It is tricky when you are universe-building from scratch to work out how to parcel your information. The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is a far-future set space opera featuring human colonies and human-alien hybrids that enable pseudo-FTL space travel. It is interesting when trying to square space travel that the solution often revolves around individuals who can deal with the complexity, the madness or - let's be fair with our handwaving - the magic of wormhole/hyperspace/dimensional jumping. Faven Sythe is one of these human/alien hybrids, a crystborn who has grown from hybridization with seemingly long-dead aliens. Her mentor has gone missing, and she wants to track her down, but she also wants a few other things and so has to throw her lot in with some space pirates, which was when I relaxed. I knew where I was with space pirates, and I knew the complex exposition wouldn't be needed for that side of the plot. Or indeed the enemies-to-lovers romance plot between Sythe and pirate captain Bitter Amandine (who herself has a mysterious past).

O'Keefe dribbles her exposition around the action, and there is plenty of action, though the world she is building does have a little bit too much complex detail for her to do as elegantly as she might like. But the romance motors along perfectly and the eldritch nature of the aliens and their eventual grand conspiracy does land. A lot of familiar tropes are recycled here, but with enough flair and new ingredients that once you have a grasp of what is going on, it flows rather easily. And if the universe-redefining nature of the plot doesn't quite hit home, well this version of the universe was only defined two hundred pages before so the rug pull was always going to be a little inconsequential. And caring, that is what the romance is for. Solid chunky space opera with feels.


*Note to authors, I am an absolute sucker for books with the word LIE in the title.

One of the easiest 5* I've given this year.

Megan E O'Keefe pulls you into this space opera from the very first pages then takes you on a rocking reading ride through the stars to weird and wonderful locations, with an engaging cast of characters and a really beautifully imagined scenario.

I loved every minute read it all in one go and really cannot recommend it highly enough if this is your genre. Or even if it isn't.

Another banger from Megan E. O'Keefe. When I'm graving an epic science fiction adventure, I know I can count on Megan to deliver. Loved these queer space pirates.

There is a lot going on in this one and O’Keefe doesn’t silt up the start of the story by lots of explanations, which I very much prefer, anyway. We learn more about who or what the crystborn are as the story progresses. Though it takes a while, because not a whole lot is known by the crystborn and given how important cryst is to everyday life in space – everyone has enough sense to get on with their lives without asking too many questions.

The other major protagonist in the tale – Bitter Amandine – has a hidden past she doesn’t want to even think about, let alone ask questions. Every so often, she is ambushed by flashbacks but keeping close to her ship is soothing – and she can always rely on her small but very loyal crew. Until she can’t… I found Amandine the more relatable character, though her tendency to run into danger and mannerisms were slightly annoying. I’ve come across a number of pirates recently who have affected a swashbuckling demeanour in an environment where that frankly doesn’t work – and Amandine is one of them.

The other part of the tale that didn’t really convince me is the romantic relationship between Faven and Amandine. I didn’t sense any real chemistry between them, though I did think their friendship worked. However, they’re both so wrapped in their own problems and are instinctively secretive and somewhat closed off that a sudden fling with someone they’re working alongside didn’t feel wholly realistic.

However, I did enjoy the overall story and the interesting twist near the end that nicely upped the stakes for everyone involved. And O’Keefe did a good job in bringing the adventure to a satisfying conclusion. Recommended for fans of space opera featuring complicated heroines. While I obtained an arc of The Two Lies of Faven Sythe from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

Thank you to NetGalley and to Orbit for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: violence, body horror, grief, death, injury

Faven Sythe is cryst-born, a race of former humans who bonded with unknown species in order to weave starpaths between space stations. Destined for a short life and revered as a god until she crystalises over from the use of her power, Faven is devastated when her mentor disappears and no-one wants to investigate it. Her mentor’s final path leads to the Clutch, a graveyard of ships and planets far out into space that few cryst-born ever come back from. Determined to learn the truth, Faven needs to find someone who knows the Clutch- and the world outside her isolated life. Bitter Amandine, the renowned pirate and menace to everything Faven stands for, is her way in but Amandine has secrets of her own that she needs to stay buried out in the Clutch because they’ll ruin the life she’s built. Forced together by a massive conspiracy across galaxies, Faven and Amandine have to hunt down a ghost story of a starship: the Black Celeste if they want to find the answers to their questions.

