Down Among the Dead

The Farian War #2

by K.B. Wagers

"Gunrunner empress Hail Bristol must navigate alien politics and deadly plots to prevent an interspecies war, in this second novel in the Farian War space opera trilogy. In a surprise attack that killed many of her dearest subjects, Hail Bristol, empress of Indrana, has been captured by the Shen -- the most ruthless and fearsome aliens humanity has ever encountered. As she plots her escape, the centuries-long war between her captors and the Farians, their mortal enemies and Indrana's oldest allies, finally comes to a head. When her captors reveal a shocking vision of the future, Hail must make the unexpectedly difficult decision she's been whether to back the Shen or the Farians. Staying neutral is no longer an option. Will Hail fight? Or will she fall?"--

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Aliens, Fiction, Adult Fiction

451 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2019

About the author

K.B. Wagers is the author of the Indranan & Farian War trilogies with Orbit Books and the new NeoG novels from Harper Voyager. They hold a bachelor's degree in Russian Studies and a second-degree black belt in Shaolin Kung Fu. A native of Colorado, K.B. lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with their partner and a crew of recalcitrant cats. In between books, they can be found attempting to learn Spanish, dying in video games, dancing to music, and scribbling new ideas in their bullet journal. They are represented by Andrew Zack of The Zack Company.

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved every single moment of the previous trilogy, but after seeing what those books led to, I'm not sure I'll be able to go back and reread them with pleasure.

It's a shame because the big-picture elements are fairly interesting. It's also well written even though this book, like the last, suffers from some choppy transitions and repetitiveness. A couple of the personal elements left me unsure if I'll bother reading the conclusion of the series though.

The romance is forced and just all-around awful. I kept hoping that the first few sparks in that direction were just a symbol of Hail's healing heart, but no such luck. Frankly I was surprised to see an author who's handled her relationships so skillfully in the past keep pushing Hail down that road after the love interest, regretfully or not, participated in Hail's systematic torture. The idea that Mia and Aiz had to hurt Hail to make her stronger would have been shitty in any case, but I might have been more willing to roll with that if it had led to a more complicated, fragile alliance. Instead Hail ends up falling for one of her abusers and adopting the other into her crew, putting them on even footing with well-loved characters who've always supported Hail instead of putting her through six months of intense mental and physical torture. Oh, and nobody's allowed to question Hail's feelings about all this despite her clear instability because she chose, under duress, to go through the harsh physical training Aiz offered. The fact that her decision was a result of being isolated, manipulated, and lied to in a way that nearly left her suicidal doesn't seem to hold much weight. After one throwaway mention of the relationships people sometimes form with their captors, Hail's team just starts acting like her flirting with one of her abusers is the cutest little thing ever. It's a normalization that will feel disturbingly familiar to many of us who've heard something along the lines of "you're making me do this" or "this is for your own good" from a family member or romantic partner. That is not okay.

The book begins with a warning that it includes a character dealing with suicidal thoughts, which was a solid decision on the part of the author and publisher. It's too bad that sensitivity didn't extend to the abusive storyline that drags down the rest of the story.

[EM · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is going to be a difficult review to write. I absolutely devoured the first trilogy and have eagerly pre-ordered the last two books. However this last book left me utterly shocked and in complete horror.

First, a list of all the things that I love about this series:
-woman of color lead who kicks ass and takes all the names
-a searing take on trauma and the mental toll that it takes
-LGBTQIA representation (particularly ladies digging ladies which Sci-FI can always use more of)

Now for what made me want to sit down in a corner and cry:

-Abuse presented as acceptable foundations for a romance.
I wish I could go into more depth without spoilers (for that, read on) but to keep it vague, an important romance is built on the trope of a person falling head over heels with their captor. While their captor isn't the one doling out the physical abuse, they are complicit in it. They also participate in the mental torture of their captive.

Fair warning, SPOILERS.

!!!SERIOUSLY, MAJOR SPOILERS!!!

