This is the second book in a series which I didn't realize when I picked it up. However, even though I didn't read the first book, the author does an excellent job of continuing her story while peppering plot points from the previous novel. I wasn't lost at any point and in my opinion, you could read this as a standalone.

This was a quick angsty mystery novel where Pleiti and Mossa are sort of maybe girlfriend's that fight crime. Okay, okay, it isn't like a superhero novel, but Mossa is an investigator that needs Pleiti's help. Pleiti is a professor of Classics at one of the most prestigious universities on Jupiter, Valdegeld. Mainly she studies Earth ecosystems in the hope of planning the perfect ecosystem so that humans can return to the planet they destroyed. Her studies are more of background for the story and not really a main plot point.

The main plot focuses on missing students, teachers, and other university staff. The B plot is that Pleiti is basically in love with Mossa and Mossa has a hard time with feelings. It actually bothered me that this plot felt unresolved. They never really talk about their relationship and if there is something more than just hooking up or needing help. The end of the book implies that they are a couple, but I would have enjoyed a real conversation about their status.

Overall this was a quick mystery read that I really enjoyed. I loved how humans had built platforms connected by rings for travel in order to survive on the gas giant. I'm going to go back and read the first one as well as keep an eye out for the next!

Thanks NetGalley and Tordotcom for the ARC.

Mossa and Pleiti return to solve another mystery in this sapphic sci-fi version of a Sherlockian mystery series! This time there are missing university students to find and their search will take them from the colony on Jupiter to on on its moon Io. Meanwhile Pleiti is experiencing some emotional turmoil over the development of her feelings for Mossa and concerns about how much they are reciprocated.

I am really enjoying this series and I think it's clever and quite unique. The way Older plays with language as a world-building tool is really cool too. I enjoyed this short novel and hope to see more in the series! I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

In this sequel to "The Mimicking of Known Successes," investigator Mossa and her scholar girlfriend/assistant/friend (their relationship is a bit nebulous) Pleiti are once again attempting to solve a mystery on Giant (AKA Jupiter). This time, it's a student at Pleiti's university who has gone missing, and Mossa's initial inquiries reveal that he's not alone in going AWOL from the university.

These books almost feel like Sherlock Holmes stories set in space, and I absolutely love it. Pleiti and Mossa's relationship is fantastic, the mysteries and investigations are solid, and the sly nods to current SFF fiction is fantastic. I absolutely hope that Older keeps writing these books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the digital ARC! I will also review this novella in my upcoming Oct/Nov Reads Video.

TL;DR if you liked the first book (The Mimicking of Known Successes) then you will enjoy this one as well!

TIoUO picks up directly after the events of TMoKS, and I enjoy the continuity of the consequences of the first book rippling through this one, it was interwoven very well with the new case our main duo is pursuing. We also get to learn more about Mossa's upbringing and how it contrasts with Pleiti's, which I enjoyed because it further fills out this hanging question of why the two have such a complex history. We also see GROWTH from both of them which I loved! The cozy vibes continued with frequent scenes in Pleiti's apartment (make sure you have a snack or something while reading because I'm pretty sure the consumption of scones and tea is higher compared to the first book!) but there's also a lovely portion later in the book in a different place that carries the same vibes; I appreciate Older not relying too heavily on one location to provide the cozy feelings.

The mystery was a little less interesting to me this time compared to the last book, but it was just as thought-provoking in what it could mean for the future of their society on Jupiter and humanity's collective dream of re-settling Earth. There was also some great world-building that didn't feel too obtrusive with its presence in the story; Older is doing a great job of fleshing out the setting without dumping too much on the reader at once (in my opinion) or leaving in tons of irrelevant information.

All in all I continue to love this budding series and hope for many more entries! It's a great recommendation for people who aren't really into sci-fi or feel intimidated by most of the popular works.

I love these books. They are so cute, and so very cozy.

