Navigational Entanglements

By: Aliette de Bodard

Narrated by: Cindy Kay

A "Best of" Pick by Lit Hub | Amazon | New Scientist!

Jockeying navigator clans guide spaceships through the Hollows: an area of space populated by the mysterious but deadly creatures known as Tanglers. When a Tangler escapes the Hollows for the first time in living memory, each clan must send a representative to help capture it—but the mission may be doomed and the hearts of two clan juniors may be in danger too.

Việt Nhi is not good with people. Or politics. Which is a problem when the Rooster clan sends her on the mission against her will, forcing her to work with an ill-matched group of squabbling teammates from rival clans, including one who she can't avoid, and maybe doesn't want to.

Hạc Cúc of the Snake clan has always been better at poisoning and stabbing than at making friends, but she's drawn to Nhi's perceptiveness and obliviousness to social conventions.

But when their imperial envoy and nominal leader is poisoned, this crew of expendable apprentices will have to learn to work together. Nhi and Hạc Cúc will have to learn the hardest lesson of all: to see past their own misconceptions and learn to trust their growing feelings for each other.

©2024 Aliette de Bodard (P)2024 Tantor Media

Once Again Wonderful!

Each time de Bodard writes in this universe it becomes richer and more nuanced. For me the love story was unnecessary and it could have easily been just as strong as a found family project but that does not impinge upon how much I enjoy the depth of the worldbuilding and efficiency of the plotting. As far as I am concerned, read everything you can in this universe. All of it builds upon the ever more engaging framework. Highly recommended!