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The Waystations Trilogy #1
Those Left Behind
A dying planet. A desperate mission. A crew facing impossible odds. Humanity’s last hope lies with them…
Time is running out for the people of New Pallas. Nobody knows that better than Alvera Renata, a tenacious captain determined to scout past the stars with nothing but a handpicked crew and the promise she made: to find a new home for humanity.
But between navigating the dangers of dark space and playing first contact politics with a galactic civilisation already on the brink of war, Alvera soon realises keeping her word might not be as easy as she thought.
Her only hope may be the secrets of the ancient alien waystations scattered across the galaxy. The mysterious technology could be the key to humanity’s survival—or bring the unwanted attention of the long-forgotten beings who built them.
But remaining united in the face of annihilation is a lot to ask from a crew already splintering under the weight of their differences. A jaded pilot wrestling with his family’s blood-stained legacy looks for a place he can start over. A young translator desperate to leave her mark on the galaxy searches for meaning out in its lawless frontier. And Alvera reckons with the aftermath of betrayal as she fights for a way to save them all.
As they break apart to forge their own paths, Alvera and her crew all face the same question: what are they willing to sacrifice to save those left behind?
Time is running out for the people of New Pallas. Nobody knows that better than Alvera Renata, a tenacious captain determined to scout past the stars with nothing but a handpicked crew and the promise she made: to find a new home for humanity.
But between navigating the dangers of dark space and playing first contact politics with a galactic civilisation already on the brink of war, Alvera soon realises keeping her word might not be as easy as she thought.
Her only hope may be the secrets of the ancient alien waystations scattered across the galaxy. The mysterious technology could be the key to humanity’s survival—or bring the unwanted attention of the long-forgotten beings who built them.
But remaining united in the face of annihilation is a lot to ask from a crew already splintering under the weight of their differences. A jaded pilot wrestling with his family’s blood-stained legacy looks for a place he can start over. A young translator desperate to leave her mark on the galaxy searches for meaning out in its lawless frontier. And Alvera reckons with the aftermath of betrayal as she fights for a way to save them all.
As they break apart to forge their own paths, Alvera and her crew all face the same question: what are they willing to sacrifice to save those left behind?
403 pages, ebook
First published November 12, 2021
114 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read
About the author
N.C. Scrimgeour
8 books133 followersN. C. Scrimgeour is a science fiction and fantasy author whose books focus on character-driven stories in vibrant worlds, from folklore fantasy to space opera.
After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.
She lives in Scotland, where the weather often provides the perfect excuse to sit in front of a computer and work on her next book (while occasionally getting sidetracked by video games).
When she's not writing, she enjoys reading as much fantasy and science fiction as she can get her hands on and cheering on Edinburgh Rugby.
After completing her Masters in English Literature, she went on to work in journalism and communications while pursuing her passion in writing.
She lives in Scotland, where the weather often provides the perfect excuse to sit in front of a computer and work on her next book (while occasionally getting sidetracked by video games).
When she's not writing, she enjoys reading as much fantasy and science fiction as she can get her hands on and cheering on Edinburgh Rugby.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 10, 2025
This was great
May 28, 2025
A dying planet, politics with a galactic civilisation already on the brink of war, a greater conspiracy, a misfit crew.
This should be right up my alley, but I really struggled to connect to this story and I think it was because I struggled with the audiobook.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of and they all veer towards morally grey. I think there was too much going on at once. The plot was fast to keep you on the edge of your seat, but it didn’t slow down enough to ground me in the characters.
It doesn’t help that there is head hopping via an AI which confuses me with only the audio to rely on.
I have always struggled with visualisation and I think this was impeded by trying to intake this via audio.
Saying that, there was one scene where I was fully picturing a scene from Star Wars, so finding out this was heavily inspired, I was not surprised!
I have read other books by this author (physically) and throughly enjoyed them, so read other reviews before deciding and definitely try Sea of Souls!
Audiobook arc gifted by author.
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This should be right up my alley, but I really struggled to connect to this story and I think it was because I struggled with the audiobook.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of and they all veer towards morally grey. I think there was too much going on at once. The plot was fast to keep you on the edge of your seat, but it didn’t slow down enough to ground me in the characters.
It doesn’t help that there is head hopping via an AI which confuses me with only the audio to rely on.
I have always struggled with visualisation and I think this was impeded by trying to intake this via audio.
Saying that, there was one scene where I was fully picturing a scene from Star Wars, so finding out this was heavily inspired, I was not surprised!
I have read other books by this author (physically) and throughly enjoyed them, so read other reviews before deciding and definitely try Sea of Souls!
Audiobook arc gifted by author.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
May 7, 2023
I was cutting it a little bit close to the end of this round with this title. I knew I wanted to read it but I also wanted to leave it for last as a reward since I was expecting to enjoy it quite a bit. Thankfully due to being able to listen to the audio as well as read the ebook, I was able to finish it on time and submit my score.
This book has the kind of beginning I love to have in a sci-fi book. The issues that need to be solved are introduced relatively early on and along with that we also already get an introduction to the ethical issues and tensions in the society at large as well as among the smaller assemble of characters. While these components have plenty added on later on in the book, this gives the story a very solid beginning foundation to build on.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but they were all very distinct from each other and I found myself deeply invested in all of them. The range of characters she created was also very wide, both in the sense of species as well as personality wise. I love how the majority of them seemed to be “good” or “bad” at first glance but later on revealed themselves to be scattered all across the spectrum between white and black. “Morally gray” is my favorite type of character because it often adds a lot more layers to their personality in stories. We were able to see the good and the bad in several of the characters, even those where you’d least expect it, which added a confusing sense of solidarity and compassion for all sides of the conflict.
There were only three things that I struggled with in this book but I would consider them all minor details. Nonetheless, despite being minor, I don’t really want to go into too much detail here because that would give away major plot lines that I don’t want to spoil for you. I just found one particular scene between characters somewhat unrealistic, thought it surprising for another character to have certain resources at her disposal, and one POV wasn’t quite as persuading to me as I would’ve liked because his experiences were fascinating so I would’ve loved for that to have been done a little more convincingly. Overall though, these didn’t affect my enjoyment a whole lot because there were just too many things that I absolutely adored.
Up until this round, this book has easily been my favorite in the competition. It was so well rounded, well written, and had me on the edge of my seat so many times. There is a finalist that I absolutely adore and will read for the third time to give an exact score for the competition but I expect it to be a tight race and believe that Scrimgeour has a very good chance to finish out with the top spot! I’m really looking forward to the books in this last round and how they compare to each other.
This book has the kind of beginning I love to have in a sci-fi book. The issues that need to be solved are introduced relatively early on and along with that we also already get an introduction to the ethical issues and tensions in the society at large as well as among the smaller assemble of characters. While these components have plenty added on later on in the book, this gives the story a very solid beginning foundation to build on.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but they were all very distinct from each other and I found myself deeply invested in all of them. The range of characters she created was also very wide, both in the sense of species as well as personality wise. I love how the majority of them seemed to be “good” or “bad” at first glance but later on revealed themselves to be scattered all across the spectrum between white and black. “Morally gray” is my favorite type of character because it often adds a lot more layers to their personality in stories. We were able to see the good and the bad in several of the characters, even those where you’d least expect it, which added a confusing sense of solidarity and compassion for all sides of the conflict.
