Part of The Expanse, book 9
First published 2021
The Laconian Empire lies in ruins after Winston Duarte's fall, leaving thirteen hundred solar systems without a ruler. James Holden commands the Rocinante as humanity faces its greatest threat yet. The ancient enemy that destroyed the gate builders has awakened and begun a new war against human civilization. In the lifeless Adro system, scientist Elvi Okoye leads a research mission to uncover the truth about the gate builders and their destruction, even as her investigation puts half-alien children at risk. Colonel Aliana Tanaka searches across the scattered systems for Duarte's missing daughter and the broken emperor himself. Holden and his unlikely allies discover one final opportunity to save their species by uniting all of humanity. Victory promises a galaxy-spanning civilization without war or deception. But the cost of winning may prove more terrible than accepting defeat as cosmic forces prepare to erase human existence entirely.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, space-opera, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cosmic-forces, found-family
Setting: Laconian Empire, Adro System
Period: Future
528 pages · Hardcover · Orbit
Content warnings: violence