This is the 5th book in the Seafort Saga, what is often referred to as Hornblower in space.  After attacks by an alien armada (known as fish), Earth suffers severe casualties and the loss of much infrastructure now internal conflicts intensify the desperate situation especially the increasing lack of water which has created an even more divisive society. 

 

Nicholas Seafort SecGen has now retired and is Comdr of the Naval Academy.  This book seems to be a sort of transition over to the younger generation his son Philip (who has inherited his father’s habit of blaming himself for everything) and Jared, son of Adam Tenere (who is Seafort’s Naval Liaison assistant and friend).  Jared runs off determined to make his mark on the world which he certainly does when he starts a war between the transpop world and the authorities. 

 

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I have really enjoyed the other books in this saga although I tend to prefer more fantasy genre rather than space I thought this was an excellent and exciting series and David Feintuch is a terrific storyteller and this should have been another 5 star entry.   

 

However, the transpop language where before it was scattered through the novels and yes although difficult to read it was part of what made the book interesting.  But this time each character has a chapter to themselves and you swap between them so we see the differing viewpoints as events unfold Philip, Jared, Pook (a transpop), Robert Boland (a politician’s son) and Pedro (another transpop who is a bit like a Delboy who trades in goods).  This means that you have entire chapters devoted to events within the transpop world and thus their language and I found that my heart sank every time I realised that it was Pook and Pedro’s time to tell their story and it really hindered the pace of the story.   It also lacks a female voice which is disappointing although Seafort's wife Arlene is often mentioned and her actions have quite an effect on the storyline she does not feature as a viewpoint in herself which I thought the story could have done with. 

 

I still found the story exciting, interesting and pacy - there’s plenty of action and heartbreak.  But I am sorry I really think I have reached the end of the line and this will be the last book I read in this series it is just too much hard work which is a great shame.