For those who have not yet read them, the *Mossa & Pleiti* books are a series of Sherlock Holmes-reimaginings by Malka Ann Older. The first book, *The Mimicking of Known Successes*, came out in March. The second book, *The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles*, comes out February 14th. (Valentine’s Day, appropriately).

These books are set on orbital platforms in the upper reaches of the atmosphere of “Giant” (better known to us as Jupiter), where humanity resettled after we wrecked the Earth. Mossa is an Investigator, people tasked with investigating things like murders and disappearances. Pleiti is a professor of Classics (which, in this time and place, refers to anything from before humanity left Earth) working towards repairing Earth’s ecosystem. They were a couple as college students, fell apart, and reconnect in the first book when a case of Mossa’s takes her to Pleiti’s university.

For those who like cozy mysteries, these are just the very *coziest*. Suspects are discussed over steaming cups of tea by crackling fires. Progress towards the solution is steady and satisfying. In the first book, we spent a fair bit of time in the head of our Sherlock analogue, Mossa; in the sequel, we are nearly entirely inside the head of Pleiti, our Watson.

And much as I enjoy the mystery, the real star here is the relationship between the two. It rekindled in the first book; in this book, they’re redefining it as they come to understand each other as adults instead of hormone-addled college students. It’s a pure delight.

Mossa, it should be noted, is certainly written as neuroatypical, and as far as my neurotypical self can judge, is very well done.

Comes out February 14, 2024. Have a blanket and hot beverage of your choice on standby.

If sapphic detectives sound like your cup of tea, I'd recommend checking out The series The Investigations of Mossa and Pleiti by Malka Older! I just finished an eARC of the second book, The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles (thank you @tordotcompub!). The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles comes out in February 2024!

While I didn't find the mystery in this second installment quite as exciting as the first, I adored the continued development of Mossa and Pleiti's relationship and the world building! I'll definitely be continuing the series just because I love the unique scifi world building and main characters so much.

Mossa and Plieti are back, in another gaslamp mystery set on floating platforms in the upper atmosphere of Jupiter. Students are going missing from the university, and Mossa once again must turn to Plieti to help crack the case. As they navigate their slowly blossoming relationship, they find that there might be more to this missing persons case than just one student.

You all know that I loved the first of these a lot, and while there’s still plenty to enjoy in the follow up, for me it didn’t quite capture the same magic as the first one. I thought the first had an exciting, original, and imaginative world and a mystery that managed to surprise me. The second is similar, but the shine is just a little duller. The mystery felt like it was rehashing old ground, and the solution didn’t feel as tight or as clever. The sense of wonder and exploration was missing as well, because I knew the world. I think, as a mystery genre reader, this was the thing that rang the most hollowly to me--the mystery felt like an afterthought. It wasn’t clever, or puzzling, and the clues didn’t seem to be driving the plot. Similarly, the arc of the romantic relationship seemed meandering and somewhat purposeless.

One other false note for me was that the book ultimately seemed to undermine some of the warm, cozy, and wholesome vibes that the first had carefully constructed. It may be realistic to note that all societies have power differentials and some people in positions of power will abuse their positions, one of the things I liked about the first was that in this society that seemed to be generally good. Here we are finding more and more instances of it and it didn’t seem to mesh with the cozy vibes.

I will probably continue reading this series, but perhaps with more realistic expectations.

I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for this honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It was ok? Basically it continued the things I liked from the first book but also continued what I didn’t like from the first book as well. I did like the mystery but I found the end wrapped up way too quickly. I honestly wish we’d get more of Mossa’s POV in here—I think that would help immensely in giving the reader a better idea of how Mossa comes to solve these crimes. (And I really enjoyed when we got her POVs in both books’ prologues and wish it had continued instead of switching over to Pleiti’s.) As it is, we get some clues to the mystery and then a big leap to whodunit without the benefit of seeing how Mossa got from point A to point B.

I did like that Pleiti seemed to do more in terms of helping to solve the mystery this time. But I got very tired of her constantly questioning herself over her relationship with Mossa. I know she’s scared that the answer might possibly not be to her liking, but it’s very annoying when something like this can be solved with a simple conversation!!

I like the world created in this series, and liked too that we got some more info/closure on the fallout from the previous book’s mystery. I suspect, given the open-endedness of the new “colony” in this one, that we’ll get more info on it in the next book.

Will I read the next book? Probably. They make for quick reads, and the world-building is interesting enough for me to stick around. But I hope Pleiti learns to communicate more and actually tell Mossa what she wants, and I hope we get more from Mossa in general—more of how she learns things and makes connections between clues, more actual POV from her. A mystery just isn’t quite as good when the lead detective doesn’t share their process with their helper.

Anyone who enjoyed the hazy yet chilly charms of Older's first book in this series, "Mimicking of Known Successes", will be sure to enjoy its follow up, "The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles". It follows Mossa and Pleiti, Sherlock and Watson stand-ins respectively, as they investigate the disappearances of over two dozen people from Giant, the enormous and inhospitable gas planet they live on after Earth's apocalypse. It's the exact kind of atmospheric cozy mystery made for curling up by the fire with a hot cup of tea: prim, evocative, and cerebral. "Imposition" is truly a sequel to "Mimicking", you'll need to read the first to grasp the emotional scope happening here. Pleiti is in love with Mossa and having a lot of feelings about it. Mossa is sending some mixed signals. And this emotional landmine is centered around their investigation, this notion of the romanticization of pain. It works really well thematically... even if sometimes I did want to give Pleiti a shake.

I love Mossa and Pleiti and their investigations so much. This book, like the Mimicking of Known Successes before that, had so much going on, and all the things that I like the most: (political) intrigue, big meaty questions on humanity and evolution and our relationship with each other and with the environment, a mystery, a Sherlock-Holmes-and-good-old-Watson-like duo. It really really hit the spot. I am so grateful to #NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the DRC. I read it in two days, and just because I had to work in between.

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles follows, you guessed it, Mossa and Pleiti and their evolving friendship. The events of the first book have just taken place, and their consequences are still rippling through. Both our protagonists have been, and continue, reflecting on what they have learned and how it impacts their work in this book, while at the same time investigating on another mystery surrounding the University of Valdegeld: several people have gone missing.

Personally, I even found the mystery at the center of this book more engaging than the first one, even though I was able to get a bit closer to the solution. I think Malka Older plaid fairer in this case, all the clues truly are there, and you can think along with Pleiti and Mossa.

I really recommend everyone to pick this one up. It feels short (on my e-reader, it took me about 3.5 hours to finish it), it is fast paced, it has unbelievable descriptions of comfort food. It’ll come out on 13 February 2024 (just in time to gift it to your valentine, or yourselves!), and I can’t wait to see what my friends and family will think of this one.

This sequel novella is stronger than the first, in my opinion, because it provides the world building that the first novella lacked. In this case, readers get to learn more about how Io was colonized and Giant created, as well as learn more about Giant itself. The history and increased focus on people really helped keep this novella moving forward, and it’s not bogged down with too much math and science like the first novella. This case focuses more on investigating missing persons and, for me, that humanizing element helped pull me in more than the first.

Mossa (detective) and Pleiti (scholar, companion, 1st person narrator) remain interesting as characters and become more fully fleshed out in this novella. Their romance feels better for having the previous case and interaction under their belts, and there are clear discussions of them building a healthy relationship.

One aspect of this series that I truly enjoy is how normalized multiple cultures are; diversity in language, food, and individuals are the norm, which is refreshing. That said, one aspect added in this book is a minor altercation over homosexuality, with discussion specifically on the duty of women to aid in repopulation. This scene is handled quickly, emphasizes the failed logic of that argument, and treats the holder of those views as embarrassing—but it was still jarring when no other such rhetoric had been used.

