Synopsis
They’re called the Lost Ships … but sometimes they come back.
And when they do the crews are missing, while the ships have been strangely altered, rumoured to be full of horrors.
Opal Imbiana has been seeking something her whole life. It’s a secret so precious she’s willing to risk her life recovering it from a recently discovered Lost Ship, in a lonely nebula far from colonised space.
She’s just one woman, entering an alien and lethal environment. But with the aid of an amazing AI companion and experimental armoured suit, Opal might just stand a chance.
This blast of a book kickstarted the much-loved Lost Solace series, about an unlikely friendship between two women who keep hope alive in the darkest of times.
Purchase Links
https://karldrinkwater.myshopify.com
https://books2read.com/karldrinkwater
My Review
Opal is on a mission to find something that she would risk everything for. Does the Lost Ship that she encounters have the answers she is looking for?
I have always been a big fan of sci-fi whether that is in the form of TV series, films or books from a very young age. As soon as I read the synopsis of this book I was intrigued. I really enjoyed the storyline. It was the perfect sci-fi audiobook to become lost in, while exploring Opal’s world and surroundings. The writing style is very descriptive which set the scene for the book. It also helped me to bond with the story and Opal because I felt like I was on Opal’s journey with her, seeing and experiencing everything she encountered.
I was very interested to learn more about what Opal was looking for because at the beginning we don’t know the answer to that question. All the reader is told is that Opal has hijacked a ship and is searching for something when she comes across the Lost Ship. Opal believes that the Lost Ship may have the answer she is seeking or could help point her in the right direction. I think that it was very clever not to reveal to the reader what Opal was searching for because it did add mystery and intrigue to the story. Although there were a few clues, towards the end the reader is told what Opal is looking for.
When the Lost Ship appeared and when Opal first boarded it I got this very unsettling feeling because something about it just didn’t feel right. It seemed very creepy and eerie. Nothing about the Lost Ship was as it seemed and Opal quickly realised that she wasn’t alone. It definitely had this claustrophobic quality especially when Opal got herself into situations where she was trapped and Clarissa had to help her.
When I started to read this book I thought it only had one main character and that was Opal, but I was wrong because there are two main characters: Opal and Opal’s AI companion, who she names Clarissa. What was interesting about Clarissa was that she’s not just an AI companion, she’s a little different. She has a personality and she starts to genuinely care for Opal and becomes concerned when Opal gets in trouble. The more that Clarissa and Opal interact the more that Clarissa grows, as does her personality. The two bond and form a friendship because if they didn’t have each other they would be lonely and Opal would have no one else to talk to. Opal was a very cool character. She is gutsy, determined and has a goal which she will do whatever it takes to achieve.
I’m really looking forward to the next instalment in the series to see what happens to Opal and Clarissa next.
Author Bio
Karl Drinkwater is an author with a silly name and a thousand-mile stare. He writes dystopian space opera, dark suspense and diverse social fiction. If you want compelling stories and characters worth caring about, then you’re in the right place. Welcome!
Karl lives in Scotland and owns two kilts. He has degrees in librarianship, literature and classics, but also studied astronomy and philosophy. Dolly the cat helps him finish books by sleeping on his lap so he can’t leave the desk. When he isn’t writing he loves music, nature, games and vegan cake.
Go to karldrinkwater.uk to view all his books grouped by genre.
As well as crafting his own fictional worlds, Karl has supported other writers for years with his creative writing workshops, editorial services, articles on writing and publishing, and mentoring of
new authors. He’s also judged writing competitions such as the international Bram Stoker Awards, which act as a snapshot of quality contemporary fiction.
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