I would read Charlie Jane Anders' shopping lists or whatever else she gave me, I love everything she touches so much. This series is SO DELIGHTFUL and just the most fun-- I mean a book that has a ragtag band of misfits, crewmates, earthlings, friends, lovers (and one annoying frenemy) is a must read in my book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This is the 3rd in the Unstoppable YA series. This space opera romp stars teen Tina Mains, who has a challenging destiny to fulfill.

Tina (raised on Earth) is a clone of legendary galactic heroine, Captain Thaoh Argentian. When she's called to join the Royal Fleet, her earthling friend Rachel goes with her. In the first episode, teen Earth geniuses were also enlisted.

The adventures continue here with a steady stream of close shaves, encounters with weird and wonderful aliens as these young heroes continue their quest to save the universe.

Overall, an engaging rollercoaster of angst and action.

Promises Stronger Than Darkness is a moving series finale. I love this queer inclusive science fiction all about compassion and trying to do the right thing. This is such a breath of fresh air. It has some timely themes that we all could use like to try to learn about others instead of assuming we are the status quo. It builds on themes the entire Unstoppable series has been exploring and resolves these threads. I just couldn't stop thinking about how impactful this trilogy has been for SF that deals with who we will be in the future.

What a phenomenal conclusion to a phenomenal series. The crew of the Unstoppable is back, and after the conclusion of the last book, they know they have to find solution to the bereavement before all life in the universe is destroyed. But they're also on the run from the Royal Compassion and the Firmament .

There are so many themes I love in this book: friendship, holding onto your ideals in conflict, and justice.

Yayyy! The epic space adventure is over, with a possible hint of more to come! And I do mean epic–the universe felt so vast and populated and wonderful. I cried multiple times (won't say where, but once caught me off guard). A little Star Trek, a little Star Wars, a little Guardians of the Galaxy, very YA, and emotionally real. Amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Teen for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

Oh my goodness, this was such a perfect way to wrap up this series, and I can't say enough about how much I adored it. The character development is impeccable, the worldbuilding is astounding, and everything is tied up so amazingly from start to finish.

My favorite part of this book is the way that the characters really come together. From growing individually to growing as a unit, they are all so relatable and have their hearts on the page. It's hard to not fall in love with each of them in their own ways.

If you're in the market for a sci-fi series that will feed you found family, self-identity, such amazing new worlds to discover, and lots of action, then you need to pick this up right now!

With a new, even greater challenge comes a necessity to approach it with new solutions. Due to the Bereavement, Anders’ characters find themselves a position they haven’t quite had to face yet – what they should and shouldn’t sacrifice for the greater good. In the previous books, they haven’t had as severe a moral quandary; they knew what they stood for, and they refused to waver. This time around, Anders raises questions about when it’s time to shift those beliefs, even if minimally. As such, they face different, more immediate pressures. However, the story only ever sets them at the precipice. They never really teeter over the edge. Rather, Anders focuses on the conversations around it, instead reiterating that a better solution can (almost) always be found.

On that note, Anders uses some new POVs to bring an understanding to different characters and their respective cultures. Those chapters specifically build upon the aforementioned pressure. One character in particular (if you know, you know) previously struggled with their image being twisted in the name of the “greater good.” The faith of their people – and their faith in themself – was rocked. In Promises, Anders gives them an avenue to rectify a least a small part of what went wrong. She ties this into a second character who carries just as heavy a burden for fire people. Both cases only serve to emphasize the severity of not only the Bereavement, but Marrant and the Royal Compassion’s dangerous and hateful rhetoric.

Speaking of Marrant, as with everything else in Promises, Anders ups the ante of not just his words, but also his actions. With literally everything at stake, he lays everything out in no uncertain terms. Something that stood out to me was the inclusion of the word “cleansing” as Marrant moves forward with his plans. While I won’t spoil the context, the usage speaks for itself, especially given what readers already know about Marrant from earlier in the series. It brings the sci-fi world of the story into a striking, grounding reality. Marrant is a genuinely terrifying villain, and Anders uses that to her advantage in a poignant way.

Like its predecessors, Anders brings a strong story to the table with Promises. It’s just as rich and imaginative, with a magnetic universe filled with wonder. With each book, Anders continues to showcase her prowess as an author, and especially an author in the sci-fi world. In Promises, she maintains every familiar trait from the prior Unstoppable books but builds upon the story in fresh ways.

