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The Starmetal Symphony #1
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space
When an army of giant robot AIs threatens to devastate Earth, a virtuoso pianist becomes humanity's last hope in this bold, lightning-paced, technicolor new space opera series from the author of A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe.
Jazz pianist Gus Kitko expected to spend his final moments on Earth playing piano at the greatest goodbye party of all time, and maybe kissing rockstar Ardent Violet, before the last of humanity is wiped out forever by the Vanguards--ultra-powerful robots from the dark heart of space, hell-bent on destroying humanity for reasons none can divine.
But when the Vanguards arrive, the unthinkable happens--the mecha that should be killing Gus instead saves him. Suddenly, Gus's swan song becomes humanity's encore, as he is chosen to join a small group of traitorous Vanguards and their pilots dedicated to saving humanity.
Jazz pianist Gus Kitko expected to spend his final moments on Earth playing piano at the greatest goodbye party of all time, and maybe kissing rockstar Ardent Violet, before the last of humanity is wiped out forever by the Vanguards--ultra-powerful robots from the dark heart of space, hell-bent on destroying humanity for reasons none can divine.
But when the Vanguards arrive, the unthinkable happens--the mecha that should be killing Gus instead saves him. Suddenly, Gus's swan song becomes humanity's encore, as he is chosen to join a small group of traitorous Vanguards and their pilots dedicated to saving humanity.
Audiobook
First published July 12, 2022
About the author
Alex White
86 books497 followersAlex White was born and raised in the American south. They take photos, write music and spend hours on YouTube watching other people blacksmith. They value challenging and subversive writing, but they’ll settle for a good time.
In the shadow of rockets in Huntsville, Alabama, Alex lives and works as an experience designer with their spouse, son, two dogs and a cat named Grim. Favored past times include Legos and racecars. They takes their whiskey neat and their espresso black.
Alex is the author of THE SALVAGERS book series (Orbit, 2018), a magical space opera treasure hunt, ALIEN: THE COLD FORGE (Titan, 2018)(yes, THAT Alien), and EVERY MOUNTAIN MADE LOW (Solaris, 2016), a dystopian Southern American yarn.
In the shadow of rockets in Huntsville, Alabama, Alex lives and works as an experience designer with their spouse, son, two dogs and a cat named Grim. Favored past times include Legos and racecars. They takes their whiskey neat and their espresso black.
Alex is the author of THE SALVAGERS book series (Orbit, 2018), a magical space opera treasure hunt, ALIEN: THE COLD FORGE (Titan, 2018)(yes, THAT Alien), and EVERY MOUNTAIN MADE LOW (Solaris, 2016), a dystopian Southern American yarn.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
July 8, 2022
3.5 Stars
This is a fun, queer space opera with plenty of adventure and mecha action. Despite the book starting at the end of the world, this novel has a rather light tone. I wouldn't necessarily call this funny, but it certainly had a glitzy entertaining quality.
I enjoyed the Mechas elements in this book, but I wish they had been treated in a more serious manner. I have a personal preference for darker narratives so this glamorous story was simply not to my tastes. I wanted more substance and dire consequences but it quickly became clear that this story was not that.
I would recommend this new sci fi series to readers who enjoy lighter hearted stories, even if they don't normally read science fiction.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This is a fun, queer space opera with plenty of adventure and mecha action. Despite the book starting at the end of the world, this novel has a rather light tone. I wouldn't necessarily call this funny, but it certainly had a glitzy entertaining quality.
I enjoyed the Mechas elements in this book, but I wish they had been treated in a more serious manner. I have a personal preference for darker narratives so this glamorous story was simply not to my tastes. I wanted more substance and dire consequences but it quickly became clear that this story was not that.
I would recommend this new sci fi series to readers who enjoy lighter hearted stories, even if they don't normally read science fiction.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 28, 2022
Pros:
•giant fighting robots
•a curious blending of genres that really did it for me
•I really loved Gus, a cute and awkward protagonist
•queer AF. So gay. The gayest of books.
•I just want to be friends with a giant robot sentience named Greymalkin
•I enjoyed the prose, especially the way Greymalkin and Gus spoke to each other.
Cons:
•I feel like the author liked the second main character better and that offends me. Gus is the best.
•the word “folks” IS ALREADY GENDER NEUTRAL, ADDING AN X IS UNNECESSARY. “Folx” is the bane of my queer existence.
•I feel like it could have had just a little more charm. There was potential for Becky Chambers-level charm and it wasn’t quite there.
But obviously the cons weren’t enough to knock it down.
4.5 gay, gay stars.
•giant fighting robots
•a curious blending of genres that really did it for me
•I really loved Gus, a cute and awkward protagonist
•queer AF. So gay. The gayest of books.
•I just want to be friends with a giant robot sentience named Greymalkin
•I enjoyed the prose, especially the way Greymalkin and Gus spoke to each other.
Cons:
•I feel like the author liked the second main character better and that offends me. Gus is the best.
•the word “folks” IS ALREADY GENDER NEUTRAL, ADDING AN X IS UNNECESSARY. “Folx” is the bane of my queer existence.
•I feel like it could have had just a little more charm. There was potential for Becky Chambers-level charm and it wasn’t quite there.
But obviously the cons weren’t enough to knock it down.
4.5 gay, gay stars.
June 2, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for this Arc!
This was a blast! I mean, the end of humankind... but, wait! We are saved by music and the sweetest guy on earth and an amazing robot (with a sword!!!). This story has everything; Action, drama for days, a beautiful understanding of music and emotional connections, and love. This is a psychedelic masterpiece that has the kind heart and compassion that truly is world-saving. A thrilling and fantastic read!
Out July 12th!
This was a blast! I mean, the end of humankind... but, wait! We are saved by music and the sweetest guy on earth and an amazing robot (with a sword!!!). This story has everything; Action, drama for days, a beautiful understanding of music and emotional connections, and love. This is a psychedelic masterpiece that has the kind heart and compassion that truly is world-saving. A thrilling and fantastic read!
Out July 12th!
December 9, 2022
The only Alex White books I have read are his blood-and-other-fluid-soaked and adrenaline-charged alien novels ‘The Cold Forge’ and ‘Into Charybdis’. If you are a fan of the franchise and have yet to discover these, believe me you will devour them. A Goodreads friend alerted me to the fact that White has even penned a ‘Deep Space Nine’ novel called ‘Revenant’, about Jadzia Dax, one of the most fascinating characters in that ‘Star Trek’ show. Not to mention their ‘Salvager’ trilogy, which I have yet to read.
So, when ‘August Kitko’ came out with its brash title and in-your-face cover, I was sufficiently intrigued to buy and read it. While it confirms White’s versatility and technical chops as a writer, the book just did not work for me. The main reason is I am not a ‘Transformers’ or military SF fan, which are combined here with a lot of pop music and a queer romance thrown in for good measure.
Granted there is quite an intriguing origin story for the giant robots. White’s SF background is sufficiently fleshed out to be coherent enough for the larger story, which is basically about a bunch of giant alien space robots with human jockeys beating the living crap out of each other.
I always find that scale and the sheer physics of it all are difficult to grasp or picture in these types of books, but White does a pretty good job of making his battle setpieces as believable as possible, without them becoming too repetitious (which is a good thing, as there are a lot of pretty intense bunfights).
As for the horny gay teen romance thrown into the mix, like a maraschino cherry on top of a sundae, the constant fawning and pawing quickly irritated me, to the point where I wished either one would just get pulped by one of the giant robots. Er …
Be warned that this is part one of two (as far as I know), with the ending being ‘in media res’, better described as a fucking cliffhanger. Which I’ll probably have forgotten about when the next one comes out.
So, when ‘August Kitko’ came out with its brash title and in-your-face cover, I was sufficiently intrigued to buy and read it. While it confirms White’s versatility and technical chops as a writer, the book just did not work for me. The main reason is I am not a ‘Transformers’ or military SF fan, which are combined here with a lot of pop music and a queer romance thrown in for good measure.
Granted there is quite an intriguing origin story for the giant robots. White’s SF background is sufficiently fleshed out to be coherent enough for the larger story, which is basically about a bunch of giant alien space robots with human jockeys beating the living crap out of each other.
I always find that scale and the sheer physics of it all are difficult to grasp or picture in these types of books, but White does a pretty good job of making his battle setpieces as believable as possible, without them becoming too repetitious (which is a good thing, as there are a lot of pretty intense bunfights).
As for the horny gay teen romance thrown into the mix, like a maraschino cherry on top of a sundae, the constant fawning and pawing quickly irritated me, to the point where I wished either one would just get pulped by one of the giant robots. Er …
Be warned that this is part one of two (as far as I know), with the ending being ‘in media res’, better described as a fucking cliffhanger. Which I’ll probably have forgotten about when the next one comes out.
July 1, 2022
A fun and glittery rock 'n roll science fiction space battle romp with giant AI robots
This was great fun. Nothing deep, but lots of action and imagination.
Prose style
I thought at first that the author's prose style was going to be problematic. I was afraid that they were going to be one of those narcissistic authors that use a
flashy style to draw attention to their writing chops and smarts and away from the
story. I find that sort of writer very annoying.
But I need not have worried. True, the writing style is flashy and full of neologisms.
But it doesn't detract from the story. In fact, the writing style suits the story quite well.
Story Summary
It's the year 2657, and human life on Earth is facing down the Apocalypse, in the form of
gigantic, sentient, AI powered robots called Vanguards which are bent on destroying humanity.
They've already wiped out all other known human colonies on other planets.
People have resigned themselves to the end of homo sapiens, and there's even a party
happening in Monaco for the last night of life on earth.
But surprise! Some of the Vanguards, realizing that what they're doing is wrong, rebel and
decide to protect the human race.
Even this still means survival of humankind is dicey. The group of Vanguards bent on destroying humanity is more numerous and more destructive than the so-called Traitor Vanguards. The destructive Vanguards have the advantage.
