I've been in love with Alechia Dow's writing since the release of The Sound of Stars, and with each new book set in the same universe, I fall a bit more in love.

I do want to preface my review by saying that while these are technically marketed as standalones, I think they will be more enjoyable and more understandable if you read them as a series. It is both enjoyable and understandable as a standalone, but you get so many little details and snippets if you've read the others.

A Song of Salvation starts out with Zaria, a fat Black demisexual/grayace god who has to save her home. She sets out to do so with the help of grumpy smuggler Wesley (who just happens to be the brother of boy and star Alistair Daniels) and sunshine incarnate podcast host Rubin. The three have no idea that they're about to be smack dab in the middle of an intergalactic war and that their connections, friendship, and relationships hold the fate of the universe in their hands.

My favorite part of Alechia's books is all the aspec characters. Like I said, Zaira is fat, Black, and aspec. Rubin is also fat, Black, and demisexual/demiromantic and Wesley is Black and demisexual/demiromantic as well. We also get cameos from our Sound of Stars crew Ellie and Morris, as well as Felix and Joy from The Kindred. I think I will eventually go back and reread them all in order because my brain forgets details a lot, but I still loved this one. Rubin and Wesley are hilarious and adorable, Zaria is badass and has a wonderful coming of age arc, and all the cameos brought me so much joy.

Thanks so much to @coloredpagesbt @inkyardpress and @alechiadow for a finished copy and a chance to be a part of this book tour 🖤🩶🤍💜

Having read The Kindred by Dow and loving it, I was super excited to read Song of Salvation and it totally lived up to expectations for me!

I loved our cast this time around and I was thrilled that we had cameos of previous characters in this book too! It was also super cool to hear about (and visit) some of the other planets in the universe and revisit some- like Earth!

Wesley and Ruben are adorable and I loved their character developments. The found family aspect of this book was truly heartwarming and I loved seeing them interact with our goddess Zaira.

The lore surrounding Indigo was really intriguing and I really enjoyed getting to understand everything more as Zaira kept learning.

I was always impressed by the group’s perseverance, especially since they were all teenagers with tough lives. It made me so happy to see them all bond and find people who truly cared for them.

There was quite a bit of plot in the book, however I feel that the characters really drove the story in a great way!

Overall, I loved the book and think that Dow is such a great addition to the sci-fi scene with her queer characters and her Black ones- the representation is truly beautiful and so appreciated in this genre. I highly recommend this book, as well as Dow’s other works!

{3.5 stars}

A found family romp through space to save the universe… it’s as fun as it sounds. Zaira is the reincarnation of a god out to destroy her nemesis and save the universe. Wesley is a young, gay boy skipping high school to make money doing risky space deliveries. His brother is destined to save the universe and he has always been second fiddle. He is hired to deliver a famous space podcaster to Earth and their paths cross with Zaira as they fight to save the universe from the most recent oppressors.

This one was a fun read. The found family part reminded me of TJ Klune but unlike Klune there was a fast moving plot and fun galactic space building. There is a lot of space / alien jargon so that takes a while to settle with but once you do, it’s an entertaining and heartfelt read. Using music as a weapon was very creative. Lots of good LGBTQ rep too.

Thanks to Inkyard Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

To talk about this book I can’t only talk about it in isolation. I’ve binged this saga and it was a roller coaster of a ride.

If you like sci-fi, justice, and romance featuring Queer people of color then this series is for you.

Each story building upon each other but with a whole new story was a beautiful montage of exploring what it means to be human (even though the stories are mostly about aliens) Yet justice looks the same in all universes.

This saga and A Song of Salvation specifically explore what the costs are of justice and how they look different for everyone. If there was a book I could recommend to activists it’s this one. There are questions that this saga demands us to ask ourselves and the way it’s explored through an intense space background makes us drop our guard and explore it through a different system of being even though there are always drops of how our world is not very different.

Justice, Romance, Aliens, Queer BIPOC, is the book I needed when I was a teenager and I hope it gets into the hands of the teens who need it the most.

