Overall, a great read for sci-fi beginners; however, it is a bit on the longer side.

Even though it is a sci-fi book. I found that the made-up terminology was complicated and often times would confuse me while reading. The main character begins as weak and of course, goes through her transformation. This truly isn't a surprise as most stories have that so I didn't have a big issue with this. However, another thing was needs further explanation would be the history and background of Vennans. I know that little information was given to be able to keep the reader interested, but the lack of explanation took away from the story overall.

The writing is good and I did enjoy the story, it presents a lot of potential. And I am excited to read the rest of the series.

A good space station story, and pretty good for a first novel. Interesting premise, nice characterization, and a fairly complicated plot make this mostly engaging. Recommended

I really appreciate the review copy!!

Thank you, J. J. Blacklocke for sending me the eARC of Refuge through NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Refuge is the first book in The Tradepoint Saga, a sci-fi series set in a space station called Tradepoint. In this first book, we follow the Vennans, an alien race that's gone to Tradepoint to trade their goods with other beings and celebrate the anniversary of when they first made the trip to the space station. But when Gredin, a young Vennan translator that's helping with the celebrations, receives a message from the Power that their entire planet no longer exists, it's up to her to help her entire delegation with this horrible future.

I'm going to start by saying that, if you're expecting space fights and explosions and a lot of action, you're not going to get it. This is a very political character-focused story, and you're mostly following Gredin's struggles when coming to terms with the knowledge that's given to her and making people believe it. That said, I adore political stories so I really enjoyed this book.

Blacklocke did a fantastic job on fleshing out all the different alien beings, even when they were just side characters to enrich this world. The main characters we follow also feel like real people, with beliefs and motivations, and I loved to see how the different races interacted with each other, especially the Vennans and the Prett (the hosts of this space station). The Vennan culture was what fascinated me the most. How their society is divided into different houses and how each Vennan has a specific ability that places them in this world. I would've liked a bit more backstory on how they come into these abilities, but I believe there's a prequel eBook available on J. J. Blacklocke's website that I expect touches upon those aspects of their culture.

Even though I really enjoyed this book, I thought its pacing was a bit off at times. It is a fairly long book but, because it's really political based, there's not much going on for a lot of it. That made me feel like the plot dragged on in parts but I wished it would've been more developed in others. Specifically how Gredin goes from a grief-stricken kid to the saviour of these people. I'm not going to give any spoilers, but how this happens isn't really explained and it's one of my biggest pet-peeves with books when something happens and you just have to accept it and move on.

The writing was what made me really enjoy this book. We're thrust upon a different world, with a variety of people that are completely different from one another and, even when I was still a bit lost as to how everything worked, I was already sucked into the plot. The writing is effortless and you come to know the world as things happen. I realise that's not some people's preferred method of world-building as yes, you're quite confused for a while, but I personally really enjoyed how it was done.

Overall I gave this book a 3.75/5 ⭐️. I was fully immersed in the story and got through it fairly quickly, considering its size. I would've liked more explanation on some things and there were some characters that I absolutely loved and wished they were more prominent in the story, but overall I had a great time with this book and would love to read the following books in this series. Based on how Refuge ended, I feel like the next instalments will be even more exciting.

Overall: A great read for sci-fi beginners; however, it is a bit on the longer side.

Pros:
The cast of characters. When crafting a sci-fi world characters are a key element and this world has them. Combine that with political elements! And, well, yes please.
A good read for sci-fi beginners. As yall know, I’ve been trying to read more sci-fi this year and this one is exactly the right amount of extra space-opera for me.
The right amount of intrigue for sequel potential. I know this is the first book in a trilogy and I am really interested in where it is headed based on everything that, well happened here.

Cons:
There was a bit in the middle that felt a bit stunted; however, this was perhaps due to length that I was not a fan of it, but it helped us get to know our cast more.

This book was good in terms of I never wanted to put it down and I finished it very quickly. It’s not my usual genre but I will look at other books by the author. I did lose myself in the Star Wars esque descriptions but I’m not an aficionado of Science Fiction. The future is definitely alien.

As I'm a sucker for stories set on space stations and this also had trade, politics and diplomacy so I had to request this on Netgalley. Add in some planetary destruction and I was completely intrigued.

