The Principle of Moments

Longlisted for the 2024 TikTok Book Awards

By: Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh, Bayo Gbadamosi, Isabel Adomakoh-Young

'My favourite kind of grand space opera' BEN AARONOVITCH

She's searching for the emperor who stole her sister.
He's searching for the prince who stole his heart.
The entire universe is at stake.

The Principle of Moments is a centuries-spanning adventure unmissable for fans of the spacefaring found family of Becky Chambers, the magical London of V. E. Schwab, and the epic climate-craft of N. K. Jemisin.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:

'This book! OMG this book was everything I could hope for! A queer love story, a space story, a rebel story and so well written' 5-star reader review
'An absolute stonker of a debut... I was hooked the whole way through' 5-star reader review
'I absolutely devoured this book! Everything I could possibly want with Star Wars / Doctor Who vibes mixed in with Pride and Prejudice' 5-star reader review
'THIS is how you write a "chosen one" story! Jikiemi-Pearson is going straight on my "instant read" list of authors' 5-star reader review
'I have read quite a few debuts this year and this was easily my top of the year' 5-star reader review
'OMG, this book was amazing... Fantastic if you like N.K. Jemisin and Doctor Who... Well worth five stars' 5-star reader review
'Hang on and enjoy the ride!' 5-star reader review

Critic reviews

The Principle of Moments is my favourite kind of grand space opera where anything can happen and usually does at great speed

I just love this universe. I was both teased and pleased, and I am already ready for more

An audaciously joyous debut full of heart. I loved stepping into Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson's world of heroes and prophecies, friendships like family, and an epic adventure through the stars

I blooming loved it! It reminded me of Lois McMasters Bujold x 2000AD (Halo Jones in particular) with a large helping of Doctor Who, utterly absorbing space opera!

Angry girls. Swoony simps. A galaxy-spanning future space quest with some fun little pit stops to visit a demon in 1812 London. Honestly, what's not to devour?

A beautifully written love letter to the genres it weaves together. Endlessly creative and brimming with insightful commentary on imperialism, The Principle of Moments manages to be both epic and intimate - a true feat

Truly original... An epic space adventure that tears down colonialism and builds instead a shimmering, achingly powerful message of agency, loyalty and destiny. I loved every second of this book

An answer to the question of: what happens if you cross Star Wars with Doctor Who? And then make it queer (queerer in Doctor Who's case), Black, and fundamentally disinterested in making excuses for the violence of empire? It's entertaining as all hell... it gets the vibe of being twelve years old and watching a lightsaber ignite on the big screen

I've not read anything quite like Jikiemi-Pearson's award-winning debut. At once a meticulous space opera - with hints of N. K. Jemisin's Broken Earth trilogy - and a centuries-spanning love story

Every page shines with the vigour and passion of youth

A sprawling space opera fantasy stuffed with familiar tropes

It has enthusiasm to burn, and characters you'll root for

The perfect antidote to any January blues