Review: The Vanished Birds

The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars

4.25ish Stars

The Vanished Birds is that rare thing, a really haunting novel of science fiction. Nia Imani is a woman who is out of space and time with reference to everyone she knew, given her occupation as a space delivery runner, who takes odd jobs that have her traveling in pocket universes outside of time. Lovers age and fail and die and Nia lives on, aging slowly. Until one day, she receives into her care a child. Her aging lover Kaeda tells her of his mysterious arrival, seemingly crashing to his planet. The child does not speak and is covered in scars. He is afraid of everything. He does, however, love music and is soon playing a flute that Nia gave Kaeda. She agrees to transport the child to her company, Umbai's, station at Pelican, only to find that many people have an interest in this child, though she is unsure why. And first among them is Fumiko Nakijima, a woman with deep pockets and immense power. With feelings of attachment she has never known, Nia risks everything to provide this child a home, even if it means that she and her almost entirely new crew will be lurking on the outer fringes of the universe for fifteen years. Who or what is Ahro? What is the bond that links Nia and Ahro? What are home and family?

A poignant and haunting story, Jimenez is a writer I'll eagerly read in the future. The author has provided a book club kit for this thought-provoking read.

I also listened to the audiobook, which was beautifully narrated by Shayna Small.

I received a Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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