A novel written as a cooperation of several authors sounds like a phenomenal idea until you discover that you’ll only like it if you connect to all of the different writing and storytelling styles.

To begin with, this didn’t turn out to be my kind of plot. It’s a space adventure where action and revelations are the center of the story, and, while I’m biased, it didn’t seem like a very original telling of such a story, even if bringing the refugee issue into science fiction sounds interesting and relevant. My actual problems, however, were the characters: they were “on the nose” stereotypes. I could get to like Asala, former refugee finding a place in society while trying to suppress her past, even if with the “getting things done” attitude there wasn’t much place for original characteristics, but I was so annoyed every time one of the authors beat the reader with the hammer on the head about how privileged and sheltered but well-meaning Niko is. I get it without whole paragraphs about it every chapter.

The authors styles were very different, but not in the way it would pull you out of the story if you liked them all. As for me, there were massive differences in my enjoyment. I only knew Becky Chambers before reading this, and hers were my favorite chapters: more character and feeling driven, bringing in neat ideas beyond what is expected from the plot and avoiding the more annoying aspects of the main characters, unfortunately still not managing to make me like them. The only new-to-me author I would try something else by was Rivers Solomon, since the writing was very engaging, and I also feel the characters were budding heads less in these chapters. Yoon Ha Lee I don’t really have an opinion on: it was fine for the content given but it didn’t stick out to me. Lastly, I´m sorry to say that I did not enjoy SL Huang´s parts: They were the most blatant concerning characterization, the writing was much to designed for action to be for me and all of my problems with the book were so much more emphasized here.

While I didn’t like this book, if you are a fan of most of these authors you should check it out. It probably wont be your favorite book by any of them, since the story and characters aren’t that strong, but you’ll get a fun collaboration and can experience how they handle the same content differently from each other, which is probably the most exiting part if you are into the art of writing.
*I have received an arc via netgalley for a free and honest review*