Space Opera Fans discussion

This thread is for nominations for READER category for February 2025.

READER books need to be
* currently in print in either hardback or paperback (or both). Requiring a special order from a store or website counts, but not if the book is only available used.
* currently available in multiple ebook formats, from multiple vendors
* Space Opera, which means a spaceship has to be involved in the story somewhere.
* If it is part of a series, it needs to be suitable to being read without having read other books in the series.
* Please no blatantly erotic books, as some of our members are not full adults yet.

RULES:
* you may nominate one book on this thread.
* you may second as many nominations as you like on this thread.
* it is okay to nominate the same book on more than one nomination thread, as long as it meets the criteria
* books we already have on our bookshelf will be disqualified if they were added less than two years ago
* If a book you nominate or second is selected, you are expected to post at least one comment about it on the thread about the book.
* On the 22nd I will draw a book randomly, with each second being one raffle ticket for the book. That is, a book with three seconds (so four of us want it) will get three chances in the pool.

It is likely helpful if you know something about a book that has been nominated if you mention it in this thread, whether it is for or against the book.

I'd like to nominate Red Rising by Pierce Brown please.

The group have read it before, but it was 10 years ago, so I'm hoping there will be some members who haven't yet read it.

The Amazon blurb states -

"Pierce Brown's heart-pounding and high-octane debut is the first book in a spectacular series that combines the drama of Game of Thrones with the epic scope of Star Wars.

Darrow is a Helldiver. A pioneer of Mars.

Born to slave beneath the earth so that one day, future generations might live above it.

He is a Red - humankind's lowest caste. But he has something the Golds - the ruthless ruling class - will never understand.

He has a wife he worships, a family who give him strength. He has love.

And when they take that from him, all that remains is revenge . . .

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, BUZZFEED, GOODREADS AND SHELF AWARENESS"

I nominate Outcaste by Christie Meierz. My review is here
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

I’m nominating it on Reader because it is available in both ebook and paperback formats.

There is enough backstory scattered through the book that a reader new to the series could enjoy it, however this includes spoilers for most if not all of the previous books.

While a lot of the action takes place on Tolar, some is on Kekrax, some is on Tolari Station, and there’s at least one scene I remember as being on a starship.

I second Outcaste. I just finished Into Tolari Space, so I think I have read everything else in the series at this point.

Summary so far:
Red Rising by Pierce Brown. Nominated by John. Awaiting seconds.
Outcaste by Christie Meierz. Nominated by Teresa. Seconded by Audrey.

Nominations are now closed. Our February pick is Outcaste.