I was an enormous fan of the last series by Megan E. O’Keefe and I was so excited to get to read this standalone sapphic (and very queer) space opera. The concept of this book is brilliant, the idea of being so brilliant at something because of your DNA but doing that one thing gradually freezes you. Favan is a powerful main character, she has to reckon with a lot- the loss of her mentor and the gradual understanding that she is going to become an empty vessel- while also facing down a world that reveres Navigators like her as gods. She’s determined to find out what happened to her mentor, and then why her own people are trying to kill her. Faven is used to exerting a certain amount of authority and when she’s thrown into the world of conspiracy and violence, she’s completely unprepared. Bitter Amandine is the opposite and I was delighted by her- she has so many secrets, a hidden backstory, a loveable crew, and carries around a shotgun in space. Her scenes with the pirates were some of my favourites, especially when we saw her through the disbelieving Faven’s eyes (one particular scene with some statues really got to me). I loved their banter and give/take relationship from the very first time they met which gradually shifted into a protectiveness and understanding I really enjoyed. The wider conspiracy with the cryst-born and their existence made me incredibly sad in parts because they lose so much by using their powers. I didn’t know I needed a queer space opera like this, I’m obsessed with space pirates now and would read an entire series just about Amandine’s adventures. ‘The Two Lies of Faven Sythe’ is a fast paced and nonstop adventure from a divine space to a land of pirates and into the darkness of the Clutch. I loved it and I can’t wait for the next book from this author.

I am a big fan of Megan E, O'Keefe's other science fiction books and the incredible worldbuiling that goes into her work. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Faven Sythe was a standalone and also very curious to see how the epic worldbuilding would work in a shorter novel.

The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is told in alternating POV chapters - Faven, a navigator and part of an elite group in society, and Bitter Amandine, a pirate who harbours a secret about an old, legendary spaceship. When Faven's mentor goes missing and charts an unusual starpath, Faven teams up with Amandine to uncover the truth.

This had everything I'd hoped for from a Megan E. O'Keefe book - politics, characters I found myself rooting for and wonderful worldbuilding. Unlike her previous books, the worldbuilding is focused on 3 main areas, but all of them felt real and really fleshed out. While I love expansive worldbuilding sometimes, there was something about the focus on 3 locations that really worked in this and kept the plot tight and moving at a fast pace.

I also loved Faven and Amandine - they are two very different characters, but I really enjoyed their dynamic together. I loved how the alternating viewpoints give you an opportunity to see each character through the other's eyes and to see their relationship grow over the course of the book. I loved how they balanced each other out and how Faven brought out Amandine's softer side. I've always liked Megan E. O'Keefe's characters and these two are no exception.

I really enjoyed this standalone - it was a nice genre change from a lot of the fantasy novels I've been reading recently. It was also really nice to read a standalone for a change too!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC!

A new book by Megan E. O’Keefe, the best news I’ve heard in a long time. Couldn’t wait to put my hands on it. Was ready to love it, praise it, breathe it, as all the previous books of this author. Except not this time. Still, I liked it?

The book is undoubtedly good, with exceptional writing that skillfully weaves action, thought processes, and flashbacks into a captivating narrative. However, it failed to capture my full attention.

The book’s convoluted beginning was my biggest problem. I prefer books that immediately immerse readers in the action and gradually reveal the world’s rules as they unfold. Some of my favorite sci-fi novels employ this approach; unfortunately, ’Two Lies’ failed to provide a satisfying explanation of its intricate world. The first thirty percent of the story felt like a random collection of information that lacked coherence. I found myself hooked on the book after the thirty percent mark. In normal circumstances, it would’ve been a DNF, but considering the author’s reputation and the intriguing plot, I decided to stick with it, and I’m glad I did.

As the story progressed, the action intensified, and the stakes were raised regularly throughout the plot. The book transformed into a compelling and enjoyable read. I particularly enjoyed the character of the pirate captain and found the revelation about her second origin to be a well-crafted plot twist. However, I found the navigator to be a bit annoying. I couldn’t determine whether she was immature or entitled, likely because she’s so deeply sheltered from actual reality that it made her seem overly dramatic for my taste.

The book’s ending also left me feeling unsatisfied. It felt overly polished and neatly tied up, as if the author had rushed to complete the story to ensure a satisfying conclusion. This smoothness clashed with the dark and gritty tone of the narrative, making it feel forced and contrived.

I’m impressed with the concept—the idea of crysts, a predator, a paradise, an invader alien, and the uses of its body as technology. It’s a fresh and creative concept, but the execution isn’t well-thought-out. Even after finishing the book, I’m still left confused about how the cryst birthing truly works, which is the reason I only gave it 4 stars. If the nature of the crysts had been explained a bit clearer at the beginning, I wouldn’t have struggled so much to get into the book. In the same way, I would have gotten much more satisfaction from finishing the story and knowing the resolution.

Despite these flaws, it’s still a good book, and another very creative, imaginative, and beautiful story by Megan E. O’Keefe. I’m looking forward to reading her next project, as I truly believe it will be a five-star read.

