I'm a simple-minded person–I just want a good plot, with character development to back it up. Sci-Fi in general has tons of stories that are anchored towards a solid plot, but there's this thing my daughter calls (a Gen Z term, if you will) a "plot armor". This is basically when things just magically align for the protagonist to work out. I do not like that, I like tragedies (even if the MC dies) and somewhat justified events. Think I am Legend the movie. Does anyone know of any newer novels within this space? TIA!

[sorei]

how about andy weir? thinking of hail mary

adrian tchaikovsky with the children series?

I love I am Legend. The novel it's adapted from is good too, though far from new.

Karin Lowachee's Warchild series is a childhood favorite of mine; it's YA but it has good character development in my opinion.

I enjoy the Strugatzki books a great deal, and The Invincible by Stanislaw Lem.