Welcome back to Back Shelf Saturdays, where I review backlist titles I didn’t get to read when they were first published. I do this every week to ensure I’m reading more than just newly released and forthcoming titles. For my purposes, a backlist title is at least one year past its release date.
This week’s title is A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers. I actually had an ARC of A Pale Light in the Black I was supposed to read way back in 2020, but the pandemic got in the way of a LOT of my reading. I’m actually really glad I waited to read this book until now because this is totally my kind of read in 2024.
| Title: A Pale Light in the Black | Author: K.B. Wagers |
| Release Date: March 3, 2020 | Genre: Space Opera / Sci-Fi |
| Publisher: Harper Voyager | Page Count: 432 |
Synopsis
The rollicking first entry in a unique science fiction series that introduces the Near-Earth Orbital Guard—NeoG—a military force patrolling and protecting space inspired by the real-life mission of the U.S. Coast Guard.
For the past year, their close loss in the annual Boarding Games has haunted Interceptor Team: Zuma’s Ghost. With this year’s competition looming, they’re looking forward to some payback—until an unexpected personnel change leaves them reeling. Their best swordsman has been transferred, and a new lieutenant has been assigned in his place.
Maxine Carmichael is trying to carve a place in the world on her own—away from the pressure and influence of her powerful family. The last thing she wants is to cause trouble at her command on Jupiter Station. With her new team in turmoil, Max must overcome her self-doubt and win their trust if she’s going to succeed. Failing is not an option—and would only prove her parents right.
But Max and the team must learn to work together quickly. A routine mission to retrieve a missing ship has suddenly turned dangerous, and now their lives are on the line. Someone is targeting members of Zuma’s Ghost, a mysterious opponent willing to kill to safeguard a secret that could shake society to its core . . . a secret that could lead to their deaths and kill thousands more unless Max and her new team stop them.
Rescue those in danger, find the bad guys, win the Games. It’s all in a day’s work at the NeoG.
Review:
Top Gun in Space. That’s the best way I can describe A Pale Light in the Black. This first book in the NeoG series by K.B. Wagers follows a ship’s crew that’s part of the Near-Earth Orbital Guard. The Near-Earth Orbital Guard patrols and protects space. Think of them like the Space Coast Guard. If all of this sounds way too military for you, hang in there! There are also tons of fierce women characters, intrigue, and competitions.
Maxine (Max) has just joined the NeoG, to the dismay of her prestigious family. The ship she joins is home to Interceptor Team: Zuma’s Ghost, who compete in the annual Boarding Games and are used to narrow losses. The annual Boarding Games are competitive games between the different military branches of Earth’s space military. With Max joining the team, Zuma’s Ghost is forced to shift and change its strategy. To make things even more difficult, someone has it out for Zuma’s Ghost. Can they all survive to play the games? Can they finally win this year?
A Pale Light in the Black is incredibly diverse, with main characters that are asexual, bisexual, sapphic, and non-binary. K.B. Wagers uses they/them pronouns, so the diversity isn’t performative and feels incredibly authentic. I appreciated how realistic the characters felt and how the story centers on their relationships and friendships in addition to the competitions.
Final Thoughts:
A Pale Light in the Black is totally for you if you enjoy dramas set in space. If you like military stories with diverse characters, I can’t recommend this enough. Heck, even if you just like sci-fi competition books, read this! Come for the diversity and military games, and stay for the strong friendships and found family. I can’t wait to continue on with the next two books in this series.
Rating: 4/5 Stars
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Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy. All the above thoughts are my own.
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