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A review by alexauthorshay
Rangers Over Regulus by Alex Powell
4.0
I think this may be the book with the most bookshelf tags out of my entire library...
So I'd like to start this review by saying I didn't even know this book existed until I went to Read & Write with Pride in the summer. Powell read an excerpt from this book and I wanted to buy it on the spot. I got one of the last copies AND they autographed it for me <3. Also, queer Canadian author, so this book is just all kinds of awesome.
Normally I'm not that into or tolerant of fluff, but I guess this book caught me at a good time. It's a bit like Firefly with the space cowboys, but instead of zombie-like Reavers, vampires exist. And one is the main character. Though he shares the spotlight with his "nemesis", a Ranger, basically a space sheriff. The female characters in this book are strong and no one really needs anyone to save them. You have to be able to survive on your own on this space station, and that's done very well. What shocked me was how much of a doofus the Ranger was, actually.
Don't get me wrong, though. I use the term affectionately, for once. Rory is just so optimistic and naive you can't help but love him. He's like Prince Charming except that instead of an asshole, he's a teddy bear. You're urging for him and Liberty to get together from the first page really.
Why I call this book fluff is because it was fun, but not that serious. It takes you on a romp through space where there are some surprises, though not too many, and not too shocking, but also a fair share of predictable events. I wouldn't say I was ever concerned for any of the characters' wellbeing, or even emotionally involved with any of the characters. But I enjoyed them all and the journey they went on. Plus there's a talking horse who can deal more damage than a vampire, so you know. There's a lot of stuff going on in this book. I think if it had been more serious, or longer, it would have been a totally different book. It works as a feel-good pick me up.
My one gripe would be the lack of connection to the characters. And maybe that's just me. I get so far into my character's heads in my own stories that a common complaint of mine when reading others' stories is I'm not deep enough in their minds to understand them. Which is not to say that thoughts or motivations are kept from the reader, because they aren't. But I definitely would have loved to see deeper ones, though that probably would have taken away some of the fluff.
So I'd like to start this review by saying I didn't even know this book existed until I went to Read & Write with Pride in the summer. Powell read an excerpt from this book and I wanted to buy it on the spot. I got one of the last copies AND they autographed it for me <3. Also, queer Canadian author, so this book is just all kinds of awesome.
Normally I'm not that into or tolerant of fluff, but I guess this book caught me at a good time. It's a bit like Firefly with the space cowboys, but instead of zombie-like Reavers, vampires exist. And one is the main character. Though he shares the spotlight with his "nemesis", a Ranger, basically a space sheriff. The female characters in this book are strong and no one really needs anyone to save them. You have to be able to survive on your own on this space station, and that's done very well. What shocked me was how much of a doofus the Ranger was, actually.
Don't get me wrong, though. I use the term affectionately, for once. Rory is just so optimistic and naive you can't help but love him. He's like Prince Charming except that instead of an asshole, he's a teddy bear. You're urging for him and Liberty to get together from the first page really.
Why I call this book fluff is because it was fun, but not that serious. It takes you on a romp through space where there are some surprises, though not too many, and not too shocking, but also a fair share of predictable events. I wouldn't say I was ever concerned for any of the characters' wellbeing, or even emotionally involved with any of the characters. But I enjoyed them all and the journey they went on. Plus there's a talking horse who can deal more damage than a vampire, so you know. There's a lot of stuff going on in this book. I think if it had been more serious, or longer, it would have been a totally different book. It works as a feel-good pick me up.
My one gripe would be the lack of connection to the characters. And maybe that's just me. I get so far into my character's heads in my own stories that a common complaint of mine when reading others' stories is I'm not deep enough in their minds to understand them. Which is not to say that thoughts or motivations are kept from the reader, because they aren't. But I definitely would have loved to see deeper ones, though that probably would have taken away some of the fluff.