Ok? Kay.
The central romance of this book is predicated on Hail falling into a deep infatuation with one of her kidnappers. Seriously, our hard as nails gun running empress decides that the person who really gets her ship engines burning is one of the two siblings who've kidnapped her and are holding her prisoner while- and this is what left me hollow on the inside- repeatedly torturing her both physically and mentally. Now, let's be clear that the book presents this torture as "Hail needs to step into her destiny so the dude with the magic hands is going to beat the hell out of her UNTIL SHE LITERALLY DIES and then magic her back to life. Day after day. All the while he and his equally complicit sister let her believe that almost all of her loved ones have been murdered. And oh, it's alright if Hail wants to get down with his sister because hey, the lady is hot and isn't ACTUALLY the one doing the physical torture."

The book describe this as torture. Multiple characters flag this as torture. However Hail leans into it because of her collapsing mental state and falls head over heels for Aiz's sister.

Fine. Ok. I was with the author up until this point because I trusted the author to treat this subject matter responsibly and ethically. If the author is going to dig into the dark side of how people control and manipulate others and lean hard into tough subject matter that's one thing. If, AND HERE'S THE KICKER FOLKS, if the author decides and makes it canon that this abuse is both acceptable and unworthy of critique?

Those characters who flagged Mia and Aiz's treatment of Hail as abuse? A few pages later they're shrugging and playing matchmaker because "eh, they're our allies and wouldn't you be so cute together?" Hail, who never fails to call out people's shit, her own included, decides that because Mia and Aiz have one or two reservations about the toll their abuse is taking on Hail (concerns predicated mind you, on the diminishing returns of her usefulness to them) that they can be even partially excused for their actions. I will say that Mia resists immediately jumping into bed with Hail, but... this is supposed to make it ok when she eventually does?

I'm not going to lie. I still love the first four books. I still love the gun running empress. But this book left me shocked and feeling like it was a personal responsibility to post my first review on this site about this book.

Ultimately, I guess it all comes down to trust. Do I still trust that the author can handle "tough issues" responsibly and ethically? Have they earned that trust? And at this point the answer is.... I don't know.

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

The previous book left me gutted, and this one kept me gutted for a long while, too. This book has a different structure and mood--rather than being loaded with space opera action and political intrigue, this one delves hard into psychological manipulation and devastating grief. I'm glad it had trigger warnings at the start, because some readers will truly need that. This book goes more into its space opera-ness in the last half, and really gears up for a climactic final book for the trilogy. I love all of these books, and now I'm eager and ready to read on and see how things wrap up.

[Jon Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books.

[Mark Parnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

KB said at the end of the book that Down Among The Dead was extremely tough to write and I can respect that. Some books seemingly write themselves while others can be a mighty struggle. Truth be told, this book was a struggle to read. The first 4 books in this series were fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable, this one dragged. I can respect the fact that KB wanted to put Hail through the emotional ringer BUT the fact that it lasted through three quarters of the book left me cringing in boredom. (Its a bad sign when you wish the main character would meet an untimely death just to put her out of her misery and spare the reader hours of a wallowing Hail) While the ending somewhat salvaged this novel and has me intrigued to see how this ends, I won’t be as quick to rush out and purchase this and add it to the must read pile.

[Jay · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first third of this book is a nauseating, prolonged, and unnecessary depiction of torture. Only the quality of the first series kept me going to finish this one. The pay off at the end of the book wasn't even remotely sufficient. I can't imagine subjecting myself to the next book.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because I'm biased & I love Hailimi

I've been hyped for this book all year, and I'm glad I got to finish 2019 with it! That said, this book is rough af. The author includes a warning at the front so do take heed as this book deals with self-harm, torture, suicidal ideation and PTSD.

The first 50% of this book is easily some of the hardest reading. The aftermath of There Before the Chaos has left Hail and 3 friends in the hands of the Shen, and things get real dark real quick. Hail descends into a spiral of survivor's guilt and severe depression that is very difficult to handle. It honestly took me a solid week to read through it because it was a Lot. There were times I was questioning why Wagers was doing this to Hail, what possible reason there could be to put Hail through this, and even from the other side I still feel a bit that way. I don't want to take away from what in all circumstances would be a harrowing experience for Hail and friends, but I think the length of the ordeal was overwhelming even for me.

The second half is reaching the light at the end of the tunnel and things get better for Hail and everyone else involved. My biggest beef with this book is the HailxMia relationship as it makes me wildly uncomfortable given what had happened in the first half and Mia's involvement. The book does make an effort to emphasize that Mia is not a replacement for Portis (Hail's dead bf) and her feelings for Mia aren't the same as they were for Portis, but in the scope of trauma and abusive relationships I just... would have preferred this had not happened at all.

