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Lost Solace #2
Chasing Solace
Opal’s first Lost Ship was horrifying. The second will test her limits.
The legendary Lost Ships exist, and they harbour nightmarish horrors. Opal knows. She barely survived her first encounter with one.
Despite escaping, she failed to find what she was looking for: her lost sister. Now
Opal must board a second derelict Lost Ship to seek answers, and this one’s even more monstrous, a sickening place of death and decay.
Only the voice of Athene – Opal’s AI companion – can guide her through the darkness. But can a human and an AI ever truly trust each other?
Note: this work is 100% human-created, crafted with love by the author. No generative AI has been used in the writing or editing.
The legendary Lost Ships exist, and they harbour nightmarish horrors. Opal knows. She barely survived her first encounter with one.
Despite escaping, she failed to find what she was looking for: her lost sister. Now
Opal must board a second derelict Lost Ship to seek answers, and this one’s even more monstrous, a sickening place of death and decay.
Only the voice of Athene – Opal’s AI companion – can guide her through the darkness. But can a human and an AI ever truly trust each other?
Note: this work is 100% human-created, crafted with love by the author. No generative AI has been used in the writing or editing.
- GenresScience Fiction
375 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2019
17 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Karl Drinkwater
28 books128 followersKarl Drinkwater is an author with a silly name and a thousand-mile stare. He writes dystopian space opera, dark suspense and diverse social fiction. If you want compelling stories and characters worth caring about, then you’re in the right place. Welcome!
Karl lives in Scotland and owns two kilts. He has degrees in librarianship, literature and classics, but also studied astronomy and philosophy. Dolly the cat helps him finish books by sleeping on his lap so he can’t leave the desk. When he isn’t writing he loves music, nature, games and vegan cake.
Go to karldrinkwater.uk to view all his books grouped by genre.
As well as crafting his own fictional worlds, Karl has supported other writers for years with his creative writing workshops, editorial services, articles on writing and publishing, and mentoring of new authors. He’s also judged writing competitions such as the international Bram Stoker Awards, which act as a snapshot of quality contemporary fiction.
DON’T MISS OUT!
Enter your email at karldrinkwater.substack.com to be notified about his new books. Fans mean a lot to him, and replies to the newsletter go straight to his inbox, where every email is read. There is also an option for paid subscribers to support his work: in exchange you receive additional posts and complimentary books.
PRAISE FOR KARL’S WORK
“Drinkwater creates fantastically believable characters.” —On The Shelf Reviews
“Each book remains in my mind for a long time after. Anything he writes is a must-read.” —Pink Quill Books
“Karl Drinkwater has the skill of making it near impossible to stop reading. Expect late nights. Simply outstanding.” —Jera’s Jamboree
“An intelligent and empathetic writer who has a clear understanding of the world around him and the truly horrific experiences life can bring. A literary gem.” —Cooking The Books
“Drinkwater is a dab hand at creating an air of dread.” —Altered Instinct
“A gifted writer. Each book brings its own uniqueness to the table, and a table Drinkwater sets is one I will visit every time." —Scintilla
Karl lives in Scotland and owns two kilts. He has degrees in librarianship, literature and classics, but also studied astronomy and philosophy. Dolly the cat helps him finish books by sleeping on his lap so he can’t leave the desk. When he isn’t writing he loves music, nature, games and vegan cake.
Go to karldrinkwater.uk to view all his books grouped by genre.
As well as crafting his own fictional worlds, Karl has supported other writers for years with his creative writing workshops, editorial services, articles on writing and publishing, and mentoring of new authors. He’s also judged writing competitions such as the international Bram Stoker Awards, which act as a snapshot of quality contemporary fiction.
DON’T MISS OUT!
Enter your email at karldrinkwater.substack.com to be notified about his new books. Fans mean a lot to him, and replies to the newsletter go straight to his inbox, where every email is read. There is also an option for paid subscribers to support his work: in exchange you receive additional posts and complimentary books.
PRAISE FOR KARL’S WORK
“Drinkwater creates fantastically believable characters.” —On The Shelf Reviews
“Each book remains in my mind for a long time after. Anything he writes is a must-read.” —Pink Quill Books
“Karl Drinkwater has the skill of making it near impossible to stop reading. Expect late nights. Simply outstanding.” —Jera’s Jamboree
“An intelligent and empathetic writer who has a clear understanding of the world around him and the truly horrific experiences life can bring. A literary gem.” —Cooking The Books
“Drinkwater is a dab hand at creating an air of dread.” —Altered Instinct
“A gifted writer. Each book brings its own uniqueness to the table, and a table Drinkwater sets is one I will visit every time." —Scintilla
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 12, 2019
Having already established the dynamic relationship between Opal and Athene in the first book, Drinkwater loses no time diving straight into the action with the sequel. Chasing Solace follows Opal and the AI / ship as they continue their search for Opal’s missing sister, leading them to the second lost ship that Athene must board and brave.
chasing solaceHaving already covered much of this ground in the first book, Drinkwater wisely takes what the reader might expect and shifts it on its head, upping the stakes while introducing new elements we haven’t yet encountered. First off, the lost ship in this book has been taken to the next level, with some serious creep factors that made for a fascinating and eerie setting. This was one of my favorite parts of the original book, and seeing Drinkwater continue to make the setting and lost ship almost a character unto itself continues to add dimensions to this series you don’t often find in sci-fi.
