Review: On Vicious Worlds by Bethany Jacobs

 

OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Bethany Jacobs is a former college instructor of writing and science fiction, who made the leap to education technology and now teaches tech heads how to write. She lives in Buffalo, New York with her wife and her dog and her books. These Burning Stars is her debut novel.

FORMAT/INFO: On Vicious Worlds was published on October 15th, 2024 by Orbit Books. It is 480 pages long and told in third person from multiple POVs, including Jun and Chono. It is available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: It's been months since the Jeveni people made a daring escape from the Kindom, jumping to a hidden remote corner of the galaxy in the hopes of being free from the control of the Secretaries once and for all. In the wake of suspicious deaths and failing technology, however, it's become clear to Jun Ironway and the leaders of the new colony that there's a traitor in their midst. What's less clear is who sent them and why. As Jun tries to track down the saboteur, Chono and Six return to the Treble, hoping to use their political capital to free the remaining Jeveni and steer the government towards reform. But the Secretaries aren't going to let their power go without a fight - even if it means all out war.

On Vicious Worlds is a stellar follow-up to These Burning Stars, keeping the tensions as high as the stakes in this thrilling sequel. Truly, "thriller" is the key descriptor here, as both the main storylines navigate treachery, espionage, sabotage, and political backstabbing. In the new colony of Capamame, which is supposed to be a peaceful sanctuary for the Jeveni people, a killer walks among the colonists, working to destroy the colony before it can truly establish itself. These acts of violence lead to tense debates within the council itself. The Jeveni fled the Kindom to escape oppression, and have been trying to get by without a police force or jails. But in order for the colony to survive, they may have to implement their own version of policies they hate.

The colony storyline also featured an element I really liked: the visually cinematic casting (or computer hacking). The author here has opted for a more cinematic flair instead of dry typing away at a keyboard. Jun's encounters with the mysterious saboteur in cyberspace lead to virtual duels as each opponent hurls weapons, erects walls, and other visual representations of their attempts to control each other. It may not be a practical version of computer coding, but it makes for some spectacular sequences to read about.

Things are equally tense back in the Kindom itself where Six and Chono are trying to win political battles and survive assassination attempts. And this is what had me flying through the pages: both storylines ramp up pretty quickly, with chapters frequently ending on agonizing cliffhangers. I know I'm reading a good book when a chapter cliffhanger leaves me frustrated to know what happens next, but also excited to see what's happening back in the OTHER storyline. The author dances back and forth between the two in a way that's both maddening and compelling, right up until the final pages.

I will say, there were one or two instances where I did feel like a story beat truly felt like it happened because the plot needed it, rather than an organic reason. A certain lapse in security, for instance, didn't make sense to me given the hyperparanoia of the characters. Even allowing for the overwhelming emotions in the scene, I didn't quite buy it. Still, it was a minor bump in a story that kept me actively angry at my day job because it prevented me from reading this book.

CONCLUSION: On Vicious Worlds is exactly what I was hoping for in a sequel to my favorite sci-fi book of 2023: more action, more intrigue, more plotting. The ending of These Burning Stars was always going to be hard to beat, but On Vicious Worlds does its best to come close. If you enjoy any variation of space opera, thrillers, or political intrigue, I cannot recommend this series enough.