The big reveal at the end was telegraphed from about the 60% mark so it wasn't a surprise to me, but the event itself is pretty exciting so I am definitely dedicated to reading the finale! It will (hopefully) go back to more butt-kicking Hail and friends, and possibly an expanded universe?? EXCITE.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the "Farian War" trilogy by K.B. Wagers. This is a continuation of the story started in the "The Indranan War" trilogy. In this one Hail Bristol, Empress of Indrana and former gunrunner must navigate alien politics and deadly plots to prevent an interplanetary war. After a surprise attack on the peace negotiations on Earth that killed many people including some of her own subjects, Hail has been captured by the Shen and taken to a planet many light-years away. She is subjected to a cruel regiment of abuse in an effort to break her spirit. She plots her escape while her companions back on Earth search frantically for her. When her captors reveal a shocking vision of the future, Hail must make the unexpectedly difficult decision she's been avoiding, whether to back the Shen or the Farians.
I stated in my reviews of the books in the "The Indranan War" trilogy that they were some of the best Space Opera that I had read in quite some time. The first book of this trilogy and this book continue that trend. I will note that you should read the books in the "The Indranan War" trilogy before starting this trilogy because you need the background laid out for context in this book.
NOTE: This book has a warning that is as follows: Dear Readers, there are some difficult moments in this book pertaining to grief, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. Please proceed according to your comfort level.
I will tell you now to take heed of this warning. If that type of subject matter upsets you I would recommend that you not read this book.

[Histrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a trigger warning at the beginning for a reason — because it is so well written that I feel like I'm living through the trauma with the characters. It is so good!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I absolutely loved the first trilogy, it remains one of my favorites. And the first book in this trilogy was also excellent. This 2nd book though, was really problematic for me. While it picked up at the end the first 2/3 almost made me want to stop reading.

The initial part of the book felt very claustrophobic to me and was deeply disturbing.
The main character, Hail, is in a profound depression after the (assumed) death of many members of her team/found family. Along with 3 of her remaining team members, she is being held hostage by the Shen. During this captivity, they systematically torture her physically and mentally, all in the name of their twisted idea that they need to make her stronger in order to achieve their ultimate goal.

Unfortunately, this devolves quickly into an almost stereotypical Stockholm syndrome situation with Hail falling for one of her captors. This could have been an interesting approach to the character. Hail has always been an intriguing mix of toughness and vulnerability. However, the author chose to normalize and romanticize this relationship after Hail was free. Every time there was a scene between Hail and Mia it made me uncomfortable because there was no real resolution of the basis for the relationship. After a few tossed-off comments from her team, once she is rescued, they go on to support the relationship as if it were normal and good. It felt like a romanticization of abuse.

The plot does pick up in the latter part of the book and returns to somewhat normal form, much to my relief. I realized, while reading, that I had started this book previously, and chose to put it down. The depths of despair, the depictions of torture, and the other problematic issues were just not something I could deal with in my prior reading. This time I have pushed through and will be moving on to the last book in this trilogy, but I will be doing it tentatively, and in the hopes that the situations I have such a problem with change.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a lot of good stuff in here, and Hail Bristol remains an excellent central character in many ways, but I didn't love this one as much, and I had a lot of trouble putting my finger on why for a while and put off writing the review while I figured it out.

There's something of a genre shift that's gone on here. The original trilogy is definitely a wahoo-space opera, and doesn't worry too much about the technological backgrounds more than it needs to, but it's much more Rogue One than say Return of the Jedi. You had the healing powers of the Farians, but that was it when it came to space wizardry, for the most part and things stuck much more closely to Hail and her crew and the gun running shootouts and political dances that defined the adventure.

This series is now going much more into space wizards, and I'm not sure it's really to the benefit of the characters or the series. The oracles tend to take a lot of ownership away from the characters (something Hail actually does a fine job of articulating) and in some ways degrades the high stakes of the first trilogy. Maybe because I started with the first series I'm less enthusiastic about the additional space wizardry and power development, but I'm just not entirely sure why Wagers went down this road.

