Through Fire

Zen Sienna is not quite human…engineered and trained as the maintenance and navigation half of a Darkship team, she is constantly aware of her otherness. Mankind has gone through a period of self-modification, resulting in centuries of mistrust and dispersal.

Zen finds herself on an Earth of wealthy oligarchs, hosted by one who is attracted to her. But tragic personal experience has made her very reluctant to allow emotional attachment to ever again intrude upon her life. Also, she’s totally unwilling to return to her own reclusive folk, despite a looming revolution. Pure emotional conflict, done nicely.

Though this story stands well alone, you must read predecessor books to fully engage this universe.

Hoyt has given us a feminine viewpoint, avoided the dreaded all-knowing narrator, and espoused female power. Using non-stop action, constant anxiety, and unending social complications, she snares her readers in a net of professionally executed adventure.

Someone attempting to denigrate this fine author once accused her of being a love child of Robert Heinlein and Ayn Rand. She took it as a compliment. Rightfully so, as her Heinleinian trust in her readers reflects some of his technique (“blasters” are “burners”), and her grasp of social dynamics is awesome.