Publisher's Weekly Review
The muddled third space opera in Zahn's Sybil's War series (after Knight) continues the struggle for control over the Fyrantha, an immense psychic former warship. The self-appointed Shipmasters force the many alien species that have been thrown together aboard the ship to compete so they can determine which will be most valuable to sell as warriors. The Fyrantha teleported human Nicole Hammond, a former member of a Philadelphia street gang, on board to repair its deteriorating machinery in the previous installments and has since appointed her the Protector of the ship and its inhabitants. Now she works to win the support of fractious humans, coordinate the talents of various nonhuman allies, and repair the Fyrantha's fragmented artificial intelligence. But evading the wily Shipmasters and their brutal partners, the Koffren, becomes much more complicated when they teleport domineering members of her old gang from Philly onto the ship. The many factions make for a convoluted conflict, and the ship's complex physical layout makes the action sequences difficult to follow. New readers will have a hard time playing catchup and understanding the personal stakes for Nicole. This middling installment is strictly for die-hard series fans. (Apr.)
Booklist Review
The final installment of the Chronicle of the Sibyl's War trilogy (after Knight, 2019) finds Nicole Hammond trying to wrest control of the mammoth AI spaceship Fyranthia from the dreaded shipbuilders. It was once a mighty warship, and the shipbuilders use it as an incubator to determine which species can best be sold mercenaries to fight in interstellar wars. The story reads like an extended chase scene as Nicole uses her street smarts and position as ship's protector to negotiate, along with her motley band of aliens and humans, the many threats that confront her throughout the seemingly endless confines of the ship. Zahn has created a fascinating and original world with myriad aliens, interesting technology, and a curious plot with an abundance of twists and surprises. While this book is billed as the conclusion to the trilogy, Zahn leaves an opening for more adventures in this universe. This story will appeal to readers who enjoy dialogue-driven space opera with strong female characters like Alex White's A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe (2018) or Megan O'Keefe's Velocity Weapon (2019).
