In the previous books, there was only one female character and she only had a minor role. The rest were either male or male androids. This didn’t really bother me much. This has been an interesting series so far, with a simple but entertaining story and a good narrator.
In this book we’re introduced to the captains’ love interest and it becomes clear that the author has trouble writing believable female characters and non-stereotypical interaction whenever the love interest is involved. Not only is she written as a stereotypical “damsel in distress” with only a few functions: overly emotional and dramatic/irrational, in need of saving, sexy and destabiliser of the crew dynamic, the captain is also written as the stereotypical knight in shining armour whenever she’s around (example: won’t go on missions that might include risk if she’s on board). The interaction between the two is overly predictable as if taken out of an old TV drama.
There are parts of the book where she’s not around. Those parts are like the previous books, mostly, however her presence does affect the overall story as well as the minor plot points, and so the story itself suffers and becomes predictable and silly.
The ending suggested the female love interest might be included in the later books as well. Normally that would be awesome, but I doubt the writing will have improved by then and so I’m dropping this series. I’ll go look for a new series with less stereotypical, less predictable, less annoying and less cringe worthy characters.