Wednesday, July 27, 2022


Excellent. What else can I say about sisters of the Forsaken Stars? This is the follow up to Sisters of the Vast Black, which I gave a very enthusiastic review for a couple years ago. Just like Becky Chambers, this author creates hopeful SF- a future that doesn't sugarcoat problems, but makes you feel better after you've read it. Here we pick up after the events of the last book- it's been a year or so and the Sisters are on the run, having made themselves a target by interrupting some very bad events.  

I loved revisiting the Sisters. Lucia is now the abbess and it just felt like revisiting old friends. I love how small yet vast this setting is- not as expansive, say, as Becky Chambers' universe, but big enough to evoke that sense of awe. Water worlds, planets with strange skies... this is why I read SF. Anyway, the Sisters are on the run, but they have to make a decision- keep running, or make a stand (and stand by their story, because news of what they did is leaking out). 

Just to recap- the Sisters are an itinerant order of nuns who travel on a liveship- an actual living organism that plies the starlanes. They help others in need, but after the events of the previous book they are no longer in the good graces of the Church. They've been keeping a low profile, but things are changing. And meanwhile something is happening in the far reaches of space that could change everything- and one who has left their number is there to experience this.  

I could honestly take more stories in this milieu. There is an exploration of faith- what does that mean when you're such a vast distance away- or not even a part of your religious order now? And don't let the church thing dissuade you from reading this- there are universal aspirations and questions we're dealing with here, not just Catholic ones. And this story moves fast- arguably too fast, for here (as in the first novella) I thought they get places a little too fast- the story moves a little too quick- but honestly- that's my only complaint. Anyway, again, this has to be experienced- it amazes me how much I can care for these characters in such a short time. 

One of my favorite reads of the year- not a surprise- and I really hope we get more stories in this universe. This world and the Murderbot milieu- there's some optimistic science fiction going on at the moment and I need it. The biggest thing for me with this is the sense of hope- and the sense of wonder- that's what I read SF for.   

13 comments:

  1. Se ve genial. Gracias por la reseña. Tomo nota. Te mando un beso.

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  2. Wow, this sounds like an amazing series!

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  3. An optimistic science fiction series does sound like a lot of fun. And nuns in space makes me smile. :D

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  4. Great review! This sounds like an amazing read!

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  5. So great to read your review! I have noticed this one more and more on occasion. Great to know how affective it is with wonderful characters and its universe.

    Caitlin&Megan
    Ivy&Ellie
    Carefully Listening
    Ellie
    The Book Group
    Holly&Stevie
    Cherry Blossoms
    Better Off Unsaid

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  6. I haven't heard of this series. It looks right up my alley. They're pretty cheap on amazon so I may go pick them up. Thanks for the review. I also enjoy a good series that explores the issues but leaves you with hope. I felt like the Expanse series did that as well. Thanks for the recommendation!

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  7. This sounds like a very interesting story. Exploring religious faith in a science fiction setting could be very fun, and I wonder how seeing aliens (if they appear in the book) challenges that.
    -Quinley

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  8. Genial portada adoro esa serie y sus secuelas. Te mando un beso

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  9. I'm definitely reading Sisters of the Vast Black next year. 📗

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  10. "there's some optimistic science fiction going on at the moment and I need it. The biggest thing for me with this is the sense of hope- and the sense of wonder- that's what I read SF for."
    I can relate to that...guess I should try this series, though novellas are usually too short for me...then again, I've read a few that I loved (mostly McGuire, but also One Day All This Will Be Yours by Adrian Tchaikovsky).

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  11. I still need to start this series. It sounds so wonderful.

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  12. I liked this too. Not *quite* as much as the first, but it was still very solid. I agree about the questions it posits, too. You don't have to be a nun to have many of the questions that the Sisters find themselves facing! I really do hope for more books in this world, glad you enjoyed this one!

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  13. I love that it's hopeful SF. I prefer books that end with hope for the future.

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