Ascension by Drew Karpyshyn

Ascension (Mass Effect, #2)

by Drew Karpyshyn

When they vanished fifty thousand years ago, the Protheans left their advanced technology scattered throughout the galaxy. The chance discovery of a Prothean cache on Mars allows humanity to join those already reaping the rewards of the ancients’ high-tech wizardry. But for one rogue militia, the goal is not participation but domination.

Scientist Kahlee Sanders has left the Systems Alliance for the Ascension Project, a program that helps gifted “biotic” children harness their extraordinary powers. The program’s most promising student is twelve-year-old Gillian Grayson, who is borderline autistic. What Kahlee doesn’t know is that Gillian is an unwitting pawn of the outlawed black ops group Cerberus, which is sabotaging the program by conducting illegal experiments on the students.

When the Cerberus plot is exposed, Gillian’s father takes her away from the Ascension Project and flees into the lawless Terminus Systems. Determined to protect Gillian, Kahlee goes with them… unaware that the elder Grayson is, in fact, a Cerberus operative. To rescue the young girl Kahlee must travel to the farthest ends of the galaxy, battling fierce enemies and impossible odds. But how will she be able to save a daughter from her own father?

This novel is based on a Mature-rated video game.

Reviewed by pamela on

3 of 5 stars

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Mass Effect: Ascension reads more like extended source material for the Mass Effect Universe than Revelations did. This wasn't a problem for me, as that's the entire reason I'm reading the series, but it did mean that Ascension wasn't as good a book in its own right as its predecessor.

From a narrative standpoint, I don't have much to fault. Ascension was fast-paced, with enough character depth for them to be relatable, and a decently diverse cast. It delved into lore that was barely present in ME1, and is constantly referenced in ME2, so it was really great to have that part of the story fleshed out.

But for some reason, Ascension just didn't grab me. I enjoyed it because it was Mass Effect, and not because it was good. It's a book for the fans, not for the average sci-fi reader. It's tailored to a specific audience, and with that in mind, I guess it does what's on the tin. I really enjoyed delving into the culture of the Migrant Fleet, and learning more about the Quarians, but this felt solidly like a side adventure, and not a fully fleshed out story that could stand on its own.

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Reading updates

  • 23 May, 2021: Started reading
  • 25 May, 2021: Finished reading
  • 4 June, 2021: Reviewed