This feels like the right end to the VoidWitch Saga and Mars's story. It wraps up the stories or gives us some idea of what is happening with all the major characters, while introducing new characters just for Static Ruin. It's remarkably less violent and bloody than previous books, particularly Void Black Shadow. I remembered when I started reading Static Ruin that I barely caught and certainly didn't mention in my review that the project that created Mars and her Voidwitch sisters was created from her father's, Marius Teo, research. Marius Teo is now the only person who might be able to help Pale, to treat his seizures and help understand the extent of what was done to him. The different style with Mars's restraint for the sake of her pseudo brother, her pure care for him was something that was needed.

Static Ruin picks up on Joon-ho a month after the end of Void Black Shadow, after Mars and her little crew leave Squid and Mookie on Aylett for Joon-ho. The trusted person on Joon-ho is Doctor Ahlim Ouyahia, Mars hopes she can help treat Pale. She can't and her son, Hayreddin, calls the Emperor's Guard, causing Mars to flee to her father's last known location, Sanderak. In all fairness, while Ahlim trusts Mars (it isn't explained why) she is a murderer and terrorist as far as Hayreddin is concerned it makes sense that he tries to protect not only his mother but the pilgrims on Joon-ho. The plot goes from there, but this is Mars, so nothing is ever as simple as it appears for her. "That thread will take her to the outskirts of the galaxy, to grapple with witch cults and privately owned planets, and into the hands of the man who engineered her birth." are the last lines of the blurb. The witch cult is Sommer on Sanderak the place Marius Teo set up, where Mars was born and Sera was raised. The privately owned planet is Azken owned by The Hurtt Corporation headed by Rafael Hurtt. The man who engineered Mars's birth is, of course, her father, Marius Teo.

Nothing and no one is what you expect or what they seem. Least of all Raf (Rafael Hurtt) who seems almost besotted with Mars. Either that or he truly respects what she can give him. But I don't think so, Mallory is the best judge of his actions, and she is not happy. He is willing to give up a lot to get something he wants from Mars, but even then she gets way more out of that deal than he does, there is no way he is ignorant of that little fact. Marius Teo is an old man and a nightmare and I'll leave that there to save from spoilers. The people of Sommer are so endearing, particularly Dima. Between the three groups of people, or locations plus the Emperor's Guard is still hanging around there is a lot of diversity in the antagonists, potential allies and I-trust-you-for-now. All feel much more personal for Mars, the stakes are higher for her, messing with her emotions more. It's really well executed as an escalation of intimacy across the series.

Some quotes and comments

"You AI are smarter than any human, but most of us treat you like servants or slaves. Any one of us could unplug your core and do whatever we liked with it. But what if you'd been given an autonomous body?" "That would be illegal." "But not impossible. So imagine: what if you had a body? What if people treated you like a human? What if you were normal?" — This is Mars trying to make a point of normality and bodily autonomy. The quote at the bottom of the review comes from the same conversation. It's one of the best in the book, Waren is so, so human. (Mars and Waren, p.29)

Waren referring to curing Pale and getting Mars answers about her life as errands is possibly the funniest thing. He does this while asking Mars to not destroy his ship... again

The Governor's Residence is stunning. A mansion built entirely underground, "The mansion's dark façade is hewn from stone and veined with constellations glittering in shades of silver, blue, gold, and brass." (Mars, p.52-3). Complete with white doors made of intricately carved polished timber.

"Hey, hey, it's me, here." I keep crying, but it's different now. The rage is gone, replaced by fear and something like love for the boy who's sharing and hurt. "Pale, please, hey, it's Mars. I'm here, okay?" — The fear of having seizures is bad enough, I can't even imagine the fear of watching it happen. THAT is why I love this line so much. (Mars, p.65)

"I think you're curious." "Curious?" "You could find other humans, but I'm your only chance to travel with a space witch." "I've said it before, Mars: you're never boring." — This is Mars and Waren. They have a really interesting relationship. Waren likes the adventure as well as being sarcastic and sassy. His personality matches Mars's well. (Mars and Waren, p.88)

I don't feel perfect. I feel like a bomb in human skin. Like killing was written into my future before I was born. — I like how Mars describes herself sometimes. She is usually brutal on herself in a way that is fair because she has done some awful things. (Mars, p.129)

"You shouldn't look up to me; I'm not a good person." "I still love you." — I adore Pale. Pale doesn't talk much but when he does it means something. I really like this simple exchange. (Mars and Pale, p.180)

Mariam "Mars" Xi is back. While kicking ass destroying the MEPHISTO fleet at the end of Killing Gravity she lost a friend, Mookie. Now she's off to track him down and bring him home to Trix and Squid on the Nova. She did also gain a potential ally if she can train him, help him and get him healthy, the boy she saved from Briggs's ship, known only as Pale. She is teaching him control but they have a long way to go.

While in Killing Gravity our antagonist was a known quantity, Briggs and MEPHISTO the antagonist/s for Void Black Shadow is more of an unknown, it's still MEPHISTO but there are new players as well. While looking for information on where MEPHISTO sent Mookie the crew of the Nova run into the Legionnaires. The Legionnaires are augmented MEPHISTO soldiers. They are highly reminiscent of the Borg, heavily augmented, with a hive mind and no access to individual thought. I can't remember all my Trek lore but I'm pretty sure the Borg are the inspiration for the Legionnaires. They are an effective villain or the pawns to the villain, in the same way that the void witches were for Briggs. The face of MEPHISTO in Void Black Shadow is Doctor Ratham. The man who runs the prison moon that Mookie has been sent to, Homan. Ratham is an intelligent man when it comes to psychological and physical manipulation and torture. He knows exactly what is most likely to hold a prisoner in line. As a villain, he's the right choice, intelligence over the force of Briggs.

