Literary Titan Review of: CHANGE - RESTORATION

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐       

CHANGE  - RESTORATION throws readers headfirst into a galaxy teetering on the edge of chaos. This second installment of the Change Odyssey picks up in the aftermath of assassinations, betrayals, and shifting power structures. At the heart of it all is Bernadette Smith, a survivor of enslavement on the hellish swamp world of Es-Ra, and Major Patricea Markis, entangled in political machinations and the intoxicating mind-games of the enigmatic Lady Orphalia Darteane. The book is a fast-paced sci-fi epic, weaving together political intrigue, military operations, and personal vendettas in a universe brimming with corporate overlords, mysterious artifacts, and the ever-looming threat of war. 

One thing that really struck me about N G  Nelson’s writing is the rawness. The book doesn’t hold back on violence, addiction, and the psychological toll of surviving a brutal universe. Take Bernadette, for example—her escape from Es-Ra isn’t a triumphant, clean break. She carries that trauma with her, shaping every decision she makes. Her struggle to reclaim agency in a universe that sees her as expendable felt painfully real. There’s a particularly gut-punching moment when she reminisces about Es-Ra, the fog of captivity thick in her mind, as she stomps through the snow on an ice-covered world. The contrast between the suffocating swamp and the vast, frozen wasteland mirrors her emotional state, which is still trapped, just in a different kind of prison.

And then there’s Patricea. If you’re into morally grey characters, then you’ll like her. Her relationship with Orphalia Darteane is a tangled mess of power, seduction, and betrayal. The way N G Nelson writes their dynamic is electric. One minute, Patricea is under Orphalia’s spell, lost in the lingering effects of the mind-altering drug Sync; the next, she’s gunning her down in a dogfight. It’s this constant push and pull that makes their interactions so tense. Orphalia isn’t just an antagonist. She’s an addiction, a temptation, and a reflection of Patricea’s own divided loyalties.

N G Nelson also excels in world-building. The novel is packed with details. Whether it’s the Carmine Heart Foundation’s dubious peacekeeping efforts or the lost knowledge of Origin, every piece of lore feels meticulously thought out. But at times, there are moments where the sheer amount of exposition slows things down, especially when diving into the historical and political background. Still, the universe is so rich and textured that it’s worth pushing through the heavier sections. The tension is palpable when a mission goes south, and a small act of defiance—tampering with a reactor, despite being warned—spirals into a catastrophic chain reaction. When Bernadette and her team watch in horror as a fiery red half-bubble engulfs an entire city, you feel the weight of their recklessness.

Change – Restoration is an intense and gripping read that will appeal to fans of complex science fiction with a heavy dose of political maneuvering and deeply flawed characters. If you like your space operas messy, full of secrets, and teetering on the edge of disaster, this is a book worth picking up.

Rating: 4 Stars

When the review and interview are posted on the Literary Titan site, I will post the link here.