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Threading the Needle
A NEW START—OR AN OLD CALLING?
Talia Merritt, a former military sniper once known as Death’s Handmaiden, is a woman haunted by her past. Her cybernetic arm and her phantom—the implant that allows her to control it—serve as a constant reminder of what she’s lost. But Talia is hoping to leave her past and her reputation behind and start anew on the colony world of Goruden, a hardscrabble planet of frontier-minded people seeking a better life. And she’s finally earned enough to start to make that dream come true.
In the bucolic town of Tsuri, she interviews for a job as a marksmanship instructor for local bigwig Signore Ferran Contesti. But Contesi is not what he seems. A recent arrival on Goruden, he hopes to mold the colony world in his own image—an image at odds with the unencumbered life free of government and corporate meddling that Talia has come to find.
Soon, Talia finds herself thrust into the start of another conflict. Talia desperately wants to stay out of it, but she may not have that luxury.
With the fate of a planet and her own peace of mind hanging in the balance, Talia must decide whether or not to once again take up the mantle of Death’s Handmaiden. . . .
At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise for Monalisa
“I cannot overly recommend this 40-odd page jewel. It’s a painful piece, but that’s its strength, really. And it is also a story which literally CANNOT be told too strongly or too often.” —David Weber on “Pretending to Sleep”
Monalisa Foster won life’s lottery when she escaped communism in Romania and became an unhyphenated American citizen. Her works tend to explore themes of freedom, liberty, and personal responsibility. Despite her degree in physics, she’s worked in several fields, including engineering and medicine.
Talia Merritt, a former military sniper once known as Death’s Handmaiden, is a woman haunted by her past. Her cybernetic arm and her phantom—the implant that allows her to control it—serve as a constant reminder of what she’s lost. But Talia is hoping to leave her past and her reputation behind and start anew on the colony world of Goruden, a hardscrabble planet of frontier-minded people seeking a better life. And she’s finally earned enough to start to make that dream come true.
In the bucolic town of Tsuri, she interviews for a job as a marksmanship instructor for local bigwig Signore Ferran Contesti. But Contesi is not what he seems. A recent arrival on Goruden, he hopes to mold the colony world in his own image—an image at odds with the unencumbered life free of government and corporate meddling that Talia has come to find.
Soon, Talia finds herself thrust into the start of another conflict. Talia desperately wants to stay out of it, but she may not have that luxury.
With the fate of a planet and her own peace of mind hanging in the balance, Talia must decide whether or not to once again take up the mantle of Death’s Handmaiden. . . .
At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).
Praise for Monalisa
“I cannot overly recommend this 40-odd page jewel. It’s a painful piece, but that’s its strength, really. And it is also a story which literally CANNOT be told too strongly or too often.” —David Weber on “Pretending to Sleep”
Monalisa Foster won life’s lottery when she escaped communism in Romania and became an unhyphenated American citizen. Her works tend to explore themes of freedom, liberty, and personal responsibility. Despite her degree in physics, she’s worked in several fields, including engineering and medicine.
445 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 5, 2023
10 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 17, 2023
[I read this book in an e-book arc format. Thank you to Baen books for providing the arc in exchange for a fair review]
This book has an interesting blend of Science Fiction and Western styles that makes it stand out. Many other stories recently have tried this (Star Wars being the most prominent example). However, because of Monalisa Foster's heavy emphasis on the Western elements and the lighter touches of the Sci-Fi, it actually feels fresh and unique.
Here is the main premise of the story: “Talia Merritt, a former military sniper once known as Death’s Handmaiden, is a woman haunted by her past. Her cybernetic arm and her phantom—the implant that allows her to control it—serve as a constant reminder of what she’s lost. But Talia is hoping to leave her past and her reputation behind and start anew on the colony world of Goruden, a hardscrabble planet of frontier-minded people seeking a better life. And she’s finally earned enough to start to make that dream come true. In the bucolic town of Tsuri, she interviews for a job as a marksmanship instructor for local bigwig Signore Ferran Contesti. But Contesi is not what he seems. A recent arrival on Goruden, he hopes to mold the colony world in his own image—an image at odds with the unencumbered life free of government and corporate meddling that Talia has come to find. Soon, Talia finds herself thrust into the start of another conflict. Talia desperately wants to stay out of it, but she may not have that luxury. With the fate of a planet and her own peace of mind hanging in the balance, Talia must decide whether or not to once again take up the mantle of Death’s Handmaiden."