It's still pretty good though. Exploring out away from the human-controlled areas of space is interesting and the basic concepts are pretty good. Hail's well-established as someone who reads people well and thinks tactically so all of that plays well and works. Her (reasonable) self-doubts and fears keep her from going into Mary Sue territory, and firmly in a Captain Kirk style that's fun to ride with.

I think I preferred this series with less space magic, but it's still pretty good.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot going on in this instalment in this series. There was so much heartache and grief. I really felt for Hail and her journey throughout this novel. The author did a great job portraying Hail's mental state and how she was (not) dealing with the events of the previous book. However, I felt like it went on a little too long - but I understand why all the things that happened, needed to happen.

This book was definitely a middle book - it was setting up for the events of the third book, but it worked really well with the new world building we got and learning about Farian/Shen culture and history. The reveal at the end was not as big of a surprise as I feel like it was meant to be though - there was a really big scene that foreshadowed it, and I called it right away...so I'm not sure if we were supposed to figure that out or not - but it wasn't very hard.

Overall, I really enjoyed the character development and depth we got with Hail, and the new world building and culture we scratched the surface of. I'm excited to see what comes next!

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was hard read. These books have often made me cry but this one hurt too much for tears. so I kept putting it down and reading other things and then picking it back up again.

And the end both feels like a cliffhanger and the inevitable result of history and lots of clues seeded into the previous stuff. I am so glad the next book is available right away.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little slower than the previous novels and probably the weakest I've listened too so far. Hail spends far too much time in her own head in this one.

[Peter Baran · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book of the second trilogy, and its still interesting to see how much this Space Opera changes again. The first of the Farian War was admirably political, whilst it had plenty of action, it spent a long time looking at the diplomatic solutions for a minor state thrust into a massive galactic war. It also ended with a massive shock, killing off a lot of core characters and having the lead more or less kidnapped. So the good thing about the second book is how much it invests in the emotional fallout of these actions. The first half of this book is shot through with anger and grief and is, truth be told, really quite tough. It also ups the "magical powers" aspect of the story, the alien conception of life energy which is like but not like the force, and allows our lead character to self abuse on a massive scale. The book comes with a few self harm and suicide ideation warnings at the start, and whilst it is pretty responsible around these themes, it is still quite a shocking departure from the previous books.

[NetGalley Arc]
I am a little torn on how well it all works. There is a lot of handwaving to get from point A to point B, which works emotionally if not as well narratively. And of course as a middle book there is always a sense of getting from the start, to the endgame (set up here in an impressive finale). So I can't like it without reservation, the tone issues are there for me. But at the same time, the stakes are there and it takes the responsibility and the trauma of events seriously. Its just a relatively long way from where we started five books ago, and there are plot developments which you could argue make some of that suspect. Its still very entertaining (if grimmer) and the writing improves with every book. Be interesting to see how this gets capped off.

[Randal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should not have picked this up. I didn't love the previous title, and looking back on the series, my scores in order were four plus!, almost four, 3.5, three. Now two and a bit. I am not a mathematician but that looks like a trend to me.

What doesn't work anymore? The seventy (yup, seven-zero!) pages that Hail spent wallowing in her belief that her crew were all dead seemed like overkill (yeah, I went there ... sorry). Then there was 20 pages of deciding they weren't.

And generally repetitious repetition, repeatedly. As far back as book two, I was noting that the author finds a groove that works and just keeps going back to it. Back then it was Hail holding people's faces (Oh, and throughout? F***ing chai. Everywhere. Still.).

I'm glad to report that Wagers has gotten past the face holding, but for two novels now, it's been grotesque ass-kissing by everyone around the empress. How many times does there need to be a scene where Hail says "I'm not worthy" and her entourage says, "No, Hail, you're the Only One!" It really gets rolling when everybody starts calling her "Star of Indrana," and then just keeps on keeping on:

[If you die] I will be inconsolable at the loss of the brightest star in the black," he replied.
... Zin exhaled, pressing his cheek to mine. "We are still here, with you, and will remain so to the end."
... "But we do this, or die trying. Are you willing to make that kind of sacrifice?"
Sybil looked at me, eyes shining, then nodded, "Yes, Star of Indrana, I am."
..."Your side is the side we'll always be on," Emmory replied. ... You're better at it than you think." ..."Of course, I'll always come for you." He smiled. "Better?"

