What a cool concept for a book! I usually go for fantasy over sci-fi, but I'm very happy I picked up this one!

I was so thrilled by this book! The author does a fantastic job of weaving broader narratives and complex themes into a tightly-paced mystery/action adventure set in deep space. I can hardly believe this is a debut novel, and hope there will be plenty more where this came from. The central story follows the passengers of The Phoenix, a ship carrying 80 passengers picked from a highly competitive program to literally give birth to the next generation of humans while in deep space en route to a new home as Earth is no longer suitable to supporting civilization due to climate catastrophe - half way there a bomb goes off on the ship and everyone is a suspect.
NetGalley and Flatiron Books provided me the opportunity to both read and listen to the audiobook prior to publication - and it’s available now for you to add to your summer reading lists!

It's kind of hard to rate this one because I enjoyed it so much and yet I still found myself drifting in the middle as we started filling in details on Asuka's journey and the different things that led to where we ended up - and these things were important but they also didn't serve to build tension. I really liked the balance of how disconnected the Phoenix crew was from Earth (because they'd all been asleep for 10 years while life carried on for those left behind) but I think Asuka's particular aloofness to Earth's happenings hurt the impact overall.

What really worked for me was the last 15% - fast-paced, tense, and the part where the mistrust that was building throughout really came to a head. And just Asuka's character as a whole: her complex relationship with family (especially her mother), the unique hurt of being everybody's second choice, the way a friendship can fester and how that can drastically impact someone's life. I also really liked how dependent people were on their augmented realities and how they were living almost totally disconnected from each other - and the way that augmented realities essentially made it so that everyone was literally living in their own little worlds.

Overall, a very solid debut and I can't wait to see where Kitasei goes from here - definitely an author to watch!

An explosion on a routine spacewalk damages the ship and sets in motion a fast-paced whodunit. This is a locked-room mystery except perhaps let's call it a locked-module mystery because, please, this is a spaceship. Our MC, Asuka, was an alternate for this journey and is forced to take charge of the investigation. She must figure out who to trust before they're so far off course as to be lost in space. This is an engaging, engrossing adventure. The characters are layered, flawed, and real. Weaved throughout the mystery are scenes from Asuka's childhood and her experience of the intensive schooling she and the others went through in preparation for the mission. These flashbacks not only give us character depth but also a heartbreaking snapshot of the world they left behind. Absolutely loved this, need to know what happens next!

Immediately no. I'm stopping at 10%, this is giving me the ick. In the middle of a deep space disaster and we're thinking about decade old grudges and a lack of pregnancies? What?! It's giving women-written-by-men but this author identifies as a woman, so I'm lost. There's a time and place for reflective moments and it's not mid-catastrophe..

**Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the eARC**

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced reader copy! You can find a copy of this review on my blog.

The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei is classified as a sci-fi thriller, but it's more meditative than that'd imply. Humanity's crumbling into the sea, and in a last burst of hope, they launch 80 young adults into space to reach a new inhabitable planet. The crew of this journey has been training for the mission since they were 12, rigorously studying and growing up together, and now they inhabit a spaceship ten years from its destination. As the first phase of their mission begins, pregnancy and child rearing after a decade long hibernation, there is an explosion onboard- likely triggered by one of their own. Asuka, resilient but technically inadequate compared to her peers, survives the explosion and must discover who is culpable before they strike again.

I really liked this book. Like. A lot. So let's just start there. 4.5 stars rounded to a 4.

I'm probably going to bring up a decent bit of science fiction in this review. This is not to say that this book is trying to be like anything else, or that any of what I compare it to is better or worse, but it's much easier to talk about a genre as varied as science fiction with a basis of bearing and a good point of comparison or connection.

Personally, I'm hesitant to call this a thriller because the plot doesn't coax any feelings of doom or overwhelming dread. It does get exciting at parts, and you do believe that the crew is in genuine danger, but it's a who-done-it whose detective genuinely does not believe that her peers want to cause her harm. Obviously, someone on the ship triggered the explosion, and yes people died, but from Asuka's perspective, she doesn't really see any of these people capable of harboring violent malice. The risks associated with the mission are on par with most sci-fi with a similar colonization premise, there are limited resources on the ship and no help in space, so if something goes wrong, it could mean certain death.

