Sixteen-year-old Jess, a tech-savvy and rebellious starship mechanic, sets out across a sprawling, dystopian galaxy to find her missing con-artist father, uncovering vanished worlds, alien gods, and secrets that could reshape humanity. Blending post-cyberpunk grit with space opera adventure, the story explores themes of family, independence, and the search for identity amid cosmic mysteries.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a distant, somewhat dystopian future, the novel follows sixteen-year-old Jessian Urania Darger, a skilled starship mechanic and aspiring cargo hauler who has spent years grifting across the galaxy with her father. After her father is arrested for crypto-credit scams, Jess is forced to work as a roachrunner on Chadeisson Station, fixing starships while saving up for her dream of owning a Spark Megahauler and escaping her past. When her father mysteriously disappears from prison, Jess embarks on a galaxy-spanning quest to find him, encountering vanished planets, alien gods, and societies with mind-bending secrets that could alter humanity's fate. The narrative is characterized by heavy use of slang and a focus on Jess's technical prowess and personal journey, with detailed depictions of starship interiors and the mechanics of space travel.

Readers praised the novel's blend of post-cyberpunk and space opera elements, noting the engrossing and expansive narrative that takes Jess across a wide variety of settings. The protagonist, Jess, was highlighted as a compelling and inspirational character, with her skills as both a starship captain and mechanic receiving particular attention. The book's fast-paced adventure, frequent changes in scenery, and the sense of constant movement were also appreciated, as was the depth given to Jess's personal motivations and her quest to find her father. Some readers drew favorable comparisons to classic works in the genre, such as William Gibson's 'Cyberspace' trilogy, especially in terms of character development and world-building.

Some readers found the writing style challenging, particularly the deliberate use of bad grammar and heavy slang throughout the narrative. One reviewer noted that this stylistic choice made the book unreadable for them, contrasting it with other science fiction works like 'The Expanse' series, where nonstandard language is limited to dialogue and the narrative remains in standard grammar. This aspect of the prose was cited as a barrier to enjoyment for those who prefer more conventional writing styles.

The book is scheduled for publication on July 1, 2025, and is classified as science fiction. It is the debut novel of Matthew Kressel, who is also known for his involvement in the speculative fiction community as a co-curator of the KGB Fantastic Fiction reading series in New York City. As of now, the book has received 8 reader ratings with an average rating of 4.13 out of 5, and 3 full reader reviews. The story incorporates themes of family, independence, and the search for identity against a backdrop of advanced technology and interstellar intrigue.