There were only three things that I struggled with in this book but I would consider them all minor details. Nonetheless, despite being minor, I don’t really want to go into too much detail here because that would give away major plot lines that I don’t want to spoil for you. I just found one particular scene between characters somewhat unrealistic, thought it surprising for another character to have certain resources at her disposal, and one POV wasn’t quite as persuading to me as I would’ve liked because his experiences were fascinating so I would’ve loved for that to have been done a little more convincingly. Overall though, these didn’t affect my enjoyment a whole lot because there were just too many things that I absolutely adored.
Up until this round, this book has easily been my favorite in the competition. It was so well rounded, well written, and had me on the edge of my seat so many times. There is a finalist that I absolutely adore and will read for the third time to give an exact score for the competition but I expect it to be a tight race and believe that Scrimgeour has a very good chance to finish out with the top spot! I’m really looking forward to the books in this last round and how they compare to each other.
July 2, 2023
*makes vague gestures of approval*
We are saving our reviews and scores for the final round SPSFC books for now, so probably towards the end of May we will all update 😅
Congrats to Those Left Behind on making the finals!
We are saving our reviews and scores for the final round SPSFC books for now, so probably towards the end of May we will all update 😅
Congrats to Those Left Behind on making the finals!
April 28, 2023
Please read my review at the following link:
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2023/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
https://escapistbookcompany.com/2023/...
Thank you for taking the time to read my review. As always, happy reading and Stay Great!!
Read
February 1, 2023RELEASE DAY! I’m so excited for Those Left Behind to be out there for people to get their hands on, and I sincerely hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
This book is the beginning of a story I always wanted to write – a love letter to all the science fiction that’s inspired me over the years, from Star Wars and Firefly to Mass Effect and The Expanse. It’s a space opera on a galaxy-wide scale filled with wonder and exploration, conflict and violence, adventure and even a little bit of romance.
At its heart, Those Left Behind is a story of new beginnings, of exploring the unknown, of first contact politics and a galaxy on the brink of war. It’s about unlikely friendships and crumbling alliances, about ancient alien technology and the dangers lurking beyond the edges of space.
If you decide to give this book a shot, you’ll find a dynamic cast of characters that leap off the page, each with their own fortitude and flaws. You’ll meet ruthless leaders and armoured warriors, world-weary exiles and smugglers with hearts of gold. You’ll join them on their adventures and—I hope—take a part of them with you when it’s finally time to put the book down.
I had so much fun writing this, and I hope you get the same experience when you read it. Give it a shot if you enjoy:
🚀 First contact with alien cultures
✨ Exploring the galaxy with a large cast of characters
⚔️ Unlikely friendships and deadly rivalries
🪐 Stumbling upon ancient technology left behind
This book is the beginning of a story I always wanted to write – a love letter to all the science fiction that’s inspired me over the years, from Star Wars and Firefly to Mass Effect and The Expanse. It’s a space opera on a galaxy-wide scale filled with wonder and exploration, conflict and violence, adventure and even a little bit of romance.
At its heart, Those Left Behind is a story of new beginnings, of exploring the unknown, of first contact politics and a galaxy on the brink of war. It’s about unlikely friendships and crumbling alliances, about ancient alien technology and the dangers lurking beyond the edges of space.
If you decide to give this book a shot, you’ll find a dynamic cast of characters that leap off the page, each with their own fortitude and flaws. You’ll meet ruthless leaders and armoured warriors, world-weary exiles and smugglers with hearts of gold. You’ll join them on their adventures and—I hope—take a part of them with you when it’s finally time to put the book down.
I had so much fun writing this, and I hope you get the same experience when you read it. Give it a shot if you enjoy:
🚀 First contact with alien cultures
✨ Exploring the galaxy with a large cast of characters
⚔️ Unlikely friendships and deadly rivalries
🪐 Stumbling upon ancient technology left behind
December 29, 2023
4.5 stars
I listened to the audiobook of Those Left Behind and I had a good time with it. I think, other than having a good narration, the audiobook was one that worked well as there were specific elements that were accompanied by sound effects to help put you in the moment. For instance, where you have a situation involving radio communication, the voice you hear coming through is distorted a little, perfectly audible, but it just adds to the atmosphere. The same for characters who are speaking through helmets with voice modulators etc.
To the book itself, and there were several different characters who I felt really at home with and I liked reading their individual chapters. I'm looking forward to seeing where some of those go in the future. There was a good level of intensity and there was a good overall story. There's a good level of political intrigue and betrayal in here as well and I'm really interested to see what else there is to offer from this series and this world.
I listened to the audiobook of Those Left Behind and I had a good time with it. I think, other than having a good narration, the audiobook was one that worked well as there were specific elements that were accompanied by sound effects to help put you in the moment. For instance, where you have a situation involving radio communication, the voice you hear coming through is distorted a little, perfectly audible, but it just adds to the atmosphere. The same for characters who are speaking through helmets with voice modulators etc.
To the book itself, and there were several different characters who I felt really at home with and I liked reading their individual chapters. I'm looking forward to seeing where some of those go in the future. There was a good level of intensity and there was a good overall story. There's a good level of political intrigue and betrayal in here as well and I'm really interested to see what else there is to offer from this series and this world.
November 6, 2024
This was really good. Everything I love in a space opera, ships, galaxies, aliens, adventure planets, drama. Some morally ambiguous heroes and no supremely evil bad guys in sight yet made it a fun guessing game.
Will read the next but would love to find it on audio.
Will read the next but would love to find it on audio.
October 5, 2023
3.5/5
+ Cosmic horror
+ Distinct alien races
+ Fast-paced page turner
+ Twist on the first contact trope
+ Space tunnels
Those Left Behind is a fast-paced sci-fi with a twist on the traditional first contact trope. A group of humans fleeing a dying earth and an overcrowded space station shoot through an uncharted space tunnel, hoping beyond hope that the solution lies on the other side.
What they find is an established civilization made up of a myriad of alien races, all with their own culture and vision, attempting to perpetuate the peace between their worlds and nations. And even more surprisingly, other humans. A desperate horde of refugees from a dying world is the last thing this civilization wants, as they fear it may upset the delicate balance of their current political system.
But far beyond any of these immediate concerns is the looming presence of a cosmic horror unlocked and promising not only the end of one world, but all.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Scrimgeour does a wonderful job adding detail to each alien culture and building tension throughout the story. The concept behind the cosmic horror is compelling and terrifying.
I would also suggest this as a great starting point for someone who is interested in dipping a few toes into the sci-fi genre. It's incredibly accessible, and while the themes and concepts are intriguing and well written, they are easy to understand and immerse in.