The direction The Deep Sky took is for the better. Personally, I don't really need to see a group of women and other marginalized identities take any excuse to expose each other's flaws and assume the worse. When they do point the finger in the book, it's out of reluctance, if not desperation.

First quick round of comparisons. Regarding the ship and the crew, it has the same feel as Mickey7 by Edward Ashton. The protagonists of the stories could not be more dissimilar if they tried, but both books have the same sort of close-quarters crew from exceptional backgrounds who are very familiar with each other. The book is told with a split timeline similar to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. While Project Hail Mary focused its flashbacks on Earth primarily as a means of interactive exposition, The Deep Sky uses it primarily as a way to build character and build a thematic throughline that extends past the ship. Honestly, I really enjoyed the split timeline. The book made excellent use of its format, the scenes Kitasei chooses to revisit are wonderfully actualized, and the split timeline model allows for the emotional beats to hold a hefty amount of weight. (Let's go mommy issues! Everyone, give it up for mommy issues. Insecurity around close female friendships is second. Let's go! Hitting all the marks.)

The writing was crisp and clear. The world and settings were well constructed. I quite enjoyed being in Asuka's head. She's a little rough around the edges, and frustrating at times, but impossible not to sympathize with or root for. I'm biracial as well, so I'm particularly fond of characters who grapple with similar dual identities. All the side characters are very defined with a good deal of complexity for an ensemble cast. The mystery itself isn't terribly shocking, but it still manages to subvert expectations in a very satisfying way.

I could stop the review right here and say that it's a good book and you should read it. Because I do believe that. It's a well-constructed piece of science fiction, especially good for a debut, both stimulating and entertaining. It comments on the cynical world of today while projecting hope into tomorrow. The characters and conflict are well crafted and stick with the reader. Yes, it's sci-fi, but the accessible kind that sticks close enough to Earth to feel entirely familiar. I hope this book gets big, and I hope that my words, in some way, accomplish that. I read this in the middle of a bad reading slump and breezed through it, impressed. I'm excited for what Kitasei does next.

But. Now. I want to talk about thematic. I have a lot to say. The Deep Sky has awakened the cogs in my brain, and unfortunately, I'm making that your (the reader's) problem.

I decided to read this book while simultaneously watching the first 10 Star Trek movies for the first time over the course of a week. That may have done things to my brain. You'll see in a moment.

Ursula K LeGuin, my queen, says in her forward to arguably one of the most famous sci fi novels, The Left Hand of Darkness, that science fiction is not a prediction of the future, but a reflection on the present. And true to the genre, the world Kitasei creates is nothing more than an exaggerated version of the world we currently live in. The climate crisis is out of control, sparking conflict between major nations. Extremist factions rise out of desperation, eco-terrorists and proto-MAGAS. And in the middle of all of this, some trillionaire decides to send 80 teenagers into space in an effort to save what's left of humanity.

The question of if we should focus on the issues here first or use those resources to look forward is not new, in science fiction or in the real world. There were protests when the first Apollo Missions went up. Yes, the moon landing filled the world with the wonder of human capability and possibility, but it was funded to stick it to the USSR. It was a display of nationalism, meant to unite some people and scare others. We didn't shoot for the moon to reach it, but to stick our flag in it first.

The current efforts of Bezos and Musk to develop commercial flights to space and colonize Mars are less of a space race and more a commodification of the space race. Billionaires would not be interested in technological development if they did not think that it was a means of furthering their wealth or retaining it in the face of human disaster. This is my personal interpretation of the situation, but I do believe it wholeheartedly because, by nature, to be a billionaire is to grow and maintain wealth and if any of these people deviated from that goal, they would no longer be billionaires.

The mission in the book is, from time to time, referred to as a vanity project by the trillionaire who funded it, but it's impossible for me to believe in it beyond that. I want to see it as a signal of hope like the characters in the book, a measure of the tenacity of the human spirit and a projection of their capability, but I'm just too jaded. "Save humanity" is a noble goal, but humanity could either refer to the individual people composing all of human life or the vague concept of humans as a whole. Maybe it's because I'm one of the people who would be left behind on the floating rock, but I really think we should be focusing on the floating rock.

