Apex Five

by Sarah Katz

Intent on conquering their planet in the name of scientific advancement and expanding out beyond their home world, far-future humanity faces an unfathomable threat from the void beyond. Meanwhile, Rohem, a solar-powered human originally used as a weapon against the dominant nation of Tabira, embarks on a journey of self-discovery that will reveal the secret behind humanity's sudden forward leap in technology, as well as the danger of unchecked expansion.-Winner of an American Fiction Award-Winner of a CYGNUS Book Award for Science Fiction-Winner of a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

267 pages, Paperback

First published November 21, 2018

About the author

Sarah Katz is an author and cyber security engineer. Her books include science fiction novel "Apex Five", historical fiction novel "The Messenger from the Mountain" and children's picture book "Talking Tummy". Her nonfiction work includes technology articles published in Cyber Defense Magazine, Dark Reading, Infosecurity Magazine and Tech Xplore.

While not writing or uncovering the latest in medical device cyber threats, Sarah enjoys studying medicine and embarking on adventures involving caving, hiking, travel and getting lost on Wikipedia with topics ranging from anthropology to psychology.

Reviews

[May · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apex Five is your typical post-apocalyptic science fiction novel where some catastrophic event destroys a highly advanced civilization and those who "remain" struggle with each other over resources and strangely, over faith.

You see, one of the main conflicts in Apex Five is that the dominant nation, Tabira, is trying to stop people from following a certain religion, and uses violence to do so (for no reason, apparently). If Katz's message had been that humans need spirituality solely in the form of organized religion to live happily, I would have been very disappointed; however, the existence of all kinds of religious and non-religious people (from terrorists who set themselves on fire to atheists), as well as the true nature of the Zaam *Tabira will probably die of laughter when it learns of this and the other three religious nations are likely to die of embarrassment*, provided a much more nuanced and diverse portrayal.

On the subject of characterization, I have to say that there were TOO MANY characters for my liking, although the end product was not too shabby. We get around 15 characters with distinct backstories and motivations. Parental abuse (paternal and maternal), oppression, and genocide were touched upon, if not fully explored. I suppose that's what you get when you have too many characters to build and too many themes to consider.

One interesting point is the Lasha's change of biological sex; she/he would transform from a man to a woman every three months. There were many strong female characters (Nasin, Avithia, Oria, Eta, Vata, Inad, Echil, etc...), and Oria was my favourite. Even though she is a pious woman, she does not let retarded and discriminatory religious doctrines prevent her from pursuing the career she chose for herself, and she accepts and respects other people's right to not follow her religion. Among the males, Samed was perhaps the most believable. Rohem is extremely flat and one-dimensional, Telo is an asshole, Kel is...what is this guy supposed to be doing again?

However, I assume that all the women are going to be pushed aside and be made into minor characters as the premise of Apex Five states: "When the dominant nation of Tabira uses remarkably advanced technology to colonize the planet, a doctor of unknown origin [Rohem], military officer [Samed] and tribal chief [Telo the asshole] set out to restore balance."
Two out of our three male saviors are so badly written it makes me sick to think that the fate of the world (or at least, the fate of humans) relies on them.
There was also that indirect praise for how the Ayam lived; girls cook and boys fight, and when an Ayam woman tried to join the warriors, firstly she was mocked, and then the chief (Telo, if you are wondering) stuck his spear into her eye.
You are ruining what you built, Katz. Just saying.

The writing is average and the pacing is slow. Nothing major really happens and the plot twist (if you can call it that) is not very shocking. The little adventure of Inad and Ara was so completely pointless. Also, the explanation offered for what Rohem is was not very clear. What the hell is that sticker or sketar or whatever? No clue. The ending was disappointing, because a) not investing in the characters' emotional states and inner thoughts made Rohem's decision fall flat on its face- it had no effect on me whatsoever, except for mild irritation; and b) the truth of what Joleh had done felt so contrived and forced, I couldn't swallow it.

Overall, this is more like an introductory installment; nothing really happens except for introducing 15+ characters, providing some bits and pieces about them, and describing the ongoing conflict in an attempt to set the stage for what is to come next. Personally, I think half of this book could have been done away with; I fail to see how many of the details offered will serve the overarching plot.
In short, I believe that the author could have done with a more concentrated approach rather than stretching herself too thin.

Final note: The Zaam are awesome and the seedlings are shit.

