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Wind Tide #2
Jati's Wager
A rogue street kid joins a warrior-philosopher and their ragtag crew of freedom fighters to take down an empire...
The back alleys of the remote moonbase, Tarkassi 9, are no place for a lone teenager. Ailo's wits and fists are her means of survival, but she wants nothing more than to flee into the wider world of the Sagittarius Arm. That's where Jati, the Patent War veteran and general fighting the Monopolies gives her a second chance. Ailo's rogue status is just what Jati's People's Army needs to drive the final spike of victory into a weakening Garissian Council.
A team of experts assembles. Hope rests on Ailo's skill, stealth, and tenacity to pull off the impossible. But when an internal shadow rises, Ailo and Jati are forced to weigh the cost of revenge against honor and justice.
The back alleys of the remote moonbase, Tarkassi 9, are no place for a lone teenager. Ailo's wits and fists are her means of survival, but she wants nothing more than to flee into the wider world of the Sagittarius Arm. That's where Jati, the Patent War veteran and general fighting the Monopolies gives her a second chance. Ailo's rogue status is just what Jati's People's Army needs to drive the final spike of victory into a weakening Garissian Council.
A team of experts assembles. Hope rests on Ailo's skill, stealth, and tenacity to pull off the impossible. But when an internal shadow rises, Ailo and Jati are forced to weigh the cost of revenge against honor and justice.
- GenresScience Fiction
436 pages, Paperback
First published August 18, 2021
About the author
Jonathan Nevair
9 books80 followersJonathan Nevair is an author and educator originally from Long Island, NY. After two decades in the classroom, he finally got up the nerve to write fiction.
His books have won numerous awards, including the National Fantasy Fan Federation Award (Neffy) for Best Novel (To Spy a Star, 2024), second place in the 2024 Valorious Awards (Stellar Instinct), and runner-up in the 2022 Indie Ink Awards under the category Writing the Future We Need (Jati’s Wager).
Jonathan lives in southeastern PA with his wife and rambunctious mountain feist, Cricket. When not writing and teaching, he spends his time chasing his dog through the woods and stargazing with dreams of walking in space.
His books have won numerous awards, including the National Fantasy Fan Federation Award (Neffy) for Best Novel (To Spy a Star, 2024), second place in the 2024 Valorious Awards (Stellar Instinct), and runner-up in the 2022 Indie Ink Awards under the category Writing the Future We Need (Jati’s Wager).
Jonathan lives in southeastern PA with his wife and rambunctious mountain feist, Cricket. When not writing and teaching, he spends his time chasing his dog through the woods and stargazing with dreams of walking in space.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 19, 2021
This was such an amazing novel to follow up Goodbye to the Sun by Jonathan Nevair. I would love to see it as a screen adaptation! If spacey tech stuff, the banter of a rogue space crew, heart-pounding action, and endearing characters are your thing, this space opera is one you want to put on your tbr.
“Fate’s refrain was a reminder. Epochs die hard, and rarely do they go peacefully…”
How do you infiltrate your opponent in space in a story inspired by the Greek myths of the Trojan War? You dismantle their shield bubble from the core within! However, it will be a choppy ride, so you better hold on.
It’s been nine years since the Patent War Veteran and freedom fighter Jati began their mission in leading the People’s Army after the Tide Wars. Building a crew of allies and loyal soldiers, they are planning to rescue Arira, Jati’s daughter, who has been abducted by the Garassians years ago. On the up of liberation, independent planetary nations are taking shape and Jati’s philosophy is one to welcome anyone on their ship the Carmora, as long as they are willing to put in honest work for the ride. But the day that young teenage stowaway Ailo is caught, Jati’s resolutions on freeloaders is put through the wind when a bond and mentorship forms.
Ailo has gone through much in her young life to make it to the Carmora. With this new rogue family of a crew adopting her on, she finds out that she is the daughter of the famous rebel philosopher Teluv who’s books have been wiped from existence except for one…and that one went missing. Jati and Ailo share a commonality/bond that unites them in their upcoming mission. Not only has Ailo’s father been killed by Hekron the Garassian assassin, but he was also responsible for the abduction of Jati’s daughter.
In a tumultuous operation filled with traders, surprise attacks, and sacrificial decoys, the story of Jati’s Wager unfolds action-packed providing an amazing reading experience. It is a page-turner of a novel, but it is also filled with amazing passages and wisdom.
“But the shocking revelation in the nav room opened a different gate. There are doors we rush through with reckless abandon, seeking answers. Others hide the ominous, and we push them with a delicate finger ever so slowly. We peek through the crack and hope the hinges are well-greased and silent so we can turn and run if what we confront is so frightening and threatening it will undo us. But too often what we see on the other side are shadows and illusions. “
There is much to be liked about the characters. First off, the two main characters Jati and Ailo are amazing. In a sort of defense mechanism for her difficult young life without parents, Ailo has developed this inner friend she talks to for confirmation or processing information and new encounters. Jati’s role as a mentor is wholesome and endearing without caudle. Their (Jati’s) leadership and guide in Ailo’s path encourages and slowly fills the voids and space Ailo had to bridge with “Gerib” in her mind. This entire process was a slow progression and less obvious perhaps, but stood out to me overall. Memorable other characters and banter rounded everything out. From different walks of life and backgrounds or alliances, the team creates and atmosphere that puts you in a room with them and makes you want to be a part of their friendships. Nevair continued his usage of fluid pronouns as it was set in the first novel and it reads well and adds divination of heritage and language in different planetary cultures.
I loved this novel. Period. I already was a fan of Goodbye to the Sun and Nevair’s brilliant writing and mindful thinking. However, book one had a darker tone overall to it with war-battered soldiers encompassing much bleaker a view. Jati’s Wager was much lighter in many ways and flowed more effortlessly. I enjoy intellectual, mind-bending, or challenging concepts, and when it is married with the writer’s gift of show and not tell…it turns into something brilliant. To me, Goodbye to the Sun was a fire starter; Jati’s Wager is the blaze of all the best in prose and plot united. Very well done!
Do you enjoy space operas? Then give this a try. It can be read as a separate novel on its own without prior knowledge, but for a greater understanding of the economic setting and the politics in the Sagittarius Arm, you may want to read Goodbye to the Sun first.
Happy Reading!
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
All opinions are my own.
Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
“Fate’s refrain was a reminder. Epochs die hard, and rarely do they go peacefully…”
How do you infiltrate your opponent in space in a story inspired by the Greek myths of the Trojan War? You dismantle their shield bubble from the core within! However, it will be a choppy ride, so you better hold on.
It’s been nine years since the Patent War Veteran and freedom fighter Jati began their mission in leading the People’s Army after the Tide Wars. Building a crew of allies and loyal soldiers, they are planning to rescue Arira, Jati’s daughter, who has been abducted by the Garassians years ago. On the up of liberation, independent planetary nations are taking shape and Jati’s philosophy is one to welcome anyone on their ship the Carmora, as long as they are willing to put in honest work for the ride. But the day that young teenage stowaway Ailo is caught, Jati’s resolutions on freeloaders is put through the wind when a bond and mentorship forms.
Ailo has gone through much in her young life to make it to the Carmora. With this new rogue family of a crew adopting her on, she finds out that she is the daughter of the famous rebel philosopher Teluv who’s books have been wiped from existence except for one…and that one went missing. Jati and Ailo share a commonality/bond that unites them in their upcoming mission. Not only has Ailo’s father been killed by Hekron the Garassian assassin, but he was also responsible for the abduction of Jati’s daughter.
In a tumultuous operation filled with traders, surprise attacks, and sacrificial decoys, the story of Jati’s Wager unfolds action-packed providing an amazing reading experience. It is a page-turner of a novel, but it is also filled with amazing passages and wisdom.
“But the shocking revelation in the nav room opened a different gate. There are doors we rush through with reckless abandon, seeking answers. Others hide the ominous, and we push them with a delicate finger ever so slowly. We peek through the crack and hope the hinges are well-greased and silent so we can turn and run if what we confront is so frightening and threatening it will undo us. But too often what we see on the other side are shadows and illusions. “
There is much to be liked about the characters. First off, the two main characters Jati and Ailo are amazing. In a sort of defense mechanism for her difficult young life without parents, Ailo has developed this inner friend she talks to for confirmation or processing information and new encounters. Jati’s role as a mentor is wholesome and endearing without caudle. Their (Jati’s) leadership and guide in Ailo’s path encourages and slowly fills the voids and space Ailo had to bridge with “Gerib” in her mind. This entire process was a slow progression and less obvious perhaps, but stood out to me overall. Memorable other characters and banter rounded everything out. From different walks of life and backgrounds or alliances, the team creates and atmosphere that puts you in a room with them and makes you want to be a part of their friendships. Nevair continued his usage of fluid pronouns as it was set in the first novel and it reads well and adds divination of heritage and language in different planetary cultures.
I loved this novel. Period. I already was a fan of Goodbye to the Sun and Nevair’s brilliant writing and mindful thinking. However, book one had a darker tone overall to it with war-battered soldiers encompassing much bleaker a view. Jati’s Wager was much lighter in many ways and flowed more effortlessly. I enjoy intellectual, mind-bending, or challenging concepts, and when it is married with the writer’s gift of show and not tell…it turns into something brilliant. To me, Goodbye to the Sun was a fire starter; Jati’s Wager is the blaze of all the best in prose and plot united. Very well done!