Human Conduits
The rebel Vanguards need human "Conduits" to ride along inside them. The Conduits give them an advantage in communications and fighting ability.
The Vanguards are musical. So they gravitate towards selecting musicians as Conduits.
Our Main Characters
Enter the last hope of humanity: our main characters.
So our main characters are selected as the Conduits. (Which means they must engage, along with their Vanguard hosts in very dangerous battles fighting other Vanguards).
Our two main characters are August "Gus" Kitko (of the book's title) and Ardent Violet.
Gus is a gay jazz pianist. He's an accomplished (though very specialized) musician.
He tends to be reserved and isn't fond of the limelight. He's a kind, calm, and humble guy. Although handsome, he isn't vain at all.
During that party in Monaco (which is supposed to be the last night anyone is alive), he
meets Ardent Violet. Ardent Violet is a world famous rock star. They are beautiful,
flamboyant, vain, and of non-binary gender.
The two hook up, and both become Conduits for Vanguards attuned to their particular
natures (and styles of music). Gus does this first; Ardent later.
Secondary Characters
They are eventually joined by two other musician/Conduits.
Hjalmar (a.k.a. "The Swedish Raven") is a huge, intimidating guy who's a genius djent drummer (djent is a subgenre of extreme metal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djent).
Nisha Kohli is a petite, goofy Indian dynamo who is the only one of them not a professional (and famous) musician, although she has a wonderful singing voice developed from singing traditional Indian music with her grandfather's band.
Music
The author clearly knows a lot about music, as the book is brimming with details about instruments, musical genres, etc. I wasn’t surprised to find that their bio mentions that they write music.
Battles
Much of the story revolves around battle scenes in various locations (space, Earth, the Moon)
between the renegade Vanguards (with their chosen Conduits inside them) and the other
Vanguards who want to trash humanity.
Romance
The romance between Gus and Ardent is sexy, sweet and touching.
Part of why I read fiction is to learn about life from viewpoints other than my own.
I'm not gay, but I enjoy reading about people of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
I also like reading about people of different nationalities, cultures, time periods, etc.
A Minor Character Quibble
Ardent is called a narcissist.
He does have some narcissistic qualities (he's in love with himself, big ego, can be cruel, etc.)
But he's not really a person with full blown narcissistic personality disorder. (I know about
such people because unfortunately there have been a few in my life).
Ardent has empathy. People with NPD have no empathy. Ardent cares about others.
People with NPD do not.
A Minor Story Quibble
I might have preferred a bit more backstory and world building. We find out that "Infinite", the creator of the Vanguards, has a grudge against humanity (possibly because humans are destructive and selfish and humanity has been such a poor caretaker of the resources of earth), but I would have
liked a bit more background on the evolution of the War between the Vanguards and
humans. However, this is a minor issue. I could live with the story the way it was
presented.
The Cover
The bold and colorful cover goes well with the contents.
Summary
This was a delightful read. I think many readers will enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC (Advanced Review Copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book will be published on July 12, 2022.
#NetGalley
This was great fun. Nothing deep, but lots of action and imagination.
Prose style
I thought at first that the author's prose style was going to be problematic. I was afraid that they were going to be one of those narcissistic authors that use a
flashy style to draw attention to their writing chops and smarts and away from the
story. I find that sort of writer very annoying.
But I need not have worried. True, the writing style is flashy and full of neologisms.
But it doesn't detract from the story. In fact, the writing style suits the story quite well.
Story Summary
It's the year 2657, and human life on Earth is facing down the Apocalypse, in the form of
gigantic, sentient, AI powered robots called Vanguards which are bent on destroying humanity.
They've already wiped out all other known human colonies on other planets.
People have resigned themselves to the end of homo sapiens, and there's even a party
happening in Monaco for the last night of life on earth.
But surprise! Some of the Vanguards, realizing that what they're doing is wrong, rebel and
decide to protect the human race.
Even this still means survival of humankind is dicey. The group of Vanguards bent on destroying humanity is more numerous and more destructive than the so-called Traitor Vanguards. The destructive Vanguards have the advantage.
Human Conduits
The rebel Vanguards need human "Conduits" to ride along inside them. The Conduits give them an advantage in communications and fighting ability.
The Vanguards are musical. So they gravitate towards selecting musicians as Conduits.
Our Main Characters
Enter the last hope of humanity: our main characters.
So our main characters are selected as the Conduits. (Which means they must engage, along with their Vanguard hosts in very dangerous battles fighting other Vanguards).
Our two main characters are August "Gus" Kitko (of the book's title) and Ardent Violet.
Gus is a gay jazz pianist. He's an accomplished (though very specialized) musician.
He tends to be reserved and isn't fond of the limelight. He's a kind, calm, and humble guy. Although handsome, he isn't vain at all.
During that party in Monaco (which is supposed to be the last night anyone is alive), he
meets Ardent Violet. Ardent Violet is a world famous rock star. They are beautiful,
flamboyant, vain, and of non-binary gender.
The two hook up, and both become Conduits for Vanguards attuned to their particular
natures (and styles of music). Gus does this first; Ardent later.
Secondary Characters
They are eventually joined by two other musician/Conduits.
Hjalmar (a.k.a. "The Swedish Raven") is a huge, intimidating guy who's a genius djent drummer (djent is a subgenre of extreme metal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djent).
Nisha Kohli is a petite, goofy Indian dynamo who is the only one of them not a professional (and famous) musician, although she has a wonderful singing voice developed from singing traditional Indian music with her grandfather's band.
Music
The author clearly knows a lot about music, as the book is brimming with details about instruments, musical genres, etc. I wasn’t surprised to find that their bio mentions that they write music.
Battles
Much of the story revolves around battle scenes in various locations (space, Earth, the Moon)
between the renegade Vanguards (with their chosen Conduits inside them) and the other
Vanguards who want to trash humanity.
Romance
The romance between Gus and Ardent is sexy, sweet and touching.
Part of why I read fiction is to learn about life from viewpoints other than my own.
I'm not gay, but I enjoy reading about people of different sexual orientations and gender identities.
I also like reading about people of different nationalities, cultures, time periods, etc.
A Minor Character Quibble
Ardent is called a narcissist.
He does have some narcissistic qualities (he's in love with himself, big ego, can be cruel, etc.)
But he's not really a person with full blown narcissistic personality disorder. (I know about
such people because unfortunately there have been a few in my life).
Ardent has empathy. People with NPD have no empathy. Ardent cares about others.
People with NPD do not.
A Minor Story Quibble
I might have preferred a bit more backstory and world building. We find out that "Infinite", the creator of the Vanguards, has a grudge against humanity (possibly because humans are destructive and selfish and humanity has been such a poor caretaker of the resources of earth), but I would have
liked a bit more background on the evolution of the War between the Vanguards and
humans. However, this is a minor issue. I could live with the story the way it was
presented.
The Cover
The bold and colorful cover goes well with the contents.
Summary
This was a delightful read. I think many readers will enjoy it.
Thanks to NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC (Advanced Review Copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The book will be published on July 12, 2022.
#NetGalley
August 17, 2022
Jazz pianist Gus Kitko has a front-row seat for the end of the world. Gigantic sentient mecha from space called Vanguards have been destroying human colonies one after the other until they've finally arrived on Earth. On the eve of disaster, Gus hooks up with pop-star Ardent Violet and they have a brief and powerful connection. Gus is there at ground zero when the first huge mecha and its entourage of drones arrives, only to be followed by another mecha which turns and fights the first. Gus, as his supposedly last act, plays his piano to theme of the destruction around him and attracts the attention of the second Vanguard who takes him on board and modifies him to be its pilot.
Giant mecha stories are an interesting reaction to military power from the time of World War II and forwards. The sheer power of destructive force that is available to individuals through warplanes is followed to its logical conclusion with giant humanoid mechanical constructs. It's a powerful metaphor to show the issues that this implies, including distrust by government of individuals and vice versa, and the limits that the human condition itself places on how much an individual can bear, both physically and mentally.
This story follows those themes pretty closely. The representative of the government here, Elzahia Tazi has an initially reasonable approach to Gus with obvious reason for suspicion, but the trust quickly frays. The mecha themselves are sentient and have their own agendas which clash with the sort of absolute control that the government wants. Meanwhile Gus, and Ardent, have their own issues with being up to the jobs that they've been thrust into, and where their greatest loyalties are actually towards each other.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this. This author has a real gift for writing action sequences, and there are plenty of those in this book, with a bit more room to breathe than their first trilogy offered. I'll be interested to read the next one.
Giant mecha stories are an interesting reaction to military power from the time of World War II and forwards. The sheer power of destructive force that is available to individuals through warplanes is followed to its logical conclusion with giant humanoid mechanical constructs. It's a powerful metaphor to show the issues that this implies, including distrust by government of individuals and vice versa, and the limits that the human condition itself places on how much an individual can bear, both physically and mentally.
This story follows those themes pretty closely. The representative of the government here, Elzahia Tazi has an initially reasonable approach to Gus with obvious reason for suspicion, but the trust quickly frays. The mecha themselves are sentient and have their own agendas which clash with the sort of absolute control that the government wants. Meanwhile Gus, and Ardent, have their own issues with being up to the jobs that they've been thrust into, and where their greatest loyalties are actually towards each other.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this. This author has a real gift for writing action sequences, and there are plenty of those in this book, with a bit more room to breathe than their first trilogy offered. I'll be interested to read the next one.
July 13, 2022
4.5 Stars~
"When they're in his arms, they can't decide whether the whole world is upside down, or righted for the first time."
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space is the latest book from the brilliant mind of Alex White, the first in their new series, The Starmetal Symphony.
Big thanks to Orbit for sending me a gorgeous finished copy!
This is out TODAY!!
There's giant robots that fight in epic battles, musicology, sexy-times, disability rep, queers saving the world-- I mean, what more could you want?!
