Pedophilia from the previous book of course continues in Ship of Destiny, and it is topped with plans for a wedding at the end.
This book has another rape scene, which was completely unnecessary, in my opinion. I'm a guy that shies away from books with sexual assault and rape. Of course, I read some, but rape in those usually happens off-screen or to unnamed people.
I was listening to the audiobook and this scene got me hard. Listening to the voice actress how Althea was drugged, how Kennit deceived her and gaslighted her. How she couldn't see anything, only feel how she was being undressed, and how she didn't know what was happening. This scene was from her POV, and it was gut-wrenching to listen to her thought process. Then she tried to fight, but she was so weak from the drug, that it didn't matter. I had tears in my eyes during this scene. Now, when I think about it, I don't think I actually read such a graphic rape scene ever.
What I'm mad about is that I feel like this scene was completely unnecessary for the story and was there only for the wow factor. The story could easily continue as it did, with her not being raped. Kennit destroyed Paragon with his crew, that should be enough for Althea to be mad at him and wanting to kill him.
What makes me even angrier is that nobody believed her that she was raped. Especially Vivacia and Wintrow. Vivacia never believed her, and Wintrow... I completely lost respect for that clown. He knew that she was raped, and he still worshiped Kennit and grovelled at his feet even after Kennit's death. I'm so mad that Kennit got a happy ending.
At the end, Paragon actually took her pain away, while leaving her only some distant memory that it happened. I'm not saying that she should be constantly in bed crying, but this feels like another trivialization of her situation.