Overall, a really enjoyable read!
+ Cosmic horror
+ Distinct alien races
+ Fast-paced page turner
+ Twist on the first contact trope
+ Space tunnels
Those Left Behind is a fast-paced sci-fi with a twist on the traditional first contact trope. A group of humans fleeing a dying earth and an overcrowded space station shoot through an uncharted space tunnel, hoping beyond hope that the solution lies on the other side.
What they find is an established civilization made up of a myriad of alien races, all with their own culture and vision, attempting to perpetuate the peace between their worlds and nations. And even more surprisingly, other humans. A desperate horde of refugees from a dying world is the last thing this civilization wants, as they fear it may upset the delicate balance of their current political system.
But far beyond any of these immediate concerns is the looming presence of a cosmic horror unlocked and promising not only the end of one world, but all.
I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Scrimgeour does a wonderful job adding detail to each alien culture and building tension throughout the story. The concept behind the cosmic horror is compelling and terrifying.
I would also suggest this as a great starting point for someone who is interested in dipping a few toes into the sci-fi genre. It's incredibly accessible, and while the themes and concepts are intriguing and well written, they are easy to understand and immerse in.
Overall, a really enjoyable read!
July 2, 2023
3.5/5
This is a solid and fast-paced space opera that gets most things right. My only concern is that it feels a bit overstuffed. Nonetheless, fans of the genre will discover plenty to adore here.
Regarding the audiobook narration, the narrator does an outstanding job.
This is a solid and fast-paced space opera that gets most things right. My only concern is that it feels a bit overstuffed. Nonetheless, fans of the genre will discover plenty to adore here.
Regarding the audiobook narration, the narrator does an outstanding job.
February 28, 2023
This book is a thrill ride from start to finish. Really enjoyed it. I'm always looking for books that give me a Mass Effect vibe and this one definitely does. I will likely continue with this series.
For my full thoughts, check out my upcoming videos where I will talk about all of the SPSFC semifinalists.
For my full thoughts, check out my upcoming videos where I will talk about all of the SPSFC semifinalists.
April 21, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/those-le...
Those Left Behind is the initial book in the Waystations trilogy, written by N. C. Scrimgeour, and part of our assignment for the SPSFC2 semifinals. A space opera with epic proportions, grey characters, multiple POVs and a conflict that spawns several planets are the ingredients of this excellent book.
Time is running out for the New Pallas station. Overpopulation is menacing to finish humanity there unless they manage to find another place in the universe; here is where captain Alvera Renata enters, starting a mission to fulfill her swear: to find a new home for humanity. With this in mind, an interstellar journey using a technology they cannot comprehend; entering into contact with a whole new galactic civilization.
She will soon discover that fulfilling her promise might not be as simple as she thought, as this new civilization is on the verge of war; some of her crew might not share the same sentiment as her, difficulting greatly her purpose.
With this premise, Scrimgeour starts weaving a complex story, told using several POVs, some from the crew of the Ranger, and some from members of the coalition. Bringing humanity from New Pallas would save them from dying of overpopulation, but it would break the difficult equilibrium that maintains the civilization.
Adding to the conflict, some groups are ready for war, trying to destabilize the coalition; and the waystations, left by a more advanced civilization are starting to awake.
In terms of characters, I would say that this is one of the aspects where this book shines. Alvera is an excellent gray character, as despite she's trying to fulfill her mission, sometimes she will have to use questionable methods in order to get it. Her inner conflict will make her struggle, and after a riot appears among some of the Ranger crew, her mission will become even more difficult.
Among the Ranger crew, we have another two POVs, showing the class conflict that exists in New Pallas; being Kojan especially relevant as his loyalty to Alvera will be proved, because the instigator of the riot is her mother.
Scrimgeour also uses different characters spawned across the galaxy to portray the different groups fighting for control, sometimes paying really high prices in order to fulfill their objectives.
The plot is really ambitious, with huge stakes in play at every moment. While this book is the first part of a trilogy, it has plenty of memorable moments, letting all be ready for the next ones; and the pacing works well, despite I would have preferred fewer POV jumps.
Said that, Those Left Behind is an excellent example of what makes a great space opera. If you are a fan of The Expanse or Mass Effect, this book is perfect for you; and in my case, I don't have doubts I will continue with the trilogy.
Disclaimer: This review represents my individual opinion; score and team opinion may vary.
Those Left Behind is the initial book in the Waystations trilogy, written by N. C. Scrimgeour, and part of our assignment for the SPSFC2 semifinals. A space opera with epic proportions, grey characters, multiple POVs and a conflict that spawns several planets are the ingredients of this excellent book.
Time is running out for the New Pallas station. Overpopulation is menacing to finish humanity there unless they manage to find another place in the universe; here is where captain Alvera Renata enters, starting a mission to fulfill her swear: to find a new home for humanity. With this in mind, an interstellar journey using a technology they cannot comprehend; entering into contact with a whole new galactic civilization.
She will soon discover that fulfilling her promise might not be as simple as she thought, as this new civilization is on the verge of war; some of her crew might not share the same sentiment as her, difficulting greatly her purpose.
With this premise, Scrimgeour starts weaving a complex story, told using several POVs, some from the crew of the Ranger, and some from members of the coalition. Bringing humanity from New Pallas would save them from dying of overpopulation, but it would break the difficult equilibrium that maintains the civilization.
Adding to the conflict, some groups are ready for war, trying to destabilize the coalition; and the waystations, left by a more advanced civilization are starting to awake.
In terms of characters, I would say that this is one of the aspects where this book shines. Alvera is an excellent gray character, as despite she's trying to fulfill her mission, sometimes she will have to use questionable methods in order to get it. Her inner conflict will make her struggle, and after a riot appears among some of the Ranger crew, her mission will become even more difficult.
Among the Ranger crew, we have another two POVs, showing the class conflict that exists in New Pallas; being Kojan especially relevant as his loyalty to Alvera will be proved, because the instigator of the riot is her mother.
Scrimgeour also uses different characters spawned across the galaxy to portray the different groups fighting for control, sometimes paying really high prices in order to fulfill their objectives.
The plot is really ambitious, with huge stakes in play at every moment. While this book is the first part of a trilogy, it has plenty of memorable moments, letting all be ready for the next ones; and the pacing works well, despite I would have preferred fewer POV jumps.
Said that, Those Left Behind is an excellent example of what makes a great space opera. If you are a fan of The Expanse or Mass Effect, this book is perfect for you; and in my case, I don't have doubts I will continue with the trilogy.
Disclaimer: This review represents my individual opinion; score and team opinion may vary.
November 16, 2025
I throughly enjoyed this and it was one of the highest quality books I’ve ever read from a self published author!
I didn’t feel like any part of this book was wasted space. There were six main character POVs and all were excellent. The page count was neither too long nor too short for the story the author wanted to tell.
