Through no fault of the author it's taken me a long time to get back to this series and I can appreciate why those folks who have tried to read this book without having read the first two in the series have struggled with it. Apart from the plot elements of star ships lost in time and an overbearing empire trying to resurrect a technology that is probably best left for dead Rusch is mostly concerned with the themes of the weight of memory, the call of duty and the force of regret. Meaning that while this is an adventure novel it's freighted with a lot of heavy emotional weight. Also, there is some of the feel of a middle book in a series, as Rusch is essentially relaunching what started out as the adventures of a bunch of obsessive explorers into what looks to be a straight-up war story. ( )

You know, this one tried to make me work to hard. I realize it was the third in a series and I have not read the first two, but I had no trouble picking up on what was going on. However, I really did not like the bouncing back in forth in time of the narrative. I don't mind that technique in general, but when the amount of time that gets subtracted from the present varies and not always in the same direction, I found that annoying. It didn't pass the 80 age test. ( )

Wow, after Coty of Ruins I was intrigued to continue. Now after this I'm obsessed! ( )

Although I enjoyed Boneyards, it was a complex read and one that can't be dipped into every few days or so. That is, it's not a novel that can be picked up and set down at random (you know, like those cozy mysteries that make for great bedtime reads, allowing you to drift off and pick up the storyline the next evening). This book insists that you jump in, figure it out, then stick with it until it's done. A couple of reasons for this...

The main reason is the narrative structure - it's a dual narrative that comes together in the last third of the book. Boss tells her story in first person present, a difficult POV for those used to the traditional 3rd person past. The other narrative is about Squishy (not the most endearing of nicknames, imo) and is 3rd person, but not traditionally told - there are numerous flashbacks that span years, which can throw the reader for a loop. Rusch is an excellent writer, so she pulls it off (thematically tying the flashbacks to present day), but reading this novel is like sitting down to a ten-course meal when you thought you were invited over for a picnic. Star Wars it is not - although we do have an Empire and (a Nine Planets) Alliance.

A second reason this isn't an easy read is that the flashbacks and backstory, while interesting, are a slow build to the faster paced last third of the book. I like a bit more action in my space opera, but again, the author knows how to tell a complex story and does it well. It's just that this book feels like a long interlude to the next book in the series. Which leads to the final reason I struggled with this novel a bit. And that is it's the third and latest book in what Rusch calls the Diving series. While this book is a stand alone, I gather that the first two books (which I didn't read, but probably should have) provide most of the background, characters, setting, and situation (space diving old wrecks) necessary to fully appreciate this one.

That being said, Boneyards (referring to a graveyard of abandoned ships that Boss and her team will eventually dive and salvage for the benefit of the Alliance) does shine as a solid example of science fiction adventure. After struggling through the opening chapters, it intrigued this reviewer enough to want to go back and catch the two previous stories as well as follow Boss and her team back to the Boneyards when the next novel is released. ( )

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 4 out of 5 Controllers
Review Source: Publisher for honest review
Reviewer: Heather





Before I dive deeply into Boneyards I want to disclose that I’m not the biggest fan of science fiction. This only pertains to reading it as a genre, though; I enjoy the “idea” of it. Some of this stems from the overly technical jargon that often graces the pages. Occasionally it can cause the story to become lost to those not on the up and up, or for slower readers. However for those who live and breathe science fiction, these books were made for you.


Boneyards brings us very far into the future, but how far is uncertain. We meet are main players, Boss, Squishy, and Coop early on. The conflicts each have are also present, but you won’t get a grasp, nor real suspense till you are half way through. From here on out I finally felt the rush as each mission played itself out. Even when the story ended, I found myself wanting it to continue. Am I now a converted sci-fi genre lover? Well I wouldn’t go that far, but perhaps I will allow myself to be more open in the future.


The writing itself is what I would expect from an author of this caliber. I also enjoyed that there wasn’t an overuse of jargon. Whether the words are standard to the sci-fi industry, or the author invented the terminology for her technology, I don’t know. Anaconda drive, stealth-tech, force fields, and the like are all terms used on a regular basis, and were explained well for those like me. As you can see I am forgoing my usual long synopses that are typically present in my reviews. There is a good reason too, and for starters, well the one on the back cover is quite superb. This is a space opera, it has a lot of intricate details, crossing plot lines that span years. This is what feels like a saga, a story that has yet to end, and perhaps will span multiple books.


My recommendation is to give it a go, and this is especially true for the science fiction lovers, or for those who enjoy futuristic suspense. For those who adore Star Wars and Star Trek (the books), I have a feeling you will enjoy this story too. If there is ever a continuation, I will be sure to give it a try. We shall deem it my quest to find readable sci-fi, for the non-tech inclined. ( )