[Sean Robins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. The advanced technology described here is amazing, especially the water-based weaponry and the AI. The author combines technological modernity with ancient faith. The characters are very interesting and relatable. What I really like about them is there are no clear heroes or villains; everyone seems to have their good sides and their bad sides. I also liked the light and playful tone of the story. Katz has done a wonderful job building a detailed alien word which at times looks strangely familiar to our society and current social issues. All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science fiction should be a lend through which we view ourselves. It’s the new philosophy, the path to introspection. Apex Five: The Plane, Book One is no exception. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be seen through the post-genocide Lirians trying to coexist with the desert-dwellers of Garo after they flee to their ancestral land. Meanwhile the jungle people echo Native Americans and victims of Imperialism. In this highly religious world, homosexuality is punished by death, even as some of the people regularly change sex. There are other superpowers, mostly connecting with the fire and water of their religions, even as secularism and faith drive the people to extremism on all sides. It’s social science fiction, concerned less with the technology than with the big questions of what it means to be people.

[Sahreth Bowden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science fiction is one of my favorite genres and this book did not disappoint! The author has crafted an absolutely intriguing world that is easy to get drawn into. The characters are all interesting and well-developed from the problems they face, both internal and external, right down to their species/abilities/skills. The world itself is believable while introducing cultural aspects that are both fresh and relatable to our own world. Probably my favorite thing about Apex Five are the beings that are included such as the Lasha, a humanoid species that lives in a shifting cycle of being entirely male or entirely female. As a person who is extremely intrigued by spiritual beliefs, the religion presented in the story, how the different characters feel about it, and the eventual exploration of the validity and origins of that religion is equally enthralling. I definitely highly recommend Apex Five.

[Eric Borgerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Katz opens her Apex Five fantasy/sci-fi series in kaleidoscopic splendor. The Plane, Book One is delightful and intriguing, leaving one hungry for the books to follow.

After a brief peek at an ancient cataclysm, The Plane opens in a fictional world where five societies, Tabira, Lir, Garo, Ayam, and an extinct polity known as the Opal nation, comprise a cultural and political tapestry of overlapping history and ancestry. Glowing and mysterious megaliths from a lost civilization tower over and haunt the story in each of the countries, telling of ancient origins and foreboding possibilities for the future.

Though it takes place on one planet, the story initially reminded me in some ways of the Dune saga, due to the rich and complex political history. However, unlike in Dune, which opens with a numbingly long history lecture, Katz does a skillful job of layering in the history as she tells an entertaining story. The reader’s perspective broadens and deepens as the character interactions unfold, yielding both an engaging real-time drama and a narrative context which, by the story’s end, is epic in scale.

While told in a light and at times playful tone, the tale interweaves profound themes. A dominant government exploits historic enmities to pit subordinate political and cultural bodies against one another to quell revolt. Countries with a common religious faith war with one another over resources and control within an oppressive political structure that seeks to divest them of their beliefs. Matriarchal and patriarchal cultures, disparities in education and access to technology, and undercurrents of illicit drug trade and addiction add complexity to the mix, painting a lifelike portrait of conflict among interconnected societies.

Katz lays out a fascinating and unusual juxtaposition of technological modernity and ancient faith, with a sophisticated exploration of colliding and incomplete notions of “enlightenment.” She manages to paint portraits of villainy and heroism without falling into the error of creating monolithic characters. The personages in her story have understandable motives within the context of their place in the cultural and historical matrix. Bravery and cruelty issue from all sides, resulting from the actors’ overconfidence in the completeness of their world views. Neither the technologically advanced nor the religiously devout truly understand the origin of their forms of wisdom, and their disparagement of each other yields chaos borne of ignorance. There are also hints of abuse and betrayals of sacred trust, on tender and grand scales.

Lest this sound too heavy, please let me emphasize that the story is fun and fast-paced. It includes exotic creatures, such as an enigmatic and very important fellow who draws his sustenance from the sun, a race of humans with wings and feathers descended from people who could fly, and a class of revered Lirians called the Lasha who regularly and naturally change gender from time to time, with interestingly complicated results. Katz’s story touches on points of tension within our own culture, but within the fictional context she avoids their fraught nature and bathes them in light.

This story is deceptively simple on its surface, and I what I found most impressive about it is that Katz deploys her intelligence and depth with such agility and grace. This is a splendid read and I want to know what happens next.

