People have been recommending the Alexis Carew stories to me for a very long time. I think the combination of sailing spaceships and a young main character helped forge that link. I’ve tried samples a couple of times but – like many books – I just needed to be in a better head space to enjoy them.

J.A. Sutherland and I – along with six other authors – will be appearing together in a “first in the series” promotional anthology later this month (shameles plug: Rogue Stars now available for pre-order). Because I got a copy to make sure that Quarter Share merged nicely with the other players, I had the chance to revisit Alexis Carew. I’m very glad I did.

This is a space opera, swashbuckling tale featuring a precocious 15-year-old who finds herself plucked from the comfort of her family’s estate and plunked down as a midshipman in the Queen’s Royal Navy. The story owes much to the classic tales of sailing ships and war – from the shipboard organization to the questionable food, from the class struggle to the politics and on to the actual fighting with smugglers and pirates. Into The Dark pays back that debt to bygone ages with interest. Carew is entirely sympathetic, not overly glamorized, and prone to the self-doubt and failure anyone in her position might have. The universe is well thought out with a delicate balance between science and fiction. I’m looking forward to the next book – Mutineer – with a great deal of anticipation.

As always, don’t take my word for it. See for yourself by grabbing a sample.

About the reviewer:

Nathan Lowell has been writing science fiction and fantasy most of his life. He started publishing in 2007 and has no intention of stopping any time soon.

Learn more about Nathan Lowell and his works at http://nathanlowell.com

[Note: You’re seeing more reviews from me because fellow authors aren’t sending reviews of the books they like. If you’re an author, consider the submitting a review about an indie book you loved. The submission guidelines link is at the top of this page.]