Without going into spoilers, my favorite part of this book was the change in relationship between Opal and Athene, with conflict hitting in multiple and unexpected layers. A new character of sorts is introduced, with its own unique arc, which was surprisingly gut-wrenching, but that relationship between Opal and AI is what makes this series so unique.
Aggressive action, elements of horror, and some well earned twists and turns elevate this sequel from what could have been a mid-book slump. And for those hard-core sci-fi lovers, there are plenty of experimental yet scientifically grounded ideas floating throughout this book. Drinkwater’s stretching his abilities here but proving he’s got the chops to do it. Looking forward to seeing how this series concludes.
chasing solaceHaving already covered much of this ground in the first book, Drinkwater wisely takes what the reader might expect and shifts it on its head, upping the stakes while introducing new elements we haven’t yet encountered. First off, the lost ship in this book has been taken to the next level, with some serious creep factors that made for a fascinating and eerie setting. This was one of my favorite parts of the original book, and seeing Drinkwater continue to make the setting and lost ship almost a character unto itself continues to add dimensions to this series you don’t often find in sci-fi.
Without going into spoilers, my favorite part of this book was the change in relationship between Opal and Athene, with conflict hitting in multiple and unexpected layers. A new character of sorts is introduced, with its own unique arc, which was surprisingly gut-wrenching, but that relationship between Opal and AI is what makes this series so unique.
Aggressive action, elements of horror, and some well earned twists and turns elevate this sequel from what could have been a mid-book slump. And for those hard-core sci-fi lovers, there are plenty of experimental yet scientifically grounded ideas floating throughout this book. Drinkwater’s stretching his abilities here but proving he’s got the chops to do it. Looking forward to seeing how this series concludes.
August 9, 2019
https://www.jerasjamboree.co.uk/scien...
Stopping off for supplies before journeying on to find the Lost Ship, not only Opal’s willingness to face adversity but her ethics and morals are once again very clear. In Chasing Solace we also get to see her vulnerabilities and this made me feel very protective of her – something I hadn’t felt in Lost Solace.
As a response to their experiences on the previous Lost Ship, Athene has upgraded and modified and I was looking forward to seeing her in action. I wasn’t disappointed! Athene’s ‘humanity’ in her communications with Opal show a gentler side which only made me love her more (I never thought I would say that about an AI …).
I’ve loved how their characters have developed, their vulnerabilities making them even more of an unstoppable force that you certainly wouldn’t want to be up against. Formidable.
Once again, the challenges and action move at a fabulous pace, raising blood pressure and adrenalin! The factory caverns on this Lost Ship are (in my opinion) much more deadly and horrific than before. So descriptive I could feel my stomach churning at times … love it!
Opal’s experiences onboard are nebulous and the purpose they move us towards? Mind blowing. Totally. I LOVED the Null zone and the Oracle. I’m in awe of the imagination needed to create this.
Karl Drinkwater has the skill of leaving us on a cliffhanger at the end of chapters making it near impossible to stop reading. Expect late nights and longer reading sessions. And if the story affects you the way it has me, expect your dreams to take place in deep space on a Lost Ship with unknown adversaries.
Simply outstanding. 5* of awesomeness.
Stopping off for supplies before journeying on to find the Lost Ship, not only Opal’s willingness to face adversity but her ethics and morals are once again very clear. In Chasing Solace we also get to see her vulnerabilities and this made me feel very protective of her – something I hadn’t felt in Lost Solace.
As a response to their experiences on the previous Lost Ship, Athene has upgraded and modified and I was looking forward to seeing her in action. I wasn’t disappointed! Athene’s ‘humanity’ in her communications with Opal show a gentler side which only made me love her more (I never thought I would say that about an AI …).
I’ve loved how their characters have developed, their vulnerabilities making them even more of an unstoppable force that you certainly wouldn’t want to be up against. Formidable.
Once again, the challenges and action move at a fabulous pace, raising blood pressure and adrenalin! The factory caverns on this Lost Ship are (in my opinion) much more deadly and horrific than before. So descriptive I could feel my stomach churning at times … love it!
Opal’s experiences onboard are nebulous and the purpose they move us towards? Mind blowing. Totally. I LOVED the Null zone and the Oracle. I’m in awe of the imagination needed to create this.
Karl Drinkwater has the skill of leaving us on a cliffhanger at the end of chapters making it near impossible to stop reading. Expect late nights and longer reading sessions. And if the story affects you the way it has me, expect your dreams to take place in deep space on a Lost Ship with unknown adversaries.
Simply outstanding. 5* of awesomeness.
February 24, 2020
https://thecaffeinatedreader.com/2020...
Opal is still hunting for her sister, there are other lost ships out that and thanks to Athen, previously known as Clarissa, she has help in hunting them down.
The banter and bond between Opal and Athene have only grown, and I loved their banter and conversations. Seriously the highlight of the book for me is their relationship and well the scary vibes that is the lost ship itself.
Also, Opal has a teeny ‘problem’ that doesn’t involve the monsters on the lost ship, there’s an assassin after her. How did they find her, and who are they working for? Read to find out!
This lost ship is scarier than the first! We have more monsters/creatures, and though there are more ‘faces’ to them, it doesn’t make it any less terrifying nor did it make me anticipate any less, haha. I was on the edge of my seat as I read this! If you all ever glance at my twitter, I was screeching about it as I read it.
