Pangu's Shadow is a very well written and engaging YA mystery SF standalone novel by Karen Bao. Released 6th Feb 2024 by Lerner, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
The advice for writers has always been "write what you know". This is an *intelligent* story, written with the surety of experience in STEM science and labwork. She clearly gets it (including the minor day to day irritations of working in close proximity to other brilliant and driven colleagues.
At its heart, it's a murder mystery with two frenemy lab assistants who need to cooperate if they're going to prove their innocence of a murder of which they're suspected. The setting and world building are wonderfully detailed and believable, despite being set in deep space. The characterization is nuanced and intricately rendered.
Despite being marketed as a YA novel, this is going to be a highlight in SF/speculative fiction releases for the year for YA-adult audiences. Watch for it on the awards lists.
Four and a half stars. Very satisfying, and a real insider's look at life as a "lab rat" (except for the bionic body parts and manned deepspace research facility, those are still fiction currently).
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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