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The Satura Trilogy #1
That Distant Dream
After her escape pod is found drifting through debris nearly two decades after the end of the Redelki Wars, Melin is woken from cryosleep to find a galaxy where she no longer belongs. The galaxy has moved on from the horrors she experienced, the experiences that transformed her into a hero while she slept, but she hasn’t.
Alone, broken in mind and body, Melin is slowly pulled to the planet of her ancestors. She just wants a fresh start. A chance to end the dreams plaguing her sleep. A chance for answers. For new beginnings. For a life lived in oblivion where no one knows her name or what she did.
But Satura is a planet at war. And there are no fresh starts for heroes.
Warning: Ableism, colonialism, guns, medical procedures (off page), past trauma, PTSD, assault, torture (off page), prisoner abuse, war
Alone, broken in mind and body, Melin is slowly pulled to the planet of her ancestors. She just wants a fresh start. A chance to end the dreams plaguing her sleep. A chance for answers. For new beginnings. For a life lived in oblivion where no one knows her name or what she did.
But Satura is a planet at war. And there are no fresh starts for heroes.
Warning: Ableism, colonialism, guns, medical procedures (off page), past trauma, PTSD, assault, torture (off page), prisoner abuse, war
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First published December 14, 2020
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About the author
Laurel Beckley
18 books20 followersLaurel Beckley is a writer, Marine Corps veteran and librarian. She lives with her wife, fur creatures, and a collection of gently neglected houseplants.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 17, 2020
4.25 Stars. This was really good! This is the first book in The Satura Trilogy and what I believe is Beckley’s full-length debut. Earlier this year, I did read a novella by Beckley that I thought was a cute read. I’m not sure if it is due to the full-length, the story subject, or just that Beckley is improving, but I thought this book was a big step forward in both quality and enjoyment. One of my disappointments was not getting to read a lot of sci-fi this year, but out of the sci-fi I have read this is easily one of my favorites.
This is a military sci-fi with a hint of fantasy series. I’m hoping that hint of fantasy will grow much stronger in future books since I love a good fantasy/sci-fi mix. The premise of this book is about a war hero named Melin, who is trying to reinvent herself. After being tortured (this happened before the book starts) and left for dead, Melin is not the same solider she once was. Besides learning to live with a new disability, she also doesn’t understand these vivid dreams she keeps having. Dreams of Queens, swords, and dragons! Is this left over from the violence and torture she went through or do these dreams mean something more? Newly assigned to the planet of her Great Grandmother, which is where the dreams seem to resemble, Melin is hoping to find out.
I was really happy with the good mix of a character driven and plot driven story. Even when something more mundane was happening, like every day work for Melin, I was still completely sucked into the book. I knew this story was for me from the first few pages and I was perfectly content even during the slower parts. And in contrast when the exciting parts happened the book just flew by. This does end on a cliffhanger, which I’m never crazy about, but my disappointment was just that I wanted to keep reading. I was really enjoying this story and I didn’t want it to end. I also love where the story is going. It really ended in the perfect place and it makes me excited for book 2. Book 2 will be going on my most anticipated list of 2021.
I loved the character of Melin. She’s very strong but she’s really human too. She’s smart and doesn’t suffer fools, but she’s lost her true confidence from the war. She’s not always the nicest person, but you would want her to have your back. She’s dealing with PTSD, anxiety, and a new disability that people either take pity on or think less of her. But she’s stronger than she thinks and stronger than what others think of her. I can’t wait to see her blossom into the complete badass she really is. I believe Melin is a lesbian, but there is no romance in this book at all. I don’t think she is at that place emotionally yet to let someone in, but I can’t help but hope she might find someone in future books.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this one. I love reading about strong women especially when they prove others wrong. Melin has a long hill to climb in her personal journey and I’m looking forward to reading all about it. I would easily recommend this to military sci-fi fans. One thing is that Beckley keeps teasing us with the word ‘dragons’. There are no dragons yet, but I hope she’s actually preparing us for them and not really teasing. I can only imagine how great this sci-fi series could be if we find dragons in the next book.
A copy was given to me for an honest review.
This is a military sci-fi with a hint of fantasy series. I’m hoping that hint of fantasy will grow much stronger in future books since I love a good fantasy/sci-fi mix. The premise of this book is about a war hero named Melin, who is trying to reinvent herself. After being tortured (this happened before the book starts) and left for dead, Melin is not the same solider she once was. Besides learning to live with a new disability, she also doesn’t understand these vivid dreams she keeps having. Dreams of Queens, swords, and dragons! Is this left over from the violence and torture she went through or do these dreams mean something more? Newly assigned to the planet of her Great Grandmother, which is where the dreams seem to resemble, Melin is hoping to find out.
I was really happy with the good mix of a character driven and plot driven story. Even when something more mundane was happening, like every day work for Melin, I was still completely sucked into the book. I knew this story was for me from the first few pages and I was perfectly content even during the slower parts. And in contrast when the exciting parts happened the book just flew by. This does end on a cliffhanger, which I’m never crazy about, but my disappointment was just that I wanted to keep reading. I was really enjoying this story and I didn’t want it to end. I also love where the story is going. It really ended in the perfect place and it makes me excited for book 2. Book 2 will be going on my most anticipated list of 2021.
I loved the character of Melin. She’s very strong but she’s really human too. She’s smart and doesn’t suffer fools, but she’s lost her true confidence from the war. She’s not always the nicest person, but you would want her to have your back. She’s dealing with PTSD, anxiety, and a new disability that people either take pity on or think less of her. But she’s stronger than she thinks and stronger than what others think of her. I can’t wait to see her blossom into the complete badass she really is. I believe Melin is a lesbian, but there is no romance in this book at all. I don’t think she is at that place emotionally yet to let someone in, but I can’t help but hope she might find someone in future books.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this one. I love reading about strong women especially when they prove others wrong. Melin has a long hill to climb in her personal journey and I’m looking forward to reading all about it. I would easily recommend this to military sci-fi fans. One thing is that Beckley keeps teasing us with the word ‘dragons’. There are no dragons yet, but I hope she’s actually preparing us for them and not really teasing. I can only imagine how great this sci-fi series could be if we find dragons in the next book.
A copy was given to me for an honest review.
December 19, 2020
4.5 stars. This was such a surprise I loved it and can’t wait for the second book to come! I like sci-fi and this series has plenty of that (military sci-fi to be specific) and some added fantasy elements as well. This is the second book by Beckley I read this year, the first being the novella “Evie and the pack-horse librarians”. In the novella I enjoyed the imaginative world Beckley created, but one of my thoughts was that the story deserved/needed a longer format, so I’m stoked with this book being a full-length novel and even more, as it is the first part of a trilogy.
From the first page I was hooked to the story of Melin. It starts at a point where she is trying to make a new start in her life. After 17 years of cryosleep she was awoken and crowned a war hero (something she loathes). She wakes in a world she doesn’t understand and where she doesn’t really know anybody. On top of that she has a disability that impacts her way of life and the way people see and treat her and she struggles with PTSD and anxiety. Basically, she became disillusioned with the military and the world she lives in. The only thing she wants to do is find a nice quite place where everybody will leave her alone. Melin hopes to find this place on Satura, a planet where her great grandmother grew up and which seems to draw her in for no specific reason.
During the nights Melin experiences these extremely vivid dreams, dreams of a fantasy world with royalty, knights and magic and she starts doubting her sanity as these dreams seem to have a strange connection with life at Satura. This fantasy world in parallel with the sci-fi world Melin lives in, is so nicely done and kept me wondering the entire time what would happen and how everything is connected. A note of warning though, do not expect to get all the answers in this book, in fact it ends with a cliffhanger. As I enjoyed the book so much, the cliffhanger is forgiven, but my only minor criticism would be the fact that it felt as if the book finished somewhere in the middle of the storyline. I’m a big fan of series, but I like it best when each book has its own separate storyline that sort of finishes with the book, while there are also one or more overarching storylines.
The book is written in the third person from the POV of Melin. There is plenty of action in this book, sucking you in, but there are also more quiet moments where you really get to know Melin, which are equally interesting. The book can be a bit dark and gloomy at times, as Melin is an incredibly strong woman, but she’s clearly emotionally not in the best place. Therefore, she’s not the warmest character, but she has a good heart and I’m looking forward to how her character will develop further.
There is no romance in this book, which I think fits with Melin’s current mental state, but I’m hoping she’ll find some romance later in the series. Furthermore, the book hints at more fantasy to come (with dragons? oh yes please dragons!). I was super happy reading this and recommend it to those looking for a good military sci-fi, fantasy book!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
From the first page I was hooked to the story of Melin. It starts at a point where she is trying to make a new start in her life. After 17 years of cryosleep she was awoken and crowned a war hero (something she loathes). She wakes in a world she doesn’t understand and where she doesn’t really know anybody. On top of that she has a disability that impacts her way of life and the way people see and treat her and she struggles with PTSD and anxiety. Basically, she became disillusioned with the military and the world she lives in. The only thing she wants to do is find a nice quite place where everybody will leave her alone. Melin hopes to find this place on Satura, a planet where her great grandmother grew up and which seems to draw her in for no specific reason.
During the nights Melin experiences these extremely vivid dreams, dreams of a fantasy world with royalty, knights and magic and she starts doubting her sanity as these dreams seem to have a strange connection with life at Satura. This fantasy world in parallel with the sci-fi world Melin lives in, is so nicely done and kept me wondering the entire time what would happen and how everything is connected. A note of warning though, do not expect to get all the answers in this book, in fact it ends with a cliffhanger. As I enjoyed the book so much, the cliffhanger is forgiven, but my only minor criticism would be the fact that it felt as if the book finished somewhere in the middle of the storyline. I’m a big fan of series, but I like it best when each book has its own separate storyline that sort of finishes with the book, while there are also one or more overarching storylines.
The book is written in the third person from the POV of Melin. There is plenty of action in this book, sucking you in, but there are also more quiet moments where you really get to know Melin, which are equally interesting. The book can be a bit dark and gloomy at times, as Melin is an incredibly strong woman, but she’s clearly emotionally not in the best place. Therefore, she’s not the warmest character, but she has a good heart and I’m looking forward to how her character will develop further.
