Browncoat Fox reviewed Firefly - Carnival by Una McCormack
Tense, quicker-paced action story
5 stars
This is one of the most commonly favoured entries into the series among fans. While I'm not entirely sure why that is, I wouldn't discount this novel over it by any means. In typical Firefly fashion, Serenity's crew gets sucked into a situation they didn't ask for and have work to do to get themselves through it. As stated by the synopsis, Zoe and Book are kidnapped, which was a nice choice for this story. One reason is that these two have rarely been together in the overall Firefly story; not just the show but the comics and other novels. With 9 characters to work with, there are in fact numerous pairings that haven't been well explored, untapped potential for new and exciting interactions. Another reason is that Book is finally not just a support character or on the side-lines, and with his history better understood thanks to A Shephard's …
This is one of the most commonly favoured entries into the series among fans. While I'm not entirely sure why that is, I wouldn't discount this novel over it by any means. In typical Firefly fashion, Serenity's crew gets sucked into a situation they didn't ask for and have work to do to get themselves through it. As stated by the synopsis, Zoe and Book are kidnapped, which was a nice choice for this story. One reason is that these two have rarely been together in the overall Firefly story; not just the show but the comics and other novels. With 9 characters to work with, there are in fact numerous pairings that haven't been well explored, untapped potential for new and exciting interactions. Another reason is that Book is finally not just a support character or on the side-lines, and with his history better understood thanks to A Shephard's Tale, he exhibits more of his hidden talents alongside Zoe.
Shephard Book fans will definitely not want to miss out on this story! Overall, this was a great read. The environment of the world where Serenity visits, the situations and dialogue following the crew, everything was another satisfying experience. This is already the sixth book in the series and it continues to honour the precious legacy of Firefly.