Fans of the original will probably like this book, but those who didn’t like the first will probably not find their opinion changed.

I found this a really charming second book in the series. Our love-sick Pleiti is back, pining over Mossa the investigator. This has even more Sherlock and Watson vibes than the last one for me, and I loved the expansion of the world and gentle treatment of ivory tower suspicion of the hinterlands/provincialism. I think honestly this works better as light social commentary than actual sci fi or mystery, but I'm here for it any which way. Take me on another adventure, Malka Ann Older! I'm ready and willing. Four fun stars, with great love for the Academy scones and gorgeous wordplay (and a full quarter star for the Murderbot reference). Perhaps being a former PhD student with a deep love and knowledge of French is what makes this so adorable to me, but I really think it would be charming to a reader who isn't... me. But read the first book, first!

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles landed on my reading list like an unexpected comet, and Malka Older certainly didn't skimp on the intrigue or the interstellar insights. Returning to the world of Mossa and Pleiti was like a reunion with old university friends—familiar yet full of surprises.

Diving into life on Jupiter through Older's vision was an absolute treat. The day-to-day peculiarities of Jupiter's settlements—the railcars, the interplay of the moons, and the reconstructed diurnal rhythms—were a testament to Older's skill in crafting worlds that are both vast and intricately detailed.

This sequel posed an intriguing question: Why do we complicate our lives in the pursuit of simplicity? It's a contemplative thread that weaves through the narrative, prodding us to examine our own convoluted paths to 'better' living.

Admittedly, the Holmesian overlay in this installment felt more pronounced, teetering on the edge of pastiche at times. While it's a charming nod to the detective genre, it occasionally distracted from the novel's own original voice—something I savored in the first book.

Still, the journey was worth the ride, earning a solid four stars. Older's blend of cerebral puzzles and cosmic exploration is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining. And though the detective homage is strong, the heart of the story—questioning our self-imposed complexities—resonates profoundly.

For those who fancy a cerebral jaunt across space with a dash of detective flair, "The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles" is a worthy expedition. Just be prepared for the occasional echo of deerstalker caps amidst the stars.

I loved The Mimicking of Known Successes so much that I started reading this follow-up on the first blustery late-fall day, excited to immerse myself in tea and scones and mystery. I loved how the steampunk tea-and-trains-and-Jupiter world of Mossa and Pleiti continues to develop in this second installment. Instead of just another mystery set on the gas giant, we get to see a different aspect of the world, illuminating its history and social structures.

The prose is one of the book's standout elements. Pleiti's formal narration gives rise to many lovely and provocative turns of phrase, including the title of the book. Her vernacular borrows many words from non-English languages, especially to describe food items, which contributes to the story's atmosphere - but readers who find translation unwieldy could bypass them without losing any plot. As an academic, Pleiti is connected to the mystery only through her partner, Mossa, and her thoughtful remove gives the story more depth.

I did find the romantic elements of this story less compelling than in the first. Pleiti spends a great deal of time wondering (in a believably but uninterestingly neurotic way) about Mossa's feelings for her, which is repetitive and just short of irritating. I would have liked to see more interaction between the couple to feed her ruminations, or fewer ruminations.

As to the mystery itself - without giving spoilers, I appreciated that it was a very different mystery than the first story's, addressing a different aspect of society, with a (mostly) different type of culprit and conclusion.

If you enjoyed The Mimicking of Known Successes, then this book will definitely be a hit for you. Having already been introduced to Mossa and Pleiti in the previous book, we get more of their slow burn pining amidst another mystery involving missing people. I absolutely enjoy this world so much, and I’m fascinated by the characters and their motivations for living how they do. The pacing on this is slow, but since it’s fairly short that didn’t bother me much. I think Sci-fi and mystery fans will delight in this series.

Baby’s first netgalley review!! My hopes were so high for this one, as I really enjoyed the mimicking of known successes. Unfortunately, this sequel does not do justice to the first installment.

