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The Deep Sky
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Science Fiction (2023)Yume Kitasei's The Deep Sky is an enthralling sci fi thriller debut about a mission into deep space that begins with a lethal explosion that leaves the survivors questioning the loyalty of the crew.
They left Earth to save humanity. They’ll have to save themselves first.
It is the eve of Earth’s environmental collapse. A single ship carries humanity’s last hope: eighty elite graduates of a competitive program, who will give birth to a generation of children in deep space. But halfway to a distant but livable planet, a lethal bomb kills three of the crew and knocks The Phoenix off course. Asuka, the only surviving witness, is an immediate suspect.
Asuka already felt like an impostor before the explosion. She was the last picked for the mission, she struggled during training back on Earth, and she was chosen to represent Japan, a country she only partly knows as a half-Japanese girl raised in America. But estranged from her mother back home, The Phoenix is all she has left.
With the crew turning on each other, Asuka is determined to find the culprit before they all lose faith in the mission—or worse, the bomber strikes again.
---
CW: miscarriage, fertility issues, terrorism, death of a child, racism, gore, strong language
They left Earth to save humanity. They’ll have to save themselves first.
It is the eve of Earth’s environmental collapse. A single ship carries humanity’s last hope: eighty elite graduates of a competitive program, who will give birth to a generation of children in deep space. But halfway to a distant but livable planet, a lethal bomb kills three of the crew and knocks The Phoenix off course. Asuka, the only surviving witness, is an immediate suspect.
Asuka already felt like an impostor before the explosion. She was the last picked for the mission, she struggled during training back on Earth, and she was chosen to represent Japan, a country she only partly knows as a half-Japanese girl raised in America. But estranged from her mother back home, The Phoenix is all she has left.
With the crew turning on each other, Asuka is determined to find the culprit before they all lose faith in the mission—or worse, the bomber strikes again.
---
CW: miscarriage, fertility issues, terrorism, death of a child, racism, gore, strong language
399 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2023
About the author
Yume Kitasei
6 books419 followersYume Kitasei (www.yumekitasei.com) is a Brooklyn-based Japanese and American writer of speculative fiction. Her stories have appeared in publications including New England Review, Catapult, SmokeLong Quarterly, Baltimore Review, and Nashville Review. She is the author of two novels, The Deep Sky and The Stardust Grail (coming June 2024). She chirps occasionally @Yumewrites at Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky.
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April 28, 2024Whether you enjoy this book or not, thank you so much for reading my debut novel! It means the world to me.
First books are nerve-wracking. Will you like it or hate it? Will you read it at all, or am I shouting into a void? I wrote this book while working long hours during the last few years, so it's probably not surprising that the first version had someone bursting into tears every chapter. I corrected that - I don't consider this a sad book, I promise. I hope you enjoy the ride!
CW: miscarriage, fertility issues, terrorism, death of a child, racism, gore, strong language
First books are nerve-wracking. Will you like it or hate it? Will you read it at all, or am I shouting into a void? I wrote this book while working long hours during the last few years, so it's probably not surprising that the first version had someone bursting into tears every chapter. I corrected that - I don't consider this a sad book, I promise. I hope you enjoy the ride!
CW: miscarriage, fertility issues, terrorism, death of a child, racism, gore, strong language
Want to read
December 13, 2022Among Us fanfiction???
March 17, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
The Deep Sky is a recently-released SF-Thriller debut from Yume Kitasei. This story features a deep space mission where a lethal explosion causes the survivors to question the loyalty of their fellow crew members.
We follow Asuka, one of the crew and sole surviving witness to the explosion that killed three mission members and knocked their ship, The Phoenix, off course.
The set-up was interesting and scarily plausible. With Earth on the brink of an planet-altering environmental disaster, the countries of the world nominate individuals to compete for a spot on a humanity-saving mission.
As with any interstellar mission, space is limited. Asuka is selected as a contender to represent her mother's native-Japan. Although not initially chosen, Asuka earns a spot as an alternate due to unforeseen circumstances.
Because of this, Asuka can't help but feel like an outsider.
When the explosion happens, and Asuka is nearby and survives, she becomes a bit of a suspect in the eyes of some of the other crew members.
Asuka feels like she needs to get to the bottom of what caused the explosion. She can clear her name and find out what is actually going on with the rest of the crew. Thus, a mystery twist unfolds.
This was really good actually. I was a bit on the fence at first. The story wasn't fully able to capture my attention until around the halfway mark. I was very pleased that Kitasei was eventually able to pull me in through the intensity of the storyline and completely pulled it off in the end.
The story is quite thoughtfully-written and the SF-elements provided plenty of interesting possibilities for our future. This would make a great one to discuss with friends, a book club, or other SF-readers in general.
I did feel like the idea of the mission, the way it was initiated was well-developed and thought out. I feel like when you are writing something futuristic like this, you can really go anywhere with it. Kitasei's take was creative and frankly, believable in a frightening way.
The aspects of this that didn't work as well for me were the story construction, especially in the beginning, and some of the character work.
The narrative jumps around from present to the past frequently and I felt like, for me, those transitions weren't smooth enough. They were quite jarring and I kept feeling out of touch with what was happening because of it. Additionally, as far as the characters go, I had a hard time remembering anyone besides our main, Asuka.
None of them felt distinct to me like Asuka did. In spite of that though, I still appreciate what the author developed here. I think this story shows a lot of great creativity and thoughtfulness about the potential future of humanity.
Overall, I was impressed with this as a debut story. It's complex, multifaceted and thought-provoking. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would definitely recommend the audio version. The narration fit the story very well.
The Deep Sky is a recently-released SF-Thriller debut from Yume Kitasei. This story features a deep space mission where a lethal explosion causes the survivors to question the loyalty of their fellow crew members.
We follow Asuka, one of the crew and sole surviving witness to the explosion that killed three mission members and knocked their ship, The Phoenix, off course.
The set-up was interesting and scarily plausible. With Earth on the brink of an planet-altering environmental disaster, the countries of the world nominate individuals to compete for a spot on a humanity-saving mission.
As with any interstellar mission, space is limited. Asuka is selected as a contender to represent her mother's native-Japan. Although not initially chosen, Asuka earns a spot as an alternate due to unforeseen circumstances.
Because of this, Asuka can't help but feel like an outsider.
When the explosion happens, and Asuka is nearby and survives, she becomes a bit of a suspect in the eyes of some of the other crew members.
Asuka feels like she needs to get to the bottom of what caused the explosion. She can clear her name and find out what is actually going on with the rest of the crew. Thus, a mystery twist unfolds.
This was really good actually. I was a bit on the fence at first. The story wasn't fully able to capture my attention until around the halfway mark. I was very pleased that Kitasei was eventually able to pull me in through the intensity of the storyline and completely pulled it off in the end.
The story is quite thoughtfully-written and the SF-elements provided plenty of interesting possibilities for our future. This would make a great one to discuss with friends, a book club, or other SF-readers in general.
I did feel like the idea of the mission, the way it was initiated was well-developed and thought out. I feel like when you are writing something futuristic like this, you can really go anywhere with it. Kitasei's take was creative and frankly, believable in a frightening way.
The aspects of this that didn't work as well for me were the story construction, especially in the beginning, and some of the character work.
The narrative jumps around from present to the past frequently and I felt like, for me, those transitions weren't smooth enough. They were quite jarring and I kept feeling out of touch with what was happening because of it. Additionally, as far as the characters go, I had a hard time remembering anyone besides our main, Asuka.
None of them felt distinct to me like Asuka did. In spite of that though, I still appreciate what the author developed here. I think this story shows a lot of great creativity and thoughtfulness about the potential future of humanity.
Overall, I was impressed with this as a debut story. It's complex, multifaceted and thought-provoking. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would definitely recommend the audio version. The narration fit the story very well.
August 23, 2023
The premise of a murder mystery set in space was interesting, but there were so many fictitious technical details that doing what makes murder mysteries fun—trying to figure out the culprit—was nearly impossible.
August 2, 2022
That was amazingly beautiful and honest and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time to come.
There are so many things to love about this debut, but I especially adored how real every moment felt: the politics of boarding school and our future world; the lapsed friendships and estranged parents; the guilt of surviving, of being chosen. In THE DEEP SKY, Kitasei puts us under the microscope not in judgement but with a fair and caring eye; she looks for the best in us.
