I requested an ARC from NetGalley, due to the brief description, and yes I judged this book by its cover (it looked cool!). This was also my first audiobook from the site, so thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for approving me!

I am not sure if this book is meant for a YA audience, but if it is, it excelled. The premise of this debut for Yume Kitasei was engrossing and I disagree with some other reviews, in that I found the split narrative well executed and balanced. I’d also like to note that Sarah Skaer did a great job of reading this. They breathed life into the characters particularly the protagonist and her mother.

The book is not without flaws though. If this is not meant for YA, it lacks the depth of a more adult novel. It also felt a little generic at times. Also, I am generally an advocate for inclusivity, and this book does a great job of it, but it does so almost to a fault. I’m certain it was done with good intentions but after awhile it almost felt like pandering.

I am giving this 4 stars as a YA novel, and 3 as an adult sci-fi novel. In the end I was entertained and I expect more good things from Yume in the future!

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

The narration was great. It was clear and easy to listen to.

The book itself was just okay in my opinion. The premise was interesting and different from books I have read, but the story fell flat for me. Teenage girls in space left earth on a one way trip to repopulate humanity. I don't think I want to read a book like this again simply because I didn't find myself enjoying the idea. I requested this book because I thought I would and I gave it a try and turns out it is just not for me.

Overall it wasn't bad. There is some action in the beginning and in the end, but in between those too I felt like it was pretty slow. I did enjoy the flashback scenes to Earth. I felt like they gave the story more depth.

The plot of this book was excellent.

I didn't love the character interaction. In fact, I really only liked the main character and everyone else sucked.

This book was like real life high school drama in sci-fi form. And the problem isn't that it wasn't well written, because it ABSOLUTELY was. But it was TOO real.

This was like a Sci-fi space mystery. I really enjoyed the time we spent on the ship and figuring out what was happening on the ship. Then we would flashback to Earth and it felt a little disjointed and messed with the flow of the story for me. To me it felt like the flashbacks were kind of forced there as the flashbacks would come at points that didn't really make sense to me.

I appreciate the advanced audio, but this wasn't one of my favorites.

I was expecting a sort of "Aurora Rising" plot, but that was not this at all. I think maybe if the market wasn't already saturated with so many stories about the very same topics (inequality, gender, etc) that I might have had more patience for it. I read a lot of Sci-fi/Fantasy to get away from reality. A NetGalley reviewer named Jan M. said it best, "the premise is just ridiculous, the characters are annoying, and there is little action until the very end of the book. There are a ton of queer references, since many of the characters are apparently 'they' instead of 'her.' Yes, you have to choose your pronouns. The story is full of girls having their feelings hurt, nasty competition among teenagers, and dysfunctional family relationships. Sorry, but that’s not what I was expecting and certainly not entertaining."
While those words may sound a tad harsh, I felt they summed up my feelings about this book quite spectacularly.

This story piled together a diverse bunch of females (only women and mostly young women at that) who've been chosen to take a one-way trip in which one of their directives is to populate (have babies). Kinda weird, but I get it! Earth is gone and humanity must survive, but if we are talking about humanities BEST to carry on the legacy and rebuild ... then, why "only" women? I thought one of the points this book was about equality for all. My mistake.

Another head scratcher was calling this a thriller. I know there's an element of intense action at points, but definitely not thrilling enough to be labeled a thriller. Unless you count the absolute terror of being stuck on a floating death trap with annoying, bickering teenagers while also being forced to listen to a young female's inner monologue. Only, I've raised teenagers (both genders) and, while it can be irritating as hell, I don't call it thrilling.

Also, maybe a different vocal artist next time. While I thought Sarah Skaer was a decent voiceover artist, I'm not convinced she was right for this particular book. Just food for thought.

Still, NO REGRETS!!!!

THE DEEP SKY by Yume Kitasei is an engaging sci-fi that does what all great sci-fi does. An exciting premise with unforgettable characters. Space mission, sabatoge, and mother issues. Danger internal and external. Great summer read!

I loved the twists and turns, the mystery. Great atmosphere and believable characters. What a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the eGalley of The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei

I read the book and listened to the story at the same time, I liked the narrator and also appreciated that the audiobook helped me with the unfamiliar names.

This story was so much fun to read, it really placed me within Asuka's mindset and immersed you in the world of these young women who felt so helpless stranded far away from all their supports, trying to solve so many impossible problems. It kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat until the very end. Would definitely recommend if you like mysteries, climate fiction, ship science fiction, and close up character studies.

A solid space thriller with interesting characters. I really enjoyed the intertwining of past and present and thought it was well-paced. I think I would have enjoyed this better as a physical book, though. The narrator was good, but there were times when I found some of the line readings a little off emotionally. It didn't totally detract from my enjoyment of the story, but it was distracting at points. Definitely worth a read for someone looking for a space mystery that focuses on character dynamics and interactions.