It reminds me a little of The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension , where everyone is in constant awe of the lead character, but they were playing it for laughs ("Adventurer, brain surgeon, rock musician Buckaroo Banzai and his crime-fighting team, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, must stop evil alien invaders from the eighth dimension who are planning to conquer Earth"). Here, it's deadly serious.

For a character who is the Answer to saving the Universe, she's just so frickin' needy, you know? When somebody finally calls her out "I expected less wallowing from you," they are immediately slapped down: "You will not speak to the Star of Indrana like that."
Oh yes, please, they should. Let them. It's like somebody put Donald Trump's ego in a fictional character and then built a series of novels around them.

I got about 275 pages into this one and decided I've read enough K.B. Wagers to last me a lifetime. I'm all done here. And I don't know who I would recommend this to. Sorry. Nope.

[Aaron Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This first third was utterly atrocious. It's very hard to write a compelling story when the only viewpoint is from someone who is depressed and suicidal. Even Brandon Sanderson had a hard probably doing Sazed in that fashion, and he wasn't the only viewpoint.

It got even worse when the sanity of the main character really and truly went. She couldn't tell reality from her delusions. It was like an extended dream sequence only possibly even more boring.

The book got tolerable (like barely 3 stars) the second 2/3rds of the book, but it was only barely so, and the first third was so horrible I'm just giving it an overall 2 stars.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Putting it in the simplest terms Down Among the Dead, the latest chapter of The Farian War, by K B Wagers is an emotional rollercoaster. The book begins with a warning from the author that the plot will cover some potentially triggering ground while exploring the darkest corners of her lead character. Having read and pondered the book, I can confirm this to be one hundred percent accurate. There Before the Chaos ended with a hugely shocking event for Hail Bristol. Down Among the Dead picks up with Hail in a dark place, still trying to process the horror she witnessed.

I’ve probably mentioned this before, in other reviews of this very series, I consider it the trickiest of writing tasks to convey genuine emotion in fiction. K B Wagers makes it look effortless. Throughout Hail’s journey, Wagers gets the opportunity to explore the nature of trauma, the agony of grief and how we choose to deal with it. I think when we are in pain, we exist in a volatile state. We want to curl up and protect ourselves but in the same breath we want to lash out; to do anything feels better than accepting things as they are. Managing to capture that jumble of contradictory feelings and transfer that to the page is impressive. There is a rawness to Hail that didn’t exist before. Her mental state is like an open wound. It’s a brave move for an author to explore aspects of a character that have only ever been touched upon before. That gamble pays off. These previously unseen layers of depth to Hail’s character help to further define her motivations and actions.

Down Among the Dead is also a story about consequences. The decisions that Hail makes aren’t going to just change the lives of those around her. The direction Hail decides to go will affect worlds, untold billions of beings. Navigating the complex politics of a situation that has existed longer than humanity was never going to be easy and the weight Hail has to shoulder feels palpable. This is a character who has been broken down to nothing but has no choice but to get back up, dust herself off, and keep going.

Wagers is a sneaky old so and so. The characterisation in her novels is some of the best I’ve ever come across. The individuals that Hail meets have all left their mark on this reader. They are a huge, often dysfunctional group, who provide the support that Hail needs in order for her to make the difficult decisions she often has too. In the past I’ve described the emotional core that exists within the Hail Bristol saga and that is still very much in evidence here. Ultimately, we’re talking about how a society is made up, how we choose to care for one another. We’re not just talking about the importance of family but also trying to define what the concept of family means. To Hail, family is more than blood. Family are the people you choose to let become part of your life. The various members of her retinue would gladly give up their lives for their empress, but that’s not down to some outdated sense of honour, it’s because they love her. Hail can’t help but bring out the best in others. Historically, everyone’s favourite ex gunrunning empress has understood squarely where she fits in the grand scheme of things. As a criminal, she was beholden to no-one. She didn’t need to follow the rules and only ever really had to look out for herself. As a monarch the situation is entirely different. She has to rely on others and others have to rely on her.

From a plot perspective there is plenty going on. The Farian and Shen are still at loggerheads with everyone else stuck in the middle. In an effort to try and resolve the situation without resorting to violence, Hail once again decides she can mediate between these two factions. Let just say however that her diplomatic style has evolved somewhat. You get the sense that we are hurtling toward something definitive. Events escalate to that single moment at the end of the narrative, a heartbeat where a terrible choice needs to be made. The nature of that choice is breath-taking. It manages to be both staggeringly simple and endlessly complex. I didn’t see it coming and I think I may have gasped out loud when I got there.

