Really good follow up to Unconquerable Sun! Kate Elliot has an epic space opera forming here! Really like her style of prose. I did think this book needed to be 15% shorter though

2.5

This is really ambitious space opera that reads like sci-fantasy. Elliott takes inspiration from the real historical events surrounding Alexander the Great and puts them into this far future world with aliens and advanced technology and space battles, and so much more. I love the way that the ancient world blends with far future and I love how expansive and inclusive this world is. That being said, I struggled through this book.

Elliott writes Sun, our Alexander analog in a distant, third person where other characters get written in first person, and to be honest a lot of the first person characters started sounding the same to me. That could be because there’s only one audiobook narrator, and as much as I love Natalie Naudus, I think this might’ve been better served by having a full cast. It also could’ve been because of the pacing. The book covers so many people and events that it becomes easy to lose track, and while I appreciate the intent, I wonder if narrowing focus might have improved my reading experience.

Overall, I love the project of this series, and I wish I loved it more. When the third and final part comes out, I might try to give this series a reread and see if in a different mindset, I like them more.

Furious Heaven (The Sun Chronicles, #2)
by Kate Elliott
A complex story of remarkable depth and deception. Sun's mother has been attached in a remarkably complex political ploy. The two empires old war like the Carthage vs the Rome in the Punic wars. Financial and influence competition between two great empires played out in a personal struggles as the characters out move each other. The depth of conflict plague the history of this science fiction universe is intricate and labyrinthic in nature.
The book has a fluid look at sexuality, and has many changes in roles, and reproduction that is transformative. The book supports an ideology of Rome, in an interesting complex nature. It has many interesting thoughts on the LTGBQ+ future.
The science fictional tropes in the story is eye opening and almost beyond science as we know it. Creating a new universe of remarkable change to many current science fictional books.
I would recommend this book to high school students, on world creation. Looking at social changes, and what we anticipate will happen in the future on roles of sexuality, social control, and social universality. Which could lead to inspiration to what changes are good for our own society, and what would be detrimental to future choices.

Wow, this book is a ride! Moving at breakneck speed, Furious Heaven is the second book in a trilogy that is the life of Alexander the Great but gender-flipped and in space. Which is very cool. Truly a space opera with plenty of interesting world-building elements, it's a story of empire but also how interpersonal relationships affect things. Big battle scenes and action set pieces, but also a lot of court politics because the people in Sun's inner circle matter too.

I loved book 1 and have more complicated feelings about book 2. A LOT happens and around the 25% percent mark, there is a major shift in Sun's life and priorities. The pacing isn't what you expect for a novel, but it struck me while reading that it's probably because this draws so heavily on history and real life doesn't quite fall into a 3 act structure or what have you. I will say this feels very much like a middle book, which makes it a little less satisfying for me. There is a turn from book 1, a bunch happens, and the pieces are being set in place for the finale. Admittedly it's also a lot to follow. The nuances of so many characters and moving pieces make me think a re-read will be in order prior to book 3.

I feel like this is a vaguer than usual review, partly because I don't want to spoil things. Ultimately I liked it, though I struggled at times with the pacing, and I will definitely finish the series. I kind of want to read about the life of Alexander the Great as well because it would be interesting to see the parallels. I know Kate Elliott is a history buff and has done loads of research. I also just love the project of this- what if there was this kind of empire building conqueror, but in a time and place where race and gender don't carry the same constraints? And what if Sun was trying to live up to her mother's legacy? Add in the casual queerness of some of the characters and the interesting technology, religious, and political elements and you get something truly epic. The audio narration is good, though this is the kind of thing that would be better with a full cast. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This is an entertaining science fiction story that often reads more like fantasy. While the story is set in space, the court politics really made me think of epic fantasy.

I enjoyed reading this but I find the story doesn't stick with me long after reading like other books. This is similar to how I felt about the first book and other Kate Elliott titles. She writes fun stories, but not the kind that leaves a long lasting impact on me.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a fun, politically driven space opera filled with adventure.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.