Shards of Earth

This is one of those books where the characters start to feel like family. A diverse group of people (and non-people) work together to take on a challenge bigger than their known universe, and even though I would say there’s a single star of the show, they all contribute in unique ways that are ultimately a necessity. This wasn’t only demonstrated through their diverse personalities but their cultures as well. Each culture and government has its quirks that results in very interesting interactions as the crew finds its way through the universe.

The antagonists, known as the Architects, are some of the most impressive “aliens” I’ve encountered. I’ve come to expect much more from aliens than just green skin or a weird culture, and the Architects exceeded my expectations, both in their mysterious origin story and the way that they impact the universe. Their hyper-future technology is believable, it’s a kind of technology that made me wonder about the limits of physics and shaping our own reality. I’m dying to know more about the Architects and what’s in store for the crew and the respective cultures found in this story.