OCEAN'S GODORI

A crew of mismatched personalities comes up against a mysterious plot and questions about the right and wrong side of the law in this debut space opera.

Ocean Yoon is still part of the Alliance, the space agency of a united Korea—but barely. After a tense encounter that ended in a firefight, Ocean’s privileges have been restricted. She proved herself to be a good shot, but also perhaps too independent-minded. Now she serves on the Ohneul under a captain who sometimes respects her and sometimes seems to use her for her piloting abilities and self-confidence. The other members of the Ohneul’s crew have gelled well despite their differences and are happy to follow Ocean as the captain’s second, though the addition of a new crew member, Haven, from an insular community dealing in death practice, threatens to shake up the crew’s dynamics. When Ocean suddenly finds herself in the position to rescue her best friend, Teo, younger son of the Anand Tech empire, who is being targeted for unknown reasons, all of the Ohneul’s crew members, including Ocean, will have to decide where their loyalties lie. In the spirit of Firefly but with more attention to cultural nuances, this novel features ensemble cast shenanigans while still focusing on Ocean and how she interacts with others and her Korean heritage. Snappy action and quieter character moments are balanced well, making this an enjoyable space opera with enough going on beneath the surface to elevate it to more than just a swashbuckling adventure.

Fun, full of both heart and plot.