I'm currently enjoying an ARC of The Bonds of Brass by Emily Strutsie on my kindle and enjoying the heck out of it.

To avoid spoilers, I'll only give detail from the early part of the story. Bonds of Brass, a story that is an exciting scifi coming of age adventure. The main character is leaving his world, literally and figuratively, behind him. A world he was successfull in as a cadet in a flight school, on a planet run by a people that took over his planet after an invasion and war 7 years earlier. His best and closest friend is not who he thought, but is someone he’s willing to protect, no matter the personal cost. Great space empires, and kids racing across the vastness of space alone, to either find safety or to be caught. There is a lot of fun stuff about to happen and youll be excited to see where it goes. The 2 main characters will have a lot to overcome, enjoy the adventure. I want to give a big thank you to Net Galley for a kindle ARC.

Thank you for reading, I’m not a writer, but I love the books I read and the authors are artists I love to support. Bye!.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reading copy! Seriously. THANK YOU. <3

Emily Skrutskie does it again!!! My non-white queer sci-fi adventure queen! <3 <3 <3 <3

Do you love a relationship that has pining but also payoff but that will get SO MUCH JUICIER IN SUBSEQUENT BOOKS? Well, this is the series for you. Seriously, my friends. I am going to love book two so much because this is the absolute perfect relationship build up.

So. Things to love:
> A friends-to-lovers-to-??? relationship that doesn't get bogged down at the beginning OR feel rushed because we get plopped in after they've known each other for years and have a strong established friendship and on-page chemistry.
> QUEER POC MAIN CHARACTERS WHO ARE SO SOFT BUT WILL ALSO DESTROY YOU (and possibly each other) IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.
> Damaged characters. Damaged characters everywhere. <3
> Friendships are just as important as the romantic relationship.
> The last like two chapters + epilogue are BOMB.

Things that I docked .5 stars for:
> Alternate swear words that were used ALL THE TIME and I just hate alternate swears. "Rut" instead of "fuck".
> I was vaguely confused at Ettian and Gal's grand scheme and what it would accomplish for most of their machinations. After the climax, I can gather that the reader was supposed to be in the dark for the details, but was sitting there with barely any idea of what they were planning and it made the angsty Gal scenes lose some impact for me. This could also be due to the fact that I read an advance reading copy months before release. So anything is possible. This confusion did not cause me to enjoy the book any less, but I feel like I lost some emotional moments between the two because I was sitting there like "okay but why though???"

I loved this. Teens will love this. I will recommend the HELL out of it. And I am so excited for book two. <3

I don't care for sci-fi and Emily Skrutskie continues to prove the exception to the rule. From THE ABYSS SURROUNDS US to HULL METAL GIRLS to now BONDS OF BRASS, she continues to tell fascinating and interesting stories in the sci-fi realm that keep me coming back for more.

BONDS OF BRASS is about a lot of things -- imperialism and rebellion, for example -- but the heart of the story is about the relationship between two boys who are on opposite sides of a war, though only one of them knows it at first. Gal is the love of Ettian's life, but Gal is also the heir to the intergalactic empire that has oppressed Ettian's people. The love between them is a believable slow burn. Though they've been friends for years, making that final leap from friendship to romantic partners would be hard even with everything else that crops up between them.

The action kept me on the edge of my seat, and though this has that "first book in a series" feel of setting up more than is actually paid off, I'm definitely interested in further exploring this world. Skrutskie is truly an author to watch.

*My eternal thanks to the publisher. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review."

SciFi is not my usual fare, but when I saw the author's pitch on twitter describe it as The Road to El Dorado meets Space, I was so down for this ride. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. At. All.

Bonds of Brass is space opera at its finest: In a time where war is a memory far too close for comfort, the former citizens of Archon had two choices when the Umber empire overtook them seven years ago: Assimilate or Die.

We meet Ettian Nassun, an Archon born pilot training as a cadet under the rule of the Umber emprex who wants nothing more than to be behind the controls of a really fast ship, preferably, with Gal the secret/not-so-secret love of his life by his side. When a resistance group launches an attack, Ettian must choose between his loyalty to his people and his loyalty who Gal. Reason being of course that Gal isn't just any other student at the academy: He is the Umber heir.

