A Song of Salvation

by Alechia Dow

From the author of The Sound of Stars and The Kindred comes a YA space opera about a reincarnated god and a grumpy pilot on a mission to save a beloved space DJ and stop an intergalactic war.
 
Zaira Citlali is supposed to die. After all, she’s the god Indigo reborn. Indigo, whose song created the universe and unified people across galaxies to banish Ozvios, the god of destruction. Although Zaira has never been able to harness Indigo’s powers, the Ilori Emperor wants to sacrifice her in Ozvios’s honor. Unless she escapes and finds Wesley, the boy prophesized to help her defeat Ozvios and the Ilori, once and for all.
 
Wesley Daniels didn’t ask for this. He just wants to work as a smuggler so he can save enough money to explore the stars. Once he completes his biggest job yet—bringing wanted celebrity Rubin Rima to a strange planet called Earth—he’ll be set for life. But when his path crosses with Zaira, he soon finds himself in the middle of an intergalactic war with more responsibility than he bargained for.
 
Together, Zaira, Wesley, and Rubin must find their way to Earth and unlock Zaira’s powers if they’re going to have any hope of saving the universe from total destruction.
 
Don’t miss these reads from Alechia Dow:
The Sound of Stars
The Kindred

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Queer, Space Opera

345 pages, Hardcover

First published July 11, 2023

About the author

Alechia Dow is a former pastry chef, food critic, culinary teacher, and Youth Services librarian. When not writing about determined black girls (like herself), you can find her chasing her wild child, baking, or taking teeny adventures.

Reviews

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Alechia Dow's approach to sci-fi. It's joyful and hopeful and fun, even while it deals with trauma. A Song of Salvation is supposedly a standalone, but really it's the conclusion of a trilogy and you would do yourself a disservice by not reading the previous two companion novels first. This offers a lovely and very satisfying conclusion to the series, complete with appearances from the main characters in previous books. This time the main characters are the reincarnated embodiment of a goddess and a gay smuggler who helps her on her journey and finds love along the way. There is an intergalactic war, lots of aliens, and the search for cosmic balance with a good dose of romance as well. I really enjoyed it and would recommend the entire series! I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.

[Glenda Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

A song of salvation is my first Alechia Dow book, I've enjoyed the characters and world building. The story is told by Wesley, Rubin and Zaira. It has found family, Magic, instant love, adventure and action. Zaira has the powers of the God Indigo inside her, but she can’t use them to save herself from being sacrificed, stop the planetary war or save her dying planet. Zaira is a fat, Black demisexual/Grayace God. Wesley is a smuggler and Rubin is a podcast. Both Wesley and Rubin are Black and Demisexual/Demiromantic. There’s a lot of Black and Queer Representation.

Also there’s some cameos of other characters from Alechia Dow’s two other Sci-Fi books, Sound of Stars and The Kindred.

Thanks to colored pages book tours, author Alechia Dow and Inkyard Press for an opportunity to spotlight the book and a finished copy.

[Alison G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, although Alechia Dow's 3 amazing sci-fi books aren't listed as a series or a trilogy, they are VERY MUCH THAT in my opinion, in the way that the first 3 books of the Graceling series are a trilogy. Although they focus on different sets of main characters and even different time periods, each book connects characters and events from the others. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed after finishing The Sound of Stars and not knowing exactly HOW things were all going to work out, and after finishing The Kindred and knowing how much sadness and destruction were coming, so getting this book, with equally delightful main characters (though nothing will ever top Felix and Joy's experiences on Earth, tbh), was a fantastic way to see how all of the storylines and timelines connected and came together in the end, and learning even more about this universe. I don't know if Alechia will continue to write within this universe she's created, but I'd love to see what comes next!