There are so many things to love about this debut, but I especially adored how real every moment felt: the politics of boarding school and our future world; the lapsed friendships and estranged parents; the guilt of surviving, of being chosen. In THE DEEP SKY, Kitasei puts us under the microscope not in judgement but with a fair and caring eye; she looks for the best in us.
January 29, 2023
[Blurb goes here]
Didn't enjoyed it, I really wanted to.
Asuka is the "Alternate" on the starship EvenStar. As her title entails, she's the one person from the crew to do odd jobs here and there. She was the last person to be selected to travel to Planet X. A new home world for the human race. When on a space walk with Kat, to better inspect "a blurred" shape on the outer hull of the ship (one that isn't clear, not even when using bots to go and inspect it, mind you), an explosion renders her unconscious, and kills Kat. The sudden detonations takes the EvenStar out of course.
The captain is dead, the new one enlists Asuka to investigate. There's a saboteur among the eighty crew members.
This seemingly amazing premise turns out to be a story into the absurd. I mean, the tech's there to find what really happened, but each time it is used to try and solve the mystery, "somehow," it does not work. The ship can't get back on track because of "reasons". "It was meant to go straight," one crew member will argue. "The course correction engines where not design for this," another will say. Rendering the saboteur's goal a moot point.
The characters are mostly paper thin. Asuka which is fleshed out through flashback after flashback, turns out to be a not so likable character, one that can hold a grudge until the end of times.
About 50% into the book, it becomes obvious who the saboteur is...obvious to the reader, that is, while the crew remains oblivious to the impossible to miss fact.
The flashbacks, meant to give life to each of the main characters, turn stale and repetitive way too soon.
Seventy-something out of the eighty crew members, are just invisible ghosts to the author, and in turn, to the reader.
If there's one good thing to say about this story, is that it is inclusive, pronouns flying all around.
It pains me to say that this is one book that I found really hard to finish, specially since, after reading the blurb, my expectations went through the roof. Yeap, "...the harder they fall."
Thank you for the advanced copy!
Didn't enjoyed it, I really wanted to.
Asuka is the "Alternate" on the starship EvenStar. As her title entails, she's the one person from the crew to do odd jobs here and there. She was the last person to be selected to travel to Planet X. A new home world for the human race. When on a space walk with Kat, to better inspect "a blurred" shape on the outer hull of the ship (one that isn't clear, not even when using bots to go and inspect it, mind you), an explosion renders her unconscious, and kills Kat. The sudden detonations takes the EvenStar out of course.
The captain is dead, the new one enlists Asuka to investigate. There's a saboteur among the eighty crew members.
This seemingly amazing premise turns out to be a story into the absurd. I mean, the tech's there to find what really happened, but each time it is used to try and solve the mystery, "somehow," it does not work. The ship can't get back on track because of "reasons". "It was meant to go straight," one crew member will argue. "The course correction engines where not design for this," another will say. Rendering the saboteur's goal a moot point.
The characters are mostly paper thin. Asuka which is fleshed out through flashback after flashback, turns out to be a not so likable character, one that can hold a grudge until the end of times.
About 50% into the book, it becomes obvious who the saboteur is...obvious to the reader, that is, while the crew remains oblivious to the impossible to miss fact.
The flashbacks, meant to give life to each of the main characters, turn stale and repetitive way too soon.
Seventy-something out of the eighty crew members, are just invisible ghosts to the author, and in turn, to the reader.
If there's one good thing to say about this story, is that it is inclusive, pronouns flying all around.
It pains me to say that this is one book that I found really hard to finish, specially since, after reading the blurb, my expectations went through the roof. Yeap, "...the harder they fall."
Thank you for the advanced copy!
May 22, 2023
A very strong debut! This is a page turning space thriller of espionage and intrigue, chock full of commentary on climate change, existential dread, and mommy issues. While I think some of the progress through the story could have been a little smoother, overall, I thought this was a great combo of entertainment and thoughtful thematic content
February 11, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the eArc!
I did not like this book at all. If I didn't feel obligated to finish the book in order to review it, I probably would have quit midway through.
TLDR: A long winded story about one dimensional women who all want to be pregnant, told from the perspective of an unlikeable, identity obsessed girl with an inferiority complex and zero character growth. The only thing that gets this categorized as sci-fi is that it's set on a spaceship. The pregnancy stuff? Only there because "it's about women so pregnancy must be an issue, and obviously the only thing that could motivate them at the very end is their future offspring." It reads far more like YA than adult and struggles with consistency in POV.
I think the primary reason for this was that this didn't work as a sci-fi or thriller/mystery. The extent of the sci-fi in this novel is that they're stated to be in a space ship, have augmented reality, and some bots. The entire premise of the mission and crew just doesn't stand up under basic scrutiny. You absolutely would not have all of your leadership pregnant at the same time,?you wouldn't even have them get pregnant in the first place when you don't have advanced medical tech to eliminate the risks, and you wouldn't have a crew selected that had issues with each other before they began.
There is very little tension or build up in the story and the culprit is super obvious. The plot is extremely slow, and if you've ever been the alternate for a team you can basically guess how the selection academy went for Asuka without having to read anything.
I liked the idea of the augmented reality overlay on the ship, but it felt like it was used to avoid having to write about spaceship technology. Everything having more than a basic a science understanding to mention happens off page. I'm unconvinced the author is passionate or interested in space or technology beyond the escapism it can offer.
Another problem is the characters. The main character's entire personality is her angst over being mixed race and having been the alternate choice for Japan. She has zero character growth. Absolute zero. 12 year old Asuka is the exact same as 21/31ish year old Asuka. She is the kind of person who puts ZERO effort into her relationships and then is hurt/offended when people don't care deeply about her:
The rest of the characters are one dimensional and uninteresting. Almost as if the author couldn't imagine writing a perspective other than her own. In fact, for this 80 person crew, we only meet around 10-the rest just don't really exist at all.
The worst part is the way women are portrayed. We have women who basically instantly cave under pressure, fight amongst themselves, can only be motivated in the end by the thought of their future offspring, make poor impulsive decisions, and are portrayed as being flawed/highly disliked/problematic if they aren't motherly/kind or constantly put on that mask. Also, everyone just is cool with having to get pregnant and have kids? Not one single person who isn't super thrilled?
The writing seemed to struggle with clarity and whether or not it wanted to be third person limited, stream of consciousness, or third omniscient. There were more than a few instances where pronoun use made this difficult to understand and even some where the author even had to clarify with parentheses.
I kept waiting for a big, epic reveal/twist that just never materialized.
I did not like this book at all. If I didn't feel obligated to finish the book in order to review it, I probably would have quit midway through.
TLDR: A long winded story about one dimensional women who all want to be pregnant, told from the perspective of an unlikeable, identity obsessed girl with an inferiority complex and zero character growth. The only thing that gets this categorized as sci-fi is that it's set on a spaceship. The pregnancy stuff? Only there because "it's about women so pregnancy must be an issue, and obviously the only thing that could motivate them at the very end is their future offspring." It reads far more like YA than adult and struggles with consistency in POV.
I think the primary reason for this was that this didn't work as a sci-fi or thriller/mystery. The extent of the sci-fi in this novel is that they're stated to be in a space ship, have augmented reality, and some bots. The entire premise of the mission and crew just doesn't stand up under basic scrutiny. You absolutely would not have all of your leadership pregnant at the same time,?you wouldn't even have them get pregnant in the first place when you don't have advanced medical tech to eliminate the risks, and you wouldn't have a crew selected that had issues with each other before they began.
There is very little tension or build up in the story and the culprit is super obvious. The plot is extremely slow, and if you've ever been the alternate for a team you can basically guess how the selection academy went for Asuka without having to read anything.
I liked the idea of the augmented reality overlay on the ship, but it felt like it was used to avoid having to write about spaceship technology. Everything having more than a basic a science understanding to mention happens off page. I'm unconvinced the author is passionate or interested in space or technology beyond the escapism it can offer.
Another problem is the characters. The main character's entire personality is her angst over being mixed race and having been the alternate choice for Japan. She has zero character growth. Absolute zero. 12 year old Asuka is the exact same as 21/31ish year old Asuka. She is the kind of person who puts ZERO effort into her relationships and then is hurt/offended when people don't care deeply about her:
The rest of the characters are one dimensional and uninteresting. Almost as if the author couldn't imagine writing a perspective other than her own. In fact, for this 80 person crew, we only meet around 10-the rest just don't really exist at all.
