Ardulum: Mirrors of Andal

by J.S. Fields

“A masterful blend of space opera tropes and hard science fiction concepts…”
- Seanan McGuire, author of Every Heart a Doorway
Praise for First Don

The planet Ardulum has died and taken with it every last andal tree, and piece of andal cellulose tech—dissolving the Alpha Plane down to lightspeed travel and archaic communication. Yet Ardulum’s consciousness still lives, unwelcome, inside Atalant’s body. But two consciousnesses cannot share one host—especially not when one is a former planet.

Amidst the remains of a shattered galaxy, Guard Four and the Keft scrapper Bell chance a return to the Neek homeworld, where andal is still rumored to grow. A stable forest of andal could power the Cell-Tal technology to save Eld Atalant's life. Instead, Guard Four and Bell find a populace grappling with the aftershocks of Ardulum's death, and find Ardulum’s genetic influence is wider than they thought.

What remains of Ardulum demands a new body of its own, and transport to a mysterious world of Thesby, where a stable bridgeway to another dimension is rumored to exist. Emn, desperate to save Atalant, promises to aid Ardulum in return for healing her wife's battered body. If Emn can avoid Chartered Systems assassins long enough to get to Thesby, she stands to not only be reunited with Atalant, but to rid the galaxy of Ardulum, forever. If she fails, the Charted Systems will remain in the dark ages of space travel, and Eld Atalant of Ardulum, and her vision for the Neek people, will die.

Read the sixth book in the bestselling Ardulum series, by J.S. Fields!

Ardulum (Space Opera, Romance, LGBT):
Book 1: First Don
Book 2: Second Don
Book 3: Third Don
Book 4: Tales from Ardulum
Book 5: The Battle for Pruitcu

Space Opera / Science Fiction / Romance / LGBT Sapphic Lesbian Non Binary

Adult and New Adult

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 10, 2025

Reviews

[Paul Shen-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book way faster than I usually manage. It was extra engrossing, though I don’t want to ruin it with spoilers. Presumably if you’re reading this, you are already familiar with the series. If not, you need to read the earlier books or you won’t appreciate — much less understand — this one.

Somehow the Void has to be plugged before it spreads and becomes unstoppable. Everyone wants Ardulum dead, but killing it without taking out Atalant in the process won’t be easy. Then there’s Bell and Guard Four, and the vague, squishy feelings growing between them, in spite of how very different people they are. Spark or fizzle? Read and find out. It’s fun peeking in on their angst and uncertainties, and how their relationship grows and evolves.

This is a writer who has depth and nuance, on top of keeping you on the edge of your seat. Even throwaway characters who are only around for a scene or two have been thought through. No cardboard characters, no cartoon villains or marble-statue heroes.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this series since the beginning and with the addition of each book, it becomes more complex and more fulfilling. This latest in the series is no exception. This is a masterfully done piece of worldbuilding with so many interconnected themes and on top of it all, the love story between Emn and Atalant. What does it mean to truly love someone? How much time and how much of yourself do you sacrifice? I wish I could say more without spoiling the book. All I can recommend is to read this series yourself from beginning to its masterful conclusion.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.