3.5/5 rounding up

I love locked room mysteries and I love outer space so what could be better? I enjoyed the premise of both the expedition and the murder mystery. The book was paced well and kept me hooked. I finished it in two days and was gripped the whole time. The personal drama was a little flat and some of the characters were very one dimensional and I feel like some of the conflict was not fully fleshed out so it was hard to be invested in it or understand certain interactions. The main character isn't the most likable protagonist but that isn't necessarily a deal breaker. The political stuff on earth was kind of breezed over but it would have been interesting to hear more about that. I honestly think I would have liked a book beyond the murder mystery or a sequel of what happens next because the expedition and world has really cool potential.

I will say this book reads very young YA to me which caught me a bit off guard because it wasn't marketed as such that I could see. I think I would have liked this better as a teen. Even though the characters are early 20s a lot of the situations just felt very teen drama-esque so if you're looking for a space odyssey sans teen turmoil this isn't it. But if you want a very interesting story with a lot of deep elements about personal identity, loss, and adventure this one might be a good book to put on your tbr.

The audiobook version was phenomenal. The narrator did an amazing job of bringing this story to life and the engineering was super well done. I really enjoyed the audio book and highly recommend it.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC

4.5⭐️ rounded up.

<i> They left Earth to save humanity. They’ll have to save themselves first.

It is the eve of Earth’s environmental collapse. A single ship carries humanity’s last hope: eighty elite graduates of a competitive program, who will give birth to a generation of children in deep space. But halfway to a distant but livable planet, a lethal bomb kills three of the crew and knocks The Phoenix off course. Asuka, the only surviving witness, is an immediate suspect. </i>

Asuka is a well-rendered protagonist from the first, and the flashbacks mixed into the current action help to further flesh out her character and she definitely becomes quite easy for the reader to identify and empathize with. I was definitely rooting for her as the action unfolded.

And what action there was! This was a fantastic, action-packed sci-fi mystery, with an ai element that provided a bit of a hallucinatory feel at times. I loved it. I’m eager to see what this author does next.

Narrator Sarah Skaer did a great job with her delivery as well.

Thank you Yume Kitasei, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Audiobook received for free through NetGalley

I absolutely loved this audiobook. The characters grabbed me and I had to find out what happened next. The flashbacks were on point and the narrator great.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. These opinions are my own. I deeply enjoyed the narration; the dulcet voice of the narrator was perfect for this novel. Sarah Skaer was able to portray complex emotions and uncertainty extremely well.

This novel offers a unique take on the sci-fi genre. Yume Kitasei's debut novel delves into the depths of human emotions and the quest for belonging, interwoven with a high-stakes mission to save humanity. It combines elements of self-identity, familial struggles, and interpersonal conflicts within the backdrop of this deep space mission. At its core, this follows the journey of Asuka, a young woman who grapples with her sense of inadequacy, her complex heritage, her grief over her brother's death, and her estrangement from her mother. These are skillfully woven into the fabric of the story through poignant flashbacks, allowing readers to intimately connect with her emotional landscape. Plagued by insecurities and fertility issues, she struggles to find her place among the talented crew as their alternate member.

The pacing of the novel adopts a deliberate and contemplative rhythm, mirroring the monotony and isolation of deep space travel. It magnifies the restlessness experienced by the crew of The Phoenix, underscoring the weight of their journey and the inherent challenges of their mission into the unknown. When a catastrophic incident shakes the foundation of the mission, doubt and suspicion permeate the crew. Asuka, the sole witness, becomes both investigator and potential suspect, tasked with untangling the threads of deception that threaten to unravel the mission's fragile unity. The book cultivates an atmosphere of uncertainty, blurring the line between reality and the AI-generated environment, leaving readers as adrift as the crew.

Kitasei's ability to blend the grandeur of space exploration with the intimacy of personal struggles is fascinating. This novel invites readers to ponder the essence of human nature, resilience, and the search for one's place in a vast and unforgiving universe.

Title: The Deep Sky
Author Yume Kitasei
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Narrator: Sarah Skaer

Potential Triggers: loss of child, drowning, miscarriages, racism

The Deep Sky is a solid debut novel by Yume Kitasei. I really enjoyed this the murder mystery and kept changing who I thought was the culprit throughout the book.
Some things I enjoyed:
The character development of Asuka (the protagonist) was written well.
The flashbacks to earlier times are done seamlessly.
The writing style and narration.
The inclusion and normalization of queer characters.
Diverse characters.

