After the assassination of Matheus Ceirran, his loyal captain Anita Decretan pursues vengeance across a galaxy teetering on the brink of war, while navigating a passionate, fraught relationship with Queen Altagracia and uncovering a secret that could destabilize empires. This sweeping, queer space opera reimagines the tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra, exploring themes of immortality, legacy, and the personal costs of power through lush prose and intricate political intrigue.

Reader Review Summary

Here is a thorough review of "The Sea Eternal" by Emery Robin, focusing on the positive aspects:

From the very first page, The Sea Eternal sweeps you away into an intricate and richly-woven interstellar epic filled with grand romance, political intrigue, and profound philosophical musings. Emery Robin has crafted a dazzling space opera that takes the bones of one of history's most famous love stories—that of Cleopatra and Mark Antony—and renders it in bold, imaginative new colors.

The sequel to Robin's acclaimed debut The Stars Undying, this second installment in the Empire Without duology shines by centering the enigmatic figure of Anita Decretan, the analog to Mark Antony. Through her captivating voice and perspective, we're immersed in the treacherous power struggles of the declining Ceian empire after the assassination of the legendary Matheus Ceirran. Robin portrays Anita with remarkable depth and complexity—she's a hardened warrior trying to drown her grief in the delicious hedonism of Szayet and the arms of Gracia, the Cleopatra figure. Their romance burns with intense passion on the page.

But The Sea Eternal is far more than just a steamy love story. With poetic, almost mythic prose, Robin elevates this space opera into a profound rumination on immortality, legacy, and the very nature of empire and power. She weaves threads of ancient history and philosophy throughout, drawing intriguing parallels while charting an imaginative speculative course all her own. Layer after layer is added through interspersed documents and records from characters in different times and places, gradually unveiling revelations about the science and technology behind soul transference that add mind-bending dimensions.

While a few readers felt the middle lagged at times under the sheer density of the worldbuilding and plot, the novel remains intensely immersive. Robin masterfully juggles the sweeping, civilization-spanning scope with the intimate emotional arcs of her multifaceted characters, who are wonderfully queer and diverse. The sapphic romance at the heart of it all is both erotic and soul-achingly tender, a love story for the ages reimagined with modern sensibilities.

With The Sea Eternal, Emery Robin solidifies their place as one of the most exciting new voices in speculative fiction. This is lush, stylized storytelling of the highest caliber that will linger in your mind long after the final, shattering chapters. Even readers who didn't connect with every aspect could hardly deny the creative ambition and sheer skill at work. For those who appreciate mythic tales of love and sacrifice interwoven with interstellar spectacle and meditations on humanity's deepest questions, this duology is not to be missed.