Shadow Run (Kaitan Heritage, #1) – by AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller, Delacorte Press, (9780399552533), 2017.
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 1-5: (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5
Genre: Science Fiction
What did you like about the book? Qole is the descendant of a founding family on the planet Alaxak and last in a long line of ship captains who risk their life and sanity to harvest Shadow, a powerful, highly unstable energy source. Her version of the story alternates with that of Nev, the princely son of one of the most powerful families in the galaxy who believes Qole holds the key to using Shadow without being destroyed by it. Other powerful corporations come to the same conclusion, and Nev, Qole, and the rest of their small crew end up fighting for their lives to escape treacherous ambushes. There are thrilling battles against impossible odds, interstellar getaways, twists and turns of plot, characters that earn either your admiration or disgust, and sparks of romance. The story excels on the diversity front: Qole, a woman, is a capable, disciplined ship captain, Basra, a major character, is gender fluid, and the three crew members from Gamut (Qole, her brother Arjan, and the hacker Telu) are members of a dark-skinned minority. The next installment in this promising series will be eagerly awaited.
Anything you didn’t like about it? No.
To whom would you recommend this book? Recommend to fans of Guardians of the Galaxy or Firefly-type science fiction adventures which center around a diverse crew with secrets that are gradually revealed, who choose loyalty to each other, function like a family, and wind up pitted against seemingly overwhelming opponents.
Who should buy this book? High school libraries and public libraries.
Where would you shelve it? Shelve with other Science Fiction books.
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes, if you are a fan of this type of science fiction.
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City: Mary Melaugh, Marshall Middle School Library, Billerica, MA
Date of review: 5/25/17
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