The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles

208 pages

Published by Tordotcom.

ISBN:: 978-1-250-90679-3

(2 reviews)

Investigator Mossa and Scholar Pleiti reunite to solve a brand-new mystery in the follow-up to the fan-favorite cozy space opera detective mystery The Mimicking of Known Successes that Hugo Award-winning author Charlie Jane Anders called “an utter triumph.”

Mossa has returned to Valdegeld on a missing person’s case, for which she’ll once again need Pleiti’s insight.

Seventeen students and staff members have disappeared from Valdegeld University—yet no one has noticed. The answers to this case could be found in the outer reaches of the Jovian system—Mossa’s home—and the history of Jupiter’s original settlements. But Pleiti’s faith in her life’s work as scholar of the past has grown precarious, and this new case threatens to further destabilize her dreams for humanity’s future, as well as her own.

1 edition

Flauschbuch reviewed The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older (Mossa and Pleiti, #2)

Cozy crime/sci-fi with a dark side

4 stars

I really liked the world of "The Mimicking of Known Successes" and am happy that we get a sequel. My favourite aspects of the first book - the worldbuilding and the train system - also shine in this one. Plus, the relationship betwenn Mossa and Pleiti progresses in a kind of cute way. I guess the case itself was a bit pedestrian for some though I found it quite intriguing. The dark underside of Giant's elite is explored and exposed further. I'm curious where this will lead in the next installment.

enne📚 reviewed The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles by Malka Older (Mossa and Pleiti, #2)

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles

3 stars

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles is the second book in the Mossa & Pleiti series, set on in a future steampunk Jupiter.

It may just be because I have read some great mysteries this year (hi, Tainted Cup!) and so I'm coming in with a high bar, but the mystery of this book feels quite thin. Compared to the last book, this mystery is more telegraphed for the reader to be able to solve it themselves; however, the mystery unspools slowly with little tension, Pleiti solves too many puzzles off page, and the final confrontation is underwhelming.

I think this sounds more negative than I feel about this book. I thought it was fun, I continued to really dig the worldbuilding and the setting, and it was cozy to get back into it; I think my expectations were high and the parts I enjoyed weren't quite enough to satisfy this …

The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles is the second book in the Mossa & Pleiti series, set on in a future steampunk Jupiter.

It may just be because I have read some great mysteries this year (hi, Tainted Cup!) and so I'm coming in with a high bar, but the mystery of this book feels quite thin. Compared to the last book, this mystery is more telegraphed for the reader to be able to solve it themselves; however, the mystery unspools slowly with little tension, Pleiti solves too many puzzles off page, and the final confrontation is underwhelming.

I think this sounds more negative than I feel about this book. I thought it was fun, I continued to really dig the worldbuilding and the setting, and it was cozy to get back into it; I think my expectations were high and the parts I enjoyed weren't quite enough to satisfy this time around.