When I was young, science fiction was my favorite genre. When done well, this genre blends the reality of our humanity with places and things that stretch our imagination, making the (currently) impossible seem viscerally real. It’s been years – decades – since I’ve read anything that might qualify as science fiction. But Kara Lenore is an author in a co-op of Texas writers I belong to, and when she announced the launch of her debut novel, I decided now was the right time to get back to it.
Beneath a Sun-Deprived Sky (Murasaki Press) takes place on another world where humans live alongside ‘alien’ races, and the sky is perpetually dark (as is the vibe). Del Marks, an ambitious young human doctor from a privileged background, arrives to pursue her calling. She wants to dedicate herself to helping the impoverished.
Del is welcomed into one of the warrens by its leader and offered protection by a battle-hardened yet wise man who serves as the de facto mayor of a community of miners, merchants, and a ragtag assortment of other residents. Conditions are dire. Crime is high. Poverty is rife. This is a “Doctors Without Borders” on another planet situation, and Del is thrown into an environment where she has to rapidly learn the rules, and where she sticks out like a sore thumb.
The man serving as Del’s bodyguard, Tam Lyn, is enigmatic and moody. Del’s attraction to him runs deeper than the physical, and certain latent abilities she has struggled to suppress begin to reemerge. As Del is drawn into the social and political realities of her new home, she is tested beyond her limits and finds herself relying on Tam in ways she never expected.
This book is big and immersive. The main character faces moral and ethical challenges at every turn. The romance that develops is a slow burn, so if you like delayed gratification (and I do) you’ll appreciate that line of tension throughout most of the plot.
Overall, this is a science fiction novel, but I don’t think you need to like science fiction to enjoy or appreciate it. Despite the various ‘alien’ races, the struggles that all these characters face are deeply human, and the storytelling is skillful and vivid. Lenore is brilliant with details, and her ability to conjure things, characters, and places that have never existed and make you care about them is admirable.
If you’re in the mood to lose yourself on another planet, and you like dark, gritty, action-packed stories, pick up Beneath a Sun-Deprived Sky.
What I loved:
- Lush writing, tight plot, and deeply relatable characters make this a triumph of a debut.
- Political intrigue. Del’s story takes place against the backdrop of a poor mining colony filled with people trying to eek out an existence in a system that is politically cutthroat.
- Lots of ass-kicking action sequences.
- Immersive detail. You’ll find yourself on another planet, visualizing places and things you’d never imagine on your own.
- The romantic slow burn between two characters that’ll have you yelling at the book, “JUST DO IT ALREADY!”
What I found challenging:
- Many of the imaginary details depend on context. Lenore doesn’t spell out what every single gadget does, or what other-world slang terms mean. You have to pick stuff up as you read. This is probably easier for people who consume a lot of science fiction, but if you’re not used to it, you’ll have to go back occasionally to figure out what something is.
Find Kara Lenore online:
Find Kara Lenore on social media:
- Instagram: @kara.lenore
