Review: Seven Devils by Elizabeth May & Laura Lam

Series: Seven Devils #1
Goodreads: Seven Devils
Publisher: Gollancz
Book Depository
Synopsis: When Eris faked her death, she thought she had left her old life as the heir to the galaxy’s most ruthless empire behind. But her recruitment by the Novantaen Resistance, an organization opposed to the empire’s voracious expansion, throws her right back into the fray.

Eris has been assigned a new mission: to infiltrate a spaceship ferrying deadly cargo and return the intelligence gathered to the Resistance. But her partner for the mission, mechanic and hotshot pilot Cloelia, bears an old grudge against Eris, making an already difficult infiltration even more complicated.

When they find the ship, they discover more than they bargained for: three fugitives with firsthand knowledge of the corrupt empire’s inner workings.

Together, these women possess the knowledge and capabilities to bring the empire to its knees. But the clock is ticking: the new heir to the empire plans to disrupt a peace summit with the only remaining alien empire, ensuring the empire’s continued expansion. If they can find a way to stop him, they will save the galaxy. If they can’t, millions may die.

Review: I received this digital copy in exchange for an honest review, thanks Gollancz!

This book’s being described as a feminist space opera with Mad Max: Fury Road vibes, and as a lover of both of those things I knew I had to get my grubby hands on a copy.

I was initially unsure, especially when I realised that the authors would be juggling five different perspectives, it sounded almost too good to be true and I worried about the character development situation. Seven Devils managed to quash any of my worries about the lack of character development fairly quickly though, and it’s a testament to both authors writing prowess that I came away feeling that all five had such distinct voices. The diverse cast is full of powerful women, each talented in their own way and facing their own challenges, kicking bad-guy butt in space and I couldn’t ask for more.

Seven Devils has some seriously impeccable world-building, and I felt like I was stood on planets with the crew the descriptions were that good. Time was taken to really make you feel like this world was real, and that the struggle the resistance faced was incredible but not insurmountable. Their battles felt real and they have to make difficult, and often morally grey choices; this just made me root for our ragtag team more though, as they try to put a stop to an Empire built on war and death.

The story was a little slow for me and I would have liked more tension throughout. The last third or so was absolutely fantastic, but despite them being in some hair raising situations before this point I just didn’t feel the tension. This slow build was definitely there to deepen the world, and the ending more than made up for it, but I wish the pacing had been better.

All in all, Seven Devils is an absolutely cracking feminist space opera that leaves you wanting so much more! I’m so glad this is a duology and I’ll get to read more of this world and this fantastic cast of characters.

Recommend: If you’re looking for a Sci-Fi with wonderful worldbuilding, and a diverse cast, with w/w relationship and a trans resistance commander, then this is probably the one for you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.