Once again, this is a work by a close friend, who provided me with the review copy.
I like middle books best, and one of the things I like best in middle books is ramifications. You’ve had the chance to set up both world and characters, you have some idea what parameters the particular series is working under: how does Corin Oshima react to aliens? What is her idea of honor? What kind of goals does she find satisfying? We know all that now, we’ve had it established, so now’s the time to double down on matter anomalies, first contacts, and oh yes, solving a murder.
The Ralkhuri are here, Corin still has a fraught but duty-laden working relationship with the person who betrayed her most deeply before the series ever started, and we’re definitely poking into the deeper layers of meaning of life, the universe, and everything. And this time the answer is much more complicated than 42. Don’t start here, start with the first book, it’s very much in print–but definitely keep going, there’s a lot here to love.