ashs_library's review
I received an eARC from the author of this novella (my first ARC)!
I really enjoyed this scifi adventure, it had such good worldbuilding and I liked how we learnt it throughout with snippets of Alannah's travel guides. There are diverse characters, Richard is hard of hearing and lip reads, and there are many queer characters (something that made me smile was a very brief appearance of xe/xem pronouns). The plot was fast paced but pretty low stakes, which I felt was nice for a bit of a change. I look forward to seeing what happens to the crew of the Colibri next
I really enjoyed this scifi adventure, it had such good worldbuilding and I liked how we learnt it throughout with snippets of Alannah's travel guides. There are diverse characters, Richard is hard of hearing and lip reads, and there are many queer characters (something that made me smile was a very brief appearance of xe/xem pronouns). The plot was fast paced but pretty low stakes, which I felt was nice for a bit of a change. I look forward to seeing what happens to the crew of the Colibri next
milili's review
adventurous
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lexiscee's review
5.0
The Stellar Snow Job follows Eddie, a pilot of her spaceship called the Colibri, and Richard, a private investigator, as they start a new job. It also follows Alannah, a travel writer.
I loved the characters, and though the story had its darker moments, there were so many hilarious scenes.
In between the POVs of Eddie, Richard, and Alannah, we also have snippets from Alannah’s travel writing. I loved these sections; I felt they solidified the world even more and added commentary on humanity, a theme that was woven throughout the story.
I was so impressed by the worldbuilding. In 158 pages, I felt like I knew the world better than some full-fledged novels I’ve read. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Eddie, so well, and there's also queer rep and rep of an auditory processing disorder.
Thank you so much to Marie Howalt for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for a review.
I loved the characters, and though the story had its darker moments, there were so many hilarious scenes.
In between the POVs of Eddie, Richard, and Alannah, we also have snippets from Alannah’s travel writing. I loved these sections; I felt they solidified the world even more and added commentary on humanity, a theme that was woven throughout the story.
I was so impressed by the worldbuilding. In 158 pages, I felt like I knew the world better than some full-fledged novels I’ve read. I also enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially Eddie, so well, and there's also queer rep and rep of an auditory processing disorder.
Thank you so much to Marie Howalt for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for a review.
siclarke's review
5.0
Alannah's a travel writer with a taste for adventure. Richard's an ex-military private investigator. Eddie a pilot trying to put bad habits behind herself. When all three are sent to the same planet for different reasons nothing is quite as it seems.
An offbeat cosy mystery in a space opera setting with queer and disability rep. Easy-reading and casually inclusive.
This one is well-written and well-edited. The characters are fully fleshed and the story is believable. An excellent series starter.
I'd recommend this to fans of Angel Martinez's Yule Planet and/or Lindsay Buroker's Junkyard.
An offbeat cosy mystery in a space opera setting with queer and disability rep. Easy-reading and casually inclusive.
This one is well-written and well-edited. The characters are fully fleshed and the story is believable. An excellent series starter.
I'd recommend this to fans of Angel Martinez's Yule Planet and/or Lindsay Buroker's Junkyard.
tallangryplanet's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
4.0
Alannah, a tourism guide writer taking advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to write about an unexplored planet. Richard, an ex-military private investigator hired to prevent the illegal visitors of said planet from making trouble. Eddie, a pilot with a love for adrenaline.
The characters of The stellar snow job might be one of my new favorite gangs of all time, even if they're just getting to know each other in this book. Although this is a short story, they felt well developed and I really enjoyed discovering the little (and big) tidbits about their lives and personalities. The story itself is engaging too, but the thing that really makes it worth reading are these characters and the funny/awkward moments they create. I also really enjoyed the world, as there weren't any heavy infodumping moments and I felt like I was some sort of tourist myself, learning about it as I went along.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this novella, and will definitely be coming back to this series as the next books get published. If you're looking for a fun afternoon read or a book to carry in your bag to read whenever you have a moment, this is definitely it!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
lynnreadsmanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
squidias's review
5.0
I loved this novella! Richard and Eddie are such engaging characters, so much personality and hints of backstory that kept me engaged and excited to learn more. We spent less time with Alannah, but I was always excited for her POV chapters. The storyline was interesting, the pace was great, and I can't wait to read more about the Colibri team's adventures!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
proudtobeabookaholic's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Alannah Jackson is a travel writer and is sent by her employer to an - by humans - uncharted planet in the galaxy. She's a bit surprised that she's allowed to travel to a planet that's not yet cleared as a travel destination, but she assumes it will happen soon and that the paper got a special license.
Richard Hart is a private investigator and he and his snarky pilot Eddie Macías take on an somewhat unusual and secret mission that takes them to an unexplored and distant planet.
Even if I read some sci-fi it was quite a while since I read a book that plays out in space. To begin with I felt a bit "rusty", and I appreciate that Howalt gives us information about the world in small doses instead of dumping all info at the beginning. Alannah's travel guide texts in between chapters is a good way to enlighten the reader about what this future looks like and what it entails.
