Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Fourth Consort by Edward Ashton Published by St. Martin's Press on February 25, 2025
Genres: Science Fiction Fantasy
Pages: 304
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Dalton Greaves is a hero. He’s one of humankind’s first representatives to Unity, a pan-species confederation working to bring all sentient life into a single benevolent brotherhood.
That’s what they told him, anyway. The only actual members of Unity that he’s ever met are Boreau, a giant snail who seems more interested in plunder than spreading love and harmony, and Boreau’s human sidekick, Neera, who Dalton strongly suspects roped him into this gig so that she wouldn’t become the next one of Boreau’s crew to get eaten by locals while prospecting.
Funny thing, though—turns out there actually is a benevolent confederation out there, working for the good of all life. They call themselves the Assembly, and they really don’t like Unity. More to the point, they really, really don’t like Unity’s new human minions.
When an encounter between Boreau’s scout ship and an Assembly cruiser over a newly discovered world ends badly for both parties, Dalton finds himself marooned, caught between a stickman, one of the Assembly’s nightmarish shock troops, the planet’s natives, who aren’t winning any congeniality prizes themselves, and Neera, who might actually be the most dangerous of the three. To survive, he’ll need to navigate palace intrigue, alien morality, and a proposal that he literally cannot refuse, all while making sure Neera doesn’t come to the conclusion that he’s worth more to her dead than alive.
A light, sci-fi adventure on an alien world for a human rep who finds out the task he was assigned might have been misrepresented putting him and all humanity in danger. The Fourth Consort, my first Edward Ashton book, drew my attention because I was told his writing style and plots are similar to another sci-fi author I already enjoy. One glance at the blurb and the cover had me ready to take off on this fun adventure to the stars.
The Fourth Consort is told with a linear timeline that gets interrupted by flashbacks explaining how things came to be the way they currently are. Dalton is a decorated military vet who is good at diplomatic work and now finds himself involved in a First Contact situation that is fraught with intrigue and danger. There are two alien coalitions and humans are on shaky ground with both.
Now a small group, including members of both, are stuck on an alien planet. He’s working with a Unity snail alien who has a human assistant and the Assembly’s shock troop Stickman, and now is meeting another insectoid alien race where he gets claimed as consort which ups the ante for him in his capacity as First Contact in a diplomatic career work. Dalton needs to get the contact right learning cultural and social protocol on the fly for this new race with an AI that translation work is individual and the AI has a snarky sense of humor.
There is a romance, but it feels more space opera than sci-fi romance in that the romance is there, but not given much focus like the work and interactions Dalton has with the various aliens involved. That’s okay, I didn’t pick this up for the romance, but the fun sci-fi elements. I liked Dalton and the interactions with the main group of alien characters and his AI, but this felt easy-going and entertaining more than a dramatic and serious sci-fi. Since I was expecting a lot of humor, I was ready for this tone and was in the mood for it.
All in all, this was a fun first outing with the author’s books and I recommend it to those who want something light on scientific details, but includes lots of page time meeting and engaging with truly alien aliens and a spot of alien romance for the big hero, and some wit and bantering humor mostly from the AI. I look forward to trying the author’s backlist and recommend this to Space Opera and light sci-fi fans.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I’m glad you enjoyed this! I just realized February is almost over and I need to read this soon😁
At least it reads fast. LOL
I absolutely loved Ashton’s Mickey 7 books, so I’m looking forward to reading this one now, too.
I didn’t read those yet, but I’m told they are slightly better than this one, but this was still pretty entertaining. 🙂
Ooh, I just saw the movie Mickey 17 based on Mickey 7 and was thinking this sounded similar, good to know!
Yes, that movie is based on Mickey 7 and I heard it’s good. Not sure if that means good in its own right or adapted the book good. 🙂
I strongly considered this one. I probably like more science aspects than it has though.
This has really interesting aliens and their cultures, but yeah, not as much science in the sci-fi.
I love aliens and alien romance. This sounds fun.
It made me laugh often and I enjoyed meeting quirky aliens and their habits.
I miss reading sci-fi. I need to find a way to get back to it. This sounds fun. Thanks!
These light ones like this Edward Ashton or some of John Scalzis are great ones for slipping back into the sci-fi genre.
I was just saying I always want to read more sci-fi and then arcs get in the way. I must make some room. Glad to hear this was a fun one, Sophia!
Yeah, when your book preferences are wide open range, its hard to fit in everything that looks good, Rachel. 🙂
This does sound good. I don’t read enough science fiction, although I do enjoy it. And I like the way you described it. Not heavy in the science, which is nice for me. And I love a good space opera type sci fi book. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this one, Sophia!
Splendid! Glad to put it on your radar. 🙂
I’m soooo picky with SciFi, but this sounds like something I might like!
Yeah, give it a go and see if its your style. 🙂
So I was just going to mention that this reminded me of the movie I just saw, Mickey 17, based on a book called Mickey 7 and someone commented it was by the same author. Good to know. Sounds like this was a good story! Great review!
Yep! And, thanks, Lisa!