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emily_gaynier's review
5.0
**2022**
I think I'm getting old because I just wanted Ellen to be like 30
a few days later
I figured out why Ellen's age bothers me. It's because the author tried so hard to make it based in reality and make Ellen seem extra special. Instead of making some kind of military school for toddlers, Ellen was not like other girls. I've read enough YA where age doesn't usually bother me but there also tends to be a good reason for teens to save the world. The whole situation around why Ellen is so young, doesn't feel like a good enough reason.
Also I'm not sure if this was fixed in later printings, but the back of the book says she's 22 while inside she says she's 21 and when you add some numbers together that Ellen provides, that says she's 23
**2019 Reread**
I loved this book just as much the second time around as I did the first time. I read it much slower this time, reading it over two days instead of inhaling it in less then one. I think I read it in after work one day.
I noticed a lot more this time around. I didn't remember anything about how freaky the songbirds were. The romance is still great.
I'm actually a little afraid to read the next book. I worried it will do something not fun between Ellen and Kael.
Read Infinity and Beyond: Black Hole - a book that sucks you in
*2018*
I need the next book NOW!
This was the best kind of story. I think Space Operas are really for me. This book read like playing a video game almost, at least the fight and infiltration scenes did. It really reminded me of the Mass Effect video games. The romance aspect of this story also worked really well. There was just enough angst and some pretty valid reasons for them not to just jump into bed together. I also really enjoyed that Ellen was the hardened war veteran while Kael was the one who was trying to control his emotions.
I think that this is what Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cumming was trying to be. It's an all female mercenary crew in space that's extremely badass, but are also kind and capable of great things.
I think the world building could've been a little better, but it didn't take away anything from the story. I also love Xi. I love AIs that have funny personalities and I can't wait to see how she grows as a character in the next book. I really like the technology in this world. I like how implants can do so much when it comes to changing thoughts or emotions. I kind of wish this book was more science heavy so I can learn more about why and how these things work. I really appreciated how Kael's chip was effecting him and it was explained by actual scientists in the book. It was something that would effect someone in todays world with the same possible results.
I need every sci-fi fan to read this now
I think I'm getting old because I just wanted Ellen to be like 30
a few days later
I figured out why Ellen's age bothers me. It's because the author tried so hard to make it based in reality and make Ellen seem extra special. Instead of making some kind of military school for toddlers, Ellen was not like other girls. I've read enough YA where age doesn't usually bother me but there also tends to be a good reason for teens to save the world. The whole situation around why Ellen is so young, doesn't feel like a good enough reason.
Also I'm not sure if this was fixed in later printings, but the back of the book says she's 22 while inside she says she's 21 and when you add some numbers together that Ellen provides, that says she's 23
**2019 Reread**
I loved this book just as much the second time around as I did the first time. I read it much slower this time, reading it over two days instead of inhaling it in less then one. I think I read it in after work one day.
I noticed a lot more this time around. I didn't remember anything about how freaky the songbirds were. The romance is still great.
I'm actually a little afraid to read the next book. I worried it will do something not fun between Ellen and Kael.
Read Infinity and Beyond: Black Hole - a book that sucks you in
*2018*
I need the next book NOW!
This was the best kind of story. I think Space Operas are really for me. This book read like playing a video game almost, at least the fight and infiltration scenes did. It really reminded me of the Mass Effect video games. The romance aspect of this story also worked really well. There was just enough angst and some pretty valid reasons for them not to just jump into bed together. I also really enjoyed that Ellen was the hardened war veteran while Kael was the one who was trying to control his emotions.
I think that this is what Zenith by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cumming was trying to be. It's an all female mercenary crew in space that's extremely badass, but are also kind and capable of great things.
I think the world building could've been a little better, but it didn't take away anything from the story. I also love Xi. I love AIs that have funny personalities and I can't wait to see how she grows as a character in the next book. I really like the technology in this world. I like how implants can do so much when it comes to changing thoughts or emotions. I kind of wish this book was more science heavy so I can learn more about why and how these things work. I really appreciated how Kael's chip was effecting him and it was explained by actual scientists in the book. It was something that would effect someone in todays world with the same possible results.