Do you enjoy space operas? Then give this a try. It can be read as a separate novel on its own without prior knowledge, but for a greater understanding of the economic setting and the politics in the Sagittarius Arm, you may want to read Goodbye to the Sun first.
Happy Reading!
I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.
All opinions are my own.
Thank you!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
The Fantasy Hive
August 24, 2021
Fantastic! A brilliant entry in this series, love that you can read it standalone but how much it expands this amazing universe and introducing new characters as well. I loved the approach to the story, a full review will be on the blog next week as part of the SOT Tours blog tour
January 13, 2023
It took me way longer to get to this book than I’d like to admit. Having the audios now has helped immensely and I’ll be continuing on with that format for the third (and last) book of the series as well. And then after that, I’m really excited to try out his new one, Stellar Instinct! I’ve heard some great things about that book already!
The book starts out with a short prologue that sets the tone for this story rather well, in my opinion, and then jumps right into a perfect depiction of the “Firecacker” MC that narrates the story. I really enjoyed her character as well as another really prominent one that doesn’t directly narrate but who we find out about a lot here. They both were really enjoyable in their own ways. The one because of the transformation of her character and the other because of his stubborn refusal to be anything less than what he imagines himself to be. The supporting cast was also fun and felt really varied, reminding me a little bit of the crew in The Graven trilogy. I do want to warn you though that Jonathan has no mercy. He may seem like a nice guy on the outside but don’t believe for a second that any of his characters are ever safe to love because they might just disappear! Though if you know me, you know that I love that level of riskiness and unexpected.
There was one a little bit weird narrative choice that I don’t want to spoil that didn’t quite work for me but I do love seeing authors try out something that I haven’t seen before so I commend him for that. It’s fun to see something new and different, even if it doesn’t work to every reader’s taste.
I did really enjoy the connections to the previous book, Goodbye to the Sun. I can see how this book could be read on its own or the series in a different order but I personally am glad I did it the way I did to understand those connections. While I still felt that some social norms felt a little stilted as mentioned in my previous review, I did think that it didn’t stand out quite as much in this book as if the author himself was getting more comfortable with his ideas as well. I also felt like the history was better explained here for the most part without assuming the reader would have as much previous knowledge but at the same time it also didn’t feel overwhelming. It’s obvious that he has put a lot of thought into his world-building and I’m excited that he seemed to be hitting his stride more smoothly in that regard as well.
Overall, the story was really intriguing and I enjoyed my time with it. There were some moments where I had to rewind and relisten because I was feeling lost and like I had missed something but I’m honestly not entirely sure if that was due to the story itself or my focus being a bit off lately, which isn’t always in favor of audiobooks as I don’t notice when I space out with the narration continuing on in the background. I like though how some things were resolved within this book while others were left undone. I prefer that over every single detail being neatly closed out.
Thank you, Jonathan, for sending me your series to review. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get to it with the ever-expanding Mount TBR. I’ll be jumping right into the next one, No Song, But Silence, next.
The book starts out with a short prologue that sets the tone for this story rather well, in my opinion, and then jumps right into a perfect depiction of the “Firecacker” MC that narrates the story. I really enjoyed her character as well as another really prominent one that doesn’t directly narrate but who we find out about a lot here. They both were really enjoyable in their own ways. The one because of the transformation of her character and the other because of his stubborn refusal to be anything less than what he imagines himself to be. The supporting cast was also fun and felt really varied, reminding me a little bit of the crew in The Graven trilogy. I do want to warn you though that Jonathan has no mercy. He may seem like a nice guy on the outside but don’t believe for a second that any of his characters are ever safe to love because they might just disappear! Though if you know me, you know that I love that level of riskiness and unexpected.
There was one a little bit weird narrative choice that I don’t want to spoil that didn’t quite work for me but I do love seeing authors try out something that I haven’t seen before so I commend him for that. It’s fun to see something new and different, even if it doesn’t work to every reader’s taste.
I did really enjoy the connections to the previous book, Goodbye to the Sun. I can see how this book could be read on its own or the series in a different order but I personally am glad I did it the way I did to understand those connections. While I still felt that some social norms felt a little stilted as mentioned in my previous review, I did think that it didn’t stand out quite as much in this book as if the author himself was getting more comfortable with his ideas as well. I also felt like the history was better explained here for the most part without assuming the reader would have as much previous knowledge but at the same time it also didn’t feel overwhelming. It’s obvious that he has put a lot of thought into his world-building and I’m excited that he seemed to be hitting his stride more smoothly in that regard as well.
Overall, the story was really intriguing and I enjoyed my time with it. There were some moments where I had to rewind and relisten because I was feeling lost and like I had missed something but I’m honestly not entirely sure if that was due to the story itself or my focus being a bit off lately, which isn’t always in favor of audiobooks as I don’t notice when I space out with the narration continuing on in the background. I like though how some things were resolved within this book while others were left undone. I prefer that over every single detail being neatly closed out.
Thank you, Jonathan, for sending me your series to review. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get to it with the ever-expanding Mount TBR. I’ll be jumping right into the next one, No Song, But Silence, next.
September 1, 2021
I was sent a complimentary copy of Jati's Wager by the author in exchange for an honest review as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Storytellers on Tour. Thank you so much Jonathan Nevair and the SoT team! I've been on every SoT event schedule for this series so far and I'm really enjoying it. That said, as always, my thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
Jati's Wager is the sequel to Goodbye to the Sun, and I do think you should definitely read this trilogy in order to fully appreciate it, you could probably read this book first if you had to. Jati's Wager focuses on different characters than Goodbye to the Sun and does provide a "The Story So Far" pre-prologue summary. Personally, I think that's better used as a reminder than a book-skipping tool, but if you're chomping at the bit to try this series and this is the one you can get ahold of, go for it. But I expect you'll need book one before book three for that one to make sense!
This book is very character-driven and thus slots itself firmly into the "space opera" camp of science fiction, but hard sci-fi fans should still find a lot to like in this trilogy as well. This book does an excellent job of asking and attempting to answer big "what if" questions, as hard sci-fi typically does, and it's very clear that a lot of research, knowledge, and academic passion has gone into this book. While properties like Star Wars are held up as the flagships of space opera and certainly have their place in this genre, not all space opera gets technical terms wrong and shoves science to the side in favour of character arcs.
Jati and Ailo grow together as an unlikely mentor-mentee match throughout this fast-paced adventure, and I really enjoyed exploring their dynamic. Ailo is impulsive, complex, and rough around the edges. She's both carefree and optimistic, yet weighed down by the oversized baggage her past. Having come into Jati's life as an "I'll do anything, just get me off this planet" sort of crew member, it does feel like she has something to prove. Jati calls her "Firecracker," among other things, and it's a very fitting nickname.
Jati is someone we've met before, but we get to know a whole lot more about them in this book, and I have absolutely fallen in love with them that much more in this book. Perfect choice for a title character and primary focus in a middle book! Obviously I know we already met Jati, but it really struck me this time around how deftly Nevair has written a non-binary identity into this world in a completely matter-of-fact way that neither shoves it in your face nor lets it slip into the background. You're absolutely forced to realize what's going on, but Jati's gender identity isn't their defining feature either. Take note, other authors wanting to do casual representation! This is how it's done.
In a similar vein, I noticed and very much appreciate the visual descriptions of characters that stay well away from food vocabulary. "Deep umber skin," for example, is both an excellent reference made as this is a common paint pigment and also a very neutral, sensitive way to phrase it.
The POV of Gerib was a really interesting one for me. I don't think I've ever read the POV of a main character's imaginary friend before, and it's such a fascinating way to tell the story. This both is and isn't an extension of Ailo's point of view, but in a way that allows for the distance and teenage innocence that Ailo doesn't grant herself.
I also really enjoyed the planet Tarkassi 9 being referred to as T9, for some reason. This isn't particularly significant, but it reminded me of calculators (like the good old TI-83 I had to buy in grade 12, used for about 3 weeks of class time, and then never used again because university professors know you can program whatever you want into those bricks...)
The only "negative" that stood out to me was that certain characters frequently refer to Ailo as "the youth." I admit I'm partially just prejudiced against this term because I've seen it used and abused in other works where it just didn't fit or where it entirely replaced a character's name, but I really don't feel like it's a concise term. Language, culture, and context can all change what exactly "youth" refers to, so "the youth" could be a small child, an adult who's simply much younger than the speaker, or anything else in between.
All in all, Jati's Wager is a great book by itself and a strong second book in what's shaping up to be an amazing trilogy. I'm both very excited to read book three when it comes, but also sad to think the trilogy will come to an end with the next book. A loyal reader has been gained! Expect me to review anything Nevair puts out after this trilogy concludes.
Jati's Wager is the sequel to Goodbye to the Sun, and I do think you should definitely read this trilogy in order to fully appreciate it, you could probably read this book first if you had to. Jati's Wager focuses on different characters than Goodbye to the Sun and does provide a "The Story So Far" pre-prologue summary. Personally, I think that's better used as a reminder than a book-skipping tool, but if you're chomping at the bit to try this series and this is the one you can get ahold of, go for it. But I expect you'll need book one before book three for that one to make sense!
