i liked this!! very much a cosy book- one definitely to read in october with head empty thoughts. the unpredictability was actually a nice touch in this one

oh we are so back!!

i have absolutely zero problems with this book. literally zero. it is perfect. the political nuance in this is written so well it still sits firmly in the YA genre, and yet there’s plenty here for adults to take and pull apart.

Williamson is snappy with the pacing, the action, the dialogue- never were we ever sat still or lingering too long. everyone in this book gets their moment to shine and grow alongside Viv (and if you thought she was annoying in the first one, it gets worse!! and then better!! but we love her).

it’s also clear (for the second book in a row) that Williamson has researched language and linguistics, and that she’s spent time fact checking everything she mentions- and it shows!!! there’s a clear love of languages, and it makes me appreciate non english speakers so much more, and the beauty of other cultures outside of our own. how they don’t harm us, but help us.

there are some excellent moments in here. i’ve laughed, i’ve cried, i’ve felt myself wanting to figure out the mystery myself and i’ve felt betrayal. the only problem is i now have to wait another year for the finale ;-;

(ARC was won at Bookfest 2025)

Project Hanuman is a unique book, blending Indian mythology with dystopian cityscapes and the pitch blackness of space, creating an excellent atmosphere for our three characters to live in. I highly recommend if you love action in space

The whole book from start to finish is a speeding action flick which is something I don't always see in sci-fi- There's usually lots of world building for a space opera, but this one builds itself up from the ground through the endless battles and wars. Hotson manages to not ever pause the story or development for the sake of exposition. It’s a great entry into learning about Indian Mythology if some of the character motives and descriptions interest you. I throughly enjoyed reading about Hanuman’s personal conflict, and how the weight of the universe and God really fell on his shoulders, and how he became larger than himself.

Overall it's one of my favourites this year from the worldbuilding alone. That said, sometimes there was so much focus on the world that I felt a little lost at our characters’ motives. i would have love to explored Kerchers beliefs and how they contrasted to Prab, and the consequences of her waking up the passengers and integrating back into society.

Thank you Angry Robot for sending me a copy!