This story picks up after the big reveal at the end of the first book … when the corporation responsible for attempt to enslave/control the human race through the ubiquitous mind link devices has gone into hiding and the surviving corporations evolved into something that seems even more sinister. The picture painted here is an earth on the verge of collapse and the uneasy, and at times, exploitive alliance between the “elites” who have escaped to high earth orbit and those still stuck on the ground. It is an incredibly dark future that captures the self destructive nature of man fairly well, making it a hard story to read at times … made even more difficult with the slow, quasi-realistic pacing. As with he previous installment, even the science is generally in the realm of the possible with a little imagination, making the world building outstanding.

I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#Inversions #TheGuardianCycle #NetGalley #KindleUnlimited

A riveting sequel with a completely different set up, this space adventure expands on social and class distinctions between a mostly ruined Earth and its satellite inhabitants. Building on the characters from book one, we get a look into two women’s struggles with their legacies and the future of humanity. I loved the intrigue, the hard sci-fi elements, and the inclusive representation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy. These opinions are my own.

I was slightly concerned going into this arc that I'd be lost having not read book 1 first. I did enjoy this book though, and was not lost. I will probably hunt down a copy of the first book eventually to see what I missed in the first segment of this series. This story reminded me of quite a few popular sci-fi series- Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars, Bova's Grand Tour, and some of Alastair Reynolds's novels, among many others. Hopefully the next book continues along this vein. I enjoy this corner of the sci-fi genre, anyway, but I really liked how many strong female characters with speaking roles there are in this book, a metric that this sort of hard sci-fi still often has to work on a bit.

A good story telling. Nice pace and enough excitement to keep me interested. This book could be read as a standalone, but in definitely am going to check out the first one too.
Recommended read. My thanks to netgalley for providing me an advance copy for my unbiased review.

Inversions is nominally a sequel to Melcer's previous book Refractions - a space opera looking at the failure of a settlement on a new planet designed as a (religious) bolt-hole from Earth. As such it sat in a complicated bit of political futurology where Earth was failing due to climate crisis and pandemic, and the major actors were a corporate-led USA and a culturally and scientific-led protectorate of China. The politics mainly mattered around the motivations of the rescue team, the collapse of trust when everyone is slightly corrupt - but even then the ultimate antagonist was nameless operative of a secret society looking to remove most of humanity's free-will to help them survive. That the moral decision made by the lead character at the end of that book to undermine the mind control project even felt debatable was a testament to how well-written and argued it was.

Inversions, which is still a very entertaining bit of political near-earth orbit space opera, unfortunately, doubles down on its secret societies. On top of that there is a touch of Skywalker syndrome where everyone important to the action is related to the protagonist of the first book. Nevertheless it does do a good job at picking up the issues on Earth fifty years later or so (time dilation being what it is), and part of me did wonder if the original lead would pop up near the end (this is supposedly the second book of two - though there are more than enough dangling threads from this and its predecessor to continue the series.

I enjoyed Inversions, though not as much as Refractions, as the heart of the drama here is familial. It relies on a severed bond between father and daughter which is set up as a huge betrayal, but since both characters hold our viewpoint, we never quite know exactly why the daughter has disowned her notorious but fundamentally well-meaning father. Indeed the book does have a big issue with exploring the morality of its protagonists, even the character coded as the antagonist is shown to be carrying out actions for the greater good, but it doesn't feel content with having her be morally compromised, it gives her many examples of decision making where she takes a Hollywood moral decision over one of moral pragmatism. Nevertheless, Mercer finds a solid way to build an exciting climax into a long-term tale of societal collapse, and it was lots of fun getting there. Would happily read more.

I was expecting this to be closer to the first book in the series. Instead it was a more politically focused book on the ramifications of what happened in the first book.

It’s been half a century or so since Nathalie Hart, stricken with grief and guilt over the death of her family, embarked on a mission to the distant colony of Bethesda. Discovering a dark truth, she sent messages back to Earth with no way of knowing if they’d reach the right ears, or make any difference. If you haven’t read Refractions, the first book in this series, I highly suggest you do. Not only was it a great read, but you will get a lot of background for this second volume, even if it’s not an immediate follow-on.

This time we’re following Nat’s nephew, who’s spent his life trying to preserve the planet and its inhabitants. He leads the group trying to balance Earth’s increasingly limited resources, and is hated for it: accused of taking bribes from despots, and pandering to the Yun Ju who inhabit the space stations above. Even his own daughter has cut all contact and changed her name – and is now trying to join the Yun Ju. But despite being on opposite sides of the struggle, both are going to learn some troubling, deadly secrets…

Having just finished Refractions, I’ll admit I felt a little disappointed to be back on Earth at the start of Inversions. The first book hinted a lot as to the planet’s troubles, but this one really doesn’t pull any punches about the climate crisis and all of the knock-on awfulness from rising sea levels, increased temperatures, food shortages, and more. It’s very well done, but not exactly comfortable reading.

