The Observer Effect

Singularity #2

by R.M. Olson

They’ve made it behind the portal. Now they have to survive what they find on the other side …
After a disaster leaves their diplomatic ship destroyed and the ragged survivors numbering only dozens, Ambassador Alba Espina’s mission goes from negotiating a political alliance with a previously uncontacted sapient species, to trying desperately to keep the tiny band of survivors alive in a hostile alien environment.
Surviving first contact with the aliens is hard enough. But it soon becomes apparent that these aliens are hiding something they’re willing to kill to keep secret. The desperate remnants of the crew is looking to Alba to save them, and searching for answers risks their survival. But now that both species knows the other exists, if Alba doesn’t find out what the aliens are hiding, she risks the survival of every human in the Joias System.

421 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 2022

About the author

R.M. Olson writes queer, feel-good space opera, featuring diverse casts, found families, and loads of action. R.M. has ridden the Trans Siberian railway, jumped off the highest bungee jump in the world, gone cage-diving with great white sharks, faced down a charging buffalo bull, and knows how to milk a goat. Currently they reside in Alberta, Canada with their four children, three cats, and a dog the size of a small bear. R.M. goes hiking and skiing more often than they probably have time for, eats more chocolate than is probably good for them, and reads more books than is probably prudent.

Reviews

[Susan Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ani is still the best part of this series. She is just a deadly delight and every scene she's in is my favorite. Some of the other characters get to show a little more nuance in this second book, particularly Alba and Savina. Aran and Istvay are still the top humans. There's a lot of political intrigue and twisty alien plots.

Ends on a stopping point but where nothing major is resolved. I've noticed that's sort of a thing with this author - there's a lot of plot developments where things get worse and worse and not so many resolutions. The reader also knows more than each individual character so that can be a little frustrating as it takes a long time for the characters to learn what the reader already knows. That's not worth a whole ratings star though when I enjoyed the book so much.

Once again I am looking forward to the next release!

[Amy (I'd Rather Be Sleeping) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the length of time it took me to read this book isn't entirely the book's fault (I started it in January, was sick, in the hospital, had surgery, then a three month recovery where my focus was not the highest) - some of it is. This book starts off very slow. Very slow. And, I have to admit, I had certain expectations of how the book would go and the book very much did not go in that direction. I did enjoy it. It's very readable, and a good portion of the characters are likable. (Aran, specifically, for our narrators. Alba is okay most of the time - but she needs a reality check. Savina is...interesting I suppose is the best I can say about her.) I am looking forward to the next book and it looks like the cast may not be all at the same place (which is a surprise and could be very interesting - especially because so far all the plotlines have been enjoyable and interesting).

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! This takes off where book 1 ended and the reader is not left disappointed. Our strange and eclectic survivors of the portal closing are stranded on an alien planet. The politics, language, and customs are unknown to the humans, but they manage to (mostly) figure it out.
The characters are awesome and the world building is pretty incredible. It's really easy to envision this planet and the aliens as the future of humanity.
I highly recommend this series!

[Flowridia Lavellan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Savina...

[Jessalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun romp with my favorite crew! I love every character to absolute pieces!!!