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Arkhangelsk
Head peace officer Anya Savelova believed her people, living on a hostile planet in the ice-bound city of Novayarkha, were the last of humanity.
Until the day she learned they weren't.
When a starship from an Earth thought long dead appears in orbit over her world, Anya imagines an explosion of possible futures, offering her people the freedom to transcend the limiting environment of the planet they'd thought was their last refuge. In the starship's crew, Anya finds creativity, diversity, innovation-all things the colony has had to inhibit to survive.
Seeing her world through the eyes of the starship crew makes Anya look closer at her city's inconsistencies, oddities she's always been told to ignore. But the harder she pushes at the pieces that don't fit, the more her government perceives the strangers as a threat. There are secrets in Novayarkha, hiding in plain sight, that the strangers can't possibly understand-and Anya's drive to uncover them risks shredding the fragile web holding together everything she's ever known and loved.
Until the day she learned they weren't.
When a starship from an Earth thought long dead appears in orbit over her world, Anya imagines an explosion of possible futures, offering her people the freedom to transcend the limiting environment of the planet they'd thought was their last refuge. In the starship's crew, Anya finds creativity, diversity, innovation-all things the colony has had to inhibit to survive.
Seeing her world through the eyes of the starship crew makes Anya look closer at her city's inconsistencies, oddities she's always been told to ignore. But the harder she pushes at the pieces that don't fit, the more her government perceives the strangers as a threat. There are secrets in Novayarkha, hiding in plain sight, that the strangers can't possibly understand-and Anya's drive to uncover them risks shredding the fragile web holding together everything she's ever known and loved.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2022
242 people are currently reading
5491 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth H. Bonesteel
1 book41 followersAuthor also writes under Elizabeth Bonesteel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
April 5, 2022
My thanks to House Panther Publishing, Elizabeth H. Bonesteel and Netgalley.
This was a moderately good story. I was expecting more. Don't expect aliens. Don't expect much, actually!
Between me starting this book, and the ending, I was bored enough that I managed to read 2 1/2 other books. So, there you go!
This was a moderately good story. I was expecting more. Don't expect aliens. Don't expect much, actually!
Between me starting this book, and the ending, I was bored enough that I managed to read 2 1/2 other books. So, there you go!
April 13, 2022
A colony on an icy exoplanet is hanging on against freezing cold and ever-present radiation. They think that they're the last of humanity because of how bad things were when their ancestors left Earth. But then a spaceship from Earth appears in orbit.
The story is told from the point-of-view of Anya, the Chief Peace Officer of the colony and Maddie, the captain of the NZKO Hypatia. Anya is living through the slow-motion catastrophe of life on an always-near-failing colony which has developed in strange ways. She's also the obvious successor to the colony Governor, a powerful position in this autocratic society. Maddie has her own problems. Her ship suffered a catastrophic accident on the way to this system and they now neither have the people or components to complete their stated mission of establishing an ansible station. Both groups are shocked at the existence of the others.
The situation that the colony is in and the way that it's people live is all pretty dire. It's clear from early on that Anya herself is pretty damaged, even while she has a strong sense of ownership and justice regarding her society. Likewise the colony governor Julia is pretty obviously shady although motivated that her colony survive at all costs. It's the latter of course that drives the plot, along with the culture clash between the new arrivals and the insular colonists.
What makes this book so great is the constant attention being paid to small acts of hopefulness or belief in justice, even when everything is awful (and more awful then most people know). It's also shows what happens when it all becomes too much and both main characters break down, including that there is an afterwards, even when everything is still awful.
For an unrelentingly depressing environment, this book is a wonderful exercise in showing that hope and justice can prevail. Highly recommended.
The story is told from the point-of-view of Anya, the Chief Peace Officer of the colony and Maddie, the captain of the NZKO Hypatia. Anya is living through the slow-motion catastrophe of life on an always-near-failing colony which has developed in strange ways. She's also the obvious successor to the colony Governor, a powerful position in this autocratic society. Maddie has her own problems. Her ship suffered a catastrophic accident on the way to this system and they now neither have the people or components to complete their stated mission of establishing an ansible station. Both groups are shocked at the existence of the others.
The situation that the colony is in and the way that it's people live is all pretty dire. It's clear from early on that Anya herself is pretty damaged, even while she has a strong sense of ownership and justice regarding her society. Likewise the colony governor Julia is pretty obviously shady although motivated that her colony survive at all costs. It's the latter of course that drives the plot, along with the culture clash between the new arrivals and the insular colonists.
What makes this book so great is the constant attention being paid to small acts of hopefulness or belief in justice, even when everything is awful (and more awful then most people know). It's also shows what happens when it all becomes too much and both main characters break down, including that there is an afterwards, even when everything is still awful.
For an unrelentingly depressing environment, this book is a wonderful exercise in showing that hope and justice can prevail. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2022
Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded down because I wasn't eager for more every time I put it down
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Modestly enjoyable; the author's not aiming for brain-bending novelty, and so delivers solid, competent storytelling.
The most interesting thing is the set-up: one group of colonists leave Earth in what they imagine are its last throes only to discover, as they consolidate their hold on a new world, that the planet and the people survived. These groups are under some significant stresses. What matters is how they decide to cohabit the iceball they're going to be sharing. And then there are the wild ones who don't want to be told what to do...what to do about them now that things are even more complicated?
Briskly told, basically familiar enough in its execution, the pages turn and the planet that Earth's disease of H. sapiens has spread to sets about killing some infectious issues, I mean colonists. There are excerpts from "founding documents" and archives of Earth history. That works well to add depth and color to Author Bonesteel's tale.
I spent pleasant, if only modestly thrilling, hours learning about the Novayarkha being born as three poles of conflict settle in for a future together. Sci-fi readers will enjoy it, women who like stories about the ethical dilemmas women in power consider existential threats and decide to skate close to the winds of Decency to survive.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Modestly enjoyable; the author's not aiming for brain-bending novelty, and so delivers solid, competent storytelling.
The most interesting thing is the set-up: one group of colonists leave Earth in what they imagine are its last throes only to discover, as they consolidate their hold on a new world, that the planet and the people survived. These groups are under some significant stresses. What matters is how they decide to cohabit the iceball they're going to be sharing. And then there are the wild ones who don't want to be told what to do...what to do about them now that things are even more complicated?
Briskly told, basically familiar enough in its execution, the pages turn and the planet that Earth's disease of H. sapiens has spread to sets about killing some infectious issues, I mean colonists. There are excerpts from "founding documents" and archives of Earth history. That works well to add depth and color to Author Bonesteel's tale.
I spent pleasant, if only modestly thrilling, hours learning about the Novayarkha being born as three poles of conflict settle in for a future together. Sci-fi readers will enjoy it, women who like stories about the ethical dilemmas women in power consider existential threats and decide to skate close to the winds of Decency to survive.
April 9, 2022
First contact of a different sort. What happens when the colony established by a generation ship that fled a dying Earth finds out the Earth survived and now there are other people in orbit?
I liked the way the culture clash plays out, and also how attractions form across those differences and slowly grow into something more profound. Mixed into this is a mystery that brings people together at the same time it drives them apart, cleaving in both senses of the word.
