Mercury's Shadow

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The Kardashev Corporation controls trade, power, and just about everything in the solar system. And when CEO Alton Neal unveils his latest creation, the Swarm, he’s ready to control the power of the sun as well. Horrified at what this would mean, civilizations begin to band together to fight back against Kardashev. Thrown into the mix is Chim, a girl with the skills to manipulate almost any technology. Drawn into the conflict as her father is held captive by the Kardashev company, her abilities may be the tipping point the resistance needs. But is it too little too late?

Mercury’s Shadow is a sci-fi that shows how the advancement of technology may not be for the better of mankind. While it may provide faster transportation or other conveniences in life, how far can technology go before it harms more than helps? Add to that the greed of one corporation and Alton Neal’s desire to control the lives of everyone in the solar system.

While the politics and impact on a wider scale were well planned and the conflicts were engaging, the character relationships needed a bit more detail. The relationship between Chim and her father is one of the first introduced to readers. But the moments they have together give readers only a glance at how they interact. There is time spent building up her father’s influence on her hobbies, and how they worked on the robot Quince together. However, the information wasn’t spread out over enough of the book to make an emotional connection between the reader and the characters. I would have loved to see more moments between Chim and her father before the main conflict began.

One of the strengths of Mercury’s Shadow was the portrayal of villainy. Alton Neal is crafted to be an egomaniac who cares only for his company’s advancement. Readers will instantly dislike his mannerism and conceited viewpoint. He is quick to anger and strikes out whenever he thinks he can gain the upper hand. He is a worthy adversary for the reader to loathe, as he attempts to undermine the civilizations resisting him.

When a villain willing to risk everything to gain what he desires, goes up against a girl backed by a galaxy of resistance, a fierce space battle begins. If you enjoy sci-fi stories that deal with politics on a galaxy-wide scale, then make sure to pick up a copy of Mercury’s Shadow.