It's giving Pacific Rim meets Scott Pilgrim vibes! ::swoons::
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space was a fun, cinematic space opera bursting with heart & hope!
Alex White is just bloody incredible!
"When they're in his arms, they can't decide whether the whole world is upside down, or righted for the first time."
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space is the latest book from the brilliant mind of Alex White, the first in their new series, The Starmetal Symphony.
Big thanks to Orbit for sending me a gorgeous finished copy!
This is out TODAY!!
There's giant robots that fight in epic battles, musicology, sexy-times, disability rep, queers saving the world-- I mean, what more could you want?!
It's giving Pacific Rim meets Scott Pilgrim vibes! ::swoons::
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space was a fun, cinematic space opera bursting with heart & hope!
Alex White is just bloody incredible!
April 11, 2022
Even if August Kitko and the Mechas from Space WEREN’T written by Alex White, who has a cozy place on my bookshelves as a favourite author, simply saying the words ‘big robots in space and also make it hella queer’ is enough to get me to drop everything to check out a book. And after going begging—I mean, politely asking for and receiving an advance reader copy of this book, I could not be more thrilled to declare August Kitko and the Mechas from space a cinematic, emotional, action-packed ride from start to finish.
From the start, this novel hooked me. Protagonist Gus Kitko is resigned to his fate along with his fellow humans, literally playing out humanity with his technically elevated and artistically unique jazz at the last party it’s going to throw. The giant and omega-powerful robot known as a Vanguard arrives on Earth as expected, but instead of killing Gus and everything around him, it saves Gus instead. On top of that, mega-popular rockstar and nonbinary siren Ardent Violet ends up in Gus’ orbit, drawn into both the frantic crescendo of humanity’s encore and Gus’ part in it.
If I listed everything I loved about this novel, we’d be here for another four thousand words, so I’ll focus on what I loved most instead, starting with the most pleasant surprise: the thematic exploration of art (specifically music), humanity, and the universal connection it can inspire in us all regardless of where or what we come from. Alongside all the delicious transhumanist elements, this theme was a delight. Music deeply inspires me on a personal level, so to get insight into the ways in which music creates meaning for and inspires Gus, Ardent, and other secondary characters introduced later in the book was as equally thrilling as giant mechas fighting.
And speaking of giant mechas fighting… wow, was I in for a treat on that front. I mean, c’mon. Loving descriptions of each and every Vanguard that shows up on-page? Immaculately choreographed and lightning-paced fight scenes between said Vanguards? Cool code names? Weird and intense and powerful pilot-mecha connections? GIANT ROBOT SWORDS? Stick a fork in me, I’m done.
Last but certainly not least, Gus and Ardent were both uniquely compelling protagonists, in large part because they’re both deeply flawed. Who wouldn’t be in a setting that begins in horrible, galaxy-wide apocalyptic conditions? But their flaws only served to highlight their humanity, and it was refreshing to see characters thrust into world-saving circumstances and not necessarily respond in heroic, brave ways every single time. Plus, I have a particular weakness for ostentatious, borderline-narcissistic-but-impeccably-stylish, artistically talented, yet still loveable nonbinary characters, and Ardent fits that bill well.
Anyway, if you, like me, start to experience siren-like levels of excitement in your brain region at the phrase ‘giant mechas in space and also extraordinarily queer’, this is my hearty recommendation to get your hands on August Kitko and the Mechas from Space by Alex White. Page turning and intense from beginning to end and with so much more potential to come, I can’t wait to see what The Starmetal Symphony has in store.
Thank you to Orbit and Edelweiss for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
From the start, this novel hooked me. Protagonist Gus Kitko is resigned to his fate along with his fellow humans, literally playing out humanity with his technically elevated and artistically unique jazz at the last party it’s going to throw. The giant and omega-powerful robot known as a Vanguard arrives on Earth as expected, but instead of killing Gus and everything around him, it saves Gus instead. On top of that, mega-popular rockstar and nonbinary siren Ardent Violet ends up in Gus’ orbit, drawn into both the frantic crescendo of humanity’s encore and Gus’ part in it.
If I listed everything I loved about this novel, we’d be here for another four thousand words, so I’ll focus on what I loved most instead, starting with the most pleasant surprise: the thematic exploration of art (specifically music), humanity, and the universal connection it can inspire in us all regardless of where or what we come from. Alongside all the delicious transhumanist elements, this theme was a delight. Music deeply inspires me on a personal level, so to get insight into the ways in which music creates meaning for and inspires Gus, Ardent, and other secondary characters introduced later in the book was as equally thrilling as giant mechas fighting.
And speaking of giant mechas fighting… wow, was I in for a treat on that front. I mean, c’mon. Loving descriptions of each and every Vanguard that shows up on-page? Immaculately choreographed and lightning-paced fight scenes between said Vanguards? Cool code names? Weird and intense and powerful pilot-mecha connections? GIANT ROBOT SWORDS? Stick a fork in me, I’m done.
Last but certainly not least, Gus and Ardent were both uniquely compelling protagonists, in large part because they’re both deeply flawed. Who wouldn’t be in a setting that begins in horrible, galaxy-wide apocalyptic conditions? But their flaws only served to highlight their humanity, and it was refreshing to see characters thrust into world-saving circumstances and not necessarily respond in heroic, brave ways every single time. Plus, I have a particular weakness for ostentatious, borderline-narcissistic-but-impeccably-stylish, artistically talented, yet still loveable nonbinary characters, and Ardent fits that bill well.
Anyway, if you, like me, start to experience siren-like levels of excitement in your brain region at the phrase ‘giant mechas in space and also extraordinarily queer’, this is my hearty recommendation to get your hands on August Kitko and the Mechas from Space by Alex White. Page turning and intense from beginning to end and with so much more potential to come, I can’t wait to see what The Starmetal Symphony has in store.
Thank you to Orbit and Edelweiss for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
June 7, 2022
2.5/5
The mechas were great. The humans were not. I would have skipped every Ardent chapter if their POV wasn't plot relevant.
The mechas were great. The humans were not. I would have skipped every Ardent chapter if their POV wasn't plot relevant.
June 24, 2022
This is Alex’s first entry into a new ‘The Starmetal Symphony’ series and packs in all the fun of Sylvain Neuvel’s Sleeping Giants, meets Gundam, meets Pacific Rim but these ‘Vanguards’ were not actually built by humans. They’ve come to earth to extract all human knowledge from our brains and leave our bodies to die. And there’s not only giant robots terrorizing the world, there are also the ‘ghosts’ which are robotic beasts with fangs that plunge into your skull and suck out your knowledge.
Stuck in the middle of all of this falls out depressed protagonist August Kitko. A bar-scene jazz pianist just waiting to die as the world and the ones he loves dies around him. Until he casually tickles the ivory for one last tune that will change his life.
Throughout the story of Gus and Ardent, Gus continually falls under the umbrella of ‘hapless hero’ where he struggles in his new role of humanity’s savior and opposes this ‘chosen one’ trope. He relies heavily on his non-binary ‘joyfriend’ rockstar Ardent Violet for the comfort and encouragement to dig up confidence to fight for humanity. I felt like Gus was a little too resigned to his fate and really wanted him to snap out of it and get some more gusto through the evolution of his story.
White does a great job on the action, chasing, and giant robot fights and he’s not afraid to put his characters through the ringer. His writing tends to shine the spotlight a little more on the relationships of his characters than the bad-ass fighting robots. I felt that through the 60-80% mark of the book slowed down a little and got me out of the groove. I liked meeting the tertiary characters and their history and enjoyed the attention to detail on the musical composition going on. The final battle was fairly epic and the villain of the story was quite sinister and powerful and I’m glad i stuck with it.
I would recommend that you give this a shot if you’re a fan of Alex White’s other writing, perhaps softer scifi, and love an apocalyptic gay romance covered with giant fighting robots and modal musical composition.
Stuck in the middle of all of this falls out depressed protagonist August Kitko. A bar-scene jazz pianist just waiting to die as the world and the ones he loves dies around him. Until he casually tickles the ivory for one last tune that will change his life.
Throughout the story of Gus and Ardent, Gus continually falls under the umbrella of ‘hapless hero’ where he struggles in his new role of humanity’s savior and opposes this ‘chosen one’ trope. He relies heavily on his non-binary ‘joyfriend’ rockstar Ardent Violet for the comfort and encouragement to dig up confidence to fight for humanity. I felt like Gus was a little too resigned to his fate and really wanted him to snap out of it and get some more gusto through the evolution of his story.
White does a great job on the action, chasing, and giant robot fights and he’s not afraid to put his characters through the ringer. His writing tends to shine the spotlight a little more on the relationships of his characters than the bad-ass fighting robots. I felt that through the 60-80% mark of the book slowed down a little and got me out of the groove. I liked meeting the tertiary characters and their history and enjoyed the attention to detail on the musical composition going on. The final battle was fairly epic and the villain of the story was quite sinister and powerful and I’m glad i stuck with it.
I would recommend that you give this a shot if you’re a fan of Alex White’s other writing, perhaps softer scifi, and love an apocalyptic gay romance covered with giant fighting robots and modal musical composition.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
October 2, 2022DNF at 36%
The concept is really cool but it wasn't enough to keep me invested. The characters were likable though one-dimensional in a way I found disappointing. I kept hoping for more layers in Gus and Ardent that, at least as far as I read, were not appearing.
The concept is really cool but it wasn't enough to keep me invested. The characters were likable though one-dimensional in a way I found disappointing. I kept hoping for more layers in Gus and Ardent that, at least as far as I read, were not appearing.
July 15, 2022
I didn't know what I was getting into when I first started reading August Kitko. In fact, I only knew that it would include a person named August, giant mechs, jazz music, and a race to save the world. Now I know that it's way more than that and one of my favorites this month. Thanks Orbit Books for the gifted read!