The Indranan War, the first trilogy featuring Hail Bristol, was great. I didn’t think it was possible but The Farian War, including Down Among the Dead, is something better. I’m sure you can guess, but I’ll say it anyway, I love these books. I sit waiting impatiently for each new release to arrive and they always exceed my highest expectations. As an avid reader I reckon that is just about the best thing in the world. Ok, I’ll try and stop gushing now.

Down Among the Dead is published by Orbit and is available now. If you’ve been reading this series then I can recommend it highly enough. If you haven’t then my first question is why not? Seek out The Indranan War trilogy and once you’ve devoured that then we’ll talk. For those of you who are up to speed the good news is we don’t have to wait long to find out what happens next. The third, and final, book in The Farian War trilogy, Out Past the Stars, will be with us next month.

[Mary Soon Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book in the second science-fiction trilogy about Hail. Major spoilers ahead.... Hail began the first book of the first trilogy as a princess-turned-gunrunner and now begins this book as an imprisoned Empress. I enjoyed this book less than the preceding volumes. The first third, while Hail is imprisoned, is dark....

Hail is grieving, abused, and manipulated. Her captors repeatedly kill her and bring her back to life, while training her to fight even more viciously than she already could. She has suicidal thoughts and engages in self-harm. Along the way, she finds herself sympathetic to both of her principal captors (Aiz and Mia) and sexually attracted to one of the pair. This might be interpreted as Stockholm syndrome, except that the remainder of the book reads as if the reader, like Hail, should come to like Aiz and Mia. I, however, remained skeptical.

I found myself reading in a more critical mode than I'd been in for the first four books. Rather than accepting improbabilities because I was having fun, they made me cranky. For instance, a race of aliens have been prophesying Hail's arrival for thousands of years, up to and including having built numerous statues of her. I could not reconcile the universe of branching possibilities which this book posits with Hail's birth being foreseen centuries before her parents meet and a particular sperm fuses with a particular ovum to produce her.

Enough of my grumbling. On the plus side, I remain very fond of several of the supporting cast, most notably Emmory, Zin, and Hao, and enjoyed all their appearances.

I may have been in a sour mood, so let's call it three and a half out of five foretold stars, rounded down because I am still somewhat sour.

About my reviews: I try to review every book I read, including those that I don't end up enjoying. The reviews are not scholarly, but just indicate my reaction as a reader, reading being my addiction. I am miserly with 5-star reviews; 4 stars means I liked a book very much; 3 stars means I liked it; 2 stars means I didn't like it (though often the 2-star books are very popular with other readers and/or are by authors whose other work I've loved).

[Tad · Rating 4 out of 5]

An explosion at her embassy killed most of the people Hail Bristol held dearest and left her a prisoner of the Shen. Down Among the Dead by K. B. Wagers picks up immediately after the events that concluded the previous book, There Before the Chaos. The Shen have a job in mind for Hail: they want her to kill the Farian gods. Hail finds herself in the middle of a centuries-long war between the Shen and the Farians, one of Indrana's oldest allies. It appears as if there is no way to sit this one out. Hail has to make a decision and pick a side, and the fate of the universe hinges on her decision.

The Shen, while needing Hail’s cooperation, still put her through tremendous physical and mental torture. Hail questions everything, including her own sanity, while pushing herself beyond her limits. She will need every bit of her intuition, her physical skills and her political acumen if she is to find a solution that doesn’t end with three civilizations in flames. Gunrunner, Empress, and Star of Indrana. Hail will need to be all of these things if she is to make it out alive.

It is a testament to Wagers’ skill as a writer that they have developed such well-rounded and likable characters that you will follow them through just about anything. They really put Hail through the wringer in this one! As difficult as it is to see what Hail goes through, in the back of her mind she is always digesting information, making connections, and forming plans. Wagers also keeps developing characters you’ve met before as well as introducing new and interesting characters. As much as I liked the character of Johar before, I learned to love her even more in this book. It is the human (and alien) interactions and relationships that make these books stand out.