This was an excellent, fun science fiction novel with space pirates and crystal space navigators, lots of action too. Fast paced, interesting ideas made it an enjoyable read for me.

Megan O’Keefe burst onto the science fiction scene with Velocity Weapon, the first book in her first of two trilogies (The Protectorate and The Bound Worlds series). After these two epic, complex trilogies, she has delivered a stand alone – The Two Lies of Faven Sythe – a completely new scenario and universe but full of the rich detail, engaging characters and fast pace make her other books so compulsive. In particular, the way O’Keefe can drop a reader quickly into a complex, fascinating imagined future through character and action.
The Faven Sythe of the title is a Navigator, a special breed of human who can help space ships navigate the vast distances of space. When the book opens Sythe is dealing with the two lies of the title. The first is what has happened to her mentor Ulana who has disappeared into a strange area of space known as the Clutch and the second is one she tells to try and find a pirate who will help her find her mentor. That second lie brings her into contact with a pirate called Bitter Amandine, who will carry the second strand of a narrative that bounces between the two. Once Sythe meets Amandine all hell breaks loose and (of course) sparks fly.
The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is very much in the mode of O’Keefe’s previous books, in particular The Bound Worlds trilogy which anchored itself around the points of view of its two protagonists and follows the ups and downs of their relationship. It is also very action driven, the plot moving from huge action set piece to huge action set piece, each one calibrated to reveal more about the characters, their situation and their quest. And of course, the growing attraction between the two which is bound not to run smoothly.
If there is a flaw with The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is that, as a stand alone novel, it is too full of ideas. O’Keefe builds an incredibly complex universe and then throws in a bunch of twists and complications that does explain things but makes the whole enterprise even more complicated. While the action allows for the story to flow, there is so much new information coming at readers all the time that in the end it feels this could have been better handled as a slower two book or three book series. This is particularly as, due to the pace of revelations it is hard to get a sense of the broader universe in which these characters exist. There are navigators and pirates and some space stations and things get traded but that is as far as the universe is explored.
What The Two Lies of Faven Sythe once again demonstrates, though, is that Megan O’Keefe can deliver big idea, complex science fiction with heart. The relationship between Sythe and Amandine, their growing understanding of each other’s strengths and flaws and the lengths they will go to to save each other, is really the engine driving this story. And it is an effective one that is likely to carry readers across any gaps created by dense exposition or sketchy world building.

Great read if you're looking for some casual sci-fi. I liked the quick pace and the worldbuilding was easy enough to follow but still captivating enough to keep me guessing. This was my first Megan O'Keefe book and I'm definitely interested in picking up more of her books now.

The perfect bite-sized sci-fi book for people like me, who read science fiction only occasionally and don't want to commit to a huge series.

I haven't read a Sci-Fi book in a while, but The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is one that will stay with you. It totally blew me away with its strong characters and excellent world building. The relati0nships between the characters were fascinating and I loved every single bit of it. The romance was intriguing, and I hope to read more books by the author.

The Two Lies of Faven Sythe instantly hooked me with its plot and descriptive style. It has an interesting and original sci-fi world with its navigators who turn into crystal as they use their abilities. I really liked the story and Faven and Amandine, the two main characters. Some of the reasoning behind the characters' motivations could have been clearer in the final third, as sometimes I didn't fully understand why certain things were happening, but I did enjoy it overall!

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

Faven Sythe is crystborn – high ranking people who are valued for their ability to plot difficult starpaths that space ships use for navigation. When Faven receives a suspicious request for a navigation job, she uses the opportunity to meet with someone disreputable enough to help her discover what really happened to her missing mentor. Faven is then "rescued" from the encounter by the infamous space pirate Bitter Amandine. Their journeys become entangled and lead them to the dangerous region of space known as the Clutch where they uncover more than they bargained for.

It's been quite a while since I've read a space opera, and maybe that meant I wasn't really up to speed for the start. I found the initial set up a bit confusing, although I did then get more invested. There was a lot going on with lots different terms, social structures and politics. Combined with a fairly quick pace, I could have done with a few more moments to slow down and absorb what was happening.
I liked the whole conspiracy and mystery but it all came together very quickly and there was just too much info in too short a time and I wasn't really sure who was really in the right.
The characters were interesting, but again, I needed a few more slow moments to really connect with them and find their relationships believable.

I'd recommend if you're looking for an entertaining, fast-paced, standalone space opera.

