Invictus

Starred review from July 3, 2017
In 2361, when Farway Gaius McCarthy was seven, his mother, Empra, disappeared during a mission for the Corps of Central Time Travelers. Far hopes to join the Corps himself, so that he can find her, but he fails his entry exam at age 17. Undeterred, Far accepts an offer to become captain of the Invictus, a pirate vessel that purloins history’s lost treasures. Far is aboard the Titanic, attempting to steal a priceless book, when a girl named Eliot beats him to his plunder. Eliot trades the tome for a spot on the Invictus, but although she claims to be a freelance thief, it isn’t long before Far discovers the truth, which involves a destructive force called the Fade. But how does the Fade relate to Far and his crew? Snarky banter, a clever setup, and a diverse and well-drawn cast elevate this rollicking, bombshell-laden adventure from Graudin (Blood for Blood). Romantic entanglements add tension and drama while Graudin’s intricate worldbuilding brings the distant past and far future to vivid life. Readers who like their science fiction shot through with humor will be enthralled. Ages 15–up. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary.

Narrator Maxwell Hamilton recounts the adventures of the time-traveling pirate ship INVICTUS in the year 2361. Hamilton's portrait of the ship's captain, Farway Gaius McCarthy, is complex. Teenaged Far is both adventurer and seeker, close to his crew and somehow detached. Hamilton animates the rest of the crew with similar elaboration, drawing well their reactions to frolicking and fear. He differentiates the changing tone of the story, appreciating historic details, humor, rollicking adventures, and differing amounts of tension. The crew is ill at ease when working for a ruthless black-marketer and stressed when escaping the TITANIC with plundered treasure before it sinks. World-building, historical fiction, romance--Graudin excels at merging all the genres of this audiobook with grace. S.W. � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine