Warchild - Karin Lowachee

I hate the title and the cover but picked it up because Tanya Huff recommended it.

 

The first section is a tough read because it deals with the abduction and abuse of our nine year old main character. It's written in a deliberately distant way, like someone reporting something that happened to someone else a long time ago. Which makes it heart-breaking.

 

It also set up the rest of the book as the main character grows up.

 

Original and vivid science fiction.