After seeing Beth Revis talk about mocking a particular billionaire in her new sci-fi heist series, I saw that the Audible sale made it very very affordable. So I bought it, listened to it, and then bought the second book on sale, too. Sadly, the third book, Last Chance to Save the World, isn’t out until April. The story is great. The primary narrator, Dara Rosenberg, is a delight. The secondary narrator, David Bendena perfectly expresses his character’s frustration in each book’s epilogue. I highly recommend getting hold of these books in the format of your choice. Full Speed to a Crash Landing starts dramatically.
So, I’m not in an ideal situation right now.”
Ada Lamarr’s ship, The Glory, has a hole in its side and she only has a few minutes of air left in her suit. But, there is another ship in range. The Halifax has been ignoring her distress call, suspicious of her. Ada and the crew of The Halifax are in the area for the same thing, a ship that has wrecked onto a proto planet. Ada says she’s there to scavenge metal from the wreckage. Rian isn’t the captain, but he seems to be in charge. As soon as she regains consciousness, Ada starts flirting with pretty much everyone, especially Rian.
He’s got this air about him like he knows how the whole universe fits together, and that makes me wonder how I might fit into his carefully organized world. Does he have a slot for chaos? Or am I going to have to break some stuff to make room on the shelf for me?
Ada is there for a reason. She is playing a game of meeting and thwarting expectations. She dazzles Rian and the crew and while they are distracted by her razzmatazz, she carries out her plan right under their noses. If you enjoy a morally grey heroine, Rian’s frustrated memos in the epilogues are a celebration of a woman’s wrongs.
As fun as it is to ride along with Ada, her quips, and her plans, there is some real rage. There is more than one underground opposition group. Ada is outside the system that Rian works within. While divides are hinted at, the reasons for Ada’s rage come out in the second book.
How to Steal a Galaxy picks up not long after Crash Landing ends. Ada and Rian face off again at a gala at a museum on the playground of the rich, Rigel Earth. Rian is certain that Ada is there to steal something. He’s not wrong. Once again, Ada delights in meeting and thwarting expectations.
Basically, Rigel Earth is the homeowner’s association of the universe and everyone knows it.
Ada’s current job, which she refused several times until she got a better payment offer, is connected to her last job. And as mercenary as she is (or says she is), it’s also a job that’s important to her. The museum, the auction, and the guest of honor enrage her. The gala is a charity fundraiser to “save Sol Earth.” The items up for auction are Earth artifacts, including Tutankhamen’s mummified organs.
Earth’s not worth saving. It is, however, worth buying.”
There is also a trillionair bad guy, who will feel familiar. Ada achieves her objective. But the heist isn’t over yet.