If you're a fan of cinematic movies like The Matrix, Armageddon, and Transformers, then this is the book for you. The book takes place in the very far future, about 600 years, in a world that's still thriving, but on the brink of destruction. Five years prior, an alien tech arrived destroying human beings by the thousands, absorbing their memories. The whole the world believed that this was the end of humanity, an unceremonious wipe of the human race. August Kitko, a jazz pianist who's already lost his entire family to the tech, is ready to die. On the night the world was scheduled to end, Gus attends a party hosted by a prominent lord to play out the end of the world with some good times.
However, things change when the end of the world doesn't come and Gus is kidnapped by a giant mech forced to become a conduit of all the human memories that it absorbed. Gus finds out that the mech, aka Greymalkin, is no longer a villainous AI and willing to help the human race hold some semblance of life on Earth.
I loved this futuristic view of the world. It feels so familiar because it reminds me of what we see nowadays except with the added bonus of tech that automates everything for us. The world Alex White envisions in their story is remarkable. The descriptions are so vivid that you can literally see what they're describing and it lends itself well when it comes to the big fight scene between mechs in space. Their writing is also very casual and contemporary. I loved that while they're describing massive mech battles in space, there was also levity and humor in their voice.
I also thought that the story was so genius. It reminded me a lot of those futuristic sci-fi movies I mentioned earlier, but combining them all to create this intelligent world where sentient AI are out to kill the human race. I think that one of my absolute favorite things about science fiction like this is how humans come together to fight a bigger threat to them.
While Gus is the person named in the title, the book also follows Ardent Violet. They're a very famous pop star who hooks up with Gus at the "end of the world" party only to find themself saving Gus when he's abducted by the mech. They eventually become a part of the team designated to help save the world. I also really loved how different Gus and Ardent were. Gus feels more like this introverted jazz pianist who's spent a lot more time alone than Ardent has. While Ardent definitely carried the pop star/celebrity vibe, they were also so vulnerable and scared about what they're about to do.
The music in this book was also a major player. I loved how the mech responded to Ardent and Gus's talents choosing them to be their conduits and how that music plays throughout the story as a way for them to connect to their mechs. It was such a clever way to incorporate that piece of both these characters and not let it fall to the wayside.
This was such a solid start to a new series from Alex White. While it's my first by them, I'm definitely a fan now and I can't wait to see what happens to Gus, Ardent, and the giant mechs in the next book!
If you're a fan of cinematic movies like The Matrix, Armageddon, and Transformers, then this is the book for you. The book takes place in the very far future, about 600 years, in a world that's still thriving, but on the brink of destruction. Five years prior, an alien tech arrived destroying human beings by the thousands, absorbing their memories. The whole the world believed that this was the end of humanity, an unceremonious wipe of the human race. August Kitko, a jazz pianist who's already lost his entire family to the tech, is ready to die. On the night the world was scheduled to end, Gus attends a party hosted by a prominent lord to play out the end of the world with some good times.
However, things change when the end of the world doesn't come and Gus is kidnapped by a giant mech forced to become a conduit of all the human memories that it absorbed. Gus finds out that the mech, aka Greymalkin, is no longer a villainous AI and willing to help the human race hold some semblance of life on Earth.
I loved this futuristic view of the world. It feels so familiar because it reminds me of what we see nowadays except with the added bonus of tech that automates everything for us. The world Alex White envisions in their story is remarkable. The descriptions are so vivid that you can literally see what they're describing and it lends itself well when it comes to the big fight scene between mechs in space. Their writing is also very casual and contemporary. I loved that while they're describing massive mech battles in space, there was also levity and humor in their voice.
I also thought that the story was so genius. It reminded me a lot of those futuristic sci-fi movies I mentioned earlier, but combining them all to create this intelligent world where sentient AI are out to kill the human race. I think that one of my absolute favorite things about science fiction like this is how humans come together to fight a bigger threat to them.
While Gus is the person named in the title, the book also follows Ardent Violet. They're a very famous pop star who hooks up with Gus at the "end of the world" party only to find themself saving Gus when he's abducted by the mech. They eventually become a part of the team designated to help save the world. I also really loved how different Gus and Ardent were. Gus feels more like this introverted jazz pianist who's spent a lot more time alone than Ardent has. While Ardent definitely carried the pop star/celebrity vibe, they were also so vulnerable and scared about what they're about to do.
The music in this book was also a major player. I loved how the mech responded to Ardent and Gus's talents choosing them to be their conduits and how that music plays throughout the story as a way for them to connect to their mechs. It was such a clever way to incorporate that piece of both these characters and not let it fall to the wayside.
This was such a solid start to a new series from Alex White. While it's my first by them, I'm definitely a fan now and I can't wait to see what happens to Gus, Ardent, and the giant mechs in the next book!
June 9, 2022
prepare to be sick of me
July 26, 2022
Sentient killer robots have been destroying human colonies, and have targeted Earth next. August Kitko, pianist, goes to Monaco, meets flamboyant pop musician Ardent Violet before the first of the Vanguards shows up with their terrifying Gilded Ghosts (autonomous drones of sorts) in tow. But then something odd happens. Another Vanguard also appears but it begins attacking the first. Terrific damage occurs, but more importantly for Gus, he’s pulled into the body of the Traitor Vanguard Greymalkin, to help it combat the first.
After destroying the first, huge robot August is interrogated for days, and he and Ardent begin getting to know one another. When word arrives of an impending attack at another planet, Gus and Greymalkin go off to defend it, with Ardent heading spaceward to find another Vanguard so they, too, can do something about the impending attack, and more importantly, so Ardent can be reunited with Gus.
This is one giant bunch of terrifying robots crashing into planets and spaceships, and the two humans tied to them making and sustaining their connection and romance with one another. Alex White never lets up the action, except for short periods, before returning you to the noise and bombastic violence and danger. It’s fun, super violent, and deeply romantic. Yes, I mean it. Gus and Ardent’s connection is deep and really sweet. And the giant robots are terrifying. The book is fun, and who doesn’t love giant robots/mechs punching each other?
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
After destroying the first, huge robot August is interrogated for days, and he and Ardent begin getting to know one another. When word arrives of an impending attack at another planet, Gus and Greymalkin go off to defend it, with Ardent heading spaceward to find another Vanguard so they, too, can do something about the impending attack, and more importantly, so Ardent can be reunited with Gus.
This is one giant bunch of terrifying robots crashing into planets and spaceships, and the two humans tied to them making and sustaining their connection and romance with one another. Alex White never lets up the action, except for short periods, before returning you to the noise and bombastic violence and danger. It’s fun, super violent, and deeply romantic. Yes, I mean it. Gus and Ardent’s connection is deep and really sweet. And the giant robots are terrifying. The book is fun, and who doesn’t love giant robots/mechs punching each other?
3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Orbit Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Shelved as 'anti-library'
November 4, 2022NEW ALEX WHITE SERIES FEATURING GIANT BATTLING ROBOTS, HOLY FUCKING YES.
July 6, 2022
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space by Alex White is a kaleidoscope of a space opera story mixed with music notes and cinematic worldbuilding that takes the reader on a wild robot-fueled ride. If I had a visual comparison, think Speed Racer by the Wachowski sisters, mixed with Pacific Rim by Guillermo Del Toro. It is a whole vibe and one in which Alex White revels. You know he had to be cheering on the characters as he was writing this.
The plot starts with August Kitko staring at his demise on the cliff's edge. August, Gus for short, is one of our protagonists, and he is a lover and player of jazz who truly feels music in his soul. But like his fellow humans, Gus has resigned himself to the fate of imminent death. He is at a party at the estate of Lord Elisa Yamazaki. The last party of humanity is a literal "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" affair.
"These are Gods, and they speak with infinite choris."
Humans are dying, not with a bang but with a single discordant note. An army of AI sentient Mechas from space are slowly destroying humanity by downloading each person's consciousness and killing their bodies. Some of these killer robots break off, join the humans, and fight for humanity. The only caveat is that these robots need humans to pilot them, a prospect that would fundamentally change the human pilot forever.
Alongside Gus, we have our other protagonist Ardent Violet, a mega-pop star who shines with an inner light all their own. Again, in the same way music sings for Gus on his piano, music sings for Ardent on their guitar. Unlike Gus, Ardent is super famous. Both Gus and Ardent's lives become intertwined. They have undeniable chemistry with one each other.
The Vanguard arrives on Earth in the form of a mecha named Juliette. A giant sleek purple robot set to start the maiming and destroying of bodies and reaping of consciousnesses. Then with an explosion of a "colorful Borealis of solar particles rippling across Earth's atmosphere," a sleek black Vanguard streaks across the sky. It is Greymalkin, the destroyer of seventeen worlds. The humans stare in stunned silence at the display of power, much like ants would stare in horror at an oncoming boot. The titans crash into each other in a thunderous cacophony. The Vanguards speak to each other in musical ululations, and above it all, Gus picks out F Dorian the favorite of jazz musicians everywhere.
Instead of gawking with the multitude of slack-jawed humans, Gus wants his true solace at the piano. "He taps the F-zero key, and it's like heaven under his fingertips." Gus lays in an effortless sound that "shifts modes to keep in sync with his new playmates," the Vanguards crashing into each other outside. Gus dances over the sound of the robots outside as if they are playing for him. "If they want to end the world, fuck them. At least he can make it catchy." Gus plays for the lost dead, his friends, his family, and the last vestiges of humanity.
Then ardent, whom he connected with earlier, come in like a ray of sunshine; they brandish a red metal flake strat. And they prepare to play to the end of humanity until a black metal fist punches the wall in and grabs Gus.
One of the particular thrills of this story is the love of music and art. The story itself ebbs and flows like a symphony. I am not sure if that was a purposeful stroke by the author or me reading into it from being swept away by the descriptions of music. But the descriptions speak to the universal connections music gives us that are not bound by language or creed. Outside of the main characters, Gus and Ardent, the supporting characters we meet later in the novel also have a deep love for music, but with different instruments. I love that White is touching on how music is culturally boundless.