Probably the best part of the book is the sense of worry that Foster instill in the reader. As the book unfolds you learn about who the villains are, and you learn that really no one is potentially safe from them. As such, you worry about who will be hurt or killed to get to our heroes. And there is one character death that really was sad to read, especially because of who that character means to our main protagonist: Talia Merritt.
There isn't quite as much action or violence as I expected in the book. Rather, most of the tension is driven by characters posturing and preparing for what the other side will do. It takes the story a bit longer to get going, and can be a little bit slower in some places, but it still works because of the use of the characters. As such, it really took me 150-200 pages to get invested into the book.
One criticism I have of the book is that we are constantly hearing about how good a sniper Talia is, and we only really see her use it once. Yet throughout the book she is inundated with offers to work for people who have heard of her prowess with weapons. Perhaps if we had a few more chapters showing flashbacks of her time with Lyle it'd be more believable. Instead, it feels a little like tell don't show.
I do really believe the best part of the book is the Western aspect. Monalisa Foster really nails the Western tones and feelings, even though the terrain is not that of a western. The dialogue, the word choice, and the tone just cement that this is on the frontier of a new planet and carry the lawlessness really well.
Of the minor characters, I really enjoyed reading about Logan, his high energy was a great compliment to Talia's lower energy. And Lyle and Maeve were also really interesting characters to follow. The villains of the book are also pretty well written, and one of the villain's obscession with Talia is downright creepy, and excellently written.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I also had some problems with it. I think if you really like Westerns and Sci-Fi you should give this a read. 6 out of 10.
This book has an interesting blend of Science Fiction and Western styles that makes it stand out. Many other stories recently have tried this (Star Wars being the most prominent example). However, because of Monalisa Foster's heavy emphasis on the Western elements and the lighter touches of the Sci-Fi, it actually feels fresh and unique.
Here is the main premise of the story: “Talia Merritt, a former military sniper once known as Death’s Handmaiden, is a woman haunted by her past. Her cybernetic arm and her phantom—the implant that allows her to control it—serve as a constant reminder of what she’s lost. But Talia is hoping to leave her past and her reputation behind and start anew on the colony world of Goruden, a hardscrabble planet of frontier-minded people seeking a better life. And she’s finally earned enough to start to make that dream come true. In the bucolic town of Tsuri, she interviews for a job as a marksmanship instructor for local bigwig Signore Ferran Contesti. But Contesi is not what he seems. A recent arrival on Goruden, he hopes to mold the colony world in his own image—an image at odds with the unencumbered life free of government and corporate meddling that Talia has come to find. Soon, Talia finds herself thrust into the start of another conflict. Talia desperately wants to stay out of it, but she may not have that luxury. With the fate of a planet and her own peace of mind hanging in the balance, Talia must decide whether or not to once again take up the mantle of Death’s Handmaiden."
Probably the best part of the book is the sense of worry that Foster instill in the reader. As the book unfolds you learn about who the villains are, and you learn that really no one is potentially safe from them. As such, you worry about who will be hurt or killed to get to our heroes. And there is one character death that really was sad to read, especially because of who that character means to our main protagonist: Talia Merritt.
There isn't quite as much action or violence as I expected in the book. Rather, most of the tension is driven by characters posturing and preparing for what the other side will do. It takes the story a bit longer to get going, and can be a little bit slower in some places, but it still works because of the use of the characters. As such, it really took me 150-200 pages to get invested into the book.
One criticism I have of the book is that we are constantly hearing about how good a sniper Talia is, and we only really see her use it once. Yet throughout the book she is inundated with offers to work for people who have heard of her prowess with weapons. Perhaps if we had a few more chapters showing flashbacks of her time with Lyle it'd be more believable. Instead, it feels a little like tell don't show.