There is more technical jargon in this second book, and though it’s needed there were times my tiny nonscience brain had to go back and clarify, still I really enjoyed that so much research and effort went into this and I feel like it all just enhanced the experience.
Opal is still one of my favorite protagonists ever and this is still up there on a level with Metro 2033 as far as the fear and monsters go in the SciFi horror world.
4.5 Cups of coffee from me, and it’s going on my faves list. Thank you to Anne and the Author for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review as part of the tour.
Opal is still hunting for her sister, there are other lost ships out that and thanks to Athen, previously known as Clarissa, she has help in hunting them down.
The banter and bond between Opal and Athene have only grown, and I loved their banter and conversations. Seriously the highlight of the book for me is their relationship and well the scary vibes that is the lost ship itself.
Also, Opal has a teeny ‘problem’ that doesn’t involve the monsters on the lost ship, there’s an assassin after her. How did they find her, and who are they working for? Read to find out!
This lost ship is scarier than the first! We have more monsters/creatures, and though there are more ‘faces’ to them, it doesn’t make it any less terrifying nor did it make me anticipate any less, haha. I was on the edge of my seat as I read this! If you all ever glance at my twitter, I was screeching about it as I read it.
There is more technical jargon in this second book, and though it’s needed there were times my tiny nonscience brain had to go back and clarify, still I really enjoyed that so much research and effort went into this and I feel like it all just enhanced the experience.
Opal is still one of my favorite protagonists ever and this is still up there on a level with Metro 2033 as far as the fear and monsters go in the SciFi horror world.
4.5 Cups of coffee from me, and it’s going on my faves list. Thank you to Anne and the Author for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review as part of the tour.
July 29, 2019
In the first book in this series, Lost Solace, Karl Drinkwater put his main character, Opal, through hell on what appeared to be, but wasn't, a space liner, along with developing her relationship with her ship's AI. Chasing Solace takes the next step, with an evolved AI (now called Athene) and Opal taking on another 'lost ship', more convinced than ever that this is the way to find Opal's missing sister, Clarissa.
As with the previous book there is only one significant human character in Opal. (In fact only one other human features at all, and then relatively briefly.) There's a long tradition of single-handed plays working well, but there the character is, effectively, in conversation with the audience. Here we don't get the benefit of being talked to, but Opal can, and does have conversations with Athene, or (when she can't contact the ship) with a limited version of Athene built into her suit.
Having the AIs to converse with does give us the opportunity for dialogue, but there is a lot of the book that is driven by action, as Opal takes on a second lost ship. Where the first appeared to be a liner, this is at first sight a 'gigatoir', a massive space-based abattoir - surely the most perfect version of an Alien-style scenario, where the whole ship is in effect the monster. Here, though, as was the case in the previous book, Drinkwater makes sure that things are rarely what they seem.
Later in the book we get an experience that reminded me of the end of the movie 2001, A Space Odyssey, which I got rather lost reading it, but it all comes together eventually. I wasn't entirely happy with the ending of the first book, as it was so obviously a 'to be continued.' In Chasing Solace, Drinkwater manages to provide an ending that is satisfying in itself while clearly leaving paths open for a sequel.
I really enjoyed the book. There is still a degree of limitation imposed by the lack of human interaction, but Drinkwater makes the best of the opportunity for Opal to interact with the AIs etc. One thing I found interesting was that a couple of chapters were written from the viewpoint of Athene, and I found those more engaging than most of the 'Opal versus the lost ship' chapters, where the obstacles could seem so arbitrary that it was hard to be too committed to the process. I hope we get to see more from Athene's viewpoint in the future - perhaps a book with Athene as the main character?
The universe that Drinkwater has created here has many opportunities to explore some really interesting new directions. I hope that the series will continue and will take up these opportunities.
As with the previous book there is only one significant human character in Opal. (In fact only one other human features at all, and then relatively briefly.) There's a long tradition of single-handed plays working well, but there the character is, effectively, in conversation with the audience. Here we don't get the benefit of being talked to, but Opal can, and does have conversations with Athene, or (when she can't contact the ship) with a limited version of Athene built into her suit.
Having the AIs to converse with does give us the opportunity for dialogue, but there is a lot of the book that is driven by action, as Opal takes on a second lost ship. Where the first appeared to be a liner, this is at first sight a 'gigatoir', a massive space-based abattoir - surely the most perfect version of an Alien-style scenario, where the whole ship is in effect the monster. Here, though, as was the case in the previous book, Drinkwater makes sure that things are rarely what they seem.
Later in the book we get an experience that reminded me of the end of the movie 2001, A Space Odyssey, which I got rather lost reading it, but it all comes together eventually. I wasn't entirely happy with the ending of the first book, as it was so obviously a 'to be continued.' In Chasing Solace, Drinkwater manages to provide an ending that is satisfying in itself while clearly leaving paths open for a sequel.
I really enjoyed the book. There is still a degree of limitation imposed by the lack of human interaction, but Drinkwater makes the best of the opportunity for Opal to interact with the AIs etc. One thing I found interesting was that a couple of chapters were written from the viewpoint of Athene, and I found those more engaging than most of the 'Opal versus the lost ship' chapters, where the obstacles could seem so arbitrary that it was hard to be too committed to the process. I hope we get to see more from Athene's viewpoint in the future - perhaps a book with Athene as the main character?
