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Dragonfire Station #1
Translucid
What if you woke up knowing how to do your job, but not your own name? What if you had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?
What if you thought they were wrong?
Emé Fallon is the security chief of Dragonfire Station, and she does a damn good job of it. That's where her competence ends. Outside of work, she has a wife she doesn't know, a captain who seems to hate her, and a lot of questions that don't add up.Without a past, all she has is the present, and she'll stop at nothing to ensure she has a future.
Dragonfire Station is sci-fi thriller series with technothriller and cyberpunk elements. It features adventure, plot twists, action, witty and amusing dialogue, and most of all highly developed characters who feel like real people you know. In a nutshell, it's about kick-ass, flawed people who are doing their best overcome the challenges thrown their way.
Fans of Firefly and The Expanse will love this new series.
What if you thought they were wrong?
Emé Fallon is the security chief of Dragonfire Station, and she does a damn good job of it. That's where her competence ends. Outside of work, she has a wife she doesn't know, a captain who seems to hate her, and a lot of questions that don't add up.Without a past, all she has is the present, and she'll stop at nothing to ensure she has a future.
Dragonfire Station is sci-fi thriller series with technothriller and cyberpunk elements. It features adventure, plot twists, action, witty and amusing dialogue, and most of all highly developed characters who feel like real people you know. In a nutshell, it's about kick-ass, flawed people who are doing their best overcome the challenges thrown their way.
Fans of Firefly and The Expanse will love this new series.
228 pages, ebook
First published September 1, 2016
130 people are currently reading
304 people want to read
About the author
Zen DiPietro
43 books164 followersZen DiPietro is a lifelong bookworm, writer, and dreamer. Perhaps most importantly, a Browncoat Trekkie Whovian. Also red-haired, left-handed, and uber geek. Absolutely terrible at conforming. A recovering gamer, but we won’t talk about that. Particular loves include badass heroines, British accents, and the smell of Band-Aids. You can sign up for her newsletter at www.zendipietro.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 8, 2017
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. This is the first book I have ever read by Zen, so I didn't know what to expect. I'm not sure if she has written LGBT characters in the past, but as a fan of Sci-Fi and Lesfic, I was excited to read this.
The story is about Em, who wakes up in a hospital bed with no personal memories, including of her wife. She is the chief security officer and the second in command of the ship Dragonfire. Em is worried her accident might have been on purpose, and not knowing who she can trust, she desperately needs to know what is going on. But the more she finds out, the more danger she could be in. Can she recover her memories before it is too late?
First, I want to say that Zen writes really well. The story flowed and was polished. When writing a Sci-Fi novel, you have to build whole worlds and people, Zen did this expertly. I understood everything that was going on, and found Zen to be very good at showing, not telling. I enjoyed the different races of humans and aliens, and the different worlds and places, Em traveled to. Zen is very descriptive, but not so much that it is overboard.
I do want to point out, this is not an action packed story. A lot of it is dealing with every day station life and responsibilities of a chief officer. This is the first book in a series, so a lot of this was setting everything up. I was okay with it, because once more excitement did happen, I was hooked already. The character of Em, is an absolute badass. I can't wait to see what she is able to really do, when let loose, hopefully in future books.
I would easily recommend this to any Sci-Fi fans. While Em has a wife, there is nothing even the biggest prude could have any objection to. If anything, I would like to see Em have a little more "romance" with her wife. I really did enjoy this and am looking forward to getting my hands on book 2, hopefully soon.
An ARC was given to me from Parallel World Press, for a honest review.
The story is about Em, who wakes up in a hospital bed with no personal memories, including of her wife. She is the chief security officer and the second in command of the ship Dragonfire. Em is worried her accident might have been on purpose, and not knowing who she can trust, she desperately needs to know what is going on. But the more she finds out, the more danger she could be in. Can she recover her memories before it is too late?
First, I want to say that Zen writes really well. The story flowed and was polished. When writing a Sci-Fi novel, you have to build whole worlds and people, Zen did this expertly. I understood everything that was going on, and found Zen to be very good at showing, not telling. I enjoyed the different races of humans and aliens, and the different worlds and places, Em traveled to. Zen is very descriptive, but not so much that it is overboard.
I do want to point out, this is not an action packed story. A lot of it is dealing with every day station life and responsibilities of a chief officer. This is the first book in a series, so a lot of this was setting everything up. I was okay with it, because once more excitement did happen, I was hooked already. The character of Em, is an absolute badass. I can't wait to see what she is able to really do, when let loose, hopefully in future books.
I would easily recommend this to any Sci-Fi fans. While Em has a wife, there is nothing even the biggest prude could have any objection to. If anything, I would like to see Em have a little more "romance" with her wife. I really did enjoy this and am looking forward to getting my hands on book 2, hopefully soon.
An ARC was given to me from Parallel World Press, for a honest review.