The ideas and universe felt fresh even with the inclusion of some familiar elements and I’m very much looking forwards to reading the next book.
I didn’t feel like any part of this book was wasted space. There were six main character POVs and all were excellent. The page count was neither too long nor too short for the story the author wanted to tell.
The ideas and universe felt fresh even with the inclusion of some familiar elements and I’m very much looking forwards to reading the next book.
July 28, 2022
Have you ever watched someone preparing to cook something and they just seem to be putting every ingredient they can get their hands on, but when you come to taste it it just...works gloriously? That was my impression of this book.
I'm not a big reader of space opera so I can't speak to the many fans of the Expanse and other contemporary series who are clearly responding well to Those Left Behind. I am, however, a Star Wars fan and a Halo fan, and there were many themes from those settings which I saw reflected in this book. The planet of Kaath was one of my favourites, having a similar feel to the underexplored setting of Degobah (and thus made Kojan's thread one of my favourites to follow).
Scrimgeour takes a "more is more" approach to this SciFi story. At times it feels like she had so many ideas and couldn't choose just a few of them to use. This brave course can't have been easy to execute but she does so with finesse. I felt like I was reading a number of stories in parallel but it worked because, on the one hand, each storyline was strong and engaging in its own right, and on the other hand, the threads tying them all together came into view often enough that it never felt incoherent.
The idea of a character with a sentient cybernetic implant was particularly original, providing a novel dynamic and - if I may - a futuristic answer to the Dungeons and Dragons concept of a sentient weapon! The moral complexities portrayed from various points of view are well handled, and the conclusion of the story is especially strong in its introduction of a barely-defined threat above and beyond the conflicts you'd come to expect. Alvera's final chapter is a particularly exciting page-turner.
Those Left Behind is a gripping smorgasbord of themes, settings and moods, treating the reader to just about everything they could want in a space opera novel. I will certainly be showing up for book 2.
I'm not a big reader of space opera so I can't speak to the many fans of the Expanse and other contemporary series who are clearly responding well to Those Left Behind. I am, however, a Star Wars fan and a Halo fan, and there were many themes from those settings which I saw reflected in this book. The planet of Kaath was one of my favourites, having a similar feel to the underexplored setting of Degobah (and thus made Kojan's thread one of my favourites to follow).
Scrimgeour takes a "more is more" approach to this SciFi story. At times it feels like she had so many ideas and couldn't choose just a few of them to use. This brave course can't have been easy to execute but she does so with finesse. I felt like I was reading a number of stories in parallel but it worked because, on the one hand, each storyline was strong and engaging in its own right, and on the other hand, the threads tying them all together came into view often enough that it never felt incoherent.
The idea of a character with a sentient cybernetic implant was particularly original, providing a novel dynamic and - if I may - a futuristic answer to the Dungeons and Dragons concept of a sentient weapon! The moral complexities portrayed from various points of view are well handled, and the conclusion of the story is especially strong in its introduction of a barely-defined threat above and beyond the conflicts you'd come to expect. Alvera's final chapter is a particularly exciting page-turner.
Those Left Behind is a gripping smorgasbord of themes, settings and moods, treating the reader to just about everything they could want in a space opera novel. I will certainly be showing up for book 2.
October 10, 2023
really liked the story and idea behind it. i am really intrigued whats going to happen to the POVs we got in this book. liked them all in different ways.
listened to this on audio and can recommend the narrator. amazing voices and some special effects.
book 2 next month - here i come.
listened to this on audio and can recommend the narrator. amazing voices and some special effects.
book 2 next month - here i come.
March 24, 2023
Congratulations to N.C. Scrimgeour on becoming a SPSFC Semi-Finalist!
July 8, 2023
Really enjoyed this. Fantastic sci-fi space opera. Intricately plotted, great mystery, and character-driven over 5 distinct POVs. I'll definitely be picking up book 2.
July 16, 2023
/* Note: I read this as a finalist for SPSFC2. This review reflects only my personal opinion, not the opinion of the entire team. */
My Score: 7 / 10
There's a lot to like about N.C. Scrimgeour's Those Left Behind, right from the beginning. It launches straight into the story with a captivating first chapter, striking an admirable balance between character introduction and setting the stage for the journey to come. A journey that is fast-paced, action-packed, and explores many exotic locations throughout the galaxy.
The influences of Mass Effect and Star Wars are clear here—there's political dynamics between alien species, a variety of biome planets, and technology closely resembling the Mass Effect relays. But there's enough in the pages that's unique to this story that it still feels fresh. There's an impressive amount packed into the relatively short book, and Scrimgeour accomplishes it by sending each of the 5 POV characters off in different directions.
There is a downside to that, however. While each of the characters was sympathetic, I felt we didn't get to spend enough time with any of them to really dig into their psyche. And some traumatic events are breezed past in favor of keeping the plot moving. This isn't an overly long book—only 25 chapters, meaning we spend just five chapters with each character. Additionally, since everyone has their own plotline, the overall narrative ended up feeling a bit disjointed (that said, many of the POV characters do interact at least once in the book).
Although this did impact my ability to emotionally resonate with the characters during the climax of the book, I still enjoyed the story overall. In particular, I enjoyed the dynamics between cybernetically augmented people and the so-called obsolete. Anyone looking for a fast-paced, expansive space opera with a promise of more to come in the sequel, consider picking up Those Left Behind.
My Score: 7 / 10
There's a lot to like about N.C. Scrimgeour's Those Left Behind, right from the beginning. It launches straight into the story with a captivating first chapter, striking an admirable balance between character introduction and setting the stage for the journey to come. A journey that is fast-paced, action-packed, and explores many exotic locations throughout the galaxy.
The influences of Mass Effect and Star Wars are clear here—there's political dynamics between alien species, a variety of biome planets, and technology closely resembling the Mass Effect relays. But there's enough in the pages that's unique to this story that it still feels fresh. There's an impressive amount packed into the relatively short book, and Scrimgeour accomplishes it by sending each of the 5 POV characters off in different directions.
There is a downside to that, however. While each of the characters was sympathetic, I felt we didn't get to spend enough time with any of them to really dig into their psyche. And some traumatic events are breezed past in favor of keeping the plot moving. This isn't an overly long book—only 25 chapters, meaning we spend just five chapters with each character. Additionally, since everyone has their own plotline, the overall narrative ended up feeling a bit disjointed (that said, many of the POV characters do interact at least once in the book).
Although this did impact my ability to emotionally resonate with the characters during the climax of the book, I still enjoyed the story overall. In particular, I enjoyed the dynamics between cybernetically augmented people and the so-called obsolete. Anyone looking for a fast-paced, expansive space opera with a promise of more to come in the sequel, consider picking up Those Left Behind.
June 7, 2023
This was a first contact book with a twist. I love that we didn’t get the usual storyline that goes with first contact. The humans we are following learn how to use a piece of equipment that was just left in space near their planet. They are way over populated and need more space, so they discover a way to possibly jump beyond their planet and see what is there. How could they know there are already humans there? How could they know that something else is coming? I loved the multi POV in this one and learning about all the different species was so seem less and I loved it! Such a great story!
