Void Black Shadow – Corey J. White

Mars Xi is a living weapon, a genetically-manipulated psychic supersoldier with a body count in the thousands, and all she wanted was to be left alone. People who get involved with her get hurt, whether by MEPHISTO, by her psychic backlash, or by her acid tongue. It’s not smart to get involved with Mars, but that doesn’t stop some people from trying.

The last time MEPHISTO came for Mars they took one of her friends with them. That was a mistake. A force hasn’t been invented that can stop a voidwitch on a rampage, and Mars won’t rest until she’s settled her debts.

This is the second book in Corey J. White’s Voidwitch Saga, the first being the splendid Killing Gravity (a ‘a kick-ass, whip-smart sci-fi short story/novella’). Book 2, Void Black Shadow continues in much the same vein. Mars Xi, genetically engineered psychic voidwitch is on a mission to retrieve one of her friends, and woe betide anyone who gets in her way.

The action is bloody, brutal and relentless. Mars is brilliantly acerbic and pissed off with anyone who gets between her and her target, which turns out to be 90% of the people we meet in this book. So much blood. So much mayhem. So much fun.

The writing style is punchy and taut, with no time wasted. This book is short and to the point (often brutally so – did I mention all the blood?), and unlike some of its contemporaries, doesn’t wallow around waiting for stuff to happen. It’s a gloriously refreshing thing. Devoured in a couple of sittings. Loved it. Bring on book 3

Void Black Shadow by Corey J. White was published in March 2018 by Tor.com. You can find Corey over at his website, coreyjwhite.com or on twitter @cjwhite

I picked up Corey’s first book from a recommendation in Warren Ellis’ excellent email newsletter, Orbital Operations. He mentioned book 2 recently so I dashed off to order it, only to find out that previous me had already done so. I are so smart. 🙂