This book is very character-driven and thus slots itself firmly into the "space opera" camp of science fiction, but hard sci-fi fans should still find a lot to like in this trilogy as well. This book does an excellent job of asking and attempting to answer big "what if" questions, as hard sci-fi typically does, and it's very clear that a lot of research, knowledge, and academic passion has gone into this book. While properties like Star Wars are held up as the flagships of space opera and certainly have their place in this genre, not all space opera gets technical terms wrong and shoves science to the side in favour of character arcs.
Jati and Ailo grow together as an unlikely mentor-mentee match throughout this fast-paced adventure, and I really enjoyed exploring their dynamic. Ailo is impulsive, complex, and rough around the edges. She's both carefree and optimistic, yet weighed down by the oversized baggage her past. Having come into Jati's life as an "I'll do anything, just get me off this planet" sort of crew member, it does feel like she has something to prove. Jati calls her "Firecracker," among other things, and it's a very fitting nickname.
Jati is someone we've met before, but we get to know a whole lot more about them in this book, and I have absolutely fallen in love with them that much more in this book. Perfect choice for a title character and primary focus in a middle book! Obviously I know we already met Jati, but it really struck me this time around how deftly Nevair has written a non-binary identity into this world in a completely matter-of-fact way that neither shoves it in your face nor lets it slip into the background. You're absolutely forced to realize what's going on, but Jati's gender identity isn't their defining feature either. Take note, other authors wanting to do casual representation! This is how it's done.
In a similar vein, I noticed and very much appreciate the visual descriptions of characters that stay well away from food vocabulary. "Deep umber skin," for example, is both an excellent reference made as this is a common paint pigment and also a very neutral, sensitive way to phrase it.
The POV of Gerib was a really interesting one for me. I don't think I've ever read the POV of a main character's imaginary friend before, and it's such a fascinating way to tell the story. This both is and isn't an extension of Ailo's point of view, but in a way that allows for the distance and teenage innocence that Ailo doesn't grant herself.
I also really enjoyed the planet Tarkassi 9 being referred to as T9, for some reason. This isn't particularly significant, but it reminded me of calculators (like the good old TI-83 I had to buy in grade 12, used for about 3 weeks of class time, and then never used again because university professors know you can program whatever you want into those bricks...)
The only "negative" that stood out to me was that certain characters frequently refer to Ailo as "the youth." I admit I'm partially just prejudiced against this term because I've seen it used and abused in other works where it just didn't fit or where it entirely replaced a character's name, but I really don't feel like it's a concise term. Language, culture, and context can all change what exactly "youth" refers to, so "the youth" could be a small child, an adult who's simply much younger than the speaker, or anything else in between.
All in all, Jati's Wager is a great book by itself and a strong second book in what's shaping up to be an amazing trilogy. I'm both very excited to read book three when it comes, but also sad to think the trilogy will come to an end with the next book. A loyal reader has been gained! Expect me to review anything Nevair puts out after this trilogy concludes.
December 4, 2021
Terrific space opera inspired by heroic Greek tragedy.
After loving the first book of this series from beginning to end, I have to admit that it took me a while to really get into this one. With Goodbye to the Sun, I connected immediately with the two main characters (Razor and Keen Draden). I didn't quite connect with Ailo, the protagonist of Jati's Wager, in quite the same way. She seemed unreal to me. But at some point I realized that this book serves as an origin story for a character destined to become someone larger than life, perhaps even a legendary figure (like the characters in Greek tragedies). Once that revelation hit home, I gained a new appreciation for what I was reading, and Ailo's coming-of-age story made much more sense to me. (I really dug the disembodied mentor/voice in her head.)
I found a lot to love in this book. Nevair does a great job of compelling the reader to live through disastrous situations with no assurance that the heroes will get through them. The suspense is heart-stopping (figuratively speaking, fortunately). The intrigue is gripping, especially since every plan devolves into Plan C (readers of Goodbye to the Sun will know what I mean). But perhaps the biggest selling point of this book (and this series) is Nevair's lyrical prose, which gives you the sense that you are reading about events that will later become mythologized.
Favorite moment (no spoilers): one of the characters emulates a famous act by Achilles in The Iliad. I got a big kick out of that one.
After loving the first book of this series from beginning to end, I have to admit that it took me a while to really get into this one. With Goodbye to the Sun, I connected immediately with the two main characters (Razor and Keen Draden). I didn't quite connect with Ailo, the protagonist of Jati's Wager, in quite the same way. She seemed unreal to me. But at some point I realized that this book serves as an origin story for a character destined to become someone larger than life, perhaps even a legendary figure (like the characters in Greek tragedies). Once that revelation hit home, I gained a new appreciation for what I was reading, and Ailo's coming-of-age story made much more sense to me. (I really dug the disembodied mentor/voice in her head.)
I found a lot to love in this book. Nevair does a great job of compelling the reader to live through disastrous situations with no assurance that the heroes will get through them. The suspense is heart-stopping (figuratively speaking, fortunately). The intrigue is gripping, especially since every plan devolves into Plan C (readers of Goodbye to the Sun will know what I mean). But perhaps the biggest selling point of this book (and this series) is Nevair's lyrical prose, which gives you the sense that you are reading about events that will later become mythologized.
Favorite moment (no spoilers): one of the characters emulates a famous act by Achilles in The Iliad. I got a big kick out of that one.
August 23, 2021
Compulsively Readable Scifi!
Nevair's second book is cool on many levels - it's action and philosophy, politics and ecology. It’s a dance that he pulls off, never lingering too long in one place. It’s a killer trick, and makes “Jati” compulsively readable as he knits together all the narratives. It’s a completely satisfying read - I genuinely cannot wait for the finale!
Nevair's second book is cool on many levels - it's action and philosophy, politics and ecology. It’s a dance that he pulls off, never lingering too long in one place. It’s a killer trick, and makes “Jati” compulsively readable as he knits together all the narratives. It’s a completely satisfying read - I genuinely cannot wait for the finale!
September 2, 2021
Jati returns in a titular capacity in the second book of The Wind Tide trilogy – a character who was my favourite in Goodbye to the Sun and didn’t let me down here either – even if there is slightly less ‘Old Tot’ and more ‘Firecracker’ – What? Less Old Tot!?
Firecracker is Ailo, a new POV character introduced here. She’s a feisty and passionate teen gone rogue, and Jati can see a place for her on their side. Personally, I’m not usually huge fan of teenage characters, but I know many people are.
However, for someone who usually likes older characters (I mean I do have Jati afterall), I think Nevair has written her really well, and the disparity between the ages of Ailo and Jati creates an interesting working dynamic that was a real pleasure to follow.
What didn’t really work for me quite as well was the introduction of an imaginary friend POV. Gerib is Ailo’s imaginary friend – a voice she argues with in her head, but also a character with thoughts, feelings and plans of their own. It is not the having an imaginary friend part that I struggled with – but making them sentient, as this took me out of the immersion, despite how well done it is.
My job is internal, managing a ‘family’ of subpersonalities comprising a psyche and its dynamics.
I suspect Gerib is almost there as a metaphor in some respects. Given the author’s academic background and obvious intelligence, it is likely I haven’t studied his implementation of this in enough depth (or with enough prior knowledge) to appreciate the cleverness that is most probably behind it!
This aspect wasn’t a complete negative for me however, as Gerib did give an excellent insight into Ailo’s mind and was really thought provoking – it is obvious a good knowledge of psychology has been called upon to make this work. Despite my own misgivings about it, Gerib will most definitely work for some and admittedly does add something fresh and unique to the story. It is most certainly an inventive technique and I really can’t fault the author for trying something new.
There were two particularly strong highlights in Goodbye to the Sun which I’m pleased to say have been maintained here. One was of course Jati. When I realised this book was going to feature my favourite character I was delighted, and they are just brilliant. That cool, protective aura persists, the witty remarks, the intelligence and experience of this brilliant and charismatic person.
The other is the character interactions/development and diplomacy. Betrayals, tactics, subtleties and managing relations continues to be a big part of the storytelling, without going too heavy on the dialogue and ‘downtime’. I feel like Nevair has the balance between worldbuilding, social commentary and action nailed down perfectly, which gives the book a really well rounded and accomplished feel.
Idealists never survive reality…They fall to save the innocent
Again as in book one, the writing style is fairly academic which I enjoyed because here it makes you feel the author has control over the story and the elements within it, understanding the science and various aspects of the world he has created. I think that’s something to touch on a little further – it can be really off putting if an author has some good ideas but fails to make them sound convincing because they don’t have enough control over them. Nevair gives a feeling of serenity and calm as you know you are in safe hands and trust in his story, just from the command he has with his storytelling. Hopefully you understand what I’m trying to say because I may not have articulated that particularly well – in short, the author seems to know exactly what he’s doing and that makes the read all the better.
Nevair is also capable of some really beautiful imagery, Cesix Prime being a particular highlight, a multi-tiered garden dreamscape filled with wooden walkways, running water, foliage and flowers. From his wonderful descriptions you can transport yourself without even having to think about it, to these amazing places.
