Most cosmopolitan city in the universe, and a guy can't even get a freakin' sandwich.
It should be the least of Izo's concerns. After all, he's already been kidnapped by aliens and dragged halfway across the galaxy so they can make a buck off his abilities. And sure, he knew being able to fly made him a little unique. But he had no idea the cult-like—yet strangely marginalized—reputation Avarians held beyond Earth's boundaries.
As he arrives on the Imperial Capital, IA, he's got one cooperate with his captors so they'll get him back home, or split and head out on his own, taking his best shot at returning to Earth—a planet no one's ever heard of.
It isn't much of a choice. Being extorted by a mean reptile, a tele-empathic linguist, and a giant teddy bear who could crush a car seems as bad as it gets—until a powerful CEO-Senator appears from deep within the IA's darkest corners.
With things changing from annoying to alarming, it's up to Izo to navigate a dangerous game of befriend and befraud, or be trapped on the wrong side of the universe forever—several million lightyears from the nearest deli.
Full disclosure, I worked for the publisher at the time of the release of this book, I met the lovely author and her husband over Zoom, but I didn’t read it until after I was no longer working for the publisher.
I really enjoyed this book, and, frankly, I want more. My first encounter was actually with a short story published in Outland’s anthology Bridge to Elsewhere. It was so well written, I knew I could read the novel and be glad for it.
The characters are interesting and varied without it being too confusing or cliche. The world-building works, mostly manners-based societal world building, which I found interesting. The conflicts were probably more societal, relational, as well, but it didn’t feel too overwhelmingly touchy feely.
The last third or so did feel like it was missing conflict though. Not that I didn’t enjoy what progressed, but I keep waiting for a big boss fight or something like that. The “What’s going to happen?” question that you often ask in act four never really happened. It felt like a really long time of every day happenings. I enjoyed it, don’t get me wrong. It just didn’t fit my expectation of what books like this usually do.
Also enjoyed the fashion parts.
And I love that damn cover. Always have. And now that I’ve read it, I like it even more.
The book presents a well-constructed world with characters that seem to flesh out of its pages. The plot is really interesting, keeping the reeding hooked and guessing until the end. Full of action and humor, heartbreakingly sad at moments, the story shows the worst a person can do to another and yet, all of the characters have something that redeems them somehow. Brilliant.
This was a really fun, different read. My only quibble is the lack of an ending. It didn't need to be left unresolved to make me want to read the next book.