The Blood-Dimmed Tide

December 16, 2019
The energetic second space opera in Johnston’s Remembrance War series (after the Widening Gyre) offers big, bombastic set pieces but little character growth. It’s been a year since Tajen Hunt led the humans to reclaim Earth from the alien Zhen Empire, and continued skirmishes between the species have whittled down the remaining human forces. Following a surprise attack on Tajen’s wedding day, he and his husband, Liam Kincaid, turn to the Kelvaki aliens for aid in the ongoing conflict. Curious differences between the various alien races, futuristic tech that’s flashy without being overbearing, and the complexities of interstellar politics all entertain while rounding out the worldbuilding as Johnston pushes his characters toward an inevitable interspecies war. The Zhen retake Earth and declare martial law, leading to exciting battle scenes, though the plot soon gives way to the predictable beats of a military thriller. Despite Johnston’s crisp prose and attention to detail, Tajen’s too-perfect characterization as the quintessential cocky hero grates. Lightly sketched secondary characters mainly serve to prop up Tajen’s ego. Still, the winning action sequences save this one from its flaws.

January 1, 2020
Tajen Hunt, his niece, Kiri, his new husband, Liam, and the rest of the crew from the first book of The Remembrance War series (The Widening Gyre, 2019) are back and determined to protect and maintain control of their ancestral home, Earth. Their enemies and previous keepers, the Zhen, are not about to let the slight of losing Earth go easily. In order to keep their rightful planet, Tajen has to leave Earth to reach out to other governments in the universe for help building an army. The need for a fighting force is compounded by Zhen's successful re-conquering of Earth in Tajen's absence. Humanity and Tajen, in particular, are the underdogs worth rooting for in this book. They are tired of being the lowest rung on the Zhen social pyramid and want to return to their rightful planet to recreate their own society and governments. The new beginning combined with the search for a place to exist in the manner of your choosing is a narrative that will resonate with readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)