Bonesteel has a light touch with her writing. The story has so many elements of sadness, but is balanced by an undeniable feeling of hope that makes it ultimately uplifting.
I enjoyed this enough that it makes me want to check out Bonesteel's traditionally published Central Corps series.
I liked the way the culture clash plays out, and also how attractions form across those differences and slowly grow into something more profound. Mixed into this is a mystery that brings people together at the same time it drives them apart, cleaving in both senses of the word.
Bonesteel has a light touch with her writing. The story has so many elements of sadness, but is balanced by an undeniable feeling of hope that makes it ultimately uplifting.
I enjoyed this enough that it makes me want to check out Bonesteel's traditionally published Central Corps series.
April 2, 2022
As I reflected in my recent review of
Children of Time
, I’m not really in the mood for grimdark science fiction these days. I get that humanity is facing yet another existential crisis, this time thanks to climate change, and that this makes authors eager to write about us evacuating the planet and whatnot. But I just find it so bleak, and I yearn for hope. So when I first heard about Arkhangelsk by Elizabeth H. Bonesteel, I was very apprehensive. Nevertheless, I received an eARC from House Panther Publishing and NetGalley, and I gave it a shot. I’m really glad I kept an open mind, because Arkhangelsk pleasantly surprised me. This is not a book about bleakness. Much like Tchaikovsky’s novel, this is a book about hope.
An isolated outpost of humanity subsists, barely, on an icy world. The survivors of the great ship Arkhangelsk, these people have largely forgotten their past, clinging only to the knowledge that they fled an Earth ravaged by war and conflicting politics. Life is hardscrabble, but it is a life. Nevertheless, Anya is the Chief Peace Officer, and she is determined to get to the bottom of the latest in a long string of disappearances of women from the town. Then her world is torn asunder when another ship from Earth arrives in orbit. Suddenly, they are no longer alone.
This book starts as a murder mystery before taking a hard left turn and then slowly wending back into mystery territory and I am here for it. Bonesteel’s writing style honestly doesn’t do a lot for me, but her plotting is so careful and compelling that it was easy for me to read this book in big gulps.
The relationship between Anya and Maddie, the captain of the starship that arrives, is probably the most significant aspect of the book for me. The ups and downs feel very realistic considering the stresses that occur throughout the story, and I appreciate how Bonesteel plays the attraction between these characters as ambiguous. One can read it as romantic if one wants, but of course, your resident aromantic book reviewer always prefers to headcanon that it is platonic or queerplatonic instead. Anya and Maddie nevertheless have some kind of bond, yet the friction between them becomes an interesting and useful part of the story.
Some aspects of the plot, and the characters behind them, are fairly despicable. I like that Bonesteel is able to make these characters’ motivations very clear and understandable to us—they aren’t moustache-twirling villains even if that is how I feel about what they are up to. But the main enemy, in almost all senses, is time. The antagonists are working against the depredations of time on their genomes and bodies, and the arrival of new people from Earth heralds a new race against the clock, as it is only a matter of time before more ships arrive.
I also appreciate how the book highlights the irreplaceable importance of community and interdependence. This outpost cannot ultimately survive on its own, as much as many of its members would like to think so. Neither can the exiles. Nor can Maddie’s ship. The reconnection with Earth is terrifying in a cultural sense, for these people are rightly worried about what might happen to their fragile society as more and more people with strange ideas arrive. Yet the message is clear: we are stronger together. I, for one, find that heartening.
Arkhangelsk is what I might call a medley of a novel. It has several plots tightly curled together, mysteries and friendships and betrayals and a wistful admission that space travel is ultimately lonely yet perhaps … necessary. Bonesteel surpasses my expectations in a subgenre that often disappoints me with its unimaginative nihilistic view on humanity’s prospects. Instead, she elevates the challenges of this setting into a story that persuades me of its worthiness, and I don’t mind that one bit.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
An isolated outpost of humanity subsists, barely, on an icy world. The survivors of the great ship Arkhangelsk, these people have largely forgotten their past, clinging only to the knowledge that they fled an Earth ravaged by war and conflicting politics. Life is hardscrabble, but it is a life. Nevertheless, Anya is the Chief Peace Officer, and she is determined to get to the bottom of the latest in a long string of disappearances of women from the town. Then her world is torn asunder when another ship from Earth arrives in orbit. Suddenly, they are no longer alone.
This book starts as a murder mystery before taking a hard left turn and then slowly wending back into mystery territory and I am here for it. Bonesteel’s writing style honestly doesn’t do a lot for me, but her plotting is so careful and compelling that it was easy for me to read this book in big gulps.
The relationship between Anya and Maddie, the captain of the starship that arrives, is probably the most significant aspect of the book for me. The ups and downs feel very realistic considering the stresses that occur throughout the story, and I appreciate how Bonesteel plays the attraction between these characters as ambiguous. One can read it as romantic if one wants, but of course, your resident aromantic book reviewer always prefers to headcanon that it is platonic or queerplatonic instead. Anya and Maddie nevertheless have some kind of bond, yet the friction between them becomes an interesting and useful part of the story.
Some aspects of the plot, and the characters behind them, are fairly despicable. I like that Bonesteel is able to make these characters’ motivations very clear and understandable to us—they aren’t moustache-twirling villains even if that is how I feel about what they are up to. But the main enemy, in almost all senses, is time. The antagonists are working against the depredations of time on their genomes and bodies, and the arrival of new people from Earth heralds a new race against the clock, as it is only a matter of time before more ships arrive.
I also appreciate how the book highlights the irreplaceable importance of community and interdependence. This outpost cannot ultimately survive on its own, as much as many of its members would like to think so. Neither can the exiles. Nor can Maddie’s ship. The reconnection with Earth is terrifying in a cultural sense, for these people are rightly worried about what might happen to their fragile society as more and more people with strange ideas arrive. Yet the message is clear: we are stronger together. I, for one, find that heartening.
Arkhangelsk is what I might call a medley of a novel. It has several plots tightly curled together, mysteries and friendships and betrayals and a wistful admission that space travel is ultimately lonely yet perhaps … necessary. Bonesteel surpasses my expectations in a subgenre that often disappoints me with its unimaginative nihilistic view on humanity’s prospects. Instead, she elevates the challenges of this setting into a story that persuades me of its worthiness, and I don’t mind that one bit.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
March 9, 2022
4.5*
Arkhangelsk is such a unique story. Part mystery, part new-world sci-fi, it has a little something for everyone. Anya and her people are trying to survive on an icy planet far from Earth. They assume themselves to be the last outpost of humanity, as their ancestors fled a dying planet hundreds of years ago. Only... here comes another ship and they aren't as alone as they'd assumed!
I don't want to give too much of the story away, because at its heart, it really is quite a mystery. Sure, the sci-fi elements are great, but I also wouldn't want to spoil anything. So I am going to just give you a brief overview of what I enjoyed about the story, and you can just... read it yourself!
►Loved (and loved to hate, in some cases) the characters. They were really well developed, and I absolutely felt for Anya from the start. I mean, her whole world is turned upside down more than once, and you can tell that she is battling some demons of her own. I liked that we got to meet so many of the newcomers as well, as they had their own great story to tell.
