Yaaaaas gay space opera! I loved the MC and she had a very believable character arc. The world was fun and easy to understand, and the violence was never glorified.

I love a good time-travel book. This was done so well. Very butterfly theory. The mc's evolution was beautifully done as well. This got me back into sci-fi.

Kyr (short for Valkyr) is on the cusp of adulthood with all the confidence of a person who's never faced the realities of the mission she was raised/brainwashed for. Gaea Station holds the last of the "true" humans after Earth was destroyed by the alien majo, and Kyr is desperate to prove herself the best of the best so she can serve humanity in combat against those suppressing majo forces. Her certainty in the moral correctness of the cause lends itself to cruelty and inflexible rule-following while blinding her to the nuance of any experience other than her own. Not everyone around her has been so carefully groomed for success, down to her genes. Her chase of Command-prescribed perfection leaves no space for others who might rebel, even in small ways, against the role they're assigned. It's no wonder that she lacks anything resembling a meaningful friendship.

Sexism is as hard-boiled into humanity as ever, not that Kyr would notice such a thing. It's not until the tacit threat of being assigned to Nursery (the incubating and rearing, etc. of children) comes knocking that she feels any whiff of misgiving about what her future might hold. The mantra that it's an honorable assignment doesn't hold as much water when she has to imagine herself doing it. Kyr was made for something "better," she's convinced, but she won't have a choice one way or the other. After all, "your sons...will be everything you are and more." What's one extraordinary living woman against the weight of future men who we assume will surpass her?

Strict gender roles naturally come with a complete lack of understanding for transness or any other style of gender nonconformity. It also extends into homophobic rhetoric along the usual lines of the necessity of perpetuating the human race blah blah blah. One of the most painful things about reading from this unlikable, sheltered protagonist's point of view was her wholesale acceptance of these "facts," even to her own detriment. Her expanding worldview to include queerness in its many forms eventually has to make space for her own identity in the milieu.

Averse to weakness and tender feelings and only able to accept social bonds with systemic blueprints and constraints, Kyr has an inhuman feel that alienates her from everyone else. On the other hand, her story is one of humanity writ large, growing up and coming to terms with lies you've been told and those you've lived. It's about realizing the limits of having a trusted adult or system organize your life in an effort to control you and everyone around you. It's about not fitting what you or anyone else thought would be your role. It's about expanding horizons be they literal or figurative. Yeah, so. The social commentary feels pretty relevant. It's a book that gets at the heart of things with all the emotions that entails.

It's worth noting that for what is a deeply unfunny book (I recommend giving the content warnings a good look if you need to before diving in), there's a line that made me laugh out loud, part of the humor coming from the complete surprise of its existence. See the following imagined phone call:

"Hi, I liked kissing you, but for complicated reasons I need to run away and commit crimes, sorry."

Pick this book up for what space operas do best-- throwing humanity across the vastness of space and leaving them to their usual moral vicissitudes even in an environment that feels like it ought to make things more alien. Things get timey wimey, providing perhaps the only avenue open to Kyr for the level of personal growth that can save her. It will crack your heart open and leave you better for it. Thanks to Tor for my copy to read and review!

A great debut novel, and a good choice for the teens YA group who enjoy Space operas and sci-fi. LBGTQ characters are well constructed and a terrific alien will capture the readers heart. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Highly recommended.

This book is a captivating and immersive read that hooks you from the first page. The writing is beautifully crafted, with vivid descriptions and strong character development that makes the story come alive. The plot is well-paced, balancing moments of tension with quieter, reflective scenes that allow the characters to grow. The themes explored are deep and thought-provoking, resonating long after the final page. Whether it's the emotional depth, the twists and turns of the plot, or the unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys rich, engaging stories. Highly recommended

Fantastic fresh voice in space opera - and even better, it's a standalone that's not a doorstopper! Surprisingly twisty in a way that felt organic.

This is really more like 4.5 stars, it was so close to amazing for me. There were just a few areas where I wanted more and the book didn't quite have the impact it could have had. I can see why this won the Hugo for sure, I kept picking it up to find out what would happen.

Some Desperate Glory is Emily Tesh’s debut and I’m so excited for it. A book that promises found family, timely and skillful storytelling and a diverse cast is one I am definitely eager to read.

In "Some Desperate Glory," Emily Tesh crafts a richly layered and deeply compelling narrative that challenges and subverts the tropes of classic space opera and military science fiction. Set in a future where humanity has been nearly annihilated by an alien race known as the majo, the story follows Kyr, a young woman raised in a militant society on the isolated station Gaea. This society is dedicated to avenging a destroyed Earth and reclaiming its former glory.

Kyr is a fascinating protagonist, shaped by her upbringing to be a soldier and a leader. Tesh deftly explores themes of indoctrination, identity, and rebellion through Kyr's eyes. Her journey from a loyal warrior to someone questioning the very foundations of her society is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. She isn't a very likable character for a large portion of the book, as someone who has been conditioned to believe a particular narrative and world view. We watch as she grapples with how she has impacted those around her and how she will become her own person.

The world-building is another standout aspect of "Some Desperate Glory." The grim setting of Gaea Station is vividly realized, its claustrophobic environment mirroring the oppressive nature of its society. Tesh balances detailed descriptions with a brisk pace, ensuring the reader is always engaged without being overwhelmed by exposition. The lore of the majo and humanity's history is gradually revealed, maintaining a sense of mystery and tension throughout the novel.

The novel's plot is tightly woven, with each twist and revelation feeling both surprising and inevitable. Tesh skillfully uses action sequences to advance character development and thematic exploration rather than merely for spectacle. The climax is both thrilling and thought-provoking, raising questions about revenge, redemption, and what it truly means to be human.

