Derelict

Cohen (Future Tense) takes readers through an admirable but uneven futuristic adventure with plenty of YA-crossover appeal. Rosalen “Ro” Maldonado wants nothing more than to escape her emotionally abusive father’s grasp, get off Daedalus Station, and go to university. In the meantime she takes a job as an engineering intern and starts investigating a derelict ship docked at the space station. The ship proves full of mysteries, including drugs grown on board and illegal weapons hidden in the cargo hold. When Ro awakens the ship’s ancient, damaged AI, she and three companions stow away aboard a vessel plunging into deep space. They must work together to survive, even as hostile forces pursue them and the ship recognizes them only as threats. The intriguing premise never really gels, and an overly long setup leads to a meandering plot and hasty resolution. However, Cohen has real talent with character development and interaction, and prickly, defensive Ro is a sympathetic and interesting heroine. Younger readers will forgive the flaws, and older ones will hope for stronger future volumes that build on the promise of this one. [em](BookLife) [/em]