►Incredibly atmospheric. I mean, this planet isn't fun. It's a constant fight for survival, with the elements, sickness, lack of resources, and fellow man. And it sure felt it! It was totally understandable why everyone was so... ill at ease here. The planet is just... it's not a good one, okay? But they're alive, and trying to stay that way, and you can definitely feel the desperation, the isolation, and the secrecy.
►There is a great mix of emotions. A lot of stuff that happens is a bit depressing, but the author does a great job of balancing that out with romance and friendship and humor. And yeah, a bit of hopefulness, too.
►The mysteries kept me flying through the pages. There are a lot of unknowns presented, and perhaps some mistruths, and when one mystery was solved, it often brought up several more, and I was here for every single one. I didn't see the twists coming, and I really enjoyed peeling back the world(s) layer by layer.
Bottom Line: A very exciting and unique story with a lot of mysteries to unfurl, complete with characters I really cared for.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Arkhangelsk is such a unique story. Part mystery, part new-world sci-fi, it has a little something for everyone. Anya and her people are trying to survive on an icy planet far from Earth. They assume themselves to be the last outpost of humanity, as their ancestors fled a dying planet hundreds of years ago. Only... here comes another ship and they aren't as alone as they'd assumed!
I don't want to give too much of the story away, because at its heart, it really is quite a mystery. Sure, the sci-fi elements are great, but I also wouldn't want to spoil anything. So I am going to just give you a brief overview of what I enjoyed about the story, and you can just... read it yourself!
►Loved (and loved to hate, in some cases) the characters. They were really well developed, and I absolutely felt for Anya from the start. I mean, her whole world is turned upside down more than once, and you can tell that she is battling some demons of her own. I liked that we got to meet so many of the newcomers as well, as they had their own great story to tell.
►Incredibly atmospheric. I mean, this planet isn't fun. It's a constant fight for survival, with the elements, sickness, lack of resources, and fellow man. And it sure felt it! It was totally understandable why everyone was so... ill at ease here. The planet is just... it's not a good one, okay? But they're alive, and trying to stay that way, and you can definitely feel the desperation, the isolation, and the secrecy.
►There is a great mix of emotions. A lot of stuff that happens is a bit depressing, but the author does a great job of balancing that out with romance and friendship and humor. And yeah, a bit of hopefulness, too.
►The mysteries kept me flying through the pages. There are a lot of unknowns presented, and perhaps some mistruths, and when one mystery was solved, it often brought up several more, and I was here for every single one. I didn't see the twists coming, and I really enjoyed peeling back the world(s) layer by layer.
Bottom Line: A very exciting and unique story with a lot of mysteries to unfurl, complete with characters I really cared for.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
April 20, 2022
The people living on an ice-bound planet in the city of Novayarkha are surviving, but life is precarious. The outside is extremely hostile, they are constantly exposed to radiation, and people die much too young. But they seem to have a spirit of unity and common purpose, because they evacuated years ago from a dying Earth.
So when a starship from Earth appears, ideas and culture are questioned.
This story is told from the perspectives of Anya - a peacekeeper in Novayarkha, and Maddie, the captain of the starship Hypatia. Many of the problems they faced were so subtle, and I loved how things about the past and the present were uncovered little by little. I
I really loved this book and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it. I'll be thinking about it for awhile.
So when a starship from Earth appears, ideas and culture are questioned.
This story is told from the perspectives of Anya - a peacekeeper in Novayarkha, and Maddie, the captain of the starship Hypatia. Many of the problems they faced were so subtle, and I loved how things about the past and the present were uncovered little by little. I
I really loved this book and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read it. I'll be thinking about it for awhile.
January 17, 2023
"You think you escaped from Earth? You're fools, every one of you. All you did was bring it with you."
Novayarkha is a colony on a harsh planet where its residents have carved out a living against all odds. Living in the remains of the dismantled colony ship Arkhangelsk can be tough, with all sorts of health risks and radiation to contend with, but its population is more or less content with their lot in the universe and convinced that the "old world" (Earth) is no more. What they believe is then turned on its head as a starship sent from Earth on an entirely different mission appears in orbit, and Anya, the head peace officer, makes an unlikely friend in space.
There's a lot going on here, as the story is part murder mystery, part sci-fi dystopia, part found family/romance (depending on how deep you read between the lines). I thought it mostly worked out well, actually, with the beginning dovetailing neatly into the conclusion at the end. I thought the relationship between Anya and the captain of the starship was sweet, and I really loved the author's writing style throughout. There's a lot to think about here with themes of gene manipulation, xenophobia, and mob justice prevalent. I particularly liked the old Arkhangelsk logs left throughout the book, as it starts to paint a very different picture from what Anya learned about their origins growing up.
I'm really glad to have given this book a shot, and look forward to trying out more books by this author now that I've discovered them.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Novayarkha is a colony on a harsh planet where its residents have carved out a living against all odds. Living in the remains of the dismantled colony ship Arkhangelsk can be tough, with all sorts of health risks and radiation to contend with, but its population is more or less content with their lot in the universe and convinced that the "old world" (Earth) is no more. What they believe is then turned on its head as a starship sent from Earth on an entirely different mission appears in orbit, and Anya, the head peace officer, makes an unlikely friend in space.
There's a lot going on here, as the story is part murder mystery, part sci-fi dystopia, part found family/romance (depending on how deep you read between the lines). I thought it mostly worked out well, actually, with the beginning dovetailing neatly into the conclusion at the end. I thought the relationship between Anya and the captain of the starship was sweet, and I really loved the author's writing style throughout. There's a lot to think about here with themes of gene manipulation, xenophobia, and mob justice prevalent. I particularly liked the old Arkhangelsk logs left throughout the book, as it starts to paint a very different picture from what Anya learned about their origins growing up.
I'm really glad to have given this book a shot, and look forward to trying out more books by this author now that I've discovered them.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2022
In recent weeks I have seen multiple reviewers mention that Elizabeth Bonesteel's Central Corps series is a hidden gem that too many people are sleeping on. So when I had an opportunity to read her new standalone novel, I jumped at the chance. I did get a free copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Arkhangelsk is an interesting twist on a first contact novel - the citizens of Novayarkha, a city built on an icy planet, think that their ancestors were all that remained of Earth's population when they set out on a generation ship 400 years prior. Much to their surprise, a ship shows up with humans that left Earth just 40 years ago on a mission to build an ansible in preparation for additional exploration missions that will be coming. Novayarkha treats the revelation with dismay and distrust, wondering what upheaval and change these events will bring. The story is told in two points of view, alternating between Novayarkha's chief peace officer Anya, and the captain of the newly arrived ship, Maddie.
The alternating points of view is an excellent way to watch the story unfold - from Anya's perspective, we learn about Novayarkha's history and customs and day-to-day life. From Maddie's point of view, we learn how things aren't entirely what they seem, and the flaws that Anya had been blind to about life on the icy planet. The two perspectives give the story a depth and richness that wouldn't have been possible if only one person had been the main character.
Overall the story has a slower pace, but a very steady and even one that doesn't drag anywhere. The first contact element was very interesting to watch unfold. There is a lot of explanation about how the icy city was created and has survived despite the odds for anyone who likes their sci-fi with a dash of survivalism. There is enough mystery and hints of hidden things that I was always curious about what would be revealed next and was very eager to get back to it every time I had to put it down. The conclusions to all of the threads were satisfying.
