Unconquerable Sun

My library delivered me the sequel this week, so I thought I'd give this first book in the series a comfort reread. I don't think I'd describe this book as necessarily telling a ground-breaking novel story (I am a smidge tired of ye olde crumbling intergalactic magic transportation network built by an ancient civilization not around anymore at this point), but I think the characters are fun, the space politics and worldbuilding are intricate, and overall it's a heck of a ride.

This book is billed as "gender-swapped Alexander the Great in space" and (mostly) follows Sun the heir princess trying to prove herself in the shadow of her mother the Queen-Marshal, and Persephone who is trying to escape her high-ranking family and make her own way in the world. There's also some perspectives from the "enemy" here as well, which puts the overall conflict more in the realm of space resource and territory squabble, and less of a fight about morality.

The book starts a little slowly, but once it gets going, the action really gets going. I feel like it rolls from escape sequence to ground battle to space battle and further without missing a beat. Some of this is Sun herself who refuses to be put on the defensive or put on the sideline, and chooses action where possible. The space politics are also quite excellent; I love the backstabbing and treachery and plots both internal and external. The chapters have great titles like "In Which the Wily Persephone's Hopes and Dreams are Shot Through the Lungs and Turned to Grey Ash".

I think the other thing that struck me about this book on reread is how much it deals with family as a central theme, both chosen and not. Sun as the heir is in a somewhat shaky place, and in some ways is driven partially by wanting her mother's reluctant approval. Persephone and Perseus (and maybe Erishkegal) are all trying to escape their horrible family in their own way. Apama and Tiana both are closely tied to their own family and have some [spoiler] backstory that comes out. One worldbuilding detail I think is fun, is that the heir and Queen-Marshall (at least) take Companions from different high-ranking houses in sort of an inner circle / chosen family / political trade sort of way as well. Sun feels pressured to bring more people in as Companions to show favor to these houses and have political connections, but is also not wanting to bring in people who can spy on her or that she can't trust.

I think there are a few things that work less well for me. The main point of view chapters are Sun (in third person past tense) and Persephone (in first person present tense). It's not just the narrative point of view at play here, but the Persephone chapters feel much more introspective and I have a much better sense of her feelings. The Sun chapters are much more curt and to the point, with short sentences and lots of action. There were some parts of the Sun chapters (especially the industrial complex assault sequence), where I got lost on where everybody was spatially because the descriptions were scant (for me). Overall, I also think there's so much going on that Sun's Companions don't get that much room to grow either, and feel a little bit one-note. My hope for future books is to get more of Sun's inner world than we did in this one, and to get some more Companion backstory to found them out.