The only thing wrong is that I finished reading it already

As always, Glynn Stewart delivers on a determined, engaging hero making the best of space.
His books are the only space navy books I read, and it's for a damn good reason.
The books, despite the fantastic technology and clear understanding of strategy and the inherent potential difficulties of space travel, are truly about the *people*.

Stewart also does one of the finest jobs in all of sci-fi in addressing LGBTQIA populations as normal, unremarkable parts of society. Characters are who they are and love who they love with no differentiation weight or commentary. ( )

'Conviction' was great entertainment. It delivered an engaging story, built a convincing future world, delivered some good battle scenes and opened up enough possibilities to make me want to read the next book in the series without feeling that I'd been left hanging

This is how an entertaining Military SF series should start. The prose is clear and crisp. There's a strong forward motion that establishes the main character and does some swift world-building without descending into info-dumps or over-wrought introspection.

I liked that 'Conviction' was a shoot-em-up video game disguised as Military SF. It has a plot, with layers to it and it has some characters the reader can invest in.

I also like that it was soaked in all those way-of-the-warrior, duty-honour-sacrifice, death-or-glory attitudes that Military SF sometimes promotes. That's achieved partly by a clever plot twist. The main character and her team are former military, betrayed by their leadership who, after signing a peace agreement that betrayed their allies, stood idly by while their former enemy covertly sent assassins after the pilots in the elite space pilot units that had scored the most kills against them. Those who survived the first wave of assassins are on the run with a price on their heads and are regrouping as mercenaries in an outer system. This background means that their motivations are more personal and more rational than doing their duty.

The plot is well thought through. The pace of the storytelling was slow enough for me to settle into the world and the people while still keeping me moving forward. Each development in the plot widened the worldview and introduced new characters. The writing was clean and clear. The battle scenes, which were complex and very high-tech, worked well. The characterisation was light but not cartoonish.

At the end of the book, I was left wanting me while being satisfied with what I'd already been given. I'll be back for the next book in this series the next time I'm in the mood for some Military SF. ( )

Stewart, Glynn. Conviction. Scattered Stars No. 1. Faolan’s Pen, 2020.
Glynn Stewart is a journeyman writer of science fantasy and space opera. Conviction is a space opera in the mode of the Davide Weber’s Honor Harrington series. Kira is the leader of a Nova fighter group whose side lost the war, and as part of the treaty, her government declared her a war criminal. She is pursued by assassins from both sides. She somehow obtains several new fighters and hopes to reunite the survivors of her group as a mercenary force in a small, distant kingdom. As a war-weary vet, she lacks the youthful fire we usually see in the Harrington books. Stewart does the action scenes effectively, but he phones in the military tech details that fascinate Weber. 3 stars. ( )

Excellent foundation

The world building is rock solid. The characters have promise, but tend to be a bit thin. The MC in particular could have used a bit more development, though that may be addressed in future books.

Looking forward to the next book. I will buy it. ( )

Excellent foundation

The world building is rock solid. The characters have promise, but tend to be a bit thin. The MC in particular could have used a bit more development, though that may be addressed in future books.

Looking forward to the next book. I will buy it. ( )