This book gripped me and wouldn't let me go. Emily Skrutskie has an innate gift with both Voice and a natural flow that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The action was flawless and not too overdrawn, each character that we met was nuanced and engaging. Ettian and Gal are intelligent, resourceful, and very flawed. Their relationship was always believable even as it continued to evolve and with the introduction of Wen, whom I absolutely adored, it was a terrible and wonderful experience to see how their dynamic shifted around the new addition.

These characters did not get off easy, they did not get to get away with making off the cuff decisions that effected no one else, and that in the end is what drew the line for me from four stars to five. Ettian's internal struggle with where his loyalty lie, Gal's desire to be better than his parents and knowing that in doing so he would still have to sacrifice innocents...It brought such a depth of emotion and tension to the plot that even in places where it could have gone slow, I found myself absolutely starving for more. Even when the boys turned desperate and indecisive, it was in a way that was believable. They're young, so young, and having to make these life and death situations that don't just apply to them. It never felt contrived, or melodramatic, and the ending was a bittersweet, almost cruel departure from the small comforts of the middle-end segments.

If you enjoy space battles, friends to lovers/forbidden lovers tropes, dangerous and clever female characters with a tendency to cause a brilliant type of chaos—well, this is definitely the book for you.

Bonds of Brass is out April 07, 2020 and I can assure you, I am already clamoring for its sequel to see what happens to our unlikely trio. Wonderful, fast-paced read.

I was first pulled in by the cover art. It's beautiful.

I usually prefer to read books with women protagonists, and so I didn't originally pick this book up. But the cover combined with a reread of the description (and the author's description on Goodreads) made me rethink. It's a science fiction book, with equal focus on the overarching plot and on the friendship/relationship between Ettian and Gal. In fact, it's the perfect combination of the two.

I liked Ettian's voice. I liked knowing his emotions, his struggles. Even so, it was difficult for me to get into the book at the beginning. It picked up for me, after Ettian and Gal left the planet. Once the truth of Gal's identity comes out, Ettian begins to doubt his friend's sincerity on multiple fronts, and he second-guesses himself. The interpersonal conflict between them was believable, and I sympathized with Ettian.

A highlight was when Wen appeared in the book. Although frustrated by her, Ettian finally had someone who had undergone the same kind of harrowing losses that he had. I loved the bond that they formed, and hope to see her more in the next book.

I enjoyed reading the book overall, but I wasn't sure just how much I liked it since it took me a while to warm up to it. But! Ultimately, I loved the ending. Often I can predict what will happen next in a book. I usually pick up on hints and foreshadowing. So, I was thrilled to have a plot twist that I didn't expect, and I'm not sure that it was hinted at much either. The complexity of the ending has me wanting more, and soon. I want to know how or if Ettian can resolve his relationship with Gal. I originally wasn't sure if I wanted to read the second book of this series, but now I certainly do.

This book is tightly written. Although it's a YA book, or at least about YA characters, it doesn't read like one. Ettian and Gal are attracted to each other, but there's less sexuality or explicitness in it than in many YA books. I still enjoy good YA novels, but I'm also in my mid-30s; whenever I read one, I wonder "would I recommend this book to my daughter when she's a preteen or teenager?" I can say yes about it to this one.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.

For the record, I received an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) of this book with the request that I leave a voluntary honest review for other potential readers. That having been said, here is my honest opinion and review of this book (I try not to reveal any spoilers in my reviews so it is safe to read). I very much enjoyed this book. The plot was amazing with so many surprises, twists and turns that kept me glued to the book until the end. I have always loved a good space opera and this one certainly counts as one. Both of the principle characters are well developed with so many facets to their personalities as well as their secrets. Their motivations are so wraped up in their secrets that it really keeps you guessing where the story goes from here. All of the other characters are not overlooked by the author and are fleshed out as well. The world (or should I say galaxy) building is well done and gives you everything that you need to know to understand the story. Three great space empires and what happens to them serves as an excellent back drop to the plot line. I found the writing style to be good and easy to read which is always a plus in my opinion. Therefore, I just have to say that this book earned its five stars and is definitely worth the time it takes to read it. I look forward to a sequel (that ending makes my pretty sure that one will be written).

I saw the author describe this book on twitter as "Star Wars meets The Road to El Dorado but it's gay" and I was immediately like THAT'S MY JAM. So when I saw it available here, I immediately requested it. I honestly forgot as I was reading it that it was the first book in a trilogy, so the fact that it takes a little while to really get going doesn't bother me now that I remember that. First books in series always have to spend some time on the world building, so I figure that now that's out of the way, books 2 and 3 will be exciting and action-packed all the way through. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes space opera and is looking for more diversity in their reading or collections.