Now I am especially eager to get to Bonesteel's Central Corps series, having enjoyed this one as much as I did.
Arkhangelsk is an interesting twist on a first contact novel - the citizens of Novayarkha, a city built on an icy planet, think that their ancestors were all that remained of Earth's population when they set out on a generation ship 400 years prior. Much to their surprise, a ship shows up with humans that left Earth just 40 years ago on a mission to build an ansible in preparation for additional exploration missions that will be coming. Novayarkha treats the revelation with dismay and distrust, wondering what upheaval and change these events will bring. The story is told in two points of view, alternating between Novayarkha's chief peace officer Anya, and the captain of the newly arrived ship, Maddie.
The alternating points of view is an excellent way to watch the story unfold - from Anya's perspective, we learn about Novayarkha's history and customs and day-to-day life. From Maddie's point of view, we learn how things aren't entirely what they seem, and the flaws that Anya had been blind to about life on the icy planet. The two perspectives give the story a depth and richness that wouldn't have been possible if only one person had been the main character.
Overall the story has a slower pace, but a very steady and even one that doesn't drag anywhere. The first contact element was very interesting to watch unfold. There is a lot of explanation about how the icy city was created and has survived despite the odds for anyone who likes their sci-fi with a dash of survivalism. There is enough mystery and hints of hidden things that I was always curious about what would be revealed next and was very eager to get back to it every time I had to put it down. The conclusions to all of the threads were satisfying.
Now I am especially eager to get to Bonesteel's Central Corps series, having enjoyed this one as much as I did.
May 25, 2022
4.5. So glad l was introduced to this book. Loved the setting and characters and the plot has some good twists. It’s a stand-alone I think, and it works well that way, but I really wanted to know how the society and people changed and progressed
June 5, 2022
The occupants of a lost colony, far from Earth, believe themselves to be the last remnants of humanity - until a spaceship from the planet they left on the verge of destruction shows up, beginning a cascading series of revelations about their history and their present that change their world forever. Arkhangelsk is a novel brimming with themes from what we do to survive to the necessity of hope, through parenthood and the meaning of family. While it is slow-going at first, Elizabeth H. Bonesteel wraps these various themes into a solid story that builds to a satisfying conclusion. Did I see a couple of twists coming? Sure, but not all of them. Plus, that's also a sign of a world that works.
I have mixed feelings about the decision to tell this story from multiple first-person perspectives. On the one hand, being inside the head of someone from the colony and someone from the spaceship so thoroughly gives Bonesteel the opportunity to show their contrasting perspectives and experiences; furthermore, that perspective allows the revelations as they dawn to feel genuine. On the other, it leaves many of the background characters feeling flat compared to Anya and Maddie, our narrators. But those two, a few others, and the world in which they live work so well together that it's difficult to complain - this is a solid science fiction story with much to say about political and social organization and how those things change.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
I have mixed feelings about the decision to tell this story from multiple first-person perspectives. On the one hand, being inside the head of someone from the colony and someone from the spaceship so thoroughly gives Bonesteel the opportunity to show their contrasting perspectives and experiences; furthermore, that perspective allows the revelations as they dawn to feel genuine. On the other, it leaves many of the background characters feeling flat compared to Anya and Maddie, our narrators. But those two, a few others, and the world in which they live work so well together that it's difficult to complain - this is a solid science fiction story with much to say about political and social organization and how those things change.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.
January 15, 2022
2.5 stars it was ok.
Sci-FI spec fiction with a touch of platonic lesbian romance.
A generation spaceship leaves behind a unstable earth ( not anything specific but maybe i missed it) and land on an Icy planet where they try and rekindle humanity. Centuries later another ship happens upon them (or on purpose hmm) and the interaction between the 2 different people groups leads to some shocking events.
Centers on two women, both descendants of the people who stayed and left earth centuries before.
Science isn't too heavy, although i had to look up some stuff to better understand. The story centers more on the human interactions that happen between two groups of people lost in space trying to survive in quite different yet the same ways.
There is enough to keep you interested in wanting to know more, especially with the characters and the way they interact with each other and their society. But it did start to get way to over written and wordy and i had to smack my hand every time i wanted to skim ahead.
Still id recommend reading it, and I'll be checking out more from this author
Sci-FI spec fiction with a touch of platonic lesbian romance.
A generation spaceship leaves behind a unstable earth ( not anything specific but maybe i missed it) and land on an Icy planet where they try and rekindle humanity. Centuries later another ship happens upon them (or on purpose hmm) and the interaction between the 2 different people groups leads to some shocking events.
Centers on two women, both descendants of the people who stayed and left earth centuries before.
Science isn't too heavy, although i had to look up some stuff to better understand. The story centers more on the human interactions that happen between two groups of people lost in space trying to survive in quite different yet the same ways.
There is enough to keep you interested in wanting to know more, especially with the characters and the way they interact with each other and their society. But it did start to get way to over written and wordy and i had to smack my hand every time i wanted to skim ahead.
Still id recommend reading it, and I'll be checking out more from this author
October 9, 2024
Interesting but not a real page turner. Dragged at times, but I did enjoy the setting and the premise of the human race starting over on an icy planet and the efforts to survive.
April 1, 2022
*** Received a reader copy through NetGalley ***
*** I will do my best to avoid spoilers ***
Real rating: 4.5*
I wasn't sure that I would like Arkhangelsk. While the topic seemed interesting the book started off, in my mind, a little slow and it took me time to get through the opening few paragraphs. But once the stage was set and the characters introduced? I enjoyed the book very much.
While many of the books I read are for escapist reasons, Arkhangelsk brought me in because of the situation in which the characters find themselves. I do have to admit that, after reading the book, I'm not sure that the book description does the book justice. It almost seems as if the description is based on an early version of the book (or a version that was never published) and while it "sort of" describes the book it doesn't bring the full depth of the book into play.
There are two societies interacting in the book: people who thought they were the last remnants of humanity and those who represent the current state of humanity. Each has had to undergo hardships and each has pushed themselves in different directions to accommodate those hardships. But the key to the book is how far each society is willing to go to survive. The interplay between people, the tension inherent in the situation and the resulting conclusion are what made me continue reading.
I could envision the society on Arkhangelsk as feasible, and I could almost feel their pain and struggles.
Is the book perfect? No. I struggled a bit with the beginning, not sure why, but once I had some continuous time to read it felt much better. The book is a well-written and well-told story. Was I surprised at some of the events that occurred? Not really. The events that led up to the conclusion were what I expected. The conclusion itself was a twist that I didn't expect, but perhaps should have based on the clues that were laid out in the book.
I would recommend this to others that have some time to invest in the book because I think it is an investment that pays off.
*** I will do my best to avoid spoilers ***
Real rating: 4.5*
I wasn't sure that I would like Arkhangelsk. While the topic seemed interesting the book started off, in my mind, a little slow and it took me time to get through the opening few paragraphs. But once the stage was set and the characters introduced? I enjoyed the book very much.
While many of the books I read are for escapist reasons, Arkhangelsk brought me in because of the situation in which the characters find themselves. I do have to admit that, after reading the book, I'm not sure that the book description does the book justice. It almost seems as if the description is based on an early version of the book (or a version that was never published) and while it "sort of" describes the book it doesn't bring the full depth of the book into play.