[Christine Vazou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apex Five is a post-apocalyptic, science fiction novel. It’s taking place 12,000 years after a catastrophic event, called The Storm, destroys the Plane. After The Storm, five structures survived named megaliths and we see the existence of five countries who worship these structures: Garo, Opal, Lir, Tabira, and Ayam. Tabira, the place where technology thrives and religion is forbidden, has obliterated Opal but the county’s power and stability are threatened by an attempt to overthrow Mak Eta, Tabira’s Chancellor.

The above is just a small introduction on the amazing storyline Sarah Katz has created. The author has succeeded immensely in world-building and character development. What surprised me the most was the diversity of the characters introduced and the fact that the author managed to address some of our most pressing social issues through a futuristic alien world.

I highly recommend this book mainly because you will certainly enjoy the immense creativity of the author. The story is easy to follow and the reader won’t get bombarded with more than the necessary amount of information.

[Ursula Visser · Rating 3 out of 5]

A complex story, in which the author takes time to explain the Plain and its inhabitants, their relations and their progress in development after the destruction of (most of) man-kind at the beginning of the book.

The five sections are different, and some are ruled by a ruthless leader. What happens are things that also happen in our current world: trying to wipe out a religion, or suppressing women. The question is: what have we learned?

It was sometimes a bit difficult to follow, because perspective jumped from one POV to another without proper 'mark' or indication (which made me look back to what had happened), or a time-jump happened and I was lost as how much time had passed.

I really liked Rohem and his story-arc, especially towards the end when it becomes clear what his role is - or what he is -.

[Martin Freznell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story and setting. I'm sure it's not for everyone: the language used is sometimes a bit alienating. To me, it felt a bit like I was a kid again trying to wrap my head around the Jack Vance books of my father. It's worth reading every bit, though.

Maybe that's a good comparison? Jack Vance meets Yoko Tsuno.

[Nick Braker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story takes place on a futuristic Earth-like world where the people worship 5 megalithic structures. The story starts out where you learn about Nesin and then Rohom. I enjoyed both characters and could sympathize with their plight as the author began to reveal the twists and turns of their world. Highly recommend.

[Mark Ferguson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apex Five by Sarah Katz is an ambitious and creative work set in an unfathomably futuristic Earth that is scarcely recognizable, populated by strange beings with exotic biology and technology. The degree of care focused into the sheer worldbuilding effort is impressive, as is the political plot featuring an arms race, terrorism, and the combustible ingredient of religion playing rolls across several nations simultaneously.

The in media res narration is executed consistently, avoiding info-dumps that could paralyze the plot's momentum. However, the rapid introduction of characters, concepts, locations and factions requires that a reader be on their toes. Apex Five never lulls anywhere, perhaps to the fault of rushing us along from scenes that we could have studied a bit longer. We are sometimes scrambling to understand the stakes involved, the history that brought us here, the overall mission of some characters, or the limits of the available technology, and some explanations come rather late (and the ending overview would have been more helpful at the beginning). Character conversations are well-executed, avoiding the 'as you know' trope that can intrusively give us necessary facts - but without a 'fish out of water' character in this universe the reader is jumping in the deep end, and will either sink or swim. I was compelled to check and confirm that this was indeed the first book in the series, as it assumes a level of familiarity on the reader's part that I would consider more common for a sequel.

The minimalism of 'establishment shots' and the few introductions for most characters can be disorientating without rereading at times. Furthermore, there are 50+ named characters as part of a sprawling cast. Economy of characters (three doing one job) and distinction between characters inevitably suffers outside the main cast, and there is a further difficulty: practically none of the characters have surnames, and nearly all names have 5 letters or less wherever they come from in this world. In such an intricate setting this was a small but rather distracting bit of simplicity, not corresponding to the real-world regionality of names (in which we can know that Reginald is probably not from Ethiopia and Mohammed is probably not Japanese, and their family names will tell us further). In a move that I'm sure was deliberate, the names do not always obey the conventional gender expectations based on sound ('Ava' is male, 'Inad' is female), a sensible feature for a strange realm but adding to the potential disorientation invited by the rapid progression of the plot and the sheer number of similar names. And that's before we wrap our heads around the seasonal changing of gender and name for some characters!