[Ann Zhao · Rating 5 out of 5]

I genuinely wish that Alechia Dow's sci-fi books could be our generation's Star Wars. They are so incredibly full of heart and humor, a love for art, and a zest for life. This book was a fantastic way to wrap up the saga of the universe Alechia has created. The protagonists are a delight in the way they interact with each other and the worlds around them, and the appearances of previous books' characters were a welcome surprise. I just wish it could've lasted a little longer; I didn't want to leave this story!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

So, I have enjoyed all of the novels that Alechia Dow has written in this world. They are certainly able to be read on their own, but I think the reader probably gets a lot more out of it if you know the other characters that pop up from the other books. Anyway, that said, this one was not quite my favorite of the bunch. I still liked it, don't get me wrong! I just felt that at times, it felt a bit safe, even though the characters were certainly in peril, and I just didn't feel quite the same pull. Add to it, the pacing was a little off for me- at parts seeming a bit slow, and then parts almost feeling a bit too quick and easy. But, like I said, there was still plenty of good here!

First, as always, I loved the characters. They were all quite different and well developed, and they worked well together because they all had different strengths. And, I loved all the cameos from characters from the other books, too! It's great to catch up with old favorites while trying to save the universe, eh? There were a lot of great character growth moments, a lot of relationship development (romantic and friendships alike), and the messages are always fabulous. It is very heartfelt, and you will definitely come to love all of the characters.

Bottom Line: While I didn't feel the same intensity as the other books, it was still a solid addition to this world with wonderful characters and some nods to old favorites, too.

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Alchia Dow writes sci-fi. As with her previous two novels in this companion series, A Song of Salvation explored topics such as trauma and colonisation in an impactful and engaging way, whilst also being a epic space adventure filled with joy and love and action. The characters in this book were wonderful and whilst I admit I found myself a little confused at moments, this was an all round enjoyable read and a great way to end a series I would very much like to do a reread marathon of at some point.

If you’re a fan of Becky Chambers’ sci-fi’s, with their wholesome character dynamics and space antics, I would highly recommend Alechia’s books.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by Alechia, and it will most definitely not be my last! ⁣⁣
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This story alternates POVs between Zaira and Wesley, with our lovable extrovert and podcast celebrity Rubin rounding out the trio (and having his own podcast chapters).⁣⁣
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While it did take a bit for the story to get going, by the half way point, I was hooked as Zaira, Wesley, and Rubin were on the run for their lives. The stakes were hang and ALL of the shenanigans ensued. ⁣⁣
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I absolutely loved the normalized queerness as well as Zaira being fat and Black!⁣⁣
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Overall, if you’re looking for a fun, gay, space romp…this is it!

Thank you to Inkyard Press to providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

[Dr. Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Inkyard Press & Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Bless Alechia for this book and wrapping up the open plot lines from both The Sound of Stars and The Kindred! Truly magnificent!

This is also going to be me screaming about all three of these books because they are all entwined with each other. While they aren’t sold as a series, I would vehemently argue that they are and you will get the most from reading these in publication order of The Sound of Stars, The Kindred and finishing with A Song of Salvation.

Ever since The Sound of Stars came out, I have been waiting for more about Ellie and M0rr1s. The Kindred tided me over, but y’all A Song of Salvation came in to sweep me off my feet. I loved this book so much. I loved getting to see how Ellie’s story ends and learning Zaira’s story. Zaira was an amazing MC. I loved seeing her come to understand her power and how to use it. This story also has a bit of revenge and a lot of empowerment specifically for Zaira’s arc and I ate it up!

All of these books take you on a journey, and I would argue A Song of Salvation is the best of them. Truly none of these stories missed, but the way everything feels heightened in Salvation took my breath away! When I heard Fae Crate was making a special edition of A Song of Salvation, I jumped on it so fast. I needed this edition and then I saw the stunning cover! If y’all make dust jackets of the other two, you know where to find me 👀.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 2.5

I didn't like the pacing of this book. The first third was slow-paced and then it got fast paced too quickly. It felt like something was missing. The characters were too familiar with eachother too quickly.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was wonderful! I loved how all 3 books in this universe were intertwined. It was so well done and I was blown away. I love revisiting characters from the other books and seeing where they ended up. They all worked together and it was amazing! I can’t wait to read more of Alechia Dow’s books!

[Azrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

[This review can also be found on my BLOG]

**I received a proof copy from Harper360YA in exchange for an honest review**

CW: violence, war, genocide, murder, death, kidnapping, colonisation, child abuse/neglect, grief
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A Song of Salvation is an exhilarating YA Sci-Fi story full of heart and adventure!

We follow Zaira, a young woman who is the last of her people and the host of a reincarnated Goddess; Wesley, a young pilot and wannabe smuggler who is running from his family’s legacy and Rubin, an intergalactically renowned podcast host. Their lives are unexpectedly thrown together at the brink of an intergalactic war and they find that they each have a bigger part to play than they expected when it comes to help putting a stop to it.

This was my first Alechia Dow book and I enjoyed it so much. I’d heard beforehand that it is linked to her previous two books as they all take place in the same universe and this one includes cameos from previously introduced characters. However, diving into this 3rd instalment first didn’t negatively affect my enjoyment at all as I feel like each of the books work perfectly as a standalone, each with their own individual storyline as part of a wider space opera.

Here we have a fun and hopeful story with great characters that you easily want to get behind, on journeys of self-acceptance and self-actualisation. The worldbuilding is diverse and absolutely fantastic, with many expansive elements that make the universe feel so lived in. Again I haven’t read the previous two books in this universe but I really enjoyed learning about the lore and the backstory of it all in this one! Though light-hearted for the most part there is also some focus on darker themes such as war, morality and neglect.

Being on the shorter side the fast pacing did mean that character relationships felt a little rushed, particularly the romantic ones which definitely fall into insta-love territory. That being said I really loved the little found family at the heart of the story as they had a great dynamic. I just wish we had gotten a few more scenes focusing on the time after their initial meeting/bond early in their relationship to see more development.

All in all, this was a super entertaining and quick read to get through and I definitely eager to go back and read The Sound of Stars and The Kindred at some point to fill in the gaps of what happened preceding the events in this book!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars

[ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Despite having the god Indigo's powers inside her, Zaira can't use them - not to save her dying planet, stop the brewing war, or even save herself from being sacrificed. She's fated to meet Wesley (who only cares about making enough money to be free and on his own) and save the universe. Indigo already did once, but what if Zaira doesn't want to now?

i've been looking forward to reading this ever since i finished The Sound of Stars (so about 3 years ago), and i really enjoyed returning to this universe. it also reminded me of Aurora Rising, so if you enjoyed that i recommend you read this. A Song of Salvation is technically a standalone but i think it's best read as a trilogy in order to best understand the world and characters (that being said, this can still be enjoyed without having read the other 2 books!)

i found so many things about this book intriguing. balance is a big thing - between life and death, creation and destruction, emotions, Zaira's own memories with those of Indigo, and so on. besides that, i loved the emphasis on friendships, found family, and Black characters. there weren't any real cons but a few things did bug me: first, i thought Wesley warmed up a little too quickly to Zaira and Rubin. there were also elements of instant love, which i'm not a fan of. finally, there was one instance where the wrong name was used for a minor character (which hopefully was already caught and fixed!)

thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the arc!

[Zana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll admit, it took me until the midpoint to really get into this story. I had issues with the writing. It just... wasn't good. But I stuck with it because the world building and characters were quite interesting. Also, I loved that black and brown characters were the focus in this novel.

After the midpoint (and when the story really became high stakes), something clicked and the novel really drew me in. Sure, it's very YA, and the FMC, Zaira, is pretty OP as a character with godlike powers, but I still had fun with the MCs traveling through space and going to different settings (such as the space station, Andarra, Mal Ares, and even Earth under Ilori colonization). It was all very creative and fun.

I ended up liking both POV characters, Zaira and Wesley, and while Rubin Rima was that annoying extrovert that rounded up the trio, hell, I even ended up liking him too. His podcast POV chapters were pretty fun to read.