There are two societies interacting in the book: people who thought they were the last remnants of humanity and those who represent the current state of humanity. Each has had to undergo hardships and each has pushed themselves in different directions to accommodate those hardships. But the key to the book is how far each society is willing to go to survive. The interplay between people, the tension inherent in the situation and the resulting conclusion are what made me continue reading.
I could envision the society on Arkhangelsk as feasible, and I could almost feel their pain and struggles.
Is the book perfect? No. I struggled a bit with the beginning, not sure why, but once I had some continuous time to read it felt much better. The book is a well-written and well-told story. Was I surprised at some of the events that occurred? Not really. The events that led up to the conclusion were what I expected. The conclusion itself was a twist that I didn't expect, but perhaps should have based on the clues that were laid out in the book.
I would recommend this to others that have some time to invest in the book because I think it is an investment that pays off.
March 20, 2022
Believing their people were the last of humanity, the inhabitants of Novayarkha suddenly found that they weren’t when a starship from Earth appears. Anya Savelova is head peace officer of the underground city and is fascinated by these new people who have arrived there to install a transceiver to allow communication with Earth, which is still inhabited by billions of people. Anya and the captain of the Hypatia, Maddie Loineau, begin learning the secrets of the Arkhangelsk (the ship that brought the colonists to the planet), the leaders of Novayarkha, and the people left back on Earth, as they try to solve mysteries that will help both the colonists and the newcomers survive a hostile planet. The story jumped around quite a lot, with excerpts from records, Maddie’s logs and her and Anya’s viewpoints, as we learned more about what happened in the past, as well as what was happening in the current time, which made things interesting, but also a little bit confusing at times. Things did wrap up pretty well in the conclusion, although I’m curious about a couple of things. Although I had a few small issues with the story, I enjoyed it and I definitely look forward to reading anything else this author writes. I recommend her earlier Central Corps series, which I very much enjoyed.
March 4, 2022
Have you ever picked up a book solely for its title? Meaning you saw the title, found it intriguing and went for it? That’s what I did with Arkhangelsk by Elizabeth H. Bonesteel. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not completely crazy. The cover was fascinating, and blurb appealed to me. But, the title of Arkhangelsk was my selling point.
My overall feel for this book was it was interesting. The premise was certainly a curious one. People who escaped Earth thinking they are the last of humanity, living on a hostel planet suddenly finds they they aren’t the only ones from that planet. Equally surprised is the starship crew discovering long ago forgotten colonists. Both hesitant but needing each other assistance. All very interesting to me. This book has a little bit of everything. A dystopian society, a mystery to solve, intrigue to discovery, characters to enjoy, all wrapped up in this entertaining Sci-Fi story.
And in as much as I liked the book, I did have a few issues with it. I liked the characters and the plot but there were times I felt it all dragged. Or felt dry. I know it can’t always be edge of your seat excitement and there is some building to the storyline that needs to occur. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the friendship that Anya and Maddie built. These two women from different worlds, both have suffered so much and what developed between them made for good reading. It’s just, sometimes I felt myself struggle to stay within the moment of the story.
Good cover. Cool title. It was interesting enough to read once. Not sure I will read it again.
Stars: 3
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My overall feel for this book was it was interesting. The premise was certainly a curious one. People who escaped Earth thinking they are the last of humanity, living on a hostel planet suddenly finds they they aren’t the only ones from that planet. Equally surprised is the starship crew discovering long ago forgotten colonists. Both hesitant but needing each other assistance. All very interesting to me. This book has a little bit of everything. A dystopian society, a mystery to solve, intrigue to discovery, characters to enjoy, all wrapped up in this entertaining Sci-Fi story.
And in as much as I liked the book, I did have a few issues with it. I liked the characters and the plot but there were times I felt it all dragged. Or felt dry. I know it can’t always be edge of your seat excitement and there is some building to the storyline that needs to occur. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the friendship that Anya and Maddie built. These two women from different worlds, both have suffered so much and what developed between them made for good reading. It’s just, sometimes I felt myself struggle to stay within the moment of the story.
Good cover. Cool title. It was interesting enough to read once. Not sure I will read it again.
Stars: 3
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 14, 2022
Exceptional. At its heart, it’s a story of becoming your next self in your 50s, and the story of friendships both new and long-standing. It’s also the story of dealing with the realization that a portion of the people in your community will openly support inhumanity to others if it serves them. Lastly, it’s a story of finding hope in tough times.
Some themes reminded me of Ursula LeGuin.
It’s beautifully written without being too flowery or verbose. It’s feminist. And it’s well plotted with twists I didn’t see coming.
Some themes reminded me of Ursula LeGuin.
It’s beautifully written without being too flowery or verbose. It’s feminist. And it’s well plotted with twists I didn’t see coming.
December 27, 2021
I enjoyed Arkangelsk but it's an odd combination of a book. It's part murder mystery, part dystopian, part romance, and part there's something niffy going on.
The book kept jumping between Anya the peaceofficers viewpoint, and Maddie the captain of a spaceship. There is also records in between certain chapters that tell of the history of Arkhangelsk before the original ship landed on the planet.
I'd call it a romance, but that's probably a little up to debate. You could just as easily make an argument for fierce friendships as this was an entirely clean story, the worst you got was some handholding. But the instant fascination between the two screams ace romance to me. I kind of want that plot, so maybe I'm biased.
At some parts there were quite a lot of suspense, and I wish it was just a little bit more that I could have called it horror. But sadly there it is lacking a little. It kept teasing "there's something iffy going on here" but the revelation isn't that big of a horror show as I'd want. I kept waiting for the records to show some big nasty secret, but most of them were rather dull imo.
Either way, a thoroughly enjoyable read. I enjoying getting to know this society under the ice, how they've developed into the society they are, the blossoming friendship between two strangers and figuring out the mystery behind it all.
The book kept jumping between Anya the peaceofficers viewpoint, and Maddie the captain of a spaceship. There is also records in between certain chapters that tell of the history of Arkhangelsk before the original ship landed on the planet.
I'd call it a romance, but that's probably a little up to debate. You could just as easily make an argument for fierce friendships as this was an entirely clean story, the worst you got was some handholding. But the instant fascination between the two screams ace romance to me. I kind of want that plot, so maybe I'm biased.
At some parts there were quite a lot of suspense, and I wish it was just a little bit more that I could have called it horror. But sadly there it is lacking a little. It kept teasing "there's something iffy going on here" but the revelation isn't that big of a horror show as I'd want. I kept waiting for the records to show some big nasty secret, but most of them were rather dull imo.
Either way, a thoroughly enjoyable read. I enjoying getting to know this society under the ice, how they've developed into the society they are, the blossoming friendship between two strangers and figuring out the mystery behind it all.
August 4, 2022
This is a fascinating, captivating book. It is at once a first-contact story, a murder mystery, a story of the survival of a culture in an unremitting, harsh environment, and the painting of the alien, the other, as existential threats, when they are in fact so similar to yourself that you could have been twins separated at birth.
The characters seem very real. Their motivations seem very much their own. The primary characters are at once likable, and irritating; flawed, limited, but deeply courageous; idiosyncratic but plausible.
