This is the seventh book in Scalzi’s most well-known series that started with Old Man’s War. You don’t have to have read from the beginning to read this book, but you will miss out on some of the context. (Plus, the other six books are worth it.) Last I heard, there will be a Netflix series based on OMW coming out sometime…it may have been delayed.
If you’ve never read a John Scalzi book before, you will either like his style or not. Almost everything he’s written in the last few years is in a very conversational style, and there is a high “snark” quotient in many of those conversations. I find his work to be a very ‘easy’ read in that they can be read quickly. This is not to say he skimps on character or world-building if it’s necessary. I found myself very interested in the character named “Ran” who is of the Obin race in this book.
Scalzi took a lot of time off of writing in the OMW universe. I respect that he wanted a good story to tell before coming back to it, and I think he told it. I hope we’re not done completely with the cast of characters he’s created.