This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
LEIGH HELLMAN is a queer/asexual and genderqueer writer, originally from the western suburbs of Chicago, and a graduate of the MA Program for Writers at the University of Illinois at Chicago. After gaining the ever-lucrative BA in English, they spent five years living and teaching in South Korea before returning to their native Midwest.
Leigh’s short fiction and creative nonfiction work has been featured in Hippocampus Magazine, VIDA Review, and Fulbright Korea Infusion Magazine. Their critical and journalistic work has been featured in the American Book Review, the Gwangju News magazine, and the Windy City Times.
Their first novel, Orbit, is a new adult speculative fiction story now available through Snowy Wings Publishing. They also have a historical fantasy piece included in the SWP anthology, Magic at Midnight.
Leigh is a strong advocate for full-day breakfast menus, all varieties of dark chocolate, building a wardrobe based primarily on bad puns, and bathing in the tears of their enemies.
Reviewed by Renee Guill for Readers' Favorite
Orbit by Leigh Hellman is about Ciaan Gennett, who is known as a Halfsiee. She is a P-Kid who’s first mother is from Earth. She grew up having to defend herself, and ends up getting into a lot of trouble because of it. Thanks to her best friend, Tidoris, and a couple of new friends, Captain Mael (an Earther) and First Officer Nkoti (an artificial), she finds out about her past, and wishes she hadn’t. How far would a person go to become a mother? That is what Ciaan finds out. Leigh Hellman shows complex love relationships. Ciaan also finds out the truth about her second mother. She realizes that the truth isn’t always easy to hear or to understand. Thanks to monstrosities of the past, Ciaan finds her new future.
Orbit by Leigh Hellman is a fascinating read. It gave me a lot to think about. The idea of artificial people being used and treated like they are machines, aka AIs, is intriguing. I wondered what exactly makes us human, the way we are born or made? I liked how Leigh Hellman did her world building, literally and figuratively. She has built many worlds out of metal. I was a “misfit” growing up (still am), so it was nice to read about other “misfits” getting together and helping to save humanity, so to speak. I have to admit, Leigh Hellman’s Epilogue was a bit confusing. And there are still a lot of unanswered questions. I am hoping Leigh Hellman writes a sequel to help answer them. I did love the complex relationships; you still weren’t quite sure who ended up with whom and it was a nice twist.
