In Spite of the Inevitable

by Morgan Biscup, TJ Trewin (Illustrator), A. Dani (Editor)

The past isn't the only thing that won't stay dead.Hiding from his violent history as a revered Void necromancer within the Sparnell Confederation, single father Shane Lawrence has finally built a quiet life. On the freehold planet of Baden he can pour his energy into the only thing that now the safety and upbringing of his precocious son, Jake.All too soon, the Confederation targets Baden for annexation, confronting Shane once more with his treasonous past. Worse, the invading force is led by none other than Shane's manipulative former mentor, Admiral Kydell.Shane's every instinct screams to run, to hide Jake even further from Sparnell – but Baden is home. This time he could choose to make a stand and defend the entire planet, not just his son. But that means turning to the very skills he swore he'd leave behind…In Spite of the Inevitable is the first installment in the five-book Mordena Dawn space opera fantasy series, detailing the founding of the costly Mordena mercenaries and their rise from piratical deserters to ferocious and effective defenders of the independent Freehold planets. When powerful galactic empires seek to devour innocents whole, there's no hired force better prepared to stand against them.The Mordena Dawn In Spite of the InevitableSpirits of the RelentlessAmbitions of AtonementIn Pursuit of ReckoningGrim Reminders

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera, Fantasy, LGBT

363 pages, Hardcover

Published November 17, 2023

About the author

Morgan Biscup (she/her/any) has a great deal to say, but very little to say about herself. It took her an embarrassingly long time to realize she wrote queer books, although in her defense, she's never been good with labels.

An electromechanical engineer by education, she enjoys exploring the impacts of technology and magic on people, cultures, and personal interactions. When she's not hiding in the bedroom to write, Morgan enjoys spending time with her husband, her two amazing daughters, and a highly opinionated cat.

Reviews

[Spleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book the day it released, and it surpassed my already high expectations. In Spite of the Inevitable really transports you to the world of Vazdimet, and into the lives of the characters - I felt Shane's guilt, Razick's anger, and Jeb's fear.
The book was well-paced, and I was on the edge of my seat for the action sequences. The book struck a perfect balance of introducing new concepts early enough that they would make sense when they showed up in later scenes, and even seemingly unimportant abilities from the characters that were shown in the beginning of the book paid off in a satisfying way.
All of that is not even to mention the absolutely *stunning* worldbuilding that the author has put so much time and effort into. The love that went into making the world and the book is evident when reading it, and I loved the book all the more for it.
The ending was incredibly satisfying as well. It resolved the plots and conflicts of the story while still setting up a plot hook for the next book, which I can't wait to read!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to the author and BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own!

Possibly one of my favorite reads of this year that wasn't a romance, In Spite of the Inevitable hit the notes I love in refreshing and satisfying ways. The main character is deeply flawed yet still someone the reader can root for, and while being incredibly powerful (the power fantasy tropes are here) is not infallible, and is in fact fully vulnerable in multiple ways. The side characters are rich and appealing with their own motivations and backstories, and the villain is irredeemable without losing the reader's ability to understand him. I loved the diversity of the world Biscup builds as well! Seeing that this is the beginning of a series, I'm absolutely invested in reading more in the future!

[Frances Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is described as a space opera fantasy. I would personally say that it is more a psychological sci-fi/fantasy. Biscup has built an entirely different universe. The emotions running through the story are legion. Guilt, love, regret, envy, fear and vengeance among others. The main character, Shane, is guilt ridden for good reason but it is obvious that his regret is real. His love for his son is paramount and his son uses this to manipulate him quite brazenly. Shane has changed dramatically from the man he once was but has more change to go through. His son makes him take a stand whereby he must face old fears, old friends and old enemies. In some ways it is quite brilliant but also somewhat strange. I would have liked to know a bit more about the Legion and the universe in general but this takes nothing away from the story. It is, apparently, the first book in the Mordena Dawn series about the Mordena mercenaries and I can only say that I am looking forward to the next book.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Spite of the Inevitable is the first book in the Mordena Dawn series—a space fantasy, where magic weaves its way through all aspects of life and even death. Shane, a former Sparnell officer and elite void necromancer, wants nothing more than to leave his violent past behind and raise his son, Jake, in peace. Even if it means he has to eek out a living as a lowly school janitor.