Nevertheless, creativity and commitment elevates this novel from a 3 to a 4 out of 5. Rival cultures, attitudes and animosities are portrayed believably, and the temptation to 'read into' the plot for commentary on our real world's issues shows that Katz has made a setting complex enough for the reader to 'play in' and interpret non-trivially. The technological wizardry is limited enough to avoid the 'playing tennis without a net' problem of less careful science fiction, with only a little techno-babble. The setting blurs technology and effective magic to an ambiguous degree, and is more focused on the numerous relationships between the characters and cultures.

Overall, I would compare this book to the musical piece 'Flight of the Bumblebee'. It is a competent and compelling novel with lots of interesting details, and it is most impressive to the musicians in the audience who know how damn hard the fingering is. Indeed, I think other authors of science fiction and fantasy would find this work most enjoyable, while other readers may be a bit overwhelmed and struggle to fully appreciate the effort.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me preface this review by saying that I am not a huge fan of sci-fi. I read Apex Five because I wanted to branch out from my usual reading preferences and I wanted to support an independent author.
Katz’ writing is excellent, truly poetic and at times utterly beautiful. I found her attention to detail and her world-building amazing. The world she created in this novel is profoundly complex and rich with its own history, and without her writing skills, I would have found myself lost in a sea of words.
The characters are well-developed and their dialogue is realistic. The entire world Katz has created is filled with such unrest, it kept me captivated throughout. Often times, I could see this story as a Blockbuster film.
If you’re a sci-fi fan but want something with a little more depth and meaning, then Apex Five won’t disappoint.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number of stars 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I really like this book because of the action and adventure it give you. I don't like space/ sci-fi but I can't stop reading this book. I really love the characters, the details and the why the author writes this book.

I also like that she give you a list of characters, places so that it helps you who is who or who is where.

I really excited for book two, and you guys really need to pick up this book.

[Quintero Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kind of Sci-fi that takes me back to the great days. Dune, 2001 A space odyssey, Hyperion...
Mystery, good banter, great story and concept, sci fi from an author that understands and loves technology.

I have visited many different worlds and universes through reading, but only a few expand my imagination and leave me wondering and wanting to set foot in those worlds, see more, experience the corners I didn't get to see, learn about the culture and people.
This is one of them.
<3

[Tamara Soussan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative New World

I couldn't put the book down once I was immersed in this imaginative, creative world. The characters were well developed and although the book provided some resolution I wanted the story to continue. Thank you for the glossary, it provided a welcome summary.

[Britt Wynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah’s novel is highly recommend and she sheds light through her work via her characters and the world she’s created. You can easily visualize this as a series playing in your mind. If you love reading good science fiction and drama, I highly recommend!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lacking access to a proper keyboard, this is just going to be a short placeholder until I'm able to write a full review.

Apex Five is a refreshingly original novel by indie author Sarah Katz. Boasting a politically-fueled storyline and some memorable characters/alien races, this is a book I won't be forgetting soon. There were a few very minor qualms I had with some of the POV transitioning, which is the only reason this didn't get the full 5 stars. Still, coming from such a small publishing house, this book is incredibly written and HIGHLY recommended. I can't wait for Ms. Katz to get the recognition she deserves.

Eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apex Five is an interesting read for sci-fi fans who enjoy their reads to be more deep and philosophical than for those looking for a ton of action. The author does a great job of weaving the concepts of politics and religion into the world she’s created as the driving force of her story. I did feel like quite a bit was left unresolved in the end, pending the next book in the series.

My biggest complaint about the book is the formatting. I have pretty good eyes, and the text was still far too small. All of the text was left aligned instead of justified. Both of those issues can be potentially cleaned up in a follow up edition.

[Kyle Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apex Five is a good first novel, but as with many first novels, it does have a few issues.

The world-building is decent enough and most of the main characters are fleshed out and have *character*. For the most part, you can begin to guess how certain characters will react or behave in a given situation with some nuance. I'd say these are the two things I enjoyed most.
While the plot made sense and followed logical flows, there were more few parts that left me suspicious it was an element of convenience and/or didn't make sense. Some pieces of the world felt similar or slightly disjointed in order to mold themselves to the plot.
Nothing egregious enough to make me not want to read the second installment when it arrives, however. I believe as the author continues to write, things can only get better. I'm certain by the end of the series many of the smaller issues will be resolved.

