A vengeful protagonist seeks revenge on the noble House Hauteclare by competing in deadly jousting tournaments using giant robotic steeds in a futuristic space setting, uncovering dark secrets and forming unexpected alliances along the way. The story blends elements of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance, with themes of grief, female rage, political intrigue, and the exploration of AI.

Reader Review Summary

Here is an extensive, thorough review of the book "Heavenbreaker" by Sara Wolf, focusing on the positive aspects:

Heavenbreaker is a magnificent tour de force - an imaginative and genre-bending sci-fi/fantasy masterpiece that will leave readers breathless. Sara Wolf has crafted an electrifying, multilayered tale of vengeance, grief, and the insatiable human thirst for power and control.

The world-building is a smashing success, introducing a richly realized civilization teetering on the brink of collapse aboard a colossal space station housing the last remnants of humanity. Noble houses reign supreme over the starving masses in a stark depiction of aristocratic excess and oppression. At the center of it all are the "steeds" - giant mechanized suits once used for warfare that have been repurposed for a deadly jousting tournament, with only nobles permitted the honor of riding. It's an ingenious merging of the ancient and futuristic that feels both novel and mythic.

Our protagonist Synali is a true force of nature - a woman overflowing with incandescent rage yet deeply haunted by tragedy. Driven to murderous lengths to avenge her mother's assassination, Synali is mercilessly driven and morally complex, making her utterly captivating to follow. Her accidental recruitment as a rider thrusts her into the heart of the action, and watching her defy the oppressive noble class through her sheer grit and aptitude for piloting the steeds makes for endlessly thrilling reading.

The supporting cast shines as well, with the noble Rax as a charismatic love interest, the enigmatic Dravik making for a bewitching mentor figure, and Synali's rival Mirelle providing a deliciously adversarial foil. Their competing motivations and the issue of who can truly be trusted injects constant tension and mystery. Wolf seamlessly interweaves multiple POVs to keep the reader unmoored and guessing.

While the romantic elements are more slow burn and understated, that only amplifies the palpable chemistry and forbidden allure between Synali and Rax. And the action itself is impeccably realized, with the jousting sequences brimming with cinematic visuals and raw intensity that gets the heart pumping. The grand spectacle of giant mechs battling amidst the stars makes for a thrilling melding of sci-fi and fantasy.

As the story barrels towards its mind-bending climax, Wolf deftly integrates poignant themes of trauma, classism, and humanity's appetite for self-destruction in the name of sport and supremacy. There are weighty philosophical underpinnings that give the book a resonant emotional core. Above all, Heavenbreaker is an astounding exemplar of boldly original storytelling that introduces a vibrantly new voice in speculative fiction. With its cliffhanger ending, readers will be ravenous for the next installment in this transcendent saga. A magnificent and wildly creative feat.