The Ghosts of Trappist

The third “NeoG” book, after Hold Fast Through the Fire, opens with a lot going on. The attack on Jupiter Station two years ago still affects those aboard Zuma’s Ghost and Dread Treasure, part of the Near-Earth Orbital Guard. Commander D’Arcy Montaglione is attempting to put together his new crew after a betrayal, but his doubts and self-recriminations continue to haunt his actions. Ensign Nell “Sapphi” Zika is still recovering from her own traumas, and mysterious messages for help in the Verge and a haunting song make her recovery harder. Ships are disappearing in the Trappist system, and no one has an easy explanation as to why, especially when some reappear years after their loss, now empty of cargo and crew. As Zuma’s Ghost trains for its last Boarding Games, all of the Interceptors will discover that the truth lies in outer and cyber space—and will change their whole view of the universe. Wagers’s inclusive worldbuilding contains an amazing range of personalities, while the fast-paced plot still gives time for meaningful character stories.