Calamity by Constance Fay

One of my favorite things to read is a character who has seen some stuff but is tested in a new way. Constance Fay does that really well in Calamity. In a far future where capitalistic houses rule, Temper, our main character, has been exiled from her capital F family. She wears a brand on her face marking her as an exile, and has found a new life and a found family on a scouting ship. This story isn't about her exile, it's about what she does with herself after the exile. I love it.

The introductory scene of the book is a real banger. It immediately shows you who Temper is and what she will not put up with. I love how she handles the situation we find her in, and feel like it sets an excellent intro to the rest of the story.

Found family is a large part of this story, with the characters all feeling really well fleshed out and real. They have their own motivations and commentary. They pick at each other in a way that feels relatable and real. Depth of not just backstory and history with Temper but also with each other.

This book is fairly steamy - romance plays a large part in the story telling - and the main male character is smart, hot and interesting (my favorite). Fay does a great job using Tempers prejudices to set our expectations of him. He then both meets these expectations and busts them into pieces in equal measure.

All in all, I gave this book 5/5 stars. I loved it and continued to barrel through the rest of the books in the series.

What I liked best:

The banter an relationships between all of the characters feel deep and well developed. I particularly love how they all tease and push on each other in a way that feels relatable. I especially like the relationship between Temper and the Main Male Character. 

What I liked least:

Pablo’s character feels flat and undeveloped compared to the others. Even the brief glimpses we get of other Family members and folks on the planet feel more developed than he does. It feels inconsistent with the rest of the story.