This was an okay read.
The concept of a dystopian with space pirates had me intrigued, but he characters were a bit black and white, and the religion part didn't really fit into the rest of the story for me (might be more explained in the next books though).
However, the story itself was pretty captivating and well thought out, yet a bit predictable at times.

That cliffhanger though! I need to know how this continues!

"The Heights of Perdition" is a bit of a predictable book for me. I wished I liked it more but I feel like some aspects of it just didn't work for me. The characters fell a bit flat and its plot points were predictable. C. S. Johnson's writing makes up for some of that.

This is a great mix of Science Fiction and Romance.
The characters are enjoyable and although the story is predictable it keeps you totally engaged.
Certainly worth a read.

Actual rating is 4.5, but it deserves the bump up!

Thought and Plot
Kidnapped by space pirates??? World destroyed by nuclear war??? Do tell me more!
Aeris St. Cloud only wants to win her father’s love (her father is a high ranking general). But it’s hard when you don’t get to go a top school. Aeris wants to join the Military Academy at New Hope in hopes that this will help her win the acceptance of her family unit. But her father puts the brakes on her dream because he thinks she would be better suited for another life and in New Hope you are not allowed to question.
New Hope is an underground city where New York was originally located. The ground above is now desolate. BUT one tree was saved and Aeris sometimes sneaks out to spend some time with said tree, which I thought was precious. Aeris seems to have a knack for growing things. She is also willful and full of questions. But, again, you don’t ask question in New Hope. You follow the orders you are given. Don’t laugh, don’t smile. Don’t even think about having fun. If the leaders tell you to jump, you jump, and the only question you dare to ask is, how high?
But things change drastically for Aeris when she is kidnapped by pirates. By THE pirate, Captain Chainsword, or Exton Shepherd. Exton is the son of the man who made the ship Perdition a reality. But when he learns what is planned for the Perdition, he steals it and started his pirate life. Aboard the stolen ship Perdition people are allowed to laugh, allowed to have fun, allowed to smile, and allowed to ask questions. Mostly importantly (well, to me as a reader), they are allowed to fall in love. Aeris almost immediately starts asking questions.
Exton thinks of himself as heartless and damaged, but his actions prove him wrong. He cares for his crew. He’s kind to the people he rescues. Most importantly, he’s kind to Aeris, even though she is the daughter of his enemy. He may be driven by the need for vengeance, but the man has a heart.
Exton is the arch enemy of her home and her father, but how can she pass up the opportunity to asks all the questions that fly through her head? Worse, she starts falling for him and him for her. There is no honor in falling in love with your people’s enemy and no respect will be earned for it. But how can she help it when he helps her to grow into something more human than she was ever allowed to be back in New Hope?
So while it was obvious from the start these two are going to be love birds, the story really does get going once Aeris is aboard the Perdition. The author weaves in some many elements of human nature. Greed, kindness, love, laughter, oppression…they’re all in there.

In Conclusion
This book is pretty obvious on the romance front, but who the heck cares if you know most of what is going to happen when it’s so well written and you have wonderful characters like Exton and Aeris???
I’m going to be honest, I’m probably going to go buy the box set for myself.

When I first read the synopsis, I was dubious as to whether I would, in fact, enjoy this novel. It proposed a sci-fi dystopian fantasy, with a hint of Romance, which was a complex portrayal of some of the most over-used tropes.

Johnson, with intricate and detailed world-building skills, constructs a world, destroyed by a nuclear holocaust (something that appears to be a high-possibility in the current political climate), and the authenticity/relativity it entices encapsulate a picture of devastation, and struggle.

Hope-City, formerly New York City, is an underground society. Earth is desolate and barren, bar one tree (which Aeris enjoys spending time around - first indicator of independence.) Aeris, about to graduate from the Military Academy is devastated when her father crushes that idea, deciding she is meant for something else. She has a green-thumb, and that is something they sorely need in this time-period.

The world, is innately emotionless - lacking smiles, jokes, fun. People jump on command, and the whole thing is unthinkably dreary.

Enter, Exton Shepherd.

Exton, hijacked the Perdition because he thought he couldn't do anything else. It was his fathers invention, one which he was loathed to let anyone misuse. Having lived on the ship for a time, him and his crew return to earth for vital supplies. They're free-thinking, emotional, and human. 

When the two meet, we see a tale of power, demand, greed, love, laughter, thought, interaction, and innate humanity.

What Johnson has created is a thought-provoking, and frightening concept - that is not far off our own society. Giving us an idea of all the what-ifs.

I for one love, and despise cliff-hangers, and eagerly await the second novel.

#TheHeightsOfPerditionTheDivineSpacePiratesBook1 #NetGalley


publisher synopsis: There is nothing Aeris St. Cloud wants more than to win her father's love and the acceptance of her family unit by joining the Military Academy at New Hope. But after she is captured by the fearsome space pirate, Captain Chainsword, Aerie is certain falling in love with her nation's arch enemy is the last possible way to earn their coveted esteem.

Driven by vengeance, Exton Shepherd never set out to save anyone. As he circles the war-torn world in his pirated starship, the Perdition, he only sees his father's ghost lurking around every corner and the looming darkness on the horizon. When Aerie unexpectedly tumbles into his life, he finds he cannot trust her, anymore than he can ignore her. But just like the raging war down on Earth, it's tempting to think he can ...

When the war ascends to the heights of the Perdition, Aerie's loyalty, and Exton's heart, are put to the test. But will love be enough to save them - and others - from certain destruction?


Wonderfully written! This book is about two people that are incomplete and yet when they come together there is a balance. And yet, it is not meant to be. I got to the last page and wanted to yell "no!!". Can't wait for book two.

I loved reading this book. I'll be adding it to my favorite shelf as it was one I couldn't put down and I know I will read it again and again.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

3.5 -4 stars
Woah.
I didn't know what to think of this at first. Im so glad I got to read this! I really enjoyed The Heights of Perdition.
I'm not really into religion books but this was an exception.
That ENDING THOUGH!!! I'm excited and very eager to read the next book in the series! Love, love, love it!

This book is about a girl named Aerie St. Cloud who is very persistent and determined to prove to her family unit that she is a deserving member of the State Military of New Hope. She just wants to come up to the expectations of her father and she is willing to do anything for it. However she was kidnapped by the space pirate, Captain Chainsword and ends up falling in love with Exton Shepherd, her nation’s arch enemy.
Storyline is good, Arerie’s character is strong but Exton’s character lacked depth and ending was a bit shocking but fair enough for a first book of a series. Basically this book focused on setting up the plot and introducing the characters. It is a sci-fi plus dystopian tale with a bit mixture of religious aspects. Looking forward to the next book of the series.

I really enjoyed the premise of the novel. The story moves quickly and the characters are likable and the dialogues are well thought out.. The ending left me shocked and excited and very eager to read the next book in the series!