reminded me of the Star Trek TNG episode with Tin Man - a sentient being/space ship. I really liked that episode and can see the appeal of traveling through space inside a sentient being. There's lots of questions about the Leviathans and plenty of mystery and plot twists. I wasn't as engaged with the characters - maybe if I knew more about what was at stake. I'm guessing that's what book 2 will be about.

[Brittany McCann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three years of Missing Zara, Nadim, and Bea has brought me back to them. I was not disappointed.

I still love this creation, and I now have extreme anticipation for what is to come in the future!

I am sad that these amazing authors can never write together, but I will forever love this trilogy of amazingness that they put together.

Not looking forward to those damn phage though...

5 Amazing stars. again

Original Review Still Stands

Noooooooooooooooooooo..... Why is Book 2 not already in my hands? This was a wild, wonderful ride. I have some ideas about which parts were pure Ann that reminded me so much of Grimspace, but the powerhouse combination of both Ann Aguirre & Rachel Caine was a blessing to us all as readers.

I was a little meh... in the beginning, but not for long, and then I became so emotionally invested that I was ready to kill off characters and then forgive others and want new ones to die, and ahhh.... Book hangover in an amazing way.

I actually just had to pause writing this review to go reserve Honor Bound at the library... Annnnd I'm back.

There were many feelings that I had Illuminae and the relationship between Kady & AIDAN. And yet this is deeper, more intimate, and just wow! I loved this book, I came into it with EXTREMELY high expectations as a huge fan of both of these authors, and it was a WIN for me.

5+ Stars. Bring on the Journey!

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the first third I thought I was going to love this story, but in the end it wasn’t that good. All the relationship dialogue (between the ship Nadia and Zara) as well as boring me, just felt wrong. I felt like a trick was missed here because the beginning was promising.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

Honor Among Thieves is the first book in a new Young Adult science fiction series set in the future in the year 2142.

The book is divided into four parts.

The narrator is teenager Zara Cole (she is around 17-18). She is a petty criminal who lives on the streets of New Detroit. Her mom and sister live on Mars.

In this world there is something called the Honors. These are people who are selected to travel for a year in outer space. Nobody knows much about what happens to the Honors. But those who are selected are treated like royalty.

There is an Honors Selection Committee. And I actually found everything to do with the Honors to be quite fascinating. Although I think that the most interesting aspect of it is that the Honors travel aboard alien ships. But the ships can communicate and feel things. So essentially they live aboard a living ship.

I really liked the first half of this book a lot. I thought that Zara was an interesting character. The main alien ship featured in this book is Nadim. I definitely thought that Nadim being able to talk and have feelings was intriguing.

Is there romance in this book? This is actually not an easy question to answer. There isn't a traditional romance. But there is a romantic aspect to the story.She is having a romance of sorts with the ship.

The last part of the book was definitely my least favorite. There are battles and fighting and unfortunately I just didn't enjoy this part of the story at all. The first half of the book was 4 stars for me. The concept of the Honors and the alien ships travelling in space was fantastic. Overall, Honor Among Thieves was definitely an interesting first book.



Thanks to edelweiss and Katherine Tegen Books for allowing me to read this book.

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stellar writing stars!

And long review incoming…. sorry folks! I have too much glee just to make it short. Now you’ve been warned!

Science fiction is usually not my “thing” (dystopian aside) but after reading all very convincing posts and review written by fellow blogger friends I gave it a first try months ago with Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff and I loved it! By the way I ordered the first book from the Illuminae series!

I could not leave it at that of course, overachiever that I am, and ordered on Black Friday “Honor Among Thieves” by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre.

Now I already want the second book of this amazing series.

 

This series is pure Adventure with a big “A”!

It should be prescribed when you suffer from boredom and routine because you will embark on a living spaceship and explore space.

Freedom!

Of course you will have thrill, suspense, angst secrets, battles …

“The engines engaged and started to spin up, and the strangest thing happened: a wave surged inside of me, almost new to me. Anticipation. This felt like running, all right, running away from my past and everything in it. Racing full speed towards the unknown.

I was good at running.”

 

To summarize the plot really quickly: we are in a not too far future when humanity nearly destroyed earth but was saved thanks to aliens, the Leviathans. From the moment they rescued some astronauts and initiated contact with humans they shared their bio science and helped humans to save the earth and stop their destructive path.

In exchange the Leviathans ask for 100 people each year accompanying them for one year on a “space tour” to discover space, exchange knowledge etc.

Being chosen to go with them you are made an Honor.

Zara Cole our heroine is a misfit when we get to know her at the beginning of the story. She attracted problems with a big “P”. The kind of problem that could get you killed. Lucky for her she’s been chosen as Honor and will leave earth for one year aboard Nadim, her Leviathan “ship” in the company of Beatriz.

On their trip dangers and secrets await. Not what was promised or explained to Honors!

This is the plot in a tiny pod.

 

Let’s get to what made the book so unique and wonderful to me!

 

What I loved above all else was the originality *at least to the science fiction newbie that I am* of having a living space ship! It took me some time getting used to it as I always imagine a ship made of metal and glass but Nadim, our space ship/Leviathan is a living being welcoming humans inside of him to sail through space!

How he could “breathe” and navigate or rather “swim” through space was mind jumbling and asked me for some time to fully grasp the concept.

But it is brilliant!!!

The humans boarding Nadim must seem like bacteria to us humans if we have to use an analogy.

 

I’ve established that I think the concept is pretty inventive but there is more!

