Review- Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliot

It’s been a while since I read a space opera. I saw Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliot recommended on social media late last year and picked up a copy, but I didn’t get a chance to start it until recently. I found a lot to like with this book. It’s sprawling, there’s political intrigue, space battles, characters win and lose, and there are allusions to an interesting history. There is also an Asian influence that I enjoyed, with references to foods and other cultural tidbits.

Because this is such a large story with so many characters and moving parts, I’ll do my best to give you a brief overview. The premise is an ongoing conflict between major galactic powers. The story follows Sun, the heir to the Chaonian empire, and their war with the Phene Empire. There are other galactic powers in play, some allies, some foes, some trying to play both sides. 

Sun’s mother, the Queen Marshall, is cold and ruthless and Sun feels as if she has to do everything she can to win her mother’s approval. This means she often puts herself and her companions in danger. Luckily, Sun is a brilliant strategist, and her companions all have skills and experience that help to round out their adventures.

The narrative is interesting in that the story is told from several different perspectives. Some chapters focus on Sun’s point of view, what she’s seeing, what she’s thinking, and why she’s reacting the way she is in certain situations. Other chapters are from the point of view of one of her companions, the newest addition, Persephone Lee. She is the fish out of water in this story and her perspective is sort of the reader’s view, looking in from the outside and trying to decipher things. 

The third perspective is from the point of view of one of the Phene pilots, which provides some context from the other side of the battlefield. There are also a few chapters from the view of Zizou, a Gatoi soldier from the Phene side who is captured by the Chaonians and becomes one of Sun’s companions.

Yes, a lot is going on here.

For me, the changing perspectives took some getting used to when I started the book, but eventually, it began to fit together. Elliot, the author, does a great job of building this massive galactic conflict, laying out all the pieces and players, and tying it all together.

One of the things I especially liked was the allusions to the expansive history behind the current empires. They are all descendants of the original Earth who ventured out into the universe (for murky reasons). Over time, some evolved differently than others, but while their cultures may have some stark differences, there are still mutual ties to the past.

There are also references to an ancient race that built these portal beacons that allow instantaneous travel between solar systems. No one really knows who these beings were, why they built the portals, or where they disappeared to. The technology behind them is unknown to the current races, so portals that stop functioning are basically lost and can’t be repaired.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. There’s a nice back-and-forth between space-faring and planet-side adventures, there is loss, humor, and enough intrigue to keep me turning the pages to see what would happen next. 

The one gripe I have is the ending. There were a few loose ends that weren’t tied up. I read the last page and asked aloud, “Is that it?”

I assume there will be another book, although I double-checked the inner flaps and the back cover and didn’t see any mention of a second book. Hopefully, Elliot will take us back to Chaonia and wrap things up.

RB