What do you think your next listen will be? would have helped this story flow so much better. A few 'she argued,' 'she contested,' 'she laughed,' etc.

It was very jarring and distracting because the way she says it is very robotic and so out of place it's all you can focus on. Using other attributives other than 'she said.' Even when Cheris asks a question, the author uses 'she said.' To make it worse, it sounded like the narrator recorded the attributives separately from the dialog and then they were inserted where needed because every single 'she said' has exactly the same tone and reflection.

What would have made Ninefox Gambit better? The title of this novel should have been: She said This is the first in a series and though left in a cliffhanger, the story of the initial book is nicely wrapped up so you aren't left completely in exquisite anticipation. Though the book is short (under 400 pages), it has all the feel of a sweeping space opera, but in the vein of Herbert's Dune, with Machiavellian political maneuvering, and a dash of Starship Troopers or Forever War in a certain glee of military planning. As alien as the technology and society are, the humans are still human, enmeshed in intrigue and camaraderie, betrayal and power struggles. The book is tightly plotted and intricate, dropping the reader right into an unfamiliar future, with any explanation and context shown in glimpses, bits, and gradually over time. Only made better by a well-written and expertly plotted story.Ī must-read for science fiction fans.

What did you love best about Ninefox Gambit?Įmily Woo Zeller's narration made the book come alive, she is a treasure. As the siege wears on, Cheris must decide how far she can trust Jedao - because she might be his next victim. The bad news is that Jedao went mad in his first life and massacred two armies, one of them his own. The good news is that Jedao has never lost a battle, and he may be the only one who can figure out how to successfully besiege the fortress. Cheris' best hope is to ally with the undead tactician Shuos Jedao. If the fortress falls, the Hexarchate itself might be next. Cheris' career isn't the only thing at stake. Kel Command gives her the opportunity to redeem herself by retaking the Fortress of Scattered Needles, a star fortress that has recently been captured by heretics. To win an impossible war, Captain Kel Cheris must awaken an ancient weapon and a despised traitor general.Ĭaptain Kel Cheris of the Hexarchate is disgraced for using unconventional methods in a battle against heretics.

The first installment of the trilogy, Ninefox Gambit centers on disgraced captain Kel Cheris, who must recapture the formidable Fortress of Scattered Needles in order to redeem herself in front of the Hexarchate.

Ninefox gambit by yoon ha lee