The worst part is the way women are portrayed. We have women who basically instantly cave under pressure, fight amongst themselves, can only be motivated in the end by the thought of their future offspring, make poor impulsive decisions, and are portrayed as being flawed/highly disliked/problematic if they aren't motherly/kind or constantly put on that mask. Also, everyone just is cool with having to get pregnant and have kids? Not one single person who isn't super thrilled?
The writing seemed to struggle with clarity and whether or not it wanted to be third person limited, stream of consciousness, or third omniscient. There were more than a few instances where pronoun use made this difficult to understand and even some where the author even had to clarify with parentheses.
I kept waiting for a big, epic reveal/twist that just never materialized.
December 12, 2023
A parent can’t write the end of a child’s story. If she’s lucky, she will never even know it. It’s for the child to figure out. I hope you are finding your own words out there in my sky.
The Phoenix left Earth 11 years ago as a mission of hope. 80 young women selected from around our slowly dying world to travel to a distant planet and start over. But after 10 years of hibernation and 1 year awake, a bomb explodes on board, killing three crew members (including the Captain) and knocking the ship off course. As the crew tries to find a way to get back on course, the new Captain tasks Asuka—the alternate who was literally the last crew member picked for the mission—to investigate the explosion.
The Deep Sky tries too hard to be about too many things. There’s a world war breaking out back on Earth. There is, somehow, a white supremacy subplot. There’s a subplot that’s basically how Millenials should deal with boomer parents who have become conspiracy nuts. There’s an environmental terror group angry about the mission because its resources could have been spent on Earth. There are Men’s Rights groups (ewww) angry about the all-woman or trans men composition of the crew (which actually made sense, as the entire crew was being artificially inseminated so that a second generation of people would be on board when it arrived at Planet X). And those are just the earthbound suspects; there are at least a dozen crew members suspected at one time or another. But most of the crew blended together, with only a few really standing out and one of those is the ship’s AI the HAL 9000 (just kidding, it’s called Alpha).
A lot of people seemed to really like The Deep Sky. Alas, I was not one of them. It’s not bad, and I will say I liked the ending. I just never felt connected enough with the characters to care, so the ending didn’t land emotionally for me the way other, similar books have (it probably reminded me of Ender’s Game more than anything else). 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
September 7, 2023
One of the best sci-fi novels I've read in a long time!! The premise of artificial intelligence forming emotional attachments is interesting. How do you teach or program empathy?
THOUGHTS:
- Loved the alternating timeline snippets exploring what collapsed world powers would look like!!
- I also really liked that this was from a new adult perspective. Somewhat naive and innocent even though clearly highly intelligent. It's like we witness their emotional intelligence grow even though surrounded only by a group of their peers. There's no one to model their behavior after... so in a new world - the entire civilization would be patterned off of how this crew interprets the world!!
**Thank you to Flatiron Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
THOUGHTS:
- Loved the alternating timeline snippets exploring what collapsed world powers would look like!!
- I also really liked that this was from a new adult perspective. Somewhat naive and innocent even though clearly highly intelligent. It's like we witness their emotional intelligence grow even though surrounded only by a group of their peers. There's no one to model their behavior after... so in a new world - the entire civilization would be patterned off of how this crew interprets the world!!
**Thank you to Flatiron Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤
Find Me On Instagram 🦋 || More Bookish Thoughts & Reviews Here 🖤
May 20, 2023
An epic space odyssey that seamlessly blends the genres of science fiction, mystery, and thriller, leaving you on the edge of your seat and craving for more……
Book Information
"The Deep Sky" authored by Yume Kitasei, spans 416 pages and is set to be launched on July 18, 2023. Sarah Skaer lends her voice to the audio version, which runs for a duration of 12 hours and 16 minutes. Kitasei was raised in the mélange of two distinct cultures, precisely where her compelling narratives often take root. "The Deep Sky" marks her debut novel. Many thanks to MacMillan Audio and Flatiron Books for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.
Summary
On the verge of Earth's impending environmental collapse, a crucial mission hangs in the balance. A lone ship carries the last hope for humanity: eighty exceptional graduates entrusted with the task of birthing a future generation in the depths of space. However, a devastating explosion rocks The Phoenix, claiming three lives and causing the vessel to veer off its intended course. As the sole surviving witness, Asuka finds herself immediately under scrutiny and suspicion.
Even before the explosion, Asuka struggled with feelings of inadequacy. She was the final selection for the mission, faced challenges during training on Earth, and grapples with her dual identity as a half-Japanese girl raised in America. With her strained relationship with her mother and the crew members turning against each other, The Phoenix becomes Asuka's sole anchor.
Determined to unravel the truth and preserve the mission's integrity, Asuka races against time to unmask the perpetrator before faith in their mission crumbles entirely—or worse, before the bomber strikes again. As tensions mount and trust wanes, the fate of their collective survival rests on Asuka's relentless pursuit of justice amidst the vast expanse of space.
My Thoughts
“The Deep Sky” delivers the pulse-pounding thrill of unraveling a web of conspiracy, navigating the complexities of human emotions, and witnessing the indomitable spirit of a diverse crew who have not only their own survival at stake but perhaps the future of humanity itself. It’s a highly captivating space adventure that weaves together elements of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller, while also delving into the depths of human emotions.
The narrative unfolds through alternating timelines, skillfully shifting between the present on the off-course ship and the past ten years leading up to the launch. This clever structure allows readers to discover Asuka's experiences in school and witness the formation of the diverse crew and their unwavering determination to be part of this extraordinary voyage. The structure also gives insight into Asuka’s struggles with imposter syndrome, her constant questioning of herself, and her place within the mission. Her half-Japanese, half-American heritage adds an additional layer of depth as she searches for connections and a sense of belonging.
The flashbacks to the training camp provide crucial clues about the characters and their motivations, deepening the mystery and driving reader engagement. The book excels with the diversity of the characters and the depth of intricate relationships shared among them, which adds layers of complexity to the story.
One aspect that I really enjoyed was the future technology, from the ever-present AI to the ship's ability to adapt, transform and personalize environments based on each crew member's preferences. This creative approach added to the vivid and immersive reading experience.
"The Deep Sky" also felt remarkably real in the moments it presented. I felt like I could connect with each situation even though it was within a future world that we have yet to experience. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of school hierarchies, the complexities of government bureaucracies, the well-meaning but ill-informed conspiracy theorists, or the poignant exploration of lapsed friendships and estranged parents, the emotions and dilemmas faced by the characters resonate authentically. The guilt of survival, the weight of being chosen or left behind, and the characters' intelligence blended with their flaws make them believable and relatable.
With a multitude of twists and a wealth of heartfelt moments, this book takes readers on a wonderous journey. The world-building is both comprehensive and concise, creating a fully realized universe. The exploration of the characters' emotions is particularly enriching, providing a deep and rewarding reading experience.
Also very noteworthy was Sarah Skaer's performance on the audiobook. Given that 99% of the characters were female--her ability to differentiate each one and help the reader remain immersed in the story vs expending effort to keep characters straight was remarkable.
Recommendation
"The Deep Sky" is a must-read for fans of space adventures, sci-fi, mysteries, and thrillers. It combines a thrilling plot with intricate character development, creating a story that will captivate your imagination and touch your heart. Strongly recommended.
Rating
4.5 Asuka Stars
Book Information
"The Deep Sky" authored by Yume Kitasei, spans 416 pages and is set to be launched on July 18, 2023. Sarah Skaer lends her voice to the audio version, which runs for a duration of 12 hours and 16 minutes. Kitasei was raised in the mélange of two distinct cultures, precisely where her compelling narratives often take root. "The Deep Sky" marks her debut novel. Many thanks to MacMillan Audio and Flatiron Books for providing me with an advance reader copy for review.
Summary
On the verge of Earth's impending environmental collapse, a crucial mission hangs in the balance. A lone ship carries the last hope for humanity: eighty exceptional graduates entrusted with the task of birthing a future generation in the depths of space. However, a devastating explosion rocks The Phoenix, claiming three lives and causing the vessel to veer off its intended course. As the sole surviving witness, Asuka finds herself immediately under scrutiny and suspicion.
Even before the explosion, Asuka struggled with feelings of inadequacy. She was the final selection for the mission, faced challenges during training on Earth, and grapples with her dual identity as a half-Japanese girl raised in America. With her strained relationship with her mother and the crew members turning against each other, The Phoenix becomes Asuka's sole anchor.
