Wayfarers – dinipandareads

Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3)
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Pub Date: 24 July 2018
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

Centuries after the last humans left Earth, the Exodus Fleet is a living relic, a place many are from but few outsiders have seen. Humanity has finally been accepted into the galactic community, but while this has opened doors for many, those who have not yet left for alien cities fear that their carefully cultivated way of life is under threat.

Tessa chose to stay home when her brother Ashby left for the stars, but has to question that decision when her position in the Fleet is threatened.

Kip, a reluctant young apprentice, itches for change but doesn’t know where to find it.

Sawyer, a lost and lonely newcomer, is just looking for a place to belong.

When a disaster rocks this already fragile community, those Exodans who still call the Fleet their home can no longer avoid the inescapable question:

What is the purpose of a ship that has reached its destination?

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Space ship explosion (off-page), death, drug use (one incident), gun violence (mentioned), bullying (minor)

I’m buddy reading this series with Leslie @ Books Are the New Black and we’re both enjoying the series but I don’t think anything will top the first in the series for both of us! At least, so far. Maybe one of the next books will prove us wrong. 😉

Although I’m a bit disappointed that we aren’t going to return to the Wayfarer crew in this series, I get what Chambers is doing by showing us different perspectives of how all alien societies live (and yes, humans or the Exodans are part of that too). Ironically, despite being about the humans who survived the destruction of Earth and continue to live on spaceships, I feel I connected the least to these stories compared to the previous ones. As with the other books, we follow multiple perspectives and out of the six in this story, I enjoyed Kip’s, Tessa’s and Eyas’ perspectives the most, but Kip really wormed his way into my heart! I felt his frustration and fears, as well as his desire to do something—anything—to make life feel less monotonous and scripted. Basically, anything to find what he was meant to do. He got himself into situations that were mortifying as much as they were hilarious (at least to us dear readers) but ultimately, I loved how this kid had his heart in the right place and I had a good feeling about where his journey will go as he continues through life. I like how the uniqueness of human life was also highlighted from the perspective of visiting Harmagian researcher, Ghuh’loloan. Xyr experience living amongst the Exodans provided some humorous and even educational moments!

At the end of the day, Chambers manages to show how human concerns really don’t change much over time, and in this case, literal space, and that the prejudices, egos, and messes that existed in the time of our Earth-born ancestors, still follow us into this future. However, the same can be said for the good that humanity carries with them and how it seems that at least, in this fleet, humans have found a way to establish a society where equality exists and everyone, no matter who you are, contributes for survival. It’s both saddening and comforting to know that no matter where we go and when it happens, humans will still be humans. 🤭 We are forever searching for a place to belong, family, friends, a life that’s fulfilling, and ultimately, through whatever events come our way, we will fight to survive.

This was a nice addition to the Wayfarers series and I’m looking forward to discovering more about the Aeluons in the next book—that should make for an interesting read!

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1)
Publisher: Hodder
Pub Date: 31 December 2015
Genre: Science Fiction

Panda Rating:

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📖 SYNOPSIS

When Rosemary Harper joins the crew of the Wayfarer, she isn’t expecting much. The ship, which has seen better days, offers her everything she could possibly want: a small, quiet spot to call home for a while, adventure in far-off corners of the galaxy, and distance from her troubled past.

But Rosemary gets more than she bargained for with the Wayfarer. The crew is a mishmash of species and personalities, from Sissix, the friendly reptillian pilot, to Kizzy and Jenks, the constantly sparring engineers who keep the ship running. Life on board is chaotic, but more or less peaceful – exactly what Rosemary wants.

Until the crew are offered the job of a lifetime: the chance to build a hyperspace tunnel to a distant planet. They’ll earn enough money to live comfortably for years… if they survive the long trip through war-torn interstellar space without endangering any of the fragile alliances that keep the galaxy peaceful.

But Rosemary isn’t the only person on board with secrets to hide, and the crew will soon discover that space may be vast, but spaceships are very small indeed.

⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS

Child abuse (recounted), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), alcohol & recreational drug use (mentioned) blood & physical injury, terminal illness, death of a parent, murder, gun violence, torture/abuse, imprisonment, genocide discussed, war themes

TL;DR: Who would’ve guessed that I’d end up loving the book that everyone told me I would love? This is another instance where I’m kicking myself for stupidly waiting years to read this book because I can guarantee you now that it’s in my top reads of 2025. This is pure found family. This is space adventures through a character driven narration. This is a beautiful examination of humanity in all its wonder and mess, triumphs and joys, pains and heartbreaks. There might be minimal plot but who cares when the characters make every moment of this journey traveling through deep space, learning about the Galactic Commons and the sapients that populate it, such an incredibly fun time? I know I certainly didn’t mind and I’m already excited to get to the next book asap!