I absolutely adored the connection, the deep emotional bond between Leviathan Nadim and human Honor Zara Cole!

It was something absolutely beautiful that brought me to the brink of tears many times as it was so …inspiring? Emotional? Gorgeous? Touching? I don’t know how to explain what I felt when these two connected. It was like a big emotional wave washing upon me and I was …elated!

Maybe that’s me. Maybe I am over emotional. I don’t know but it affected me deeply.

“It was like a shadow had brushed over me, but a shadow on my soul, not on my skin. Took me a second to identify what it was, but I recognized the feeling instinctively: Nadim. And Nadim was sad.

It felt weird. And at the same time, it felt like something I’d always, unconsciously, needed-sound, where there’d only been silence. Presence, where there’d been loneliness.”

 

There is no love story or rather romance story in this book yet it is overflowing with love.

Friendship born from facing adversity together.

Deep bonding when you fit like two pieces of one being and become a “us”.

Gentleness because Nadim is a sweet gentle soul. I would say he is pure at heart.

 

Another huge asset to this book: its characters!

Honor Among Thieves has a badass heroine: Zara Cole!

Well who am I kidding? Even Bea went from scaredy cat to kickass by the end of the book.

Zara Cole is human with a piece of Leviathan DNA. She’s been slightly altered as a kid to help her eradicate atrocious.

Zara is essentially a rule breaker. In this new world where humanity escaped destruction thanks to the Leviathans she is like a spot on a stainless shirt: unwanted.

“It’s what I hated about the whole world, back on Earth. All the rules you had to follow without knowing why, and if you asked, you got branded difficult and damaged. Well, I am difficult. I am damaged.”

She went to “rehab” countless time just to escape and enter “The Zone” that place outside of Paradise where misfits and rejects survive in stealing and scamming. She had to fight her way. That will be a huge unexpected asset on her trip with Nadim and Beatriz.

Never to be fooled because life gave it harsh and she’s learned not to take everything at face value. She is the one unearthing secrets!

Wizz kid messing with mechanics and assembling home-made weapons she is street smart and is used to fight to survive, to flee and outsmart her opponents.

Even big bad Leviathan elders don’t deter her from helping and protecting her friends.

Smart, courageous she also is deeply compassionate and extremely loyal.

 

Zara is not the only exceptional character! I could not leave out Nadim. Sweet, courageous, gentle and lonely Nadim. I would love to “adopt” him even if he *or she because Leviathan don’t have a specific gender* would never fit inside my home! But what a great friend he would do!

Let’s not forget Bea, Zara’s accompanying honor because I loved her character’s growth! She went from fragile and afraid flower to badass space traveler. Think about it she altered the medic bot to give it a sarcastic and caustic sense of humor! I loved it!!!!

“Honor Cole. You are injured. Processing severity.” 3looks like we need to amputate. You will enjoy your new robot hands, manufactured by Jitachi, the industrial leader in medical robotics.”

“No way!”

“Only a little bedside levity. Are you not crazy entertained?”

 

Last but not least the plot was perfect. With secrets to unearth, new species and worlds to meet, tension, fight, escapes, pursuits, twists and turns.

 

Just READ IT!

 
Have you read it? Do you love science fiction books?
Thanks for reading!

 
Sophie

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[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is about a kick-ass rebel named Zara who ends up being picked for the Honors program.

As an Honor, Zara will be sent into space for one-year. Her job will be tough as she and her fellow Honors will be working closely with (actually inside of) Leviathan, an alien ship species. The goal is to learn as much as she can exploring space while the Leviathan get to study our species. The thing is, Zara isn’t really interested in any of that. She just needs to stay her ass out of jail, and away from the mobsters who want revenge.

Zara chose to be emancipated in New Detroit, instead of going with her Mother and sister to live on the crowded colony on Mars. After escaping the clutches of her father’s madness, she is a true rebel in every sense of the word. She relies on herself and she steals what she wants. She rejects all the modern advances for a life of freedom. She may be a petty criminal, but she still has her dignity.

When Zara meets Nadim, the alien space ship she and her partner will be traveling in, they form a friendship. First it is just out of loneliness, then it grows to something more. When Zara realizes the real reason they chose her to join the Honors, Zara and her partner Beatriz must figure out how to help Nadim stay alive and learn all the secrets he keeps from them.

Zara and Nadim share a special relationship. I was as intrigued as Zara was to learn about the alien spaceship species. The relationship builds slowly and kept my interest the whole time. The conversations start off like anyone might imagine and then they get deeper. Zara and Beatriz share a special bond, too. They find a great way to work together using their own strengths to make up for each other’s shortcomings. The main theme of this book was Zara’s ability to learn to trust someone to take care of her.

Most of this story takes place on the ship called Nadim in the year 2142. Zara lives in an environment close to what we know now in New Detroit. Her exposure to modern technology is as our would be, because even though it is available, she isn’t used to it at all. Both Beatriz and Zara grow protective of Nadim and they each have their own nooks in the ship to call home. Despite all the technological advances, it easy to imagine the space Zara and Beatriz call home. The writers did a seamless job telling the story and describing the scenes.

The cool thing about this book, other than everything I just mentioned, is that Zara is such a cool character. She goes from rags to riches, or more like from our time into the far off future in technology. She isn’t very smart, but she doesn’t lack for courage. The whole set up for this book is pretty amazing. The world building is well explained without info dumps. It was also full of descriptive language that helped me to “see” what was going on.

I am really looking forward to the next book in this series. Kudos to the authors for creating such an amazing series starter. I highly recommend this to young adult science fiction fans!