This book wasn't great for me, I tried really hard to get It, but it just made me got bored, it needs something else for me to get better.

I can't believe this book was written by so many different authors! Maybe I'm just a completely unsophisticated reader, but the book seamlessly flowed - I couldn't have picked out any specific voice if it weren't for the author labels above each chapter. In the same vein, I didn't really understand why it was divided up like "season 1 episode 9", aside from switching authors. It didn't seem to me to be particularly divided by character POV, setting, or plot points. It didn't mess up the flow of the book or anything - just couldn't nail down a reason for the separate "episodes".

There was quite a bit of space action and battles (which I don't generally care for), but you also get robust character development. Everyone is fundamentally flawed, but also granted room for sympathy. Their literal universe is falling apart as their sun dies, so it's understandable that not everyone will display perfectly grace. The book is also very matter-of-fact in its inclusive elements, which is amazing! Lots of parallels to be made to our current political climate ...but I read to escape the news, so I tried not to dwell too long on making those connections :)

I super wanted to love this because of the awesome premise, but the writing style is just not clicking. Wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished and rated it lowly. DNF.

I really loved this, it had all the aspects of space sci-fi that I enjoy, fast-paced plot, hidden conspiracies, technological advances etc. I found the environmental degradation of the solar system very intriguing, as it's a plot I haven't come across much in sci-fi. The only thing that put me off this book was Niko. I loved Asala, found her an interesting MC that I was actively rooting for and cared about. Niko on the other hand just got on my nerves. Their idealism without critical thinking and the way they talked down to Asala about her own culture just bothered me too much and brought this down from a 5 to a 4 star for me.

Unexpectedly great. I've read other offerings from Serialbox, some hits, and some misses. This started off slow, but really got going. I love a good sci fi set in space.

What a lineup of authors! This, and the format of a serial space opera where every author wrote a chapter a week in a round robin fashion, drew me in. Serialbox publishes books like a streaming series: one season consists of ten episodes, and the second season of Vela takes off right now.

The star of a solar system is at the very end of its lifespan, outer planets are freezing and a refugee crisis hits the inner planets. Spaceship Vela is one of the refugee transporters, but it's gone lost.

The series starts with a loud bang - a visiting General is threatened to get assassinated and has to be rescued. The main protagonists, sniper Asala and hacker kid Niko get introduced and shine in their heroic roles.

After this short interlude, they get the real mission to find The Vela again and lead it to rescue. A journey through the solar system starts with many twists and turns, a prison break-in, a whole war and mysterious technology.

I'm no stranger to serial narrations, as I've been invested for several years into the longest running SF serial Perry Rhodan which produces 64 pages each and every week since 1961. Those guys know how to evolve a tension arc over several issues and separate work between authors. I have a certain expectation with this format.

And it wasn't met, sadly. First of all, each of the ten episodes tells a conclusive story, and I found them to be equally fine. The setting is interesting, though I had to scratch my head somewhat over the idea of harvesting a star leading to bleed it out of energy within the next hundred years. The topic of refugee migration is relevant in our days, and the thriller oriented plot is interesting with its twists and turns. Having a non-binary character with Niko in a prominent role is to be expected with theses authors, and feels like a must these days.

But some elements annoyed me seriously - first of all the tension arc: Every chapter needed its own micro arc and used a cliffhanger for more tension. This doesn't turn out well in the novel form that I read. A natural tension arc with relaxation in between wasn't installed and the read was bumping heavily through the whole season.

Secondly, some chapters had continuity problems - the previous chapter left me in an unresolved state and I wasn't picked up by the next chapter at that place but found a strange jump in time and space.

Also, the planetary settings don't get enough visual impression, they feel abstract and and lack a sense of being there.

Lastly, that hacker kid Niko, a real Mary Sue / Gary Stu - hacking each and everything, starting from prison A.I.s up to planetary defense systems within minutes, conveniently surpassing every obstacle. Surely, people in a highly advanced civilization plastered with A.I.s will have passwords like Dog1234. The whole hacking explanations where just ridiculous bad.

After three chapters, I started skimming through the text, and the book didn't draw me back to slow reading, which is always a bad sign.

So sorry to be the party pooper here, but this format didn't meet my expectations and the quality of the authors. I rather read single stories or novels from them and won't continue the next season.

This book struck me as different from other scifi. It seems to take a dimmer view of humanity than others. The entire solar system is dying because the people have been harvesting hydrogen from the sun. That's been going on long enough that climate change has become an inescapable force. Entire planets are freezing to death.
The story centers on Asala, who is tasked to find a missing spaceship. Of course, there's more to it than meets the eye and she finds herself trapped in larger and larger moral dilemmas. The story never gets bogged down, but it does make you think.