The Heights of Perdition (The Divine Space Pirates, Book #1), C.S. Johnson

There is nothing Aeris St. Cloud wants more than to win her father’s love and the acceptance of her family unit by joining the Military Academy at New Hope. But after she is captured by the fearsome space pirate, Captain Chainsword, Aerie is certain falling in love with her nation’s arch enemy is the last possible way to earn their coveted esteem.

When I first read the synopsis, I was dubious as to whether I would, in fact, enjoy this novel. It proposed a sci-fi dystopian fantasy, with a hint of Romance, which was a complex portrayal of some of the most over-used tropes.

Johnson, with intricate and detailed world-building skills, constructs a world, destroyed by a nuclear holocaust (something that appears to be a high-possibility in the current political climate), and the authenticity/relativity it entices encapsulate a picture of devastation, and struggle.

Hope-City, formerly New York City, is an underground society. Earth is desolate and barren, bar one tree (which Aeris enjoys spending time around – first indicator of independence.) Aeris, about to graduate from the Military Academy is devastated when her father crushes that idea, deciding she is meant for something else. She has a green-thumb, and that is something they sorely need in this time-period.

The world, is innately emotionless – lacking smiles, jokes, fun. People jump on command, and the whole thing is unthinkably dreary.

Enter, Exton Shepherd.

Exton, hijacked the Perdition because he thought he couldn’t do anything else. It was his fathers invention, one which he was loathed to let anyone misuse. Having lived on the ship for a time, him and his crew return to earth for vital supplies. They’re free-thinking, emotional, and human.

When the two meet, we see a tale of power, demand, greed, love, laughter, thought, interaction, and innate humanity.

What Johnson has created is a thought-provoking, and frightening concept – that is not far off our own society. Giving us an idea of all the what-ifs.

I for one love, and despise cliff-hangers, and eagerly await the second novel.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. For more, visit https://ljkastermanslibrary.wordpress.com/

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