Divinity 36 (Tinkered Starsong #1)

Divinity 36 by Gail Carriger

I loved this book, for so many reasons. The alien landscape and peoples are unique, and at the same time the characters are real, diverse, and relatable. There are moments that are very clever, and others that are thoughtful. I can't think of a good way to give a sum-up of the premise and why it works so well without spoiling things, because this is a book that feels like more than the sum of its parts. The world is intriguing, the characters are great, the premise is entertaining, and all together, it's a delightful read. I can't wait until the next one comes out, thankfully Ms. Carriger is releasing these really close together!

I had read Crudrat before reading this, so I did know the universe, and had a bit of background about why our main character, Phex, is who and how he is. That said, you don't need to read Crudrat first. Divinity 36 stands well on its own as the first in this Tinkered Starsong series, and Phex's background is revealed in part to the reader as other characters learn it. But if you're someone who likes to have all the pieces of the puzzle, you might want to check out Crudrat at some point.

This book would be great for anyone who enjoys SciFi where characters have thoughtful interactions (something like Becky Chambers), for folks who love shows like the Eurovision competition or the Masked Singer, and for readers who like slice of life writing with middling stakes and maybe a hint of romance. And of course, for fans of the authorbeast herself, Ms. Carriger brings her trademark wit into a fresh, new universe.