December 1, 2023
This was a comfort food space opera reminiscent of Mass Effect, which is pretty much the only thing I look for in sci-fi novels.
The writing was efficient and fast paced, and the story went by so fast I was a bit shocked to reach the end. And the end left me wanting to start the next book to figure out all the unanswered questions.
Most of all I had a great time with the characters, who ranged from morally gray, to crafty, to just scraping by. Excited to pick up the next one!
The writing was efficient and fast paced, and the story went by so fast I was a bit shocked to reach the end. And the end left me wanting to start the next book to figure out all the unanswered questions.
Most of all I had a great time with the characters, who ranged from morally gray, to crafty, to just scraping by. Excited to pick up the next one!
September 5, 2025
The first book of a three-part space opera
This book is a fascinating look at how a world crammed with 50 billion souls begins its attempt to escape to the stars. The story is crammed with different characters, all with their own agendas, trying to find their way. Since this is the first book, there will be two more to go to find out how the story ends. So, stay tuned...
This book is a fascinating look at how a world crammed with 50 billion souls begins its attempt to escape to the stars. The story is crammed with different characters, all with their own agendas, trying to find their way. Since this is the first book, there will be two more to go to find out how the story ends. So, stay tuned...
Read
May 18, 2022Review pending...
But if you want to know if I liked it, I'm bingeing book 2 tonight.
But if you want to know if I liked it, I'm bingeing book 2 tonight.
Read
March 20, 2023Read as part of the Self Published Science Fiction Competition - thespsfc.org.
Review to come.
Review to come.
February 28, 2022
Those Left Behind is fantastic. It was both sci-fi nerdy AND approachable - I was highly entertained through the entire thing, and a little sad when it ended. I actually had to put it in another room so I'd leave it alone and focus on work. I'm usually a little afraid of multiple POVs; I have trouble keeping the characters straight. But this story is well written and the voices are distinct. Scrimgeour has written something special here and I cannot WAIT for the next one in the series. If you're into thoughtful sci-fi and character-driven stories, this book should be on your list (and then in your hands - read it!)
December 25, 2021
Abridged version: Those Left Behind by N.C. Scrimgeour is a classic-feeling science fiction story that is simultaneously too long and too short. The book is split amongst five POV characters, each of which goes on a completely different and distinct journeys reminiscent of classic science fantasy series such as Star Wars or Firefly. It's clear that the author is a big fan of these properties and others, but unfortunately this resulted in a lack of focus, and none of the characters get enough time to properly complete their stories, even after 300 pages. Furthermore, the author has not make this an easy read: a plethora of sci-fi names and terms without reminding hints as to what they mean, make this into a frustrating read. They also made the baffling decision to not depict several pivotal scenes, having them occur off-screen or between chapters, only for a character to literally tell not show them to the reader later. This was a frustrating read, and if I wasn’t intending to review it, I would not have finished it.
Full Thoughts (spoilers)
Those Left Behind feels like a classic science fiction story, like a movie from the 90’s of 00’s that you somehow never watched before, or a reboot of some classic science fiction series. Several characters leave an overpopulated cyberpunk world via a stargate and find themselves on the space station from Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The crew finds out that there’s a whole Star Wars style galaxy out there, but before Firefly-style adventures can begin, a mutiny scatters the team into their own distinct stories. They all wander around for another 250 pages, and then the book ends. One goes and hangs out at Jabba the Hutt’s palace, one goes to hang out in a swamp with a lizard, one gets captured and sent to a human world. There’s also a side story with a jedi who escaped order 66, who gets recruited to join up with a sith warrior. Again, there are five POV characters, each of which tells a very different story in roughly five chapters each. This results in a book that is way too long, but also too short for any of the characters to tell a complete story. It also makes it hard to remember what’s happening for each of the characters, since its been 50 pages since their last chapter, and since then they’ve hopped over to a different planet.
In fact it's extremely hard to keep track of anything in the book. Props to the author for going all-out on their world-building, but there is a plethora of character names, species names, places, proper nouns and slang terms, all of which are explained once and never again. I had a lot of trouble keeping track of whats a dachryn or a rivus or a siloean or a idran-var. What's a headtail? How are you meant to pronounce 'sletes' It’s incredibly frustrating to be half way through a 300 page book, and unable to remember if Alvera is the one who has the AI, or the AI itself, or the prince, or the racist. Orjara is introduced as the big bad, but by the time she becomes important several chapters later, I’ve forgotten who Orjara is. There are no explanatory sentences designed to quickly remind the reader who they are. For Orjara in particular this is annoying because she’s the mother of one of the characters, and it would be so easy to utilise this for a quick reminder to the reader ("his mother had escaped!") but her son is pissy at her so only refers to her by her first name. As another example, one of the characters has an AI that lives in their mechanical implants. The AI can jump from character to character (which makes it useless as a character identifier), and can talk to them inside their heads. There is no stylistic difference between the thoughts of the POV character and the voice of the AI when they’re talking this way. No quotation marks, nothing. Why? Why make it harder for the reader to understand the text?
Consider the following passage, wherein the AI talks with one of the other characters.
Keep it in your head, idiot. You never know who might be monitoring the feeds. I know I’m not meant to jump into your cybernetics without asking, but given the circumstances I figured you’d forgive me.
Never thought I’d be glad to hear your voice. But how are you here?
Unlike you, I’m not a complete fool.
There are several ways this could be edited so that its easier for the reader to understand who is speaking, This is a long book, that constantly switches POV and utilises a plethora of made up terms and names the audience is expected to understand - you need to give them all the help you can to prevent it from getting frustrating.
I commented earlier that the book is both too long and too short. This is never more blatant than with the character Ripley, who is the first POV character (and in my opinion should have been the only POV character.) is a poor-turned-rich translator who we’re told is special because not only were they able to rise above their station, but also because they rely on only minimal technological implants. Unfortunately for the character, as soon as the crew go through the stargate, they all get equipped with babel fish universal translators and suddenly the girl hired as a translator is completely made redundant and the character is wasted.
Anyway, Ripley is left on the ship, while several other characters meet with the Federation. During the meeting, we’re first told that Oraja is behaving weirdly, and then that she’s successfully committed mutiny and taken over the ship, killing dozens of people along the way. Oraja calls the Federation and claims that she was actually the commander all along, to which the Federation shrug and say ‘seems legit’, forcing the main crew to scatter and go on the run. Putting aside that this is a very flimsy plot (did the ship not have cameras? Or records of her incarceration? Why did they bring Oraja along at all? Was no one suspicious of the dead bodies? Why were they so quick to turn on the folks who were piloting the ship when they first met them? Do they not have trials or investigations in this galaxy?), it's noted that Ripley was able to survive the mutiny and slink away. So my question is: why was there not a chapter, in Ripley’s POV, when we could have experienced the mutiny? Why was it done off screen? It would have been extremely exciting and compelling, we would have been able to meet Oraja and see why she was such a scary bad guy, and we would have been able to see her goons being good at their job. This all would have made the reader much more invested, as we’d have seen how effective and scary the bad guys were. Instead you told us about it. You had the inciting incident happen off-screen.