Ultimately, Anders’ series is an undeniable celebration. And it’s thanks to the Unstoppable crew. They have faced so many trials, tribulations, and growth, but one thing remains absolutely certain with every book in the trilogy: they are the delightfully weird, creative, and endearing characters readers have come to know and love. In Promises specifically it’s difficult for them to see the silver lining – and can you blame them? They face obstacles at virtually every turn – even up to the very end – but Anders doesn’t leave them hopeless. She instead uses their weirdness, their creativity, and everything else that makes them unique to keep the flame of hope alive. She offers up one more journey with these characters that remind all the weird, creative readers out there that they’re worthy of being heroes too.

Promises Stronger than Darkness is the third and final novel in the Unstoppable Trilogy. I had previously enjoyed the first two novels in the series. Although the series is marketed as YA, it also has appeal for adult readers who are looking for Science Fiction with a bit of humor and a lot of heart. There are many plot points from the previous novels to be wrapped up and they are best read in order.

The book focuses both on a diverse group of humans who are helping to fight for the survival of the universe including Rachel, a neurodivergent artist from America, and Elza, a transwoman from Brazil, as well as a variety of aliens such as the bug like Wyndgonk, who can produce fire, and Tina, a purple hued, jewel adorned clone of the famed Captain Argentian. Themes about the importance of friendship, taking the time to work through the difficulties of cross cultural communication, not making assumptions about others, and finding ones own identity outside of family and your community’s expectations are all explored. Although sometimes I wished the book lingered a bit more over world building since the brief descriptions of planets and alien cultures were so intriguing, the action packed pace of the novel kept me reading to the satisfying end.

I received an advance copy of Promises Stronger than Darkness from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for providing an honest review.

I was interested to see how this book ended up turning out, given the last book's major turn at the end. And unsurprisingly, to some degree, this does end up undoing those consequences, though it at least sits with them for a while. Yes, it takes a few minutes to remember what all the stakes are, but you're still able to slip back in easily. The addition of Wyndgonk's POV is welcome, though almost a bit too much narratively. Stakes are still high, but everything manages to resolve nicely, and I'm overall really happy with where this ended up. Just a super well done trilogy, and definitely worth your time when it comes out (today, as of the time I'm writing this up!).

This was a very strong conclusion to a lovely, creative series. Just as with book 2, it did take me a minute to remember what happened and who was who in the secondary cast of characters. But that is probably more my fault than the book's fault. Regardless, as soon as I was caught up, I was right back into this incredibly inventive world full of amazingly well developed characters.

The stakes are astronomically high- as in, all life in the universe high- and Rachel and Elza, along with their friends, are on a mission to save everyone. But, they're also grappling with the loss of bestie/girlfriend Tina, so things are extra rough. This installment, just like its predecessors, is full of action and excitement, as well as humor and heart. The characters are so very well thought out, and it is kind of impossible for the reader not to fall in love with them. There was a twist that I absolutely saw coming, but for the most part, the tension was high throughout. The ending wraps up the series wonderfully and satisfactorily, even if a couple of the things were a wee bit hokey. I can live with it, if it means I feel closure at the end of a story!

Overall, I will absolutely miss this incredible cast of characters galivanting through space, but I feel so grateful to be able to have gone on this adventure. There were so many wonderfully imaginative species, all sorts of diversity, and a lot of really great commentary along the way.

Bottom Line: If you haven't read this series, you need to. Especially since you know now that the ending will be on point!

4.5*

“Suffering is everywhere, and we have to do whatever we can to prevent a worse hurt.”

I can’t believe it’s the end.

I very quickly fell in love with the characters of the Unstoppable series in book one, Victories Greater than Death. Book three is no different. I loved watching them grow as people and as friends. I’m sad it’s over, but it was such a fun ride.

Charlie Jane Anders has a way with worlds that excites me. They’re fun and homely, but they’re also terrifying and raw. This series is written for young adults, but I believe all ages would enjoy this series. There’s something about watching young adults grow into themselves that makes young adult fiction so exciting to read.

As with most sequels, I can’t go into much detail without spoiling the other two, so just go start the series already! We can discuss when you catch up. :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for the chance to read this advanced review copy.

CW for death, murder, blood, and body horror

I was provided this ARC in exchange for an honest review of this upcoming release. Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen for providing it to me. Unfortunately this book has become a DNF for me. The first book in this series was a tough read for me and I was hoping to see improvement as the second and third books came out but it just wasn’t there. The pacing is odd and the simplistic language throughout the book is difficult to manage through. Not to mention some of the over complications such as the way time is seen in this “space”. I appreciate this opportunity, however, in the future I will have to pass on Anders.

