“I miss the days when all I had to worry about was that strange citrus smell from deck B.” (Kindle location 476)
If you haven’t read Terminal Alliance, the first book in the series, be aware that this review will contain spoilers for that book. The short version is: If you like any of: comedy, scifi, “humans are space orcs”, zombies, and warmongering space-wasp lawyers, you’ll like this series. And if you don’t like any of those things, you might give it a try anyway.
When we last left our reluctant janitorial heroes, they were on the lam from basically the entirety of the civilized universe and the Prodryans, what with being rogue humans who have not only discovered the Krakau (The currently dominant species) lied kind of a lot about how humans were turned “feral” (read: into zombies)
“This human is showing signs of reversion. He’s going feral! I have to get him out of here before he starts eating everyone in sight!” Monroe bared his teeth and drooled. (location 500)
but also have the proof of the Krakau’s sister species who carry the venom that caused the illness serving alongside them on their captured ship. So, needless to say, their former military employers and the Prodryans they embarrassed and the Krakau are all after them, and necessity (and politics!) makes for strange bedfellows; their remaining allies are Admiral Pachelbel and a Prodryan named Advocate of Violence who would be just as happy to kill them as to help them.
“Pachelbel said you might be reluctant to return to your world. Your cowardice is understandable. Earth is a wild and terrifying place.” (Advocate of Violence to Mops, location 607)
That’s right. Their quest is taking them back to Earth: humanity’s place of origin, home to feral humans and very little else, supposedly, and a place none of them have ever thought of going back to.
Earth Mercenary Corps troops retained many feral traits. They felt no pain and were all but impossible to kill. (location 989)
But I’m really not doing this book justice. Hines’ writing is always a joy to read, his characters unique, and once the story grabbed me I finished it basically in one go.
a note: I did receive access to an ARC of this novel from Netgalley but unfortunately I was not able to read/review it before the novel was released; this review is based on the Kindle version I pre-purchased (because I pre-purchase Jim’s books. I really do think they’re that good.)