by Stina Leicht
I’ve noticed recently that when it comes to my Sci-Fi/Fantasy category, the “Fantasy” side definitely has the edge. Persephone Station was a great reminder why I love the Sci-Fi part as well.
Persephone Station embraces all sorts of aspects of sci-fi, though more Star Wars than Star Trek. Various types of AI, mech suits, spaceships, planets, alien-life, etc.
The story jumps between perspectives, but the main story follows Angel, an ex-marine who endured several resurrections during her service.
She now works as a mercenary on Persephone Station, a planet outpost that has caught the attention of the Serrao-Orlov Corporation. But like all mega corporations, their plan for the planet is full of problems for everyone who lives there. Angel and her team must figure out where they stand and what they stand for, regardless of the cost.
There’s a lot to like about this story. The core characters are interesting people and it’s fun to learn more about them as the story goes on. The perspective jumps help you get a deeper sense of each of them. Leicht weaves world building into the narrative without huge exposition dumps. While there are places where it seems a little slow, it picks up and soon you’re hooked and can’t wait to find out what happens next.
The one downside to this book is that there are 3-4 different perspectives, but there’s such a long break between some of them that you lose connection with them. By the time we check beck in with a specific viewpoint, it feels like a bit more like a forced break from the main story rather than an integral part of the tale. Things do start to come together towards the end, but I didn’t feel as connected to those characters. Other things suddenly pop up that weren’t really set up and feel a bit shoved in.
But despite that, it’s still a great, fun read. I could see this being part of a series, but it’s a stand alone novel for now. So if you’re looking for a fun sci-fi novel with all sorts of queer characters, interesting world building, and an operatic plot, check out Persephone Station.