Better World by Autumn Kalquist

Goodreads Summary:
The last humans spent centuries searching for a new Earth. Now they face extinction.

For three hundred years, arks have carried the last remnants of humanity through dark space. The ships are old, failing, and every colonist must do their duty to ensure the fleet's survival.

Maeve is a metalworker, toiling in the blistering sublevels of the London. She's lost friends and family to the hazardous work conditions and fears every job she's assigned could be her last. All she wants is a little control over her life, but the oppressive sublevel enforcers ensure that’s not an option.

Now, after decades of traveling, the ships have finally reached their destination: Soren, a toxic planet that may have the resources they desperately need. But mining a planet comes at a price, and Maeve and the other workers will be expected to pay it with their lives.


If a better world awaits, Maeve's sure to be dead long before the fleet finds it… unless she finds a way to control her destiny and change it.

My Review:
Better World takes us back to when Soren was first discovered. What I have learned throughout this series is that society has become cruel. Living in the ships does not seem like a very fun life. They are forced into dangerous work, forced to pair, and forced to have babies. All while living in space and hoping to be able to find New Earth. It doesn't seem like much of a life. Maeve has had a rough life. She has lost friends and family to the quest for a new home. She is a bitter person. Even the women she has feelings for has now paired. Maeve doesn't think she will live long enough to see New Earth. Then her life changes. She is drawn to be the first group to go down to Soren. This typically does not go well when you are the first on the surface. Will Maeve survive this suicide mission? 

Maeve and Dritan are close friends. Maeve even volunteers to take his place on the crew going down to Soren. She loves him as a friend but, nothing more. If she has to pair with someone she would prefer in be with Dritan. There is not much romance in this one as everyone is working on staying alive. 

Throughout this book I wanted Maeve to take control of her life. I wanted her to find a reason to live and want to thrive in this new world. She seemed to be a bitter and angry person. when she volunteers to go to Soren I wasn't sure if it would be a good thing. It turns out to be both bad and good. 

It was very interesting to see how the fleet found Soren in the first place. I understand more of how the series started now. I have loved this series and it has done an amazing job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. I am anxiously awaiting the next book!