There is no romance in this book, which I think fits with Melin’s current mental state, but I’m hoping she’ll find some romance later in the series. Furthermore, the book hints at more fantasy to come (with dragons? oh yes please dragons!). I was super happy reading this and recommend it to those looking for a good military sci-fi, fantasy book!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
March 13, 2022
This was an epic Sci-Fi read - when's the next installment!?
There's a lot going on, yet it's never too difficult to understand. Mostly you feel the loss and grief of our MC Melin. A war hero that had been floating in her escape pod in cryo for 17 years until it was discovered. She's been brought back, lauded a hero, and had her body physically fixed, but her mind still struggles. It's not just regular PTSD, but it's living life in the aftermath of traumatic war, that feels like it was just months ago, when it had been almost two decades ago. She's so far removed, and yet it's still so very real for her.
She's had bizarre dreams and strange occurrences leading her back to her Grandmothers home-world, trying to get a fresh start, and find a place to belong. Gritting her teeth at the glory some people spew towards her, and the disdain others have for her. She is someone who is no longer hooked into cybernetic chip technology that controls these worlds, and often deals people into a hierarchy of societal classist bullshit. Technically she's the lowest on the rung, because of her lack of chip, yet because of her status as hero, she's in a strange position to be seen as a dichotomy.
I love that she struggles, and yet she's all out of fucks to give, too. Like she just keeps pressing on, despite her issues and I love that quiet inner strength she has. It was very admirable. She could easily have felt sorry for herself many times, while she had her moments it never dwelled. I was glad when she found and made a tentative friendship in Trudi, an older war-vet who is the worlds inventory taskmaster, who understands the PTS of it all and gives Melin stoic gruff support without being too OTT.
We find a world at odds in this new start - with the hundreds of years of colonization still happening and yet the world still so utterly divided and huge disparities between those who colonized, and those who were born and native to the World. Sounds familiar, right?
Melin has a strange ability to speak the native peoples language, in an old tongue. There are other strange goings-on, and electrical issues that effects things. Her dreams are becoming more real, and perhaps they are not dreams at all? Stories her grandmother told her, may not just be stories. While the people in power want to utilize Melin for further uses toward the native population they are trying to subjugate and look down upon.
She's sympathetic, but plays things close to her chest, and I again appreciate her stoic resistance in trying to understand, and not just believe the crap spewed. She's doing the best she can in a shitty situation, and I really cannot wait to read more about what happens next. I truly feel we've only hit the tip of the iceberg.
It's an exciting story, and yet there's quiet contemplation too and a very likable MC and you can root for, and want more from!
There's a lot going on, yet it's never too difficult to understand. Mostly you feel the loss and grief of our MC Melin. A war hero that had been floating in her escape pod in cryo for 17 years until it was discovered. She's been brought back, lauded a hero, and had her body physically fixed, but her mind still struggles. It's not just regular PTSD, but it's living life in the aftermath of traumatic war, that feels like it was just months ago, when it had been almost two decades ago. She's so far removed, and yet it's still so very real for her.
She's had bizarre dreams and strange occurrences leading her back to her Grandmothers home-world, trying to get a fresh start, and find a place to belong. Gritting her teeth at the glory some people spew towards her, and the disdain others have for her. She is someone who is no longer hooked into cybernetic chip technology that controls these worlds, and often deals people into a hierarchy of societal classist bullshit. Technically she's the lowest on the rung, because of her lack of chip, yet because of her status as hero, she's in a strange position to be seen as a dichotomy.
I love that she struggles, and yet she's all out of fucks to give, too. Like she just keeps pressing on, despite her issues and I love that quiet inner strength she has. It was very admirable. She could easily have felt sorry for herself many times, while she had her moments it never dwelled. I was glad when she found and made a tentative friendship in Trudi, an older war-vet who is the worlds inventory taskmaster, who understands the PTS of it all and gives Melin stoic gruff support without being too OTT.
We find a world at odds in this new start - with the hundreds of years of colonization still happening and yet the world still so utterly divided and huge disparities between those who colonized, and those who were born and native to the World. Sounds familiar, right?
Melin has a strange ability to speak the native peoples language, in an old tongue. There are other strange goings-on, and electrical issues that effects things. Her dreams are becoming more real, and perhaps they are not dreams at all? Stories her grandmother told her, may not just be stories. While the people in power want to utilize Melin for further uses toward the native population they are trying to subjugate and look down upon.
She's sympathetic, but plays things close to her chest, and I again appreciate her stoic resistance in trying to understand, and not just believe the crap spewed. She's doing the best she can in a shitty situation, and I really cannot wait to read more about what happens next. I truly feel we've only hit the tip of the iceberg.
It's an exciting story, and yet there's quiet contemplation too and a very likable MC and you can root for, and want more from!
