Red Scholar

English language

Published Nov. 15, 2022 by Orion Publishing Group, Limited.

ISBN:: 978-1-3996-0139-9

(12 reviews)

Xich Si: bot maker, data analyst, mother, scavenger. But those days are over now-her ship has just been captured by the Red Banner pirate fleet, famous for their double-dealing and cruelty. Xich Si expects to be tortured to death-only for the pirates' enigmatic leader, Rice Fish, to arrive with a different and shocking proposition: an arranged marriage between Xich Si and herself.

Rice Fish: sentient ship, leader of the infamous Red Banner pirate fleet, wife of the Red Scholar. Or at least, she was the latter before her wife died under suspicious circumstances. Now isolated and alone, Rice Fish wants Xich Si's help to find out who struck against them and why. Marrying Xich Si means Rice Fish can offer Xich Si protection, in exchange for Xich Si's technical fluency: a business arrangement with nothing more to it.

But as the investigation goes on, Rice Fish and Xich Si find …

But as the investigation goes on, Rice Fish and Xich Si find themselves falling for each other. As the interstellar war against piracy intensifies and the five fleets start fighting each other, they will have to make a stand-and to decide what kind of future they have together...

2 editions

Florian reviewed The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard

Great world building, but overly dramatic

3 stars

I love the world-building in The Red Scholar's Wake. Unlike most other science fiction the world of space empires and space pirates is based on Vietnamese culture and I found that super interesting. I also enjoyed the ongoing conflict within the pirate community on whether this is all about getting as much money and power as possible or if they should build a better world. However, I could not fully get on-board with the individual characters. The reasoning for the actions was too flimsy for me and the reactions too dramatic.

Jaelyn reviewed Red Scholar by Aliette de Bodard

Review of 'Red Scholar' on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

A scavenger and bot-maker captured by pirates. Fearing indentured service or worse, she is suddenly offered a deal by the leader of one of the pirate banners (and a sentient ship): an arranged marriage to protect her while she uses her tech skills to investigate the murder of the pirate’s previous wife. But while they uncover the plot among the pirate factions, their marriage takes on a romance of its own.

As sapphic sci-fi pirates go, it was cool. But I feel like there could have been a lot more character development. I didn't feel the relationship build properly to my liking, and I have a low bar for queer romances. I’ll also admit the sentient ship thing – and technology in the book generally – doesn’t seem to add much to justify the distraction of it.

But it’s certainly an easy and quick read with some interesting concepts even …

Nick Barlow reviewed Red Scholar by Aliette de Bodard

Review of 'Red Scholar' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Enjoyed this. The characters were interesting and in a story with a familiar romantic shape but a very different setting. I've not read any stories in this universe before so there was a lot to get used yo, but it was presented well through the characters. Felt a bit hurried at some points and occasional clumsy jumps between characters that had me backtracking to see who was ssying what, but makes me want to see more of this world.

Daniel Andrlik reviewed The Red Scholar's Wake by Aliette de Bodard

Sapphic Space Pirates!

4 stars

What's not to love? The romance is a little rushed along at times, but honestly I was so caught up in this book that didn't even register for me until after I had a day or two to think about it.