The book seems to say that the outcome is not the result of a single hero's actions, and not even about a collection of strong characters who find a way to live together, but about the dynamics of the social system. Here that system consists of under a thousand people, comprising three groups, but the scale is large enough to extrapolate into the dynamics of nation states.
The characters seem very real. Their motivations seem very much their own. The primary characters are at once likable, and irritating; flawed, limited, but deeply courageous; idiosyncratic but plausible.
The book seems to say that the outcome is not the result of a single hero's actions, and not even about a collection of strong characters who find a way to live together, but about the dynamics of the social system. Here that system consists of under a thousand people, comprising three groups, but the scale is large enough to extrapolate into the dynamics of nation states.
June 15, 2022
I don't read a lot of science fiction, but the synopsis for Arkhangelsk sounded intriguing and I am so glad that I gave it a chance. It is a great sci-fi thriller that I could not put down. I enjoyed it from the start, but it really picked up around the middle and didn't let up until the end. There were several twists and some I didn't see coming.
The characters felt real, and nothing felt over-the-top. There were some characters that I didn't like, but I think that helps make a book good and feel more real. I liked how the backstory was provided throughout the book as mission logs.
I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans as well as thriller fans.
Thank you to NetGalley and House Panther Publishing for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.
The characters felt real, and nothing felt over-the-top. There were some characters that I didn't like, but I think that helps make a book good and feel more real. I liked how the backstory was provided throughout the book as mission logs.
I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans as well as thriller fans.
Thank you to NetGalley and House Panther Publishing for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.
June 4, 2022
Ebook/Science Fiction:. This was a cross between Logan's Run, Wool, and Demolition Man where everything you believe in your semi-perfect society is wrong.
Without giving away the plot, I will say that I liked this book a lot. There were points that weren't explained to the reader as well as they should have. I felt myself drifting away at times because I kept trying to figure out what the governor was hiding. The backstory to the ship in the archives wasn't as clear as it should have been and I wanted to know more about the insurrection that launched the ship.
Without giving away the plot, I will say that I liked this book a lot. There were points that weren't explained to the reader as well as they should have. I felt myself drifting away at times because I kept trying to figure out what the governor was hiding. The backstory to the ship in the archives wasn't as clear as it should have been and I wanted to know more about the insurrection that launched the ship.
dnf
November 6, 2023Inscrutable. I think the author was trying to get to plot points, but sort of like a jumping spider on ketamine might. I don't know what to tell you, I only got maybe 15% in, and literally I don't know who anyone is or what they were trying to achieve. Too bad, this had a lot of big ideas that sounded great. It just needed a lot more finesse.
September 29, 2024
“You think you escaped from Earth? You’re fools, every one of you. All you did was bring it with you.”
Centuries ago, the Old World (Earth) was not only dying but corrupt. Before the planet - an humanity - ultimately collapses, a large group of cultists boarded a generation ship with the aim of saving humanity, not just any humans but only those who were free of sin and had a perfect DNA. This ship was called Arkhangelsk. The cultists succeeded in settling in a frozen country that is very much not-Earth-like. The thing is, the settlement has been found, and maybe all those people who were told that the Old World was dead and they were the only humans alive were wrong (or lied to).
So, Bonesteel had an amazing idea here. It took a while for the book to get started and I can say the first 100 pages were very much world-building and getting to know what is what and who is who. The book has two POVs, one being Anya who is from the settlement, and the other one is Maddie, the Captain of the ship from Earth, the Hypatia. The two characters are physically similar, but their personalities and how they see the world are very much someone from Earth (emotional, sarcastic, open-minded) and someone who has been raised in a more dictatorial environment (a yes ma’am). Anya isn’t entirely a rule follower because she’s got strong morals, or she is portrayed that way in her POVs, but when we see her from Maddie’s POV, that morality and stubbornness are just incredibly subtle, which has been very cool to see.
Now, I won’t go into detail about the book because there is a lot going on. It’s a strange mix of world planetary romance (that is, an adventure that happens on a planet with extreme or exotic environments, here being how everything is frozen), mystery (disappearances, a possible murder, the Exiles…), and political intrigue. But it was also very much about human dynamics, which was sort of cool if it weren’t for how… apathetic the characters were. I love Bonesteel’s stories, but her writing is detailed, her stories slow, and the characters are quite dry or bland (or maybe it just lacks humor, though Maddie had a few good lines here and there).
The story also had a few question marks for me. I didn’t quite understand key points of the story such as what Maddie and her crew were doing, or why Yulia was so worried about who would come after. In addition. The whole Maddie stuff made little sense - they were trained when they were under 15 and they cannot hear back from Earth, so I’m just confused at how focused they are on their mission. I get why she was chosen as Captain, but how does she know how to be Captain? She’s never interacted with anyone outside the ship after they left Earth (other than sending letters without getting a reply). And, following this thought - considering they know they won’t see another sunrise nor see Earth again (or chances are that), why did no one consider just staying in the planet from the get go? AND, what/who is the Colonel? Did I miss the description? I somehow understood he was like an AI thing. But then he turned out to have a tube connected somewhere and could cry? I was so confused.
Some bits like the inside of the ship and how the ship lands rubbed the wrong way - ships don’t land on their stomach. And stairs and lifts may be needed not for atrophy but because of gravity. Gravity is barely mentioned which I think would have been interesting, and when it is brought up as a plot device it made no sense (to me).
Also 1) I hated Aleksei from second one and 2) we need to stop it with the breeding stuff in sci-fi please it is nightmar fuel for me at this point.
Favorite bits:
I’ve always known, Vostochny, that we’d be asking Hina to shoulder an unforgivable burden. That she’d be piloting Hypatia home for us, and that most likely she’d be watching all of us die along the way. But I never really felt that until today. And...I don’t think I know how to ask her to do that anymore.
—
“How is it humanity did not die out?”
“As far as I know, we survived the way we always do.”
“How is that?”
“Dumb luck.”
—
Apparently my plan to spike nuke that whole fucking city seemed extreme to the others, because they locked me up for a while. Six whole days, in fact.
Centuries ago, the Old World (Earth) was not only dying but corrupt. Before the planet - an humanity - ultimately collapses, a large group of cultists boarded a generation ship with the aim of saving humanity, not just any humans but only those who were free of sin and had a perfect DNA. This ship was called Arkhangelsk. The cultists succeeded in settling in a frozen country that is very much not-Earth-like. The thing is, the settlement has been found, and maybe all those people who were told that the Old World was dead and they were the only humans alive were wrong (or lied to).
So, Bonesteel had an amazing idea here. It took a while for the book to get started and I can say the first 100 pages were very much world-building and getting to know what is what and who is who. The book has two POVs, one being Anya who is from the settlement, and the other one is Maddie, the Captain of the ship from Earth, the Hypatia. The two characters are physically similar, but their personalities and how they see the world are very much someone from Earth (emotional, sarcastic, open-minded) and someone who has been raised in a more dictatorial environment (a yes ma’am). Anya isn’t entirely a rule follower because she’s got strong morals, or she is portrayed that way in her POVs, but when we see her from Maddie’s POV, that morality and stubbornness are just incredibly subtle, which has been very cool to see.
