Ocean's Godori

I want you to know that I waffled hard on this rating. The universe, the unique characters, the premise, the writing, were all really well done and a joy to read about. I really wanted to give this book a high rating for that alone. But without the full package of a satisfying ending tying a bow on things, I have a hard time recommending it, and that bums me out.

The story is told from three different viewpoints. Ocean is a pilot with a past that follows her wherever she goes. Her current ship captain doesn't think much of her, but as the ship's XO, she gets on well with everyone else. Haven is out on his own for the first time after growing up in an insular community (think an Amish rumspringa, but in space), and doesn't understand why his father insisted he see the outside universe before settling down. He's currently acting as a medic on Ocean's ship. And Teo, rich kid and youngest sibling, forever underestimated on account of his family, becomes a scapegoat for a terrible tragedy and ends up on the run and taking shelter on Ocean's ship.

The strong points of this book are the three main characters. Each feels different, refreshing, and new, and bring a lot of thoughtful points to think about. Haven, in particular, allows the author to muse about death, loss, and grieving, through the lens of Haven's culture that seems maybe Buddhist through its use of sky burials. There's also a bit of romantic build-up between characters, which I thought was handled well. I thought the setting, too, was very unique, with South Korea now the dominant space race, space pirates, planet colonies, and all sorts of tasty sci-fi things for your brain to envision. Unfortunately, a lot of the setting goes unused. The book focuses itself on a very narrow group of people, in a very closed setting. You don't get a real sense for how large the Alliance is or what it is they even do in space. It's kind of a letdown.

I'm willing to overlook a lot of flaws for the sake of well developed characters, thoughtful dialogue, and quiet moments where we get to know the cast, but I cannot overlook the ending of this book. Or, rather, the not-ending of this book, because after a slow, deliberate pace for 80% of the book, suddenly within the last 30 or 40 pages the author hits the gas and you start hurtling past plot points. There's not even a wall of a climax to hit at the end either, because the book just ends, lots of things unfinished or unresolved. That's a bummer! There's apparently a second book coming later this year that maybe will pick things up, but I hate how this book feels like half of a book.

Still, great writing, imaginative setting, characters I wish we could get to know more about. The lack of a proper ending to the book, though, makes it hard for me to recommend it as-is.

There's a point in my life where this book would have been a favorite. The characters were great, there's plenty of drama and intrigues and I can see younger me getting utterly obsessed with the characters. Now, I think I'm just not really the audience. It's really a space opera and I would have liked a less opera exploration of the universe the author created, alas, this book was what it said it was.

3.5 rounded up.

I liked this. It was a slow start for me and by the time I got really invested, it ended. I hope there is a second book and more romance!