The characters are interesting, with different personalities. Alannah is quite naive and idealistic and I find her almost too gullible when she receives her task. To me it's obvious that there's something fishy about it. At the same time it's part of her charm. She's also very observant. Richard is the cool guy. He's got a hearing disability. He's not deaf, but he has to lip read to understand what people are saying. Eddie comes of as rather reckless, but she always knows what she's doing. And she's a really good pilot. Someone I would have a problem with in real life, but love to read about!
I wouldn't mind spending time with these guys on another space adventure, and I'm happy the author reached out and asked me if I would like to read her book!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, and Drug use
frecklesandstories's review
5.0
*I receiver an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion*
So y'all know how queer sci-fi novel(la)'s are my shit? Yea that. The Stellar Snow Job is the first novella in a series where a small crew of private investigators take relatively shady jobs from the military to keep interstellar and human peace.
Only in this first tale, the crew isn't complete yet. Alannah is a tourism guide writer for a corporation who gets the opportunity to explore a currently-uninhabited planet and write about the nature there. However, things go a little south when the people she's travelling with turn out not to be scientists there to do research. This brings in the other two.
Richard is an ex-military PI who gets hired to check out just who is on the off-limits planet- and, if possible- get them off the planet. Without casualties if possible. He brings along his pilot, Eddie. Eddie is a bit of an adrenaline junkie with a love for exercise and some real blunt queer energy.
I love them, they're a great combination, and they made me laugh a bunch.
Now what does this book have to offer you apart from three fun characters?
-it's funny ("he piloted like a senior citizen walking an ancient dog")
-it's not too lore-heavy while still going into space
-it shows a decidedly-not US-american experience ("not everybody is used to a visible military presence on their home planet)
-disability rep: specifically deaf/hard of hearing
-short & sweet
This has been my review go get yourself one of these it's fun I promise, they got bird-shaped spaceships
So y'all know how queer sci-fi novel(la)'s are my shit? Yea that. The Stellar Snow Job is the first novella in a series where a small crew of private investigators take relatively shady jobs from the military to keep interstellar and human peace.
Only in this first tale, the crew isn't complete yet. Alannah is a tourism guide writer for a corporation who gets the opportunity to explore a currently-uninhabited planet and write about the nature there. However, things go a little south when the people she's travelling with turn out not to be scientists there to do research. This brings in the other two.
Richard is an ex-military PI who gets hired to check out just who is on the off-limits planet- and, if possible- get them off the planet. Without casualties if possible. He brings along his pilot, Eddie. Eddie is a bit of an adrenaline junkie with a love for exercise and some real blunt queer energy.
I love them, they're a great combination, and they made me laugh a bunch.
Now what does this book have to offer you apart from three fun characters?
-it's funny ("he piloted like a senior citizen walking an ancient dog")
-it's not too lore-heavy while still going into space
-it shows a decidedly-not US-american experience ("not everybody is used to a visible military presence on their home planet)
-disability rep: specifically deaf/hard of hearing
-short & sweet
This has been my review go get yourself one of these it's fun I promise, they got bird-shaped spaceships
imrereads's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
I want to thank the author who reached out to me an offered me an eARC.
In their own words, this is a diverse and casually queer space opera/comedy/mystery. We switch between following travel guide writer Alannah, and pilot Eddie and private investigator Eichard. In between each chapter we get a snippet of Alannah's writing, which I really appreciated — it realy helped give me a better image of this world! It's set in a future where humans and several other sentient beings across the galaxy are in a union and intergalactic travel is common.
This novella is easily digested, so to speak, both due to its shortness, as well as it's fast pace and likable characters. I definitely had a good time with it. I will say the humour didn't land with me at all (for no particular reason), but glancing over the reviews it deems like most people found it funny!
I like how diverse it is. We're in a time where queerness is casual, and while we're not being told this character is gay or this character is non binary, it plays a clear and natural role in the story. I love that.
We alsi have a character who relies on lip reading, and while I found the degree of accuracy to be unrealistic, I still appreciated what it added to the character and the dynamic it added in his relationships.
Over all I had a good time reading this and I'll be excited to check out the sequel when it becomes available!
In their own words, this is a diverse and casually queer space opera/comedy/mystery. We switch between following travel guide writer Alannah, and pilot Eddie and private investigator Eichard. In between each chapter we get a snippet of Alannah's writing, which I really appreciated — it realy helped give me a better image of this world! It's set in a future where humans and several other sentient beings across the galaxy are in a union and intergalactic travel is common.
This novella is easily digested, so to speak, both due to its shortness, as well as it's fast pace and likable characters. I definitely had a good time with it. I will say the humour didn't land with me at all (for no particular reason), but glancing over the reviews it deems like most people found it funny!
I like how diverse it is. We're in a time where queerness is casual, and while we're not being told this character is gay or this character is non binary, it plays a clear and natural role in the story. I love that.
We alsi have a character who relies on lip reading, and while I found the degree of accuracy to be unrealistic, I still appreciated what it added to the character and the dynamic it added in his relationships.
Over all I had a good time reading this and I'll be excited to check out the sequel when it becomes available!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Ableism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Death, and Drug use