Determined to unravel the truth and preserve the mission's integrity, Asuka races against time to unmask the perpetrator before faith in their mission crumbles entirely—or worse, before the bomber strikes again. As tensions mount and trust wanes, the fate of their collective survival rests on Asuka's relentless pursuit of justice amidst the vast expanse of space.
My Thoughts
“The Deep Sky” delivers the pulse-pounding thrill of unraveling a web of conspiracy, navigating the complexities of human emotions, and witnessing the indomitable spirit of a diverse crew who have not only their own survival at stake but perhaps the future of humanity itself. It’s a highly captivating space adventure that weaves together elements of sci-fi, mystery, and thriller, while also delving into the depths of human emotions.
The narrative unfolds through alternating timelines, skillfully shifting between the present on the off-course ship and the past ten years leading up to the launch. This clever structure allows readers to discover Asuka's experiences in school and witness the formation of the diverse crew and their unwavering determination to be part of this extraordinary voyage. The structure also gives insight into Asuka’s struggles with imposter syndrome, her constant questioning of herself, and her place within the mission. Her half-Japanese, half-American heritage adds an additional layer of depth as she searches for connections and a sense of belonging.
The flashbacks to the training camp provide crucial clues about the characters and their motivations, deepening the mystery and driving reader engagement. The book excels with the diversity of the characters and the depth of intricate relationships shared among them, which adds layers of complexity to the story.
One aspect that I really enjoyed was the future technology, from the ever-present AI to the ship's ability to adapt, transform and personalize environments based on each crew member's preferences. This creative approach added to the vivid and immersive reading experience.
"The Deep Sky" also felt remarkably real in the moments it presented. I felt like I could connect with each situation even though it was within a future world that we have yet to experience. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of school hierarchies, the complexities of government bureaucracies, the well-meaning but ill-informed conspiracy theorists, or the poignant exploration of lapsed friendships and estranged parents, the emotions and dilemmas faced by the characters resonate authentically. The guilt of survival, the weight of being chosen or left behind, and the characters' intelligence blended with their flaws make them believable and relatable.
With a multitude of twists and a wealth of heartfelt moments, this book takes readers on a wonderous journey. The world-building is both comprehensive and concise, creating a fully realized universe. The exploration of the characters' emotions is particularly enriching, providing a deep and rewarding reading experience.
Also very noteworthy was Sarah Skaer's performance on the audiobook. Given that 99% of the characters were female--her ability to differentiate each one and help the reader remain immersed in the story vs expending effort to keep characters straight was remarkable.
Recommendation
"The Deep Sky" is a must-read for fans of space adventures, sci-fi, mysteries, and thrillers. It combines a thrilling plot with intricate character development, creating a story that will captivate your imagination and touch your heart. Strongly recommended.
Rating
4.5 Asuka Stars
July 11, 2023
After a lethal bomb kills three members of a elite group of eighty young people chosen to journey to a distant planet, Asuka, one of those chosen elite, becomes the most likely suspect.
Asuka, one of the last members chosen for the mission- a mission where each member is expected to give birth to at least one child along the way-has been unable to become pregnant. She’s already estranged from her mother on Earth, doesn’t have the best relationship with several other crew members, and now she needs to find the person responsible before the entire mission implodes.
A lot of science fiction novels are light on the science. You won’t find that with The Deep Sky. At times I found myself a little too bogged down with the jargon, but for the most part it made me more grounded in the story.
Each member of the crew has their own DAR, a Digitally Augmented Reality. So each person essentially could create their own unique world that was different from anyone else. I loved the mystery and plot line around that world building aspect the most!
I also enjoyed how the story went back and forth in time between Asuka’s childhood, when she was training for the mission, and the current timeline. Every time we shifted back in the past, it helped me understand Asuka’s present decisions and actions even more.
There’s a large cast in The Deep Sky, and the author did great job of fleshing them all out. The character dynamics were a little complicated to follow in the beginning, but by the end of the book, I was invested in several relationships.
My only real criticism is the pacing of the book. The beginning started off with a big event, but then the book became a little too technical and, even though the chapters in the past timeline did help me understand the main character more, the pacing would slow to a crawl only to speed up and then slow down way too much again.
If you love a good mystery set in space, enjoy training sequences and love your sci-fi to be grounded in technology, I’d recommend picking up The Deep Sky.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron books for both a physical and digital arc. All opinions are my own.
Asuka, one of the last members chosen for the mission- a mission where each member is expected to give birth to at least one child along the way-has been unable to become pregnant. She’s already estranged from her mother on Earth, doesn’t have the best relationship with several other crew members, and now she needs to find the person responsible before the entire mission implodes.
A lot of science fiction novels are light on the science. You won’t find that with The Deep Sky. At times I found myself a little too bogged down with the jargon, but for the most part it made me more grounded in the story.
Each member of the crew has their own DAR, a Digitally Augmented Reality. So each person essentially could create their own unique world that was different from anyone else. I loved the mystery and plot line around that world building aspect the most!
I also enjoyed how the story went back and forth in time between Asuka’s childhood, when she was training for the mission, and the current timeline. Every time we shifted back in the past, it helped me understand Asuka’s present decisions and actions even more.
There’s a large cast in The Deep Sky, and the author did great job of fleshing them all out. The character dynamics were a little complicated to follow in the beginning, but by the end of the book, I was invested in several relationships.
My only real criticism is the pacing of the book. The beginning started off with a big event, but then the book became a little too technical and, even though the chapters in the past timeline did help me understand the main character more, the pacing would slow to a crawl only to speed up and then slow down way too much again.
If you love a good mystery set in space, enjoy training sequences and love your sci-fi to be grounded in technology, I’d recommend picking up The Deep Sky.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron books for both a physical and digital arc. All opinions are my own.
January 13, 2023
what a fun and exciting debut novel! i can't wait for everybody to get their hands on this
this is an amazing sci-fi thriller that will definitely keep you up all night reading. the plot keeps moving forward and you can't help but be curious about the next chapter. it really is like the game Among Us though i've only played it once because i never got the hang of it. the novel is peopled with diverse characters with decent characterization. what i really like about our main character is her motivation and her ability to think outside of the box. i also really like how the characters are all smart and perfect in their own ways, yet still flawed-- showing that they are still human, which adds to the story's verisimilitude. this is a testament to the author's skills, as it is difficult to build believable characters who are incredibly smart and yet flawed in their own unique ways. the atmosphere in the novel was great and i think the setting was developed nicely. it's indeed a thrilling sci-fi read that will keep you reading! i was deeply immersed into the story and i was very invested in the plot.
one of the small details i like is the structure of the novel, in that the flashbacks give us a taste of boarding school drama with all the intelligent, competitive kids while also giving insights to present events. it's structured as a typical mystery/thriller book, which i am familiar with, but the sci-fi setting and fantastical atmosphere (due to augmented reality) lent the story some novelty and freshness. i also like the main character's niche interest in birds, as it fit right in with the story. i was intrigued by how it was incorporated into the plot and it was really a creative way to do it (i enjoyed it a lot). the modern science and tech in the novel were well thought out and imaginative, as it gave us an idea of how their world looks like (from the geopolitics to the environmental disasters happening on earth), and they were smoothly connected with the plot by how these events affected the crew. the stakes were high and i felt the thrill while reading. though i had already guessed who did it because of the familiar mystery/thriller structure, it was done well because the motives and characterization were aligned and it made sense.
overall, i genuinely enjoyed my time reading this novel and i am looking forward to its release into the world! i don't want to compare books i read and i usually avoid mentioning other books in reviews, but this book is exactly what i wanted "Do You Dream of Terra-Two?" to have done.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
this is an amazing sci-fi thriller that will definitely keep you up all night reading. the plot keeps moving forward and you can't help but be curious about the next chapter. it really is like the game Among Us though i've only played it once because i never got the hang of it. the novel is peopled with diverse characters with decent characterization. what i really like about our main character is her motivation and her ability to think outside of the box. i also really like how the characters are all smart and perfect in their own ways, yet still flawed-- showing that they are still human, which adds to the story's verisimilitude. this is a testament to the author's skills, as it is difficult to build believable characters who are incredibly smart and yet flawed in their own unique ways. the atmosphere in the novel was great and i think the setting was developed nicely. it's indeed a thrilling sci-fi read that will keep you reading! i was deeply immersed into the story and i was very invested in the plot.
one of the small details i like is the structure of the novel, in that the flashbacks give us a taste of boarding school drama with all the intelligent, competitive kids while also giving insights to present events. it's structured as a typical mystery/thriller book, which i am familiar with, but the sci-fi setting and fantastical atmosphere (due to augmented reality) lent the story some novelty and freshness. i also like the main character's niche interest in birds, as it fit right in with the story. i was intrigued by how it was incorporated into the plot and it was really a creative way to do it (i enjoyed it a lot). the modern science and tech in the novel were well thought out and imaginative, as it gave us an idea of how their world looks like (from the geopolitics to the environmental disasters happening on earth), and they were smoothly connected with the plot by how these events affected the crew. the stakes were high and i felt the thrill while reading. though i had already guessed who did it because of the familiar mystery/thriller structure, it was done well because the motives and characterization were aligned and it made sense.
overall, i genuinely enjoyed my time reading this novel and i am looking forward to its release into the world! i don't want to compare books i read and i usually avoid mentioning other books in reviews, but this book is exactly what i wanted "Do You Dream of Terra-Two?" to have done.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
August 17, 2023
The Deep Sky is a turbulent space adventure about a team of women of child-bearing age who are selected, after years of fierce competition, to represent their countries on a ship destined for a distant planet. They are sent out on The Phoenix to save/restart mankind, as earth dies behind them from war and irreparable environmental damage.
The "world" of the ship was built mindfully by author Yume Kitasei. The augmented reality and the weight of carrying the huge responsibility of saving humanity were portrayed so well, these ideas almost seemed new and unique. The dynamics of a large team of only women on a ship is one I haven't seen much, but it is appreciated that the lack of men wasn't even worth mention. They were people, on a mission, doing their best, period. As a female engineer myself, I found the situation refreshing and wholly relatable.
Young adult sci-fi isn't usually my go-to, but this one was well worth a read.
The "world" of the ship was built mindfully by author Yume Kitasei. The augmented reality and the weight of carrying the huge responsibility of saving humanity were portrayed so well, these ideas almost seemed new and unique. The dynamics of a large team of only women on a ship is one I haven't seen much, but it is appreciated that the lack of men wasn't even worth mention. They were people, on a mission, doing their best, period. As a female engineer myself, I found the situation refreshing and wholly relatable.
Young adult sci-fi isn't usually my go-to, but this one was well worth a read.
September 6, 2023
2023/08/29 edit: upon further examination, I don’t think she writes women very well. Strange thing to say, but there is a LOT of sobbing, breaking down and arguing in the book.. I know strong women, and weak women. I know strong men and weak men. I know stupid people and smart people.
Let’s try to strike a balance, yeah?
Also, the premise was actually kinda dumb, now that I think more on it.
[Original review]
A unique premise, with great pacing and a protagonist who I found myself favoring. She’s not necessarily likeable, but I found myself able to relate to her in quite a few ways (I’m not a half, but was born and raised in Japan).
So, the scoop: a group of women (and trans men) shot off into space, with the goal of colonizing a certain planet for the guaranteed continuation of the human race (since things don’t look too swell on earth; just like present day).
All funded by global governments via an elite private entity (think Musk or Bezos).
I got the political message, and I think it was spot on. No complaints there!
The writing, though, was (unexpectedly) very YA. And by that, I don’t mean that the intended audiences were young adults; but that it was written by a young adult.
Sentences were choppy. Like. A lot. It was hard. Finding a single compound sentence. And. It made it hard. To follow early transitions. Not smooth. Awkward.
Like that.
But still, great pacing. One good character (who, honestly, carried the entire book), and a satisfying ending. Not too shabby.
so why the 3 stars then?
Oh… you know…
it’s a sci-fi novel, right? In space! Your favorite kind!
Yeah……
I’m sure it had SCIENCE right?
Yeah… it, uh… had that.
HARD science?
Mmhm…
great, ok then. So where are they going?
Planet X
what? I.. think I misheard you. Could you repeat that please?
Planet X…
Ah… I see… um, where is ‘planet x’?
Dunno.
?? Oh… kay… which system is it in?
Dunno
right… is it in our galaxy?
Dunno
is it in another galaxy??
Dunno
dafuq… How far away is it?
Dunno
HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT?? Hnnng, fine. We can just extrapolate from the speed of the ship! How fast are they traveling?
Dunno
…..percent of c then!! Christ, what percent of c are they going?
Dunno
faaack man… ok, how much time has passed on earth since they departed??!
10 years!
Finally!! Ok, we’re getting somewhere. How much time has passed on the ship then?
10 years…….
….wat?
Yeah, I know…. One of the passengers even says “here, light years away from earth”
but… it doesn’t work like that.
No, it doesn’t. But it’s ok, because they use quantum tunneling to communicate back and forth with earth…
Which, they don’t prefer using, apparently, because (according to them) it’s LESS efficient than RADIO.
…………….
Aaaaand I’m gonna stop right there. You get the idea.
So, TL-DR; if you’re gonna read this, read it for the story, the political commentary and the main character.
Don’t read it for the writing (unless you’re a YA).
And DON’T read it for the hard science.
Because if you do, you will find gaping holes the size of Sagittarius A.
Let’s try to strike a balance, yeah?
Also, the premise was actually kinda dumb, now that I think more on it.
[Original review]
A unique premise, with great pacing and a protagonist who I found myself favoring. She’s not necessarily likeable, but I found myself able to relate to her in quite a few ways (I’m not a half, but was born and raised in Japan).
So, the scoop: a group of women (and trans men) shot off into space, with the goal of colonizing a certain planet for the guaranteed continuation of the human race (since things don’t look too swell on earth; just like present day).
All funded by global governments via an elite private entity (think Musk or Bezos).
I got the political message, and I think it was spot on. No complaints there!
The writing, though, was (unexpectedly) very YA. And by that, I don’t mean that the intended audiences were young adults; but that it was written by a young adult.
Sentences were choppy. Like. A lot. It was hard. Finding a single compound sentence. And. It made it hard. To follow early transitions. Not smooth. Awkward.
Like that.
But still, great pacing. One good character (who, honestly, carried the entire book), and a satisfying ending. Not too shabby.
so why the 3 stars then?
Oh… you know…
it’s a sci-fi novel, right? In space! Your favorite kind!
Yeah……
I’m sure it had SCIENCE right?
Yeah… it, uh… had that.
HARD science?
Mmhm…
great, ok then. So where are they going?
Planet X
what? I.. think I misheard you. Could you repeat that please?
Planet X…
Ah… I see… um, where is ‘planet x’?
Dunno.
?? Oh… kay… which system is it in?
Dunno
right… is it in our galaxy?
Dunno
is it in another galaxy??
Dunno
dafuq… How far away is it?
Dunno
HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT?? Hnnng, fine. We can just extrapolate from the speed of the ship! How fast are they traveling?
Dunno
…..percent of c then!! Christ, what percent of c are they going?
Dunno
faaack man… ok, how much time has passed on earth since they departed??!
10 years!
Finally!! Ok, we’re getting somewhere. How much time has passed on the ship then?
10 years…….
….wat?
Yeah, I know…. One of the passengers even says “here, light years away from earth”
but… it doesn’t work like that.
No, it doesn’t. But it’s ok, because they use quantum tunneling to communicate back and forth with earth…
Which, they don’t prefer using, apparently, because (according to them) it’s LESS efficient than RADIO.
…………….
Aaaaand I’m gonna stop right there. You get the idea.
So, TL-DR; if you’re gonna read this, read it for the story, the political commentary and the main character.
Don’t read it for the writing (unless you’re a YA).
And DON’T read it for the hard science.
Because if you do, you will find gaping holes the size of Sagittarius A.
July 23, 2023
In the softening dusk, Asuka went down to the beach, hunting for a keepsake: a seashell, maybe, a piece of green, polished sea glass. It was getting dark, though, and she ended up sitting on a bench on the top of the seawall, watching the waves come in, taking comfort from the surety of its rhythm.
She considered, for a minute, not going. Returning home to her mom. She could help her with her elaborate designs to rebuild the foundation of a coral reef. Laugn and say, There is nothing that could convince me to go on a one-way trip to someplace else.
This other Asuka was the shadow she would rip from her feet and leave behind on the crumbling asphalt roads and faded lines. She willed it to be so.
I wavered so hard on the rating for this one, because I did genuinely like it, with some reservations. In the end though, the heart of this book tipped it up on the rating, and I found I could overlook the rocky moments more than the bits it got so right.