The romance between Wesley and Rubin felt sort of insta-love, but I'll give it a pass since their scenes weren't terrible to read. This next bit is just me projecting, but I do wish Zaira was written as aromantic though. Her romance was definitely insta-love since it was straight up fated mates. Like with every piece of media that tends to put literally every character into a romance, I just wish this could've been the exception.

Unlike some reviewers, I didn't really have an issue with the fact that this was billed as a standalone in a series. The first few chapters left me confused because of the world building, but the more I read on, it became easier to understand how everything pieced together. It pretty much ended up being everyone in the universe vs. the Big Bad Ilori, so it wasn't hard to grasp.

I'd love to pick up the other two novels in this series/universe.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for this arc.

[milliereadsalot · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Harper360YA for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is billed as a standalone, but I really think it should be marketed as part of a series because I just felt like I was missing something the whole time. It all just felt very telling, not showing - I didn’t feel any of the emotions that were supposedly happening for the characters, and because it felt like something was missing, I found myself just not caring about what was going on and skimming a lot of the time. Maybe this genre just isn't for me, or I should have read the author's first book first - but these are billed as standalones, so they should be able to function as standalones.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful cover, and a beautiful book. The story was so unique, while also feeling like teenagers you could meet today. This book definitely falls under the type of sci-fi that feels like fantasy umbrella, but no complaint from me because I enjoy both! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Delaney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know it's supposed to be a standalone, but considering how it had cameos of Alechia Dow's previous characters set in the same world, I think it should be bundled as a series instead. I felt like I was missing information, character backgrounds, romance development, and the stakes of it all. :/

[aspeccharactersoftheday]

Rubin Rima from A Song of Salvation is demiromantic demisexual!
Wesley Daniels from A Song of Salvation is demiromantic demisexual!
Zaira Citlali from A Song of Salvation is acespec!

https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good YA sci-fi playing with traditional tropes like the chosen and keeping you turning pages and having fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kim Krapf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this young adult science fiction title with both queer and POC representation!

This story was told from the POV of the three main characters - Zaira Citalali, the God Indigo reborn; Wesley Daniels, a smuggler; and Rubin Rima, a celebrity podcaster.

The three -initially strangers, but thrown together through twists of fate - become an unlikely family, and find themselves caught in the midst of an intergalactic war. Zaira must defeat her nemesis - the God, Ozvios - and the three must overthrow the universe's oppressors, the Ilori. Will Zaira manage to awaken the God powers within her, and will Wesley overcome his generational trauma and the shadow of his successful family? Will Rubin Rima manage to harness his celebrity for the greater good? Read this fantastic novel to find out!

This was a quick-paced, fun, and excited space drama! I'd love to add this to the young adult section of our library! Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy of this book.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some fun moments sprinkled throughout, unfortunately, the pacing was rough and it read younger than YA to me. Loved Wesley’s POV and Rubin’s commentary, just didn’t feel a connection with Zaira. I loved the world the author created, but the repetitive thoughts/dialogue and the writing style made me not enjoy this as much as I wanted to.

[Alexandra Maag · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! The author acts like everyone needs to state everything 20+ times for us to understand it. The audiobook was driving me nuts less than 2 hours in! Not to mention that the narrators are exhausting to listen to. They sound whiny and like everything is urgent all the time. It’s annoying.

[Lila (teawithalibra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zaira Citlali is the god Indigo (whose song created the universe and saved it from Ozvios, the god of destruction) reborn. The Ilori, the universe's more hated colonizers, want to sacrifice her in Ozvios’s name. With no other options, her grandmother tells her she must escape and find Wesley Daniels, the boy fated to help her finally defeat the god of destruction and his followers.

Wesley Daniels didn’t ask for any of this. All he wants is to explore the stars and avoid the mother he has never been able to be enough for. But when he's offered the most lucrative smuggling job of a lifetime—bringing wanted celebrity Rubin Rima safely to Earth—he has no choice but to take it.