I need every sci-fi fan to read this now
bonhoefferfan's review against another edition
5.0
This is military sci-fi on the lighter side, with less quibbling over the intricacies and accuracies of rank/etc. and more interest in the action and character drama that can exist in the subgenre. I found it to be a page-turner all the way through.
The romance elements are there, but never take over the plot nor distract from it. These are people in real-feeling situations that are dealing with their situations in realistic ways.
The author says she drew from David Weber and Lois McMaster Bujold for inspiration, and I definitely see that influence here. It's a great military sci-fi story that I would recommend to fans of the genre.
I reviewed this as a judge for the SPSFC and have a longer review on my blog.
The romance elements are there, but never take over the plot nor distract from it. These are people in real-feeling situations that are dealing with their situations in realistic ways.
The author says she drew from David Weber and Lois McMaster Bujold for inspiration, and I definitely see that influence here. It's a great military sci-fi story that I would recommend to fans of the genre.
I reviewed this as a judge for the SPSFC and have a longer review on my blog.
tessisreading2's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and engaging space opera. I was expecting a romance, but while there were romantic elements, this was much more science fiction than romance - which is not a bad thing! I'm excited for the sequel.
ricottae's review
4.0
I'm a big fan of space operas, and this one did not disappoint. The main character, Ellen, is a strong, confident female lead, and she was supported by an interesting cast of supporting crewmen. I enjoyed Kael and his struggles, both internal and external. The plot moved along at a very good pace, and I don't feel like the ending was rushed (which I feel has become an increasingly common problem in other books lately). The author took the time to reveal histories of the characters as well as introduce bits and pieces about the universe in which Empress Capsule is set. I felt like I got to know everyone and everything sufficiently to get immersed in the story, which is a really important aspect to me. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next in the series!
***spoilers below***
The only thing that wasn't 100% to my liking was how much time Ellen and Kael spent thinking about each other. Their internal monologues were almost entirely taken up with how much they wanted to be together, and yet all Ellen did was angst about not wanting him to be a distraction. Toward the end, she does do a little introspection about this, but for someone who has been such a badass, it just seemed like it took up a lot of her time. Then again, she is really young, and my head was pretty full of boys at that age too. :) And I do love me some romance so I'm excited to see where this relationship goes!
***spoilers below***
The only thing that wasn't 100% to my liking was how much time Ellen and Kael spent thinking about each other. Their internal monologues were almost entirely taken up with how much they wanted to be together, and yet all Ellen did was angst about not wanting him to be a distraction. Toward the end, she does do a little introspection about this, but for someone who has been such a badass, it just seemed like it took up a lot of her time. Then again, she is really young, and my head was pretty full of boys at that age too. :) And I do love me some romance so I'm excited to see where this relationship goes!
efratmaor's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
midlifehedgewitch's review
2.0
I just couldn't get into this. I really wanted to like this. The author is a really nice person and I sooo want to like it! But this just didn't hook me.
I'll try one of her other books.
I'll try one of her other books.
rpmiller's review
3.0
Might be an interesting series due to the interactions of the characters, although different mysteries and secrets will be involved. Good as a standalone story.
krysley's review
4.0
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This audiobook took me longer to finish than I meant it to - mostly due to needing to get some library audiobooks finished before I had to return them. It's really unfortunate that I had to set it aside because this book was very entertaining.
The best part of The Empress Capsule, in my opinion, were the characters, especially Kael and Xi. Or, better yet, scenes between Kael and Xi. I don't know what it was about those scenes, but I enjoyed every moment of them. I just love sassy AIs, and Xi and Kael's relationship was just so entertaining.
I was a little torn on Ellen Ryu. Now, don't think that I'm saying she was a bad character. As a matter of fact, she was the kind of female character I've been looking for in all of my books recently (I've been on a kick for kickbutt, military-like heroines). Ryu was the exact kind of character I wanted in my books.