Promises Stronger Than Darkness is the third and final installment of the Unstoppable series by Charlie Jane Anders, and wowweeee does the last chapter pack a punch! Promises takes us back to the crew of the Undisputed Training Bra Disaster after evil Marrant rises to power at the end of the second book. Elza is now the Rogue Princess with the power of the Ardenii in her head; Rachael found her art again but also took a life to save her family; and Tina sacrificed herself to reboot as Captain Argentian in a last-ditch effort to defeat Marrant. The Unstoppable found family is reeling after these world-remaking decisions, but they have little time to reorient themselves before they are thrust back into the fray, fighting for the future of the universe they all call home. Promises is a love letter to finding yourself again amidst unimaginable grief, banding together to make change, and never giving up on the people you love. Charlie Jane Anders doesn't shy away from the difficult lines folks may have to cross in order to save the world, but the compassion she holds for every one of her characters is palpable with each turned page. Once again, I loved falling into this world with its clear-eyed attention to respecting pronouns and language barriers and the seemingly simple act of listening to one another. The EverySpeak remains one of my absolute favorite future-tech pieces that I've ever encountered, and Tina's dedication to its adaptability throughout the end of the book really stuck with me. The Unstoppable series may take place worlds away from everyday Earth, but the quandaries and lessons faced by its crew will truly resonate through the genre for years to come.

Promises Stronger Than Darkness is the third and concluding volume of Charlie Jane Anders' Unstoppable trilogy. I previously reviewed the first volume on my blog, and the second volume here on Goodreads. Promises provides a strong ending to the series. It has less exposition and more heart-pounding suspense than the earlier volumes; after setting everything up in the previous books, here Anders is able to just let the action fly. The fascist Marrant (a figure in the line of Donald Trump and Benito Mussolini) is in control of the galaxy; and a time bomb (or perhaps I should say, black hole bomb) originally set up millenia ago by a now-extinct civilization threatens to extinguish all the stars in the galaxy that have planets supporting sentient life. Our teen heroes have to stop this apocalypse, while at the same time avoiding Marrant's forces, not to mention preventing Marrant from taking control of the doomsday machine and converting it into a weapon for selective genocide. There is less reflection here on LGBT+ themes than in the previous volumes -- we now simply have to take such multiplicity for granted, as we rush through one attempt after another to save the galaxy.

I think that in her entire trilogy, culminating with this volume, Anders takes us back to the origins of science fiction, only to twist it through the looking glass. I started reading science fiction when I was nine years old; my uncle gave me a copy of the first volume in E. E. 'Doc' Smith's Lensman series. These books, published starting in the 1930s, were the beginning of what is now known as space opera, and set many of the parameters for the Golden Age science fiction of the subsequent decades. As a nine year old, in the 1960s, I devoured Smith's volumes, thrilled by his vistas of infinity and his ability to deliver one rip-roaring story after another. It wasn't until much later that I recognized the defects in Smith's books; he wasn't exactly a great prose stylist, and he never questioned his straight-white-cis-male presuppositions (not to mention his idealized portrait of the engineer who thinks all problems are merely technical ones) -- instead, he took his narrow presuppositions entirely for granted, and assumed his readers would do so as well.

Sixty years later, Anders gives us something like a revision and updating of Smith's original space operas, only written in much better prose, and with a far more enlightened (as well as more contemporary) sensibility. What I mean is that we have the same excitement and thrills, the same marvelous twists and turns, and the same exhilarating sense of roving freely through the galaxy; but we also have a broad multicultural and multisexual sensibility, one that celebrates the vitality and creativity of which people (and other sentient species) are capable, rather than just romanticizing the somewhat narrow skills of white male nerds (Smith's original audience in the 1930s, and an accurate description of me as a child and teenager in the 1960s as well). The narrow straight-masculinist perspective is replaced by a rainbow coalition, and the figure of the engineer gives way to that of the artist (my favorite character through out the series is Rachel, a visual artist but also a sensitive soul in the way that my inner teenage nerd can still totally relate to). (No criticism of engineers is implied here, by the way; but rather a broadening of aesthetic sensibility). If science fiction was mostly read by shy cerebral white boys in the 1930s, and still in the 1960s, then today it especially appeals to BIPOC and LGBT+ people, because it combines the same thrills as previously with new sorts of inclusion and recognition. Charlie Jane Anders is one of the standard-bearers of this transformation.