While lacking some of the (literally) explosive pieces of the last novel, Down Among the Dead does not want for action--and includes an Indiana Jones-like scene that had me laughing out loud! At its heart, it is filled with political intrigue and emotional upheaval. The tension increases throughout as events move towards an exciting conclusion. Chess pieces have been moved all over the board to set up what should be an explosive final chapter in The Farian War trilogy. I can’t wait! Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.

[Realms & Robots · Rating 5 out of 5]

Down Among the Dead proves K. B. Wagers’ brilliance as a writer. This was never a doubt in my mind. It’s been a year since I read the first book in The Farian War series and from page one of this second addition to the trilogy, I felt like I was right back in the action, remembering every character, feeling the pain of the conclusion and hoping to see the tough-as-nails protagonist get back to her on her feet. Down Among the Dead goes beyond a typical science fiction space opera to delve into the grief of losing loved ones, the fear of never again returning home, and the responsibility one has to keep evil from overcoming good.

I’m floored at Wagers’ ability to keep a universe and main character interesting after a fifth outing. I haven’t read the first series and that has never been a problem. Details of the past are perfectly sprinkled throughout, giving you an overview of the previous series’ actions while still presenting something new. Hail Bristol is a wonderful protagonist and, with each page, she becomes more layered. This is definitely not a light read, and that’s how it should be. We left her in a dark place and seeing her grow to fulfill her ultimate purpose is inspiring. I loved watching that growth arc and can’t wait to see where Wagers takes us next.

Overall, Down Among the Dead (and the series as a whole) must be read, if only as a masterwork on how to successfully engage in multi-faceted worldbuilding while still presenting well-developed characters. The writing is wonderful and I’m thrilled I was able to experience this second chapter. I can assure you it’ll be a 2020 New Year’s resolution to dive into Wagers’ first trilogy.

NOTE: I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Other reviewers here say the first third of this book describes a torture. They're unquestionably right, altho I hadn't realized so at the time. I think this was because I was morally certain from the first--and eventually a peek ahead confirmed it--that the basis of Hail's pain was a falsehood, and the truth is the sort of thing, as one character says early on, that happens only in novels ... of which, I noted, this is one.

So all I saw was a case of metaphorically vamping 'til ready*, and it took over a dozen chapters of an increasingly boring vamp until the actual plot-melody was ready. And that, my inexplicably faithful review readers, was reader-torture. I thought of deducting only 1 star for it; but being convinced by my peers, that it was indeed torture succeeded by torturer-love, I'm going with 2 off. Not 3, only because everyone's motivations were made utterly clear and made to seem compelling.

And because Wagers has me hooked on the plot.
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* Playing a repeated accompaniment figure, often on a piano, until it's time for the singer to begin singing along. The example sentence in https://www.definitions.net/definitio... suggests this is an obsolete expression in sheet music, a little older than I am ('30s and '40s), but I'm pretty sure the action is still current. E.g., the opening of the finale in A Chorus Line has that vibe.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one really feels like the story takes a beat, and lets everything that has happened since the first book about Hail finally catch up with her, and then dives deep into her trauma. and honestly, I love it.

it's slower than the other books about Hail from KB Wagers, both narratively (Hail spends a lot of the book just in one location, doing the same stuff every day mostly) and in the focus of it just being on Hail, her three fellow captives, and the Shen; rather than the much broader usual cast of all of her BodyGuards and empire officials and friends etc, and it's a well deserved moment, especially since Wagers chooses to actually let Hail be human and address the trauma of essentially having been pulled back to the empire from the wreckage of her ship (and dead body of her lover) to watch her mother die after her sisters were killed and then watch her empire be set ablaze. Lots of trauma to unpack there, and at least some of that finally happens.

I was also deeply impressed with how Wagers managed to take Aiz from a smarmy sonofabitch who I was impatiently waiting for Hail to kill, and actually turn him into someone who I didn't necessarily 'like', but I could appreciate, which for me at least helped me to essentially go along the same journey in my feelings about the Shen that Hail goes through.

[TrixieB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wagers writes GRIPPING adventures. But be prepared. They write characters you love and then kill them off . A lot.

CW: Suicide ideation, depression, death, violence, abuse

This is my 6th Wagers book in just over a month. I dropped the rest of my TBR and scoured every library to get every book they've written.

