“You are not, and have never been, willing to do what it takes to live a quiet life. You are not willing to turn away from the needs of others.”
Oh boy, I think it’s safe to say that J.C.M. Berne just changed the game for the Hybrid Helix series in Eyes of Empire. It’s got all the heart, humour and power of the first four instalments, but as the lore expands and the stakes are raised, the awe-inspiring bigger picture is becoming ever clearer; I’d dare say, this series is turning into a true celestial masterpiece.
Don’t you just love that feeling when you open a book and immediately feel like you have come home? That is exactly what reuniting with Rohan & crew felt like to me when I started Eyes of Empire. From the very first page, I was once again just completely sucked into the madness that is Rohan’s daily life, and this time things got especially unruly. A newly opened wormhole, first contact shenanigans, a destructive baby dreadnought, and a mad god on the loose… looks like Rohan will have to wait a bit longer on his much desired peaceful day of boring work and a decent cup of coffee.
In Eyes of Empire, Berne once again proves his masterful skill at writing extremely vibrant and distinct characters (both human and non-human) who clash and work together in the most ridiculously entertaining ways. And with the first half of this book largely being a first-contact narrative, you can expect some hysterical culture clashing and amusingly awkward interactions, especially when our beloved rambly and sarcastic Rohan is involved.
I absolutely loved the exploration of a new planet, race and culture in Eyes of Empire, not only because of the high intrigue and entertainment factor, but also because it so smoothly expanded and deepened the lore of this series. Experiencing the (slightly ridiculous) il’Zkin way of life through Rohan’s outsider perspective was so fun, and just when I thought I couldn’t love him more, he starts standing up for queer rights in this instalment; at least, that was his intention, but miscommunication can happen to the best of us, and the repercussions of what he thinks he did are maybe a bit less wholesome…
Though, as much as I loved spending time in a new environment, it was back on Wistful in the second half of the book that things fully kicked into gear for me. Berne has (maybe unintentionally?) created one of my favourite found families in fiction, and I loved seeing all of my favourites again, even if they bicker like siblings sometimes. Some highlights for me were Wei-Li (no explanation needed), the reluctant dad/eager kid dynamic between Rohan and his ship Void’s Shadow, and the hysterical introduction of the il’Zkin Katya into their group; her unexpected bond with everyone’s favourite space-bear Ang was effortlessly amusing and heartwarming.
Now, while all that sounds like a jolly good time (which it is), there’s a much deeper story about trauma, regrets, consequences, corruption, self-discovery, empathy, redemption, and morality hiding behind all the light-hearted fun. I’ll admit that in some aspects the narrative can become a bit too action-packed, convoluted or hectic for my personal tastes, but at those points it’s exactly this deeper emotional core that keeps me grounded and engaged.
Moreover, I really appreciated how Berne tackled heavier topics like depression, refugee crises, imperialism and the galaxy-spanning devastating effects of war. Wistful is not the safe haven it once was and Rohan is forced to do some deep reflection and introspection, which leads to some of the most poignant and powerful moments of character growth in the series yet; his personal journey naturally promotes an inspiring attitude of kindness, support, empathy, and compassion (even if you aren’t personally affected by certain injustices/depravities), which is exactly what gives this story so much heart and staying power.
If you somehow still thought these books were nothing more than fun popcorn reads, you better think again; J.C.M. Berne is shooting for the stars, and you better bet he is not going to miss. Eyes of Empire is another brilliant instalment in this visionary sci-fantasy superhero space opera, bringing the story to new heights that are entirely out of this world; I simply can’t recommend the Hybrid Helix series highly enough!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Eyes of Empire is scheduled for release on September 3rd, 2024.