However, it’s not too long before the story splits to follow characters on the orbitals. This really is a different class of living, where the pampered ‘elite’ remove themselves from the cares of the normal person – albeit with all the fragility of living on a steel structure whizzing around the planet. Plenty of scope for peril as the story unfolds!

There’s a great juxtaposition between two of the main characters, Jason and Ranath, who runs one of the orbitals. In a way, the pair have all the same goals and motivations, but approach from very, very different sides. And in the middle we have Liz, Jason’s estranged daughter, who at least initially is still very much more concerned with her own issues.

Tonally, this is a nice mix of personal drama and the epic future-of-humanity. Likewise, there’s an excellent balance between hard SF (e.g. dealing with solar flares when above the atmosphere, or how the climate issues might affect the planet’s ability to produce resources) and accessibility, always staying easy to read and full of action.

Overall, this felt quite cinematic and I could see it getting an adaptation. I think I slightly preferred the setting and story of the first book, but this expands on it all brilliantly. I do hope there’s another book to come in the series, as there are more stories to be told about where the characters go next, and I’m all there for that!

I'd read the first in the series, enjoyed it, and hoped for a repeat. Well, this one just didn't connect with me. I was lost for the first few chapters (I can only blame my fading memory for that), but even when things started to make sense, I wasn't really interested. The world itself is complex and nuanced, and this time I wasn't willing to put in the effort to immerse myself.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being given freely.

oh my gosh!! this book was soooo cool!!! not something i would typically read, but wow i really enjoyed this! highly recommend! go in blind when reading this one, and you will love it!

Just finished Inversios, what great Sci Fi story. The moment I started reading Refractions came back to me. This one is even more dramatic. Various egos get in the way and one crisis after another. Great cast of characters that kept the story going right to the end. I wonder what is next, can't wait!

In the aftermath of humanity's first exoplanet colonization and the stunning revelation of why and how it failed, Earth is reeling. The private space stations remake themselves, but remain distant and aloof, above the fray they disdain. Earthside, one man doggedly attempts to mend the ripping fabric that holds Earth's frail humanity from falling over the edge of the abyss. His daughter reviles him for his utter ineffectuality, cutting ties to him as she flees to a better future in the space stations. Meanwhile, one exclusive space station overseer has her own plan for saving humanity, and it doesn't necessarily include Earth.

This book is a gem, rich in deep emotion yet overflowing with hard science--and harder choices. Directly and indirectly, it examines the decisions humans make every day, why they make them, and the effects that ripple from them, as well as how different perspectives show the same choices in entirely different lights. The similarities as well as the differences between the three POV characters are expertly drawn, and in the end, they are what make the story breathe, what kept me reading, hooked on learning "what will happen next?"

Yet none of this could exist without the science that's been so carefully build and deftly shown, and which highlights both the amazing and the terrible aspects of technology. Coming on the heels of 2024's amazing solar eclipse during a year of solar maximum, the science surrounding the way space stations could handle solar events is especially riveting.

The pacing is wonderful, starting with a slow burn and quickly building, until by the ending it's an all-out race against time that left me breathless. Simply put, this book is stellar; it even outshines the first of the duology, and proves M V Melcer is an author to watch.

I couldn't put this book down we follow up with the society left on Earth post the activities in Inversions. We explore the starvations and deprivations of the people left in the surface as well as the society of space station dwellers who live like parasites above the body of the people.

I really enjoyed the hard science fiction dealing with how large space stations would handle large solar flares.

The main characters are both daughters of controversial men following up with themes father/daughter trauma.

I am fully invested in the Guardian Cycle, and can't wait to further explore the universe either on earth or other colony's


I was given a review copy by the publisher and netgallery.

5 stars, Life and Death Aboard a Space Station

INVERSIONS (THE GUARDIAN CYCLE BOOK2)
by M.V. Melcer

Although I have read book 1 in this series, REFRACTIONS, I was a little lost for the first couple of chapters. I think the series needs to be read together, not the space of a year in between them.

This is a compelling book, you find yourself right there on the space stations that are owned by a Chinese conglomerate, zooming up and down the space elevators.

I binge read this book and I loved the cover.

I received a complimentary copy of #inversions by #mvmelcer from #stormpublishing #netgalley I was under no obligation to post a review.

#sciencefiction #fantasy #space #theguardiancycleseries #2024newreleasebook #bingedbook