The universe that Drinkwater has created here has many opportunities to explore some really interesting new directions. I hope that the series will continue and will take up these opportunities.
September 16, 2019
In this second Lost Solace book, Opal must find and board a second Lost Ship to continue the search for her sister Clarissa. This time the ship is even worse than the last one, reeking of rot and death, and she has an assassin on her tail, who is working with another powerful AI. But with the help of her AI friend Athene, her amazing armored suit, and plenty of grit and determination, she’ll do whatever she has to do to complete the mission to save her little sister. I loved the story very much, but it sort of got bogged down a bit when Opal is traveling in the place she is taken to by the Oracles. It was a little confusing, but once that bit was done, I was happy with the conclusion.
August 6, 2019
A compelling, suspenseful story of survival and quest.
The author writes horror, and this does have some horror aspects - most of the book is the protagonist making her way through a deserted spaceship that's an abbatoir, with all of the disgusting fluids, sinister tools, and reminders of industrial-scale suffering that implies. Plus monsters trying to eat her face.
I'm not a horror reader at all, but to me, this didn't end up being offputting. It was mitigated by the fact that the protagonist was sealed away from all the gunk in an environment suit, and that she'd survived a similar trip in the previous book and looked certain to survive this one. There was still plenty of suspense and action, well paced.
The character had a clear goal (find her way to her missing sister), and worked steadily and bravely towards it, while her resources, weapons, and tools were gradually used up or lost. The chapter numbering is in reverse order, which provided a kind of countdown that, for me, helped to give a sense of momentum and urgency.
Importantly, the protagonist isn't without someone to talk to: the AI from her ship. This gives another layer of relationship to the story, and helps us come to know the protagonist better, while still leaving her battling physically alone.
There are, near the end, some genuinely alien-seeming aliens in a genuinely alien-feeling setting, which is hard to do and, here, is well done.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one without having read the first in the series; there's no real recap or backstory feed, and a lot of it will make no sense if you start here. But if you enjoyed the first book, for my money this is even better, and the first one was already good.
Disclaimer: The author gave me a review copy (and no other inducement) because I'd reviewed the first book. I don't normally do reviews by author request, but in this case I'd enjoyed Book 1, so I made an exception - and I didn't regret it.
The author writes horror, and this does have some horror aspects - most of the book is the protagonist making her way through a deserted spaceship that's an abbatoir, with all of the disgusting fluids, sinister tools, and reminders of industrial-scale suffering that implies. Plus monsters trying to eat her face.
I'm not a horror reader at all, but to me, this didn't end up being offputting. It was mitigated by the fact that the protagonist was sealed away from all the gunk in an environment suit, and that she'd survived a similar trip in the previous book and looked certain to survive this one. There was still plenty of suspense and action, well paced.
The character had a clear goal (find her way to her missing sister), and worked steadily and bravely towards it, while her resources, weapons, and tools were gradually used up or lost. The chapter numbering is in reverse order, which provided a kind of countdown that, for me, helped to give a sense of momentum and urgency.
Importantly, the protagonist isn't without someone to talk to: the AI from her ship. This gives another layer of relationship to the story, and helps us come to know the protagonist better, while still leaving her battling physically alone.
There are, near the end, some genuinely alien-seeming aliens in a genuinely alien-feeling setting, which is hard to do and, here, is well done.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one without having read the first in the series; there's no real recap or backstory feed, and a lot of it will make no sense if you start here. But if you enjoyed the first book, for my money this is even better, and the first one was already good.
Disclaimer: The author gave me a review copy (and no other inducement) because I'd reviewed the first book. I don't normally do reviews by author request, but in this case I'd enjoyed Book 1, so I made an exception - and I didn't regret it.
October 10, 2019
#2 in the Solace series by Karl Drinkwater. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I feel you are missing out if you haven’t read Lost Solace….
This starts with Opal and Athene (the AI on board the ship, previously called Clarissa, but she changed her own name to Athene…a warrior and wise) they are about to infiltrate a base on Exidris 3 to steal or fabricate supplies.
It seems relatively isolated, so while waiting for Athene to fabricate items, she has a nosy around the security feeds….what she finds is surgery being performed on people by robotic surgeons. These subjects are those who failed the purity tests and they find out that nobody leaves the facility…..Opal wants to save them…..Can she?
When their mission is complete, they are finally on their journey to find the second Lost ship….still searching for Opal’s sister Clarissa.
They find the ship and Opal gets suited up and off she goes….and things get horrific.
The ship is a food production ship, they grow Chattel….animals for food, with less bone and more meat and something else is roaming the dark. When Opal finds something sticky and web like, my heart skipped at beat….not spiders!!!
No, not spiders exactly, but a mix of insect, arachnid and crustacean….a thing of nightmares..
There’s also an assassin. It’s never easy is it? Then she meets the Oracles!!
This is non-stop action, with a strong Ripley-esq female character and her relationship with the AI Athene, a real friendship and they rely on each other. Gruesome, fun and emotional too. Will Opal find Clarissa? Will she be what she expects? …..
Brilliantly immersive and entertaining. I can’t wait for #3 in the series.
