A Pale Light in the Black

A Pale Light in the Black by K.B. Wagers, 421 pages

The youngest child of a proud and prominent Navy family, Max is bucking tradition by going into the NeoG, the Near-Earth Orbital Guard, against her parents' wishes. But when she arrives on board Zuma's Ghost, it doesn't take long for her to feel at home on the ship. Full of multi-dimensional characters, a life-or-death conspiracy, and a whole bunch of training for the annual all-military Boarding Games, A Pale Light in the Black is the first book in what's planned to be a series focusing on the NeoG.

I'm a sucker for books about oddballs finding a family among friends, and this book does that, set in space and in the military. That said, it doesn't shy away from complex topics, including artificially extended life, the late 21st Century "Collapse" that is constantly referred to throughout the book, and the ways in which religion continue to impact life. I absolutely adored this book, and I can't wait to see what Wagers has in store for the NeoG in the future. Recommended for fans of Becky Chambers and space operas in general.