Novel stretches the line on believably with ending. It's a well written novel about two pilots in the academy. There will be a sequel to this.

I'm a little old for this YA title, but liked it. It keeps things moving and includes some interesting characters and situations. The author has a good imagination, and writes well. I look forward to the sequel.

I really appreciate the advanced copy for review!!

I had so much fun reading this! I could not put it down!

Ettian and Gal are roommates at the Umber Imperial Academy where students take to space and learn the rules of flight. Ettian and some of his classmates take part in a routine drill when it turns into a nightmare, a nightmare based on a secret. Ettian questions his loyalty to his romantic interest, Gal, and also is trying to figure out if he can turn from his past to help his friend.

The ending is a shocker. I honestly am still reeling from it. Actually, I think I am cycling through every emotion one by one. This book is a great read and incredibly entertaining. And I cannot wait until the next book to find out what happens.

Fanfiction-y in all the best ways. Bonds of Brass is great - a trope-tastic sci fi that pokes at issues of identity, colonialism and politics.

I received an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I knew immediately that I had to read it. Space opera with secret identities and a queer relationship at its heart? Sign me up!

I am happy to say that the book more than delivered in regards to my expectations. I could not put this down until I finished it, and that rarely happens to me. The book has not been officially released yet and already I am wishing for the sequel. The two main characters, Ettian and Gal, felt fleshed out and real, and their relationship is a good iteration of the friends-to-lovers trope. The pacing, conflict and world-building were also all pretty solid here. There is also a female character named Wen who ends up along for the ride, and far from being a third wheel, Wen is a fully-realized and interesting character worthy of being a protagonist in her own right. Some of my favorite scenes from the book involved Wen.

If you like Science Fiction, LGBTQ lit, adventure and romance, do yourself a favor and pick up this title. It has a good smattering of all of those things. Can't wait for the next book!

Bonds of Brass is a thrilling and emotional space opera about two boys who are willing to burn the world down for one another, and it hooked from the very first page.

Ettian’s voice is so compelling, I was immediately invested in his story. While I have virtually no complaints about this book, I do think that the voice and it’s characters are Bonds of Brass’s strength. Ettian, Gal, and Wen are fully-realized, complex, and nuanced, as are their relationships with one another. It absolutely kills me that I have to wait until 2021 to spend more time with them, and I knew the minute I finished this book that it would be re-read again and again. Seriously, I can’t say enough good things about this story, and I heartily recommend it to fans of YA action/adventure or YA space opera.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ettian and Gal are the main characters for the first part of the book. They are fast friends and on their way to becoming more over time. The story is told from Ettian's perspective, and he saves Gal, the future heir to the Umbrian empire, which leads to a flight outside the reaches of the Umbrian empire. Along the way they meet Wen, who is both a nuisance and extremely helpful. By the end, Ettian saves Gal yet again with Wen's help, but the consequence is that Gal sees him as a traitor.

I got this book as an unfinished proof in order to give a review.

A beautifully written story of the coming of age of a young man who gets entangled in the fate of the young man he loves, and of two empires coming to a conflict reborn. The story is well-written with a surprise ending, and with a lot of twists and turns. The author manages to convey the perils of being a teenager, being a recruit in the military, and being a survivor, all at once. Along with the ideas of love, loyalty, and the ties that bind.

I was not too sure of the book at first, and it does have some slow spots, but it slowly came to fill itself in, gaining momentum and style as it went.

I wasn't looking for a YA title when I sat down to browse upcoming Science Fiction titles on NetGalley, but I was hooked the moment I read the summary of Bonds of Brass. A young man torn between a dead empire and his best friend who he's in love with? Sign me up! Bonds of Brass did not let me down. It gave me the will-they-or-won't-they romance that I desired, the fraught tension of duty and loyalty and the delicate dance of being true to yourself. Ettian, Gal, and Wen are delightful characters and they all feel very fleshed out and real. The first person POV from Ettian really shown in the climax and end, I loved him (and Gal and Wen) when it was all over. It's not entirely a cliff hanger, but it does leave off wide open for the next book in the series.

If you're looking for a fun, fast paced, engaging read, Bonds of Brass is your book. If you're an adult reader unsure about the YA title, don't be! This book is suitable for a wide range of ages.

An exciting YA space opera full of action and adventure that explores the bonds of loyalty and love and what happens when they are stretched to their limits.