November 24, 2023
***Update 4/23*** 5 stars. I've just reread this one, in expectation of the sequel releasing in a couple of weeks. I'm impressed with how much I enjoyed a second go through. That's the sign of a great book, when you can enjoy it as much or more with subsequent reads. So I'm rounding up from my 4.5 rating, even though it's got a cliffhanger ending. The story is just so good!***
***Original review 12/20*** 4.5 stars. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It drew me right in from the beginning and held my interest all the way through. Although I don't like cliffhangers, I'm so invested in this story that I'll definitely read the next book. The author did such a great job of slowly building the sense of mystery and also giving the reader a compelling protagonist to root for. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
***Original review 12/20*** 4.5 stars. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It drew me right in from the beginning and held my interest all the way through. Although I don't like cliffhangers, I'm so invested in this story that I'll definitely read the next book. The author did such a great job of slowly building the sense of mystery and also giving the reader a compelling protagonist to root for. I can't wait to find out what happens next!
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December 5, 2020It's mine, so no rating!
I'm so excited to have been able to publish this one and let it escape into the world. This is for all of us who left the military and found ourselves a little adrift, looking for a second chance and feeling less than what we once were. May you find your second, or third, or fourth (or hell, even eleventh) chance.
SuppOs, chapter 13 is for you <3
I'm so excited to have been able to publish this one and let it escape into the world. This is for all of us who left the military and found ourselves a little adrift, looking for a second chance and feeling less than what we once were. May you find your second, or third, or fourth (or hell, even eleventh) chance.
SuppOs, chapter 13 is for you <3
December 26, 2020
This has everything I love to read about. Melin is so badass. I also love how she just wants to be left alone but she's in the thick of all the action.
January 5, 2021
This was a really satisfying genre-mash with flavors of military sf, high fantasy, and highly capable but also relatable hero.
I enjoyed the use of the long-last hero trope as well, and thought it was carried out in a more engaging way than I've seen elsewhere, with more challenges than victories for the main character. Id I have one complaint it would be that there was SO MUCH to be set up in this first book that it felt like it crowded out some of the plot.
But I still enjoyed the journey, and am really looking forward to the next book! I want dragons!
I enjoyed the use of the long-last hero trope as well, and thought it was carried out in a more engaging way than I've seen elsewhere, with more challenges than victories for the main character. Id I have one complaint it would be that there was SO MUCH to be set up in this first book that it felt like it crowded out some of the plot.
But I still enjoyed the journey, and am really looking forward to the next book! I want dragons!
May 10, 2022
This book is gorgeous, dense, visceral science fiction goodness. The worldbuilding is vast and the lore is perfectly woven in with the characters. Melin practically leaps off of the page, she’s so relatable and realistic despite such a fantastical sci-fi setting. The mystery of her past and the history of the planet are so enticing and this one ends on a delicious cliffhanger that has me desperate for book two. 10/10 recommend!
March 29, 2025
This great, character-driven story kept me reading and the momentum carried me into purchasing the 2nd volume which was not worth the money. The series is a duology-story stretched to make a trilogy and I'm annoyed I spent money on vol 2.
December 18, 2020
worst part of reading this amazing book is that it released a couple days ago and i'm going to have to wait to read the sequel
December 13, 2020
Title: That Distant Dream
Author: Laurel Beckley
Publisher: NineStar Press
ISBN: 9781648901669
Buy Link: https://ninestarpress.com/product/tha...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
The Satura Trilogy 1
After her escape pod is found drifting through debris nearly two decades after the end of the Redelki Wars, Melin is woken from cryosleep to find a galaxy where she no longer belongs. The galaxy has moved on from the horrors she experienced, the experiences that transformed her into a hero while she slept, but she hasn’t.
Alone, broken in mind and body, Melin is slowly pulled to the planet of her ancestors. She just wants a fresh start. A chance to end the dreams plaguing her sleep. A chance for answers. For new beginnings. For a life lived in oblivion where no one knows her name or what she did.
But Satura is a planet at war. And there are no fresh starts for heroes.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
After years in cryo, Melin finds herself in a world she doesn’t understand plagued by dreams of a distant world. After hearing stories of her grandmother’s world Satura, she finds herself compelled to travel to this world. Many may be a war hero, but the cost was almost dying and loosing everything she held dear. A new start is plagued by her past and strange dreams Melin had while in Cryosleep. The new world is a puzzle that takes Melin on a journey, but where it will lead her is unknown.
This was an incredible start to a new Scifi series. Melin’s trauma form the war and everything she endured to regain her life may give her the strength to overcome what lies ahead. Satura is a world of mystery taking Melin to her past and an unknown future.
Author: Laurel Beckley
Publisher: NineStar Press
ISBN: 9781648901669
Buy Link: https://ninestarpress.com/product/tha...
Reviewer: Teresa Fallen Angel
Blurb:
The Satura Trilogy 1
After her escape pod is found drifting through debris nearly two decades after the end of the Redelki Wars, Melin is woken from cryosleep to find a galaxy where she no longer belongs. The galaxy has moved on from the horrors she experienced, the experiences that transformed her into a hero while she slept, but she hasn’t.
Alone, broken in mind and body, Melin is slowly pulled to the planet of her ancestors. She just wants a fresh start. A chance to end the dreams plaguing her sleep. A chance for answers. For new beginnings. For a life lived in oblivion where no one knows her name or what she did.