Thank you to Karl Drinkwater for the opportunity to read this for free.This is my honest and unbiased review.
This starts with Opal and Athene (the AI on board the ship, previously called Clarissa, but she changed her own name to Athene…a warrior and wise) they are about to infiltrate a base on Exidris 3 to steal or fabricate supplies.
It seems relatively isolated, so while waiting for Athene to fabricate items, she has a nosy around the security feeds….what she finds is surgery being performed on people by robotic surgeons. These subjects are those who failed the purity tests and they find out that nobody leaves the facility…..Opal wants to save them…..Can she?
When their mission is complete, they are finally on their journey to find the second Lost ship….still searching for Opal’s sister Clarissa.
They find the ship and Opal gets suited up and off she goes….and things get horrific.
The ship is a food production ship, they grow Chattel….animals for food, with less bone and more meat and something else is roaming the dark. When Opal finds something sticky and web like, my heart skipped at beat….not spiders!!!
No, not spiders exactly, but a mix of insect, arachnid and crustacean….a thing of nightmares..
There’s also an assassin. It’s never easy is it? Then she meets the Oracles!!
This is non-stop action, with a strong Ripley-esq female character and her relationship with the AI Athene, a real friendship and they rely on each other. Gruesome, fun and emotional too. Will Opal find Clarissa? Will she be what she expects? …..
Brilliantly immersive and entertaining. I can’t wait for #3 in the series.
Thank you to Karl Drinkwater for the opportunity to read this for free.This is my honest and unbiased review.
April 27, 2019
I kind of wanted to be the first one to review this, but missed the boat on that, work eh!
I enjoyed this book even more than the first, It clocks in at 314 pages, whereas Lost Solace was around 273. Lost Solace left me wanting to see more of the world Opal inhabits, and Chasing Solace delivered in spades. Some question were answered, and some more were raised, but despite that the book has a satisfying conclusion.
Opal is on the run from the UFS still, aided by her sidekick A.I., Athene, who you will remember as Clarissa from book one. Once again, they encounter a lost ship, but in no way does it feel like a rehash of book one, there are new eldritch horrors to face, and new enemies to face in combat. There is plenty of action to be had, and more touching moments between Opal and Athene. The interactions between Opal and Athene are absolutely the highlight of this series, trying to humanize an artificial intelligence is no easy task, but once again, Drinkwater delivers.
The prose again, is easy to read, as well as relatively short chapters that are easily digestible. And of course, the descending chapter numbers are back! There are parts that are poetic, fast-paced, hilarious, and heart-felt, and one scene in particular that I dare say, is mythological? Let's just say I hope that Athene finally gets the payoff of kicking a digital avatar in his unmentionables in book 3. >.o
All in all, a fantastic read, and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for the series!
I enjoyed this book even more than the first, It clocks in at 314 pages, whereas Lost Solace was around 273. Lost Solace left me wanting to see more of the world Opal inhabits, and Chasing Solace delivered in spades. Some question were answered, and some more were raised, but despite that the book has a satisfying conclusion.
Opal is on the run from the UFS still, aided by her sidekick A.I., Athene, who you will remember as Clarissa from book one. Once again, they encounter a lost ship, but in no way does it feel like a rehash of book one, there are new eldritch horrors to face, and new enemies to face in combat. There is plenty of action to be had, and more touching moments between Opal and Athene. The interactions between Opal and Athene are absolutely the highlight of this series, trying to humanize an artificial intelligence is no easy task, but once again, Drinkwater delivers.
The prose again, is easy to read, as well as relatively short chapters that are easily digestible. And of course, the descending chapter numbers are back! There are parts that are poetic, fast-paced, hilarious, and heart-felt, and one scene in particular that I dare say, is mythological? Let's just say I hope that Athene finally gets the payoff of kicking a digital avatar in his unmentionables in book 3. >.o
All in all, a fantastic read, and I look forward to seeing what the future has in store for the series!
June 21, 2019
I’m not a particularly fast reader and so I tend to be careful in selecting the next read to commit to. I‘m also the sort of reader who reads and rereads and thinks and ponders along the way, generally giving quite a bit of thought to what I’m exploring. So, coming to the end of Chasing Solace is not unlike saying goodbye to a new friend you got to know intensely well, in a very short time, only to then have to see them to the airport, realizing you’ll likely never to see them again.
Sappy drivel? Perhaps. But Chasing Solace—along with its prequel Lost Solace—was one of the most enjoyable novels I’ve ever read. Drinkwater is a master on so many fronts: his narrative ability is exceptional, his prose is extraordinarily deep and poignant and his ability to make you really care about the protagonist and her unusual best friend is magical! Far more than just another beautifully written sci-fi novel, he brings to life his characters in ways I’m still marveling over. Opal and Athene will live forever in my memory as two of the greatest characters I’ve ever come across.
Pacing and tension are just superb as well. The Lost Ships are one of the creepiest settings I’ve ever come across and I have a hard time with the fact that I won’t be able to follow Opal thru the dark, cold, green-flecked corridors any more. Ah well... Really great, great stuff!
Sappy drivel? Perhaps. But Chasing Solace—along with its prequel Lost Solace—was one of the most enjoyable novels I’ve ever read. Drinkwater is a master on so many fronts: his narrative ability is exceptional, his prose is extraordinarily deep and poignant and his ability to make you really care about the protagonist and her unusual best friend is magical! Far more than just another beautifully written sci-fi novel, he brings to life his characters in ways I’m still marveling over. Opal and Athene will live forever in my memory as two of the greatest characters I’ve ever come across.
