“Nantheam was different from any other city I had ever lived in or visited. It was steeped in millennia of culture and history and had grown organically rather than being meticulously planned and established mere centuries ago. I am sure other places on Ganmak have a similar history, but with Nantheam being the biggest metropolis and holding a central political position, it stood out. This is going to sound profoundly unscientific, and I apologize for that, but if you know Nantheam, you will know what I mean when I say the weather and climate here feel more like moods and whims of the city than natural phenomena. Nantheam feels alive, like a vast and complex entity. As if the lives our Creators gave Ganmak in order for it to thrive in mythical tales seeped into the foundations of the city as well.”
A Study in Black Brew by Marie Howalt
A Study in Black Brew is an incredibly imaginative science fiction nod to Sherlock Holmes. It is absolutely brilliant in every possible way, and I could not have loved it more. This was my second book by Marie Howalt, and she is becoming one of my favorite science fiction writers for her intricate world-building and cleverly created characters.
Kellieth is a chemist who wanted to pursue a career in the field of their dreams. But when diagnosed with a chronic illness, they are forced to move to the planet Ganmak. Here, Kellieth does everything they can to try and recover, rest and rebuild their life. It is not long after they move into their new home that Kelleith meets their rather eccentric neighbor Raithan. Raithan works with the peace corps, providing extensive expertise, logical deductions and an out of the box way of thinking to help the peace corps solve various crimes. When a human is murdered, Raithan is asked to assist on the case, and it is not long before Kelleith begins to help him.
What emerges is a really delightful spin on the relationship of Sherlock and Watson. Kelleith and Raithan mirror those characters while being something inevitably all their own. Kelleith’s struggles with their chronic illness is respected, and while Raithan seeks their help, he also encourages rest and recovery when needed. I loved the banter back and forth between these two characters. Raithan was brilliant, and he is probably one of my favorite depictions of Sherlock Holmes ever.
I also really loved the world-building of this story. Marie Howalt has created alien races that differ from humanity, and there is this distinct understanding of them, but she handles the various species stereotypes and discrimination really well. I felt like I was stepping onto Ganmak with Kelleith. It was immersive and perfect. The details on beverages and food such as the beverage black brew were incredible. I just felt like this was such a perfect book from start to finish. I hope there are more because I definitely want to keep reading about Kelleith and Raithan!!
Of Worlds Forgotten 
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