But Satura is a planet at war. And there are no fresh starts for heroes.
Total Score: 5/5
Summary:
After years in cryo, Melin finds herself in a world she doesn’t understand plagued by dreams of a distant world. After hearing stories of her grandmother’s world Satura, she finds herself compelled to travel to this world. Many may be a war hero, but the cost was almost dying and loosing everything she held dear. A new start is plagued by her past and strange dreams Melin had while in Cryosleep. The new world is a puzzle that takes Melin on a journey, but where it will lead her is unknown.
This was an incredible start to a new Scifi series. Melin’s trauma form the war and everything she endured to regain her life may give her the strength to overcome what lies ahead. Satura is a world of mystery taking Melin to her past and an unknown future.
December 14, 2020
An escape pod floating through space for almost 20 years is found, and contains Melin, the hero of the Redelki Wars. She has been left battered both in body & mind, and just wants to retire & be left in peace. She goes to a planet she’s never seen, Satura, based on her great-grandma’s stories. But peace is in short supply here, and Melin has to form a different plan.
The author is ex-military, and that shows in the detail of this book. The story shows the stupid bureaucracy in place even in the future. Melin has very vivid dreams about her great-grandma’s home world, and these continue even when she’s on Satura. The dreams definitely seem to be prophetic, and tell a story of the past of her ancestors. The colonial government keeps dragging her into the current struggle with the natives, and tensions are constantly boiling over.
The story is well told, but I had issues with all the ambiguity and unanswered questions. The book ends in a cliffhanger since it’s book 1 in a trilogy. But I felt like there were cliffhangers throughout the book. In the way the natives react to Melin, the messages of her dreams, the assorted problems of the colonial embassy—none of these issues are answered. I’m ok with a cliffhanger at the end of the book, but not all through the book. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind unanswered questions and ambiguity, then I think you would enjoy this book more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The author is ex-military, and that shows in the detail of this book. The story shows the stupid bureaucracy in place even in the future. Melin has very vivid dreams about her great-grandma’s home world, and these continue even when she’s on Satura. The dreams definitely seem to be prophetic, and tell a story of the past of her ancestors. The colonial government keeps dragging her into the current struggle with the natives, and tensions are constantly boiling over.
The story is well told, but I had issues with all the ambiguity and unanswered questions. The book ends in a cliffhanger since it’s book 1 in a trilogy. But I felt like there were cliffhangers throughout the book. In the way the natives react to Melin, the messages of her dreams, the assorted problems of the colonial embassy—none of these issues are answered. I’m ok with a cliffhanger at the end of the book, but not all through the book. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind unanswered questions and ambiguity, then I think you would enjoy this book more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and NineStar Press for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
December 27, 2020
Okay, I gave this a long time to think about how I felt about this book. I do find it interesting, and though this is much more of a military science fiction than anything, it feels more like a mystery to me. The lead character has dreams that she believes are nightmares, but some of those dreams have people in them that show up in other parts of the novel. So, with that, it is very slow, with relatively little happening over all, but there's a lot of actual story set up. So for me, there's a lot of mystery build up, but very little action moving the plot of this first book forward. Because of that, it took me a lot longer time to actually read through the book despite its shorter, 200 page length.
That said, I appreciated the attempt to keep me in the dark regarding the situation, and Melin is a captivating lead. Literally a person out of time, she has to relearn how to function in a society that has moved on. On top of that, she also has re occurring dreams that hint at a past life on the planet of her ancestors. Melin is just trying to function, but she's thrown into a swirling political situation on her home planet that keeps her from recovering from her PTSD of being tortured, then cryogenically frozen, and the nightmares she experienced while she was a sleep.
Melin's mystery is the thing that made me keep moving the pages, even as the pacing slowed to a crawl at times. It's tough to have a novel that focuses on dreams almost as much as the action out of them, and it doesn't quite work for me, but there's a lot there to get me to come back to the book.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
That said, I appreciated the attempt to keep me in the dark regarding the situation, and Melin is a captivating lead. Literally a person out of time, she has to relearn how to function in a society that has moved on. On top of that, she also has re occurring dreams that hint at a past life on the planet of her ancestors. Melin is just trying to function, but she's thrown into a swirling political situation on her home planet that keeps her from recovering from her PTSD of being tortured, then cryogenically frozen, and the nightmares she experienced while she was a sleep.
Melin's mystery is the thing that made me keep moving the pages, even as the pacing slowed to a crawl at times. It's tough to have a novel that focuses on dreams almost as much as the action out of them, and it doesn't quite work for me, but there's a lot there to get me to come back to the book.
