You can read my review of this book here: http://nyjournalofbooks.com/review/hell-ship ( )

Palmer's 4th book tells the intertwined stories of Jak, Sharrock and Sai-ias, and the titular (love that word) Hell Ship. Sharrock and Sai-ias are prisoners of a truly evil, technologically superior foe that toys with the hopes of all of their thousands of prisoners - one for each race they have utterly destroyed. Jak is seeking revenge for the death of his love, the extinction of his race and the destruction of his entire universe.
The book contrasts space opera themes with truly laugh out loud prison-type, black humor. I felt that the theme of comrades in arms in a truly impossible situation was the better part of the novel. While there are imaginative technologies galore, inter-universe pursuits over incredible spans of time and a couple of great space battles; I think that what will remain with me from this book are the wonderfully realized relationships between the captured sentients. ( )