It's an unspecified close future when one of Earth's trillionaires decides she needs to send a mission deep into space, to Planet X, splitting the eggs of an ever more turbulent Earth and hopefully prevent humanity's complete annihilation. Their trip will consist of three parts - a decade of suspended animation, a decade of consciousness and childbearing, and then a final decade of suspension again before they reach their destination. The Deep Sky picks up one year into their second phase, when an explosion suddenly threatens the mission - and by extension, the lives of everyone aboard their ship.
I really liked what this book got right - crewmembers had to be physically capable of bearing children, and the author included both trans men and enby individuals among that list. The story is divided between now, aboard the ship, and the training school they all attended for years in hopes of making it - and that was well done too, being easy to follow and giving the characters depth; seeing them in such an enclosed and high-pressure environment alongside their childhood selves (though plenty of pressure there too, given the competition for such limited spaces).
It is, however, a debut novel, and sometimes that showed in the writing - happily in it being a little too straightforward at times, though, rather than overly flowery. And the science side of the science fiction was mostly hand-waved, but then would occasionally need focus to serve the story - I much prefer it being either glossed over entirely, or consistent in the level of detail at least.
But, genuinely, I really enjoyed the heart of this book. It's dealing with sabotage and drama, sure, but the mystery didn't feel as important as the relationships between the characters, or their ability to overcome the various challenges. It had heart, and I'm really interested to watch Yume Kitasei grow as an author because of it.
She considered, for a minute, not going. Returning home to her mom. She could help her with her elaborate designs to rebuild the foundation of a coral reef. Laugn and say, There is nothing that could convince me to go on a one-way trip to someplace else.
This other Asuka was the shadow she would rip from her feet and leave behind on the crumbling asphalt roads and faded lines. She willed it to be so.
I wavered so hard on the rating for this one, because I did genuinely like it, with some reservations. In the end though, the heart of this book tipped it up on the rating, and I found I could overlook the rocky moments more than the bits it got so right.
It's an unspecified close future when one of Earth's trillionaires decides she needs to send a mission deep into space, to Planet X, splitting the eggs of an ever more turbulent Earth and hopefully prevent humanity's complete annihilation. Their trip will consist of three parts - a decade of suspended animation, a decade of consciousness and childbearing, and then a final decade of suspension again before they reach their destination. The Deep Sky picks up one year into their second phase, when an explosion suddenly threatens the mission - and by extension, the lives of everyone aboard their ship.
I really liked what this book got right - crewmembers had to be physically capable of bearing children, and the author included both trans men and enby individuals among that list. The story is divided between now, aboard the ship, and the training school they all attended for years in hopes of making it - and that was well done too, being easy to follow and giving the characters depth; seeing them in such an enclosed and high-pressure environment alongside their childhood selves (though plenty of pressure there too, given the competition for such limited spaces).
It is, however, a debut novel, and sometimes that showed in the writing - happily in it being a little too straightforward at times, though, rather than overly flowery. And the science side of the science fiction was mostly hand-waved, but then would occasionally need focus to serve the story - I much prefer it being either glossed over entirely, or consistent in the level of detail at least.
But, genuinely, I really enjoyed the heart of this book. It's dealing with sabotage and drama, sure, but the mystery didn't feel as important as the relationships between the characters, or their ability to overcome the various challenges. It had heart, and I'm really interested to watch Yume Kitasei grow as an author because of it.
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May 7, 2023
SPACE HORROR IS MY JAM, BABY!
Did you hear my screams echoing through space? No, you didn't, because sound needs atmosphere to be heard, but you probably saw my mouth stretched wide and my eyes bulging in terror.
This book is incredible.
So. Fucking. Good.
I received an ARC from the publisher
Did you hear my screams echoing through space? No, you didn't, because sound needs atmosphere to be heard, but you probably saw my mouth stretched wide and my eyes bulging in terror.
This book is incredible.
So. Fucking. Good.
I received an ARC from the publisher
July 11, 2023
The Deep Sky is a fast-paced, engaging locked room mystery set on humanity's last hope for survival—a spaceship carrying a crew that will start the next generation of humans on a new planet. When an explosion sets them off course and kills three crew members the entire ship is thrown into chaos. They have to figure out who did it, why they did it, and how they are going to get back on course because there is no backup plan. The story alternates between past and present timelines in order to give context for the mission and the characters.
Woven throughout this thriller is a stunning exploration of identity and belonging. Our main character Asuka never really feels like she fits in both as an alternate and as a Japanese American selected to represent Japan in the competition for spots on the ship. Her story was incredibly powerful and compelling. I love how her struggle was reflected in both the past and present timelines.
I really love how The Deep Sky approaches the apocalyptic SciFi story. It was incredibly realistic with many issues that reflect contemporary problems and conflicts. The world is ending and the Phoenix is portrayed as humanity's savior. They are going to start humanity over on a new planet. This setup is not a novel concept, however, The Deep Sky takes a very interesting approach by showing the flaws and cracks in that plan. As the story progresses you really begin to question the Phoenix project and the motivations of the people in charge of the project. I really appreciate the nuanced take The Deep Sky had on a very interesting SciFi concept that we have seen in other places.
It was a very fast and engaging read and I would highly recommend The Deep Sky to mystery/thriller readers who are looking for something different or to SciFi readers who are looking for a simpler SciFi story. As an avid reader of weird SciFi, I kept expecting the story to take a turn towards the weird and unhinged explanations. However, The Deep Sky is very much a thriller set in space. I also wished that the author had explored a few of the interesting SciFi concepts and technologies in a bit more depth.
Thank you Flatiron Books for the ARC!
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
Woven throughout this thriller is a stunning exploration of identity and belonging. Our main character Asuka never really feels like she fits in both as an alternate and as a Japanese American selected to represent Japan in the competition for spots on the ship. Her story was incredibly powerful and compelling. I love how her struggle was reflected in both the past and present timelines.
I really love how The Deep Sky approaches the apocalyptic SciFi story. It was incredibly realistic with many issues that reflect contemporary problems and conflicts. The world is ending and the Phoenix is portrayed as humanity's savior. They are going to start humanity over on a new planet. This setup is not a novel concept, however, The Deep Sky takes a very interesting approach by showing the flaws and cracks in that plan. As the story progresses you really begin to question the Phoenix project and the motivations of the people in charge of the project. I really appreciate the nuanced take The Deep Sky had on a very interesting SciFi concept that we have seen in other places.
It was a very fast and engaging read and I would highly recommend The Deep Sky to mystery/thriller readers who are looking for something different or to SciFi readers who are looking for a simpler SciFi story. As an avid reader of weird SciFi, I kept expecting the story to take a turn towards the weird and unhinged explanations. However, The Deep Sky is very much a thriller set in space. I also wished that the author had explored a few of the interesting SciFi concepts and technologies in a bit more depth.
Thank you Flatiron Books for the ARC!
Links to my TikTok | Instagram
April 8, 2024
This was very much so a “for the vibes” 5⭐️ and not an “utter perfection” 5⭐️.
The Deep Sky is a fun, enjoyable, sci-fi mystery read that follows a crew of about 80 women in deep space on a mission to save the human race (from themselves, due to environmental disasters), when their ship is suddenly bombed and knocked off-course, killing three crewmates with no inkling of who it could have possibly been. I am entirely convinced this is Among Us fanfiction.
This book is exactly what I needed. A simple, character-driven standalone that keeps you on the edge of your seat, having you question the actions of everybody on board the ship and has you doubting if reality is even real (which hurt my brain).
I absolutely loved our main character, Asuka. Her character allows us to explore the psychology behind imposter syndrome and intersectional identities, and how to feel like you don't belong anywhere because you belong to more than one place. From this, we get a fraught mother/daughter dynamic, as Asuka's desperation to escape her past estranges her from her mother.
This book is not something that requires you to read too deeply into things. While there were definitely some issues with the timeline, and some character things, and there were some plot threads that weren't quite as fleshed out as I would have preferred, the vibes were absolutely here. This is not something I'd recommend to anybody looking for a hard sci-fi space exploration, with super scientific reasons behind everything - the sci-fi in this book is definitely more of an atmospheric background noise, as the main focus is on the character work. The Deep Sky is definitely something I'd recommend if you're looking to get into sci-fi!