I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 1, 2021
Minor spoiler: this book ends with a massive cliffhanger. Not much of a surprise since it's the first in a trilogy but the end came a bit as a surprise for me. And disappointment which is good thing cause I wanted to keep reading. So even if you normally avoid cliffhangers I would urge you to accept it so you can read this book. It has a strong female lead in Melin, a war hero who doesn't want to be one and is actually not treated with a lot of respect since she woke up from cryo 17 years after the fact. This book is military sci fi but just as much mystery since as the reader you are trying to find stuff out alongside Melin. Maybe the pace is a little slow at times but it's an intruiging plot with lots of secrets and unknowns still to discover in the next books I am eagerly awaiting. And I get the feeling we'll be in for a whirlwind ride with (hopefully, oh I hope so) dragons. *** An ARC was provided to me by Netgalley ***
January 2, 2021
I was so surprised by that book! I was expecting your general Si-Fi-Romance-Novel, but this book? There was not one kiss or even hint at romance, and givent what the main character went through, I was so happy they did not put a romance on top of that. This book was dealing with so much other stuff, PTSD, war, the concequences of war - I hate it when romance it put into that part of a story.
I am looking forward to the next book, hopefully there are going to be the dragons who have been mentioned...
Also, since the book ended on one of the most horrible cliff hangers in history, I hope the next part will be available soon.
Honestly I am hoping that Melin will be portrayed an asexual or maybe even an aromantic character. It would fit the image this first book has given me of her and I'd be happy to have more aro/ace representation in literature.
I am also eager to find out more about the dreams Melin had and what exactly they will mean for the further narrative.
It was an almost perfect read and I am so happy and excited for the following books to be released!
I received a free ARC by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I am looking forward to the next book, hopefully there are going to be the dragons who have been mentioned...
Also, since the book ended on one of the most horrible cliff hangers in history, I hope the next part will be available soon.
Honestly I am hoping that Melin will be portrayed an asexual or maybe even an aromantic character. It would fit the image this first book has given me of her and I'd be happy to have more aro/ace representation in literature.
I am also eager to find out more about the dreams Melin had and what exactly they will mean for the further narrative.
It was an almost perfect read and I am so happy and excited for the following books to be released!
I received a free ARC by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2021
4.25*
January 21, 2021
This is an amazing novel and I wholeheartedly recommend it. That said, two important qualifiers: there is one heck of a cliffhanger ending, and you’re going to be left with more questions than answers.
From the start, readers are in the dark, just as the protagonist, Melin is. A war veteran stashed in cryostorage for 17 years after capture and torture, deprived of her mental implant and a meaningful place in the society she now inhabits, Melin is hoping that a posting on the planet her grandmother came from will give her a sense of connection and purpose. Instead of the idyllic land from the stories, however, she gets a besieged, complicated landscape in which the organization she works for is clearly the oppressor, but the other sides aren’t nearly so visible. The language she speaks isn’t quite right, and she has bizarre, achingly real dreams. By the time this installment of the series ends, there are a few clues, some hints as to what Merin’s role in this new world might be, but nothing concrete. It’s fascinating, and maddening. I love the worldbuilding here: it’s intricate and nuanced, even (or especially?) when seen through Merin’s eyes and against the complete lack of context or understanding she can bring to bear on it.
Added to the complexities of the world she’s experiencing are the complexities of Merin herself, dealing with PTSD and being part of a society that at once venerates her as a war hero but relegates her to the lowest social standing because her post-torture body can’t bear a mental implant. Melin is a strange, highly charged mixture of competence and frailty, and while many people seek to exploit her without thought for her needs and desires, a few, like the quartermaster who gives her a job and helps her to find a place of relative peace, see her more clearly. I love that the characters are as complex and opaque as the plot and setting-- it all makes me want to understand just that much more.
A great first foray into this world: I will be waiting eagerly to find out what happens next.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
From the start, readers are in the dark, just as the protagonist, Melin is. A war veteran stashed in cryostorage for 17 years after capture and torture, deprived of her mental implant and a meaningful place in the society she now inhabits, Melin is hoping that a posting on the planet her grandmother came from will give her a sense of connection and purpose. Instead of the idyllic land from the stories, however, she gets a besieged, complicated landscape in which the organization she works for is clearly the oppressor, but the other sides aren’t nearly so visible. The language she speaks isn’t quite right, and she has bizarre, achingly real dreams. By the time this installment of the series ends, there are a few clues, some hints as to what Merin’s role in this new world might be, but nothing concrete. It’s fascinating, and maddening. I love the worldbuilding here: it’s intricate and nuanced, even (or especially?) when seen through Merin’s eyes and against the complete lack of context or understanding she can bring to bear on it.
Added to the complexities of the world she’s experiencing are the complexities of Merin herself, dealing with PTSD and being part of a society that at once venerates her as a war hero but relegates her to the lowest social standing because her post-torture body can’t bear a mental implant. Melin is a strange, highly charged mixture of competence and frailty, and while many people seek to exploit her without thought for her needs and desires, a few, like the quartermaster who gives her a job and helps her to find a place of relative peace, see her more clearly. I love that the characters are as complex and opaque as the plot and setting-- it all makes me want to understand just that much more.
A great first foray into this world: I will be waiting eagerly to find out what happens next.
*I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily composed an honest review.
May 16, 2023
"That Distant Dream" is an impressive debut novel. It is science fiction mixed with a bit of traditional fantasy, all wrapped up with a very intriguing mystery that kept me turning the pages, eager to find out what was happening.
