Wind Tide II

Following the events of Wind Tide Book I we have a gut punch of an emotional experience that doesn’t let up. Woven through a Space Opera revolution that matches the enjoyment resulting from writers like Vernor Vinge, with imagination that would make Peter F. Hamilton proud.

Jati’s Wager by Jonathan Nevair
Series: Wind Tide (#2)
Published: August 18, 2021 by Shadow Spark Publishing
Genre: Science Fiction, Space Opera, LGBTQ+
Pages: 425

This is an event organized by Storytellers On Tour. They have no shortage of exciting events going on, including Cover Reveals, Event Giveaways, and of course, Cats. Just cats.

https://www.storytellersontour.online/2021/07/20/book-tour-jatis-wager-by-jonathan-nevair/

What is this book about?

A space opera heist brimming with action, twists, and turns that doubles as a story of personal
growth, mentorship, and sacrifice.
Ailo is a streetwise teen surviving alone on the remote moonbase, Tarkassi 9. She wants nothing more
than to flee into the wider world of the Arm. When her chance arrives, she makes it no farther than
the first ship out of the system. That’s where Jati, the Patent War veteran and general fighting the
Monopolies, gives her a second chance. It’s an unlikely partnership, but Ailo’s rogue status is just what
Jati’s People’s Army needs to drive the final spike of victory into a weakening Garissian Council.

Sounds intense, right? Well, It is.

Goodreads
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Author Website
Author page on Goodreads
Author page on Amazon
Shadow Spark Publishing (you can buy signed editions here as well!)

Ollie’s Review

There are so many things to say about this book that I would love to sum up in one sentence but, of course, I’ll save that for the time when I tweet about this review in order to pull you into my influence. Muuuaaaaaaahahahahaha!

I am still surprised at what an experienced writer Jonathan Nevair seems when reading this series. I love hearing about a person coming out of nowhere to write incredible storys. Inspiration is an amazing thing and Jonathan was wildly focused on writing excellently enjoyable Space Opera after whatever the motivation, or inspiration he has been infected with.

Jati’s Wager is definitely a book that can be read all by itself. It is complete, in that there is an intriguing beginning that leads into a nonstop journey with an end that was aimed at from the start. Not to say there aren’t surprises. There are tons. The main character is a teenager who had been mostly living, or surviving, on an out of the way, yet well known to the Old war vets, who stop there for usually quick stops, like ship repair, under the table deals, and other shady reasons that are all overshadowed by a stop at the bar. A bar that was hosted by, until recently, a veteran of The Patent Wars. Over 20 years ago, a battle that raged and shaped the current circumstances, but left those who fought forever changed and looked upon with reverence. Jati, who is now a General in the current war, was a vet, as well as the main character from Goodbye to the Sun. There are some heart wrangling connections to be explored I really appreciated.

I really wanted to point out that even though you don’t have to read the previous book in the story, you should. It’s amazingly detailed construction of events feels natural with characters who are portrayed through passion, where once there was just somber desolation. Those same factors are loaded in Jati’s Wager, but it does have a little more of a polished feel. Maybe the author growing in confidence? It’s great though. This book has a much more hopeful feel to it from the start, with the energy of a young person who sneaks on board Jati’s ship, really shaking things loose for the crew, for Jati’s zoomed in focus on what’s important, even when the end of the war is close at hand, but also on Ai, she is a “firecracker” in so many ways.

Ai is also very comlicated and her inner dialogue is provided in between some of the chapters in such a unique way, and a way that I’ve never experienced in a book before. Surprises are in store down the road for the reader and my reaction was magnified as a result of their growth, and strength in the face of tragedy, pain, and loss.

Actually, the entire story serves up some very positive lessons in what’s really important in life. To do that there has to be tragedy, and Jonathan has excelled at creating a complex group of relationships, in a galactic proportion, with worlds in the balance that I really felt. It’s a cleansing experience for me to have an emotional reaction to a book. With my own trauma’s, loss, and major life regrets that will always be there, but which, as a human survival tactic, those emotions from memories are often tucked neatly away and only surface when something pierces that self contained bubble.

I will leave it there for now. I hope I’ve conveyed at least a portion of why I enjoyed this book so much. I’m grateful for you, the rare reader, who has found their own way here. I hope that if you have also gone through hard times in life that you have your own success story. Even though a success will always be followed by another difficulty down the road, those successes are always there to remind us of our ability to overcome a tragedy which can then serve to help another who might not have that “hopeful voice” helping to push them through.

Thank you Storytellers On Tour for including me in this event, as well as the Author, Jonathan Nevair. I look forward to more and hope you all take care and help each other out!

Jonathan Nevair

Jonathan Nevair is a science fiction writer and, as Dr. Jonathan Wallis, an art historian and Professor
of Art History at Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia. After two decades of academic teaching
and publishing, he finally got up the nerve to write fiction. Jonathan grew up on Long Island, NY but
now resides in southeast Pennsylvania with his wife and rambunctious mountain feist, Cricket.
You can find him online at http://www.jonathannevair.com and on twitter at @JNevair