Now, I won’t go into detail about the book because there is a lot going on. It’s a strange mix of world planetary romance (that is, an adventure that happens on a planet with extreme or exotic environments, here being how everything is frozen), mystery (disappearances, a possible murder, the Exiles…), and political intrigue. But it was also very much about human dynamics, which was sort of cool if it weren’t for how… apathetic the characters were. I love Bonesteel’s stories, but her writing is detailed, her stories slow, and the characters are quite dry or bland (or maybe it just lacks humor, though Maddie had a few good lines here and there).
The story also had a few question marks for me. I didn’t quite understand key points of the story such as what Maddie and her crew were doing, or why Yulia was so worried about who would come after. In addition. The whole Maddie stuff made little sense - they were trained when they were under 15 and they cannot hear back from Earth, so I’m just confused at how focused they are on their mission. I get why she was chosen as Captain, but how does she know how to be Captain? She’s never interacted with anyone outside the ship after they left Earth (other than sending letters without getting a reply). And, following this thought - considering they know they won’t see another sunrise nor see Earth again (or chances are that), why did no one consider just staying in the planet from the get go? AND, what/who is the Colonel? Did I miss the description? I somehow understood he was like an AI thing. But then he turned out to have a tube connected somewhere and could cry? I was so confused.
Some bits like the inside of the ship and how the ship lands rubbed the wrong way - ships don’t land on their stomach. And stairs and lifts may be needed not for atrophy but because of gravity. Gravity is barely mentioned which I think would have been interesting, and when it is brought up as a plot device it made no sense (to me).
Also 1) I hated Aleksei from second one and 2) we need to stop it with the breeding stuff in sci-fi please it is nightmar fuel for me at this point.
Favorite bits:
I’ve always known, Vostochny, that we’d be asking Hina to shoulder an unforgivable burden. That she’d be piloting Hypatia home for us, and that most likely she’d be watching all of us die along the way. But I never really felt that until today. And...I don’t think I know how to ask her to do that anymore.
—
“How is it humanity did not die out?”
“As far as I know, we survived the way we always do.”
“How is that?”
“Dumb luck.”
—
Apparently my plan to spike nuke that whole fucking city seemed extreme to the others, because they locked me up for a while. Six whole days, in fact.
July 28, 2025
I wrote about this book for the Ignyte-winning, Hugo-winning blog Nerds of a Feather:
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/07/...
http://www.nerds-feather.com/2025/07/...
March 4, 2022
Anya, the main character, whose viewpoint is represented for about half of the pages, is a peace officer. Charged with keeping order, she is immediately thrown into the plot of Arkhanglesk when a young woman goes missing – on a frozen iceberg of a planet where the population lives underground in a closed system. The unfortunate history of the community is that people do go missing. Theories float, but Anya means to find the truth.
A bit about the colony. The people of Novaryakha are thought to be the last of the escapees from a dying Earth. They made their way across the galaxy in a 200-year journey and used the pieces of their spacecraft, Arkhangelsk, to create their home. Their settlement is odd combination of ancient technology and the innovation the colonists needed to survive.
Soon, they find out that Earth has survived when another ship, Hypatia, arrives in their system to set up a communications relay to facilitate future space travel. Captained by Madeline (Maddie – who’s viewpoint alternates with Anya), their 40-year journey has been fraught with the hazards of space.
The Hypatia crew and the residents of Novarykha look at each other with both distrust and a healthy dose of curiosity. When the two groups decide to cooperate, their actions tend to feed distrust and curiosity equally. Novarykaha is not sure they want more people in their corner of the galaxy. Hypatia is suspicious of the settlement.
There is one more force to consider on Novarykha. A group of exiles who left the main settlement is a constant thorn in the side of the those they left behind.
It is impossible to highlight all the important plot points – so complex is this story. As Anya’s investigation continues, the interactions between the crew of Hypatia and the colonists uncover vulnerabilities and strengths on all sides, leading to attacks, cooperation and the terrible revelations. Throughout the story, Anya and Maddie remain determined and hopeful.
Scattered, throughout the story are bits of historical documents. These give the reader a satisfying bit of backstory for both the colonists and Hypatia’s mission.
There is so much in this astonishing character-driven story that I have been thinking about it for days, even weeks, after I finished reading it. Having truly enjoyed Ms. Bonesteel’s Central Corp books, I think Archangelsk is even better. This story had all the signs of a possible disaster in the making. Instead, little disasters lead to knowledge, self-realizations and optimism for anyone who cares to grow and move forward.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A bit about the colony. The people of Novaryakha are thought to be the last of the escapees from a dying Earth. They made their way across the galaxy in a 200-year journey and used the pieces of their spacecraft, Arkhangelsk, to create their home. Their settlement is odd combination of ancient technology and the innovation the colonists needed to survive.
Soon, they find out that Earth has survived when another ship, Hypatia, arrives in their system to set up a communications relay to facilitate future space travel. Captained by Madeline (Maddie – who’s viewpoint alternates with Anya), their 40-year journey has been fraught with the hazards of space.
The Hypatia crew and the residents of Novarykha look at each other with both distrust and a healthy dose of curiosity. When the two groups decide to cooperate, their actions tend to feed distrust and curiosity equally. Novarykaha is not sure they want more people in their corner of the galaxy. Hypatia is suspicious of the settlement.
There is one more force to consider on Novarykha. A group of exiles who left the main settlement is a constant thorn in the side of the those they left behind.
It is impossible to highlight all the important plot points – so complex is this story. As Anya’s investigation continues, the interactions between the crew of Hypatia and the colonists uncover vulnerabilities and strengths on all sides, leading to attacks, cooperation and the terrible revelations. Throughout the story, Anya and Maddie remain determined and hopeful.
Scattered, throughout the story are bits of historical documents. These give the reader a satisfying bit of backstory for both the colonists and Hypatia’s mission.
There is so much in this astonishing character-driven story that I have been thinking about it for days, even weeks, after I finished reading it. Having truly enjoyed Ms. Bonesteel’s Central Corp books, I think Archangelsk is even better. This story had all the signs of a possible disaster in the making. Instead, little disasters lead to knowledge, self-realizations and optimism for anyone who cares to grow and move forward.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 13, 2022
I received a digital copy of Arkhangelsk through Net Galley in return for an honest review.
Many years ago a spaceship carrying colonists fled an earth racked by incessant war reached the frozen, desolate planet they called Arkhangelsk.. As far as is known, Earthside communication has ended with Earth.
Arkhangelsk is a forbidding refuge that is written to resemble the frozen Siberian north , only more so. Everyone lives in enclosed habitats.Tavel outside the habitats is possible but dangerous ; decontamination areas must be used to renter living space. But people do venture outside to escape for a while, the restrictions of wall. Some go out and never return.
Tamara,a police officer, is tasked by an influential friend to find a missing daughter. Tamara reluctantly agrees, but there are other concerns: a mysterious object has been glimpsed in the skies. A meteor, comet, asteroid?? Should it impact the frozen planet, damage might kill everyone.
As Tamara investigates, the reader learns more about this world the abhor has created and the bleak life of the colonists. The story in , in my opinion quite complex and requires attention from the reader. It is definitely not of the “space opera “ genre, but more thoughtful . Character driven and , one might say, planet driven, the book surprises when that distant object in the sky becomes a spaceship from a Earth, Hypatia. From this point we get differing points of view intersecting stories and some surprises.