"Some Desperate Glory" is not just a tale of interstellar conflict; it's a profound meditation on the cycles of violence and the possibility of breaking free from them. The prose is elegant and evocative, with moments of stark beauty amidst the bleakness. The emotional resonance of the story lingers long after the final page, making it a memorable and impactful read.

After a devastating alien attack destroys Earth, a handful of survivors cling to the hope of revenge on Gaea Station, a satellite cobbled from the few remaining warships. A generation later, young people have been genetically modified and rigorously trained to be “warbreed” fighters, huge, strong, and…obedient. Normal human teens are assigned to other tasks churning out babies to keep humankind going. Warbreed Kyr (Valkyrie) has spent her entire life training to face “the Wisdom,” the reality-shaping alien weapon that doomed Earth. She excels in every physical test, she drives her lesser mess-mates mercilessly, and she has no emotional ties to anyone except her brother. She fully expects to be given a prized post…but Command has other ideas. Instead, her brother is sent on a death mission and she is consigned to the Nursery to bear sons for Gaea Station until she dies an early death.

At first, I found Kyr a highly unsympathetic character. She’s arrogant, entitled, and generally a self-centered bully. She’s unthinkingly cruel to the helpless young alien whose ship is captured. In short, I didn’t like her at all. But I kept reading on the strength of the prose and the hope that she would eventually get her comeuppance. And then the plot spins around in another direction…and yet another…
Refusing her Nursery assignment, Kyr ends up on the run with her brother, the alien, and her brother’s unrequited crush, a brilliant but psychopathic computer whiz (who is also a boy, but queer relationships are forbidden on Gaea Station because of the crushing need to increase the human population.)

Their flight takes them to a planet inhabited by both humans and aliens, where lush green, fresh air, blue skies, and joyful play contrast with the bleak sterility of her previous life. Not only that, she encounters her older sister, who was supposed to be dead, and her nephew, fathered by the autocratic Commander whom Kyr had once worshipped. Faced with the undeniable reality that the universe is vaster and more wonderful than she imagined, Kyr begins to question everything she has been taught, even her own memories. She starts asking who she would be if Earth had not been destroyed or if the Commander had not been a power-hungry tyrant bent on retaliation. If she’d grown up in an enriched, natural environment. If she’d been allowed to love anyone—starting with herself.

By this time, I was thoroughly hooked. With each deviation from the opening scenario, the entire universe changes—and Kyr with it. The author brilliantly takes us inside each iteration of Kyr, the good and the bad, the memories and the blindnesses. It’s a tour-de-force that kept me turning pages and falling in love with a true heroine.

This is such a wonderful book. I love the plot, the characters, and the setting. A great addition to the genre.

This queer space opera was okay.

I didn't necessarily not enjoy or enjoy the book. It was just okay.
The plot could've been more complicated and intricate but in the end it became too simple for my liking. I had hoped for it push the envelope even more.
Also I didn't expect it to contain some triggering stuff about r*pe, suicide, torture, and many more. It would be great if the book included those trigger warnings.

Pick up with caution.

Was feeling the need for a good sci fi book, so I picked this up on a whim, and I was immediately sucked in. The protagonist is SO unlikeable, which usually makes books hard to get through for me, but I was really impressed with how well the author demonstrated why she was unlikeable and gave her character growth. That combined with “wait, are we the bad guys?!”, and some fun timey wimey business made this one of my favorite books of the year.

I'm a huge fan of this author's Greenhollow Duology and was so excited for her first full length sci-fi novel. Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me. I don't mind an unlikeable character but I couldn't get past Kyr's brand of unlikeable and the hand waving about how things worked. I ended up DNFing this one around the 40% mark.

Immersive, propulsive, and original. This is a recommended purchase for collections where sci-fi is popular.

See my review in Nov/Dec 2023 issue of Analog Science Fiction:

https://www.analogsf.com/current-issue/the-reference-library/

I adored this book and all of its' characters. The AI angle is always something that I am interested in but just to see a character who is so militant and rigid become this completely different person? Amazing, fantastic. I loved every second of it. Perfectly paced and the character development left nothing to be desired for. Five out of five stars!

In full disclosure, I am not normally a fan of alternate universes and “resetting” during a narrative. As a result, I feel it fair to warn anyone getting into this book that you are re-reading the same character’s life in 3 different universes total. This is also a book that starts with the worst possible outcome and then works to get “better.” That said, getting through the first of the three universes was hard, both due to the content (militarizing children, abuse, homophobia, genocide) and the flatness of the primary character, Kyr.

However, once you get past that first universe, it’s a fun read. Everything is set up, built upon, and tied together well, including the deepening of Kyr and related characters. Heavy issues are brought up but dripped throughout the three universes, allowing for different points of view and not getting too overwhelmed at once. Some issues are glossed over more than I’d like (such as racial issues), but overall I found them handled pretty well.

For queerness, both Kyr and her brother are queer, though Kyr doesn’t realize it until Universe #2. There is an alien species with many genders, generally referred to as “them.” There could have been more trans and non-binary representation in humanity, as well as ace representation, for this to be an even queerer space opera. I still enjoyed what was offered.

Kyr, raised in self sustaining Gaia Station with what remains of humanity, and trained as a warrior, refuses her assignment to Nursery, leaves, and discovers that nothing is what she was brought up to believe.

Having grown up in a cult after Earth was destroyed, Kyr changes from a devoted believer to an insurgent who fights back against Gaea and all it stands for.

Early on this book took a turn o wasn't expecting, but that really grabbed me! A great space opera sci-fi! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.