The Widening Gyre

Starred review from March 15, 2019
Earth was lost to the humans living in the Zhen Empire when their ancestors were found drifting through space in hypersleep. The Zhen gave the humans land and adopted them into their rigid, hierarchical society. Hundreds of years after, Tajen Hunt, a war hero and the only human to achieve an elite warrior standing within the Zhen Empire, is reunited with his niece and the Dream of Earth, a ship his family maintained in the hopes of returning to Earth. Which is fortunate, for Tajen's recently deceased brother found the coordinates to Earth. The Zhen make it clear they are against the mission before Tajen and his chosen crew can begin, but the humans aboard Dream of Earth are beyond caring about the Zhen. Johnston's debut will keep readers on the edge of their seats as the heroes get themselves into one scrape after another. It has a hint of Battlestar Galactica, but with giant reptilian aliens. Johnston, with skillful plotting and impeccable world building, takes the tale of Tajen and his crew searching for home and shapes it into an unforgettable journey.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)