Lira, the main character, is a synthetic individual who was grown using human and alien DNA. The strength of a synthetic lies in their ability to intuitively navigate spaceship star drives through intergalactic space. Lira makes navigational mistakes, however, some of which have led to numerous deaths in the past. Her current blunder resulted in the navigation of an independently owned hauler into the immediate path of a mysterious biologically infected comet.

A former assassin, and now born-again religious extremist, Pike is one of the ship’s passengers. He sees his prophesy’s being fulfilled by the comet and sets forth to sabotage Lira’s efforts to stir the ship around it. The ship is ultimately infected by the comet’s blight and lost. Lira and her lover escape using an escape pod, but not before he is infected by the blight. As a synthetic, Lira is immune from it.

This story continues and takes several turns within its 164 pages. Just as I started to catch my breath, other crises appear. This book stands alone but the characters and the blight could work to begin a series. The story’s ultimate destination, if there is one, might well be churning in the author’s exhaustive imagination.

This is not a badly written book but, for me, it wasn’t a good one. The main character, Lira, has no real graspable personality an despite everything that happens to her — and it always happens *to* her, never because of her — she is unchanged through the whole book. I didn’t see any signs of growth or even a definable character arc. She was just there to witness everything and be the linking character name and POV to connect the three vignettes, each of which takes place years apart.

In the first one, Lira has to deal with Pike who has smuggled some unknown, cursed thing onto her ship which ends up killing it and everyone aboard. The second story has Lira, some years later, having somehow managed to escape the dying ship picked up by the daughter of her lover to go fine a planet that has Poke still alive on it. So she goes. Everyone dies but Lira. Some years later, the third story has Lira waking up with a child having been ‘rescued’ by a ship sending biotic ships and synthetic people into a star to destroy them before the Rot — the thing Pike unleashed — kills humanity.

There are two interesting ideas in this book that I would have loved to have seen more of: biotic ships, which are semi-alive, and synthetics — biotic people. There’s a small moment near the end where Lira finds another Lira, a biotic, sleeping in a factory, and has an obligatory moment about Lira considering if she’s herself or just another biotic. But that’s a blink and you’ll miss it moment.

Through the whole book I was bored. No character held my interest, the plot felt overly simplified and expected, and nothing was given enough attention to make it matter. I had to struggle to both pay attention to and to finish the book, and I’m left unhappy and indifferent to the book. I’m sorry, this is a solid pass.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC

This is a literary gem in space horror. Hands on from the beginning and continues on in a great pace with a captivating story. I would love to read more from Penn Romine. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

So much happens in this story, I don't know where to begin!

This was an entertaining story that is full of action and drama. I enjoy the fungi trope for science fiction/horror stories. This was no exception to the different kinds of stories that have fungus as a leading contributor in the story. I'll definitely be on the hunt for more by Romine. I like his style in story telling.

#NetGalley #TheMosquitoFleet

This book was a fun quick read! It was made up of three parts and took place over great swaths of time. In this way, it almost felt like three novellas with Lira, the main character, as a constant presence throughout all of them. Lira, a synthetic, is a type of Biotic - made of alien and human DNA, and a trait which she shares with the living ships she navigates. The three parts of the book focus on this topic, the dynamic of coexisting with humans, a little domestic terrorism, religious fanaticism, love, friendship, and rot. The book moved quickly and there was a lot of chaos packed into every page which was great and kept the pacing and flow moving. However, I thought some aspects felt a little icky, like Abe, Lira's love interest, essentially forcing children on a woman who explicitly stated she did not want them (twice, sort of). Otherwise, I enjoyed the ride of this book.

In the best sense, this felt like an old school Sci-Fi book, plus some later season X-Files vibes (iykyk) which made me so happy.

Thank you, NetGalley and BrokenEyeBooks! #themosquitofleet #netgalley

It now feels like infectious, fungal, protoplasmic space molecules are, if not now common parlance in sci-fi, at least as ubiquitous as zombie viruses in horror. Its not all that different metaphysically from zombieism, usually the infection takes over the living creature, bending it to its needs and wills (with zombies that is BRAINSSSS, with infectious, fungal, protoplasmic space molecules that end is somewhat less knowable but nearly always involves the taking over of brains). The Mosquito Fleet - a terrific title left slightly wanting here - we see three stages in the infection of said eldritch horror. We open with the discovery, the ship in the fleet pos out of FTL near a strange comet, and a passenger who has cultish, but latterly proven right, religious beliefs about The Ancient Ones, sabotages the ship to encounter it. Our protagonist Lira, a synthetic space navigator, is caught in the thick of it - whilst herself having a difficult past with an accident she has caused. The opening third delves quite deeply into her psychology, and as disaster falls we then re-unite with her, first where she is sought out to explore the infected area around the previous encounter years later, and finally even further in the future where she is revived to see how the universe has made accommodations with it.

