A fun, fast-paced academy-to-unlikely-heroes space opera with an ensemble cast that leans heavily into found-family.

When the most promising up-and-coming leader in the graduating class of the academy goes on a brief fly-around the night before graduating, he stumbles upon a derelict ship that's been adrift for centuries in "the fold" (hyperspace, FTL plot device) that has one lone survivor. This causes him to miss graduation and he winds up with a graduating crew of the most unwanted.

While the book leans heavily into YA tropes from the chosen one, enemy-to-lovers, mysterious-past-girl, and found-family, but it's handled competently without being overly forced in most places.

The story is told through alternating viewpoints with a chapter dedicated to a single person's point of view and internal monologue, which creates a refreshing and broader way of engaging with the protagonists. Each of the characters has a unique tone that helps flesh them out as fully formed individuals rather than a tapestry of more-or-less shallow people around a main protagonist. I in particular enjoyed the very terse chapters from Zila, the science and medical legionnaire.

Pacing suffered a bit in the latter part of the book in order to set up the world building and narrative for the following two books, but despite the lull was kept engaging enough for an enjoyable read.

A fun, fast-paced academy-to-unlikely-heroes space opera with an ensemble cast that leans heavily into found-family.

When the most promising up-and-coming leader in the graduating class of the academy goes on a brief fly-around the night before graduating, he stumbles upon a derelict ship that's been adrift for centuries in "the fold" (hyperspace, FTL plot device) that has one lone survivor. This causes him to miss graduation and he winds up with a graduating crew of the most unwanted.

While the book leans heavily into YA tropes from the chosen one, enemy-to-lovers, mysterious-past-girl, and found-family, but it's handled competently without being overly forced in most places.

The story is told through alternating viewpoints with a chapter dedicated to a single person's point of view and internal monologue, which creates a refreshing and broader way of engaging with the protagonists. Each of the characters has a unique tone that helps flesh them out as fully formed individuals rather than a tapestry of more-or-less shallow people around a main protagonist. I in particular enjoyed the very terse chapters from Zila, the science and medical legionnaire.

Pacing suffered a bit in the latter part of the book in order to set up the world building and narrative for the following two books, but despite the lull was kept engaging enough for an enjoyable read.