Premise: Melin was once a galactic hero. Now she is an anomaly and an outsider. Two decades after her celebrated exploits in the Redelki Wars, her escape pod is found floating with her still inside in cryosleep. When she is awoken, she must deal with the mental, emotional, and physical trauma of the war, still fresh to her, though the rest of the world has moved on. She is drawn to a new start on the mysterious planet of Satura, where her great grandmother lived, but sadly there is no easy transition for Melin. She is quickly pulled in to the messy political situation there, and mysterious dreams and interactions with the locals hint that there is more to her connection to Satura than anyone ever expected...most of all Melin.
I thought the world building in "That Distant Dream" was really good, and the pacing of the book was excellent. It chugs right along, dropping interesting tidbits and and action sequences in a perfect breadcrumb trail. I liked sharp, tough, sardonic Melin, but she is a pretty buttoned-up MC, and I found myself wishing for a little bit more from her. I also wanted to shake her as she continued to insist to herself that her dreams were meaningless. 😅 The ending was quite the spectacular cliff hanger, and I am very proud of myself for unknowingly timing my introduction to this author and book perfectly with the release of the sequel, "That Slow Awakening," which I will definitely be consuming soon. I am intrigued to see there will be another MC POV in that one.
Premise: Melin was once a galactic hero. Now she is an anomaly and an outsider. Two decades after her celebrated exploits in the Redelki Wars, her escape pod is found floating with her still inside in cryosleep. When she is awoken, she must deal with the mental, emotional, and physical trauma of the war, still fresh to her, though the rest of the world has moved on. She is drawn to a new start on the mysterious planet of Satura, where her great grandmother lived, but sadly there is no easy transition for Melin. She is quickly pulled in to the messy political situation there, and mysterious dreams and interactions with the locals hint that there is more to her connection to Satura than anyone ever expected...most of all Melin.
I thought the world building in "That Distant Dream" was really good, and the pacing of the book was excellent. It chugs right along, dropping interesting tidbits and and action sequences in a perfect breadcrumb trail. I liked sharp, tough, sardonic Melin, but she is a pretty buttoned-up MC, and I found myself wishing for a little bit more from her. I also wanted to shake her as she continued to insist to herself that her dreams were meaningless. 😅 The ending was quite the spectacular cliff hanger, and I am very proud of myself for unknowingly timing my introduction to this author and book perfectly with the release of the sequel, "That Slow Awakening," which I will definitely be consuming soon. I am intrigued to see there will be another MC POV in that one.
December 30, 2020
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
I loved this book. The rest of this review will end up being a long meandering of my thoughts, which will all end up with the same four words: I loved this book. It involves a character, Melin, who has been through hell — and it’s never laid out what she endured or for how long. We know there was a galactic war, we know she was involved, we know she was captured and hurt, but all of this is given out crumb by crumb. Instead of telling us about Melin’s pain, we see it in her every action. How she avoids crowds, how she relies on routine and carving out quiet spaces for herself. How she struggles to avoid being given any responsibility or making any friends … and for the one person she does start to open up to, an old quartermaster who understands some of the emotional trauma Melin is coping with, she runs through danger to get to her side.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
I loved this book. The rest of this review will end up being a long meandering of my thoughts, which will all end up with the same four words: I loved this book. It involves a character, Melin, who has been through hell — and it’s never laid out what she endured or for how long. We know there was a galactic war, we know she was involved, we know she was captured and hurt, but all of this is given out crumb by crumb. Instead of telling us about Melin’s pain, we see it in her every action. How she avoids crowds, how she relies on routine and carving out quiet spaces for herself. How she struggles to avoid being given any responsibility or making any friends … and for the one person she does start to open up to, an old quartermaster who understands some of the emotional trauma Melin is coping with, she runs through danger to get to her side.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
Read
July 14, 2021How do I rate this? I was really enjoying this story and then it just stopped.
Melin is a disabled, retired soldier. With no prospects and very little hope, she decides to relocate to the ancestral home of her great-grandmother. A decorated – but discarded – war hero, she takes a job sorting inventory.
This book has some stellar rep. The MC battles PTSD. She's got an ex-wife, so is presumably either lesbian or bi/pan. The story revolves around colonial oppression of an indigenous population. She builds a strong friendship with another disabled ex-soldier.
But it's not a book. A book has a beginning, a catalyst, some stuff happening, and then a climax and a resolution. This book has a beginning, a catalyst, some stuff happening, and then … it just stops.
Can I read the next book? No, because it doesn't exist. It's not even on pre-order. Gah!
By the time it lands, will I still remember this one? Hopefully. But who knows.
Melin is a disabled, retired soldier. With no prospects and very little hope, she decides to relocate to the ancestral home of her great-grandmother. A decorated – but discarded – war hero, she takes a job sorting inventory.
This book has some stellar rep. The MC battles PTSD. She's got an ex-wife, so is presumably either lesbian or bi/pan. The story revolves around colonial oppression of an indigenous population. She builds a strong friendship with another disabled ex-soldier.
But it's not a book. A book has a beginning, a catalyst, some stuff happening, and then a climax and a resolution. This book has a beginning, a catalyst, some stuff happening, and then … it just stops.
Can I read the next book? No, because it doesn't exist. It's not even on pre-order. Gah!