September 18, 2016
This is a really fun book, and it differs from other wlw sci-fi I've read in that romance really doesn't play any role at all. This is closer to a cross between Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Total Recall. The lead character is pansexual and she has a wife, but her orientation and relationship barely factor into the story at all (at least not in this book). They're there, but they're not really a focus.
At its heart, this is something of a slow-building mystery combined with an interesting take on the roles that nature and nurture play in forming our identities--not a very deep take on it, but it still made for an intriguing story. Set on a space station (a la Deep Space Nine), the story's plot mostly focuses on the protagonist's struggle to reconstruct her memories and discover how she lost them. It's a ride.
Regarding the setting, it's well-constructed and filled with a textured supporting cast. I came to like many of the side characters, including those who only appear once or twice in the story. That's quite a feat! The overall quality of writing was quite good, too, offering lovely technique and excellent editing to boot.
So, on to my problems with it. The pacing seemed to drop off a little bit towards the end, or at least it felt like it to me. When the rising action should've been building to the climax, it was mostly just a flat line; there was tension, but it felt passive rather than active. Additionally, I admit it, I love romance. What little romance there was here was woefully underdeveloped and short-lived, which robbed the story of some richness I would've enjoyed a great deal. Such is life.
My rating: 4.45 stars. Looking forward to the sequel.
At its heart, this is something of a slow-building mystery combined with an interesting take on the roles that nature and nurture play in forming our identities--not a very deep take on it, but it still made for an intriguing story. Set on a space station (a la Deep Space Nine), the story's plot mostly focuses on the protagonist's struggle to reconstruct her memories and discover how she lost them. It's a ride.
Regarding the setting, it's well-constructed and filled with a textured supporting cast. I came to like many of the side characters, including those who only appear once or twice in the story. That's quite a feat! The overall quality of writing was quite good, too, offering lovely technique and excellent editing to boot.
So, on to my problems with it. The pacing seemed to drop off a little bit towards the end, or at least it felt like it to me. When the rising action should've been building to the climax, it was mostly just a flat line; there was tension, but it felt passive rather than active. Additionally, I admit it, I love romance. What little romance there was here was woefully underdeveloped and short-lived, which robbed the story of some richness I would've enjoyed a great deal. Such is life.
My rating: 4.45 stars. Looking forward to the sequel.
December 9, 2019
I believe I’ve owned this book since roughly March 10 2018. But didn’t decide to try it until December 7 2019. Simple enough reason for the delay, I forgot I owned it, and I own a ton of books I got for free. When I learned of the LGBT connection this book had, it moved up possible reads. Then I read it.
A woman awakens in a hospital. There’s some woman who doesn’t appear to belong in the room, a doctor near her, and more doctors and nurses in the distance. She’s being evaluated. It quickly becomes clear to herself and those in attendance that: a) she has an odd form of amnesia that has removed nothing but herself (or: her skills, training, physical abilities, ability to remember (other than whatever personality/person she was before the accident), everything about the place she is currently stationed, the ‘stuff’ she needs to know to ‘do her job’, etc. etc., is still in her brain, but the memories/feelings/etc. that make her her appear to be missing); b) I already mentioned it, but it is important to the rest of the story: it is quickly established that she still knows her own job, revealed when she calmly went to one of the screens in the hospital, input a bunch of codes, and began examining what she found.
Emé Fallon is the woman who awoke in the hospital. The other woman was her wife of six months, Wren. Emé, as noted, has no knowledge of this ‘Wren’ and finds her presence to be confusing. Fairly quickly during her awakening, Emé learns that she is the security chef on the space station. And has been for roughly a year. I think. Six months? The timing got a little confusing for me, doesn’t matter though.
First half of the book has Emé trying to regain her memories. Trying to adapt to having another person in her quarters who is her wife. Trying to adapt to her job and her boss, who seems to hate her for some unknown reason. Even from the beginning, though, there were these ‘off’ things that made her question everything. Like how she seemed ‘better’ than her record indicated (like combat related matters, like knife throwing). A significant event occurs around that 50% mark that redirects the book, based on some stuff she found out hidden in files; then another significant event slightly later redirects things again. I’m being purposefully vague.
I’ve a vague idea that I read something that said that this was something like Total Recall mixed with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. There are similarities, but also massive differences.
For those who care about such things: this is a universe that includes an Earth that is known, remembered, and still ‘operating’, though not visited in this story. There a massive number of different humanoids around.
Also for those who care about such things: there is no graphic depictions of sex. A few depictions of violence, but not much in the way of action/violence.
I enjoyed the book, which I got for free, and immediately acquired the next two books in the series. Helps that the next two books are Kindle Unlimited books, and I had some room to add books. But, still, I was going to buy the next book before I saw I could get it for free.
I know I haven’t said anything but it is hard to say anything without diving into spoilers. Plus I keep having ‘Odo’ thoughts bounce around my brain, distracting me. And while Emé is a security chef on a space station, like Odo, that’s the sum total of their similarities. Well, both also do not know their back history, to start with. I’m fairly certain, though, that Odo keeps bouncing around in my brain, because the actor who played the role just died.
Rating: 4.44
December 9, 2019
A woman awakens in a hospital. There’s some woman who doesn’t appear to belong in the room, a doctor near her, and more doctors and nurses in the distance. She’s being evaluated. It quickly becomes clear to herself and those in attendance that: a) she has an odd form of amnesia that has removed nothing but herself (or: her skills, training, physical abilities, ability to remember (other than whatever personality/person she was before the accident), everything about the place she is currently stationed, the ‘stuff’ she needs to know to ‘do her job’, etc. etc., is still in her brain, but the memories/feelings/etc. that make her her appear to be missing); b) I already mentioned it, but it is important to the rest of the story: it is quickly established that she still knows her own job, revealed when she calmly went to one of the screens in the hospital, input a bunch of codes, and began examining what she found.
Emé Fallon is the woman who awoke in the hospital. The other woman was her wife of six months, Wren. Emé, as noted, has no knowledge of this ‘Wren’ and finds her presence to be confusing. Fairly quickly during her awakening, Emé learns that she is the security chef on the space station. And has been for roughly a year. I think. Six months? The timing got a little confusing for me, doesn’t matter though.
First half of the book has Emé trying to regain her memories. Trying to adapt to having another person in her quarters who is her wife. Trying to adapt to her job and her boss, who seems to hate her for some unknown reason. Even from the beginning, though, there were these ‘off’ things that made her question everything. Like how she seemed ‘better’ than her record indicated (like combat related matters, like knife throwing). A significant event occurs around that 50% mark that redirects the book, based on some stuff she found out hidden in files; then another significant event slightly later redirects things again. I’m being purposefully vague.
I’ve a vague idea that I read something that said that this was something like Total Recall mixed with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. There are similarities, but also massive differences.
For those who care about such things: this is a universe that includes an Earth that is known, remembered, and still ‘operating’, though not visited in this story. There a massive number of different humanoids around.
Also for those who care about such things: there is no graphic depictions of sex. A few depictions of violence, but not much in the way of action/violence.
I enjoyed the book, which I got for free, and immediately acquired the next two books in the series. Helps that the next two books are Kindle Unlimited books, and I had some room to add books. But, still, I was going to buy the next book before I saw I could get it for free.
I know I haven’t said anything but it is hard to say anything without diving into spoilers. Plus I keep having ‘Odo’ thoughts bounce around my brain, distracting me. And while Emé is a security chef on a space station, like Odo, that’s the sum total of their similarities. Well, both also do not know their back history, to start with. I’m fairly certain, though, that Odo keeps bouncing around in my brain, because the actor who played the role just died.
Rating: 4.44
December 9, 2019
September 17, 2016
That was BUCKETS of fun! I am absolutely signed up for the further adventures of Em Fallon.
Translucid is the space opera equivalent of a cheeky Chinese takeaway after a long week at work: utterly delightful. We meet a badass heroine in a terrible situation - her memory ripped from her in an accident - and are left to figure out her life as she does.
For all its suggestive set-up, Zen di Pietro takes time to set out her stall and I found myself wondering whether this was actually the high stakes espionage thriller I automatically assumed or Regarding Henry in space. As it turns out, the slow build is an excellent tactic for some neat galaxy-building and gives the awkward situation between Emé and her newly-estranged wife Wren time to develop.
With a final act as high-octane as I could have wished for, Translucid sets up what promises to be a thrilling new series (with space espionage and covert treachery). It remains to be seen how complicated Emé’s love life can get (although coming from a reader who typically disdains a romance (sub)plot, it says a lot about the charm of this narrative and these characters that I'm delighted at the prospect).
Full review.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Translucid is the space opera equivalent of a cheeky Chinese takeaway after a long week at work: utterly delightful. We meet a badass heroine in a terrible situation - her memory ripped from her in an accident - and are left to figure out her life as she does.
For all its suggestive set-up, Zen di Pietro takes time to set out her stall and I found myself wondering whether this was actually the high stakes espionage thriller I automatically assumed or Regarding Henry in space. As it turns out, the slow build is an excellent tactic for some neat galaxy-building and gives the awkward situation between Emé and her newly-estranged wife Wren time to develop.
With a final act as high-octane as I could have wished for, Translucid sets up what promises to be a thrilling new series (with space espionage and covert treachery). It remains to be seen how complicated Emé’s love life can get (although coming from a reader who typically disdains a romance (sub)plot, it says a lot about the charm of this narrative and these characters that I'm delighted at the prospect).
Full review.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
August 18, 2018
Interesting
I skimmed a lot of pages be cause the action was too slow or the interactions between major characters was too long for little information. The relationship explanations were not served by the vagueness that surrounds the various characters and the roles they play.
I read it for the background to his Mercenary books. It gave me some but for me the story dragged. I'm going to read the next book and hopefully, it will move better or flesh out this universe.
I was in a lot of physical pain then, but man did I miss a good book. I like her universe after really looking at it. Her characters, especially the aliens are very nice. Her picture of human cultural and genetic diversity is certainly first rate.
It doesn't have massive space battles but I don't usually look for that in a story. I have to disagree with my other self, this is not a slow book and the series looks to provide plenty of intrigue, action and more good characters.
She does write well and her character development is what I hope to see in any science fiction novel. So for good descriptions, lots of well described aliens and hopefully a good series, I think she's one of my best finds.
I skimmed a lot of pages be cause the action was too slow or the interactions between major characters was too long for little information. The relationship explanations were not served by the vagueness that surrounds the various characters and the roles they play.
I read it for the background to his Mercenary books. It gave me some but for me the story dragged. I'm going to read the next book and hopefully, it will move better or flesh out this universe.
I was in a lot of physical pain then, but man did I miss a good book. I like her universe after really looking at it. Her characters, especially the aliens are very nice. Her picture of human cultural and genetic diversity is certainly first rate.
It doesn't have massive space battles but I don't usually look for that in a story. I have to disagree with my other self, this is not a slow book and the series looks to provide plenty of intrigue, action and more good characters.
She does write well and her character development is what I hope to see in any science fiction novel. So for good descriptions, lots of well described aliens and hopefully a good series, I think she's one of my best finds.
October 15, 2016
4.5 stars
I must say first that I really enjoyed this book. Sci-fi is one of my first loves, and combining it with lesfic has become my reading Holy Grail. We wake up with Eme in the medical bay on Dragonfire Station. It becomes immediately clear to us, since we're in Eme's head, that things are quite a bit different than those around her might think. Eme has lost her memory, and has to be told many things; her position on station, her name, and who the woman hovering over her is. She's surprised, and rather uneasy, to be told the woman is her wife, since she can't remember her. As readers, it's immediately clear that not everything is quite the way it should be. Eme's immediate reactions upon waking let us know that she is more than she appears. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a surprise later in the book so I won't say much more about it, but I will say that when it was revealed, I definitely wasn't surprised, and neither was Eme.
At first, we seem to be joining Eme as she begins to relearn her life, her job, and her wife. Things quickly go off the rails, and we begin to see how formidable a woman Eme must have been when she had all her memories. There's an addition of characters to her party that she knew before she'd ever been sent to Dragonfire, and a new mission for all of them to undertake. For the first book in a series, this seems to really set up the situation and mission nicely. We end the book ready for the next in the series, ready for the mission to really take off. But at the same time, we're left with quite a few things unresolved. And most of that is how it should be. Those answers are supposed to be revealed in future books, and like I said, the set up for the series is wonderful. But I hate the way things with her wife, Wren, have been left, even as I understand why it has to be that way. I am rather grateful for that last conversation Eme has with Wren's close friend, Endra. That conversation at least gives me hope that a happy ending for Eme and Wren may be in the cards sometime in the future.
All in all, a really good start, and a series I'm definitely interested in continuing. I recommend this one to all those sci-fi geeks like me out there. I think you'll enjoy the action, suspense, and mystery, all set in a futuristic setting, as much as I did.
I requested a copy of this book from Netgalley in order to review it.
I must say first that I really enjoyed this book. Sci-fi is one of my first loves, and combining it with lesfic has become my reading Holy Grail. We wake up with Eme in the medical bay on Dragonfire Station. It becomes immediately clear to us, since we're in Eme's head, that things are quite a bit different than those around her might think. Eme has lost her memory, and has to be told many things; her position on station, her name, and who the woman hovering over her is. She's surprised, and rather uneasy, to be told the woman is her wife, since she can't remember her. As readers, it's immediately clear that not everything is quite the way it should be. Eme's immediate reactions upon waking let us know that she is more than she appears. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a surprise later in the book so I won't say much more about it, but I will say that when it was revealed, I definitely wasn't surprised, and neither was Eme.
At first, we seem to be joining Eme as she begins to relearn her life, her job, and her wife. Things quickly go off the rails, and we begin to see how formidable a woman Eme must have been when she had all her memories. There's an addition of characters to her party that she knew before she'd ever been sent to Dragonfire, and a new mission for all of them to undertake. For the first book in a series, this seems to really set up the situation and mission nicely. We end the book ready for the next in the series, ready for the mission to really take off. But at the same time, we're left with quite a few things unresolved. And most of that is how it should be. Those answers are supposed to be revealed in future books, and like I said, the set up for the series is wonderful. But I hate the way things with her wife, Wren, have been left, even as I understand why it has to be that way. I am rather grateful for that last conversation Eme has with Wren's close friend, Endra. That conversation at least gives me hope that a happy ending for Eme and Wren may be in the cards sometime in the future.
All in all, a really good start, and a series I'm definitely interested in continuing. I recommend this one to all those sci-fi geeks like me out there. I think you'll enjoy the action, suspense, and mystery, all set in a futuristic setting, as much as I did.
I requested a copy of this book from Netgalley in order to review it.
December 19, 2016
This science fiction novel never quite clicked for me.
Translucid‘s protagonist wakes up not remembering anything about herself. She is soon told that her name’s Emé Fallon and that she’s the security chief of Dragonfire Station. She can remember basic information and all the tasks she was trained to do before her accident, but everything pertaining to who she was is gone. She can’t even remember her own wife.
My main problem with Translucid is that it felt really slow. The entire first third is just Emé relearning the station, performing her job as security chief, and trying to get a handle on who she was before the accident. There’s finally a hint at a plot beyond this, but doesn’t get developed on at all until during the second half. And even there, the plot development is lacking. I’m not sure if there was even a climax. If there was, I sure can’t identify it.
For whatever reason, I felt like Translucid lacked depth. I never found anything about it more than surface level – the characterization, the world building, the plot. Surface level can be compensated for with a fast pace and loads of action, but Translucid never delivered on that front. As is, it definitely feels like Translucid‘s missing something.
On the positive side, I think Translucid may be the only book I have ever read where the protagonist is explicitly pansexual. The word is even used, however not by Emé – by her wife when Emé asks her about what she was like before the accident.
I kept waiting for Translucid to come together for me. But even at the end of the book, I felt like not much had happened and that the characterization was one-note. I am not planning on continuing with this series.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
Translucid‘s protagonist wakes up not remembering anything about herself. She is soon told that her name’s Emé Fallon and that she’s the security chief of Dragonfire Station. She can remember basic information and all the tasks she was trained to do before her accident, but everything pertaining to who she was is gone. She can’t even remember her own wife.
My main problem with Translucid is that it felt really slow. The entire first third is just Emé relearning the station, performing her job as security chief, and trying to get a handle on who she was before the accident. There’s finally a hint at a plot beyond this, but doesn’t get developed on at all until during the second half. And even there, the plot development is lacking. I’m not sure if there was even a climax. If there was, I sure can’t identify it.
For whatever reason, I felt like Translucid lacked depth. I never found anything about it more than surface level – the characterization, the world building, the plot. Surface level can be compensated for with a fast pace and loads of action, but Translucid never delivered on that front. As is, it definitely feels like Translucid‘s missing something.
On the positive side, I think Translucid may be the only book I have ever read where the protagonist is explicitly pansexual. The word is even used, however not by Emé – by her wife when Emé asks her about what she was like before the accident.
I kept waiting for Translucid to come together for me. But even at the end of the book, I felt like not much had happened and that the characterization was one-note. I am not planning on continuing with this series.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
August 9, 2017
Great concept, characters, and world building, but where’s the actual story?
I was quickly and completely absorbed into the world of Eme’ Fallon, her situation, and Dragonfire Station in general. It’s an interesting world. A bit of mystery (okay, a lot), tons of unique alien culture, and a hint of romance… but where’s the rest? Really, as a reader, I was thoroughly disappointed with how it “ended.” (quotes used here because there wasn’t an ending at all) The set up was there, I was in…then it ended. There was a build without any climax or resolution. It was like watching a cliff-hanger episode of your favorite television show… however, this wasn’t a one-hour episode, but rather, a full-fledged novel. I was disappointed to say the least. I expected some sense of ending, some conclusion.
IMO, novels should follow some sort of plot arc, give readers some sense of closure, and not drop the reader off a cliff—no matter how well written the path to that cliff might be.
Simply put, this wasn’t a full story but a lead in.
I walked away so unfulfilled and frustrated as a reader, I am pondering whether I’ll read the other books in the trilogy—even though I purchased them.
I was quickly and completely absorbed into the world of Eme’ Fallon, her situation, and Dragonfire Station in general. It’s an interesting world. A bit of mystery (okay, a lot), tons of unique alien culture, and a hint of romance… but where’s the rest? Really, as a reader, I was thoroughly disappointed with how it “ended.” (quotes used here because there wasn’t an ending at all) The set up was there, I was in…then it ended. There was a build without any climax or resolution. It was like watching a cliff-hanger episode of your favorite television show… however, this wasn’t a one-hour episode, but rather, a full-fledged novel. I was disappointed to say the least. I expected some sense of ending, some conclusion.
IMO, novels should follow some sort of plot arc, give readers some sense of closure, and not drop the reader off a cliff—no matter how well written the path to that cliff might be.
Simply put, this wasn’t a full story but a lead in.
I walked away so unfulfilled and frustrated as a reader, I am pondering whether I’ll read the other books in the trilogy—even though I purchased them.
September 26, 2016
Originally reviewed at West Coast Book Reviews.
What if I used a word you don't often see describing SF?
What if I called Translucid 'sweet'?
I enjoyed DiPietro's approach to amnesia. In Translucid, we learn about Emé as she does so the plot develops around her discoveries. Hers in the only POV so we don't have the motives of others thrust upon her and she is free of any motivations carried over from prior to the accident which stole her memory.
Because of this, we meet the people of Dragonfire Station for the first time as Emé does. We quickly learn she is efficient, thorough and compassionate. I felt she is inherently good and she was able to remain honest to this trait as she began to fit the pieces of her life, both in her relationships and personal history, together.
I also loved DiPietro's attention to her world building and Dragonfire Station. Her descriptions are neither forced upon us nor forgotten and each little piece and large section cleanly mesh together and build on each other. She describes much of the station through the interaction of her characters with it and for me, this engagement effectively submerged me in station life.
It's also this attention to and sharing of detail that invested me in Emé and the people around her. Even the slightest mention of danger to Emé's wife had me worried and angry thinking "No, no, no, not happening to Wren."
Overall, a solid and well thought out SF. Translucid is a confident, relationship driven adventure and I'm very excited for Fragments, the follow up. Best of all, I've discovered an author I enjoy and I'm always grateful for an opportunity to be a fan.
I received my copy of Translucid from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
What if I used a word you don't often see describing SF?
What if I called Translucid 'sweet'?
I enjoyed DiPietro's approach to amnesia. In Translucid, we learn about Emé as she does so the plot develops around her discoveries. Hers in the only POV so we don't have the motives of others thrust upon her and she is free of any motivations carried over from prior to the accident which stole her memory.
Because of this, we meet the people of Dragonfire Station for the first time as Emé does. We quickly learn she is efficient, thorough and compassionate. I felt she is inherently good and she was able to remain honest to this trait as she began to fit the pieces of her life, both in her relationships and personal history, together.
I also loved DiPietro's attention to her world building and Dragonfire Station. Her descriptions are neither forced upon us nor forgotten and each little piece and large section cleanly mesh together and build on each other. She describes much of the station through the interaction of her characters with it and for me, this engagement effectively submerged me in station life.
It's also this attention to and sharing of detail that invested me in Emé and the people around her. Even the slightest mention of danger to Emé's wife had me worried and angry thinking "No, no, no, not happening to Wren."
Overall, a solid and well thought out SF. Translucid is a confident, relationship driven adventure and I'm very excited for Fragments, the follow up. Best of all, I've discovered an author I enjoy and I'm always grateful for an opportunity to be a fan.
I received my copy of Translucid from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
September 20, 2016
The Good: I’m not the biggest romance fan, but the interactions between Emé and her wife left me quite satisfied. Their relationship easily asks questions about what it’s like to love someone, and how our actions can be influenced by societal norms. When romance is done well, it’s worth reading. Even the stodgiest reader will enjoy this light sci-fi romance.
The Bad: Holy chapter length Batman! Five chapters? With scene breaks? Come on, make these chapters more digestible. I see no reason why a chapter has to be over an hour to read. Especially since there were plenty of scene breaks that could’ve easily been chapter breaks.
The Beautiful: Did I mention that this is a totally kick-ass sci-fi adventure? I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next. The ending didn’t wrap everything up completely but was written in such a way that I was satisfied with it. I’m totally looking forward to the next book in the series, Fragments, about a month away.
The Final Word: Translucid is such a great story, I’m glad I requested it on NetGalley. It’s been said before, but this is a mash up of Star Trek DS9 and Total Recall. Part science fiction, part mystery, and all adventure. I knocked Translucid out in about 48 hours. The LGBT elements are there, but they’re light, so anyone can read this story and enjoy it as much as I did. As of the writing of this review, Translucid is only $0.99 on Amazon. Get it. Right. This. Minute.
The Bad: Holy chapter length Batman! Five chapters? With scene breaks? Come on, make these chapters more digestible. I see no reason why a chapter has to be over an hour to read. Especially since there were plenty of scene breaks that could’ve easily been chapter breaks.
The Beautiful: Did I mention that this is a totally kick-ass sci-fi adventure? I just had to keep reading to find out what happened next. The ending didn’t wrap everything up completely but was written in such a way that I was satisfied with it. I’m totally looking forward to the next book in the series, Fragments, about a month away.
The Final Word: Translucid is such a great story, I’m glad I requested it on NetGalley. It’s been said before, but this is a mash up of Star Trek DS9 and Total Recall. Part science fiction, part mystery, and all adventure. I knocked Translucid out in about 48 hours. The LGBT elements are there, but they’re light, so anyone can read this story and enjoy it as much as I did. As of the writing of this review, Translucid is only $0.99 on Amazon. Get it. Right. This. Minute.
September 9, 2017
Lack of research on brain injuries, memory, and the functioning of organizations, kept knocking me out of the narrative. By the end of the book preview, there was no active conflict. No desire to read further.
Read
October 29, 2016Really enjoyed the story and the character development.
September 15, 2018
Emé wakes up on a space station with no memory of who she is, but a complete memory of her job as a security chief. With every part of what makes her her missing, Emé must learn to trust those around her while she pieces her life back together. It turns out, however, that the person she was before was a liar–a good one–and Emé must unravel not only her personal identity, but determine why she lead a second life on Dragonfire station…with a wife who was originally her ‘mark.’
General
Heeeey it’s space lesbians! My favorite trope! The book started off strong, with a great hook chapter with Em waking up without her self-memory but a great technical memory… and then having to go home with a wife she does not remember. Em also discovers she has some uncanny fighting skills that she’s been hiding from the entire station. There’s great tension, the pacing is reasonable, and the interaction between Em and her wife is fantastic. The only time the pacing drops is in the final third of the book, when Em leaves Dragonfire station to find her missing Black Ops friends. Even then it doesn’t drop so much as it changes. The book goes from a sweet space opera directly into military sci fi, which was a little jarring. It was almost like two books smashed into one without much transition, leaving me to wonder if the rest of the books in this (extensive) series skew to the space opera side, or the military sci fi side.
Read the full review here.
General
Heeeey it’s space lesbians! My favorite trope! The book started off strong, with a great hook chapter with Em waking up without her self-memory but a great technical memory… and then having to go home with a wife she does not remember. Em also discovers she has some uncanny fighting skills that she’s been hiding from the entire station. There’s great tension, the pacing is reasonable, and the interaction between Em and her wife is fantastic. The only time the pacing drops is in the final third of the book, when Em leaves Dragonfire station to find her missing Black Ops friends. Even then it doesn’t drop so much as it changes. The book goes from a sweet space opera directly into military sci fi, which was a little jarring. It was almost like two books smashed into one without much transition, leaving me to wonder if the rest of the books in this (extensive) series skew to the space opera side, or the military sci fi side.
Read the full review here.
March 26, 2018
Em Fallon is not a very emotionally reactive lead, especially at first, when she has no personal connections or trust with anyone. As I've noticed before, that tends to keep me at a certain emotional distance as a reader, too. It took me a while to warm up to her and get really involved in the book, despite its being intriguing and well-written. (I only noticed a few minor errors or iffy bits of syntax at the sentence level, and no larger weaknesses.) You can see by my farther-apart-than-usual start & finish dates that I didn't feel driven to gobble it up. Then it ends with most of the major plot-threads still up in the air, though at least we've met the other characters shown on the cover. I'm very glad I have the 3-in-1, and can continue right ahead.
June 6, 2019
Long on exposition, light on accident.
I have read the other series chains of command, so I figured I would go and read this original series 1st. I enjoyed the characters in the series, but it seems to be a little backwards, the authors should’ve written the commands Siri’s first then dragon fire station. Even though I know more about the characters from the command series this book seem to be a little short on action and long on exposition. The authors should explain really how these books should be read. As far as I am concerned chains of command should be read first, the series is fun and enjoyable I am going to finish the rest of it and I think other people would enjoy it.
I have read the other series chains of command, so I figured I would go and read this original series 1st. I enjoyed the characters in the series, but it seems to be a little backwards, the authors should’ve written the commands Siri’s first then dragon fire station. Even though I know more about the characters from the command series this book seem to be a little short on action and long on exposition. The authors should explain really how these books should be read. As far as I am concerned chains of command should be read first, the series is fun and enjoyable I am going to finish the rest of it and I think other people would enjoy it.
October 2, 2017
Memories
Em Fallon awakens in the infirmary in a confused state, with a headache and no memory even of her name. She is told she is chief of security of Dragonfire Station, and has been injured in a shuttle accident. She recalls technical information enough to fulfill her duties, bit no personal information. She discovers that she is more more proficient in certain skills than her records indicate, which is puzzling. She struggles to recover more of her memories and more information about her previous life.
Good characterization and plotting. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
Em Fallon awakens in the infirmary in a confused state, with a headache and no memory even of her name. She is told she is chief of security of Dragonfire Station, and has been injured in a shuttle accident. She recalls technical information enough to fulfill her duties, bit no personal information. She discovers that she is more more proficient in certain skills than her records indicate, which is puzzling. She struggles to recover more of her memories and more information about her previous life.
Good characterization and plotting. I'm looking forward to reading more of this series.
May 23, 2020
A very interesting start to a series. As usual, Zen draws you into the characters and has the reader rooting for them as if they are old friends. There are some good plot twists and turns right from the start. Though a series, the book does not leave the reader hanging in limbo. The first step is wrapped up, but the reader, at least this one, is anxious to continue the journey with Avian Unit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2017
Sci-fi Black-Ops
A well written action/ adventure. Someone wants to kill Fallin . Left with no memory of who she was , she put the clues together. Fallin was part of a Black-Ops team that was being assassinated. Fallin has a life she doesn't remember including a lesbian marriage. Fallin has a team closer than family to gather and find the bad guys and protect each other.
A well written action/ adventure. Someone wants to kill Fallin . Left with no memory of who she was , she put the clues together. Fallin was part of a Black-Ops team that was being assassinated. Fallin has a life she doesn't remember including a lesbian marriage. Fallin has a team closer than family to gather and find the bad guys and protect each other.
April 17, 2018
Interesting and well developed characters and story. Plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Only partially predictable and no deus ex machina moments in the first volume. The one problem is that the main point of the first volume was not resolved. That should have been resolved in the first volume before going to the next.
January 29, 2018
Very interesting characters, excellent world building and great writing. The plot is a little bit frustrating as the book ends without complete resolution. Not a cliffhanger - just obviously more to come. I liked this book a lot!
March 5, 2018
On to fragments
A excellent first book of a trilogy. A mystery that is "to be continued"! Don't read this book unless you intend to commit to the other two books. I feel certain that all the questions will persist until the final book's finale.
A excellent first book of a trilogy. A mystery that is "to be continued"! Don't read this book unless you intend to commit to the other two books. I feel certain that all the questions will persist until the final book's finale.
April 18, 2018
Very Entertaining Story
I really enjoyed this story of a amnesic person who lose all personal memories but retains all skills once she tries them. This was a very interesting entertaining action packed story.
I really enjoyed this story of a amnesic person who lose all personal memories but retains all skills once she tries them. This was a very interesting entertaining action packed story.
August 11, 2018
Loved it.
I'm not usually one for intrigue and conspiracy, but I was pleasantly surprised. It has enough other things going on that it gets serious, but not too serious and dark. I look forward to reading the next book.
I'm not usually one for intrigue and conspiracy, but I was pleasantly surprised. It has enough other things going on that it gets serious, but not too serious and dark. I look forward to reading the next book.
January 24, 2020
A bit more young-adult than expected, but served its purpose as an enjoyable, quick read while I took a break from a heavy scientific study also currently reading.
Good enough to get second in series which continues right where this book ends.
Good enough to get second in series which continues right where this book ends.
February 26, 2017
You can read my review of “Translucid” at my web site.
March 11, 2017
“Translucid” eBook was published in 2016 and was written by Zen DiPietro. Ms. DiPietro has published 9 novels. This is the first in her “Dragonfire Station” series.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains mild scenes of Violence and Mature Situations. The story is set in the far future. The main characters is Emé Fallon, the security chief of Dragonfire Station.
She wakes up from an accident without any memory of who she is, though strangely she remembers all of her skills. As the looks into her accident, she begins to feel that it was more likely the result of tampering with her shuttle.
She has many suspects, as she remembers no one. Her wife, the Captain of the station, her second in command - the list is endless. She does begin to discover things, and she gradually finds some people that she thinks she can trust. The more she digs, the more signs she sees that her injury was not from an accident, and that it is likely part of some much larger plot.
I really liked this 275 page Science Fiction novel. There is a bit of Mystery and Intrigue, as well as a little action. There is a bit of romance between Fallon and her wife. I liked the plot line of the story and the characters that populated it. It looks to be a good start to a series. The cover art is reasonable, as most of the story takes place on the depicted Dragonfire Station. I give this novel a 4.7 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains mild scenes of Violence and Mature Situations. The story is set in the far future. The main characters is Emé Fallon, the security chief of Dragonfire Station.
She wakes up from an accident without any memory of who she is, though strangely she remembers all of her skills. As the looks into her accident, she begins to feel that it was more likely the result of tampering with her shuttle.
She has many suspects, as she remembers no one. Her wife, the Captain of the station, her second in command - the list is endless. She does begin to discover things, and she gradually finds some people that she thinks she can trust. The more she digs, the more signs she sees that her injury was not from an accident, and that it is likely part of some much larger plot.
I really liked this 275 page Science Fiction novel. There is a bit of Mystery and Intrigue, as well as a little action. There is a bit of romance between Fallon and her wife. I liked the plot line of the story and the characters that populated it. It looks to be a good start to a series. The cover art is reasonable, as most of the story takes place on the depicted Dragonfire Station. I give this novel a 4.7 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
September 4, 2017
Good story
I really enjoyed the journey of discovery Fallon takes as she progresses in the book. I can't wait to read the next book.
I really enjoyed the journey of discovery Fallon takes as she progresses in the book. I can't wait to read the next book.
November 21, 2017
Jason Bourne in space. I loved this book. It is concise and to the point. The plot is complex and quite deep and the characters are lovable and full of quirks. A nice spin on a space opera universe.
March 6, 2018
Great read
Just finished this book now waiting to get the next in the in the series and find out what happens next
Just finished this book now waiting to get the next in the in the series and find out what happens next
July 6, 2018
I really enjoyed it and plan on reading the next in the series.
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