Adventures in space. MC that's a bi person of colour, and it's just not a big deal. Trans people exist with no odious judgment. Main characters that are gay, in a loving committed relationship. Not killed off! AMAZING.

This is my nth review tonight, (because I'm forever forgetting to note what books I'm reading, then neglecting to mark them as read when I finish), so let's keep it brief.

Great adventures. Rivetting storylines. Complex world-building. Engaging characters.

Read them in order. It matters.

And just be aware that the first 200 pp of this one are hard to read. Harrowing depiction of mental illness, combined with brutal violence.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the middle book in a trilogy! I almost never give those.

However, this book has seen fit to test both us and Hail Bristol thoroughly. I couldn’t put it down until the need for sleep beat me down, making my eyes so blurry I couldn’t see the page. I picked it up again at breakfast and here I am, just last noon, opening the next in the series.

My only complaint about the book might be how often Hail vacillates between believing she is a hero to succumbing to crippling self-doubt. That’s been a pattern with her all along, but it really rears its head here because of the circumstances. Actually, I do her a disservice - she doesn’t believe the publicity, but she does settle her shoulders, strap on her guns and a war face - quite admirably.

There’s a lot to be said for having a healthy state-of-mind and this book shows what it’s like to be inside someone’s head as that frays … and then again as they heal.

Well done, Mx. Wagers, well done.

[Amy (Sun) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warnings suicide ideation, self-harm, pseudo suicide (with resurrection).

This book was... rough to get through, especially in the beginning. Hail's pain is so deep, and it's so intense to watch her go nearly to the brink of madness and suicide only to claw her way back. I legit teared up multiple times.

I will say though that the ending of this one frustrated me, if only because the "cliffhanger" was something super obvious that somehow Hail didn't put together despite the very, very clear signs about it. She's supposed to be so perceptive and it seems awkward to me that she wouldn't have figured that out until it was needed for a cliffhanger.

Ah well... still a great book. I'm both looking forward to the next one and dreading the series being over.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t get me wrong, I loved this book and where it ended up, but man, the first part was just really hard to get through. Hail was grief stricken, continuously tortured, and so psychologically manipulated that she didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t. I found myself just wishing for something to happen so the story could get going and I wouldn’t have to see Hail in such misery. I can believe all of that was somewhat necessary, but I’m not sure it was necessary for me to read it in such detail. Once we got past that, the story had Hail and her crew dealing with aliens at war, possibly fighting Farian gods, a threat of “blood and fire” coming to wipe out the galaxy, and the Star of Indrana at the heart of it all, responsible for saving everyone. The book ended with a huge cliffhanger and I’m ready to read the finale, hoping things end up for the better for everyone.

[Tim Ludy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts with a warning that it includes difficult depictions of grief, suicidal ideation, and self-harm. The warning doesn't include dealing with issues of mental health which is also a major part. The narration is heavy and somewhat disturbing for a surprisingly large portion. The series has not shied away from Hail's grief and PTSD in the past but this takes it to a very different level.

I think knowing what this book is before going in will help. It was really well written and very compelling but the fact that it was such a tone shift from the rest of the series made it pretty jarring.

Beyond that disclaimer, the actual plot is very good and we see some important character growth, especially for Hail. Looking forward to the conclusion.

[TheDigressiveApproach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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Down Among the Dead is not for the faint of heart. I thoroughly enjoyed how we got to expeience the emotional fallout of the actions and events of the previous books.

That's not to say that this one had any less action, but the first third or so was a hard look at the consequences of the previous books.

I felt the middle third could have been done better since there was a sudden slowing of the plot. The ending however was absolutely brilliant!

Just enough fast-paced action and good old cliffhangers to keep me on my seat for the next one!

Overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5 stars

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been enjoying this series but for me this particular book was a more difficult read mainly due to my own dislike of psychological torture type content. The whole “training to fight the gods” part of the book was slow going. It kind of had to be to show the spiral into insanity but I found the whole repeated refusal to accept certain things, was frustrating. I also struggled with the fact that the Shen powers can apparently be adopted by anyone though the concept of being able to grab and use energy is interesting. The whole story was well written and if you are someone that likes the screw with your mind type of psychological thriller you will probably enjoy this part of the overall storyline more than I did.