What do you think?
Rate this book
Cyber Dreams #3
Fortune's Envoy
A low-born, high-tech heroine endeavors to fight the good fight—wherever it may lead—in the third installment of this action-packed sci-fi adventure series.
Once a scrap-wrangling nobody from Phoenix, Arizona, Juliet Bianchi’s life was forever changed when fate handed her a hyper-advanced AI chip that launched her into the arena of high-powered, high-stakes operators. To her surprise—and everyone else’s—she had a natural talent for cybernetic-enhanced mayhem and mercenary work.
Now, that work will take Juliet where she’s always wanted to off world. Unfortunately, the reason is that her faithful friend Honey and a child prodigy she was caring for have been kidnapped. All evidence points to their abductors heading somewhere near Saturn, but to get there, Juliet will have to endure a blast from the past.
Fortunately, joining the crew of a rundown salvage ship, she soon finds herself accepted by the ragtag squad, who appreciate her recently upgraded talents in both combat and tech. And where she’s going, both will be pushed to the limit. Because Juliet isn’t just rescuing her friend anymore. The future of humanity itself is in her hands . . .
The third volume of the hit cyberpunk series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
Once a scrap-wrangling nobody from Phoenix, Arizona, Juliet Bianchi’s life was forever changed when fate handed her a hyper-advanced AI chip that launched her into the arena of high-powered, high-stakes operators. To her surprise—and everyone else’s—she had a natural talent for cybernetic-enhanced mayhem and mercenary work.
Now, that work will take Juliet where she’s always wanted to off world. Unfortunately, the reason is that her faithful friend Honey and a child prodigy she was caring for have been kidnapped. All evidence points to their abductors heading somewhere near Saturn, but to get there, Juliet will have to endure a blast from the past.
Fortunately, joining the crew of a rundown salvage ship, she soon finds herself accepted by the ragtag squad, who appreciate her recently upgraded talents in both combat and tech. And where she’s going, both will be pushed to the limit. Because Juliet isn’t just rescuing her friend anymore. The future of humanity itself is in her hands . . .
The third volume of the hit cyberpunk series—with more than a million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!
473 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2024
107 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Plum Parrot
26 books133 followersPlum Parrot is the pen name of author MC Gallup, who grew up in Southern Arizona and spent much of his youth wandering around the Sonoran Desert, hunting imaginary monsters and building forts. He studied creative writing at the University of Arizona and, for a number of years, attempted to teach middle schoolers to love literature and write their own stories. If he's not out walking his Airedale Terrier, you can find Gallup writing, reading his favorite authors, or playing D&D with friends and family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 12, 2025
This is third in an ongoing series. Read in order.
Juliet is off into space to help a friend in need. She has been planning on heading into space for a while now because that's some good distance from those hunting her. So chasing after her friend is just extra incentive.
And the plot mostly works, though it highlights how much this isn't cyberpunk yet again. Space here feels more Heinlein-y than anything else and the author includes Juliet discovering twentieth century fiction in this story so maybe that isn't so much an accident. I'm always a bit peeved when authors do this because it's a bit weird for someone to just love fiction that is, in this milieu, a century and a half in the past. It's like a not-particularly introspective millennial being captivated by Jules Verne, George Elliot, or Robert Louis Stevenson. Possible? Sure. Likely? Hmmm.
Anyway, Juliet romps through the solar system with a vengeance, rescuing people from bad guys and having heart-to-hearts with her PAI, Angel. I had enough of Juliet throwing herself into deadly danger for random charity cases by the third time it happened. And that's not counting the central charity case of her quest to rescue some random kid at the heart of the plot. It was still enough action to keep the pace up, though, and I still like the power fantasy and scope. So I'm going to say it's four stars of interesting that bears continuing the series.
A note about Chaste: Juliet has a romance or two in potential in this one, but demurs. This isn't a bad thing. It is a pretty chaste thing, though.
Juliet is off into space to help a friend in need. She has been planning on heading into space for a while now because that's some good distance from those hunting her. So chasing after her friend is just extra incentive.
And the plot mostly works, though it highlights how much this isn't cyberpunk yet again. Space here feels more Heinlein-y than anything else and the author includes Juliet discovering twentieth century fiction in this story so maybe that isn't so much an accident. I'm always a bit peeved when authors do this because it's a bit weird for someone to just love fiction that is, in this milieu, a century and a half in the past. It's like a not-particularly introspective millennial being captivated by Jules Verne, George Elliot, or Robert Louis Stevenson. Possible? Sure. Likely? Hmmm.
Anyway, Juliet romps through the solar system with a vengeance, rescuing people from bad guys and having heart-to-hearts with her PAI, Angel. I had enough of Juliet throwing herself into deadly danger for random charity cases by the third time it happened. And that's not counting the central charity case of her quest to rescue some random kid at the heart of the plot. It was still enough action to keep the pace up, though, and I still like the power fantasy and scope. So I'm going to say it's four stars of interesting that bears continuing the series.
A note about Chaste: Juliet has a romance or two in potential in this one, but demurs. This isn't a bad thing. It is a pretty chaste thing, though.
May 19, 2024
When I started this series 3 days ago, I almost dropped it on page 1 with the line of the protagonist having worn her hair in a bun under her welding helmet. Having long hair myself, and having to deal with snowboard and bike helmets all the time, I groaned audibly.