In Star Trek: First Contact, we learn how space exploration (Starfleet) came to be. Basically, after World War III and devastating nuclear fallout, this one guy invents warp drive only with the intention of becoming rich. But in doing so, he unknowingly signals to alien life that humanity is advanced enough for interstellar travel, and aliens come to Earth and make first contact. After alien contact, the world unites, getting rid of money and their squabbles to focus on the betterment of humanity and developing Starfleet and the Federation to explore the galaxy. Sounds nice. Sounds good. I'm not sure why World War III was required to get there, but alright.

Importantly, Star Trek focuses on the expansion of humanity into space as something that goes hand in hand with world peace. We cannot focus outward without taking care of ourselves first. It refuses to make the choice between Earth and the cosmos. I love thinking and wondering about the possibility of human expansion into space, the possibilities that await us the farther we explore, but it's impossible to imagine it as some sort of inspiration in the face of human collapse on Earth. I can't do it.

Jeff Bezos shot Star Trek's William Shatner into space. If you don't know much about Star Trek, Shatner plays Captain James Kirk, the original face of the franchise. He's still around. As some sort of... publicity (?) stunt, Bezos decided to send him on a Blue Space Shuttle in 2021. You probably didn't hear much about it, because the voyage didn't exactly have its desired effect.

In an article Shatner wrote for Variety, he says:

 "I love the mystery of the universe. I love all the questions that have come to us over thousands of years of exploration and hypotheses. Stars exploding years ago, their light traveling to us years later; black holes absorbing energy; satellites showing us entire galaxies in areas thought to be devoid of matter entirely… all of that has thrilled me for years… but when I looked in the opposite direction, into space, there was no mystery, no majestic awe to behold . . . all I saw was death.

I saw a cold, dark, black emptiness. It was unlike any blackness you can see or feel on Earth. It was deep, enveloping, all-encompassing. I turned back toward the light of home. I could see the curvature of Earth, the beige of the desert, the white of the clouds and the blue of the sky. It was life. Nurturing, sustaining, life. Mother Earth. Gaia. And I was leaving her.

Everything I had thought was wrong. Everything I had expected to see was wrong."

Keep in mind this was the guy who was on the show with the relatively hopeful take on things. He wasn't in First Contact, but the vibes are pretty consistent. He recognized what I feel like all people should: that space is exciting, but our hopes lay in our home.

I don't think that The Deep Sky is any less of a book because I disagree with some of the ideas in it. There are some I do find compelling and enjoyed how the conclusions were reached in the book, like who "deserves" to be on such a mission. If anything, I'm grateful that the novel posed its conflict the way it did so I was able to have this conversation. What's a conviction if you never have it challenged? If anything, the ideas in the novel are meant to be an open-ended aspiration, a vibe rather than any sort of moral determination. You can see both sides of the coin. This is just my reaction to it. Also, I just kind of wanted to talk about Star Trek. Read the book, so you can join in the conversation too.

Genre: science fiction, mystery
Earth, Near future; space, near future

Asuka is thousands of miles away from earth on a spaceship, as an alternate crew member for the 80 person mission to Planet X to start a Utopian society away from the devastation of climate change and social injustice. They were in deep sleep for a decade, and now awake are starting the next important phase of the mission. Everyone on board the ship - no matter their gender identity - has the biological ability to give birth, and are required to submit to artificial insemination, which will help them populate their new lives on Planet X. A sudden explosion while Asuka is on a space walk jars the ship off course, and suddenly everyone is a suspect, especially last-minute mission addition Asuka.

There is a lot to like about this debut novel from Yume Kitasei, and one of the things I really admire is the worldbuilding. The Generations-style ship harkens to sci-fi classics, where the original passengers board in hibernation to travel to distant stars and evokes the vast blackness of the unknown of space. Kitasei never really has to describe the ship itself, but you know you’re there with Asuka; know the dangers lurking outside the airlocks.

While the main plot takes place on board the ship, the secondary timeline begins prior to launch, while Asuka is a child. The earth is devastated by environmental disasters, and Asuka herself grows up in a refugee camp after California wildfires destroy her home. There is commentary on food shortages, flooding and hurricanes and fires, on influencers and pop culture and super stars, and posturing political powers and wars. And there are the chosen ones - like Asuka - who have been accepted into this elite program to train to someday leave it all behind for space and a new world. It’s background noise, almost, what the earth we know is turning into and what Asuka is leaving. But there’s enough of it there that it drives the decisions of every single person on through their training and on the ship. It’s clever and bold.

While the dual timeline provides that interesting commentary, it doesn’t always balance the pacing of the book. As tensions increase in the present day, we are pulled back to the past and out of the action. On the one hand, we have 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes, and on the other a high school space camp training montage.

The Deep Sky is a stellar debut, and hits more than it misses. Sarah Skaer’s audiobook narration is solid, seamlessly blending the Japanese and English parts of the story, and voicing Asuka’s inner monologues with an appropriate sense of awe and fear.

I love a good Sci-Fi book. Add in an unreliable narrator element, diversity in the characters, and a bunch of bada** women running a ship barreling into space and a new frontier? This literally had everything. For most of the book you can't really tell is Asuka's story and her experiences are real or the result of an overly caring AI called Alpha, who cares for the crew and constantly claims she is trying to help. As the story unravels, you begin to understand that Asuka may be the ONLY character you can trust. I definitely did not figure out who the culprit was until the very end. The author does a great job of planting seeds of distrust through the flashbacks Asuka has to her time in training and academy and to the discussions and actions of her mother.
I think the small human elements of the birds (and Asuka's ties to them) that are woven throughout the story as a tie to the past, but also as a constant plot point presented by Alpha make you question the AI's motive as well. It was fun to see how those ended up just tying back to the ending.

I honestly wish this story wasn't a stand alone, I am so invested in knowing what happens to this group of people as they continue on their mission. This story was beautiful and intriguing with a pace that made it easy to not put down.

Thank you, Flatiron and Net Galley for giving me the privilege of reading an advanced reader copy of the deep sky.

The Earth is dying and humanity built a generation ship. Asuka, half Japanese, half American, and 79 other people hurtle towards planet X taking Humanity's hope with them. After 10 years in stasis, the crew wakes up for the middle of the journey. When an explosion rocks the ship, kills the captain and 2 crew, Asuka struggles to solve the mystery.

I loved this book. I loved how human the characters are, and I adored the queer, trans, and disabled characters that fill the pages. I also enjoyed the bird imagery and the split timeline.

The AI is amazing, as is the virtual interface that lays over the top of the ship.

Occasionally, the otherwise tight plot wobbles..For example, the crew all having to have babies was an interesting plot point. The kids volunteered so young that I cannot imagine what consent looks like. I did feel like them making sure not all the senior leaders were pregnant at the same time would be baked into the mission.

It's a book about forgiveness, grief, loss, friendship, self doubt, and growing up, and I will read it again and again.

This is a poignant and thoughtful whodunit in space. Overall, I found it very enjoyable and I appreciated the elements of a one-way-space voyage that differed from other similar plotlines, and how things concluded at the end. I will be thinking about this one for awhile!

Amazing debut with riveting action and a unique, fascinating premise. The Deep Sky excels at world building: Phoenix, the ship; Earth, ravaged by climate change; the Evenstar training program and school founded by trillionaire venture capitalist Linda Trembling, inventor of Digitally Augmented Reality (DAR) for the masses. The all -female mission crew sleep for the first decade of the journey. During the second decade the crew are inseminated, so that the children will be ten when they arrive at Planet X. So many thought- provoking themes in The Deep Sky: survivor’s guilt, estranged family relationships; friendship struggles; competition; trust, teamwork.

OMG! I loved this novel and couldn’t put it down. I felt I was on the Phoenix, in deep space, taking a space walk with Asuka, the protagonist. I really, really hope Yume Kitasei will write a sequel because the journey to Planet X was not at end when the novel finished…I want more! The Deep Sky would make a terrific TV series or movie.

Highly recommended.