Having read and enjoyed so much of Charlie Jane Anders' writing in the past it has been a joy to see this, their first YA trilogy, through to its conclusion.
I'll answer the big question at the top of the review - is a reread essential in order to read book three? I would go against my usual answer of 'if you feel like it maybe' and instead say that I highly recommend picking up books one and two again before reading this final installment. I am of the opinion that Charlie Jane Anders' particular style and, more notably, pacing is something that you really have to sink into and get in the right headspace for - rereading books one and two is not only a fun activity but allows you to get re-immersed in this narrative style.
Fans of the series to this point will, I think, have a great time with book three. The events of the previous books have all been leading up to this and Anders provides a fantastic endgame with no shortage of love, conflict and difficult choices we've seen in the series up to this point.
One of my particular favourite aspects of this book in particular was the focus on friendship alongside romantic affection. I feel like often in the YA fiction space books either have romance or friendship and not both and Anders manages to balance a cast of characters with a complex web of relationships between them - some of them not even human!
I'll definitely be recommending this series to those looking for a YA science fiction series that packs a punch all the way through to the end, one that expresses values that I think we ought to take on a bit more on this planet!
My rating: 4/5 stars
I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🚀🐒👑👩‍🚀👾

This is a fantastic conclusion to the Unstoppable trilogy.
It is filled with found family, learning, growing, accepting, loving, sacrificing, and just plain amazingness.

If you have read the first two Unstoppable books, Victories Greater Than Death and Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak, then you know that Charlie Jane Anders has an amazing cast of LGBTQIAP+ characters, a well-written plot and edge-of-your-seat twists and turns.

Without giving anything away, this book is the same. It's a fantastic conclusion!

I received a copy of this eArc from Netgalley and Charlie Jane Anders. I leave this review voluntarily.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
Promises Stronger Than Darkness brings the Unstoppable trilogy to an epic close, and I appreciate the way it delivered on promises established in the first two books. The tensions couldn’t be higher, what with there being a literal countdown that recurs marking the passage of days until the suns go out.
And while this does in some ways follow similar beats of the final act of a “teens saving the world” narrative, Anders continues to make the trope and associated archetypes her own. Her major characters are easy to root for as they navigate this situation, and I love the increasing growth of community between the various leads, so it’s not just about one major character or a few outliers against the Big Bad. And with queer romance being a subplot of the series thus far, I really enjoyed the payoff for the Tina/Elza pairing in particular.
I’ve really enjoyed this series, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a queer YA sci-fi/space opera style series.

There was a point several years ago when I got frustrated with YA and all the teenagers saving the world/saving the universe. Part of my frustration was that I don’t want kids to have to save the world. I got over that fairly quickly, but I remembered that feeling towards the end of Promises Stronger Than Darkness. Now I am so grateful that teens have a whole body of literature about fighting oppression and fascism.

I might get a bit esoteric, because I don’t want to get too much into the plot. I will say though that this series is binge worthy. In Victories Greater than Death, Tina starts off thinking she is a galactic hero reborn. Anders subverts that chosen one trope and continues to do so through the series. Tina gathers friends, builds community, and together they tackle the forces against them. And even more importantly, they hold each other together with love and genuine compassion. They help each other hold on to the good inside them.

The enemy calls itself The Compassion. Their desire is to eliminate the species that they view as a drain on the universe – the species that aren’t humanoid. Marrant, the leader of the Compassion is legitimately terrifying. His touch can turn you to goo, and turn love into disgust.

Anders balances high stakes with an abundance of love, even with occasional silliness. The resolution leaves the kids with more work to do, but having vanquished the forces of genocide and intolerance.

I read this as part of the #TransRightsReadathon.

CW: Violence, betrayal, genocide and it’s justifications, murder, near death experiences.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Tor Teen and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.

Similar Books (Beta)

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Teen / Tor Publishing Group for the ARC of this novel. I was lucky enough to also receive an ARC last year for the previous book in this series and this was a fantastic conclusion to the trilogy. With it having been a year since I read Dreams Bigger Than Heartbreak, I did forget the backstory of some of the less featured characters but Anders does a great job of catching up the reader and not rehashing every detail. As you go along, there is enough exposition to read the important pieces and get to a satisfying ending. I was surprised by the twists and turns and would not have anticipated how it all wrapped up. This entire trilogy was fantastic and I hope Anders continues to publish in the YA genre and especially with science fiction. 5 stars.