I mentioned that I got a Star Wars vibe at times with the first book and I do with Jati’s Wager too – the missions the characters are involved in, the places they explore, the diplomacy of factions and the characters in play. There is often a plan A, a plan B and a plan C and the characters have to wing it as best they can. It’s completely different to SW in many ways but alot of the things I love about SW has similar strengths to the things I enjoy in Wind Tide.
Make sure to be mentally prepared as there is heartbreak and turmoil, the ending being particularly poignant and leaving me speechless, without giving away any spoilers.
Obviously I cared alot about Jati in book one, but something Nevair improves upon here is making me care about the side characters a lot more than I did in GttS. Jati aside, I feel like there were much more engaging secondary characters that you care about and enjoy spending time with which was brilliant.
If you loved Goodbye to the Sun, you’ll love Jati’s Wager too, especially if Jati is your fave! If you haven’t read book one, I hope this review gave you a little taste and encouraged you to go check it out!
Firecracker is Ailo, a new POV character introduced here. She’s a feisty and passionate teen gone rogue, and Jati can see a place for her on their side. Personally, I’m not usually huge fan of teenage characters, but I know many people are.
However, for someone who usually likes older characters (I mean I do have Jati afterall), I think Nevair has written her really well, and the disparity between the ages of Ailo and Jati creates an interesting working dynamic that was a real pleasure to follow.
What didn’t really work for me quite as well was the introduction of an imaginary friend POV. Gerib is Ailo’s imaginary friend – a voice she argues with in her head, but also a character with thoughts, feelings and plans of their own. It is not the having an imaginary friend part that I struggled with – but making them sentient, as this took me out of the immersion, despite how well done it is.
My job is internal, managing a ‘family’ of subpersonalities comprising a psyche and its dynamics.
I suspect Gerib is almost there as a metaphor in some respects. Given the author’s academic background and obvious intelligence, it is likely I haven’t studied his implementation of this in enough depth (or with enough prior knowledge) to appreciate the cleverness that is most probably behind it!
This aspect wasn’t a complete negative for me however, as Gerib did give an excellent insight into Ailo’s mind and was really thought provoking – it is obvious a good knowledge of psychology has been called upon to make this work. Despite my own misgivings about it, Gerib will most definitely work for some and admittedly does add something fresh and unique to the story. It is most certainly an inventive technique and I really can’t fault the author for trying something new.
There were two particularly strong highlights in Goodbye to the Sun which I’m pleased to say have been maintained here. One was of course Jati. When I realised this book was going to feature my favourite character I was delighted, and they are just brilliant. That cool, protective aura persists, the witty remarks, the intelligence and experience of this brilliant and charismatic person.
The other is the character interactions/development and diplomacy. Betrayals, tactics, subtleties and managing relations continues to be a big part of the storytelling, without going too heavy on the dialogue and ‘downtime’. I feel like Nevair has the balance between worldbuilding, social commentary and action nailed down perfectly, which gives the book a really well rounded and accomplished feel.
Idealists never survive reality…They fall to save the innocent
Again as in book one, the writing style is fairly academic which I enjoyed because here it makes you feel the author has control over the story and the elements within it, understanding the science and various aspects of the world he has created. I think that’s something to touch on a little further – it can be really off putting if an author has some good ideas but fails to make them sound convincing because they don’t have enough control over them. Nevair gives a feeling of serenity and calm as you know you are in safe hands and trust in his story, just from the command he has with his storytelling. Hopefully you understand what I’m trying to say because I may not have articulated that particularly well – in short, the author seems to know exactly what he’s doing and that makes the read all the better.
Nevair is also capable of some really beautiful imagery, Cesix Prime being a particular highlight, a multi-tiered garden dreamscape filled with wooden walkways, running water, foliage and flowers. From his wonderful descriptions you can transport yourself without even having to think about it, to these amazing places.
I mentioned that I got a Star Wars vibe at times with the first book and I do with Jati’s Wager too – the missions the characters are involved in, the places they explore, the diplomacy of factions and the characters in play. There is often a plan A, a plan B and a plan C and the characters have to wing it as best they can. It’s completely different to SW in many ways but alot of the things I love about SW has similar strengths to the things I enjoy in Wind Tide.
Make sure to be mentally prepared as there is heartbreak and turmoil, the ending being particularly poignant and leaving me speechless, without giving away any spoilers.
Obviously I cared alot about Jati in book one, but something Nevair improves upon here is making me care about the side characters a lot more than I did in GttS. Jati aside, I feel like there were much more engaging secondary characters that you care about and enjoy spending time with which was brilliant.
If you loved Goodbye to the Sun, you’ll love Jati’s Wager too, especially if Jati is your fave! If you haven’t read book one, I hope this review gave you a little taste and encouraged you to go check it out!
August 29, 2021
Jati’s Wager, the sequel to Goodbye to the Sun, is once again set in the Sagittarius Arm of the galaxy, where a war is waging between the rebellious People’s Army and their oppressors, the Garassians. The story begins with a bang – an exciting action sequence where a teenage stowaway, Ailo, steals a speeder in order to try and escape from the crew of the ship she has stowed away on. Here the fast-paced action sequences end for a while, however, since this is a more cerebral story – concentrating on conversations and philosophical discussions about the war and its origins. Ailo, the main PoV character has stowed away on the Carmora, the ship belonging to Jati, who we met in Book 1. Now Jati is the general of the People’s Army and nine years have passed since the events of Book 1.
Don’t get me wrong there is plenty of action in places, but it is not an ‘action-packed, thrill-ride’ of a book all the way through. The dialogue between Ailo and crew members as she becomes more educated and her inner conversations with Gerib, her imaginary friend, who is her sounding-board and therapist, take center stage for the majority of the first half of the book’s narrative. When the action sequences do appear, they are exciting, cinematic and often white-knuckle inducing.
The story is essentially a heist, but with so many more layers. Someone close to Jati is kidnapped and they decide to rescue said person, gathering together the best crew to do the job during the first half of the book. In the process treating the reader to some planet-hopping which allows for a whole array of wonderful world-building.
The description of the planet Ffossk, with its ebony grass covered hills and floating sky islands above the clouds was highly imaginative and made Ffossk perhaps my favourite location in the novel, but the botanic space station inhabited by Rence Tusolo was also fabulous and I would love to see the Cantinool trees of Heroon one day!!
“Massive, intricately branched trees and other greenery towered from the islands’ surfaces. On their undersides, cubic habitations with circular windows dangled from the ends of exposed roots reaching down into the open air. Skywalks connected the various geometric buildings in each island’s root system, creating underhanging, landless sky towns.”
Jati was my favourite character in Goodbye to the Sun and they are now more mature and careworn with less witty banter, but their independent spirit and unusual belief (for a general) that no life should be taken unless completely necessary are still there.
I was hoping Razor would be back as she was an important and intriguing part of Book 1. She is mentioned in Jati’s Wager but does not make an appearance in this book. Instead we get to meet many new characters: Nisi the superhero-like soldier; Tera the likeable and smart navigator, JeJeti the gap-toothed mechanic and Rence the retired Radical turned hermit. The antagonists in this book are the late Keen Draden’s parent Aradus and his nephew the assassin Hekron, whom Ailo has previously met.
Ailo’s journey both developmentally as a young adult and geographically is an important part of this book and she makes many discoveries about her heritage and her strength of character and morality as she travels through space. I feel like “Ailo’s Journey” could have been an alternate title for this book. Through Ailo we make discoveries about Jati and their motivations and we are taught the history and politics behind the current situation:
Jati’s cause made sense now. They weren’t an idealist, far from it. They were a servant, a gracious facilitator who penetrated the veil of human progress.
Gerib is an extremely interesting character. He is introduced to the reader as an imaginary friend. Ostensibly a facet of Ailo’s mind – I had many theories about him at the beginning of the book – was he a coping mechanism thrown up by her psyche after Ailo experienced trauma, or was there more to him? Was she an Android with an extra personality implanted? Was she schizophrenic? It turned out that he was her conscience, moral compass and also managing her “fight or flight” decisions and how much of her difficult memories she had access to. I really enjoyed the internal conversations between Ailo and Gerib and how he had monologues which were presented as if Ailo wasn’t a party to them. It was interesting how he came to the conclusion that she had grown out of her need for him but felt she might not react to that news well – as if he was a completely independent being.
Through mentorship and education, Ailo is able to see the bigger picture of the world she now finds herself in:
The last gasp of a passing age meant one world would fall, replaced by another. Is that what was happening here? A species at the end of its aeonic lifespan.
I would recommend Jati’s Wager to fans of Space Opera style fiction, but also to those who enjoy a heist story, and are interested in the psychology of trauma survival. The novel is extremely well-written, with believable characters whose motivation, ethics and determination ring true. There is epic, imaginative world-building, strategizing, a mole, a trap, an exciting and life-threatening escape, an amazingly edge-of-seat inducing heist and more than a couple of twists in the tale, I can’t wait for the final part of this trilogy!
Fans of the Wind Tide trilogy? “Of Them, we are One”.