The Deep Sky is a fun, enjoyable, sci-fi mystery read that follows a crew of about 80 women in deep space on a mission to save the human race (from themselves, due to environmental disasters), when their ship is suddenly bombed and knocked off-course, killing three crewmates with no inkling of who it could have possibly been. I am entirely convinced this is Among Us fanfiction.
This book is exactly what I needed. A simple, character-driven standalone that keeps you on the edge of your seat, having you question the actions of everybody on board the ship and has you doubting if reality is even real (which hurt my brain).
I absolutely loved our main character, Asuka. Her character allows us to explore the psychology behind imposter syndrome and intersectional identities, and how to feel like you don't belong anywhere because you belong to more than one place. From this, we get a fraught mother/daughter dynamic, as Asuka's desperation to escape her past estranges her from her mother.
This book is not something that requires you to read too deeply into things. While there were definitely some issues with the timeline, and some character things, and there were some plot threads that weren't quite as fleshed out as I would have preferred, the vibes were absolutely here. This is not something I'd recommend to anybody looking for a hard sci-fi space exploration, with super scientific reasons behind everything - the sci-fi in this book is definitely more of an atmospheric background noise, as the main focus is on the character work. The Deep Sky is definitely something I'd recommend if you're looking to get into sci-fi!
June 11, 2023
I made it to Chapter 7 before DNFing. There are so many things wrong with the basics of this book that it really isn't worth listening to the end. First, this supposed to be an adult novel, at least the MC is old enough to go on space walking missions AND be the mission leader, but she talks and acts like a teenager raised to be a clueless airhead. Second, the main character appears to be a psychopath. She is not grounded in reality so there is no emotion, shock or grief over what has just happened. Third, the crew is very "who gives a shit' about the fact that their Captain just died as well as two other crew mates. There is a sentence "Everyone was crying' but that's about the only emotion we get. Instead, someone asks "so who's the captain now?" To this the second in command says "I guess that would be me." She is terrified of the job and has apparently had no training for this possibility. That is not how this works. And finally, All the people on board were born on this ship, therefore they didn't not agree to anything imposed on them by previous generations. Yet, the female population is robbed of their choice of whether or not to have children. They are required to if they are fertile. No choice. And the idea of exponentially increasing the population on the ship with each generation of women having more children, is absurd due to the limited resources available on a ship traveling through space.
March 11, 2023
This is the science fiction story you never knew you needed!
With the world slowly dying, one wealthy individual uses her funds and technology to sponsor a last ditch effort to send humans to a new planet. As the ship hurtles to the new planet it seems there my be a person or persons on board looking to sabotage the mission. What is different in this story? This wealthy individual chose only women, young women that were trained as girls.
I am not sure I have ever read a sci-fi story featuring only females. I absolutely believed and loved the story and world Yume Kitasei created!
Like all women, Yume's main character Asuka, suffers from imposter syndrome, and questions herself at every turn. She is half Japanese, half American and still searches for connections. The flashbacks to training camp give more and more clues to the the characters and their motives on the ship. Can Asuka determine who is working against them before it is too late?
If you love science fiction and space, identify with imposter feelings or second guessing yourself or just want to read a luminous novel about humanity's last chance, The Deep Sky is for you! #Flatiron
With the world slowly dying, one wealthy individual uses her funds and technology to sponsor a last ditch effort to send humans to a new planet. As the ship hurtles to the new planet it seems there my be a person or persons on board looking to sabotage the mission. What is different in this story? This wealthy individual chose only women, young women that were trained as girls.
I am not sure I have ever read a sci-fi story featuring only females. I absolutely believed and loved the story and world Yume Kitasei created!
Like all women, Yume's main character Asuka, suffers from imposter syndrome, and questions herself at every turn. She is half Japanese, half American and still searches for connections. The flashbacks to training camp give more and more clues to the the characters and their motives on the ship. Can Asuka determine who is working against them before it is too late?
If you love science fiction and space, identify with imposter feelings or second guessing yourself or just want to read a luminous novel about humanity's last chance, The Deep Sky is for you! #Flatiron
July 10, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ARC. It hasn't affected the contents of my review.
This was an enjoyable mystery/sci-fi/thriller set in space. It doesn't do anything new to the genre (really of either mystery or sci-fi) but it is a good example of both kinds of stories, and it has likable characters you want to root for. It's also pretty queer! Only people who have uteruses are allowed on the mission to colonize another planet, because space/fuel limitations mean not that many people can go, and they need everyone who does to be able to give birth while on board. It plays with ideas I've seen in sci-fi before, A.I. and perception, virtual reality, near-environmental collapse Earth, societal fractures that carry through to space, friendship, and sabotage.
I did think it was interesting that we were following Asuka, the mission's only Alternate, who does odd jobs because she doesn't have a specific purpose on the crew. We get flashbacks from her early life as well to give context to what's going on in the ship in present day. I didn't like them at first, but when it came time for her to go to the training academy to prepare for the mission, they started to really intrigue me. I also didn't see the reveal of who tried to blow up the ship coming. Yume Kitasei did a good job throwing out so many red herrings and confusing things that it was a true surprise when the answer was revealed (though I'm sure readers who like to figure these things out ahead of time could have done so).
I will definitely read more from this author! The book was immensely readable (and the audio version was good) and I'm excited to see what she can do in future books.
This was an enjoyable mystery/sci-fi/thriller set in space. It doesn't do anything new to the genre (really of either mystery or sci-fi) but it is a good example of both kinds of stories, and it has likable characters you want to root for. It's also pretty queer! Only people who have uteruses are allowed on the mission to colonize another planet, because space/fuel limitations mean not that many people can go, and they need everyone who does to be able to give birth while on board. It plays with ideas I've seen in sci-fi before, A.I. and perception, virtual reality, near-environmental collapse Earth, societal fractures that carry through to space, friendship, and sabotage.
I did think it was interesting that we were following Asuka, the mission's only Alternate, who does odd jobs because she doesn't have a specific purpose on the crew. We get flashbacks from her early life as well to give context to what's going on in the ship in present day. I didn't like them at first, but when it came time for her to go to the training academy to prepare for the mission, they started to really intrigue me. I also didn't see the reveal of who tried to blow up the ship coming. Yume Kitasei did a good job throwing out so many red herrings and confusing things that it was a true surprise when the answer was revealed (though I'm sure readers who like to figure these things out ahead of time could have done so).
I will definitely read more from this author! The book was immensely readable (and the audio version was good) and I'm excited to see what she can do in future books.
February 29, 2024
Depressing and not that good.
Yume Kitasei’s debut novel, first published in 2023 sounds good when you read the dust jacket (whose art BTW is quite good):
“It is the eve of Earth’s environmental collapse. A single ship carries humanity’s last hope: eighty elite graduates of a competitive program, who will give birth to a generation of children in deep space. But halfway to a distant but livable planet, a lethal bomb kills three of the crew and knocks The Phoenix off course. Asuka, the only surviving witness, is an immediate suspect.”
OK, that does sound intriguing. A deep space mission, maybe a generational ship, a mystery, maybe some action and adventure.
But the dialogue is flat, characterization is weak, and the action and investigation is understated. There are some flashbacks that provide some background and development of some of the characters, but this really does not add enough to make this worthwhile.
Honestly, I never liked any of the characters. The main protagonist is petty and has no emotional growth and most of the other players are straw men and caricatures.
What bothered me the most is how Kitasei put this mission together, seems like a long range emergency that short circuited due process into a kind of dystopian prison but that’s not how she writes it.
This was saved by a decent premise and an onboard AI generator that was OK.
Yume Kitasei’s debut novel, first published in 2023 sounds good when you read the dust jacket (whose art BTW is quite good):
“It is the eve of Earth’s environmental collapse. A single ship carries humanity’s last hope: eighty elite graduates of a competitive program, who will give birth to a generation of children in deep space. But halfway to a distant but livable planet, a lethal bomb kills three of the crew and knocks The Phoenix off course. Asuka, the only surviving witness, is an immediate suspect.”
OK, that does sound intriguing. A deep space mission, maybe a generational ship, a mystery, maybe some action and adventure.
But the dialogue is flat, characterization is weak, and the action and investigation is understated. There are some flashbacks that provide some background and development of some of the characters, but this really does not add enough to make this worthwhile.
Honestly, I never liked any of the characters. The main protagonist is petty and has no emotional growth and most of the other players are straw men and caricatures.
What bothered me the most is how Kitasei put this mission together, seems like a long range emergency that short circuited due process into a kind of dystopian prison but that’s not how she writes it.
