An android battles a dictatorial religious leader in Arama’s SF thriller.

The story begins in the year 1831 of the Lucretian Era, a very early indication that this novel involves multiple layers of complex worldbuilding. Yamir Varro, the chief neuroscientist at Connectome Labs, has uploaded a copy ofhis brain into the android Y1, who narrates approximately a third of the novel in journallike “Logfiles.” Initially, Y1 longs for the company of Yamir’s wife, who refuses to interact with an android, and he regrets how he treated his college-aged son: “I missed so many of his milestones—losing his first baby tooth, playing his first game of stickball, shaving for the first time—because I was always at work.” Yamir is a pioneer, and his lab is on the verge of a major breakthrough, butthe world’s largest organized religion, The Temple, does not endorse his work. Olma, the Temple’s science and technology supervisor, is tasked with monitoring all emerging research that falls outside the faith’s strictures, and the novel closely follows her progress in its early stages. The tension soon ratchets up as Yamir’s lab is sold by Grady Leos, its owner, to the Temple and the androids are tasked with forced labor on a Martian settlement, as the Temple believes their leader, El, wants humans to eventually populate the red planet. What follows is a power struggle that pits the desires of Y1, Yamir and his family, and Olma against one another in an often thrilling narrative. The thoughtful, depressed android is an intriguing central character throughout. However, his logfiles are often overly and off-puttingly technical—“The repairs to the ASV3 aren’t going well. Zaltana replaced the leg destroyed by the explosion with one taken from the ASV2, but not every input aligns”—as well as occasionally repetitive. The close third-person narration following Yamir and Olma also relies on frequent scene-setting to remind readers of the stakes involved, which can, at times, become tiresome. Still, the central story and frequent twists will keep engaged readers hooked to the end.

An uneven but often thought-provoking narrative about a clash between science and religion.

A young princess fights to claim her throne and unite her realm in Arama’s sweeping historical fantasy.

On her 10th birthday, Princess Andrada of Kerta is ordered by the father she’s never met to begin a traditional boy’s education—her late mother’s wish. King Cothelas intends for his daughter to be his heir, but when she fails the King’s Challenge, she’s forced into an arranged marriage with King Nicetas of Valdavia. Nicetas is a cold and bitter man, haunted by an attempt on his life by Scorilus, the King of Steppewynd, and he leaves Andrada alone for months on end while he lives with his lover, the medicine woman Una. The kingdoms of Kerta, Valdavia, and Steppewynd, neighbors abutting the Black Sea, were once the single realm of Dhawosia; they now narrowly maintain their independence from the Roman Empire as they fret and squabble amongst themselves (King Cothelas demands King Nicetas’ first-born son by Andrada; King Scorilus dreamed of being an explorer, not a ruler). When tragedy strikes, Nicetas accuses Andrada of murder, and the three kingdoms go to war. In the chaos, Andrada must find her resolve and courage to try to unite her divided people. This well-crafted novel features intricate worldbuilding that’s expertly woven into the story with elegant prose: “The Old Temple of Sehul had been built by the founders of Sehuldava to capture the light of the sun on a high holy day. The light would enter the temple through a small window and reach the inner chamber.” The supporting characters often feel two-dimensional, however, with singular motivations that make their actions (and a good portion of the plot) predictable. But all the various threads come together neatly in the story’s final act for a rousing finish, and the ending provides a tidy setup for the upcoming sequel.

Readers of historical fantasy will love the battles, intrigue, and imagination in this sprawling tale.

An immigration lawyer and her latest client both face injustice and a host of menaces in Arama’s debut thriller.

Seattle-based attorney Laura Holban reluctantly takes on a new case despite her hefty workload. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have just arrested undocumented Guatemalan immigrant Emilio Ramirez, who has lived in Washington state with a happy family and a steady job for more than two decades. But he’s now up against Seattle’s chief ICE prosecutor, Mason Waltman, who seems determined to eject him from the country. Laura’s burden is to prove that her client shouldn’t be deported, a task that is complicated by a false assault claim leveled at Emilio. Someone appears to really want Emilio back in Guatemala; his family’s home is broken into, and Laura is physically intimidated in an effort to get her to drop the case. Suddenly, questions arise about the validity of Laura’s own green card, which she received when she immigrated to the United States from Romania 18 years earlier. Laura worries that Emilio will be killed if he returns to his native country, a sad fate that’s befallen other clients of hers—but the greatest danger for her, Emilio, and his family may be much closer to home. Arama’s taut narrative brims with tension and indelible characters. The author is sensitive to discrimination (“When a native speaker makes a mistake, it’s because they’re tired or distracted. When an immigrant makes the same mistake, it’s because they’re dumb”) and microaggressions: Several people make note of Laura’s accent, as if she’s a tourist in the country she’s made her home. The story derives suspense from unpredictable threats courtesy of ICE, crooked lawyers, and the mysterious figure targeting Emilio. Most of Laura’s fight takes place outside the courtroom, where only a few scenes are set. Violence crops up in the final act, though it’s nominal, and the ending packs a mean dramatic punch.

A remarkable cast sparks this incisive, riveting tale of intolerance.