I like the ending which I'm actually going to write thoughts about. Void Black Shadow set up Static Ruin well, encourages the reader to finish the series. Void Black Shadow is an almost unexpectedly intelligent title. The phrase itself appears multiple times with different meanings, the most obvious being space. 

This moment lead me to another thought. Mars is a protagonist you don't want to think too hard about. Honestly, she is probably closer to an antihero. There is just so much death and danger around her. Those closest to her risk their lives, sanity and bodies. She can also play a bit fast and loose with the innocents in play. I really hope Mars finds her way back to Squid, they are good for her. She is different around them. Almost like they remind her a little of Sera. I've decided Pale is interesting, I didn't expect him to be so important. But I can see him becoming a real wild card.

Before I jump into my quote dump I will write what would usually be a conclusion. The plot of Mars saving a friend and getting vengeance the only way knows how is enjoyable but highly violent. That said I do recommend this but If you are going to read it I advise reading Killing Gravity first. While this may standalone reading as part of the sago you will get so much more out of it. The characters are complicated and you will start thinking about the morals of action, means and ends. But that doesn't make the characters any less likeable.

Some quotes

"Did she really destroy a whole fleet single-handed? Shit is crazy." "Yes, Miguel, I really did. And since you've brought me all the way out to the ass-end of nowhere, the least you could do is talk to me, not about me." "Eh, sorry, chica." — Stackhead Miguel is back. This is his "inside" voice, Mars and then Miguel's outside voice. He's now terrified of her, I mean fair she's freaking terrifying, but still willing to give her info. (Miguel and Mars, p.15-6)

I picked up Killing Gravity on impulse at my local library while looking for a book to fit the adventure prompt for a reading challenge. I'm so glad I did. I personally found Mariam 'Mars' Xi to be a protagonist. She is angry, ruthless and powerful loyal while maintaining some traditionally feminine caring and empathetic characteristics. Honestly, I got strong Wu Zetian (Iron Widow) vibes at times. I found the plot to be an engaging and enjoyable ride. I wanted to know where it was going. I wanted to know what happened to these characters. The included violence and vengeance feels right. The universe Corey J. White has created for his characters is brutal. Especially the situations Mars came from.

The support cast is larger than I was expecting for a novella, it's not huge but there is diversity. It's queer and quirky and I adore it. Props to White for giving women the strength and control though. Because one of the other support characters, Trix, an amputee who we first meet in an exoskeleton and the Nova's main defender. The Nova is the ship that saves Mars from her critically damaged ship. The captain of that ship is so endearing to me. Squid is an enby but they feel like a bit of an anomaly. They are all soft power, meditation, near anti-gun and yet the captain, respected with ease by both Trix and Mookie. I get the feeling there is a terrifying spine to Squid we are yet to see. Mookie and Trix are poly or at least more than willing to share their bed. I can't really explain Mookie, he makes me smile. You'll get it if you read Killing Gravity. I really like computer AIs Waren and Einri. I looked up the name Einri, dual meanings Intelligent (from the Teutonic) and Rules the home (from the Irish). Can we acknowledge that Eirni is one of the best names for ship AI? Waren means Loyal (from the German). Given the arrangement Mars has with Waren that is important. Probably should mention Seven. Seven is Mars's pet (?), companion (?). From the descriptions, she kind of feels like part cat, part sugar glider. But she was a science experiment that Mars has had for most of her life. Loyal almost to a fault and but so, so adorable.

A random dump of thoughts and quotes.

I appreciate the explanation of the Wormhole physics. Fairly standard but it's nice to have a reminder now and then.

Mars talks to the reader, not breaking the fourth wall, she isn't aware she is fictional, but something close.

Ring One is where my people live. Well, not my people, but the closest thing I want to find: the freaks, the runaways, the perpetual wanderers, the organized crime, the genehackers, the bodychoppers, the digital-wannabes, the loose, the inebreated, the ones with the no common sense, no career and no desire for one, the fed up the fucked up and flamed out. The whole place is like a dangerous chemical concoction. You never know what might set off a reaction, and the threat of violence hangs in the air thick as the smell. — I just find this an appealing description of a group of people, the downtrodden and it definitely tells you whom Mars has lines herself with. That she is a survivor through and through, you don't get to consider these your people without that kind of survival trait. (Mars, p.37-8)

His chest is covered in tattoos—maroon and black ink, the tragically loyal fuck — You can almost hear the tone that belongs here. Okay, and I like the phrase tragically loyal fuck. (Mars, p.59)

"Smart-ass." "I thought Einri was sans personality." "No, just sans voice mod. I don't want some artificial voice construct convincing me Einri is a person. It's not a person, it's a ship. Without a voice mod it sounds like a ship I like things to be clear, you see?" — I find this quote interesting. I appreciate Squid's idea of delineation (because Einri really does have a personality). But that last line is kinda counter to part of their personality. They respected Mas' privacy and didn't push her to give answers. They have more sides than they admit. (Squid and Mars, p.70)