A queer, Caribbean, anti-colonial sci-fi novella, inspired by the Count of Monte Cristo, in which a betrayed captain seeks revenge on the interplanetary empire that subjugated her people for generations.
Virika Sameroo lives in colonized space under the Æerbot Empire, much like her ancestors before her in the British West Indies. After years of working hard to rise through the ranks of the empire’s merchant marine, she’s finally become first lieutenant on an interstellar cargo vessel.
When her captain dies under suspicious circumstances, Virika is arrested for murder and charged with treason despite her lifelong loyalty to the empire. Her conviction and subsequent imprisonment set her on a path to justice, determined to take down the evil empire that wronged her, all while the fate of her people hangs in the balance.
⤖ My Review ⬻
I’m a big fan of The Count of Monte Cristo (the 2002 movie, not the book as I haven’t yet read it) as well as science fiction, so when I heard that Suzan Palumbo’s novella release, Countess, would be a mix of the two with more than a dash of LGBTQ, I knew I had to read it.
Since my attention span hasn’t been the greatest, I was also very intrigued by Countess being a novella rather than a full-length novel—it seemed perfect for where my head was at.
I read the book pretty quickly due to the size and also found that it held my attention span quite effectively because of the story itself, the pacing, and the overall length of the book. I really liked the characters, as well as Palumbo’s fresh take on The Count of Monte Cristo but set in space and with a Countess rather than a Count.
It was an exciting and compact read, and I really enjoyed myself. Definitely recommend Countess if anything in the synopsis (or what I’ve mentioned) caught your attention!