This was saved by a decent premise and an onboard AI generator that was OK.
November 14, 2023
the concept was good and there were some interesting ideas at play here but the uneven pacing and repetitive dialogues dragged it down. and god, i am so sick of this underdog-everyone-is-special-but-i-suck-wait-actually-turns-out-i-am-just-not-like-other-people type of main character who comes across as very much a y/n type of figure. also, why make the character who uses they/them pronouns the most aggressive/antagonistic one...this is not the first time i come across a nb character who is portrayed this way and i am not a fan...that aside this book was a drag. the dual timeline added little to the overarching narrative as the information and dynamics that take place in the 'past' did not require full-length chapters (petition to make flashbacks and acts of retrospection a thing). the 'mystery' unfolded predictably and i think more could have been done in terms of maintaining a tense, fraught even, atmosphere. a lot of the narrative feels wasted on a mc who is not only bland but deeply aggravating (and not in a, that's-so-relatable way). the mc's motivations to embark on this project in the first place are glossed over far too quickly, which is weird given how much page-time we spend revisiting her experiences prior the mission. overall, not my cup of tea. if you are interested in this novel i recommend you check out more positive reviews out.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 6, 2023This book, about the strength and sorrow in the human spirit, has no humanity in it. The characters are wooden without depth or emotion, and it vascillates between melodrama and the painfully blunt observations that I'd expect in a first draft, not a final one. If any two things that happened in the first 14 chapters of this book happened to any individual person, it would be a life that Hemingway would have sent us all to drink about. All together, they lose scope and nuance both.
Time of death 20%
content warnings as of then:
Time of death 20%
content warnings as of then:
March 9, 2024
This is such a good debut! I went into this completely blind, intrigued by the discription. "The Deep Sky" really delivers on what it promises: a space thriller on a spaceship in the middle of nowhere, claustrophobic and exciting and beautifully written. There are two timelines - the present, in which someone sabotaged the spaceship our protagonist, Asuka, is on, and the past in which Asuka is chosen for this mission, trains for it and reveals her troubled history. I loved the relationships in the book, both between Asuka and her (former) best friend Ruth and between her and her mother, which is strained for many reasons.
The mystery at the heart of this thriller is a good one, and yes, it does remind one of 'Among Us'. I didn't guess the culprit, and while I wasn't entirely blown away by the motivations behind the sabotage, the journey there was exciting. It's the kind of thriller that is not particularly loud, but still constantly moves forward, making it almost unputdownable.
The mission of this spaceship crew is a really interesting one, too: The whole crew consists of women (and one trans man), tasked with finding and then populating a new home for humanity in the stars. Does the concept make a lot of sense, especially the "all the women should be pregnant during the journey instead of on the new planet" deal, but I haven't read something like this before so I enjoyed it - even though, admittedly, I did get annoyed about the constant talk about pregnancy. Most of the characters are also not very fleshed out so I didn't care too much about them. On the other hand, Iimmensely liked how augmented realities were included here, it made for some really interesting storytelling and character insights.
All in all, I really enjoyed my reading experience and can't wait to see what the author writes next.
Many thanks to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for the arc!
The mystery at the heart of this thriller is a good one, and yes, it does remind one of 'Among Us'. I didn't guess the culprit, and while I wasn't entirely blown away by the motivations behind the sabotage, the journey there was exciting. It's the kind of thriller that is not particularly loud, but still constantly moves forward, making it almost unputdownable.
The mission of this spaceship crew is a really interesting one, too: The whole crew consists of women (and one trans man), tasked with finding and then populating a new home for humanity in the stars. Does the concept make a lot of sense, especially the "all the women should be pregnant during the journey instead of on the new planet" deal, but I haven't read something like this before so I enjoyed it - even though, admittedly, I did get annoyed about the constant talk about pregnancy. Most of the characters are also not very fleshed out so I didn't care too much about them. On the other hand, Iimmensely liked how augmented realities were included here, it made for some really interesting storytelling and character insights.
All in all, I really enjoyed my reading experience and can't wait to see what the author writes next.
Many thanks to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for the arc!
July 26, 2023
the first half of this book was especially strong, as seems to be the case with debuts (?) (i'm saying this as if i'm some fancy schmancy book reviewer who reads a lot of debuts instead of a gay person on goodreads who adds things to my tbr like a sheep); the writing was compelling and while the story was set in some distant, speculative future, it didn't seem unrealistic at all. kitasei creates a world where climate change and inequality and capitalism at large have all accelerated, which is (perhaps) why a #girlboss billionaire funds a global expedition to send a bunch of people to basically get pregnant in space and then settle on some planet.
one random thing i really liked: kitasei adeptly weaves between two timelines to tell this story, which, interestingly enough, i found especially strong for this book. usually i don't see the point of dual timeline narratives - i often find them contrived and unhelpful - but in the deep sky, it allows for a lot of depth and character exploration.
where i personally found issue was the politics. for a book about the end of the world, the deep sky felt... passive? or maybe it was just the narrator? idk. i kind of had the same issue with How High We Go in the Dark, in that i think any book about the future necessarily has to be political, at least to some extent. even the act of imagining a future is political in and of itself. without giving too much away (not that there is much to give), there was a kind of important side plot about certain political organizations back on earth, which, instead of being explored or really explained, ended up relegated to an overarching plot about complicated and messy love. i think what i'm trying to ask is where were all the communists?????
one random thing i really liked: kitasei adeptly weaves between two timelines to tell this story, which, interestingly enough, i found especially strong for this book. usually i don't see the point of dual timeline narratives - i often find them contrived and unhelpful - but in the deep sky, it allows for a lot of depth and character exploration.
where i personally found issue was the politics. for a book about the end of the world, the deep sky felt... passive? or maybe it was just the narrator? idk. i kind of had the same issue with How High We Go in the Dark, in that i think any book about the future necessarily has to be political, at least to some extent. even the act of imagining a future is political in and of itself. without giving too much away (not that there is much to give), there was a kind of important side plot about certain political organizations back on earth, which, instead of being explored or really explained, ended up relegated to an overarching plot about complicated and messy love. i think what i'm trying to ask is where were all the communists?????
June 13, 2023
I loved this book.
A multinational crew of women embarks on a voyage to a distant planet. But then a mysterious explosion sets the ship off course. As the crew works to correct the ship's trajectory, Asuka, the main character, investigates the explosion and tries to determine who was behind it.
This book is a riveting, propulsive thriller. But it also has some really excellent Sci Fi world-building, interesting tech, and well-developed characters. And it's beautifully written - a literary Sci Fi thriller. It doesn't get much better than that (unless you add cats, but hey, that's just my bias).
But what I really loved about this book wasn't its Sci Fi jewels or its page-turning quality. It was the feeling it left me with, which wasn't what I had expected from the premise. It has, I think, an underlying message of hope and optimism. Things on Earth are looking pretty bad. We're plagued by more fires, more wars, more hate crimes, all the typical awful stuff that we should have the capacity to overcome but predictably haven't. Things on the ship don't look too great either after the explosion. But maybe the ship is a microcosm, one that reflects both humanities' deficiencies and our strengths. We're all stuck here together on this hunk of rock, drifting through space. Maybe we can find a way to work together, to trust each other, to do better.
The Deep Sky is a must-read book. I can't wait to read what Kitasei writes next.
A multinational crew of women embarks on a voyage to a distant planet. But then a mysterious explosion sets the ship off course. As the crew works to correct the ship's trajectory, Asuka, the main character, investigates the explosion and tries to determine who was behind it.
This book is a riveting, propulsive thriller. But it also has some really excellent Sci Fi world-building, interesting tech, and well-developed characters. And it's beautifully written - a literary Sci Fi thriller. It doesn't get much better than that (unless you add cats, but hey, that's just my bias).
But what I really loved about this book wasn't its Sci Fi jewels or its page-turning quality. It was the feeling it left me with, which wasn't what I had expected from the premise. It has, I think, an underlying message of hope and optimism. Things on Earth are looking pretty bad. We're plagued by more fires, more wars, more hate crimes, all the typical awful stuff that we should have the capacity to overcome but predictably haven't. Things on the ship don't look too great either after the explosion. But maybe the ship is a microcosm, one that reflects both humanities' deficiencies and our strengths. We're all stuck here together on this hunk of rock, drifting through space. Maybe we can find a way to work together, to trust each other, to do better.
The Deep Sky is a must-read book. I can't wait to read what Kitasei writes next.
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