The Mosquito Fleet is a pretty short book, and so it is quite relentless in its three parts. Having a "known" unknowable entity does make it quicker, and central the infectious, fungal, protoplasmic space molecules have cilium and glow eeriely as expected post-Expanse, and seem to be able to replicate people with their memories. The psychological heft on Lira is less successful, or at least it is put into perspective by the encounter where she loses her lover, and nominally retires. This makes much of the earlier character development feel moot, and perhaps it is better to think of this as three connected short stories than one wholly coherent novel. Nevertheless, I enjoyed The Mosquito Fleet, it was a pacey sci-fi read with a decent side order of horror. It might not bring anything new to the table, but it rearranges the familiar elements for a decent effect.

This worked well as a scifi horror novel, it had that element that I was wanting and enjoyed from the concept of this. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the horror of this. I was engaged with the characters and was glad everything worked with them in this. Space is a scary concept and was glad it worked together to tell the story. Andrew Penn Romine wrote this well and left me wanting to read more.

The Mosquito Fleet by Andrew Penn Romine

A comet-like entity lurks outside the Grass is Greener, a biotic vessel used as a ferry, beckoning to a devotee by the name of Durance Pike. Lira, a synthetic, assumes command after unforeseen circumstances incapacitate the captain, permanently. Something or someone has poisoned the ship’s harmonious biomass. The breeding of “The Rot” has begun tethering its way through the veins of the ship. The ship rendered essentially useless, the plan of Pike has begun. The Nameless One’s call inspires Durance to carry out a plan of zealous nature for Brother Hung, his ex-lover and companion. Intensity grips the reader’s attention at a frenetic pace. Can the crew survive long enough to escape the rudderless ship's clutches? If so, how will the relationships of the crew be affected?

Andrew Penn Romine imaginatively pens a novel that toils in ruthless behaviors, fantastical starships, and remote planets. At its nexus, a gripping underlying story emerges. One that reaches into the depths of childhood abandonment and corporate secrecy. Whose narrative shall I question? I accessed my memory banks, querying for clues, any hint of what truths lie ahead. Ever concealed from my proximity, the answer awaited. Pleasantly hidden behind gunfire and tumultuousness, the truth is revealed and left my head spinning, leaving my mind a permanent blue screen.

A surprising ending awaited my foray into Romine’s world. The interplay of humans and synthetics is impactful. Each with their own set of rules to toggle and preserve their kind. The biotic symbiosis between synthetics and a ship, for instance, using the ship as a living organism capable of communicating relative thought, is cleverly executed.

My only criticism was this incessant need to use certain cuss words, beginning with the word “sister.” Clearly I missed the point, and while humorous at first, soon it became distracting. I began to wonder if I was being punked; seriously, what is up with the verbiage? Never one to be deterred, I glided through the rest of the novel smoothly.

Slight turbulence aside, I rerouted my coordinates. I focused on what mattered most, my enjoyment. The world created was engrossing. A descriptive narrative conjured up the necessary filth to make me pause in fearful tremors. “The Rot” stretching its blackened tentacles within the safety of human existence. A thing, living, thriving on our anxieties. However, amongst the blanket of obscurity, the resounding nature of man heeds the call. Love shines through, if only to offset the dark side, thus establishing a mutually beneficial equilibrium and, consequently, a well-written book. However, the question still remains: can we peacefully exist with our robotic brethren?

4 out of 5 stars, recommended!

Many thanks to Broken Eye Books for the ARC through NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion.

A space horror with a religious terrorism and an infection you just can’t shake! The book provided little fluff and drops you immediately into the plot. Lira, our main character we follow throughout the story is fierce, accountable, and dedicated to her work as a navigator, making her an easily likable character.

In Part 1 You truly get lost in the fanatic delirium of the character Pike and urge the crewmates on in succeeding but feel their despair in knowing it’s all lost.
Part 2 throws you for a complete loop. New characters and bonds that were unpredictable from the plot but added extra weight to it, good weight.
Part 3 wraps the story up with an open ending. Including the same themes of zealotry, family, and deception. It leaves you with questions and honestly wanting more depute part 3 being my last favorite

Overall I enjoyed this short novella. It felt like each part could have been a separate book on its own but was summarized beautifully to where you know everything but want more details. Each plot prediction I made was way off and I relished in being surprised! 4 star read with light gore that will keep you on your feet!