Home Rule by Stella Atrium

Tense interplanetary drama that artfully dissects philosophical, personal, and political dilemmas, Home Rule by Stella Atrium is the stunning new installment of The Tribal Wars saga.

To protest the unwanted and unhinged reign of Rabbenu Ely, Arrivi women are lighting themselves on fire in the streets, desperate to capture the attention of Earth’s media and gain support for their cause. Hershel Henry, the intrepid journalist, is determined to cover the ongoing conflict surrounding colonial liberation, but is inevitably pulled into the action himself, becoming a part of the story. Brianna’s secrets, Kelly’s heroic reputation, and Henry’s eagerness for truth-telling collide in a multi-world plot that is a testament to Atrium’s long-game draftsmanship.

Shady trade deals, power-brokering marriages, political manipulation, peacekeeping ambassadors, and indigenous rebellion against oppression all make this novel feel familiar and timely, but the sprawling space opera plot keeps the allegorical elements subtle. Dramatic, passionate, and rich in detail at every turn, this is high sci-fi that will thrill anyone who loves imaginative stories populated with three-dimensional players. As has been the case with the earlier books in the series, the exposition is so thorough, seamless, and immersive that the off-world characters’ cultures feel immediately believable, as though they truly exist on the other side of our galactic neighborhood.

While some of the narration is tangential, and the dialogue occasionally feels functional rather than organic, this is a hugely rewarding installment of a relentlessly exciting and high-stakes series.