If you have giant robots, we have to talk about the fights. Firstly, we get descriptions of every Vanguard that comes in swinging. The descriptions and names are fantastic because it is akin to cheering the home team on. You have a much greater connection to these giants than them being a nameless horde. Every punch and kick is choreographed to have the most effective mental image. The swings are enormous, the slams are massive, and machine parts fly. In the belly of the gigantic beasts are pilots controlling it all.
Why does this story work? I think in lesser hands, this story could be a mess. There are a lot of working pieces. However, White helps us keep our eye on the ball. We care about the protagonists, probably more so than the fate of humanity in general. Gus and Ardent are not perfect in any way. Ardent can be narcicistic, and Gus can be melodramatic. But both characters rise above through pain, terror, failure, and heroism. They reach inside themselves to be more than they ever thought possible. Someone has to step up and do it, so why not them?
Is this book for everyone? Absolutely not. As I said earlier, this book is a kaleidoscope—a crazy fast, moving, loud story with brilliant lights and massive highs and lows. It isn't for someone who enjoys subtle prose. It is intense from the first page to the last. So if you enjoy stories like Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen and Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson, this story is for you.
The plot starts with August Kitko staring at his demise on the cliff's edge. August, Gus for short, is one of our protagonists, and he is a lover and player of jazz who truly feels music in his soul. But like his fellow humans, Gus has resigned himself to the fate of imminent death. He is at a party at the estate of Lord Elisa Yamazaki. The last party of humanity is a literal "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" affair.
"These are Gods, and they speak with infinite choris."
Humans are dying, not with a bang but with a single discordant note. An army of AI sentient Mechas from space are slowly destroying humanity by downloading each person's consciousness and killing their bodies. Some of these killer robots break off, join the humans, and fight for humanity. The only caveat is that these robots need humans to pilot them, a prospect that would fundamentally change the human pilot forever.
Alongside Gus, we have our other protagonist Ardent Violet, a mega-pop star who shines with an inner light all their own. Again, in the same way music sings for Gus on his piano, music sings for Ardent on their guitar. Unlike Gus, Ardent is super famous. Both Gus and Ardent's lives become intertwined. They have undeniable chemistry with one each other.
The Vanguard arrives on Earth in the form of a mecha named Juliette. A giant sleek purple robot set to start the maiming and destroying of bodies and reaping of consciousnesses. Then with an explosion of a "colorful Borealis of solar particles rippling across Earth's atmosphere," a sleek black Vanguard streaks across the sky. It is Greymalkin, the destroyer of seventeen worlds. The humans stare in stunned silence at the display of power, much like ants would stare in horror at an oncoming boot. The titans crash into each other in a thunderous cacophony. The Vanguards speak to each other in musical ululations, and above it all, Gus picks out F Dorian the favorite of jazz musicians everywhere.
Instead of gawking with the multitude of slack-jawed humans, Gus wants his true solace at the piano. "He taps the F-zero key, and it's like heaven under his fingertips." Gus lays in an effortless sound that "shifts modes to keep in sync with his new playmates," the Vanguards crashing into each other outside. Gus dances over the sound of the robots outside as if they are playing for him. "If they want to end the world, fuck them. At least he can make it catchy." Gus plays for the lost dead, his friends, his family, and the last vestiges of humanity.
Then ardent, whom he connected with earlier, come in like a ray of sunshine; they brandish a red metal flake strat. And they prepare to play to the end of humanity until a black metal fist punches the wall in and grabs Gus.
One of the particular thrills of this story is the love of music and art. The story itself ebbs and flows like a symphony. I am not sure if that was a purposeful stroke by the author or me reading into it from being swept away by the descriptions of music. But the descriptions speak to the universal connections music gives us that are not bound by language or creed. Outside of the main characters, Gus and Ardent, the supporting characters we meet later in the novel also have a deep love for music, but with different instruments. I love that White is touching on how music is culturally boundless.
If you have giant robots, we have to talk about the fights. Firstly, we get descriptions of every Vanguard that comes in swinging. The descriptions and names are fantastic because it is akin to cheering the home team on. You have a much greater connection to these giants than them being a nameless horde. Every punch and kick is choreographed to have the most effective mental image. The swings are enormous, the slams are massive, and machine parts fly. In the belly of the gigantic beasts are pilots controlling it all.
Why does this story work? I think in lesser hands, this story could be a mess. There are a lot of working pieces. However, White helps us keep our eye on the ball. We care about the protagonists, probably more so than the fate of humanity in general. Gus and Ardent are not perfect in any way. Ardent can be narcicistic, and Gus can be melodramatic. But both characters rise above through pain, terror, failure, and heroism. They reach inside themselves to be more than they ever thought possible. Someone has to step up and do it, so why not them?
Is this book for everyone? Absolutely not. As I said earlier, this book is a kaleidoscope—a crazy fast, moving, loud story with brilliant lights and massive highs and lows. It isn't for someone who enjoys subtle prose. It is intense from the first page to the last. So if you enjoy stories like Nophek Gloss by Essa Hansen and Far From the Light of Heaven by Tade Thompson, this story is for you.
July 11, 2022
Where on Earth do I begin with August Kitko and the Mechas From Space? Between the title and the cover, you have to expect you're in for a wild time, yeah? Well, you are. But I do know literally where on Earth I should begin, and that is Monaco. I won't pretend that I wasn't wholly sold from the first page based solely on the fact that this book is set in Monaco. I've never before read a book set here, but I do want to again. I love Monaco- it's gorgeous, it has a fascinating history, and it's absurdly fancy! What's not to love? I digress.
I will say, the book starts out slow. That is probably my biggest complaint, but I got past it. And once I did, I was definitely rewarded! So we meet Gus at the end of the world. Literally, everyone is aware that the world is ending, and they have basically been told to bend over and kiss their asses goodbye. Gus spends his last hours engaged in an Apocalypse Love Story™ with the very famous pop star Ardent Violet, which he figures is a great way to go out. I assumed Gus would not die immediately though, for that would be a very short book. And he doesn't! Because when the alien mechas come to kill all of humanity, one of them notices that Gus is a talented musician and decides to keep him. Not to steal all his mind and discard his human form, which is what the Vanguards have been doing, but to basically team up with Gus (against his will or consent, but alas) to try to not kill everyone.
Because some of the Vanguards think that maybe killing an entire species is not a great plan, some of the humans live, not just Gus. Ardent lives, which makes Gus positively thrilled. But they're all informed that if they don't get to work with the Good Aliens, the Bad Aliens will be back in no type to finish the wiping out of humanity. No one wants that. Gus is being pulled in different directions. Greymalkin, his Vanguard pal, has plans. Whatever is left of the government has plans. But Gus isn't really keen on worrying about the government when humanity is at stake, so he and Greymalkin have work to do.
For me, this is when the book really hits its stride. The other folks Gus encounters bring a ton of levity and camaraderie into the story, and I loved the excitement and adventure of Gus and Greymalkin trying to get to them, too. Ardent and their agent play a huge role too, in that Ardent is clearly willing to move heaven and earth, quite literally, for Gus. I really loved their romance as the book went on, too. It was clear that it may have begun as an end of the world "last hurrah", but they truly did build a bond and care for each other.
Overall, I ended up finding myself quite invested in the story- both Gus's and Arden's stories, as well as the Vanguards'. I look forward to the next installment, where I do hope we find out a bit more about the Vanguards, and why they do what they do- and what led to the fracture. The moments of levity made the story so readable, because yeah the stakes were high, but it was quite palatable with both the touches of humor, romances, and friendships.
Bottom Line: Quirky and fun while still high stakes and exciting, I will be looking forward to the next installment!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
I will say, the book starts out slow. That is probably my biggest complaint, but I got past it. And once I did, I was definitely rewarded! So we meet Gus at the end of the world. Literally, everyone is aware that the world is ending, and they have basically been told to bend over and kiss their asses goodbye. Gus spends his last hours engaged in an Apocalypse Love Story™ with the very famous pop star Ardent Violet, which he figures is a great way to go out. I assumed Gus would not die immediately though, for that would be a very short book. And he doesn't! Because when the alien mechas come to kill all of humanity, one of them notices that Gus is a talented musician and decides to keep him. Not to steal all his mind and discard his human form, which is what the Vanguards have been doing, but to basically team up with Gus (against his will or consent, but alas) to try to not kill everyone.
Because some of the Vanguards think that maybe killing an entire species is not a great plan, some of the humans live, not just Gus. Ardent lives, which makes Gus positively thrilled. But they're all informed that if they don't get to work with the Good Aliens, the Bad Aliens will be back in no type to finish the wiping out of humanity. No one wants that. Gus is being pulled in different directions. Greymalkin, his Vanguard pal, has plans. Whatever is left of the government has plans. But Gus isn't really keen on worrying about the government when humanity is at stake, so he and Greymalkin have work to do.
For me, this is when the book really hits its stride. The other folks Gus encounters bring a ton of levity and camaraderie into the story, and I loved the excitement and adventure of Gus and Greymalkin trying to get to them, too. Ardent and their agent play a huge role too, in that Ardent is clearly willing to move heaven and earth, quite literally, for Gus. I really loved their romance as the book went on, too. It was clear that it may have begun as an end of the world "last hurrah", but they truly did build a bond and care for each other.
Overall, I ended up finding myself quite invested in the story- both Gus's and Arden's stories, as well as the Vanguards'. I look forward to the next installment, where I do hope we find out a bit more about the Vanguards, and why they do what they do- and what led to the fracture. The moments of levity made the story so readable, because yeah the stakes were high, but it was quite palatable with both the touches of humor, romances, and friendships.
Bottom Line: Quirky and fun while still high stakes and exciting, I will be looking forward to the next installment!
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
July 12, 2022
[ Goodreads | Blog | Instagram | Storygraph ]
August Kitko and the Mechas From Space is a queer space opera with mecha, so join me in talking about mecha, because holy shit do I love mecha.The Good
– A+ mecha descriptions
– A+ mecha fights
– Vibrant writing style
– Queer space opera!
– Very feel-good and fun
– Gus is lovely
– Gus and Ardent make a nice contrasting couple
The Bad
– Ardent's chapters aren't as engaging at first
– Uneven execution: some scenes are stellar, some scenes are meh
– Information provided to reader too late
– Gus and Ardent go from one night stand to instalove awfully fast
– The use of "folx" is also YMMV
(Thank you to Orbit Imprint and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!)
First, if you look at the title and think, "Isn't the 'in space' redundant? Don't ALL mecha come from space?" I need to say WOW. Just, WOOOOW. Please set your preconceptions at the door. Some mecha are DUG UP from the GROUND.
Second: oh my god do I love me some mecha and White did an A+ perfect holy shit job describing mecha.
August Kitko and the Mechas From Space is a Queer Space Opera about some mecha who WERE wiping out humanity, but some of them turned traitor and need the assistance of musically talented humans to gain an edge over the murdery mecha. And now one of those humans is Gus.
August Kitko and the Mechas From Space is a DELIGHT. Gus is sweet, and Ardent is feisty, and their dynamic is fun. There's some great lines and discussions about mental health and living for the future. White has a vibrant writing style and a really good eye for scenes and details. I loved loved LOVED the mecha descriptions and the fight scenes were sooo good. (And it's hard to write a good fight scene, let alone a mecha one!)
Unfortunately, August Kitko and the Mechas From Space suffers from uneven execution. While there are tender descriptions of music, glorious mecha fights, and popstar hijinx, plus White has a great knack for humour. But there are also a few bland moments, and more than once we get key information about Gus or the world too late for it to hit the reader effectively. The central romance is a "one night stand that turned into more" plus a dash of instalove, which is definitely a Your Mileage May Vary thing. Another YMMV thing is White's use of "folx" instead of folks. It's something I don't quite get: "folks" is already neutral.
Ultimately, despite any hiccups along the way, August Kitko and the Mechas From Space was an incredibly fun read, and I am 100% getting the sequels—isn't Starmetal Symphony just the coolest series name?—and checking out the rest of White's work!
August Kitko and the Mechas From Space comes out on July 12th!
Story—★★★★☆
Characters—★★★★☆ (3.75)
Writing Style—★★★★☆
Themes and Representation—★★★☆☆ (3.5)
Enjoyment—★★★★☆
Overall—★★★★☆
Recommended For...
Readers looking for a fun, feel-good queer space opera and mecha fans!
August 7, 2022
How I read this: Free audiobook copy received through Libro.fm
I loved this story. At first it took me a while to settle into it, like 15-20% of the audiobook, but after that it just flew by, and I was surprised that I'm already at the ending. I can't wait for the next installments, as I've become pretty invested in the characters' lives and I just want them to be okay. Also, the sass of those vanguard machines is certainly not something I'll forget anytime soon. The book just had a specific vibe to it that I don't know if any other book I've read has ever had. While it's about heavy survival stuff, grief and just plain old scifi villains, it's also about music, art and rock stars, and therefore, wildly informal where other scifi books would be pretty formulaic. I loved that. I can best describe this story as very colorful, and I really enjoyed that. The audio is good as well, the range of voices the narrator did was really good, and it was nice to listen to in general.
I thank the publisher and libro.fm for giving me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
I loved this story. At first it took me a while to settle into it, like 15-20% of the audiobook, but after that it just flew by, and I was surprised that I'm already at the ending. I can't wait for the next installments, as I've become pretty invested in the characters' lives and I just want them to be okay. Also, the sass of those vanguard machines is certainly not something I'll forget anytime soon. The book just had a specific vibe to it that I don't know if any other book I've read has ever had. While it's about heavy survival stuff, grief and just plain old scifi villains, it's also about music, art and rock stars, and therefore, wildly informal where other scifi books would be pretty formulaic. I loved that. I can best describe this story as very colorful, and I really enjoyed that. The audio is good as well, the range of voices the narrator did was really good, and it was nice to listen to in general.
I thank the publisher and libro.fm for giving me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
July 8, 2022
HIGHLIGHTS
~the BEST Big Bad
~simultaneously the scariest and cutest ghosts
~everything is queer
~jazz saves the day
~(sorta)
I’m not completely sure what I think of this book – but I do know I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!
Centuries into the future, Earth is braced for annihilation as the giant robots that have destroyed every other human settlement in the galaxy close in. August Kitko, aka Gus, a jazz musician, has managed to hook up with one of the biggest popstars in human space and is attending the biggest possible end-of-the-world party when the robots arrive.
Things do not go as expected.
It turns out that the Vanguards (don’t call them robots) are not united on the whole destroying-humanity thing. A few of them are fighting to defend humans from the rest. But each Traitor Vanguard, as they’re known, needs a human to help them beat the other machines. Only a human can access the Fount, the store of memories harvested from all the humans the Vanguards have killed; only by utilising the experience of millions of human fighters can the Traitor Vanguards defeat the other Vanguards.
The Traitor Vanguard nicknamed Greymalkin pairs up with Gus, and the fight is on.
Where White shines, as usual, is with the characters and the worldbuilding. Mechas alternates between the POVs of Gus and Ardent, the latter being the aforementioned galactic popstar who hooks up with Gus just before doomsday and won’t let him go off to fight alone. Gus has a kind of everyman vibe about him, which makes him hella relatable, whereas Ardent is a nonbinary glitz-and-glam fashionista who’s flamboyant as fuck and hides panic attacks behind their deadly fierceness. Ardent is objectively more interesting, but you can’t help falling for Gus’ deep earnestness. They’re both pretty damn inspiring.
The romance between them… It all seemed to get very intense very fast, but that is what happens in intense, life-threatening scenarios – history and science have both proved that over and over. That being said, I have to admit that some of the kissing/sex made me cringe: I thought we were collectively past ‘their tongues danced’. Or maybe it’s supposed to be silly? I’m not good at picking up on jokes like that, so, perhaps. Regardless, I loved both these characters, even if I wasn’t completely sold on their love story.
But the worldbuilding! I loved what we got to see of far-future Earth, where humans seen to have gotten their act together, finally. I loved the tech and the queernorm default; I loved words like ‘joyfriend’ for a nonbinary datemate and the use of ‘folx’; I loved all of Ardent’s incredible clothes! And I was utterly delighted by the reveal of the Big Bad and the motivation/purpose of the Vanguards; I can’t talk about it, because spoilers, but White has managed to completely justify this very cinematic way of taking out humanity. It’s not handwaved or left to our suspension of disbelief; there’s very, very good reasoning behind it all, and that makes me so happy! And it’s SO COOL AND CLEVER, YOU GUYS!
I LOVE IT. SO MUCH.
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
~the BEST Big Bad
~simultaneously the scariest and cutest ghosts
~everything is queer
~jazz saves the day
~(sorta)
I’m not completely sure what I think of this book – but I do know I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel!
Centuries into the future, Earth is braced for annihilation as the giant robots that have destroyed every other human settlement in the galaxy close in. August Kitko, aka Gus, a jazz musician, has managed to hook up with one of the biggest popstars in human space and is attending the biggest possible end-of-the-world party when the robots arrive.
Things do not go as expected.
It turns out that the Vanguards (don’t call them robots) are not united on the whole destroying-humanity thing. A few of them are fighting to defend humans from the rest. But each Traitor Vanguard, as they’re known, needs a human to help them beat the other machines. Only a human can access the Fount, the store of memories harvested from all the humans the Vanguards have killed; only by utilising the experience of millions of human fighters can the Traitor Vanguards defeat the other Vanguards.
The Traitor Vanguard nicknamed Greymalkin pairs up with Gus, and the fight is on.
Where White shines, as usual, is with the characters and the worldbuilding. Mechas alternates between the POVs of Gus and Ardent, the latter being the aforementioned galactic popstar who hooks up with Gus just before doomsday and won’t let him go off to fight alone. Gus has a kind of everyman vibe about him, which makes him hella relatable, whereas Ardent is a nonbinary glitz-and-glam fashionista who’s flamboyant as fuck and hides panic attacks behind their deadly fierceness. Ardent is objectively more interesting, but you can’t help falling for Gus’ deep earnestness. They’re both pretty damn inspiring.
The romance between them… It all seemed to get very intense very fast, but that is what happens in intense, life-threatening scenarios – history and science have both proved that over and over. That being said, I have to admit that some of the kissing/sex made me cringe: I thought we were collectively past ‘their tongues danced’. Or maybe it’s supposed to be silly? I’m not good at picking up on jokes like that, so, perhaps. Regardless, I loved both these characters, even if I wasn’t completely sold on their love story.
But the worldbuilding! I loved what we got to see of far-future Earth, where humans seen to have gotten their act together, finally. I loved the tech and the queernorm default; I loved words like ‘joyfriend’ for a nonbinary datemate and the use of ‘folx’; I loved all of Ardent’s incredible clothes! And I was utterly delighted by the reveal of the Big Bad and the motivation/purpose of the Vanguards; I can’t talk about it, because spoilers, but White has managed to completely justify this very cinematic way of taking out humanity. It’s not handwaved or left to our suspension of disbelief; there’s very, very good reasoning behind it all, and that makes me so happy! And it’s SO COOL AND CLEVER, YOU GUYS!
I LOVE IT. SO MUCH.
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
June 15, 2022
Giant killer robots and queers saving humanity. What more do you need?
June 20, 2022
For more of my reviews, check out my blog.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
If there’s one thing you need to know about me before we get into this review, it’s that when Pacific Rim came out in 2013, I went and saw it approximately 238472394 times in the theaters. I adore that absolutely absurd movie. It is fun all wrapped up in a Transformers movie, dipped in a kaiju movie. Is it supposed to be taken seriously? Absolutely not. Does August Kitko and the Mechas from Space scratch that same ridiculous itch? 100000%.