And this isn't the only time they do this! In one of Ripley’s later chapters, she’s in Jabba the Hutt’s palace. Jabba is about to buy some rare artifact, when Ripley uses her skill as a translator to realise the artifact is a fake, despite the auto translators thinking it was legit. In response Jabba kills the guy selling them the artifact, and promotes Ripley. This is a scene in which Ripley uses her unique skills and abilities to increase her standing in the organization and progress the plot, and in doing so realizes just how dangerous a situation she’s gotten herself into. AND THIS HAPPENS OFF SCREEN! WE’RE TOLD ABOUT THIS IN PAST TENSE! WHY? If this was a television show, I’d have thought Ripley’s actor had pissed the writers off so they were writing her out of the show.
This book is in need of a revision. A couple more chapters (ugh) from Ripley’s perspective to in those pivotal scenes. A few more descriptive sentences at the start of chapters to let the reader know who is the POV. In future, I’d like to see the author limit the number of POV characters, and try focusing on individuals for the whole story, be it a 50k novella or a 300 page book, rather than splitting up the novel up into five distinct stories. There’s a lot of creativity here, but there’s also a lot of frustration, and when you wear your influences so blatantly on your sleeve, I’m probably more inclined to ditch your book and go back to one of those influences, rather than persist through the frustration.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Full Thoughts (spoilers)
Those Left Behind feels like a classic science fiction story, like a movie from the 90’s of 00’s that you somehow never watched before, or a reboot of some classic science fiction series. Several characters leave an overpopulated cyberpunk world via a stargate and find themselves on the space station from Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The crew finds out that there’s a whole Star Wars style galaxy out there, but before Firefly-style adventures can begin, a mutiny scatters the team into their own distinct stories. They all wander around for another 250 pages, and then the book ends. One goes and hangs out at Jabba the Hutt’s palace, one goes to hang out in a swamp with a lizard, one gets captured and sent to a human world. There’s also a side story with a jedi who escaped order 66, who gets recruited to join up with a sith warrior. Again, there are five POV characters, each of which tells a very different story in roughly five chapters each. This results in a book that is way too long, but also too short for any of the characters to tell a complete story. It also makes it hard to remember what’s happening for each of the characters, since its been 50 pages since their last chapter, and since then they’ve hopped over to a different planet.
In fact it's extremely hard to keep track of anything in the book. Props to the author for going all-out on their world-building, but there is a plethora of character names, species names, places, proper nouns and slang terms, all of which are explained once and never again. I had a lot of trouble keeping track of whats a dachryn or a rivus or a siloean or a idran-var. What's a headtail? How are you meant to pronounce 'sletes' It’s incredibly frustrating to be half way through a 300 page book, and unable to remember if Alvera is the one who has the AI, or the AI itself, or the prince, or the racist. Orjara is introduced as the big bad, but by the time she becomes important several chapters later, I’ve forgotten who Orjara is. There are no explanatory sentences designed to quickly remind the reader who they are. For Orjara in particular this is annoying because she’s the mother of one of the characters, and it would be so easy to utilise this for a quick reminder to the reader ("his mother had escaped!") but her son is pissy at her so only refers to her by her first name. As another example, one of the characters has an AI that lives in their mechanical implants. The AI can jump from character to character (which makes it useless as a character identifier), and can talk to them inside their heads. There is no stylistic difference between the thoughts of the POV character and the voice of the AI when they’re talking this way. No quotation marks, nothing. Why? Why make it harder for the reader to understand the text?
Consider the following passage, wherein the AI talks with one of the other characters.
Keep it in your head, idiot. You never know who might be monitoring the feeds. I know I’m not meant to jump into your cybernetics without asking, but given the circumstances I figured you’d forgive me.
Never thought I’d be glad to hear your voice. But how are you here?
Unlike you, I’m not a complete fool.
There are several ways this could be edited so that its easier for the reader to understand who is speaking, This is a long book, that constantly switches POV and utilises a plethora of made up terms and names the audience is expected to understand - you need to give them all the help you can to prevent it from getting frustrating.
I commented earlier that the book is both too long and too short. This is never more blatant than with the character Ripley, who is the first POV character (and in my opinion should have been the only POV character.) is a poor-turned-rich translator who we’re told is special because not only were they able to rise above their station, but also because they rely on only minimal technological implants. Unfortunately for the character, as soon as the crew go through the stargate, they all get equipped with babel fish universal translators and suddenly the girl hired as a translator is completely made redundant and the character is wasted.
Anyway, Ripley is left on the ship, while several other characters meet with the Federation. During the meeting, we’re first told that Oraja is behaving weirdly, and then that she’s successfully committed mutiny and taken over the ship, killing dozens of people along the way. Oraja calls the Federation and claims that she was actually the commander all along, to which the Federation shrug and say ‘seems legit’, forcing the main crew to scatter and go on the run. Putting aside that this is a very flimsy plot (did the ship not have cameras? Or records of her incarceration? Why did they bring Oraja along at all? Was no one suspicious of the dead bodies? Why were they so quick to turn on the folks who were piloting the ship when they first met them? Do they not have trials or investigations in this galaxy?), it's noted that Ripley was able to survive the mutiny and slink away. So my question is: why was there not a chapter, in Ripley’s POV, when we could have experienced the mutiny? Why was it done off screen? It would have been extremely exciting and compelling, we would have been able to meet Oraja and see why she was such a scary bad guy, and we would have been able to see her goons being good at their job. This all would have made the reader much more invested, as we’d have seen how effective and scary the bad guys were. Instead you told us about it. You had the inciting incident happen off-screen.
And this isn't the only time they do this! In one of Ripley’s later chapters, she’s in Jabba the Hutt’s palace. Jabba is about to buy some rare artifact, when Ripley uses her skill as a translator to realise the artifact is a fake, despite the auto translators thinking it was legit. In response Jabba kills the guy selling them the artifact, and promotes Ripley. This is a scene in which Ripley uses her unique skills and abilities to increase her standing in the organization and progress the plot, and in doing so realizes just how dangerous a situation she’s gotten herself into. AND THIS HAPPENS OFF SCREEN! WE’RE TOLD ABOUT THIS IN PAST TENSE! WHY? If this was a television show, I’d have thought Ripley’s actor had pissed the writers off so they were writing her out of the show.
This book is in need of a revision. A couple more chapters (ugh) from Ripley’s perspective to in those pivotal scenes. A few more descriptive sentences at the start of chapters to let the reader know who is the POV. In future, I’d like to see the author limit the number of POV characters, and try focusing on individuals for the whole story, be it a 50k novella or a 300 page book, rather than splitting up the novel up into five distinct stories. There’s a lot of creativity here, but there’s also a lot of frustration, and when you wear your influences so blatantly on your sleeve, I’m probably more inclined to ditch your book and go back to one of those influences, rather than persist through the frustration.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 23, 2025
A dying planet. A desperate mission. A crew facing impossible odds. Humanity’s last hope lies with them…
I first discovered this author through her Scottish-inspired fantasy Sea of Souls (which I loved) so I really wanted to read the sci-fi trilogy which I saw her promoting. I am so glad I picked up this book!
This is one of those books where the summary barely scratches the surface of what is to come, and I love that. I went in with little expectations of following the journey of a captain wanting to save humanity, but I got so much more. This is a fast paced story filled with a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and experiences. There are alliances, and politics and so much more that I do not want to spoil for any potential readers.
In front of them, there was only darkness. In front of them, there was only hope.
With our cast of characters they are all incredibly flawed. They all have a history rich with experiences that has caused pain or influenced the way they think or feel. One of the biggest themes of this book is the assumptions that they hold of one another. The prejudices they put on others versus the prejudices they also face. It's really interesting to see both sides and understand more of what has led them to that point. But what I loved more was the exploration that they are more than the bodies they are born in.
“We’re not what they tell us we are. We’re more than the sum of flesh and matter inside these metal shells. You can be too.”
The character development is fantastic. Now, character development doesn't always mean growth in a positive direction. Some characters develop in a way that fuels their hatred and prejudice. I just think it's brilliant storytelling to include different perspectives. It adds that human touch to a very challenging situation.
The other theme of this book was an ethical perspective. How far will someone go to do the right thing, and can they live with what they have to do in support of that goal? It leverages Kantianism which rejects the idea that in pursuit of doing good, the ends justify the means. But it's a common scenario for our characters and often they are pushed by their heart and caught between two very difficult options.
Friends were scarce when you had a mother who was feared far more than she was loved. Respect was given sycophantically because of who she was, and later stubbornly withheld for the same damn reason.
The worldbuilding was vast, spread across the galaxy
My biggest downfall for me when reading sci-fi is that I find it difficult to visualise. I like a map, I like to route out where the characters are and how far away from other places. Does anyone else do that? So with sci-fi where we're talking about planets in vast space, I get a bit lost. But I didn't feel that so much with this story. I was never lost as to where they are, and every location had a great balance of descriptive worldbuilding that was woven through dialogue and plot points. I'd still love a map but I don't feel that I'm missing one as it's not impacting my experience reading this story.
I first discovered this author through her Scottish-inspired fantasy Sea of Souls (which I loved) so I really wanted to read the sci-fi trilogy which I saw her promoting. I am so glad I picked up this book!
This is one of those books where the summary barely scratches the surface of what is to come, and I love that. I went in with little expectations of following the journey of a captain wanting to save humanity, but I got so much more. This is a fast paced story filled with a diverse cast of characters from different backgrounds and experiences. There are alliances, and politics and so much more that I do not want to spoil for any potential readers.
In front of them, there was only darkness. In front of them, there was only hope.
With our cast of characters they are all incredibly flawed. They all have a history rich with experiences that has caused pain or influenced the way they think or feel. One of the biggest themes of this book is the assumptions that they hold of one another. The prejudices they put on others versus the prejudices they also face. It's really interesting to see both sides and understand more of what has led them to that point. But what I loved more was the exploration that they are more than the bodies they are born in.
“We’re not what they tell us we are. We’re more than the sum of flesh and matter inside these metal shells. You can be too.”
The character development is fantastic. Now, character development doesn't always mean growth in a positive direction. Some characters develop in a way that fuels their hatred and prejudice. I just think it's brilliant storytelling to include different perspectives. It adds that human touch to a very challenging situation.
The other theme of this book was an ethical perspective. How far will someone go to do the right thing, and can they live with what they have to do in support of that goal? It leverages Kantianism which rejects the idea that in pursuit of doing good, the ends justify the means. But it's a common scenario for our characters and often they are pushed by their heart and caught between two very difficult options.
Friends were scarce when you had a mother who was feared far more than she was loved. Respect was given sycophantically because of who she was, and later stubbornly withheld for the same damn reason.
The worldbuilding was vast, spread across the galaxy
My biggest downfall for me when reading sci-fi is that I find it difficult to visualise. I like a map, I like to route out where the characters are and how far away from other places. Does anyone else do that? So with sci-fi where we're talking about planets in vast space, I get a bit lost. But I didn't feel that so much with this story. I was never lost as to where they are, and every location had a great balance of descriptive worldbuilding that was woven through dialogue and plot points. I'd still love a map but I don't feel that I'm missing one as it's not impacting my experience reading this story.
May 23, 2023
Disclaimer - I received a free copy of this book to review for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC).
Way back in 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi posed the question: "Where is everybody?" Based on the age of the universe, representatives of civilizations living on other planets have had plenty of time to realize that there is life on our planet and reach out to say hello. Since Fermi raised that question scientists and science fiction authors have addressed the issue from many different perspectives. Perhaps one of the darkest ideas is that all of the older civilizations have been wiped out, either by their own hand or by some destructive alien species.
N.C. Scrimgeour’s trilogy, The Waystations, takes a look at this question from an interesting angle. She proposes that civilizations from many different worlds have already met up and banded together and have been waiting for a millennia for us to find the portal to join them. In book one, Those Left Behind, the first group of humans makes their way through the portal to meet the galactic band. Of course, once we meet them we may not like what we find.
Scrimgeour’s book is incredibly addicting. The action is non-stop with each new chapter moving the reader between different characters, conflicts, and worlds. Not only are the range of characters, races, and planets impressive, there are many plots and subplots, all intricate and interwoven. There a large cast of characters, including; Ridley, Alvera, Kojan, Rivus, Niole, and Ojara, and yet Scrimgeour presents them so well you will feel like you have known them for years.
Behind all of the action is the ever present question of the difference between good and evil. Is good done for the wrong reasons better or worse than when bad is done from good intentions? Is the one who developed a weapon any less responsible for the lives taken that the one pulling the trigger? Scrimgeour makes sure that these ethical questions remain in the readers mind no matter how much action is taking place on the pages they are reading.
So how good is Scrimgeour’s book? Well, I ordered the next two books in the trilogy within a minute of finishing book one.
Way back in 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi posed the question: "Where is everybody?" Based on the age of the universe, representatives of civilizations living on other planets have had plenty of time to realize that there is life on our planet and reach out to say hello. Since Fermi raised that question scientists and science fiction authors have addressed the issue from many different perspectives. Perhaps one of the darkest ideas is that all of the older civilizations have been wiped out, either by their own hand or by some destructive alien species.
N.C. Scrimgeour’s trilogy, The Waystations, takes a look at this question from an interesting angle. She proposes that civilizations from many different worlds have already met up and banded together and have been waiting for a millennia for us to find the portal to join them. In book one, Those Left Behind, the first group of humans makes their way through the portal to meet the galactic band. Of course, once we meet them we may not like what we find.
Scrimgeour’s book is incredibly addicting. The action is non-stop with each new chapter moving the reader between different characters, conflicts, and worlds. Not only are the range of characters, races, and planets impressive, there are many plots and subplots, all intricate and interwoven. There a large cast of characters, including; Ridley, Alvera, Kojan, Rivus, Niole, and Ojara, and yet Scrimgeour presents them so well you will feel like you have known them for years.
Behind all of the action is the ever present question of the difference between good and evil. Is good done for the wrong reasons better or worse than when bad is done from good intentions? Is the one who developed a weapon any less responsible for the lives taken that the one pulling the trigger? Scrimgeour makes sure that these ethical questions remain in the readers mind no matter how much action is taking place on the pages they are reading.
So how good is Scrimgeour’s book? Well, I ordered the next two books in the trilogy within a minute of finishing book one.
January 17, 2025
The Waystations Trilogy 01 Those Left Behind by N.C. Scrimgeour
challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.0 Stars
I really enjoyed this book, and the start of the trilogy, but I have to say...that at the beginning to the middle of the story, I was lost.
There are FIVE pov characters, and there are lots of moments while reading the story, that I do NOT know who the bad guys are, and who the good guys are. That in and of itself does not disqualify this from being a good story...for I voraciously read it.
It just means that I had to focus on the story, and how the characters interacted with the story, while trying to figure out the ground that I was standing on (worldbuilding).
It helps that most of the characters that we enter this story with, are also learning as they go. Ridley, ALvera and Kojan are from New Pallas, while Niole and Rivus are from the place they just arrived at.
Also, the races of the characters was interesting to visualize (especially for me), for I'm NOT good at that (not at all).
I think my favourite character throughout the story...was Ridley.
I wanted to like Alvera (and Chase), but there seemed to always be a cloud of doubt within her, and how others felt about her.
I also liked Rivus (for some reason). He's a tortured soul, for which Alvera will learn about, too. The realization that there IS an unknown, is candy. It upsets everthing that we've just learned, and now it has to recontextualize how they (all the POV characters) have to see the future...as it approaches.
Also, the Legionnaires versus the Idran-Var is captivating. The idea of the Flares, and how they are used in battle, and why they are on opposing sides. Very interesting.
I'm picking up The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten...very soon.
challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus? Yes
4.0 Stars
I really enjoyed this book, and the start of the trilogy, but I have to say...that at the beginning to the middle of the story, I was lost.
There are FIVE pov characters, and there are lots of moments while reading the story, that I do NOT know who the bad guys are, and who the good guys are. That in and of itself does not disqualify this from being a good story...for I voraciously read it.
It just means that I had to focus on the story, and how the characters interacted with the story, while trying to figure out the ground that I was standing on (worldbuilding).
It helps that most of the characters that we enter this story with, are also learning as they go. Ridley, ALvera and Kojan are from New Pallas, while Niole and Rivus are from the place they just arrived at.
Also, the races of the characters was interesting to visualize (especially for me), for I'm NOT good at that (not at all).
I think my favourite character throughout the story...was Ridley.
I wanted to like Alvera (and Chase), but there seemed to always be a cloud of doubt within her, and how others felt about her.
I also liked Rivus (for some reason). He's a tortured soul, for which Alvera will learn about, too. The realization that there IS an unknown, is candy. It upsets everthing that we've just learned, and now it has to recontextualize how they (all the POV characters) have to see the future...as it approaches.
Also, the Legionnaires versus the Idran-Var is captivating. The idea of the Flares, and how they are used in battle, and why they are on opposing sides. Very interesting.
I'm picking up The Waystations Trilogy 02 Those Once Forgotten...very soon.
January 25, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up.
This is a big universe that we as readers are thrust into and in spite of all the advances and technological steps forward, people are still people, even when they are alien species. I very much enjoyed this self-pub science fiction story that serves as the entry point into the Waystation trilogy. It begins as a planet is collapsing under its own weight of out-of-control population density and resource scarcity. A small group seeks to find a new home for those citizens but what they find is not exactly what they hoped for.
How this story quickly expanded to encompass not just a planet but a series of systems and species was very well done and made this feel quite epic in scale. It is told from multiple points of view and each one is varied and unique. I hope to see more of these POVs as I continue on in the series, especially Ridley, Niole, and Kojan.
There are definitely high stakes in this tale and it felt tenser and tenser as we reached the concussion of this volume. Now I can't wait to see what this potential enemy that is still to come will be in the next 2 installments.
I listened to the audiobook which was kindly provided by the author for review. The narration by Jared Kedzia, was excellent and some of the added voice effects really helped to separate the characters and added to the experience greatly, For example, when a character was speaking while wearing a helmet, the voice actually sounded like it was being spoken from within a helmet. Highly recommended.
This is a big universe that we as readers are thrust into and in spite of all the advances and technological steps forward, people are still people, even when they are alien species. I very much enjoyed this self-pub science fiction story that serves as the entry point into the Waystation trilogy. It begins as a planet is collapsing under its own weight of out-of-control population density and resource scarcity. A small group seeks to find a new home for those citizens but what they find is not exactly what they hoped for.
How this story quickly expanded to encompass not just a planet but a series of systems and species was very well done and made this feel quite epic in scale. It is told from multiple points of view and each one is varied and unique. I hope to see more of these POVs as I continue on in the series, especially Ridley, Niole, and Kojan.
There are definitely high stakes in this tale and it felt tenser and tenser as we reached the concussion of this volume. Now I can't wait to see what this potential enemy that is still to come will be in the next 2 installments.
I listened to the audiobook which was kindly provided by the author for review. The narration by Jared Kedzia, was excellent and some of the added voice effects really helped to separate the characters and added to the experience greatly, For example, when a character was speaking while wearing a helmet, the voice actually sounded like it was being spoken from within a helmet. Highly recommended.
December 2, 2021
This is a well-written science fiction drama including a sassy AI. While it has a strong start reminiscent of classic sci-fi, this tapers off as the story proceeds, becoming increasingly ambitious with multiple POVs, resulting in five protagonists whose parallel story arcs feed into the overarching world-build like spokes in a wheel. As a result, a few passages feel disjointed. Moreover, as one embarks on each story arc, I found myself trying to recollect if something was missed, or if time had passed and the protagonist was recounting some experience the reader wasn’t privy to. With an additional large cast of side characters, any investment in a single individual proves a challenge especially for readers trying to get immersed in the fictional world. The backstories of various peoples and politics between the factions adds an extra layer of complexity, but I particularly enjoyed the brilliant inclusion of humans with cybernetic implants which enables them to travel in deep space, but which also fosters the divisions among the crew. There is scant attention paid to the science or technology, but beautiful descriptions of diverse characters’ appearance and their surroundings that will make this story enjoyable for those who are fascinated by the allure of space-travel and the wondrous discoveries we could make.
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