Zaira, Wesley, and Rubin must fight their way to Earth, unlock the full potential of Zaira’s powers, and charge into the battle of a lifetime to save the universe from the literal embodiment of destruction.

This was one of the most beautiful and endearing examples of the found family trope I've read in a while. I think this story had everything a good Space Opera needs: The badass chosen hero, the reluctant one that comes into their bravery, and the personality hire that brings the three of them together. I loved how our three main characters became each other's chosen family, especially after their separate losses and traumas. I think they truly found their strength with each other and made each other better. It was a beautiful characterization.

I love how Dow does SciFi. It's hopeful and exciting at the same time. SciFi is the perfect avenue for postcolonial analysis, and it is so satisfying to read about the universe coming together through kindness and empathy in order to defeat evil. Dow also includes characters of all shapes and sizes, with their own separate strengths and talents to bring to the table. It is beautifully diverse fiction, in addition to being poetic, inspiring, and heartwarming.

[Dana K · Rating 3 out of 5]

{3.5 stars}

A found family romp through space to save the universe… it’s as fun as it sounds. Zaira is the reincarnation of a god out to destroy her nemesis and save the universe. Wesley is a young, gay boy skipping high school to make money doing risky space deliveries. His brother is destined to save the universe and he has always been second fiddle. He is hired to deliver a famous space podcaster to Earth and their paths cross with Zaira as they fight to save the universe from the most recent oppressors.

This one was a fun read. The found family part reminded me of TJ Klune but unlike Klune there was a fast moving plot and fun galactic space building. There is a lot of space / alien jargon so that takes a while to settle with but once you do, it’s an entertaining and heartfelt read. Using music as a weapon was very creative. Lots of good LGBTQ rep too.

Thanks to Inkyard Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

[Shanéia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Harper360YA for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ok this book was not what i expected. I loved the world building, and magical system in this. The political system is complex and you could definitely tell how much time has been put into this. I loved how it had dual perspective too. Both Zaria and Wesley were great main characters, and while they had their flaws, they were able to succeed in spite of them. The whole found family aspect of this was so cute and well done. And Ruben was honestly such a good character too! I could definitely see how reading the authors other books would increase the reading experience of this too. I will definitely be reading those soon! Overall i would recommend if your looking for a sci-fi with found family, and an interesting political system!

*3.75

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Zaira is both a god and not. Wesley is a misfit space pilot who hates school. Can they team up to somehow save the universe?

This story has hope, magic, found family, action, and adventure. I didn't realize it took place in the same universe as the author's previous novels (one of which I've read, while the other is on my list). They don't need to be read in order, but I think it would definitely help, and would be beneficial to have background knowledge going into this story.

There's queer, POC, normalized body rep, and it was all beautiful and casual as opposed to being forced. You want to see these characters succeed! It's a fun adventure.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when YA books feel like they are written for actual teens...The trilogy that didn't feel like a trilogy comes to a very trilogy end and we close the door on a universe that felt alien while still feeling accessible to the age group. Dow takes some notes from other works here, but they feel like loving tips of the hat rather some of the lightly-recycled fan fic published lately–making a distinction, not a judgment, and of course maybe I'm just not enmeshed in fandom enough to see how low on the head that tip really is. Ultimately, a vibrant and enjoyable series that I have and will continue to recommend.

[Spiri Skye · Rating 5 out of 5]

YA space opera with queer rep that delivered exactly what it promised!! The cover is stunningly beautiful but does not do the rage in this book justice. I loved the emotions of each of the characters. This also had an identity reveal which I’m always a sucker for. I love Wesley & Rubin’s relationship so much it kinda reminded me a bit of wesper if they were in space! The found family vibes in this book were everything <3 new comfort read!!

[Jamye Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love space operas then this is for you. We need more of these in YA. I haven’t read any other book from this authors and have read reviews that you should read the others first but I didn’t have any issues reading this novel without the other ones.