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[Following is a volunteer review of "Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book 1)" by Janet McNulty.]

Solaris Seethes is the first of four books in the Solaris Saga by Janet McNulty. It is a science fiction novel with such themes as space, mythology, pirates, and time travel. Its 485 pages are a fast-paced, quick read, perfect for middle schoolers, young adults looking for a light read, or as a fun family time story.

In an attempt to save what's left of her planet (and, consequently, the universe), Rynah is forced to chase after a legend of her people, one she believed to be mere children's stories. Could that children's tale turn out to, in fact, be a prophecy? Rynah is joined with the help of five unlikely friends: the philosopher, Solon, from ancient Greece; the warrior, Alfric, the Viking; the lover, Brie, a modern American teen; the inventor, Tom, from futuristic America; and Solaris, the most unique of them all.

I found this to be an enjoyable, light-hearted story. While a fun read, it really isn't a book to take seriously. I loved the space theme. I had a personal enthusiasm over the inclusion of space pirates, as that is my son's nursery theme, one that seems rare to encounter. With some light research, I seen it pointed out that there are a lot of inaccuracies, so anyone concerned with science and technical facts may be put off by that. I do certainly appreciate when it appears that an author did their research, and it is those stories that I consider having substance. However, if you take this book for what it is - a light, fast read - then I'm less concerned about that and more concerned with the general satisfaction of the story. That aside, it had some decent settings both in space and on planets. I liked the concepts, and enjoyed envisioning the worlds, but I do wish they had spent more time exploring each area, adding in details, and really immersing the reader into the worlds. The biggest thing that keeps the reader from fully escaping into the book, though, is the extremely excessive (and downright annoying) overuse of parenthesis. This very nearly ruins the book. They were distracting, ill-placed, caused confusion, and most often, were unnecessary. I most definitely could have done without that particular writing style.

Characters can make or break any story. Some of the characters were excellent, with great personalities, but most were flat or even just plain unlikable. The author went absurdly out of the way to tear down one character on what seemed like every other page. It all boils down to a lack of details. I would have liked to see more personal interactions with the characters, seeing each of them alone, one-on-one, and in groups outside of the action. I also would have liked to see more of each of their worlds and lives, both in the introductions and with flashbacks, getting more background details to see their personalities, their motives, their quirks, and coming to love them (or to love hating them). I enjoyed the plot very much, and can't find much fault in it. My only issue is, again, wanting more. That said, the ending left me eager to read the next.

The plot was good, the concepts were good, there were some very likable characters, and overall it was an entertaining read. The story was really fast-paced, going from action to action, which didn't make much room for developing visuals, personalities, or character growth, which does hurt the connection a reader hopes to feel with a book. Due to the hit and miss aspects, I would rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I may not recommend it to anyone wanting to really get engulfed in a story, but anyone interested in a fun, light, fast-paced story should check it out!

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Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book 1)
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Like Toria Mason's review? Post a comment saying so!

I have read two reviews that talk about the same aspect, the lack of details, and I was wondering why I don't feel that way about the book, and my conclusion is "culture". I am Latin, my first language is Spanish and I enjoy storytelling, something similar happens to me with Portuguese writers, I like the way they tell the story...
I learned English at the university and I am grateful for the attention to detail that this language has given me, but I notice that my Latin side prefers the story, I feel taken by a story right away when it is plainly told, and many times I get lost in details...
I loved your review, for it made me notice this difference. Thanks

Pilar Guerrero wrote:I have read two reviews that talk about the same aspect, the lack of details, and I was wondering why I don't feel that way about the book, and my conclusion is "culture". I am Latin, my first language is Spanish and I enjoy storytelling, something similar happens to me with Portuguese writers, I like the way they tell the story...
I learned English at the university and I am grateful for the attention to detail that this language has given me, but I notice that my Latin side prefers the story, I feel taken by a story right away when it is plainly told, and many times I get lost in details...
I loved your review, for it made me notice this difference. Thanks

That's very interesting to know how different cultures view different aspects of stories! That's not something I would generally consider, but makes sense!