Grays of Novart by J.A. Collie
What's It About?
A thrilling and fast-paced science fiction adventure starring Trinity Knight, a Warrior who’s lost her invincibility and must work against the clock to save her planet.On the planet of Novart in the distant future, technology is advanced and there is a thriving scene for space exploration. Trinity Knight is a Warrior cadet who works under Central Command, Novart’s group who acts as the “military,” focusing on law and order and space discovery.
With a supercomputer implanted in her head and a technology-laden dakkie to make her invincible, nothing should go wrong. But when her invincibility is lost and the long-awaited space mission is at stake, Trinity must do everything she can to save it.
J.A. Collie’s novel, Grays of Novart (Koehler Books), is a thrilling and fast-paced science fiction adventure, with descriptive imagery and a main character worth rooting for.
Supercomputers & Mutated Warriors
As a child, Trinity grew up listening to her father read old poems from Etha, a planet from another time. But she became the property of Central Command to train as a Warrior cadet, and never saw him again. Her supercomputer companion, Phoenix, has been in her brain for 16 years. And her special abilities come from mutations in her DNA and from a “dakkie” in a cuff on her wrist.
“The Warrior’s DNA secured and operated the pliable micro-thin amour forged from the strongest alloy on the planet … along with the implanted supercomputer, the dakkie made Novart’s elite Warriors invincible.”
The action jumps into place when Trinity is kidnapped by an organization called the Anti-Space Exploration Forces, who hope that by taking the most powerful Warrior from Central Command, they can slow the space exploration project, Esra10. The ASEF opposes everything that Central Command stands for. They believe space exploration would open the possibility of an alien attack on Novart, and puts their planet at risk.
The story gains full speed when Trinity must escape without the help of her familiar supercomputer or her dakkie. She is tasked to lead a team of cadets and work against the clock to ensure the Esra10 mission goes as planned.
Will ASEF get its way? Can she manage a team of young cadets with a half-functioning upgraded supercomputer as her guide? What other secrets will reveal themselves along the way?
Strong, Relatable Characters
Trinity is a fascinating main character — wholly loyal to her class and to Central Command, but with an insatiable curiosity for everything that is unknown to her. She is constantly craving more, and knowing that she is the best and most skilled of the cadets only pushes her to strive for greater things. While her supercomputer reassures her that everything in her life is in the hands of Central Command or the Regime, she craves a deeper understanding.
Why are some people classless, if classes are so important to the order of things? Why can’t she make her own decisions or defy the organization she is part of? Trinity’s curiosity and quest for knowledge is compelling, but watching her come into her own and learn how to be a hero is the most rewarding part of the novel.
Each character has their own journey, from double and triple crosses, to learning how to fight as a team, to doing everything they can to keep one another safe in the face of death and failure. As the story progresses, we learn more about the scientists and leaders on both sides of the fight and are shown that each person is motivated by their own morals. Even the antagonists, who readers root against while they cheer for Trinity and her team’s success, are sympathetic and understandable. J.A. Collie has written strong, relatable and determined characters, whether people or robots.
Sci-Fi with Real-World Themes
Grays of Novart brings up complicated themes and moral questions about class structure, power dynamics, good versus evil, colonization and the uses of technology. Collie masterfully approaches complex worldbuilding, crafting the unique world of Grays of Novart with grace and ease.
The story draws from familiar staples of sci-fi and dystopian fiction but is wholly original on its own merit. It takes classic genre pieces — a determined young woman, an evil organization, a corrupt government, the threat of rebellion — and makes something entirely new and worth reading out of it.
J.A. Collie’s novel concludes on a high note, with anticipation reaching a breaking point, and leaves the reader itching for the continuation of Trinity’s story. Will we see more of Trinity and her team in a sequel? This reader certainly hopes so.
About J. A. Collie:
J. A. Collie is an emerging author in the science fiction and romantic suspense genres. She has authored Staking the Claim and The Corporation: Call Me Anytime. Collie writes stories that reflect her successful information technology career and love of suspense. Grays of Novart is her debut science fiction novel and the first book of the series. She lives and works in The Bahamas.
