My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher ECW Press for an advance copy of this science fiction novella, that uses the inspiration of a classic story to tell a story about equality, sexual politics, finding one self, and a bit of space opera.

One of the hardest things about being human is the feeling of acceptance. For many of us there is always that feeling that being nice, or welcoming to us is being forced on the other people. A fellow employee doesn't want to written up. Others don't want to be thought of as out-right racist, but comments like well you know those people are still a part of their everyday conversation. Appearance, color, religion, background, upbringing, past mistakes, and other peoples biased thoughts make acceptance hard. Even when one excels, is chosen for a position over others there are rumors. When words said casually led to an investigation, because well you know that type. Sometimes a person just has to accept that people won't change their opinions or attitudes, and nothing will change it. So then it is time for revenge. Countess by Susan Palumbo is a science fiction novella an homage to a classic story, about betrayal, the attitude of colonizers, love, and good old fashion payback.

Virika Sameroo has grown up on a world in an empire that has no respect or use for her. The Æerbot Empire has colonized her world, and treats the inhabitants in the same as the East India Company did, not well. Despite it all Sameroo has risen through the ranks of the merchant marine class, and when things go wrong and the Captain is incapacitated, Sameroo is chosen as acting captain, something which does sit well with others. Sameroo brings her ship in and after a frosty meeting with company agents, meets with her love, who Sameroo gives something quite valuable and special to. On a visit to her mother, Sameroo is arrested and accused of murdering the Captain, and colluding with pirates. The evidence presented is the precious item that Sameroo shared with her love. Sameroo is found guilty and sent to the worst prison in the Empire. However, Sameroo does not except her fate, and will not bend to all the forces against her. Revenge fuels Sameroo, even if Sameroo has to start a revolution to get it.

This novel has a big plot, big ideas, but is still a novella, which means the book is less than 200 pages. So the book movies quick. The novella is based on the classic The Count of Monte Christo, which might have had longer chapters than this book. The world is interesting, we get the character's motivations quickly, and things make sense. One wishes the characters had a little chance to breathe, but that is a minor quibble in a book I found enjoyable. Sameroo is a well developed character, with a layer of rage that has been suppressed so long, that when it lets go is a wonder to see. I liked the ideas, , the messages, characters and motivations. One can see a lot more happening in this world, and I would like to know more.

A science fiction story with a lot of ideas, and a stong character. I am enjoying the way science fiction is catching up to its readers, portraying them in stories, and seeking to put their world and views into the narrative. A quick story from an author I am interested in reading more of.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

This book was perfect for me! My favorite book of all time is The Count of Monte Cristo, and this is one of the only books that scratches the same itch for me. Countess has unforgettable characters, a propulsive story centered on revenge and revolution, and it's all set in a sci-fi world.
Often, I find that novellas are too short to pack much of a punch, but this short book hit all of the same emotional points and plot points that a longer book would for me. It's short enough to use in a classroom and discuss so many social issues, which is great for me as a teacher, but also just for me as a reader. This will be a book that I recommend to so many people.

I love how this novella jumps right into the action. A gender swapped queer space opera retelling of a classic is completely my cup of tea and I was grateful for this advanced reading copy. I love the novella format, the revenge narrative, and would definitely recommend this to others.

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and ECW Press for the ARC.

I really, really loved this short story. The plot was interesting. The main character, Virika Sameroo, was such a well-written character. I loved the anti-colonial themes and science-fiction element written into the story.

This should be a book series. Yes, I know this is just a novella and the author, Suzan Palumbo, writes short stories most of the time. But it has so much potential to be written into a book series because the worldbuilding and the themes are exactly what is needed in publishing. We need more diverse sci-fi queer romance!!!

Suzan Palumbo!!! I cannot wait to read more of your work.

This is exactly what I want from a novella. Ripped my heart out multiple times in under 200 pages. 10/10, no notes.

I liked this book. I think it was a good story and an interesting plot. The characters were fun to read and follow. However I did find the pacing to be a little too quick for my liking. However, it is on the shorter side, so I understand things have to be quick. I just wish I had more time to sit with the characters and with what had happened in the book. The book covers so many topics so I wished I had more time to explore them. However, it was still a good read, and I recommend it.

This is a fast-paced, exciting read - inspired by Monte Cristo rather than a retelling/reimagining of it, because that sure isn’t a job for a novella. I do wonder if the size of a novel would have allowed it to have a more fleshed-out sense of self — the world looks good enough to spend more time in, and I would have enjoyed that.

This book isn't for me. The prose is overly clunky and exposition-heavy; I never felt like I could get a sense of the characters or the scenes, just the facts the author wanted me to memorize. I kept waiting for the exposition to peel back, but eventually my patience ran out. I ended up DNF at 20%.

From the descriptions of the book, the emphasis on anti-colonialism and worldbuilding, I was expecting something more similar to Baru Cormorant, Ancillary Justice, or The Unbroken. While thematically the book has those elements, in terms of prose, it lags behind. However, I don't read a lot of military scifi, so this style may be more common in that subgenre. I may just not be the right audience.

Because this is a negative review, I won't be posting it on any public social media. I want this book to do well! I'm just not the right reader for it.

firstly, i think it is important to recognize that "influenced by" and "retelling" are very different things, because this isn't a retelling of the count of monte cristo. the plot is obviously influenced by that book, but it isn't the same story. "people of color don't always get the same outcomes" is a theme hinted at by many story elements, as well as the book's plot. it was surprising, but well done.

for the novella as a whole, it has many of the elements a sci-fi/fantasy reader expects. the first two chapters are a loading up on new names, new places, asking one's self "what do i need to remember", and also half a dozen flashbacks. it is the fueling up of the ship, those first two chapters, and for me chapter three is where it really took off. from there, i felt like the story continued to open up until about two thirds in, then i had to start wondering how it would end by the end. and, i wasn't disappointed.

This is Ms. Palumbo's first jump to novella, and I do feel like she pulled some of her storytelling punches a bit. I'm unsure if it's because she didn't want to fully commit to the idea of her adaptation of the Count of Monte Cristo, or it could admittedly be the proverbial middle finger to the colonialist writing tradition it was rooted in (even if Dumas was baller as hell). This is still a great anticolonialist novella that's rooted in a future take on the Haitian Revolution, and on the first third or so of the Count of Monte Cristo. Still a hell of a great read, and worth your time this fall.

I feel really bad about 2 stars, but it is what it is. I’ve read The Count of Monte Cristo and watched a couple film adaptations, so I was curious about this retelling. I love the intricate revenge of the story. Well… that’s not what you have here.

The first half does feel at least vaguely inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo. You have an officer on a spaceship accused of a crime and wrongfully sent to prison. There are some unique features of this retelling that are compelling - SF setting, gender swapped MC, queer, immigrant. It felt like a solidly 3 star read for the first half.

Then the second half really has nothing to do with the source material. The intricate revenge I wanted is nowhere to be found. And the scope is way too big for a novella. It really should have been a novel because it’s underdeveloped in this form. I could’ve really enjoyed the novel version of this, too, so that’s disappointing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Countess is a space operatic reimagining of the Count of Monte Cristo. It features themes of betrayal, suffering, and redemption and morphs the original story into a tale of futuristic West Indians subjugated to an Old World descended space empire. Genders are switched and the story leans heavily on queer themes, as well. I thought the world-building was a bit cursory and, indeed, found the book a bit cursory as well. A bit more time with the heroine once she emerged as Countess would have been well spent.; this could easily be a novel rather than novella. Palumbo isn’t a bad writer and I would read the possible sequel.

Thanks toNetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.