The author choosing to make Ellen young (22) just did not compute in my mind. Between the narrator's tone and Ellen's past and experience, I thought she came across better as a middle aged woman (and a bad@$$ one at that). Honestly, I didn't see why it was necessary to make Ellen so young.
It also seemed that Kael was a better developed character than Ellen was. Despite that, I did like the byplay between the two of them. However, if the author was pushing this as a sci-fi romance, I think R.K. Thorne could have built more on the intimacy of their relationship because it often didn't feel like a romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but I thought the author could have pushed the envelope a little more. It could have had a little more action, a little more harshness, a little deeper romance. It just needed the small extra boost to make it really good.
As for the narrator, I was extremely torn on Susan Ericksen's performance. I really liked Ericksen's tone and cadence, and I think she could become a great narrator. However, it's her character voices that are holding her back. There was a scene specifically between Ellen and Simmons where I couldn't keep track of who was speaking or what was being said versus thought. The same thing happened in the scene where Ellen and Kael are in the bar. Ironically, Ericksen did accents for some of the crew and it's clear who was talking. I don't know why she didn't have more variety for the main characters, but it was incredibly hard to follow.
I'm eagerly waiting to start the next book in the series, but I will be doing it with an ebook version rather than the audiobook.
This audiobook took me longer to finish than I meant it to - mostly due to needing to get some library audiobooks finished before I had to return them. It's really unfortunate that I had to set it aside because this book was very entertaining.
The best part of The Empress Capsule, in my opinion, were the characters, especially Kael and Xi. Or, better yet, scenes between Kael and Xi. I don't know what it was about those scenes, but I enjoyed every moment of them. I just love sassy AIs, and Xi and Kael's relationship was just so entertaining.
I was a little torn on Ellen Ryu. Now, don't think that I'm saying she was a bad character. As a matter of fact, she was the kind of female character I've been looking for in all of my books recently (I've been on a kick for kickbutt, military-like heroines). Ryu was the exact kind of character I wanted in my books.
The author choosing to make Ellen young (22) just did not compute in my mind. Between the narrator's tone and Ellen's past and experience, I thought she came across better as a middle aged woman (and a bad@$$ one at that). Honestly, I didn't see why it was necessary to make Ellen so young.
It also seemed that Kael was a better developed character than Ellen was. Despite that, I did like the byplay between the two of them. However, if the author was pushing this as a sci-fi romance, I think R.K. Thorne could have built more on the intimacy of their relationship because it often didn't feel like a romance.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but I thought the author could have pushed the envelope a little more. It could have had a little more action, a little more harshness, a little deeper romance. It just needed the small extra boost to make it really good.
As for the narrator, I was extremely torn on Susan Ericksen's performance. I really liked Ericksen's tone and cadence, and I think she could become a great narrator. However, it's her character voices that are holding her back. There was a scene specifically between Ellen and Simmons where I couldn't keep track of who was speaking or what was being said versus thought. The same thing happened in the scene where Ellen and Kael are in the bar. Ironically, Ericksen did accents for some of the crew and it's clear who was talking. I don't know why she didn't have more variety for the main characters, but it was incredibly hard to follow.
I'm eagerly waiting to start the next book in the series, but I will be doing it with an ebook version rather than the audiobook.
leesarpel's review
5.0
The characters do not get together in this book. Lots of questions aren't answered. The book does not end on a cliffhanger, but I think of this as the first part of a story. When the rest of the series comes out I'll be better able to judge.
These characters are very easy to root for, especially the protagonists and their patron. Ellen and Kael are dealing with some pretty heavy emotional baggage. Fantastic worldbuilding and baddies. Fast-paced and clear action sequences.
So I think it's fantastic but incomplete. If you want to know will-they-won't-they, you'll have to wait until the series progresses.
These characters are very easy to root for, especially the protagonists and their patron. Ellen and Kael are dealing with some pretty heavy emotional baggage. Fantastic worldbuilding and baddies. Fast-paced and clear action sequences.
So I think it's fantastic but incomplete. If you want to know will-they-won't-they, you'll have to wait until the series progresses.