Pacing and tension are just superb as well. The Lost Ships are one of the creepiest settings I’ve ever come across and I have a hard time with the fact that I won’t be able to follow Opal thru the dark, cold, green-flecked corridors any more. Ah well... Really great, great stuff!
July 24, 2019
I've been dying to read this book ever since I knew Karl Drinkwater was writing the sequel to Lost Solace, and I'm so glad I finally got the chance!
This book surpassed all my expectations - Opal is back, feistier than ever, the AI has evolved into a sentient being called Athene, and it's non-stop action for two-thirds of the book as Opal continues her search for her sister.
The tension begins on the first page, and carries on all the way through almost to the end. There's a new lost ship, and it's even scarier than the first one, with a nightmarish layout of an abandoned abattoir inhabited by creatures only Drinkwater's mind could come up with! I couldn't put the book down, I had to find out what happened next as Opal makes her way through the spaceship, trailed by...well, you'll have to read it to find out!
I love how the author gives his AI personality and characteristics that you can relate to - even the AI in Opal's spacesuit grows on you, leading to a heart-wrenching scene at the end. While Athene fights her own battle with another AI, where the author gives free rein to his imagination.
There are some incredible scenes in this book, some that will keep you on the edge of your seat, others that will take your breath away with the intricate detail and beauty of the narrative. Another great read from Karl Drinkwater that I highly recommend!
This book surpassed all my expectations - Opal is back, feistier than ever, the AI has evolved into a sentient being called Athene, and it's non-stop action for two-thirds of the book as Opal continues her search for her sister.
The tension begins on the first page, and carries on all the way through almost to the end. There's a new lost ship, and it's even scarier than the first one, with a nightmarish layout of an abandoned abattoir inhabited by creatures only Drinkwater's mind could come up with! I couldn't put the book down, I had to find out what happened next as Opal makes her way through the spaceship, trailed by...well, you'll have to read it to find out!
I love how the author gives his AI personality and characteristics that you can relate to - even the AI in Opal's spacesuit grows on you, leading to a heart-wrenching scene at the end. While Athene fights her own battle with another AI, where the author gives free rein to his imagination.
There are some incredible scenes in this book, some that will keep you on the edge of your seat, others that will take your breath away with the intricate detail and beauty of the narrative. Another great read from Karl Drinkwater that I highly recommend!
December 17, 2019
Ballbuster Opal returns with an exceptional AI companion in a dramatic space horror sequel.
Best Read
When you want to transport yourself to another galaxy 🌌
My Thoughts on the Book
More drama, more space fights, more internal struggles and the horror ante is increased.
Once again, kickass heroine Opal is about to board a Lost Ship, where any manner of horrors and danger await her. But still on the search for her sister, she is determined to carry out her mission. Luckily, she has her trustworthy AI companion, Clarissa has elevated to a higher being known as Athene. And Athene will do anything to keep the reckless Opal safe.
Again, the most wonderful part of the novel is the friendship between Opal and Athene. There are some truly devastating and emotional scenes between the two characters.
But don’t be fooled by that, there is grotesque, terrifying horror and a couple of claustrophobic scenes that made my skin crawl.
There is a sense of dread and of horrifying secrets from the get go. The action builds steadily, poor Opal must be absolutely wrecked! But she’s feisty, resourceful and very much human.
I won’t reveal much more, just to say Opal must battle internal and external demons to survive this action packed sequel.
Chasing Solace is the perfect sequel to Lost Solace, building on companionship, horror and the search for Opal’s sister.
Best Read
When you want to transport yourself to another galaxy 🌌
My Thoughts on the Book
More drama, more space fights, more internal struggles and the horror ante is increased.
Once again, kickass heroine Opal is about to board a Lost Ship, where any manner of horrors and danger await her. But still on the search for her sister, she is determined to carry out her mission. Luckily, she has her trustworthy AI companion, Clarissa has elevated to a higher being known as Athene. And Athene will do anything to keep the reckless Opal safe.
Again, the most wonderful part of the novel is the friendship between Opal and Athene. There are some truly devastating and emotional scenes between the two characters.
But don’t be fooled by that, there is grotesque, terrifying horror and a couple of claustrophobic scenes that made my skin crawl.
There is a sense of dread and of horrifying secrets from the get go. The action builds steadily, poor Opal must be absolutely wrecked! But she’s feisty, resourceful and very much human.
I won’t reveal much more, just to say Opal must battle internal and external demons to survive this action packed sequel.
Chasing Solace is the perfect sequel to Lost Solace, building on companionship, horror and the search for Opal’s sister.
May 7, 2019
Excellent sequel. I found this book was much more a horror and supernatural genre than the first book (Lost Solace). I'd already read the first book when it came out but decided to re-read it again before I started on Chasing Solace. There's a bit of a shift in genre with the second book.
I suppose I'm a glutton for punishment since I don't really enjoy horror and lean toward hard science fiction. It's just that Karl Drinkwater is such a master writer that I basically like everything he produces. His books, Cold Fusion 2000 and 2000 Tunes - loved them. Both are basically about love and growing up and have nothing to do with sci-fi. I wish he'd take on more projects like these.
