SPSFC Review - Memoirs of a Synth - Gold Record

We review Leigh Saunders SPSFC3 entry Memoirs of a Synth- Gold Accord.

Synopsis: 

Tour guide, emissary, diplomat, thief -- and a long-lived, genetically engineered Synth -- Brianna Rei travels the Hundred Worlds, hiding in plain sight. She knows her survival depends on staying one step ahead of the bounty hunters who have nearly exterminated her kind.

All that changes when she teams up with fellow-thief, Jerrold McKell, and he discovers Brianna's true identity. Now Brianna must choose between trust and survival, and what it means to be truly human.

The Review

This is a slick and well paced heist sci-fi story. I say heist but it is really a series of heists, spanning over many planets. It should be complex in that, as there are a ton of different species, worlds and names, not all of them very familiar, but the author kept leading me on into the story, which I appreciated. 

What I liked: 

The alien creatures and planets were complex, varied and interesting. This is not a sci-fi story packed with only humans. The aliens are well thought out with a back story, with hints of a world history. The descriptions are vivid with great detail of transports, customs and food. I really liked this. It doesn’t feel as if Earth has been transplanted into many planets but that the world is varied and original. 

Our MC, Synth, is also developed and varied. She is decked out with a myriad of pseudonyms and a back history worthy of probably many books. There are hints of prior exploits that make me want to know a lot more. 

What I didn't like: 

I wasn't convinced by the romance subplot but that could be down to me being a curmudgeon about romance! I didn't see all that much chemistry and it felt a little contrived. 

I felt that the MC got it quite easy most of the time. Where were the old grudges or the cock ups in the plan making? It was slick but at times I wondered if it was too slick. It felt a lot as if Brianna was so good at her job that everyone would just help her out. Even the few conflicts were lacking in lustre, with so many people ready to help her out, even the ones who appeared to be her enemies at first. 

But regardless, I enjoyed this. It's a good story with plenty to get your teeth into, and it has an easy to read style that keeps up with the action. I look forward to reading more.