"The seventh novel in James S. A. Corey's New York Times bestselling Expanse series--now a major television series. AN OLD ENEMY RETURNS In the thousand-sun network of humanity's expansion, new colony worlds are struggling to find their way. Every new planet lives on a knife edge between collapse and wonder, and the crew of the aging gunship Rocinante have their hands more than full keeping the fragile peace. In the vast space between Earth and Jupiter, the inner planets and belt have formed a tentative and uncertain alliance still haunted by a history of wars and prejudices. On the lost colony world of Laconia, a hidden enemy has a new vision for all of humanity and the power to enforce it. New technologies clash with old as the history of human conflict returns to its ancient patterns of war and subjugation. But human nature is not the only enemy, and the forces being unleashed have their own price. A price that will change the shape of humanity -- and of the Rocinante -- unexpectedly and forever... Persepolis Rising is the seventh novel in the New York Times bestselling Expanse series"--
I was not expecting a 30-year time-jump (I went back and forth throughout my read on whether it was a full 30, but there were enough references to the time throughout the book that this seems like a solid estimate). I spent the first quarter of the book terrified that this meant Avasarala had died of old age and that at some point there would be an unceremonious mention of her demise. Surely the authors know that she is far too brilliant of a character for that, right? But 30 years! And then...
"Ma'am," Lafflin said from behind her, "please, you can't -"
An unfamiliar voice answered. "Give it a fucking rest, Bendito. I can do whatever the fuck I want. Who's going to tell me not to? You?"
PHEW.
Book #6, [b:Babylon's Ashes|25877663|Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse, #6)|James S.A. Corey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442247299s/25877663.jpg|45754030], was the low part of the series for me, but #7 kicked things back into high gear. The actions of Marcos Inaros and the Free Navy are given more context, the mysteries of the protomolecule and whatever killed off its creators continue to unfold, and things are once again irrevocably shaken up and changed. As much as I hated what the Laconian forces did to the universe, I thought wannabe-Governor Singh was extremely well written. He's young, inexperienced, and idealistic, and for all the damage he does, he also fucks up a ton. It was an interesting choice and made the book much more engaging than a fully competent and confident dictator would have been.
This is also the first time I've felt like we were left hanging at the end. I vaguely feel like I read somewhere the final three books of the series would form a trilogy, but I was not prepared for things ending so up in the air.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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28 January, 2018:
Finished reading
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28 January, 2018:
Reviewed