Moraturi Ring (Paradisi Chronicles Book 3) by Marti Ward

The chaos and crises of humanity’s desperate survival plan among the stars continue in Moraturi Ring by Marti Ward, the dramatic third book in the Paradisi Chronicles series.

Having such a youthful team of leaders onboard the SS Moraturi is an unusual premise, and they are rapidly faced with critical challenges, from food shortages and keeping children safe from cryo-sickness to power struggles and the development of a society in space. Eva remains a captivating figure at the head of this epic endeavor, along with her charming feline companions and loyal friends. Attempting to keep hundreds of souls alive against the unforgiving canvas of deep space is not a wholly original story, but Ward creates a world of endless uncertainty, high-stakes drama, and character-building plot lines.

As is the case in Ward’s earlier installments, the scientific spine of this novel is fascinating and stabilizing. Some of the plot developments can feel overdramatic or unbelievable, but the theoretical and practical science that backs the events help readers suspend their disbelief. Given the challenges that humans will inevitably face on our planet, this sci-fi imagining of the future isn’t all that hard to grasp, so the story feels more like prophecy than fantasy.

More critically, some of the procedural elements can be slimmed down to maintain an energetic pace. Additionally, the language can be flat and declarative, and internal monologues are often overused. However, while there may be small editorial issues and storytelling imperfections, this cosmic drama is uniquely entertaining and hard to put down.