I felt the mechanics of the novel are where it's most evident it's a debut novel. Namely, there are mechanical issues that would've been ironed out through a typical (and expensive) editorial process. Typos weren't much of an issue, and for the most part, the grammar was solid. Pacing was an issue, namely when things would grind to a halt for a page or two (sometimes more) of expository inner thoughts from a certain character. There were two areas where I was fairly certain the author had revised a scene but the old paragraphs plus the new were present.
This may be more of a personal thing, but I found the over-abundance of dialogue tags sapped a great deal of the tension out of quite a few scenes. In my opinion, the author would be greatly served by cutting down on the tags. In a similar vein, the author has a love of using the phrase "A beat" to donate spaces of time and tension when characters are frozen in the moment. By the end of the novel I was rolling my eyes every time I saw it. Yet, curiously, its usage came and went for similar scenes.
Lastly, things got a little techno-babble at the end, which I suppose makes sense given the context.

This review may seem more negative than positive, but if it was a forgettable book or one I didn't enjoy, I wouldn't have bothered to leave a review.

[Alexander Findlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this was the first actual novel by this author then please believe me when I say that I am going to be ordering subsequent publications – it was a really good start!

Set on The Plane, the story of Apex Five follows the struggles and tribulations of different nations and their leaders as they cope to come to terms with issues such as religion, technology and conflict. Each main character harbours his or her own opinion about the Zaam (godlike beings which feature in the religious narrative of The Plane), as well as politics and technology. I really enjoyed the sci-fi aspects of The Plane and its five megaliths and I feel that the story is original and enjoyable.

Narrative wise, there were parts here and there that didn’t flow so easily, and the scenes seemed to jump into one another (though perhaps this was a result of the kindle format). I also wanted scenes to be a bit more descriptive at times, with more of an emphasis on building the atmosphere for the reader’s benefit.

The dialogue was good but I would like to see the writer use dialogue to differentiate more between characters in future. I feel that the way in which characters converse and interact is a great representation of their personalities.

The characters are diverse in such a sense with one of them being a gender-switching, superhuman “Lasha” named Avithia and another, a mysterious young man named Rohem who absorbs and harnesses solar energy. To continue would be a spoiler as it would be more enjoyable for a reader to discover each unique character by themselves. I did, however, want to be more in touch with some of the more villainous/vindictive aspects to some of them but was more than satisfied by the character depth and variety of the protagonists.

Personally, I also noticed certain parallels between political issues on The Plane with some issues which we contend with in modern politics, yet I feel that this did not detract from the originality of the plot or the narrative. The world which the author has built is well described as far as different nations and cultures are concerned and such parallels and complex issues only serve to enhance the aspects of the plot.

[Emé Savage · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.2 out of 5

It's an adult epic SciFi novel that follows the journey of Rohem. He was plucked from an underground prison from the hands of a mad man and raised by a Lasha called Nasin.

What I liked:
I really loved the worldbuilding. It was definitely a complete world with a lot of attention paid to the Zaam and their role in the various cultures of this world. I love the idea that deities we worship aren't what they seem to be. I love the political system, the conflicts, tech, and the extraordinary abilities that Rohem has. The story was good up until the end when it felt a bit rushed.

What I didn't like:

It's incomplete. Why the author put this version out into the world, I don't know. It is essentially a cut and paste of the original document and it has beta notes in the margin. If you wear bifocals, you won't be able to read it because the print is so small. I almost returned it, but I was curious about the story, and as I got further into it, I did enjoy it. But it is by no stretch of the imagination complete. This is what gives self-published books a bad reputation. It's wholly unacceptable to publish this in its current form and the number one reason why I rated it so low.

I also didn't like the end. It was rushed and not satisfying at all. It again made me wonder if this was incomplete.

Overall:
I can't recommend this book in its current format, and until the author addresses these glaring issues, I wouldn't be comfortable purchasing the next one from them either. It's a shame because it is a very good story, but I know most readers would be turned off right away.

[Bernie Bernard · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Apex Five" is a good and intriguing read full of well delivered characters. It is a combination sci fi with interwoven political strife all in one. The book is well written with alot inforformation that the reader navigates before realizing the meat of the story. This is definitely a worthy, enjoyable and intense novel.

Bernie Shore
Author of Skinny Bernard Experimental Short Stories
 
   

   

 



 "Apex Five" is a good and intriguing read full of well delivered characters. It is a combination sci fi with interwoven political strife all in one. The book is well written with alot inforformation that the reader navigates before realizing the meat of the story. This is definitely a worthy, enjoyable and intense novel.

