In a galaxy where every constellation harbors a unique world shaped by the will of its Maker, synthetic humanoids populate planets governed by ideals of exploration, survival, and power, like the daring society of Pyxis, the fierce hunters of Orion, and the regal kingdom of Cepheus. These worlds are overseen by the Council of Constellations, ever seeking to engineer the perfect society. But when Ordell, the courageous son of a synthetic mother, discovers he shares the divine ability of the Makers to conjure and reshape reality, he is thrust into an extraordinary journey across the stars. As he navigates strange worlds and unravels ancient truths, Ordell must rise to challenge the status quo, free the synthetics, and forge new worlds where they can truly prosper. Ordell's Constellation by J.C. Cole is a sci-fi fantasy novel with a mix of space opera and coming-of-age elements. It's about a young hunter named Ordell who discovers he shares the same gift of conjuring or wielding that no synthetic is supposed to have. Only the Makers can do such things. But this is also a gift that has been whispered about long ago, when it was believed that the elusive scientist, Dr. Harold Toshimori, had hidden a code inside some of his creations. The story brings readers into the world of a Maker named Ursa Major. She works for The Council of Constellations and has a deadline to meet in creating a new society. She's creating a world of cities, rivers, and synthetics who look like human beings and can eat, love, and reproduce. It is her duty to just observe and record these societies that she creates, just like the other Makers, Orion and Pyxis. But she cannot ever interfere. Cole does a magnificent job describing the world Ursa Major is creating with her tools, known as AOS units. We see beautiful skyscrapers erupting from the ground, fountains coming to life, bricks exploding in every color. The story seems to take a shift, however, when we get to observe a society of hunters along with Orion. The story made me feel like a god watching the Lithiri people, specifically Ordell, as he skillfully hunts down an animal for his village. Readers also get to observe these hunters during the Trial of Intrepidity as they hunt down the lethal Shurog. Orion takes note of Ordell summoning a wave in an attempt to save his brother, Otis, from a Shurog trying to defend her pup. I was surprised, along with Orion, in observing a synthetic that possesses a gift he's not supposed to have. But Orion does what Makers are not supposed to do, and he interferes by summoning a northern tribe to attack the Lithiri, because he feared what Ordell's gift could mean. This showcased a level of hypocrisy in my opinion. The story really began to take all kinds of wonderful turns, especially in the Cepheus arc. Cole did an amazing job bringing out life on this planet under tyrannical rule. The elites within the castle live a life of decadence while their peasants starve. Ordell is still on his quest for answers and to figure out more about who he really is and this gift he has. I think readers will enjoy observing him from chapter to chapter, using his gift not for spectacle or show but more so in liberating other synthetics along the way. I was very satisfied with Ordell's encounter with a Puck who transforms from this fearful farmhand into a king slayer. The uprising that ensues just unfolds in raw form. I loved how Ordell hands over Cepheus's AOS to Puck, telling him, "Your world is what you make it,". This speaks volumes about his moral compass. Cole did a great job highlighting the politics of the Council and the tensions that go on between the Makers. There's also an appropriate balance of action throughout and visual descriptions such as the hunt in the Orintale forest, the swan-shaped dome of Cygnus, or the mud-choked streets of Cepheus. Readers who will enjoy Ordell's Constellation by J.C. Cole are those who love books with layered political intrigue like Ann Leckie's Imperial Radch trilogy, or stories with moral complexity like Pierce Brown's Red Rising.