Reviewed:
This story does not quite stand alone, as there is a preceding story, which is now behind the pay wall, and at least two others using the 'universe' (which is not -yet anway- labelled as such). It doesn't however require the previous story to be read, but that introducess all the characters, and a number of sub-stories, without which context, I suspect immersion will be awkward, and on occasion jarring.
The story follows the invasion of the planet of Setosha by the Empire, and the eventual liberation by the Families. Primarilly this is achieved from the viewpoint of, and following the development of, the main character, Corey, who started as a fighter pilot, and grows to battle tactician. She provides a strong and relatable female lead, with family and history that underpins this and the previous story.
She comes from a collection of systems (run by 'The Families') which are based in a harsh nebula where genetic mutations are settling. The most telling of these is that most births are of female triplets, and male children are very rare, about 1 in 100 births. Consequently they are treasured and kept safe in ways we only glimpse. Nice twist.
The story is exceptionally well paced, the battles and their accounting relatable in human terms, and the strories science and astronomical 'facts' are not over described. This means that the manner of space ship movements are not so egregious that I couldn't just read through and never worried about our current understanding of physics. Very clever writing, I thought.
Well edited, well paced, well worth a read.
Myth