Our intrepid heroes are still battling the aliens that have secretly taken control of most of the arkship. It's a solid story that is definitely the middle book of a trilogy though. I find the whole concept of a generational arkship fascinating; I have to keep reminding myself of the massive size required to sustain a civilization for several hundred years.
I'll definitely read the final book to see if they make it to the destination planet, despite the aliens' interference.

3.5⭐️
I really liked the concept but I felt that it was just lacking a little in information, I’d have really liked another hundred pages explaining more about “before”.
But that’s probably just a me problem, I do really enjoy the author’s unique approach to sci-fi, some of his ideas are fascinating. I’m not going to go into detail because of spoilers, but I love the originality.
Great characters, and interesting interactions.

A great second book to this trilogy. At the beginning, up to the ~40% mark, I was worried the book was going nowhere; it was very slow. Luckily, after that, it picked up and I again became actively invested in the trials of getting rid of the Yi for good. It introduced more twists to the story than I anticipated, and I was pleasantly surprised by this. Overall, a good book and a strong book in the trilogy; I am looking forward to reading the last book.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The story follows Hazel and her friends on their continued mission to take back command of their Ark ship, the Daedalus, which has been traveling for 500 years after leaving a planet once inhabited by an alien species.

The Yi are not lying down and making it an easy fight; their survival tactics reach psychological levels as they attempt to turn the village people against Hazel. There are moments when the Yi are dehumanized to show they cannot possibly feel the way humans do, a concept John ironically throws his own opinions into as an AI.

John, Hazel's AI, guides them through the Daedalus, serving as a witty companion lightening the mood in a survival story.

The Daedalus feels genuinely immense, a staggering scale that hits the reader whenever the characters explore new areas. Even after witnessing some of the ship's most incredible sectors, Hazel, and her friends are still constantly surprised by new discoveries, ensuring the setting never loses its sense of awe.

Arc provided by Angry Robot via NetGalley

The Captain’s Daughter by Peter F. Hamilton

Years ago, back when I finished reviewing the Salvation Sequence by Peter F. Hamilton, I said that I looking forward to trying his next series. And I was so right! About 5 years ago I got an audio advanced reader copy of A Hole in the Sky and it was fantastic! I have always loved Hamilton’s space opera, and I love a good generation ship story, and this was so much fun!

I recently got an eARC of the second book in the series and it was just as good! This book really ramped up the action and solved some of the mysteries in this generation ship story, but it left plenty of things to be resolved in the final installment.

I realized that I enjoy Mr. Hamilton’s YA mode a lot in this book. Some of his earlier works have some squicky sex stuff but there’s none of that here.

I can heartily recommend this but would suggest you read the first book first. I am very much looking forward to the final book and everything else Mr. Hamilton chooses to write.

The Captain's Daughter is a strong follow-up to A Hole in the Sky that expands the world, raises the stakes, and delivers plenty of action, even if it doesn't quite reach the complexity of Peter F. Hamilton's adult science fiction.

With the truth about the Yi now out in the open, Hazel finds herself carrying the weight of humanity's future aboard the Daedalus. As more secrets about the ship's history are uncovered, she must navigate growing dangers while trying to convince others that everything they've been taught about their world is a lie. The story moves at a brisk pace, with new discoveries and revelations arriving regularly enough to keep the momentum going throughout.

One of the book's greatest strengths is the continued exploration of the Daedalus itself. I enjoyed learning more about the ship, its hidden history, and the events that led to humanity's current situation. Hamilton gradually reveals more details without resorting to lengthy infodumps, allowing the mysteries to unfold naturally through Hazel's experiences.

Hazel remains an engaging protagonist. She's determined and courageous, but she's also overwhelmed by the responsibility suddenly placed upon her. Her moments of uncertainty help make her feel believable, and the first-person narration gives the story an immediacy that works particularly well during the action scenes. There are several tense moments where the limited perspective adds to the suspense because neither Hazel nor the reader fully understands what's happening until events unfold.

The pacing is fast and the book is very easy to read. At times it felt more like watching an action-adventure film than reading a traditional science-fiction novel, which made it difficult to put down. However, that accessibility comes with some trade-offs. The plot is relatively straightforward, some twists are fairly easy to anticipate, and readers looking for the intricate world-building and layered storytelling of Hamilton's larger novels may find this series a little lightweight by comparison.

That said, this is very much a YA adventure, and judged on those terms it succeeds extremely well. The story is exciting, optimistic, and refreshingly free from the excessive angst that often creeps into young adult fiction. At its core, it's a compelling tale about ordinary people trying to reclaim control of their future and survive long enough to reach a new world.

Overall, The Captain's Daughter builds effectively on the foundations laid by the first book. While not every mystery is answered and some developments are more predictable than others, the combination of strong pacing, engaging characters, and intriguing ideas made for a thoroughly enjoyable read. I'm definitely interested to see how the story concludes.

Thanks to NetGalley, Angry Robot and the publisher for an advance copy.