As in the first book, Chasing Solace is a character driven story with a single protagonist and a couple Artificial Intelligent partners. Non stop action, but the interaction between the main character Opal and the A.I. is priceless and is the centerpiece of this book and also Lost Solace. It's so intimate and off-times funny. Most sci-fi books seem to have so many characters I loose track of who's who, but to pull off a story with a single character, and keep it so interesting throughout is a difficult task.
The ending supports another book in the series, but sums up nicely if this is the final chapter.
I suppose I'm a glutton for punishment since I don't really enjoy horror and lean toward hard science fiction. It's just that Karl Drinkwater is such a master writer that I basically like everything he produces. His books, Cold Fusion 2000 and 2000 Tunes - loved them. Both are basically about love and growing up and have nothing to do with sci-fi. I wish he'd take on more projects like these.
As in the first book, Chasing Solace is a character driven story with a single protagonist and a couple Artificial Intelligent partners. Non stop action, but the interaction between the main character Opal and the A.I. is priceless and is the centerpiece of this book and also Lost Solace. It's so intimate and off-times funny. Most sci-fi books seem to have so many characters I loose track of who's who, but to pull off a story with a single character, and keep it so interesting throughout is a difficult task.
The ending supports another book in the series, but sums up nicely if this is the final chapter.
April 17, 2019
Chasing Solace is the follow up to Lost Solace and I couldn't wait to get my mitts on it. What a fabulous read. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Opal again and her AI spaceship, Clarissa. I would recommend reading Lost Solace before this book, and if you enjoyed it you are in for a real treat.
Chasing Solace once again revolves around Opal, a young woman who is alone in Space and who is searching for her sister among the Lost Ships. This is at the heart of the story. The close bond that they shared and that Opal will do anything to get her back, safe and well.
Of course, you have all the usual Sci-Fi speak and terminology, which makes this book such an evocative and exciting read. But, for me, this is very much a character driven novel, with Opal's voice at its core.
There are also beautiful and funny scenes between Opal and Clarissa, the AI spaceship, all set in the vast expanse of Space. You really get a sense of their remoteness and that they depend upon each other. These scenes are beautifully written.
Chasing Solace is an adventure story about a lost sister. It's full of action, pathos and human emotion. It's also stunning and I loved it!
Chasing Solace once again revolves around Opal, a young woman who is alone in Space and who is searching for her sister among the Lost Ships. This is at the heart of the story. The close bond that they shared and that Opal will do anything to get her back, safe and well.
Of course, you have all the usual Sci-Fi speak and terminology, which makes this book such an evocative and exciting read. But, for me, this is very much a character driven novel, with Opal's voice at its core.
There are also beautiful and funny scenes between Opal and Clarissa, the AI spaceship, all set in the vast expanse of Space. You really get a sense of their remoteness and that they depend upon each other. These scenes are beautifully written.
Chasing Solace is an adventure story about a lost sister. It's full of action, pathos and human emotion. It's also stunning and I loved it!
March 23, 2020
I really loved Chasing Solace. The blend of scifi and horror made my bookish heart happy. Karl Drinkwater is able to turn the expected into the unexpected. He manages to take concepts I thought were done already and make them super new.
There is a very creepy atmosphere in this novel. This is a very character driven novel. Opal is the main voice and I really enjoyed AI too. I feel as though Karl Drinkwater is talented when it comes to bringing characters to life and making them feel real. I love novels like that and that fact alone made me want to give Chasing Solace five stars.
I could not put this book down. This is such a fantastic scifi/horror novel with fantastic characters and a plot that surpassed my expectations. An easy five stars to give. Highly recommended!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
There is a very creepy atmosphere in this novel. This is a very character driven novel. Opal is the main voice and I really enjoyed AI too. I feel as though Karl Drinkwater is talented when it comes to bringing characters to life and making them feel real. I love novels like that and that fact alone made me want to give Chasing Solace five stars.
I could not put this book down. This is such a fantastic scifi/horror novel with fantastic characters and a plot that surpassed my expectations. An easy five stars to give. Highly recommended!
Rating:
5/5☆
*I received a free copy of this book from Random Things Tours in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
May 1, 2019
The sequel to lost solace puts us back with Opal and her AI in the quest to find her sister Clarissa. Another lost ship and another horrifying encounter with the inhabitants and those pursuing Opal.
The interactions between Opal and her AI are the highlight once again. Funny and humanising - humour is used again with great effect to break up the horror.
If you liked Lost Solace then this is a great addition to the series. Whereas the first book reminded me of Alien and Event Horizon, Chasing Solace reminded me more of 2001 and Interstellar if they were written by Stephen King.
Chasing Solace fleshes out the universe nicely and adds other social context. Even without the horror elements this would be a great read for any sci-fi fan
The interactions between Opal and her AI are the highlight once again. Funny and humanising - humour is used again with great effect to break up the horror.
If you liked Lost Solace then this is a great addition to the series. Whereas the first book reminded me of Alien and Event Horizon, Chasing Solace reminded me more of 2001 and Interstellar if they were written by Stephen King.
Chasing Solace fleshes out the universe nicely and adds other social context. Even without the horror elements this would be a great read for any sci-fi fan
Read
June 13, 2019A well written sequel to the imaginitave lost solace. Highly reccomend this book.
