I've been trying to read more sci-fi recently and I think this is a great choice if you're trying to get into the genre. The world building is reasonably simple but still feels adequate for a space opera. The characters are also individually interesting. I had a lot of fun seeing Veronica, Loch, and Rhys interact with each other. Loch and Rhys have known each other for a long time and their relationship is reminiscent of brothers who like to get on each other's nerves. Loch is the typical charming fugitive. Rhys is our illegal contraband dealer looking for ways to make his life more interesting. Ada is a clever and resourceful princess on the run from an unwanted arranged marriage. Veronica is an ingenious businesswoman who bonds with Ada over their shared experiences. Loch and Ada become romantically as they are forced into situations where they quickly learn to trust and depend on one another. Their relationship happens within a relatively short span of time, but it is developed well throughout the course of the book. By the end of the story all of the characters find a family with each other. Definitely recommend this one if you enjoy the found family trope. 

Additionally, there is also a lot of discourse pertaining to the military and how politics plays a role in the ethics involved in that organization

for example, experimentation within the military

. There are also a lot of examples within the story of people that insatiably want power even at the cost of their morality. In fact, political greed is the whole reason our main character Ada is on the run. I appreciated that we get to meet members of Ada's family that are both understanding of her and love her, and others that want to manipulate and use her for their own gain. It paints a nuanced picture of what a lot of real families are like. Ada and her sisters clearly love each other, and their relationship helps balance out their more cold and tense relationship with her father. The political maneuvering that Ada has to do to ensure the safety of those she cares about while also protecting herself helps us see her intelligence and competence. Meanwhile, the way some of her family members are willing to use her as a political pawn show just how greed can really bring out the worse in people, even family. It makes for interesting character development and overall story.

This story has more focus on romance and character development than plot. However, it never felt like the plot wasn't moving forward or slowed down by the interpersonal relationships. If anything, it feels like it added depth to the events within the story and raised the stakes. I'm definitely looking forward to see how the plot continues to develop and I hope we get to see some side characters more in future books.