Don’t get me wrong there is plenty of action in places, but it is not an ‘action-packed, thrill-ride’ of a book all the way through. The dialogue between Ailo and crew members as she becomes more educated and her inner conversations with Gerib, her imaginary friend, who is her sounding-board and therapist, take center stage for the majority of the first half of the book’s narrative. When the action sequences do appear, they are exciting, cinematic and often white-knuckle inducing.
The story is essentially a heist, but with so many more layers. Someone close to Jati is kidnapped and they decide to rescue said person, gathering together the best crew to do the job during the first half of the book. In the process treating the reader to some planet-hopping which allows for a whole array of wonderful world-building.
The description of the planet Ffossk, with its ebony grass covered hills and floating sky islands above the clouds was highly imaginative and made Ffossk perhaps my favourite location in the novel, but the botanic space station inhabited by Rence Tusolo was also fabulous and I would love to see the Cantinool trees of Heroon one day!!
“Massive, intricately branched trees and other greenery towered from the islands’ surfaces. On their undersides, cubic habitations with circular windows dangled from the ends of exposed roots reaching down into the open air. Skywalks connected the various geometric buildings in each island’s root system, creating underhanging, landless sky towns.”
Jati was my favourite character in Goodbye to the Sun and they are now more mature and careworn with less witty banter, but their independent spirit and unusual belief (for a general) that no life should be taken unless completely necessary are still there.
I was hoping Razor would be back as she was an important and intriguing part of Book 1. She is mentioned in Jati’s Wager but does not make an appearance in this book. Instead we get to meet many new characters: Nisi the superhero-like soldier; Tera the likeable and smart navigator, JeJeti the gap-toothed mechanic and Rence the retired Radical turned hermit. The antagonists in this book are the late Keen Draden’s parent Aradus and his nephew the assassin Hekron, whom Ailo has previously met.
Ailo’s journey both developmentally as a young adult and geographically is an important part of this book and she makes many discoveries about her heritage and her strength of character and morality as she travels through space. I feel like “Ailo’s Journey” could have been an alternate title for this book. Through Ailo we make discoveries about Jati and their motivations and we are taught the history and politics behind the current situation:
Jati’s cause made sense now. They weren’t an idealist, far from it. They were a servant, a gracious facilitator who penetrated the veil of human progress.
Gerib is an extremely interesting character. He is introduced to the reader as an imaginary friend. Ostensibly a facet of Ailo’s mind – I had many theories about him at the beginning of the book – was he a coping mechanism thrown up by her psyche after Ailo experienced trauma, or was there more to him? Was she an Android with an extra personality implanted? Was she schizophrenic? It turned out that he was her conscience, moral compass and also managing her “fight or flight” decisions and how much of her difficult memories she had access to. I really enjoyed the internal conversations between Ailo and Gerib and how he had monologues which were presented as if Ailo wasn’t a party to them. It was interesting how he came to the conclusion that she had grown out of her need for him but felt she might not react to that news well – as if he was a completely independent being.
Through mentorship and education, Ailo is able to see the bigger picture of the world she now finds herself in:
The last gasp of a passing age meant one world would fall, replaced by another. Is that what was happening here? A species at the end of its aeonic lifespan.
I would recommend Jati’s Wager to fans of Space Opera style fiction, but also to those who enjoy a heist story, and are interested in the psychology of trauma survival. The novel is extremely well-written, with believable characters whose motivation, ethics and determination ring true. There is epic, imaginative world-building, strategizing, a mole, a trap, an exciting and life-threatening escape, an amazingly edge-of-seat inducing heist and more than a couple of twists in the tale, I can’t wait for the final part of this trilogy!
Fans of the Wind Tide trilogy? “Of Them, we are One”.
September 12, 2021
Content Warning: death of parent (mentioned), death of mentor, verbal abuse, graphic violence and death, blood, homelessness, trauma, guilt, kidnapping (mentioned)
WARNING: There will be spoilers for Goodbye to the Sun
THE STORY TO DATE: When I read Jonathan Nevair’s debut novel, Goodbye to the Sun, all I can say is that I was blown away. The book was brilliant and had so many layers beyond being great science fiction. The source material for the book was the Greek tragedy, Antigone. Keen Draden, a veteran of the Patent War on Heroon, has become an alcoholic diplomat, clearly suffering from PTSD. Razor, the Mote resistance fighter whose singular focus was to destroy Keen. Jati, a friend of Keen and veteran of the Patent War, have their own ship that transports goods and also supplies resistance fighters. They are in the Sagittarius (Sag) Arm of a galaxy. The ruling Garassian council, of which Keen’s father heads, controls wind energy supplied to the Sag Arm. Planets are terraformed into desert wastelands to harness to solar wind. Poor planets on the fringe survive on what little energy and supplies they can. In short summary, at the end, Keen has a daughter who was betrayed and killed by the council. Believing Keen will divulge where the Mote resistance is located, Razor kills Keen. For killing him, Razor is arrested and sentenced to life in prison on Kol 2, her home planet. Jati is now the resistance leader of the People’s Army.
“But when Ailo appeared in the nav room on the Carmora, struggling against the ship’s engineers forceful grip, the chroniclers hand had slipped. The pen’s ink blotted over what would otherwise been a swift epilogue to a tragic yet successful narrative of triumphant justice.
Fates refrain was a reminder. Epochs die hard, and rarely do they go peacefully…” J. Nevair, Prologue, Jati’s Wager
I can’t even describe how brilliant this novel is. If I was blown away by Goodbye to the Sun, I was even more so by Jati’s Wager. Jati’s Wager picks up the story nine years after Keen Draden’s death. Gender fluidity is still an important and essential part of this novel, just as it was in the first. One must always ask how one identifies their gender, no matter who, and not to do so is considered extremely rude. It is identified by a suffix added to the end of their name. Inclusivity is very important in the genre, so this in itself was an amazing concept to include. Jati, who identifies as non-binary, now heads the People’s Army fighting the Tide War as a well-respected General. They have made great gains in taking back planets from the Garassian council and preventing terraforming.
Ailo (Ai), who met briefly on the poor planet of Tarkassi 9, stows away on the Carmora to escape her bleak life there. Ailo is tough from scraping by on Tarkassi 9 and has no plans to stay on the Carmora. In a series of mishaps, she is severely hurt and brought to Ffossk, a People’s Army planet with the medical means to heal her. As she recovers, she grows fond of her doctor, Arira. The planet is like nothing Ai has ever seen, with geysers and beautiful flora and fauna. This is exactly what she was trying to escape too. Jati arrives and takes her on a picnic. He asks her questions that are ultimately to teach her about her freedom, the world around her, and what she wants in her life. Since we didn’t really get to know Jati very deeply in Goodbye to the Sun, we now see who they are. They are wise, kind, loyal, dedicated to the cause, and in many ways, an idealist, which is not necessarily a bad character trait. Jati is very respected as leader of the People’s Army because of all these traits, and what they have been able to accomplish for the people. While recovering, Ffossk is attacked and Arira is taken, and we find out that Arira is Jati’s daughter. Now begins Jati’s wager to rescue his daughter and end the Garassian council’s rule.
The Prose
The narrative of Jati’s Wager is much like Goodbye to the Sun. However, where the first-person narrative in the latter book was Razor, in this book, it is nothing short of ingenious. The first-person narrative is Ai’s subconscious, her imaginary friend she has named Gerib. What Gerib does is protect Ai’s psyche be blocking off memories that are painful. Memories she will have to face, but slowly and at the right time. Gerib “knows” at some point he will no longer needed when Ai can fully know and accept her past. The writing is beautiful as Gerib’s chapters speak of Ai and his role.
“Now here is what makes this extraordinary: I’m an imaginary friend. We’ve developed a social relationship. I’ve become a companion to a lonely, isolated child…But I serve to protect and shield Ai from internal exiles whose wounds can return to consciousness, triggering emergency responders…So I make decisions about how much, when, and if a memory can resurface. I don’t always succeed, but I try.” J. Nevair, Jati’s Wager
This was unusual, but was absolute perfection in order to understand Ai and how important she is. In subsequent chapters, Ai and Gerib “speak” to each other. She asking questions about what she should say or do, and Gerib “guiding” her through the process. The other chapters are third person narrative of the interactions of the characters and the plot. They do not focus solely on one character. The reader is given an overall sense of the crew, and especially Jati. The prose flows beautifully and poetic. When Jati takes Ai to Heroon, she is overwhelmed by the natural beauty. Jati takes her to see the Catinool trees There are trees called Catinool trees and she stares in wonder at them.
“Out here, in the natural landscape of Heroon, Ailo put together a greater understanding of humanity and it’s relationship to flora and fauna. The Catnools, the clouds, the rain, the and the sea…she’s been living on the outside, at the fringe of a world politically and ecologically. And then it dawned on her: politics and ecology were both alluring and exciting…and also potentially threatening or even deadly…” J. Neavair, Jati’s Wager
Jati’s Wager is, on so many levels, a metaphor of what we are doing to this planet. This one statement here, this beautiful prose, sums it all up. We are all interconnected to every living organism, and to make the mistake of thinking we are not, has had dire consequences. As an Environmental Scientist, Mr. Nevair’s writing about ecology is spot on.
There are so many layers to dissect here. Tarkassi 9 and Kol 2 (which we saw more of in Goodbye to the Sun) can be metaphors for the destruction we are wielding on this planet. Think about the wind energy that planets are being terraformed to harvest. We think of wind energy as one solution to solve our dependence on fossil fuels. Here it becomes a symbol of greed and control. Something we view as good, becomes bad in this series. I don’t think that is the take away here. In writing this, Mr. Nevair speaks to greed of any kind, even when perceived as good. That greed is what has led to barren wastelands of planets and poor, destitute places like Tarkassi 9. This same greed has led to the ecological destruction, extinction, pollution and climate change we are now facing. The dichotomy is brilliant.
The Characters
On the Carmora, the crew is like family and Ai becomes part of this family. There is JeJeto, the mechanic who also spars with Ai under Jati’s instruction to teach her fighting skills, Tera, the navigator, Nisi, a pilot, and Darro Kin-tuk-ti, aka, Boar, an ace pilot. The interactions between them are very much like a family, but also a working crew. Jati is always the voice of reason, but as their leader, he will put an end to anything that would jeopardize the mission they are to embark upon. It is dangerous and they all know it, but above all, they would follow Jati anywhere.
Jati themself is a study in opposites. They are a trained soldier, having fought in the Patent Wars. Jati has killed people in war and they bear the scars for it. As Jati the General and leading the People’s Army, they have become almost a pacifist, and yes, and idealist. It these characteristics that make them great. No matter what, they will not kill civilians, even in war. They will give their enemies a chance to join them. They are at once both tough and gentle. Jati is smart, a strategist, and a leader. They have the admiration of those in the Sag Arm they have liberated. They teach Ai the way of the warrior, that to be a warrior is not necessarily always mean fighting. As a martial artist, this was particularly meaningful as this is what we are taught:
“The Way,” Jati said. “That is what I am teaching you here.”
“Of a soldier?”
“No, Of the warrior” …
“Ideally, or philosophically, a warrior or soldier that is skilled enough and knows themselves-and therefore can know their enemy-shouldn’t have to fight…”
“You can be a warrior and never engage in physical combat…Many of those are among the strongest and wisest warriors of all.” J. Nevair, Jati’s Wager.
Jati is among the most well-written characters I have read. They are not perfect, but they try to follow their philosophy. Their growth from Goodbye to the Sun from the smuggler to the leader of the People’s Army paints a portrait of a complex, fascinating character.
Once we get past Ai’s fear and stubbornness, she begins to fit in. Jati becomes a parental figure to her, and becomes very protective of them. Gerib keeps her fears and past at bay, but we see it gradually unfold with the story. Nisi, a tough pilot on the ship, who is also lost her parent, becomes like a sister to Ai. Her interactions with Gerib make for a very interesting narrative. Ai directly asks Gerib what she should or should not do. Gerib is there to guide her, not to let her memories overwhelm her. As the story unfolds. So does the story of Ai and how special she is.
The other characters mentioned, JeJeto, Nisi, Tera and Boar, all fit together forming a family with Jati leading them. They are funny, they argue, but they stand by each other.
Pacing
The pacing of the story was ideal. The action started right from the beginning and never let up. Character development was excellent, as this is a character driven novel. As much as there was action, the character interaction was essential. The character arcs were fully realized and so well done. There was never a time while reading that I felt like nothing was happening. Every word was a pleasure to read. It ran me through a gamut of emotions, but I came away knowing I had read a brilliant piece of literature.
Overall Thoughts
Jati’s Wager is an absolutely magnificent novel. The characters are fully developed, and have complete story arcs. The main protagonists, Ailo and Jati fit so well together, as Ai comes to see Jati as parental figure and teacher, and becomes protective of them. She in awe of the them. Jati is a mentor, warrior, leader and teacher to his crew. They are the glue that binds them together, and it all works. The prose is beautiful and unique. The first-person narrative chapters are of Ai’s subconscious “friend” Gerib, who helps to keep her difficult memories at bay, thereby protecting her psyche. Other chapters move the story along with both action and character development. The story itself is an emotional roller coaster. When you can so deeply about characters and the story, you know you have just read an incredible novel. Jati’s Wager is perfection and science fictions at its finest. I highly recommend it.
Find my review on my blog: https://bookandnatureprofessor.com/20...
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WARNING: There will be spoilers for Goodbye to the Sun
THE STORY TO DATE: When I read Jonathan Nevair’s debut novel, Goodbye to the Sun, all I can say is that I was blown away. The book was brilliant and had so many layers beyond being great science fiction. The source material for the book was the Greek tragedy, Antigone. Keen Draden, a veteran of the Patent War on Heroon, has become an alcoholic diplomat, clearly suffering from PTSD. Razor, the Mote resistance fighter whose singular focus was to destroy Keen. Jati, a friend of Keen and veteran of the Patent War, have their own ship that transports goods and also supplies resistance fighters. They are in the Sagittarius (Sag) Arm of a galaxy. The ruling Garassian council, of which Keen’s father heads, controls wind energy supplied to the Sag Arm. Planets are terraformed into desert wastelands to harness to solar wind. Poor planets on the fringe survive on what little energy and supplies they can. In short summary, at the end, Keen has a daughter who was betrayed and killed by the council. Believing Keen will divulge where the Mote resistance is located, Razor kills Keen. For killing him, Razor is arrested and sentenced to life in prison on Kol 2, her home planet. Jati is now the resistance leader of the People’s Army.
“But when Ailo appeared in the nav room on the Carmora, struggling against the ship’s engineers forceful grip, the chroniclers hand had slipped. The pen’s ink blotted over what would otherwise been a swift epilogue to a tragic yet successful narrative of triumphant justice.
Fates refrain was a reminder. Epochs die hard, and rarely do they go peacefully…” J. Nevair, Prologue, Jati’s Wager
I can’t even describe how brilliant this novel is. If I was blown away by Goodbye to the Sun, I was even more so by Jati’s Wager. Jati’s Wager picks up the story nine years after Keen Draden’s death. Gender fluidity is still an important and essential part of this novel, just as it was in the first. One must always ask how one identifies their gender, no matter who, and not to do so is considered extremely rude. It is identified by a suffix added to the end of their name. Inclusivity is very important in the genre, so this in itself was an amazing concept to include. Jati, who identifies as non-binary, now heads the People’s Army fighting the Tide War as a well-respected General. They have made great gains in taking back planets from the Garassian council and preventing terraforming.
Ailo (Ai), who met briefly on the poor planet of Tarkassi 9, stows away on the Carmora to escape her bleak life there. Ailo is tough from scraping by on Tarkassi 9 and has no plans to stay on the Carmora. In a series of mishaps, she is severely hurt and brought to Ffossk, a People’s Army planet with the medical means to heal her. As she recovers, she grows fond of her doctor, Arira. The planet is like nothing Ai has ever seen, with geysers and beautiful flora and fauna. This is exactly what she was trying to escape too. Jati arrives and takes her on a picnic. He asks her questions that are ultimately to teach her about her freedom, the world around her, and what she wants in her life. Since we didn’t really get to know Jati very deeply in Goodbye to the Sun, we now see who they are. They are wise, kind, loyal, dedicated to the cause, and in many ways, an idealist, which is not necessarily a bad character trait. Jati is very respected as leader of the People’s Army because of all these traits, and what they have been able to accomplish for the people. While recovering, Ffossk is attacked and Arira is taken, and we find out that Arira is Jati’s daughter. Now begins Jati’s wager to rescue his daughter and end the Garassian council’s rule.
The Prose
The narrative of Jati’s Wager is much like Goodbye to the Sun. However, where the first-person narrative in the latter book was Razor, in this book, it is nothing short of ingenious. The first-person narrative is Ai’s subconscious, her imaginary friend she has named Gerib. What Gerib does is protect Ai’s psyche be blocking off memories that are painful. Memories she will have to face, but slowly and at the right time. Gerib “knows” at some point he will no longer needed when Ai can fully know and accept her past. The writing is beautiful as Gerib’s chapters speak of Ai and his role.
“Now here is what makes this extraordinary: I’m an imaginary friend. We’ve developed a social relationship. I’ve become a companion to a lonely, isolated child…But I serve to protect and shield Ai from internal exiles whose wounds can return to consciousness, triggering emergency responders…So I make decisions about how much, when, and if a memory can resurface. I don’t always succeed, but I try.” J. Nevair, Jati’s Wager
This was unusual, but was absolute perfection in order to understand Ai and how important she is. In subsequent chapters, Ai and Gerib “speak” to each other. She asking questions about what she should say or do, and Gerib “guiding” her through the process. The other chapters are third person narrative of the interactions of the characters and the plot. They do not focus solely on one character. The reader is given an overall sense of the crew, and especially Jati. The prose flows beautifully and poetic. When Jati takes Ai to Heroon, she is overwhelmed by the natural beauty. Jati takes her to see the Catinool trees There are trees called Catinool trees and she stares in wonder at them.