I do really believe the best part of the book is the Western aspect. Monalisa Foster really nails the Western tones and feelings, even though the terrain is not that of a western. The dialogue, the word choice, and the tone just cement that this is on the frontier of a new planet and carry the lawlessness really well.
Of the minor characters, I really enjoyed reading about Logan, his high energy was a great compliment to Talia's lower energy. And Lyle and Maeve were also really interesting characters to follow. The villains of the book are also pretty well written, and one of the villain's obscession with Talia is downright creepy, and excellently written.
Overall, I did enjoy the book, but I also had some problems with it. I think if you really like Westerns and Sci-Fi you should give this a read. 6 out of 10.
January 23, 2024
extraordinary book
Monalisa had me at the foreword. The plot of the book is loosely based on the old western El Dorado. Our heroine is a flawed but intensely human character. Her trials and the found family she enters is the beating heart of this tale. I will read more of her work. And I hope she revisits this world.
Monalisa had me at the foreword. The plot of the book is loosely based on the old western El Dorado. Our heroine is a flawed but intensely human character. Her trials and the found family she enters is the beating heart of this tale. I will read more of her work. And I hope she revisits this world.
January 3, 2024
Very good read.
The plot (and the author clearly mentions it in the preface) reminds a lot of El Dorado but with enough twists and turns (not to mention fungi and space cows) to keep you wanting to continue reading.
Very solid action, good characters, lots of fun.
Recommended.
The plot (and the author clearly mentions it in the preface) reminds a lot of El Dorado but with enough twists and turns (not to mention fungi and space cows) to keep you wanting to continue reading.
Very solid action, good characters, lots of fun.
Recommended.
December 8, 2023
Outstanding read!
Well developed characters, an intriguing story line, and twists and turns aplenty make for an entertaining story and one that you won’t want to put down.
Well developed characters, an intriguing story line, and twists and turns aplenty make for an entertaining story and one that you won’t want to put down.
December 11, 2023
If this writer didn't just lift this story whole from "El Dorado", I will eat my hat.
January 12, 2024
Take a nice 'western' and sprinkle a little scifi to make an interesting read.
February 18, 2024
Started out better than it ended, just not enough oomph to really draw me in. Reminded me a bit of the John Rain series from the 90s, though
August 24, 2025
When I purchased this book I had no idea what I was getting into. What I did know was that the author knows how to use a sword and is from Romania. If that alone doesn't make you want to buy this book, then you have clearly never watched the Dragostea Din Tei video by O-Zone. (https://g.co/kgs/kYDhDDv) I don't know what the words mean, but any song that talks about cheetahs has to be awesome.
The protagonist of this story is a masterpiece that has a depth that begs to be explored in multiple sequels. Imagine if Lyudmila Pavlichenko and Wyatt Earp had a baby girl who married Miyamoto Musashi and they had a baby girl child. Add a couple peppers that measure 37,000,000,000 on the scoville scale, mix gently and bake 450° C for 7 hours.
Yeah, she is that awesome.
The story is well written and makes rapid progress without feeling rushed. The protagonist has plenty of supporting characters that help to fill out the imagination canvas her words are painting. The antagonists are also woven throughout the mural well and I can genuinely say I wanted to punch every one of them in the face.
This book has an unmatched value, as there is no doubt in my mind it will be read many times.
The protagonist of this story is a masterpiece that has a depth that begs to be explored in multiple sequels. Imagine if Lyudmila Pavlichenko and Wyatt Earp had a baby girl who married Miyamoto Musashi and they had a baby girl child. Add a couple peppers that measure 37,000,000,000 on the scoville scale, mix gently and bake 450° C for 7 hours.
Yeah, she is that awesome.
The story is well written and makes rapid progress without feeling rushed. The protagonist has plenty of supporting characters that help to fill out the imagination canvas her words are painting. The antagonists are also woven throughout the mural well and I can genuinely say I wanted to punch every one of them in the face.
This book has an unmatched value, as there is no doubt in my mind it will be read many times.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews