Review: Wistful Ascending by JCM Berne

Blurb:

A superhero space opera for grownups.

For fans of Invincible and Marvel Cinematic Universe films.
If Thor and Harry Dresden combined in a transporter accident.

The il’Drach have conquered half a galaxy behind the civilization-ending Powers of their mixed-species children.
Half-human Rohan, exhausted by a decade fighting for their Empire, has paid a secret and terrible price for his freedom.
Now retired, he strives to live a quiet life towing starships for the space station Wistful. His most pressing problems are finding the perfect cup of coffee and talking to a gorgeous shuttle tech without tripping over his own tongue.

A nearby, long-dormant wormhole is opened by a shipful of scared, angry refugees, and the many eyes of the Empire focus uncomfortably on Wistful.
As scientists, spies, and assassins converge, reverting to the monster the Empire created is the surest way to protect his friends. And the surest way to lose them.

Review:

Wistful Ascending was not the book I expected it to be. In the best way possible. The cover made me think it would be a superhero story–and it is. However, it’s better than just that. It’s full of action, death, and high stakes but just as full of nuance, heart, and an emotional depth you can’t find in a Marvel movie.  I knew J.C.M. Berne was funny, and this book is full of one-liners and amusing moments, but what’s really impressive is how Berne intertwines the comedic moments, action, and emotional moments into a cohesive whole. 

So let’s get into it.   Rohan is a hybrid. Half human, half il’Drach. He’s impossibly strong, near impenetrable, and able to fly.  So of course he’s doing the job he was made for. Tow Chief, Second Class at the space station Wistful.  Wait, what? Tow Chief? No way, this guy has got to be undercover, running a squadron of top commandos, there on Wistful to root out evil and save the day, right? Nope, just towing spaceships, enjoying a meal from the local restaurants, and having conversations with Wistful–who like any self-respecting space station, is sentient– or Wei-Lei, the security chief. 

Then, the Space Bears arrive. (If you listen to the audiobook, they have Russian accents!). The Ursans, as the Space Bears are called, come through a wormhole and they need help;  and who better to help than Rohan?  Several other factions arrive, most of whom have their own designs on the wormhole.  There are schemes, heart-pounding action seqeuences, and cozy dinners. Wait, dinners? 

A man’s gotta eat. And did I mention the love story? No? Well, It’s pretty cute. Rohan takes his lady love out on several dates and they engage in some fantastic banter.  But the romance isn’t nearly as freakin’ adorable as Rohan interacting with his lover’s son. Every time the boy showed up, I knew I was in for a treat!

So let’s talk about the characters and the world. There were so many amazing characters and I got a really good feel for the world, which is impressive since the whole story takes place in or around Wistful and most of the rest of the empire is merely mentioned.  We get some great background info on Rohan and he’s a truly complex character. I would read an entire series about him (I guess I’m in luck!)  Wistful and Wei-Lei are great, Ursula the Ursan was a scene stealer, and I already mentioned the kid.  Some of the antagonists could have used a bit more time for us to get a feel for them, but I wouldn’t say I felt cheated by the story at any point.  The main antagonist, Dr. Stone, is a fantastic villain. She’s a great foil for her husband, Professor Stone, who is just a cool guy. I’d have a beer with him.

One thing to know going in: The book has an episodic feel. If you’re expecting a streamlined conflict from the very beginning, you’ll be disappointed. Unlike a thriller film, Wistful Ascending connects to life. It’s not all action all the time. It’s a mixture of action and downtime. You get a high velocity chapter with Rohan saving the day followed by a calmer chapter where he’s on a date. Then back to the action. Then another cozier moment.  It took me a few chapters to get a feel for it, but once I did, I was absolutely enthralled. 

The story gets darker as it goes, and there are some truly heart-wrenching moments. Rohan doesn’t always save the day. He’s not perfect, and he can’t do everything. He fails, and that makes him a more intriguing protagonist. I want to highlight one storyline toward the end where Rohan goes after a group of beings who can’t permanently die. One of the beings makes a very bad decision in regard to a threat to Rohan and the people he cares about, and the resulting moments are amazing. 10/10, Rohan. 

One thing that didn’t quite work for me was the very beginning. The prologue starts us toward the end of the story and then we go back in time for most of the story. It’s a common film technique, but I didn’t really need it here. 

To sum it all up, you need this book if you like any of the following: superheroes, wit, great character work, bittersweet moments and a romantic subplot, Russian space bears, and moments of surprising emotional depth.   Or if you just like fantastic writing and fun stories. One of my top books of the year!