I went into The Two Lies of Faven Sythe with high expectations, having loved Megan E O'Keefe's other work. Possibly this set the bar too high - I was always going to enjoy a tale of queer space pirates, but there was sadly something missing for me here. The world-building is intriguing and fairly well-developed - I liked learning about the history of the Cryst, and seeing all of the twists and turns related to that. However, for me, the character development was somewhat lacking - not just in the case of side characters, but even Faven herself, whose motivations sometimes seem muddy, and who doesn't really grow as much as would be expected for a title character. This led to the romantic relationship at the core of the story not feeling as believable as it could have, and certain parts not being as emotionally resonant as they might have been.
That said, this was still an enjoyable space romp - particularly the first half, which felt stronger to me - and I will continue to seek out further work by O'Keefe.

Welp, today’s the day I don’t give five stars to a Megan E. O’Keefe book. I’m sad.

The Two Lies of Faven Sythe is a fast-paced space opera with a touch of fantasy, where crystborn navigator Faven Sythe becomes acquainted with the pirate Bitter Amandine to go to the Clutch to follow her mentor and a ghost story.

I found the ideas interesting, but O'Keefe usually shines in having plots within plots within plots, and the book was too short for the amount of twists it had. It came at the expense of world-building and character-building, which are two things I have usually obsessed over in the author's previous books. When I started the book, I was sure I'd be obsessed with Amandine, but then I found the character development to be thinner than in others of her books? Maybe it's me.

Anyways, I do recommend this if you like sci-fi fantasy, alien mysteries, space pirates, sapphic romance, and badass women overall. I found the twists to be interesting, but I lacked the understanding of the world to be properly wowed this time. I did manage to 'sniff' a twist because I started overthinking something.

I'm looking forward to O'Keefe's next series/book, I'm honestly so sad I didn't love this ;-;

This was a great read. I really enjoyed The Devoured Worlds series and I've been looking forward to reading this since I first saw the author posting about it a few months ago. The worldbuilding is vivid and believable. I loved the idea of the cryst-born and their relationship to their mysterious, godlike progenitors. Also, queer space pirates? I'll bite every time.

There were several gasp-out-loud reveals and some chilling moments that reminded me of SA Barnes or Wolf 359. I love a little spookiness in my sci-fi, so that really worked for me.

Amandine felt like a much more developed character than Faven, and I didn't find the way the relationship developed between them to be very convincing. They had some good moments, but the chemistry between them didn't feel like it had time to build naturally. Also, the title felt like it was chosen because it sounds cool (and it does!) rather than because any lies of Faven's are particularly central to the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this. Fans of The Devoured Worlds won't be disappointed.

I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.

There were some really interesting ideas in this book. The space pirate angle was really cool and added an exciting pace to the book. There was something so poetic about the cryst and the main character’s view of how it influenced her life. Though it also leads to great sadness. I also really liked that this was a standalone so we saw a conclusion to the main story line.

This felt quite adventurous as our main character decides to defy orders to look into something that doesn’t sit right with her. This leads her to seek assistance from less than scrupulous pirates, but who are willing to help when someone is in trouble. An interesting lens of morality between acceptable structures and those that are considered wrong and live on the fringes of society, but show greater compassion.

An engaging space romp with a sapphic romance and some pretty cool ideas!

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC!

This is a standalone Sci-Fi story, and my first book by Megan E. O'Keefe! This is a fun space opera story featuring sapphic space pirates, incredible world building and lore, and plenty of twist and turns.

The worldbuilding was vast and immense and I absolutely loved reading about the crystborn and the lore surrounding them. I found this fascinating and unique, and I think any Sci-Fi fan picking this up would also be fascinated. Some of the language used to describe the crystborn processes and navigation was beautiful and I loved reading these parts of the book.

Our characters were intriguing, especially Faven, the crystborn. I loved her meeting with Amandine, our pirate, and I loved the moments between them both. I really enjoyed both their POVs and I found it very easy to distinguish what POV I was reading from.

This was so much fun to read. I love space opera style stories and this one delivered on my expectations. I definitely want to pick up more of O’Keefe’s work as I had such a good time with this book.

My only minor gripe with this book was that I felt that the secondary characters weren’t developed enough, and as a result, when certain events happened, I had no connection to them and I feel the emotional impact was significantly lessened.

I recommend picking this one up for a space opera story with crazy lore and worldbuilding and sapphic space pirates!

I really enjoyed this space opera and the enchanting world it created. It fits right into one of my favourite genres of Scifi, Space is Gay. I might even add this book to my June Highlight for the Pride Month genre highlight of Space is Gay. Very entertaining.

⤷ 3.75✩

Thanks to Orbit for providing me with the E-ARC via NetGalley.

This is a gripping scifi standalone, filled with many twists and turns, and a unique sense of world-building. Some characters are well fleshed out, while some could use some more development. I also found parts of the storyline hard to follow, as the intricate world required a lot of explanation within relatively few pages.

Therefore I think the book could have benefited from some more space to expand on its characters and descriptions.