 

   

   

 



 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 




 







 

[Rebecca McGee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh. I was so bored for the first two thirds of this book. The pacing was just too slow. There was so much information thrown at you in such a small space and I could barely keep up. Luckily there was a glossary containing definitions and descriptions of the various nations, characters and terms, unfortunately, I didn’t look at it until I finished reading since it wasn’t listed on the table of contents. Sigh. Things did start to get interesting towards the end, but by then I was just happy that it was almost over. I wasn’t really invested in the outcome of any storyline or in any of the character arcs. I don’t think I’ll read the rest of this series.

[J.R. Schuyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little torn on how to rate this book. On one hand, the world was very well-developed and there were a lot of interesting concepts. The writing style was mostly good as well. On the other hand, the characters were underdeveloped, and I wasn’t really invested in what happened to them. Like other reviewers, I think the problem is that there are too many characters for the size of the book.

The author has a lot of potential, so I will most likely read the next installment in the series.

[Lindsay]

I'm afraid this one is a DNF for now. It's hard for me to put into words what the problem was. It's well-written, and not a typo in sight, but it's also extremely confusing and disjointed in the beginning. There was nothing to get me hooked. I had no investment in characters.

I'll keep it in mind for another day.

[Linda Teppler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, and I at times I really did, but I have to admit, it was confusing. Lots of great sci-fi elements were present and the base storyline was very interesting. The execution just kind of went from place to place though. It was hard to follow, especially when one character changed multiple times. Trying to keep track of who was who, and where everyone was became difficult to the point of being a chore. What I really liked was the interactions between characters. When I focused just on character personalities and not on logical progression it was very enjoyable. The emotional shifts were amazing.

[Mark Higbee · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received this as a Goodreads Advanced Reader

I had a hard time with this book. I had a really hard time following along and figuring out who was who, and how it all fit together. Maybe a map would have helped. Or more tie-in details.

The end was underwhelming and did little to bring it all together. And the part about the slime guys seemed completely unnecessary.

It had much more potential but fell short

[Jon-david Mafia Hairdresser · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up Sarah Katz' book because I hear chatter of it on Twitter. I would certainly genre-ize this novel as Sci-fi but the author's good world building and tone had a bit of fantasy laced feel to it.
The character's in this post apocalyptic world where civilizations are trying to work out food, water and simply existing with one another are so sympathetic. Rohem!
The terrain these being live on seems beautiful and treacherous. And religion is both used to control and to be feared.
This is not typical scifi where there are tech and robots; but invisible serpents and mutants used as slave or soldiers.
This land, these characters, this story, is as if the star-ship Enterprise had arrived at an uncharted remote galaxy: The terrain would be diverse, the "aliens" would be very Star Trek, but the reader would be able to delve into the complexities of the threads of their societies.

[Jeremiah Whitehead · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I cannot give this book a positive review, even though it has some potential. It starts out difficult with a steep learning curve for new terminology and politics. The religious overtones and political nuances are confusing, as is the word flow.

The worst part of attempting to read this book is the many POV characters. I realized halfway through the book that I did not know who half of the characters were; and I didn’t care, because I didn’t have enough time with any single character to bond. I counted about 10 different POV characters and there might have been more.

Not to leave this review on a completely negative tone, the story itself could have captivated my attention if edited and limited in perspective. The scope is grand and the characters diverse. The types of characters throughout seemed very interesting, with unique abilities and personalities.

With a rewrite to limit the POV characters to 2 or 3 at max, I believe this would have been a great story.

[Anya Pavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I got into the book and I had a firm grasp of the characters/what cultures they came from, the pages sped by. Katz does an excellent job describing her world, giving it both a futuristic and slightly primitive feel. She juxtaposes religion and science, civilization and barbarism, along with the idea of who knows what the "greater good" is. I recommend this book if you're a fan of sci-fi that has a unique take on the genre.

[Yair Shachar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think for a book part of a serie, the main question to answer myself is:
Do i want to read the next one
And here yes, i do

As what seem one of her first books, this is a very decent story.

Yes a lot is covered
And it can be a bit confusing


But in the end i was intrigued by the storyline and i am curious to know where it is going next.
Especially for the seamingly lesser characters.