I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found the subject matter really interesting. The book was well written and easy to understand. I highly recommend this book.

this was a great start to a series, it had what I was looking for in this type of book and enjoyed reading this book.

This is OK. It was a bit uneven in places and doesn't have the polish of a more experience author (he just needs more experience, so keep writing). I like sci-fi and this one didn't stand out for me.

Thanks for the review copy!

I have received an digital review copy via Netgalley and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you!

2 stars - a resounding "meh" for me

Frank Harden is an investigator with the police of Velera-Exi, a group of six planets that showed up rather inexplicably just when humans had ruined Earth sufficiently that humanity was facing extinction. Thus, a plan to colonize those six planets was born and the book takes place during the early phase of that colonization, with cities still being built and terraforming still taking place.
A murder takes place and Frank is the investigator tasked with finding out what happened. Of course, the victim was working for a large company and maybe there is some sort of huge conspiracy going on.

So far, so intriguing.

However, this one was a serious slog for me and unfortunately, I could not connect to the story and the characters whatsoever due to several reasons.

First of all there is the plot - instead of working more with the premise of six planets showing up out of thin air, we "get" to spend all of our time with Frank, who is an addict and misanthrope to his core. Surely, there must be some backstory to how he became that person, but we never get more than the most vague of hints. Instead he is just constanly suffering and musing about just how terrible humanity is, that capitalism is the death of morals and that humans will probably ruin those new planets just like they did with Earth. And one has to agree, actually - but he only ever hits this one note, which makes for a character who offers little complexity.

I really had the impression that this wanted to be a Film Noir so badly. The broken investigator, always shrouded in a cloud of smoke, the seedy bars, the gangsters in shiny shoes with white tips, the femme fatale. Which would have been fine, were it not for the flat and one-dimensional execution. Also, I found the resolution to the murder mystery rather anticlimactic as none of the really interesting questions are answered.

Another factor was the language: it is very stilted and unidiomatic and I had the distinct impression that the author(s?) are not native speakers of English. So, I just never got into the flow of things which is a shame. This world holds so much promise, but I really do not think I will revisit it for any sequels.

I have mixed feelings after finishing this book, and am having trouble giving a definitive rating. This is a futuristic Sci Fi meets detective and vigilante book, investigating a murder that seems to have more going on then at first glance. The authors do well establishing the characters and the early events that this story revolves around.

The setting is challenging for me to understand. It takes place in a futuristic artificial planet surrounded by others. I felt lost at times as the authors described the subtle differences in lifestyle, such a how to travel, the set up of plantets, and the governmental organizations. I do understand, however, that this may be from my limited Sci Fi exposure

After introducing and building the characters, there was a lull in the action and I almost stopped reading. I am glad I continued though, as it picked up with some great twists and turns. If you enjoy futuristic, vigilante stories of good and evil, this may be up your alley. After finishing the story, I think the authors have allowed the characters to build rapport with the readers. I suspect this book has laid the ground work for books to follow to have great action and thrillls. I believe the following books will jump right into action and ultimately be easier to read and more enojyable.

Thank you Velera-Exi Stuidio publishing and NetGalley for this free book. The comments above are of my own without influence. Given my comments above, I have decided a rating of 3 stars is adequate.

It was a good SCI-if novel, the character built up is good and also the story.
There is a good sense of humour and even the writing is good
I would like to read more novels by this author.