By the time it lands, will I still remember this one? Hopefully. But who knows.
January 7, 2021
This was a great first book! I'm excited to see where this trilogy will go! I'm invested in Melin and the people of Satura. The cliff-hanger was okay, especially given that I have two more books to look forward to. I'm a reader that would be happy with all three books condensed into one but I know everyone isn't like that. If this continues along the same trajectory, I could see the Satura trilogy being very highly rated from me.
My favorite parts of this were the casual references to queer identities that are built into Beckley's worlds and cultures. Same-sex relationships seem to be a normal occurrence. When Melin is describing the people around her, if she is not 100% sure of how they identify, she says she does not know if they are male, female, or gender nonconforming. They/them pronouns are used without any fuss or discussion.
I'm really excited to see where this goes!
**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
My favorite parts of this were the casual references to queer identities that are built into Beckley's worlds and cultures. Same-sex relationships seem to be a normal occurrence. When Melin is describing the people around her, if she is not 100% sure of how they identify, she says she does not know if they are male, female, or gender nonconforming. They/them pronouns are used without any fuss or discussion.
I'm really excited to see where this goes!
**I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
December 23, 2020
I really enjoyed this book right up until the last couple of pages. The characters all had interesting backstories and I loved how parts of Satura's history were revealed through dream sequences. Beckley's attention to detail on the military aspects (from her own experiences) were a great touch that added realism to the fictional setting. I was ready to give this book 5 stars but the ending completely ruined it for me. I wouldn't mind an abrupt tragic ending so much if it didn't feel like the book was just left unfinished, since none of the plot points were brought to a conclusion. I'm hoping that the next two books of the trilogy arrive soon to answer my burning questions since I enjoyed the journey of That Distant Dream so much, until it was brought to such an odd end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2021
In my opinion, the book's base and theme was very interesting, however, it could be a little bit boring at some parts. The main character's personality was well-written and I enjoyed the events which contained her.
All in all, I rate it at 3 stars and I'm waiting to the next book to be released because at the end I wanted to continue reading.
Thank you for NetGalley and NineStar Press for the Advanced Reader Copy.
All in all, I rate it at 3 stars and I'm waiting to the next book to be released because at the end I wanted to continue reading.
Thank you for NetGalley and NineStar Press for the Advanced Reader Copy.
Read
January 3, 2021No rating because I gave up in chapter 14 (of 19 I think). I was just too bored by all the mystery surrounding the protagonists dreams. They seemed interesting but nothing comes of it. There are no answers at all so the mystery just keeps going and going up to the point where it felt pointless to me. By the time I reached chapter 14 I realized I am not having any fun reading this so I quit.
December 28, 2020
I stopped and started so many times, I didn't realize it was a sci-fi/fantasy which I never read or enjoy I really tried to push thru and finish and god it was boring! I rate it a 2 when really I wanted to rate it a 1. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book to read.
October 11, 2024
4 stars. Well written and the plot was intriguing. I liked how political this was and the main character was interesting and layered. It lost a bit steam towards the end but other than that this was still really good and I will be reading book two for sure.
January 19, 2021
An intriguing sci-fi read with emotional depth and an unexpected cliffhanger — give me the next book now!
As I loved Beckley's writing in "Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians" I jumped at the chance to read this book. The premise is super interesting: a retired war hero who looks young but she really isn't wants to start over... but her past (and probably her family legacy) catches up with her on the occupied planet of Satura.
The MC, Melin, is a character with amazing depth, whose struggle with PTSD feels visceral and real. There's a lot of social commentary about what is really heroic, the long-lasting traumas of colonialism and the way technology shapes us.
Do I wish that, at times, the overall pacing was a bit faster and that the book didn't end in a cliffhanger? I do. But this is only book 1 of a series so it was very excited to be immersed into this world. Can't wait for Book 2!
P.S. Thank you to NetGalley and NineStarPress for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As I loved Beckley's writing in "Evie and the Pack-Horse Librarians" I jumped at the chance to read this book. The premise is super interesting: a retired war hero who looks young but she really isn't wants to start over... but her past (and probably her family legacy) catches up with her on the occupied planet of Satura.
The MC, Melin, is a character with amazing depth, whose struggle with PTSD feels visceral and real. There's a lot of social commentary about what is really heroic, the long-lasting traumas of colonialism and the way technology shapes us.
Do I wish that, at times, the overall pacing was a bit faster and that the book didn't end in a cliffhanger? I do. But this is only book 1 of a series so it was very excited to be immersed into this world. Can't wait for Book 2!
P.S. Thank you to NetGalley and NineStarPress for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2023
I’m hooked. Laurel Beckley has written an intriguing mystery set in the future yet one that we can live in because nothing quite works the way it's supposed to (chuckle).
Check out the rest of my review at Mx. Phoebe’s Viewpoint. Link in bio.
I received a free copy of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
Check out the rest of my review at Mx. Phoebe’s Viewpoint. Link in bio.
I received a free copy of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
April 26, 2023
I really liked this. And as I was getting to the end I was already dreading it because I knew I wanted to read more and I'd have to wait for book 2.
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