“Out here, in the natural landscape of Heroon, Ailo put together a greater understanding of humanity and it’s relationship to flora and fauna. The Catnools, the clouds, the rain, the and the sea…she’s been living on the outside, at the fringe of a world politically and ecologically. And then it dawned on her: politics and ecology were both alluring and exciting…and also potentially threatening or even deadly…” J. Neavair, Jati’s Wager
Jati’s Wager is, on so many levels, a metaphor of what we are doing to this planet. This one statement here, this beautiful prose, sums it all up. We are all interconnected to every living organism, and to make the mistake of thinking we are not, has had dire consequences. As an Environmental Scientist, Mr. Nevair’s writing about ecology is spot on.
There are so many layers to dissect here. Tarkassi 9 and Kol 2 (which we saw more of in Goodbye to the Sun) can be metaphors for the destruction we are wielding on this planet. Think about the wind energy that planets are being terraformed to harvest. We think of wind energy as one solution to solve our dependence on fossil fuels. Here it becomes a symbol of greed and control. Something we view as good, becomes bad in this series. I don’t think that is the take away here. In writing this, Mr. Nevair speaks to greed of any kind, even when perceived as good. That greed is what has led to barren wastelands of planets and poor, destitute places like Tarkassi 9. This same greed has led to the ecological destruction, extinction, pollution and climate change we are now facing. The dichotomy is brilliant.
The Characters
On the Carmora, the crew is like family and Ai becomes part of this family. There is JeJeto, the mechanic who also spars with Ai under Jati’s instruction to teach her fighting skills, Tera, the navigator, Nisi, a pilot, and Darro Kin-tuk-ti, aka, Boar, an ace pilot. The interactions between them are very much like a family, but also a working crew. Jati is always the voice of reason, but as their leader, he will put an end to anything that would jeopardize the mission they are to embark upon. It is dangerous and they all know it, but above all, they would follow Jati anywhere.
Jati themself is a study in opposites. They are a trained soldier, having fought in the Patent Wars. Jati has killed people in war and they bear the scars for it. As Jati the General and leading the People’s Army, they have become almost a pacifist, and yes, and idealist. It these characteristics that make them great. No matter what, they will not kill civilians, even in war. They will give their enemies a chance to join them. They are at once both tough and gentle. Jati is smart, a strategist, and a leader. They have the admiration of those in the Sag Arm they have liberated. They teach Ai the way of the warrior, that to be a warrior is not necessarily always mean fighting. As a martial artist, this was particularly meaningful as this is what we are taught:
“The Way,” Jati said. “That is what I am teaching you here.”
“Of a soldier?”
“No, Of the warrior” …
“Ideally, or philosophically, a warrior or soldier that is skilled enough and knows themselves-and therefore can know their enemy-shouldn’t have to fight…”
“You can be a warrior and never engage in physical combat…Many of those are among the strongest and wisest warriors of all.” J. Nevair, Jati’s Wager.
Jati is among the most well-written characters I have read. They are not perfect, but they try to follow their philosophy. Their growth from Goodbye to the Sun from the smuggler to the leader of the People’s Army paints a portrait of a complex, fascinating character.
Once we get past Ai’s fear and stubbornness, she begins to fit in. Jati becomes a parental figure to her, and becomes very protective of them. Gerib keeps her fears and past at bay, but we see it gradually unfold with the story. Nisi, a tough pilot on the ship, who is also lost her parent, becomes like a sister to Ai. Her interactions with Gerib make for a very interesting narrative. Ai directly asks Gerib what she should or should not do. Gerib is there to guide her, not to let her memories overwhelm her. As the story unfolds. So does the story of Ai and how special she is.
The other characters mentioned, JeJeto, Nisi, Tera and Boar, all fit together forming a family with Jati leading them. They are funny, they argue, but they stand by each other.
Pacing
The pacing of the story was ideal. The action started right from the beginning and never let up. Character development was excellent, as this is a character driven novel. As much as there was action, the character interaction was essential. The character arcs were fully realized and so well done. There was never a time while reading that I felt like nothing was happening. Every word was a pleasure to read. It ran me through a gamut of emotions, but I came away knowing I had read a brilliant piece of literature.
Overall Thoughts
Jati’s Wager is an absolutely magnificent novel. The characters are fully developed, and have complete story arcs. The main protagonists, Ailo and Jati fit so well together, as Ai comes to see Jati as parental figure and teacher, and becomes protective of them. She in awe of the them. Jati is a mentor, warrior, leader and teacher to his crew. They are the glue that binds them together, and it all works. The prose is beautiful and unique. The first-person narrative chapters are of Ai’s subconscious “friend” Gerib, who helps to keep her difficult memories at bay, thereby protecting her psyche. Other chapters move the story along with both action and character development. The story itself is an emotional roller coaster. When you can so deeply about characters and the story, you know you have just read an incredible novel. Jati’s Wager is perfection and science fictions at its finest. I highly recommend it.
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September 2, 2021
There are so many things to say about this book that I would love to sum up in one sentence but, of course, I’ll save that for the time when I tweet about this review in order to pull you into my influence. Muuuaaaaaaahahahahaha!
I am still surprised at what an experienced writer Jonathan Nevair seems when reading this series. I love hearing about a person coming out of nowhere to write incredible storys. Inspiration is an amazing thing and Jonathan was wildly focused on writing excellently enjoyable Space Opera after whatever the motivation, or inspiration he has been infected with.
Jati’s Wager is definitely a book that can be read all by itself. It is complete, in that there is an intriguing beginning that leads into a nonstop journey with an end that was aimed at from the start. Not to say there aren’t surprises. There are tons. The main character is a teenager who had been mostly living, or surviving, on an out of the way, yet well known to the Old war vets, who stop there for usually quick stops, like ship repair, under the table deals, and other shady reasons that are all overshadowed by a stop at the bar. A bar that was hosted by, until recently, a veteran of The Patent Wars. Over 20 years ago, a battle that raged and shaped the current circumstances, but left those who fought forever changed and looked upon with reverence. Jati, who is now a General in the current war, was a vet, as well as the main character from Goodbye to the Sun. There are some heart wrangling connections to be explored I really appreciated.
I really wanted to point out that even though you don’t have to read the previous book in the story, you should. It’s amazingly detailed construction of events feels natural with characters who are portrayed through passion, where once there was just somber desolation. Those same factors are loaded in Jati’s Wager, but it does have a little more of a polished feel. Maybe the author growing in confidence? It’s great though. This book has a much more hopeful feel to it from the start, with the energy of a young person who sneaks on board Jati’s ship, really shaking things loose for the crew, for Jati’s zoomed in focus on what’s important, even when the end of the war is close at hand, but also on Ai, she is a “firecracker” in so many ways.
Ai is also very comlicated and her inner dialogue is provided in between some of the chapters in such a unique way, and a way that I’ve never experienced in a book before. Surprises are in store down the road for the reader and my reaction was magnified as a result of their growth, and strength in the face of tragedy, pain, and loss.
Actually, the entire story serves up some very positive lessons in what’s really important in life. To do that there has to be tragedy, and Jonathan has excelled at creating a complex group of relationships, in a galactic proportion, with worlds in the balance that I really felt. It’s a cleansing experience for me to have an emotional reaction to a book. With my own trauma’s, loss, and major life regrets that will always be there, but which, as a human survival tactic, those emotions from memories are often tucked neatly away and only surface when something pierces that self contained bubble.
I will leave it there for now. I hope I’ve conveyed at least a portion of why I enjoyed this book so much. I’m grateful for you, the rare reader, who has found their own way here. I hope that if you have also gone through hard times in life that you have your own success story. Even though a success will always be followed by another difficulty down the road, those successes are always there to remind us of our ability to overcome a tragedy which can then serve to help another who might not have that “hopeful voice” helping to push them through.
I am still surprised at what an experienced writer Jonathan Nevair seems when reading this series. I love hearing about a person coming out of nowhere to write incredible storys. Inspiration is an amazing thing and Jonathan was wildly focused on writing excellently enjoyable Space Opera after whatever the motivation, or inspiration he has been infected with.
Jati’s Wager is definitely a book that can be read all by itself. It is complete, in that there is an intriguing beginning that leads into a nonstop journey with an end that was aimed at from the start. Not to say there aren’t surprises. There are tons. The main character is a teenager who had been mostly living, or surviving, on an out of the way, yet well known to the Old war vets, who stop there for usually quick stops, like ship repair, under the table deals, and other shady reasons that are all overshadowed by a stop at the bar. A bar that was hosted by, until recently, a veteran of The Patent Wars. Over 20 years ago, a battle that raged and shaped the current circumstances, but left those who fought forever changed and looked upon with reverence. Jati, who is now a General in the current war, was a vet, as well as the main character from Goodbye to the Sun. There are some heart wrangling connections to be explored I really appreciated.
I really wanted to point out that even though you don’t have to read the previous book in the story, you should. It’s amazingly detailed construction of events feels natural with characters who are portrayed through passion, where once there was just somber desolation. Those same factors are loaded in Jati’s Wager, but it does have a little more of a polished feel. Maybe the author growing in confidence? It’s great though. This book has a much more hopeful feel to it from the start, with the energy of a young person who sneaks on board Jati’s ship, really shaking things loose for the crew, for Jati’s zoomed in focus on what’s important, even when the end of the war is close at hand, but also on Ai, she is a “firecracker” in so many ways.
Ai is also very comlicated and her inner dialogue is provided in between some of the chapters in such a unique way, and a way that I’ve never experienced in a book before. Surprises are in store down the road for the reader and my reaction was magnified as a result of their growth, and strength in the face of tragedy, pain, and loss.
Actually, the entire story serves up some very positive lessons in what’s really important in life. To do that there has to be tragedy, and Jonathan has excelled at creating a complex group of relationships, in a galactic proportion, with worlds in the balance that I really felt. It’s a cleansing experience for me to have an emotional reaction to a book. With my own trauma’s, loss, and major life regrets that will always be there, but which, as a human survival tactic, those emotions from memories are often tucked neatly away and only surface when something pierces that self contained bubble.
I will leave it there for now. I hope I’ve conveyed at least a portion of why I enjoyed this book so much. I’m grateful for you, the rare reader, who has found their own way here. I hope that if you have also gone through hard times in life that you have your own success story. Even though a success will always be followed by another difficulty down the road, those successes are always there to remind us of our ability to overcome a tragedy which can then serve to help another who might not have that “hopeful voice” helping to push them through.
June 30, 2022
3.5 stars.
I liked this way more than I liked Goodbye to the Sun. A big part of this is that there is a lot less of Nevair smelling his own farts by over indulging in his prose and descending into these bottomless pits of convoluted philosophical ramblings. Also, I just plain liked Ailo more than Keen. I wish we would have spent the first portion of the book following her life on T9. The street urchin angle has always been a story favorite of mine. Her tragic backstory, on the other hand, was completely predictable.
Jati, Nisi, Tera, were all great, too. Ailo's bond and interactions with Jati and Nisi are a stand out, in my opinion.
Now, that having being said, originally I came into this expecting a fun, action-packed heist plot. After reading that depressing accumulation of pages that was the first book, I knew I wasn't going to get it. Still, the biggest sin Jati's Wager commits is that a large, very large, chunk of it is mind-numbingly boring. But the last hundred pages or so are actually pretty decent, even if, at the end, we don't get a satisfying conclusion.
The more detail explanation of the history of this universe was very welcome, because it was vague and muddled, and that's me being generous, in Goodbye to the Sun.
Overall, I liked some parts, like many of the characters, of this book a lot, and was bored by others. Sadly, I'm slowly coming to the sad conclusion that this style of science fiction just isn't my cup of tea. Currently, I have no plans to read the third book in the trilogy.
I liked this way more than I liked Goodbye to the Sun. A big part of this is that there is a lot less of Nevair smelling his own farts by over indulging in his prose and descending into these bottomless pits of convoluted philosophical ramblings. Also, I just plain liked Ailo more than Keen. I wish we would have spent the first portion of the book following her life on T9. The street urchin angle has always been a story favorite of mine. Her tragic backstory, on the other hand, was completely predictable.
Jati, Nisi, Tera, were all great, too. Ailo's bond and interactions with Jati and Nisi are a stand out, in my opinion.
Now, that having being said, originally I came into this expecting a fun, action-packed heist plot. After reading that depressing accumulation of pages that was the first book, I knew I wasn't going to get it. Still, the biggest sin Jati's Wager commits is that a large, very large, chunk of it is mind-numbingly boring. But the last hundred pages or so are actually pretty decent, even if, at the end, we don't get a satisfying conclusion.
The more detail explanation of the history of this universe was very welcome, because it was vague and muddled, and that's me being generous, in Goodbye to the Sun.
Overall, I liked some parts, like many of the characters, of this book a lot, and was bored by others. Sadly, I'm slowly coming to the sad conclusion that this style of science fiction just isn't my cup of tea. Currently, I have no plans to read the third book in the trilogy.
September 10, 2022
I can't recommend this series enough for sci-fi fans and anyone who loves epic world building, political intrigue and great character arcs.
Jati's Wager picks up after the events of Goodbye to the Sun, and immediately introduces us to Ailo, a stubborn and endearing teenager who is the beating heart of this novel. She does everything we wish we could and then some in her search for adventure and redemption, joining up with Jati's People's Army to take on the tyrannical Garissian Council.
This story is as much a coming of age story as it is a tragic epic. There are characters you will love, admire, and hate. Jonathan explores alien worlds as effectively as he does interpersonal relationships and the human soul.
The world building is masterful in this novel and every environment unique. From precarious interstellar hideaways to the austere palace of a dying empire, Jonathan ticks every box that a sci-fi nerd like me looks for!
This is one of my new favourite space operas and I can't wait to see how it ends!
Jonathan kindly provided me with a free copy of Jati's Wager in exchange for an honest review.
Jati's Wager picks up after the events of Goodbye to the Sun, and immediately introduces us to Ailo, a stubborn and endearing teenager who is the beating heart of this novel. She does everything we wish we could and then some in her search for adventure and redemption, joining up with Jati's People's Army to take on the tyrannical Garissian Council.
This story is as much a coming of age story as it is a tragic epic. There are characters you will love, admire, and hate. Jonathan explores alien worlds as effectively as he does interpersonal relationships and the human soul.
The world building is masterful in this novel and every environment unique. From precarious interstellar hideaways to the austere palace of a dying empire, Jonathan ticks every box that a sci-fi nerd like me looks for!
This is one of my new favourite space operas and I can't wait to see how it ends!
Jonathan kindly provided me with a free copy of Jati's Wager in exchange for an honest review.
March 6, 2023
Well done Jonathan, a super sequel to Goodbye to the Sun. I’m not going to reveal any of the story in this review, as it will spoil the readers enjoyment. What I will say is that Jati’s Wager is a lesson in how to write strong characters. Even lesser characters are drawn within a startling mythology and fleshed out in the expert world building Jonathan has established in the first two books. I love the relationship between Ailo and Gerib, internal monologues fascinate me, but I also love the psychology of other developing character relationships in this book, the way of the warrior, it’s code and beliefs. I’m getting textures of Peter F Hamilton and Becky Chambers in Jonathan’s work. The plot is rich, as are the links back to Goodbye, moreover, the conclusion and pay off is excellent for the reader. I’m looking forward to the next volume.
December 17, 2021
A story filled with heart and teachings, Jati's Wager is a fantastic piece of science fiction. Jonathan Nevair fires on all cylinders in this follow-up to Goodbye to the Sun, and it left me guessing right up until the very end. I was enthralled with how the story developed and how the characters adapted to the intense situations thrown at them. Jati is an amazing character, gentle and powerful; they fill every page with gravitas. I will remember Jati for a long time. Ailo is a great addition to the cast; a complex kid from T9 with an imaginary guide that protects her from herself. I loved reading about Ailo and the rest of the crew of the Carmora. This book was a complex work of art, beautiful and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this and the rest of the Wind Tide trilogy.
November 3, 2021
This second installment of a trilogy can be read independent of the first book (Goodbye to the Sun), but why would you? The characters are so richly developed that you can meet some of them in the first book & double your pleasure. Jati is a great character study and appears in both. In this book we are introduced to Ailo, who contributes to the deep, explosive and exciting plot-a true fireworks display! Oh, did I mention that's her nickname-bestowed on her by Jati.
A great read on a winter night(or anytime).
A great read on a winter night(or anytime).
July 12, 2024
I really adore Goodbye to the Sun, but I think Jati's Wager is even better. This book has so much heart and I love how Nevair handles complicated relationships so deftly in Jati's Wager. Like the first book in the series, we are dealing with the aftermath of the Patent War and following the People's Army as they fight for justice across the Arm. As readers, we are left to decide if the actions taken by the different sides are truly justified and can actually bring peace. Jati becomes a mentor to the mysterious stowaway, Ailo, who has an internal piece of herself (yet separate from her) named Gerib. I found the relationship between Jati and Ailo to be fantastic and felt that the internal counsel Gerib provided Ailo was so unique and really heartwarming.
August 21, 2021
The second book in the Wind Tide trilogy pairs a rogue teenager with Jati, her mentor. The unlikely duo take us for another adventurous ride through the Galaxy. I enjoyed meeting more intriguing characters in book two. The author has a knack for creating characters that bring out an emotional response in the reader. I laughed at some of the dialogue and actually teared up a couple of times. I'm looking forward to book three for the culmination of a great story!
August 31, 2021
I had the opportunity to read the first book so I couldn't wait tonread this one. Definitely better than the first and I absolutely loved it. You can definitely read this book as a stand alone but I highly recommend giving the first book ago.
Phenomenal world building and we are introduced to a few new characters. Nevair has the ability to bring out all sorts of emotions with his characters.
I highly recommend this sci-fi series. I can not wait to read the next book.
Phenomenal world building and we are introduced to a few new characters. Nevair has the ability to bring out all sorts of emotions with his characters.
I highly recommend this sci-fi series. I can not wait to read the next book.
September 23, 2021
Philosophical, poetic, powerful. JATI'S WAGER is a worthy second stanza in the Wind Tide series. Nevair's ability to capture the essence and beauty of word-craft is outstanding. He builds upon an expansive, yet personal, universe through a diverse set of flawed characters, and showers the reader with wonder and excitement. At times The Dirty Half-Dozen, and other times greek tragedy, JATI'S WAGER is a triumph of science fiction. Highly recommended.
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