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Pax Novis by Erica Cameron is the first book of the new thrilling young adult science fiction fantasy The Pax Archives series. In this series the author has tried to include a lot of sexual diverse characters including two non-binary characters and one identifying as asexual along with others.
The world in this novel is at a distant future when many other planets have been colonized and have gone to war with one another. The Pax ships were developed to become humanitarian aid to all the war torn planets delivering food and supplies. Those aboard Pax ships have given up all other citizenship to become Pax citizens living only on the ships. Any attempt to bring others aboard is considered treason.
Cira Antares is a teenage Pax citizen who lives aboard the Pax Novis which is piloted by one of Cira’s mothers, both of which have important jobs on the ship. Cira knows what should happen to anyone helping war orphans but she can’t bring herself to not help those in need having now brought quite a few young stowaways aboard. When things begin to turn up missing a search begins for stowaways but Cira knows it can’t be her group.
While I appreciate what the author was trying to do here with Pax Novis it felt to me to have been a bit too much introduced into the story all at once. The world building was there but that extra sci-fi effort to pull of a galaxy at war seemed to over power the character building. Quite honestly the characters all seemed to be after thought and not fully fleshed out to really know or care about them. It was an interesting attempt that had potential but I'd give this one 2 1/2 stars as it was just a bit much in the end.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
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Ships missing in space? Stowaways? Yes, please. And that cover? A must read.
With a third gender pronoun set created by the author and incorporated into the story and several LGBTQ characters, the representation is outstanding. Admittedly, I stumbled over the new terminology (ze, zem, zir) early in the book, but before long, I barely noticed it.
The world-building is captivating. In the midst of war, I loved the idea of a fleet of ships delivering supplies to those in need. Characterization is also strong with both main and supporting characters. Riston and Cira both have enormous compassion for the war orphans and big hearts that sometimes cloud their judgement. And those stowaway war orphans? The chosen family they create with Riston and the small amount of security they feel on Pax Novis after enduring such horrific circumstances in their short lives is sweet and moving. You'll feel like they're part of your own family by the end of the book.
Pacing is somewhat sluggish until around the 40% mark, but then it rarely slows. My heart was racing along with the characters' during the last 20% or so. The next book is absolutely going on my TBR.
If you're looking for a thrilling sci-fi mystery with wonderful representation and scenes guaranteed get your pulse racing, Pax Novis checks all those boxes.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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I really liked this book: its space setting, on a huge space-ship who delivers goods to planets in need, and its current themes about war orphans, refugees, and illegal stowaways. The story is solid and compelling, the characters well rounded and interesting, in addition to actual non binary characters!
I'm not giving 5 stars because the world-building was a bit lacking and it dropped you in medias res without a proper explanation.
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I had trouble connecting to the story and the characters. Not a whole lot happened in the first half of the book. However, when everything started to fall apart, that's when it really piqued my interest. And judging by the ending, book 2 is going to start right in the action.
Good rep though, there's are characters who use the "ze" pronoun. It took a while to get used to as a non-native English speaker. Doesn't help that "ze" in my native language means "she". Also loved that Cira is asexual, but I wish it had been featured more than just one mention.
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While Pax Novis is an earnestly written sci fi full of diversity and sympathetic (perhaps even over-idealized characters), I had to stop reading because it became a bit too confusing. I greatly appreciated the diversity of characters in the book but it was also frustrating when a main character is non binary and given new pronouns. I think we will need to go in this direction one day to be more inclusive in the English language but it was just a bit too confusing now when I've only just learned these terms. An example of a few sentences gives an idea, "Riston wanted to ask why. Ze didn't. Cira glanced at zem, though, and seemed to see zir curiosity." Ze/(s)he, zem/him or her, zir/his or her.
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PAX NOVIS is an engaging YA sci-fi novel that takes place in the future, when humans have colonized other planets. Most of the planets are at war, creating a lot of orphans, death, and destruction. The Pax ships are essentially humanitarian, with the crew having given up all allegiance to any planet/place and having Pax citizenship. The crew is mainly composed of the children of children of people who gave up allegiance and were often born and raised on the ships.
The Pax ships carry necessities like food, water, and basics to help civilians who live on the planets. Although their resources are sometimes stretched thin, they believe in their mission to make sure people are taken care of. Cira is one such Pax citizen who believes in the mission, though she does not understand why they cannot transport or offer particular aid to the orphans of the ongoing wars. She has committed treason in that she has aided children to be secretly transported and, in some cases, allowed them to remain as stowaways on board the ship.
Riston is one such stowaway, the one who has been there the longest. He is accompanied by four younger stowaways, who are all really smart and talented children. They all know the ship very well and escape detection through those means. If they are caught, the sentence could be imprisonment/forced to serve in military or dangerous factory or death (depending on age, etc.).
When items start going missing on board the Pax Novis, Cira is quick to blame the stowaways, even though they have as much to lose as anyone by the thefts/carelessness. The alternative is too dangerous- that someone else may be aboard the ship with more sinister motives. When other Pax ships begin to drop communications and then somehow disappear completely, the race is on to save their own ship from the same fate.
This book is a solid sci-fi with great world-building (or should I say universe-building). I fully comprehended the ship, the people, and the situations in this future. The characters are also fully realized, particularly Riston but also Cira, her mothers, and to a lesser extent, the other stowaways. I also really loved how the book not only gives us Riston and Cira's perspectives, but it also includes various documents that come together to give more background on the stowaways, the Pax fleet, and the group behind what is happening to the ships.
Probably one of the the best parts of the book is all the representation with Cira having two mothers plus other LGBT relationships mentioned, a few main characters (Riston, Adrienn) falling in the non-binary (using a new pronoun of ze, zis), and Cira identifying as ace/asexual. While these were not the main plot points of the story (vs. the thriller/suspense of ship sabotage, etc.), their inclusion makes the book all the stronger for it.
Because of all the world-building and character introductions, which are needed with a world so different and such a high volume of characters, the book moves pretty slowly at first. I think I would have liked less at the start in favor of a faster plot, but I imagine future books will be much faster-paced due to all the details and slow-build of this first book. I definitely want to revisit this universe and characters again, regardless.
Overall, this was a fascinating sci-fi/thrilleresque YA read that I would recommend to anyone looking for books with great representation, strong world-building, and a unique plot! I very much look forward to reading the next book.
Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.