5 ⭐ CW: medical trauma, war mention, colonisation mention 

The Galaxy and the Ground Within by Becky Chambers is the last book in the Wayfarers series. This was an excellent conclusion to this world. To be honest I could just keep reading stories based on this forever, always learning more and expanding on worldbuilding. This one was the coziest yet of the four books.  

We follow three aliens that are thrown together by circumstances out of their control, and must navigate five days together. We have Pei, the Aeluon who is dating Ashby from book 1; Roveg, an exiled Quelin sim creator; and Speaker, an Akarak separated from her twin. They are all under the care of their chipper host, a Laru named Ouloo and her child Tupo. They all learn about each other and their species, and form unlikely friendships. 

One of the things I love about this series is that the stories are not high stakes. These are just people stranded on a plant due to a technology hiccup and just have to hang out with each other for five days. Chambers does an excellent job with expanding the world-building (universe building?) with each successive book. I love that all the characters were different aliens we have seen mentioned or had cameos in previous books, and none of them were human focused stories. We learn so much about Aeluon, Quelin, Laru, and Akaraks. 

While it is quite a cozy read, Chambers also manages to give us some deeper themes around colonization and its lasting impact along with the arrogance of imperialism. She also talks about reproductive choice, and choosing to not become a parent. She explores political themes without making that the point of the story. In the end, it's about the character moments. I absolutely loved Roveg and Speaker as friends. Adorable. Tupo is an adorable long limbed fluff noodle I just want to squeeze. 

If I haven't said it once, I'll say it a thousand times: go read this series! Becky Chambers is now one of my favorite authors. 

Another excellent installment in this series and a good ending, thiugh I am very sad there is no more! This has cemented itself as one of my all time favourite series and I will be recommending it to all. For this book specifically, I loved the new characters and the growth of Pei. It touched on some different themes and built on others previously mentioned. I loved them all as usual and will no doubt be returning

I'm sad that Becky Chambers' brilliant Wayfarers series has come to an end.
 
This series filled as it is with love, compassion, and kindness, is a soothing balm in an increasingly unkind world ‐ and this final book in the quartet is no different.

This is not a book to read if you want fast-paced action, because beyond the brief triggering incident that brings the main characters together, not a lot actually happens.

These books are all about humanity, and it's such a clever idea of Chambers to use aliens as a conduit to explore its many facets.

Galaxy is about family, about doing what makes you happy, about learning to disagree respectfully, about the beauty in everyday life.

I loved it.

another stellar gem from Chambers. Stars, this series gave me so much to think about, reasons to tear up, and moments of sweet joy. 

A beautiful character study in a sci-fi world. Five aliens get waylaid at a rest stop on a barren planet. There is nothing to do but wait while the officials fix the problem. There's food, gardens, little kid cuteness, stressful exchanges due to cultural biases, friendships made, agreements to disagree, and the beauty and challenges that come with being a sentient being connecting to other sentient beings while wishing you were somewhere else. This is the 4th in the Wayfarer series, but it can be read as a stand alone if you don't mind not understanding a reference here and there.