Summary: for sci- fi fans who enjoy a deeper immersion into hard sci-fi, Arkhangelsk is a rewarding trip.
Many years ago a spaceship carrying colonists fled an earth racked by incessant war reached the frozen, desolate planet they called Arkhangelsk.. As far as is known, Earthside communication has ended with Earth.
Arkhangelsk is a forbidding refuge that is written to resemble the frozen Siberian north , only more so. Everyone lives in enclosed habitats.Tavel outside the habitats is possible but dangerous ; decontamination areas must be used to renter living space. But people do venture outside to escape for a while, the restrictions of wall. Some go out and never return.
Tamara,a police officer, is tasked by an influential friend to find a missing daughter. Tamara reluctantly agrees, but there are other concerns: a mysterious object has been glimpsed in the skies. A meteor, comet, asteroid?? Should it impact the frozen planet, damage might kill everyone.
As Tamara investigates, the reader learns more about this world the abhor has created and the bleak life of the colonists. The story in , in my opinion quite complex and requires attention from the reader. It is definitely not of the “space opera “ genre, but more thoughtful . Character driven and , one might say, planet driven, the book surprises when that distant object in the sky becomes a spaceship from a Earth, Hypatia. From this point we get differing points of view intersecting stories and some surprises.
Summary: for sci- fi fans who enjoy a deeper immersion into hard sci-fi, Arkhangelsk is a rewarding trip.
October 4, 2024
I liked this even more than I anticipated. Both the ice-planet setting and the slower-paced futuristic setting make this a reasonable readalike for fans of Mickey7.
In addition to the two narrators, there are a number of reports and logs from other historical characters; I struggled a bit with placing these in time, especially as they aren't in order nor are the characters discussed or present anywhere else in the story.
The narrative happens over the course of several months, but the passage of time didn't feel quite right-- it felt like it happened faster, and only the narration reminding the reader that it had been so many weeks since the previous scene kept it from bunching up.
There were several elements in the backstory of both groups that aren't fully explored. Maybe making room for a sequel? although the narrative felt pretty wrapped up otherwise. The more action-y sequences didn't always make complete sense in retrospect, as this author's strength seems to be world- and society-building.
Recommended for public libraries were various types of futuristic fiction circulate well. Both groups are from Russian-speaking cultures and no one speaks English. The two main narrators are LGBT+ and there are occasional references to the society's relaxed opinions about monogamy and gender in relationships.
eARC from NetGalley.
In addition to the two narrators, there are a number of reports and logs from other historical characters; I struggled a bit with placing these in time, especially as they aren't in order nor are the characters discussed or present anywhere else in the story.
The narrative happens over the course of several months, but the passage of time didn't feel quite right-- it felt like it happened faster, and only the narration reminding the reader that it had been so many weeks since the previous scene kept it from bunching up.
There were several elements in the backstory of both groups that aren't fully explored. Maybe making room for a sequel? although the narrative felt pretty wrapped up otherwise. The more action-y sequences didn't always make complete sense in retrospect, as this author's strength seems to be world- and society-building.
Recommended for public libraries were various types of futuristic fiction circulate well. Both groups are from Russian-speaking cultures and no one speaks English. The two main narrators are LGBT+ and there are occasional references to the society's relaxed opinions about monogamy and gender in relationships.
eARC from NetGalley.
January 2, 2022
I found this book very interesting and engaging. It is very well written. The sci-fi setting is very fundamental to the plot, but it's more of an introspective detective story. Anya is a peace officer for a tiny, isolated colony on a remote planet. Insurrection on the colony ship necessitated diversion to this less than ideal location. It's extremely cold, the atmosphere is not breathable, and the surface is exposed to gamma radiation. From dispatches sent by the colony ship, you have a sense from the start that there is something not quite straightforward about the politics in the colony. There have been a series of murders or suicides that Anya investigates. Anya is a pacifist, but her staff seem not to be, and the political structure is much more authoritarian than democratic. The colonists speak Russian, and largely seem to love and obey their governor for no other reason than that she is powerful and in charge. The appearance of another spaceship, 40 years out from Earth on a mission to place a communications satellite, serves to crack open the status quo in the colony and some dark truths and disturbing behavior emerge. This is not, however, a horror story, though at times it walks a fine line. The ending is satisfying and leaves room for optimism. I highly recommend!
February 25, 2022
A fantastic genre-bender: speculative fiction, sci-fi, dystopian, some mystery, and subtle horror, all woven together by realistic characters and political intrigue! I never really knew to what or where the story was leading, and the culmination of storylines was entirely satisfying without being too crowded or confusing.
An overarching theme is that of population control: a small colony surviving on a frozen planet believe they’re the last of humanity, but they’re plagued by illness and infertility, and for two centuries its leaders seek solutions, toeing notions of ethics in order to preserve mankind.
The story’s perspective bounces between two strong female protagonists, both whom have suffered incredible losses and both trying to navigate politics and purpose. There’s no explicit physical romance but there’s a sense of an ace romance founded on fierce friendship that I really enjoyed. Definitely a character-driven story with a spectacular plot, not quite hard sci-fi (but enough sciency jargon to make me feel dumb, haha).
As the story wrapped up it can sit well as a stand-alone, but could also be opened up to sequels — which I would definitely pick up!
An overarching theme is that of population control: a small colony surviving on a frozen planet believe they’re the last of humanity, but they’re plagued by illness and infertility, and for two centuries its leaders seek solutions, toeing notions of ethics in order to preserve mankind.
The story’s perspective bounces between two strong female protagonists, both whom have suffered incredible losses and both trying to navigate politics and purpose. There’s no explicit physical romance but there’s a sense of an ace romance founded on fierce friendship that I really enjoyed. Definitely a character-driven story with a spectacular plot, not quite hard sci-fi (but enough sciency jargon to make me feel dumb, haha).
As the story wrapped up it can sit well as a stand-alone, but could also be opened up to sequels — which I would definitely pick up!
December 30, 2021
An incredibly realistic Sci-Fi dealing with a human colony on a distant, icy planet, when a new ship - also of humans arrive. Can they learn to trust each other? What are their true purposes?
Told through multiple point of view - from character dialogue and memories, to archive files, to transmissions, you'll learn about why humans left the Earth in the first place and the perilous journey both ships faced to arrive.
There is also a bit of a mystery woven in - members of the colony, Novayarkha, have mysteriously disappeared over the years. Could it be the result of a separate secret group called The Exiles? What is their purpose?
This book does a great job of dealing with the issues of interspace travel as well as the difficulties humanity would face starting a new colony. Ultimately the age old question comes into play - how far will you go to preserve what you have?
Told through multiple point of view - from character dialogue and memories, to archive files, to transmissions, you'll learn about why humans left the Earth in the first place and the perilous journey both ships faced to arrive.
There is also a bit of a mystery woven in - members of the colony, Novayarkha, have mysteriously disappeared over the years. Could it be the result of a separate secret group called The Exiles? What is their purpose?
This book does a great job of dealing with the issues of interspace travel as well as the difficulties humanity would face starting a new colony. Ultimately the age old question comes into play - how far will you go to preserve what you have?
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