Okay wow. So many thrilling plot twists in this book. Don't worry—this is a spoiler-free review. There isn't anything super special about my introduction to this book; I heard about it, and it sounded interesting, so I borrowed it from the library. And I am so glad I did. The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis is a sci-fi novel I found myself comparing to Richard K. Morgan's Altered Carbon, though it's geared more toward a YA audience than adults. It takes place in a futuristic world where humans have colonized Mars, Venus, Mercury, and some moons and asteroid belts within our solar system. The colonies of Earth and Mars have banded together to form the Geans after the Dead Century War, in which they nearly destroyed each other for resources. Meanwhile, the Icarii have developed extraordinary technology that keeps them surviving and thriving in outer space, while the Geans scavenge any Icarii scraps they can get their hands on. The Icarii's military is primarily made up of duelist pairs, a Rapier and a Dagger, connected by a neural implant that makes them nearly unstoppable. To fight them, the Geans developed Ironskins—hulking suits that give them an advantage over the duelists. The book follows a few characters from both sides of these warring nations. On the Gean side, First Sister is something of a high priestess aboard the starship Juno. She takes confession from soldiers, assuages their guilt, and serves her captain however they need her. Those in the Sisterhood cannot speak so that they can keep their charges' secrets and eliminate any distractions that would hinder them in battle—yes, this includes sexual acts (the book does not contain any explicit content). But First Sister has never enjoyed her time in the Sisterhood, and after being abandoned by the Juno's previous captain, she finds herself growing closer to its new captain, Saito Ren, and questioning her beliefs. Ren longs for peace and wishes to know who First Sister is, rather than simply using her as a tool—something no one else ever has. When the Mother—the leader of the Sisterhood—commands First Sister to spy and report on Ren, she must decide whether to obey the organization she has served for most of her life or follow her own desires, no matter the consequences. As for the Icarii, the book follows Lito sol Lucius, a Rapier. After losing Icarii territory to the Geans at the Fall of Ceres a year before, Lito has been tasked with assassinating the Mother to destabilize the Geans. But that's not all—he must also hunt down and kill his former partner, Hiro val Akira, who has been branded a traitor. As Lito takes on these tasks, he uncovers dirty secrets his military has tried to hide and hears Hiro's side of the story, causing him to question everything he's ever learned about his "great" nation. Will he fulfill his duty as a good soldier should, or will he take a stand for what he believes is right? I really loved exploring this world. The characters are so intriguing, and there are enough plot points introduced that I was quickly invested in learning how they would resolve. There were so many secrets to uncover and—as I said in the beginning—so many plot twists that had me on the edge of my seat. The book wraps up well enough to be a satisfying ending while setting up its sequel, The Second Rebel, which I am very excited to dive into. I liked practically everything about this book. Even after finishing it, I'm still a little confused about where some of the territories are, but I'm chalking that up to not paying enough attention. I know enough to understand everything that happens, and I cannot wait to see where these characters go in the sequel. Any hardcore sci-fi fan will enjoy this book. Even if you're not all that into sci-fi, you might enjoy it—just be willing to be confused for a bit and pay attention. It'll make sense eventually. I am happy to rate The First Sister by Linden A. Lewis 5/5 stars. If you're looking for your next sci-fi read, look no further.
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