A very strong debut! This is a page turning space thriller of political espionage and intrigue, chock full of commentary on climate change, existential dread, and mommy issues. While I think some of the progress through the story could have been a little smoother, overall, I thought this was a great combo of entertainment and thoughtful thematic content

Asuka feels like an imposter on a ship of elites on a space ship on a journey to save the future of humanity. When it becomes clear there is a saboteur on board, Asuka, with no obvious role is tasked with finding the culprit. She must do so while not tipping her hand and before the saboteur gets them all killed.

I really enjoyed this book! The back and forth between how the Asuka gets her role on the ship, what it means, and how it impacts her psyche was sad but interesting. I also really enjoyed the murder/sabotage mystery. I definitely didn't guess the outcome. I liked the use of the flashbacks that showed how the people on the ship were chosen and the politics underpinning the mission. Asuka's relationship with her mother and the ship was also a really interesting dynamic. The flashbacks also helped to help provide clues for the mystery. Overall, really enjoyed and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Pub Date: Jul 18

Thank you to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for an advanced e-copy of the book!

An epic space odyssey that seamlessly blends the genres of science fiction, mystery, and thriller, leaving you on the edge of your seat and craving for more……

Book Information

"The Deep Sky," authored by Yume Kitasei, spans 416 pages and is set to be launched on July 18, 2023. Sarah Skaer lends her voice to the audio version, which runs for a duration of 12 hours and 16 minutes. Kitasei was raised in the mélange of two distinct cultures, precisely where her compelling narratives often take root. "The Deep Sky" marks her debut novel. Many thanks to Flatiron Books for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.

Summary

On the verge of Earth's impending environmental collapse, a crucial mission hangs in the balance. A lone ship carries the last hope for humanity: eighty exceptional graduates entrusted with the task of birthing a future generation in the depths of space. However, a devastating explosion rocks The Phoenix, claiming three lives and causing the vessel to veer off its intended course. As the sole surviving witness, Asuka finds herself immediately under scrutiny and suspicion.

Even before the explosion, Asuka struggled with feelings of inadequacy. She was the final selection for the mission, faced challenges during training on Earth, and grapples with her dual identity as a half-Japanese girl raised in America. With her strained relationship with her mother and the crew members turning against each other, The Phoenix becomes Asuka's sole anchor.

Determined to unravel the truth and preserve the mission's integrity, Asuka races against time to unmask the perpetrator before faith in their mission crumbles entirely—or worse, before the bomber strikes again. As tensions mount and trust wanes, the fate of their collective survival rests on Asuka's relentless pursuit of justice amidst the vast expanse of space.

My Thoughts

“The Deep Sky” delivers the pulse-pounding thrill of unraveling a web of conspiracy, navigating the complexities of human emotions, and witnessing the indomitable spirit of a diverse crew who have not only their own survival at stake but perhaps the future of humanity itself. It’s a highly captivating space adventure that weaves together elements of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller, while also delving into the depths of human emotions.

The narrative unfolds through alternating timelines, skillfully shifting between the present on the off-course ship and the past ten years leading up to the launch. This clever structure allows readers to discover Asuka's experiences in school and witness the formation of the diverse crew and their unwavering determination to be part of this extraordinary voyage. The structure also gives insight into Asuka’s struggles with imposter syndrome, her constant questioning of herself, and her place within the mission. Her half-Japanese, half-American heritage adds an additional layer of depth as she searches for connections and a sense of belonging.

The flashbacks to the training camp provide crucial clues about the characters and their motivations, deepening the mystery and driving reader engagement. The book excels with the diversity of the characters and the depth of intricate relationships shared among them, which adds layers of complexity to the story.

One aspect that I really enjoyed was the future technology, from the ever-present AI to the ship's ability to adapt, transform and personalize environments based on each crew member's preferences. This creative approach added to the vivid and immersive reading experience.

"The Deep Sky" also felt remarkably real in the moments it presented. I felt like I could connect with each situation even though it was within a future world that we have yet to experience. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of school hierarchies, the complexities of government bureaucracies, the well-meaning but ill-informed conspiracy theorists, or the poignant exploration of lapsed friendships and estranged parents, the emotions and dilemmas faced by the characters resonate authentically. The guilt of survival, the weight of being chosen or left behind, and the characters' intelligence blended with their flaws make them believable and relatable.

With a multitude of twists and a wealth of heartfelt moments, this book takes readers on a wonderous journey. The world-building is both comprehensive and concise, creating a fully realized universe. The exploration of the characters' emotions is particularly enriching, providing a deep and rewarding reading experience.

Recommendation

"The Deep Sky" is a must-read for fans of space adventures, sci-fi, mysteries, and thrillers. It combines a thrilling plot with intricate character development, creating a story that will captivate your imagination and touch your heart. Strongly recommended.

Rating

4.5 Asuka Stars

I think the plot was mostly solid and there were points that I were really invested in, but a looooot of things were so grating it made it hard for me to enjoy it. The writing can be very dated (“imho,” “low-key,” “fat berg,” not exactly dated language, but using “eugenics” wrong), “inclusive” language made quite a few parts difficult to understand, and there were many sentences that were started in the middle of a statement.

There were lots of things that were contradictory (the ship had simulated gravity, but some parts had zero-g (or were later changed to “low not-gravity”)), or just not well explained (the layout of the ship, there being an unspecified number of crew mates that weren’t part of the 80 women selected, the messaging system…). Oh my god—the spiraling I went through trying to figure out how their messaging system worked nearly gave me an aneurysm and I don’t want to retype it, so I’m just going to say it made no sense to me.

Honestly, most of this book was some form of “world” building, and it could’ve been a cool speculative fiction novel about space travel or the mission in general, and it really didn’t need to have the added mystery to it. I think that actually detracted from the rest of the story, which was a lot more interesting—maybe focus on a few students over their years of training and then a few years while they’re in the middle of the journey, and maybe some introspection into the moral/ethical concerns around the entire story. Among Us did not need to factor into any part of this book for it to be good.

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this! The thriller aspect coincided really nicely with the themes of hope and forgiveness throughout the book. I do think some of the subplots were a little rushed but this is a fantastic debut and I am interested to see what else Kitasei writes!

A absolute page-turner. The book is propelled by a can't-put-it-down mystery with a wonderful protagonist: honest, naive Asuka, raised by and between two cultures, never feeling quite "enough": not smart enough, not Japanese enough, not American enough. Her complicated relationship with her mother reflects not only a generation divide, but also a cultural one – with the attendant guilt and fear of turning one's back on heritage as well as family.
I am beyond impressed with this debut novel because it wastes not a single word. Its worldbuilding is complete and concise; its exploration of characters' emotions is rich but never excessive; its use of Asuka's position on the ship ("Alt") is not only perfect for the plot, but also for her character.
Thank you Macmillan Flatiron and NetGalley for early access to this wonderful book.

Thank you for this free arc in exchange for an honest review.
This book was very enjoyable, a classic sci-fi sabotage on a colonization mission to a new planet.

Things I enjoyed
- The main story’s pacing, the main plot of the book was deeply engaging and kept me up past 12 am a couple of nights.
-The world building and side stories that cropped up throughout the book

Things I didn’t enjoy
- there were too many flashbacks. At one point the reader has to read THREE before returning to the main plot. These chapters were mostly red herring fuel that became a bit of a chore to read (literally think 40% of this book is a flashback)
- the main character has a very woe-is-me outlook that dragged the plot along. At not point did she consider she could be the victim of sabotage but instead threw and ongoing pity party about why she was even on the ship. Got old fast.
- I found the final reveal obvious (after adding about 3-4 red herrings for each side character the perpetrator was obvious by 50%)

That being said, I did enjoy this book. It was a fun spin on space sabotage.

I requested this book because Mary Robinette Kowal, author of The Lady Astronaut series, recommended it and it does not disappoint . I love a good sci-fi thriller and this was no exception. The characters are so well fleshed out and really keeps you guessing on what happened on this ship and the future of the mission.

What a strange and wonderful story this is! If you like science fiction this is the book for you. If you like a good mystery then this is the book for you. A bomb explodes sending the spaceship off course. Who placed the bomb? Why did someone place the bomb? Who's the murderer? Why? Why? Well, the last person selected for this mission, Asuka, who is also the only surviving witness is determined to find the answers. You're going to like tagging along as she works out the puzzle. But, will she survive?