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.

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