Content warnings: Death, including death of a loved one, PTSD, depression, grief, terrorism, explosions. These themes are present, but they don’t necessarily make the book sad. Despite them, it’s rather a light read. However, if you are sensitive to them, be careful.
Impressions Herald Petrel is a debut sci-fi novel by Strange Seawolf. It’s a fast-paced and fun read. The problems keep snowballing as the characters discover more secrets of the company they work for. The novel plays with classic dystopian sci-fi themes of an evil corporation with too much power, surveillance, compliance and unethical forms of control.
While the crew deals with the aftermath of a terrorist attack on their spaceship, the captain also grapples with grief and PTSD, as the events keep reminding him of his traumatic past. However, these difficult themes (see content warnings above) don’t make the book sad. They are present, as they inform the actions of the characters, but they aren’t necessarily the main focus of the story, since too much is going on. The characters simply don’t have time to wallow in their sadness, as they have to fight to stay alive. For me, despite the difficult themes, as well as the dystopian setting, it was a fun and light read.
There are various LGBTQ+ characters in the book, including a sympathetic asexual character, and a demisexual MC (the word isn’t used in the book, but it becomes apparent when he explains how his attraction works). Most of the characters are human/humanoid, but there are a few alien species.
I enjoyed Herald Petrel, as it was a fun adventure that highlighted the importance of genuine relationships. The ending was really beautiful, as it brought the whole crew together and showed the power of working as a team while relying on everyone’s unique strengths. Despite the desperate situation, there is hope for the crew, as well as those struggling with their personal demons. The book has set up the stage for a sequel.
You might enjoy Herald Petrel if you like fast-paced space adventures and dystopian settings that don’t make the book too sad.
On Amazon
Beats Expectations Before reading this book, I was always reading major well-known sci-fi authors. doing so was safe option to ensure high quality and that my money was well-spent.
I took a risk on this book because (1) I am hungry to experience new voices, and (2) on social media, I had a bit of a view to the effort and expertise applied by the author.
Wow, I’m glad I did! From the start I was on the edge of my seat. The thrills came not just from physical action, which was plenty, but, more importantly, from the interactions between the diverse characters.
We follow the complex arc of the ship’s crew as they scramble to survive and reach a consensus as to what is behind occurrences putting them in danger. Trust is elusive but necessary as they are tested by a series of calamities and shocking discoveries.
Needless to say, I will be reading any further works by this new voice (for me) – and looking into other independent authors. 5 stars
Colourful characters in an exciting scifi adventure This scifi novel takes us on a trip aboard the Herald Petrel: a run-down spaceship with its brand new captain, who seems to want to be anywhere but there. Understandable with the burden he carries and the anything but welcoming crew, who has just lost their former captain. Something is very fishy on this ship though and Captain Galahad has to find allies he can trust and who will trust him in order to solve the mysterious schemes going on and save his ship and crew. Could there be something far more scandalous behind it all than the first investigations suggest? Whilst the story is truly suspenseful and keeps you guessing, its biggest asset are the wonderful characters. They are colourful and fun – a scifi Dickens would approve – as well as absolutely believable. You can see and hear them in your mind. I fell in love with this varied crew and its captain right away. The style of writing makes it easy to fully immerse yourself in the narration. It is rather like watching a scifi series on TV as the writing makes the images unfold in your head. You might even hear a theme tune whilst cheering your faves on through this adventure. No wonder maybe that the author includes a list of possible theme tunes for the characters and ship. The hardback edition also has beautiful colour pictures of character drawings by Alj/Aljeen and a drawing of the author as seawolf by The Patrex. I can’t wait for a second novel to continue the adventures of the Herald Petrel.
5 stars
Space Opera Adventure With Loads Of Heart Look, I could go on and on about what I liked and disliked, but the bottom line is, I liked everything and disliked nothing. All the details a prospective reader needs to know are in the description and in the content warnings thoughtfully provided by the writer. If ensemble cast science fiction tales are your flavor of jam, I suggest you crack this one open.
4 stars
Spellbinding I enjoyed Herald Petrel enormously, and I would gladly read the sequel, if one is forthcoming. Kudos for Strange Seawolf. Highly recommended.
5 stars
A fun read with interesting characters I enjoyed this book immensely. Strange Seawolf’s storytelling kept me up well past my bedtime wondering – what’s next? The characters are well developed and compelling. I was fully invested in their outcome as I was caught up in the suspenseful tractor beam of this well-told and wonderfully imagined tale. A reluctant captain returns after working at a desk for years and takes the helm of a cargo space freighter with a quirky crew that he just can’t fathom. He is thrust into a disaster in which the chance of survival for him and his crew is bleak to nonexistent. I really enjoyed the creative and inventive problem solving and in-world references of the author. There were several things I never saw coming. . . Also, I loved getting to know this quirky crew and hope that there is a book two in the works!
5 stars
On Goodreads
This is an onion. And no, it won’t make you cry. It has as many layers as you care to peel off. Meet a crew who ends up with a captain they don’t know, and a situation no one counted on.
Follow along how people respond to it. How people work together – and against each other.
5 stars by Paul Kater
This book turned out to be so much more than I expected, and I loved every minute of it!
The story itself was compelling. An experienced captain begrudgingly takes a job on a cargo ship. Things go horribly wrong, and he’s forced to relive the trauma of his past while ensuring the crew of the Herald Petrel can survive. Alongside him, a host of side characters inspire him, give him hope, and resurrect something inside him he’d thought was long gone. But not everyone in the crew is an ally…
Herald Petrel is a story unlike any other I’ve read. It’s part space opera, part dystopian future, part adventure, part romance. The characters are diverse and well-developed (and I found myself quite emotionally invested in them!), the plot is fast-paced, and the twists are unexpected. If you’re looking for something fresh and exciting, this story is for you.
I, for one, can’t wait to see what happens next!
5 stars by Sarah Hoodlet
A space opera about a traumatized captain, a crew too keen to adhere to bureaucracy, and a failing ship that may or may not have been targeted by terrorists. I found the characters deeply charming and the exploration of how to be human (or humanoid, anyway) in the midst of an inflexible institution compelling. It’s a strong debut and screaming for a sequel.
4 stars by Rachel Ashera Rosen
Herald Petrel by Strange Seawolf is an insanely gripping space odyssey that brilliantly blends the trauma and heroism of the protagonist, Harold Galahad, with the high-stakes drama of a ship teetering on the brink of disaster.
From the opening pages, where Harold is introduced grappling with the ghosts of his past losses, to the climactic moments of life-and-death decisions, Author Seawolf maintains a taut narrative that kept me thoroughly engaged. The author’s portrayal of Harold’s internal battles and eventual redemption is both compelling and emotionally relatable. The secondary characters were also very well-developed and thoroughly likeable, with their unique quirks and challenges, making the dynamics very rich.
One of the best things about this book was the way the author has weaved a multi-layered mystery within the narrative. The suspense is palpable, driving the story forward with a relentless pace that ensures there’s never a dull moment. Moreover, the author’s world-building is out-of-the-world, with detailed descriptions of the ship’s mechanics and the vastness of space that enveloped me in a fully realised universe. The integration of various species and their interactions adds a rich touch to the narrative, highlighting the novel’s underlying themes of unity and understanding across differences.
Herald Petrel is an amazing science fiction read, offering a story that is as much about overcoming personal demons as it is about the thrill of space exploration. It is a heart-pounding adventure that delivers in spades, making it a must-read that will leave you thinking long after the last page is turned.