I will be talking about this book for years to come.

The quick cut: A pilot, famous podcaster, and female reincarnated god work together to defeat their enemies, the Ilori.

A real review:
Thank you to Inkyard Press for providing the arc for an honest review.

There are many stories about how the universe came to be, but in this story it's one everyone knows: a god named Indigo created while another one named Ozvios destroyed. It's a battle that continues every time Indigo is reincarnated and sacrificed in the hopes of utilizing her power. Zaira is the reincarnated Indigo and finds herself looking for a boy named Wesley to help her defeat Ozvios for good. Can it be done?

This is the third book written in this universe, but it is meant to be a standalone story. It did take quite a bit to truly get started, but once it did the action continued at a steady pace.

A majority of the action revolves around the new Indigo named Zaira, but the pilot Wesley also narrates with her every other chapter. There's also a podcaster, but he doesn't narrate chapters thank goodness. Maybe it's just me, but I found the podcaster named Rubin absolutely insufferable.

At the core of this space opera is the battle between 2 opposing forces, Indigo and Ozvios. Indigo created while Ozvios ate what she made and destroyed the rest. They're very much written as opposites and while Indigo is written to be the good guy, she's also incredibly naive and gullible. It's one thing to see the best in people, it's another to not attempt at all to evaluate what's going on.

A fun space opera with a slow start.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Zaira is both a god and not. Wesley is a misfit space pilot who hates school. Can they team up to somehow save the universe?

This story has hope, magic, found family, action, and adventure. I didn't realize it took place in the same universe as the author's previous novels (one of which I've read, while the other is on my list). They don't need to be read in order, but I think it would definitely help, and would be beneficial to have background knowledge going into this story.

There's queer, POC, normalized body rep, and it was all beautiful and casual as opposed to being forced. You want to see these characters succeed! It's a fun adventure.

a 'space opera' what a fun read!

thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for this review copy.

So, I have enjoyed all of the novels that Alechia Dow has written in this world. They are certainly able to be read on their own, but I think the reader probably gets a lot more out of it if you know the other characters that pop up from the other books. Anyway, that said, this one was not quite my favorite of the bunch. I still liked it, don't get me wrong! I just felt that at times, it felt a bit safe, even though the characters were certainly in peril, and I just didn't feel quite the same pull. Add to it, the pacing was a little off for me- at parts seeming a bit slow, and then parts almost feeling a bit too quick and easy. But, like I said, there was still plenty of good here!

First, as always, I loved the characters. They were all quite different and well developed, and they worked well together because they all had different strengths. And, I loved all the cameos from characters from the other books, too! It's great to catch up with old favorites while trying to save the universe, eh? There were a lot of great character growth moments, a lot of relationship development (romantic and friendships alike), and the messages are always fabulous. It is very heartfelt, and you will definitely come to love all of the characters.

Bottom Line: While I didn't feel the same intensity as the other books, it was still a solid addition to this world with wonderful characters and some nods to old favorites, too.

There were some fun moments sprinkled throughout, unfortunately, the pacing was rough and it read more middle grade to me than YA. Loved Wesley’s POV and Rubin’s commentary, just didn’t feel a connection with Zaira. I loved the world the author created, but the repetitive thoughts/dialogue and the writing style made me not enjoy this as much as I wanted to.

4.5 stars

Despite having the god Indigo's powers inside her, Zaira can't use them - not to save her dying planet, stop the brewing war, or even save herself from being sacrificed. She's fated to meet Wesley (who only cares about making enough money to be free and on his own) and save the universe. Indigo already did once, but what if Zaira doesn't want to now?

I've been looking forward to reading this ever since I finished The Sound of Stars (so about 3 years ago), and I really enjoyed returning to this universe. It also reminded me of Aurora Rising, so if you enjoyed that I recommend you read this. A Song of Salvation is technically a standalone but I think it's best read as a trilogy in order to best understand the world and characters (that being said, this can still be enjoyed without having read the other 2 books!)

I found so many things about this book intriguing. Balance is a big thing - between life and death, creation and destruction, emotions, Zaira's own memories with those of Indigo, and so on. Besides that, I loved the emphasis on friendships, found family, and Black characters. There weren't any real cons but a few things did bug me: first, I thought Wesley warmed up a little too quickly to Zaira and Rubin. There were also elements of instant love, which I'm not a fan of. Finally, there was one instance where the wrong name was used for a minor character (which hopefully was already caught and fixed!)

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for the arc!

For me, Alechia Dow just never misses. She writes the most delightful teen fiction space opera I've ever read and this did not disappoint!

This is the third book in an unofficial series (they do not need to be read in order but they take place in the same galaxy). It can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading in publishing order anyway, just because they're so much fun and you'll have a blast!

General Premise:
-Zaira is a 17-year-old Mal Aresan who is one of the last living being of her kind, since the Ilori colonized her home and committed genocide on the people. She also is part reincarnation of a god Indigo, and she has godlike-powers!
-Wesley is an Andarran who was shunned from his home almost a decade ago and takes a job to escort high-profile podcaster Rubin to Terra (Earth) safely
-The three of them find each other quite quickly -with the intention of saving Zaira's home- and become a sort of found family along the way :)

I didn't realize that the characters from The Sound of Stars and The Kindred would show up here, and when they made their cameos, I squealed!!!

The worldbuilding was fantastic per usual and I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of adventure, self-discovery, forgiveness, societal commentary, hope, and purpose. I'll absolutely continue to read from Alechia Dow in whatever world she decides to bring us to next!

I'll admit, it took me until the midpoint to really get into this story. I had issues with the writing. It just... wasn't good. But I stuck with it because the world building and characters were quite interesting.

After the midpoint (and when the story really became high stakes), something clicked and the novel really drew me in. Sure, it's very YA, and the FMC, Zaira, is pretty OP as a character with godlike powers, but I still had fun with the MCs traveling through space and going to different settings (such as the space station, Andarra, Mal Ares, and even Earth under Ilori colonization). It was all very creative and fun.

I ended up liking both POV characters, Zaira and Wesley, and while Rubin Rima was that annoying extrovert that rounded up the trio, hell, I even ended up liking him too. His podcast POV chapters were pretty fun to read.

The romance between Wesley and Rubin felt sort of insta-love, but I'll give it a pass since their scenes weren't terrible to read. This next bit is just me projecting, but I do wish Zaira was written as aromantic though. Her romance was definitely insta-love since it was straight up fated mates. Like with every piece of media that tends to put literally every character into a romance, I just wish this could've been the exception.

Unlike some reviewers, I didn't really have an issue with the fact that this was billed as a standalone in a series. The first few chapters left me confused because of the world building, but the more I read on, it became easier to understand how everything pieced together. It pretty much ended up being everyone in the universe vs. the Big Bad Ilori, so it wasn't hard to grasp.

I'd love to pick up the other two novels in this series/universe.

Thank you to Inkyard Press and NetGalley for this arc.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
A Song of Salvation just might be my favorite Alechia Dow book yet, although this is very much a case where each one is beautiful in its own right. While not a trilogy in a traditional sense, I love how the books inhabit a shared world, building on each other, with the leads of the prior book even playing major supporting roles in this book. I will note that, because of the unique nature of the book, it can work as a standalone, but you will enjoy it a lot more if you’ve read the first two.
The world building continues to be absolutely immersive, and I love how the theme of music remains constant, conveyed in subtly different ways from book to book. This particularly comes through in the interstitials, which help to contextualize the world in a fun, beautiful way. And with absolutely towering stakes, the danger the characters are in is really well-conveyed.
Zaira, Wesley, and Rubin are all intriguing characters. Zaira’s heritage and role as a reincarnated god are interesting to follow. Wes definitely gives off “Han Solo” semi-scoundrel-with-a-heart vibes. I was most curious how Rubin would come into play as a space DJ (I love that concept!), and I was not disappointed…the transcripts of his podcast are particularly cool ways of both adding character and demonstrating the severity of the situation from his perspective. Ultimately, despite their different backgrounds and how they’re impacted by the crisis at hand, I love how each of them is searching for belonging as queer BIPOC, and finds that in each other.
This is another brilliant book from Alechia Dow, and I’d recommend it, and her other work, to anyone looking for diverse sci-fi.

The world building/space building/magic building starts right away.
Just loved the writing style and journey.
This found family between Zaira, Rubin and Wes was so dynamic and prophetic. They needed to find each other even if they found each other by chance.
The 3 mcs are all bipoc though from different planets dealing with colonization of a different species. Also did I mention Zaira is a reincarnated god that others are trying to activate or get to find into her powers. Technically they are all on the run. And in the midst of this there is a romance.
This felt like The Fifth Element, with some Aurora Rising and War of the Worlds but also something all its own.
I say The Fifth Element because of the streaming podcast reminded me of Ruby Rhod who was my favorite character just narrating everything and telling everyone where they were and what they were doing. It's fine need the transparency when taking down the enemy,

Thank you inkyardpress for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Another stunner by Dow. And can we also talk about this stunning cover?? I loved all the characters, they were beautifully written, and I loved how they all intertwined. There's just something so special about this author's storytelling. While this was YA, I wouldn't let that turn any adult readers away, because it doesn't feel too young. I hope people outside this genre's normal readers give it a chance because it's a true beauty!

A Song of Salvation delves into themes of identity, sacrifice, and the power of unity in the face of oppression. The novel explores the consequences of unchecked power and the moral ambiguity of difficult choices. Dow's nuanced exploration of these themes prompts readers to reflect on the complexities of human nature and the blurred lines between right and wrong in a world filled with political machinations and technological advancements.

The protagonist's journey of self-discovery, growth, and sacrifice is both relatable and inspiring, as they confront the consequences of their choices and navigate the complexities of loyalty and morality. The supporting cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets, adds layers of intrigue and complexity to the narrative, ensuring that no character feels one-dimensional.

Rating 2.5

I didn't like the pacing of this book. The first third was slow-paced and then it got fast paced too quickly. It felt like something was missing. The characters were too familiar with eachother too quickly.

I love the world of Dow's books, but this one grew a bit repetitive for me. Each character was repeating the same few facts we already knew in each of their interior monologues and then again in dialogue.

Two teens. A reincarnated god. A galactic war. There's a lot going on in this book, much of it very well done. There's a mystery, and it stays a mystery almost until it's revealed in the novel, which benefits the plot. There's a different sort of a take on what a god is, and what it means to be a god, which was quite interesting. There's a war that goes in a totally different direction than most wars. There are two romances that are love at first sight - or sooner than first sight, as at least one member of each couple dreamed of the other before they met, which is a little much, and rather unrealistic.

This is, supposedly, a stand-alone novel, but having never read any of Alechia Dow's works, I feel like I'm missing something I'm supposed to be understanding. That said, however, the plot itself is a self-contained novel, which is appreciated; it's becoming rare. I suspect I'll have to go read some of her other novels to truly understand what's going on in this one. Still, overall, it's a good novel, and if space fantasy is a genre you enjoy, you're likely to enjoy this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My first thought when I read A Song of Salvation is that the narrative voice is so strong. You immediately are struck with a great sense of who these characters are. Their different personalities, backgrounds, and feelings in each word. A Song of Salvation feels like a thrilling and charming Easter Egg hunt in some of my favorite Alechia Dow books. There are wonderful references to Dow's past books which make this world feel even more developed and detailed.

A Song of Salvation ends up being a book that will take you on a ride. This space opera SF is action packed from the beginning. My favorite character has to be Zaira and the journey she goes on in regards to her heritage and her own powers. My heart broke for her and her losses, her choices made out of survival. But at the same time, seeing her grow and bloom as a character, make friends and travel the galaxy was even more emotional.