March 2, 2020
Excellent follow-up to Lost Solace.
February 21, 2020
Review to come
October 6, 2019
This sequel to Lost Solace picks up where the horror of the first book left off. Lead character Opal is hunting for her sister, lost in the universe - and that means trying to find answers in the Lost Ships, strangely monstrous vessels that seem like haunted houses in space.
The first book had plenty of horror, this book layers on the grotesque, for the ship she has to explore this time is a space abattoir, slicing up giant pieces of meat for the galaxy's consumption.
The channels of the ship run red as she makes her way through the charnel house with only her artificial intelligence vessel as a companion - until she comes face to face with her equal, an assassin with an AI ship of her own.
One by one, all of Opal's assets are stripped away - leaving her trying to survive alone in the most dangerous of environments.
I enjoyed this - though it took a little while to get to the literal meat of the story. I slightly preferred book one, whose ship was filled with a little more of the unexpected, but this is still a solid piece of sci-fi horror.
I compared the first book to the movie Event Horizon - and that holds even more so here. I look forward to whatever horrors await in future.
The first book had plenty of horror, this book layers on the grotesque, for the ship she has to explore this time is a space abattoir, slicing up giant pieces of meat for the galaxy's consumption.
The channels of the ship run red as she makes her way through the charnel house with only her artificial intelligence vessel as a companion - until she comes face to face with her equal, an assassin with an AI ship of her own.
One by one, all of Opal's assets are stripped away - leaving her trying to survive alone in the most dangerous of environments.
I enjoyed this - though it took a little while to get to the literal meat of the story. I slightly preferred book one, whose ship was filled with a little more of the unexpected, but this is still a solid piece of sci-fi horror.
I compared the first book to the movie Event Horizon - and that holds even more so here. I look forward to whatever horrors await in future.
January 23, 2020
Chasing Solace is almost twice as long as the first instalment and I wondered how the author could fill such a large book AND make it engaging when ostensibly the plots were the same (Opal searching a lost ship for her sister.)
Of course, I shouldn't have underestimated Karl Drinkwater.
The plot is similar, yes but this lost ship is different and presents its own challenges. The cast of characters is still limited, yes but Aegis is a welcome and amusing addition and the AI foe whom Athene encounters sparks many questions. For every similarity I find, Karl has countered it with a 'yes but' which took the novel in unexpected directions and made for a twisty, turny read.
I'll admit the events around the 80% mark - specifically the descriptions of Null Space - left me confused and as such these few chapters dragged, but this is a result of my lack of understanding of the science of Chasing Solace and not a reflection of the skill of the author.
Opal continues to be a fascinating main protagonist and time spent in her head is always interesting and rewarding. And as always, I loved the humour and wryness of the AI characters.
If you like science fiction, you will love Chasing Solace.
Of course, I shouldn't have underestimated Karl Drinkwater.
The plot is similar, yes but this lost ship is different and presents its own challenges. The cast of characters is still limited, yes but Aegis is a welcome and amusing addition and the AI foe whom Athene encounters sparks many questions. For every similarity I find, Karl has countered it with a 'yes but' which took the novel in unexpected directions and made for a twisty, turny read.
I'll admit the events around the 80% mark - specifically the descriptions of Null Space - left me confused and as such these few chapters dragged, but this is a result of my lack of understanding of the science of Chasing Solace and not a reflection of the skill of the author.
Opal continues to be a fascinating main protagonist and time spent in her head is always interesting and rewarding. And as always, I loved the humour and wryness of the AI characters.
If you like science fiction, you will love Chasing Solace.
June 18, 2024
A wonderful sequel to the first book - even better I would say. Here the AI to human interaction is more human-like than the human to human was in the first book. This is not to disparage but to show how the series evolves in an interesting way. I don't want to say more to give away plot but there are a lot of wonderfully imaginative locales and beings.
June 16, 2019
A great follow up to the first book, it dragged on a little for me in the last two chapters as the book is at its best with characters and action but lost me a bit with the alien technobabble.
January 14, 2023
I liked it.
February 28, 2023
The first 2 books of the series walked the line between horror and gratuitous (and ridiculous) violence reasonably well. However, in this 3rd book, the author has gone full Hostel/Saw. This is not horror. The immolation, torture, and violence add nothing to the story. It's just there as some kind of sick fantasy. And then there are the laughable AI sections. As they spend their time creating miracles in technological advancements, they spend all of their processing power creating silly visual fantasy areas. It all just seems to be there to pad a less than hundred page novella.
There is no suspense. There is no doubt from page 1 as to what is going to happen. There will be a plan. The plan will not go well. They will eek it out. Again.
I like hard scifi - this series is more fantasy than science fiction. And now, it is more graphic brutality than anything else.
There is no suspense. There is no doubt from page 1 as to what is going to happen. There will be a plan. The plan will not go well. They will eek it out. Again.
I like hard scifi - this series is more fantasy than science fiction. And now, it is more graphic brutality than anything else.
February 13, 2025
I prefer books that have an actual plot. This book was mostly endless doors and corridors, and various kinds of threats in the doors and corridors. I lost interest in any of the characters and started hoping that something would eat Opal, the main character. That was the point at which I realized that I wouldn't be getting the next book in the series.
September 28, 2019
Wild ... some interesting takes on aliens, time, and AIs.
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