I’ll start with the good: I really love the world that Older has created. It is so well thought out, and the details and language of the world go a long way toward painting a vivid picture of the world. And the “cozy” energy really works, fitting into the setting well.

The mystery was interesting enough and I really enjoyed the journeys the characters took, especially being introduced to new parts of the world.

But, on to the disappointing: I think the biggest flaw in this book is the choice to follow Pleiti’s POV for whole time. She is a very difficult character to relate to – which makes sense, given her neurodivergence – but it didn’t translate that well into a narrative. Mainly because her language and vocabulary is… pretentious, for lack of a better word. Much of the story is a progression of her thought processes which are long, winding, and use 20 big words when a few short ones will do. Additionally, she is unable to communicate her desires to Mossa, which is frustrating for a reader (full disclosure: one of my biggest writing pet peeves is miscommunication).

Overall, I still enjoyed this follow up on the strength of the first and the world. However, I am bummed because the ceiling was high for what this book could have accomplished, and in my opinion, it did not nearly reach that.

Thanks to Tor and netgalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s pure chance that I’d so recently read The Mimicking of Known Successes, but it definitely made me eager to read this follow-up. The setup continues rather Holmesian, but set on a planet full of dangers, not quite hospitable to humans, on which humanity has nonetheless made a home in a series of settlements joined by rails. Mossa is an investigator, looking into a disappearance — and Pleiti is her girlfriend.

The previous story’s shadow lingers here, with Pleiti definitely upset by her experiences, her worldview shaken, and with people around her a little wary and doubtful given her involvement in what happened. Mossa remains… well, Mossa, but her care for Pleiti shows in so many ways. I really enjoy their relationship: Pleiti has to guess a little at whether Mossa’s gestures are significant, is maybe over-reading significance into some things (and underestimating others); their relationship isn’t quite stable yet, but nonetheless, their careful attitude to it and to each other, carefully building things up, is enjoyable.

The mystery itself is less gripping to me: I enjoy it as a vehicle for understanding the world better, for seeing Mossa and Pleiti together, but any mystery would do, for that. The solution was actually a little obvious, when it came, but it was the getting there that mattered.

I enjoyed this a lot, and eagerly look forward to more novellas centring these two.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was another great installment of Mossa and Pleiti's adventures. A more easily followable mystery this time, as we get more familiar with the setting, so the readers does have enough information to theorise. The mystery also worked as a way to delve deeper into the world of Valdegard and showed different perspectives to the university.

The overall world is also expanded upon and we see the repercussions of the events of the first book, though the attitudes really reflect real life attitudes of academia. The world building is still very intriguing and continues to effect the mystery of the book due to its unique nature.

The favourite aspect of the sequel however, was the romance. This installment felt more romantic to me, with a lot of Victorian yearning(and what a great yearner Pleiti makes!). This installment focused more on Pleiti and being in her head is an entertaining experience, especially with regards to her feelings. I really enjoyed how her feelings and the romance was handled.

Overall, another atmospheric and romantic romp. A perfect read for a cold day.

This certainly captures the same *vibes* as the original, with maybe a touch less angst between Mossa and Pleiti.

Similar to the first book in this series, although it is a murder mystery, its not really a whodunit in the sense that you wouldn't really be able to guess who committed the murder. It's not as though you get to know a cast of characters and spend the book deducing who did it based on character traits or clues etc. Rather, the murder mystery is used to explore aspects of the culture/politics/tension of the world, and I think it does this reasonably effectively in the short span of the book.

The main relationship gets a little bit less development in this book than the last one, but the small changes to the characters and their relationship in this book still make for something compelling imo.

Once again I wish that microbes were discussed more but that might be just me...

A sequel to the delightful The Mimicking of Known Successes - similarly delightful! The worldbuilding is detailed and charming but still subtle, the mystery works (although unlike the first one this one I think needed a few more breadcrumbs), the relationship is believable and lovely. I'm very invested in Mossa and Pleiti!