Giant robots come to Earth (and all the human-colonies) in an attempt to upload their minds and kill their bodies. Basically, they’re trying to wipe out the human race in whatever horrible, violent way they can. A few of these robots betray their cause and actually switch sides to help the humans fight off the other robots. But these traitors need humans to act as conduits — basically pilots. Is this sounding familiar at all???
One of the main characters — the aforementioned August Kitko — is a depressed, semi-sort-of-famous pianist. He is frequently mopey, but does his best to do what he can to help humanity. He is a fine main character. He does the job. The other main character, and Gus’s lover/joyfriend, Ardent Violet, steals the show. They are a non-binary rock star with an outrageous personality, and a fabulous sense of style. I loved reading their chapters, and frequently found myself wondering when they would be back on page. Gus and Ardent’s relationship is a little insta-love, a lot of teasing, but they really do care about each other, and it’s a joy to watch.
If you enjoyed Pacific Rim at all, if you like giant robots fighting other giant robots, then you will enjoy August Kitko and the Mechas from Space. The fight scenes are awesome, the chase scenes are scary, the tech described is just phenomenal. I can’t recommend this one enough.
Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
If there’s one thing you need to know about me before we get into this review, it’s that when Pacific Rim came out in 2013, I went and saw it approximately 238472394 times in the theaters. I adore that absolutely absurd movie. It is fun all wrapped up in a Transformers movie, dipped in a kaiju movie. Is it supposed to be taken seriously? Absolutely not. Does August Kitko and the Mechas from Space scratch that same ridiculous itch? 100000%.
Giant robots come to Earth (and all the human-colonies) in an attempt to upload their minds and kill their bodies. Basically, they’re trying to wipe out the human race in whatever horrible, violent way they can. A few of these robots betray their cause and actually switch sides to help the humans fight off the other robots. But these traitors need humans to act as conduits — basically pilots. Is this sounding familiar at all???
One of the main characters — the aforementioned August Kitko — is a depressed, semi-sort-of-famous pianist. He is frequently mopey, but does his best to do what he can to help humanity. He is a fine main character. He does the job. The other main character, and Gus’s lover/joyfriend, Ardent Violet, steals the show. They are a non-binary rock star with an outrageous personality, and a fabulous sense of style. I loved reading their chapters, and frequently found myself wondering when they would be back on page. Gus and Ardent’s relationship is a little insta-love, a lot of teasing, but they really do care about each other, and it’s a joy to watch.
If you enjoyed Pacific Rim at all, if you like giant robots fighting other giant robots, then you will enjoy August Kitko and the Mechas from Space. The fight scenes are awesome, the chase scenes are scary, the tech described is just phenomenal. I can’t recommend this one enough.
July 6, 2022
this was so much fun!!!
August 6, 2022
[This review can also be found on my BLOG]
**I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, body horror, medical content, suicidal ideation, war, genocide, death, death of parent (off page)
--
A highly entertaining and action packed space opera that cranks the volume up high!
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space takes place far into the future at the end of the world. Giant alien robots with their shapeshifting robotic beasts in tow, are zipping around the galaxy destroying the countless worlds humanity has ventured out to and Earth is up next. After a fall out with famous pop star Ardent Violet, Gus Kitko is aimlessly wondering the “greatest goodbye party of all time” alone but decides to see the final moments out by playing some piano. Except his jazz resonates with Greymalkin, one of the Vanguards that crashes onto the planet, and rather than destroying him it chooses Gus to be its Conduit to help it fight.
When it becomes apparent that Greymalkin is not the only Traitor Vanguard, both Gus and Ardent find themselves drawn into a mission to prevent humanities annihilation.
This was such an entertaining read and gave me major Transformers and Pacific Rim vibes with some added rock ‘n roll and great queer rep. Though the beginning is a little slow it’s not long before the chaos kicks in and grabs your attention. Both Gus and Ardent were such fun protagonists to follow, I loved their individual personalities and their relationship was sweet despite developing a little fast / being a bit insta lovey but hey it’s a book set at the end of the world so..
The worldbuilding was really well established and the heart racing action and battle scenes gave the whole story a cinematic edge.
The idea behind the Vanguards/mechas and their accompanying ghosts was equally fascinating and terrifying – be aware there is a fair amount of body horror involved. However, I really loved the involvement of music in both the overall plot and the process of bonding with the mechas, who each had their own unique characteristics too.
My only real issue with the book was that I got lost with some of the music/musicology lingo. Not being much of a musician myself there were some conversations and descriptions that were just flying over my head and in a scifi book where there is already going to be a handful of obscure science lingo that I am only half going to understand without Google, having the two together meant I was feeling more than the usual amount of confusion at times.
This did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the plot and development of the characters though and I am looking forward to seeing where The Starmetal Symphony is going to head to next!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
**I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, gore, injury, body horror, medical content, suicidal ideation, war, genocide, death, death of parent (off page)
--
A highly entertaining and action packed space opera that cranks the volume up high!
August Kitko and the Mechas from Space takes place far into the future at the end of the world. Giant alien robots with their shapeshifting robotic beasts in tow, are zipping around the galaxy destroying the countless worlds humanity has ventured out to and Earth is up next. After a fall out with famous pop star Ardent Violet, Gus Kitko is aimlessly wondering the “greatest goodbye party of all time” alone but decides to see the final moments out by playing some piano. Except his jazz resonates with Greymalkin, one of the Vanguards that crashes onto the planet, and rather than destroying him it chooses Gus to be its Conduit to help it fight.
When it becomes apparent that Greymalkin is not the only Traitor Vanguard, both Gus and Ardent find themselves drawn into a mission to prevent humanities annihilation.
This was such an entertaining read and gave me major Transformers and Pacific Rim vibes with some added rock ‘n roll and great queer rep. Though the beginning is a little slow it’s not long before the chaos kicks in and grabs your attention. Both Gus and Ardent were such fun protagonists to follow, I loved their individual personalities and their relationship was sweet despite developing a little fast / being a bit insta lovey but hey it’s a book set at the end of the world so..
The worldbuilding was really well established and the heart racing action and battle scenes gave the whole story a cinematic edge.
The idea behind the Vanguards/mechas and their accompanying ghosts was equally fascinating and terrifying – be aware there is a fair amount of body horror involved. However, I really loved the involvement of music in both the overall plot and the process of bonding with the mechas, who each had their own unique characteristics too.
My only real issue with the book was that I got lost with some of the music/musicology lingo. Not being much of a musician myself there were some conversations and descriptions that were just flying over my head and in a scifi book where there is already going to be a handful of obscure science lingo that I am only half going to understand without Google, having the two together meant I was feeling more than the usual amount of confusion at times.
This did not diminish my overall enjoyment of the plot and development of the characters though and I am looking forward to seeing where The Starmetal Symphony is going to head to next!
Final Rating – 3.5/5 Stars
July 11, 2022
Book Review: August Kitko and the Mechas from Space by Alex White
4 Stars
I was provided an e-ARC on Netgalley by Orbit in return for an honest review.
Recommend if you like: Gundam or basically all mechas, good LGBTQIA+ representation or a sci-fi romance blend
Not recommended if you dislike: Love on first sight, soft Sci-Fi or apocalyptic settings
August Kitko is a brilliant jazz pianist, but he has two problems; the new love of his life Ardent Violet isn't talking to him and giant robots are about to destroy the world. Using his music he communicates with these robots and reconnects Ardent. This starts a wild ride through the universe, filled with Mecha, Music and a bid to rescue the remaining human race.
This blend of music and mechanics is an amazing concept, masterfully used by Alex White to make humans and machines interact on a common ground. The Mechas gave me very nostalgic flashbacks to the Gundam Wing series I used to watch as child. Also the fight scenes are *chef's kiss* good. I really felt like I was there during an amazingly written space battle between the giant Mecha's. It was all very cinematic.
Kitko himself is what you would expect a brilliant but awkward musician, this works especially well because his lover is the extravagant Ardent. They complement each other extremely well. I also love the way Ardent is represented as gender neutral, by the author. From his descriptions they sound like the most unique person you will ever meet.
My biggest annoyance in the book is the love at first sight romance aspect. The book takes place in about 2 months, but within seconds the main characters cannot live without each other. Although if you love this trope and the star-crossed lovers trope, this book is certainly for you!
All in all I'm really curious too read the second book, which is coming out in 2023 already! I would also like to thank the publisher and author for making me able to review this!
4 Stars
I was provided an e-ARC on Netgalley by Orbit in return for an honest review.
Recommend if you like: Gundam or basically all mechas, good LGBTQIA+ representation or a sci-fi romance blend
Not recommended if you dislike: Love on first sight, soft Sci-Fi or apocalyptic settings
August Kitko is a brilliant jazz pianist, but he has two problems; the new love of his life Ardent Violet isn't talking to him and giant robots are about to destroy the world. Using his music he communicates with these robots and reconnects Ardent. This starts a wild ride through the universe, filled with Mecha, Music and a bid to rescue the remaining human race.
This blend of music and mechanics is an amazing concept, masterfully used by Alex White to make humans and machines interact on a common ground. The Mechas gave me very nostalgic flashbacks to the Gundam Wing series I used to watch as child. Also the fight scenes are *chef's kiss* good. I really felt like I was there during an amazingly written space battle between the giant Mecha's. It was all very cinematic.
Kitko himself is what you would expect a brilliant but awkward musician, this works especially well because his lover is the extravagant Ardent. They complement each other extremely well. I also love the way Ardent is represented as gender neutral, by the author. From his descriptions they sound like the most unique person you will ever meet.
My biggest annoyance in the book is the love at first sight romance aspect. The book takes place in about 2 months, but within seconds the main characters cannot live without each other. Although if you love this trope and the star-crossed lovers trope, this book is certainly for you!
All in all I'm really curious too read the second book, which is coming out in 2023 already! I would also like to thank the publisher and author for making me able to review this!
July 6, 2022
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion*
When a bunch of giant mechs have been destroying the colonies out there in space and are coming for you, what would you do?
Turns out that sometimes the correct answer is very simply; play music. Turns out that if you can keep up with a mech's song, you might be able to help them fight for the world. And when multiple musicians manage to establish this form of communication with a mech, the world might even survive its, well, invasion by those evil mechs. .
In my usual methods of not spoiling anything, here's what this book has:
-the actual most space Opera of space Operas
-a fascinating form of symbiosis
-dual POVs
-Male X Genderqueer romance
-a clear love for both mechs and music of different genres
This book made me laugh out loud, I messaged my friend multiple quotes, and I desperately wait for its sequel. The only question I have, aside from "how dare you end on a cliffhanger" is "why would you use the word folx".
CW: suicidal ideation, drug use, violence (obviously), anxiety, probably more but these are the ones I specifically picked up.
When a bunch of giant mechs have been destroying the colonies out there in space and are coming for you, what would you do?
Turns out that sometimes the correct answer is very simply; play music. Turns out that if you can keep up with a mech's song, you might be able to help them fight for the world. And when multiple musicians manage to establish this form of communication with a mech, the world might even survive its, well, invasion by those evil mechs. .
In my usual methods of not spoiling anything, here's what this book has:
-the actual most space Opera of space Operas
-a fascinating form of symbiosis
-dual POVs
-Male X Genderqueer romance
-a clear love for both mechs and music of different genres
This book made me laugh out loud, I messaged my friend multiple quotes, and I desperately wait for its sequel. The only question I have, aside from "how dare you end on a cliffhanger" is "why would you use the word folx".
CW: suicidal ideation, drug use, violence (obviously), anxiety, probably more but these are the ones I specifically picked up.
April 12, 2023
I guess I’m not into space operas
thank you to libro.fm, the author, and the publisher for an alc of this book
thank you to libro.fm, the author, and the publisher for an alc of this book
July 9, 2022
Let me start by saying that I really, really wanted to like this book. And I didn't dislike it, but on the whole it left me pretty disappointed. I also want to say that I think this book deserves a read, especially if you like mechs, large-scale space battles (with mechs), queer and nonbinary characters whose queerness is not the focus, music and music theory, or sci-fi where the fate of humanity hangs in the mix. Just because it ultimately didn't hit for me like I wanted it to doesn't mean I think it's a bad book or that other readers shouldn't give it a chance.
First of all, the good: I loved the concept! I really enjoy the centering of queer and nonbinary characters without their identity being a plot point or an issue. There were moments of world building that were very intriguing as well.
Here's the problem: This book had so much potential on several fronts, and it failed to live up to that potential. Do I like the idea of fighting with and against giant mechs in a battle for humanity's survival against an unfathomable enemy? Absolutely! Is the idea of using music to commune with said mechs cool, if a bit anime-ish? Definitely. Am I open to two people falling in love against the backdrop of what will likely be the last days of the human race? Sure!
The problem is that after getting me invested in these ideas, the book failed to convinced me that I should care about any of them. The mech idea and ultimate conflict is cool, but it's sidelined for so much of the book in favor of Gus and Ardent ogling each other and thinking about how it's so inconvenient that saving humanity keeps them from hooking up. The mechs all have special powers, but we don't spend enough time with them to really understand their personalities. The enemy is creepy, but aside from an info dump 2/3 of the way through the book, we never see anything about its motivation, and after said info dump, it's barely addressed in the climax in favor of an underwhelming mech battle. The end of this book feels anticlimactic, even going beyond the fact that it's clearly setting up for a book 2. Nothing feels resolved! Throughout my reading experience, I kept getting excited about where I thought the story was going and then quickly feeling let down by it not ever fully going there.
The heart of my issue is the focus on the relationship between Ardent and Gus. It's a relationship I could certainly get behind if given enough to do so. Unfortunately, I don't feel that Ardent, Gus, or the relationship between them was ever given enough care and development to truly get me invested. Ardent and Gus both seem like fairly one note characters (especially Gus, the nominal protagonist). Gus has past trauma, but it's barely addressed except as.a stand-in for character development. Ardent's relationship with their agent/friend is more nuanced and interesting by far than their relationship with Gus, which pretty much consists of them constantly staring at/thinking about each other and how sexy they find each other. It's not only boring, but also tonally at odds with the stakes. It was incredibly immersion breaking for me for every rising action event to be interrupted by a character's inner monologue about how much of a bummer it is that *insert rising action event* delayed their ability to have sexy sex with their sexy sex partner. I'm being a little hyperbolic, but the tone of the relationship and the tone of the actual mech plot bits were so at odds, and Ardent and Gus switched so quickly from "ogling my sexy sex buddy" to "about to die of literal heartbreak if this person dies" so quickly and so often that it gave me whiplash. The problem is that it all felt unearned. The author told me (again and again and again) how much Gus and Ardent loved each other, but there was very little that I felt truly showed me that they did.
Ultimately, parts of this reminded me of fan fiction, not because the quality of the writing was bad or the concept was trite, but because fan fiction relies on having a reader base that is already engaged in the characters and world because they have been created and developed in the source material. Therefore, fan fiction can skip straight to the "juicy bits," so to speak, and show characters being incredibly into each other without much lead-up because readers get that from the source material and their interaction with it. It felt like the author expected me to have this background of caring and understanding about Ardent and Gus; if I did, then perhaps the whole novel would have been more enjoyable. But I dove into this as a reader unfamiliar with the world or the characters, and I don't ever feel like the work was put in to help me get immersed and invested before just telling me things that wouldn't matter unless I was.
First of all, the good: I loved the concept! I really enjoy the centering of queer and nonbinary characters without their identity being a plot point or an issue. There were moments of world building that were very intriguing as well.
Here's the problem: This book had so much potential on several fronts, and it failed to live up to that potential. Do I like the idea of fighting with and against giant mechs in a battle for humanity's survival against an unfathomable enemy? Absolutely! Is the idea of using music to commune with said mechs cool, if a bit anime-ish? Definitely. Am I open to two people falling in love against the backdrop of what will likely be the last days of the human race? Sure!
The problem is that after getting me invested in these ideas, the book failed to convinced me that I should care about any of them. The mech idea and ultimate conflict is cool, but it's sidelined for so much of the book in favor of Gus and Ardent ogling each other and thinking about how it's so inconvenient that saving humanity keeps them from hooking up. The mechs all have special powers, but we don't spend enough time with them to really understand their personalities. The enemy is creepy, but aside from an info dump 2/3 of the way through the book, we never see anything about its motivation, and after said info dump, it's barely addressed in the climax in favor of an underwhelming mech battle. The end of this book feels anticlimactic, even going beyond the fact that it's clearly setting up for a book 2. Nothing feels resolved! Throughout my reading experience, I kept getting excited about where I thought the story was going and then quickly feeling let down by it not ever fully going there.
The heart of my issue is the focus on the relationship between Ardent and Gus. It's a relationship I could certainly get behind if given enough to do so. Unfortunately, I don't feel that Ardent, Gus, or the relationship between them was ever given enough care and development to truly get me invested. Ardent and Gus both seem like fairly one note characters (especially Gus, the nominal protagonist). Gus has past trauma, but it's barely addressed except as.a stand-in for character development. Ardent's relationship with their agent/friend is more nuanced and interesting by far than their relationship with Gus, which pretty much consists of them constantly staring at/thinking about each other and how sexy they find each other. It's not only boring, but also tonally at odds with the stakes. It was incredibly immersion breaking for me for every rising action event to be interrupted by a character's inner monologue about how much of a bummer it is that *insert rising action event* delayed their ability to have sexy sex with their sexy sex partner. I'm being a little hyperbolic, but the tone of the relationship and the tone of the actual mech plot bits were so at odds, and Ardent and Gus switched so quickly from "ogling my sexy sex buddy" to "about to die of literal heartbreak if this person dies" so quickly and so often that it gave me whiplash. The problem is that it all felt unearned. The author told me (again and again and again) how much Gus and Ardent loved each other, but there was very little that I felt truly showed me that they did.
Ultimately, parts of this reminded me of fan fiction, not because the quality of the writing was bad or the concept was trite, but because fan fiction relies on having a reader base that is already engaged in the characters and world because they have been created and developed in the source material. Therefore, fan fiction can skip straight to the "juicy bits," so to speak, and show characters being incredibly into each other without much lead-up because readers get that from the source material and their interaction with it. It felt like the author expected me to have this background of caring and understanding about Ardent and Gus; if I did, then perhaps the whole novel would have been more enjoyable. But I dove into this as a reader unfamiliar with the world or the characters, and I don't ever feel like the work was put in to help me get immersed and invested before just telling me things that wouldn't matter unless I was.
December 16, 2023
Loved this book. Very easy read. Felt like some evangelion and gundam vibes. Having the connection be music was also very fun. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
Read
June 21, 2022This book is not for me. I went out of my comfort zone to try it, knowing I might not like it, and unfortunately my intuition was correct.
That being said - the characters in this are very dynamic. the futuristic setting is fun and not overwhelming. I guess what really got me was all the mecha? I mean, I KNOW, it's fricking called AUGUST KITKO AND THE MECHAS FROM SPACE. I was trying to broaden my reading, haha, knowing I've not liked any mecha-type media I've consumed before. So that's absolutely on me and not on this book.
If you like mecha, try this shit out!
That being said - the characters in this are very dynamic. the futuristic setting is fun and not overwhelming. I guess what really got me was all the mecha? I mean, I KNOW, it's fricking called AUGUST KITKO AND THE MECHAS FROM SPACE. I was trying to broaden my reading, haha, knowing I've not liked any mecha-type media I've consumed before. So that's absolutely on me and not on this book.
If you like mecha, try this shit out!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews