The Collapsing Empire (The Interdependency #1) by John Scalzi - Starting May 22nd 2020

[Dannii]

The first novel of a new space-opera sequence set in an all-new universe by the Hugo Award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Redshirts and Old Man's War.

Our universe is ruled by physics and faster than light travel is not possible -- until the discovery of The Flow, an extra-dimensional field we can access at certain points in space-time that transport us to other worlds, around other stars.

Humanity flows away from Earth, into space, and in time forgets our home world and creates a new empire, the Interdependency, whose ethos requires that no one human outpost can survive without the others. It’s a hedge against interstellar war -- and a system of control for the rulers of the empire.

The Flow is eternal -- but it is not static. Just as a river changes course, The Flow changes as well, cutting off worlds from the rest of humanity. When it’s discovered that The Flow is moving, possibly cutting off all human worlds from faster than light travel forever, three individuals -- a scientist, a starship captain and the Empress of the Interdependency -- are in a race against time to discover what, if anything, can be salvaged from an interstellar empire on the brink of collapse.

[Eesh]

Will be starting this one tomorrow.

[Dannii]

Quirks wrote: "Will be starting this one tomorrow."

Same here :)

[Eesh]

Okay, it took me a little longer to start. Just finished the prologue and chapter 1.
(view spoiler)[I don't know if we'll be seeing the ship captain from the prologue again (I hope we do). But I know that the Emperox is one of the main characters. I like her so far. And this book is interesting. I'm also pleasantly surprised by the humour. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Chapter 3
(view spoiler)[We're almost a quarter of the way through the novel and it seems like we're still in the character introduction portion of the novel. No one even knows that there's something wrong with the Flow. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

End of part 2
(view spoiler)[So Ghreni seems to be getting a redemption arc. That'd be interesting. I could come to like him if he becomes less of a douche. Though it's a bummer that Vrenna won't get the chance to tie him to a chair and torture him for a few hours. That would've been fun. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Actually, finally starting this one!

[Eesh]

Dannii wrote: "Actually, finally starting this one!"

No worries! Excited to hear what you think!

[Eesh]

Finished
(view spoiler)[First of all, she killed her own brother?! I seriously fucking hope that her house doesn't get control. I'm still okay with Ghreni getting a redemption arc as long as he doesn't get all power hungry. And tells his sister to go fuck herself because she killed their brother!

Second, I can't believe the book ended on a cliffhanger. That's not fair. I've already planned the next month's TBR to death. Though I might try to fit the sequel in somewhere. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

I'm a quarter of the way in and I AM LOVING IT!

First quarter - (view spoiler)[This is so insanely intriguing. I loved the prologue with the space mutiny and then diving into the new emporex's perspective as her father dies. This world is so fascinating to learn about, especially the Flow. Also, the humour is so spot on. I thought this may have been a dense read, as I sometimes struggle with space operas, but it really isn't so. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Quirks wrote: "Okay, it took me a little longer to start. Just finished the prologue and chapter 1.
[spoilers removed]"

These were exactly my thoughts. I really hope we get to see her, as well. I loved the prologue ending (view spoiler)[on her shooting the mutineers. We love a badass! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Quirks wrote: "Chapter 3
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It did take a while for us to get to know the characters, but I also enjoyed it as they were all individually so interesting. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Dannii wrote: "Quirks wrote: "Chapter 3
[spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah, the character are really interesting. Every chapter with Kiva, for one, is brilliant.

[Dannii]

Second quarter - (view spoiler)[I want to scream at myself that I put this down for a few days to read some of my other current books. Now I've picked it back up I can't stop reading it. THIS IS SOOO GOOD!

I've wanted to get into space operas for some time, but they kinda intimidate me. This opens up the politics behind the emporex's role and the science of the nearly-ending flow in such an easily digestible way.

I also really love all these characters, well apart from Ghreni and his siblings! Kiva and her bad mouth is one of my favourites, especially seeing her make her millions back by ferrying rich refugees from End. I also really liked Marce and the rest of the Claremont family. I thought it was a great way of introducing his good character, as well as informing the reader about the flow, to first view him giving a talk on the interpendancy. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Third quarter - (view spoiler)[Still loving this! The pirate attempt aboard Kiva's ship was interesting to read about and I'm glad they found out before the bomb was really planted. The tactics used made this such a fast-paced and thrilling section, although reading about dangling Chat, the would-be assassin, out in space felt pretty brutal! (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Brutal, yes, but effective. And fast. It might've taken hours of torture to break him, if he broke at all. This was awesome. (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Quirks wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Third quarter - [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

I could definitely see the benefits of it and I loved the later tactics of (view spoiler)[infusing the body with blood to switch identities. They totally played the other guys! (hide spoiler)]

[Dannii]

Quirks wrote: "End of part 2
[spoilers removed]"

Vrenna is so great. I love how badass all the female characters are!

[Dannii]

Fourth quarter - (view spoiler)[Ghreni might just be the only sane member of his family, which is a big surprise as I'm still not sure I like him very much.

Overall, just wow! This was so good! I've been reading this all day whilst listening to the Nasa Spacex Launch and it has just been incredible! (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Dannii wrote: "Fourth quarter - [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Well, Amit wasn't so bad. He seemed like he could've been a good guy if not for his sister. Unfortunately, he's dead, thanks to the crazy sister. (hide spoiler)]

[Eesh]

Dannii wrote: "Quirks wrote: "End of part 2
[spoilers removed]"

Vrenna is so great. I love how badass all the female characters are!"

Yep! I mean, Kiva's mother, too. Such a badass!