There's a huge convocation going on at Tradepoint with many beings from an array of planets and the Vennan has arrived with a delegation of just under a thousand people to participate. The diplomatic arm of the delegation includes Gredin a translator, on her first assignment fresh off her honeymoon. Tetrelanna, known as The Voice is who she is subordinate to and fairly quickly it's clear this is not a good working relationship. Tetrelanna has barely concealed contempt for her translator and also seems temperamentally not to be suited to diplomatic endeavours. The rest of their direct party includes Cirin and Burlon, both Travelers (Burlon is also a Trader for his House), Keegan, a historian and Sill, a Memory. The rest of the delegation are made up of many artisans, crafters, musicians, culinary experts and others with cultural expertise.

There's a lot covered here and many beings to meet. My favourites were the Prett because how could I not really be interested in the runners of the space station? Wyve is the Director of Tradepoint and had a good amount of characterization, so I was very pleased. Also, the Beng, Shodekekeen and the rest were fairly fascinating. While reading I was reminded of The Retrieval Artist series by Kristine Katherine Rusch because the non-humanoid beings were so well rendered and so varied. Also, there's a bit of a trial that highlights the deft dance of rules, laws and rendering of justice can come about when so many come together in order to maintain peace and trade ties. A small thing to one can be a catastrophe for another and just like reading KKR's series, it gave this reader a lot to think about. I loved that!

There's so much that happens but I'm not going to spoil because it was enjoyable to discover. That's not to say there were a disappointment or two along the way. The Venna have a bit of fantasy woo-woo going on and while I don't need an explanation for it, I was a bit let down when Gredin is basically transformed overnight by this woo-woo thing from a grief-stricken person unable to do anything to help herself to a collected and steady person grasping the mantle of leader because Chosen One reasons. I wanted to see her grow into that role or at least marshal herself to the task. She lost a bit of that whole formidable bona fides with the woo-woo. To be fair, as this story takes place over about three days, she spends several chapters an inert crying mess after a calamitous situation and it was grating on my nerves. What can you do with compressed time? I certainly wouldn't have wanted to exist with her like that any longer than the story allowed but still. I did like that other characters voiced skepticism given the rapidity of the shift. But everything that followed the woo-woo was excellent.

This is the first book in either a duo or series (I'm not sure which) but I am inclined to read the next. There's enough given and this ends at such a pivotal point that I want to know more. Who did it? Why? What did Palomar have to do with whatever to suffer its fate? What will become of the Vennan when their rotations on Tradepoint have elapsed? What will the Beng do next? I mean, I have many questions so... this is good.

I should also mention there are a lot of in-universe words and there's no glossary but with context, a reader can likely work out what things and meanings are. Honestly, the names and such felt so much like SFF Random Name Generator outputs, and made only more noticeable when one of the characters has such a normal human name, Keegan. I wondered why he was so different (great character, btw).

Recommended. I'll be on the outlook for the next book and would read another by Blacklocke, no question.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Advance Readers Copy.

When I started reading Refuge, I wasn't sure what I was in for. It seemed more like a fantasy novel than science fiction, and I was pleased when the story unfolded as a science-fantasy hybrid, like a fantasy story wrapped in science fiction. Sure, there's a space station and alien cultures to explore, but the magic and wonder of a fantasy world is solidly at its core.

The story follows Gredin, a young girl from a planet called Venna, whose inhabitants live a (largely) peaceful life. Everyone has a certain talent or calling (called gifts), and fulfilling their gift brings them peace. They are content, productive, and enjoy a culture steeped in quiet traditions. They are aware of other worlds, but not interested in them for the most part, considering them merely distant lands instead of other worlds inhabited by different creatures. Their traders are Vennans who have the gift of Traveling along a band of energy called the River that connects worlds.

Gredin's gift is Speaking, which means not only is she a good communicator, but she can actually command people to do things. She's a natural, but lacks focus, so she is teamed up with the head Speaker of her House, Tetralanna...who is the reason I said Vennans are "largely" peaceful. Tetralanna is focused on tradition, social station, and propriety. She has no use for Gredin, and resents having to bring her along to observe her diplomatic mission to Tradepoint--a space station where races from all around the galaxy meet to trade goods. Vennan Travellers have been trading for a long time, so the Vennan delegation will arrive to Tradepoint to participate in a sort of cultural exchange, and attend a ceremony to honor their good standing as valuable traders. It's the first time most of the delegation have ever been off-world, so of course things go horribly wrong.

I won't spoil it, but like all good science fiction, Refuge uses its otherworldly trappings to explore and dissect our own society, including how adhering to longstanding traditions can be equally helpful and harmful. How precarious one's social standing can be. How adaptability never comes without sacrifice. And how words, kindness, and patience can be the only thing standing between you and utter tragedy.

One of the main things driving the plot in Refuge is, of all things, diplomacy. It's a cultural exchange, after all, where an entire race of delegates who have no experience with any alien races suddenly find themselves surrounded by them. To my absolute delight, Blacklocke somehow manages to turn something mundane like diplomacy into a suspenseful minefield our heroes have to navigate without a map. It is delightful and riveting every time, and actively contributes to Gredin's growth as a character.

Overall, the characters are engaging--especially Gredin, who is forced to accept a high-stakes role she's not ready for while dealing with extreme trauma and loss, and Tetralanna, a multi-faceted, smart, and resourceful antagonist. The fact that Tetralanna will be an antagonist is hinted at early on, but even as she starts to butt heads with Gredin, I was able to sympathize with her every step of the way. She's not necessarily a bad person. Tetralanna is the type of character I love to hate, and I hope to see more of her as the series progresses.

Speaking of progress, Refuge is long. There is a lot to cover, and the book takes its time. I could think of a couple friends who would have put the book down due to its slower pacing, so I figured I'd mention it here. However, I felt that the pacing allowed for a deeper exploration into Vennan culture, gave more time to some very deserving characters and alien races, and let the magic of the book unfold in a steady, satisfying stream. There are no space battles or gunfights in Refuge. There is very little "on-screen" violence. I was still glued to my seat the entire time. There is a lot of culture shock and some steadily--and startlingly--rising stakes. Come for the magic, but stay for some tense social missteps, sticky diplomatic situations, and loving descriptions of alien food.

I find myself thinking of Refuge quite a lot. I will fondly replay scenes and dialogue in my head. I will analyze character interactions, and try to deconstruct their motivation (there's a good guy I'm not entirely convinced is good--even though I really like him--but time will tell). It's a lovely, flowing story about loss, where characters who begin as friends may not stay that way. And my favorite thing about Refuge is the fact that even when things get dark (and they do), there is always a beauty and optimism at its foundation. Right now, it's just the sort of positivity I need. It's a gentle book, much like the Vennans themselves, with enough depth, grey areas, and lingering mysteries to keep you exploring for more than a few re-reads.

Yes, I will absolutely read Refuge again.

Thank you for the ARC. REFUGE is an intriguing mix of alien species politics/diplomacy and a coming of age story set in an alternate universe. The book’s strengths are the writing, which flows wonderfully, and details of the worldbuilding. What stayed with me most was the author’s degree of creativity in carefully constructing all of the details of Tradepoint and the diverse cultures that interact there – communication and commerce, food, belief systems, etc. That aspect reminded me of a similar attention to cultural/technological details in the work of B. Sriduangkaew and A. Martine. If you enjoy detailed immersion into alien worlds and close character study in scifi you’ll like REFUGE. There’s a lot going in the story - you need to pay close attention to keep track of all the moving parts, character names, etc. If you do, it rewards you with a tale of nuanced intrigue. The theme underneath the story is an important one and speaks about how a diverse and varied universe interacts, for better and worse - there is clearly more to come as the series continues. Recommended if you enjoy character-driven political thrillers set in space.

The premise for this book was fascinating and the main character, Gredin, is very likable, but at times I found the story very confusing. There wasn't much exposition in the beginning, so there isn't a lot of context for the reader; we don't know much about Vennan society, culture, or what the various roles mean. I also wasn't entirely clear as to how they travel through space. I very much enjoyed the dialogue between characters, which I found believable, but the difficulty I had following the plot made the overall reading experience less enjoyable than it might have been.

I am unfortunately not the reader for this. It seemed like it was going to be sci-fi with some political parts and I was okay with that. But it was definitely leaned into the politics in a sci-fi setting. I didn't really enjoy it which leads me to not wanting to just give it a bad review. I'm just not the right reader for this. If you like politically heavy books, political thrillers, then maybe you'll like this. Still, thank you netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.

I'll give it three stars for a solid book. I can't rate it any higher or lower and have it be fair.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Refuge in exchange for an honest review.

I suppose it's my own fault that I didn't enjoy Refuge, so I'll give it the most average rating possible.

Refuge's description does not hide the significance of space politics on its plot, but I was expecting a little more adventure and a little less talking about intergalactic communications. I was expecting a sci-fi story with strong political themes, but I'd actually categorize this as a political thriller set in space.

It's certainly unique and well written, I'm just not the right reader for this.