I like this series more with each book. I love when that sort of things happens.
After the events of book 2 (Lee Shores), the Black Flag crew is taking it easy on their way back to Union space (and Kay is mostly obsessed with planning her wedding to Maggie), when they get a distress signal from an alien ship. The rescue mission turns into a diplomatic mess, and Captain Magdalene Langdon has to make difficult choices.
I really like this crew. Even the less important characters have some kind of depth. It’s really cool to be able to get to know better in each book. I also like the atmosphere a lot, the nods towards popular sci-fi stuff (some things remind me of Star Wars, others of Star Trek), it’s like it’s all part of a huge universe, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Kay and Maggie had a drink on Mos Eisley or crossed path with Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect. Well, I would be surprised, but neither would be out of place.
This instalment is the most intense so far, and probably my favourite. In book 2, the characters were a bit passive, as they were accused of murder and spent quite a long part of the story first waiting to be released then waiting for the investigator to prove their innocence. Also, despite the rather tragic circumstances, it often fell on the side of comedy. There’s a lot more action in this one, and it also feels more adult. Yet the humor is still there. As I said, it gets better and better. I’m looking forward to book 4!
Jude in the Stars 