But the past never stays buried. When the Sparnell fleet arrives to invade Shane’s new home of Baden, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect Jake. Just maybe Shane can start to make up for his past as he does all he can to protect Jake and Baden.

Morgan’s innovative mix of magic types and the sciences blew me away. Additionally, I am always drawn into a good redemption arc, and Shane has much to make up for. I love his determination to keep Jake safe and I identify with his struggles to balance it with helping Jake grow into a strong, independent young man. While I liked Shane, my favorite character was Jake. Jake’s curiosity, love of tinkering, and resiliency really won me over.

It would have been nice to learn more about Kydell and his background. What made him so manipulative? Despite my questions, I can see why Shane loathes him. Hopefully, we will find out more in future books!

I really enjoyed this debut by Morgan Biscup and look forward to reading more in the series. I’d recommend this book for all sci-fi and futuristic fantasy fans, especially those who enjoy redemption arcs and found family.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to preface this review by saying that interstellar novels are not my typical sci-fi of choice. I read fantasy and earthbound sci-fi that borders on paranormal or 'spooky science.' I also read books with a single point of view, so this book was a little out of my standard read.

I've got to say, I loved this book. The shifts between perspectives felt fluid. I had an easy time staying 'in character' for each perspective shift thanks to the distinct personalities and thought processes.

By the time I got to the middle of the book, I struggled to put it down. While the plot was compelling, the characters griped me. Seeing how each character processes and copes with their experiences was really relatable. I got choked up a few times just because it feels so good to feel seen.

This novel felt very respectful to the internal processes surrounding trauma: guilt, grief, residual memories stored in the body, you name it. In Spite of the Inevitable took me through a story of personal growth and love.

For me, the book was a bit violent, but I wonder if I'd still feel that way in a subsequent read.  That said, I'm primed for book 2 and looking forward to seeing what the group gets up to next!

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

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Spite of the InevitableThis is a fantastic story and world. This story took me on a journey of extreme emotions and their characters stayed with me forever. The worldbuilding is carefully constructed but easy to understand and complements the plot amazingly. But my favorite part was the characters, their motivations, decisions, and dialogue. There are lines that stuck with me for a long time. You must read this if you believe in the power of stories.

[Holliday Durange · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Spite of the Inevitable is a story of emotions, redemption, and the power of teamwork set against the backdrop of a planetary invasion.

There's a lot of protagonists to fall in love with. All of them develop and define at good pace and interact with each other in meaningful ways.

Shane and Jake and their development as father and son play out wonderfully despite the tumultuous nature of war.

The genre of this book is a true sci fantasy with harder defined magic taking central stage on most of the interactions. I'd recommend to really pay attention in the first chapters in order to understand the upcoming concepts.

[Ron Lauman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Spite of the Inevitable is the story of Shane a necromancer whom now lives as a janitor at the school where his adopted son attends. He will do anything to protect and provide for him including returning to space and fighting against the enemy forces he used to be a part of.

It is a compelling story with a slew of characters each with their own thoughts and motivations that brought them together in difficult circumstances. The world building is great and is an expansive and complex universe.

[Jacklyn Rockwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan gracefully manages the difficult task of balancing worldbuilding and storytelling in a setting of grand magic interwoven with advanced technology. The cast and crew of this tale are memorable -- I found myself not just rooting for them, but wanting to hang out with them, to do the right thing and lend my hand to their harrowing task. The story lives on in my head even beyond the bounds of the last page, and I'm excited to rejoin my new friends in the next one.