Some things I wanted to see more of:
Stronger character development for other major players in the book, as well as their histories/backgrounds.
I had a difficult time suspending reality with some of the structural problems happening with the ship. Most engineers have numerous redundancy plans to account for potential problems.
More detailed background of the climate dystopia happening on earth.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alright, so.
I actually love this story. I think if I would have read this as a physical book I would have enjoyed it quite a bit more. I LOVE mystery, thriller, fantasy books. They are some of my all time favorite reads. Based on the description of this book I thought it would be quite a bit... more scary? than it was.
The story was very interesting and gripping! I loved that it was based in a future that is not too far off from a future we could be facing as a human race in real life. It had racial conflict, terrorism, and bigotry, and it addressed those all beautifully. I thought this story had amazing inclusivity and made sure to address gender and racial equality.
I do feel that this story should be listed in a slightly different genre in order to reach its target audience. I was very prepared for a "keep you up all night" thriller that has you sweating and scared, but it read much more like a melodrama. I do feel that maybe the narrator, although very good, might not have been the right fit for the book. She gave off very.... Gossip Girl vibes, which was a little difficult to pin into a mystery thriller novel. The writing, the situations that the characters had to face and the plot were all absolutely fantastic and I would have picked this book up either way, however, I do not think it was genred correctly.
You follow the story of several characters who are all sent into space in order to reach a new planet and create a new world for humanity, as humanity has killed off the Earth. On this journey, an act of terrorism rattles the crew and pins everyone against each other.

Lots of fun, emotion and adventure packed into this sci-fi mystery or sorts! The way certain characters were portrayed kept me guessing throughout. Would enjoy reading more adventures set on The Phoenix!

Picture this: A diverse group of intelligent young women (and no men) are shot into space for a one-way trip and directed to have babies in order to save humanity. Honestly, does anyone think this will go well?

Although described as a thriller, this was more of a young women’s introspective story. The timeline moves back and forth between the contemporary space trip and MC Asuka’s childhood and training. Thus the backstory. This was done well and the pacing was very good.

However, the premise is just ridiculous, the characters are annoying, and there is little action until the very end of the book. There are a ton of queer references, since many of the characters are apparently “they” instead of “her.” Yes, you have to choose your pronouns. The story is full of girls having their feelings hurt, nasty competition among teenagers, and dysfunctional family relationships. Sorry, but that’s not what I was expecting and certainly not entertaining. I've already been through all that in high school.

The audiobook was narrated well by Sarah Skaer and the engineering was flawless.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable. Thought provoking. Action packed sci-fi. As climate change continues and solutions are delved into one of those is to trained teenage child bearing people to survive in space and to send them to Planet X.
It’s dual timeline. Present time on the space ship that has a big murder mystery and the past when the kids are in school/competing for a space on the ship.

I did find that I didn’t really care about the past timeline and just wanted to be in the murder mystery in space timeline but was a really great book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy.

*3.5 stars*

I enjoyed this. This is a kind of locked room mystery set in outer space. This seems to be a somewhat queer normative world with queer and trans characters aboard the ship.

The characters are interesting, their morals and motivations are all pretty distinct which made them seem all the more real. The virtual reality aspect is done well and interestingly despite being a big sci-fi trope. I really like thrillers set in space and I thought that the setting and flashbacks to earth were really interesting in this kind of pre-apocalyptic world. I liked the character development we got to see in our main character Asuka. I think a few less red-herrings and more character development of the other characters would have helped with pacing that lagged a little in the middle and made it more compelling.

If you like a slower burn mystery with a space setting I think you would enjoy this.

The audio narration was solid. Good flow, nothing distracting from the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ALC of this work. All opinions in this review are my own.

The Deep Sky is an enjoyable SF read that incorporates elements of generation ships and cryosleep space travel. Written with dual timelines - one on the ship in the present and one in the past, set primarily at the school where Asuka and her crewmates train for the mission - the book investigates ideas of identity, belonging, nationality, and more. There are a lot of really cool takes on traditional SF ideas: for example, the entire crew is made up of people who can bear children (there is at least one trans man and a few NB crewmates, but most of the crew identify as women), a major departure from classic SF that didn't even seem to realize it was excluding half of the human race from its space ships.

As often happens when we read dual timelines, we were more interested in one than the other (the "present" of the space ship). Asuka is tasked with investigating sabotage and possible murder, so it could be jarring to move back to an episode with much lower stakes. The mystery itself was well-crafted, with lots of SF red herrings (is the AI that assists with the ship actually a murderer? What happened while the crew was asleep?). The near-future setting could be bleak, but the ultimate message was hopeful. Yume Kitasei is an author to watch!

We also listened to an audiobook of the novel. The narration added interesting depth to Asuka's Japanese, but we weren't convinced by some of the other reading. That said, it definitely emphasized the youth of all of the characters!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.