I'm glad I got over my little pet peeve and continued reading. Each book is better than the last, building upon its themes, and growing the scale of conflict accordingly with the growing abilities of our protagonist.
Needless to say, having inhaled the 3 books over the course of 3 days, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and eagerly away the next installment.
As for specifics for this book:
-The aforementioned scale
We leave singular terrestrial concerns and start to expand our knowledge to the wider world of space. The main conflict, however, returns to a more similar setting as before. No space dog fights, yet. Emphasis on the yet.
-Pace and Tension
I think the pace in book 3 is a bit slower than books 1 & 2, and I think it's a much needed breath in the overall series. Granted, I don't know where the series is headed or what the author has planned, but I think this would serve as a very solid "middle book" style entry. The tension, for the most part, is ratcheted way down from the highs of early book 1 or mid book 2, so our MC gets to decompress and unpack some of the more philosophical elements of her journey so far. If you're coming to book 3 expecting more of the frenetic and high stakes action of book 1 and 2, you'll be disappointed. But if you come to book 3 with a more open mind, I think you're in for a treat.
-Stakes
For most of the book, our MC gets to deal with a relatively lower set of stakes than books 1 and 2. The major conflict hedges around someone *other* than the MC for once, and we get to see some of the building skills and confidence from the previous books pay off here.
Again, if you come to book 3 solely for the intensely high stakes action of books 1 & 2, I think you'll be disappointed here, but honestly, I think a bit of a reset, stakes wise, was the perfect call. Some authors can't always pull off the "middle" of the series "calm before the storm" style book, but I think it's pulled off well here. Note I use middle as a relative term here - I don't know how many books are planned, but this serves as a book that is both entertaining in its own right, as well as serving as a great jumping off point to wider, larger, and bigger conflicts in the future. That second epilogue is SPICY with implications.
Overall, I thought books 1 and 2 were great reads with some flaws here and there. Fortune's Envoy improves upon any and all issues I had with the previous entries and has me eagerly awaiting the next.
I'm glad I got over my little pet peeve and continued reading. Each book is better than the last, building upon its themes, and growing the scale of conflict accordingly with the growing abilities of our protagonist.
Needless to say, having inhaled the 3 books over the course of 3 days, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and eagerly away the next installment.
As for specifics for this book:
-The aforementioned scale
We leave singular terrestrial concerns and start to expand our knowledge to the wider world of space. The main conflict, however, returns to a more similar setting as before. No space dog fights, yet. Emphasis on the yet.
-Pace and Tension
I think the pace in book 3 is a bit slower than books 1 & 2, and I think it's a much needed breath in the overall series. Granted, I don't know where the series is headed or what the author has planned, but I think this would serve as a very solid "middle book" style entry. The tension, for the most part, is ratcheted way down from the highs of early book 1 or mid book 2, so our MC gets to decompress and unpack some of the more philosophical elements of her journey so far. If you're coming to book 3 expecting more of the frenetic and high stakes action of book 1 and 2, you'll be disappointed. But if you come to book 3 with a more open mind, I think you're in for a treat.
-Stakes
For most of the book, our MC gets to deal with a relatively lower set of stakes than books 1 and 2. The major conflict hedges around someone *other* than the MC for once, and we get to see some of the building skills and confidence from the previous books pay off here.
Again, if you come to book 3 solely for the intensely high stakes action of books 1 & 2, I think you'll be disappointed here, but honestly, I think a bit of a reset, stakes wise, was the perfect call. Some authors can't always pull off the "middle" of the series "calm before the storm" style book, but I think it's pulled off well here. Note I use middle as a relative term here - I don't know how many books are planned, but this serves as a book that is both entertaining in its own right, as well as serving as a great jumping off point to wider, larger, and bigger conflicts in the future. That second epilogue is SPICY with implications.
Overall, I thought books 1 and 2 were great reads with some flaws here and there. Fortune's Envoy improves upon any and all issues I had with the previous entries and has me eagerly awaiting the next.
April 15, 2024
Another truly excellent addition to this series.
June 26, 2024
This is one of my favorite on-going series, not an OP MC in my opinion, the characters are really well balanced. The MC is fallable and not invincible. The MC's naivety is realistic, however they are evolving, and expanding their emotional capabilities (Note: I can't recall if it was this book or #2, but the part where they are betrayed, and the MC says "But, I hugged you.", is so simple, but heartwrenching, because they were finally starting to trust someone. That resonated with me for some reason not to be explored here, LOL). The MC comes to terms about a friendship in that fantasty phase, of could it be more, do they, don't they feel the same, phase, are they willing to change to a parallel path, or is the connection just a wish. I always look forward to the next part of the MC's journey. Does not read like filler or simple formula sequel in a serial series. Excited for the next book.
February 6, 2025
Into space we go!
After the events of the last book, Juliet, now codenamed "Lucky" has decided to get off world and travel to Luna station to continue her work as an operator. However, before she can line up a job she get's a sketchy rushed plea for aid from her friend Honey. It looks like the easy babysitting gig Honey went on turned sideways when she and her charge (a little girl) were kidnapped.
With not much time and a lot of space to cover to rescue her friend- Angel and Juliet decide to hitch a ride on a salvager ship to get her closer to her destination. While being the muscle on a salvage mission doesn't seem to difficult Juliet and her AI find that fighting in space is a whole different beast.
Can Juliet keep her new ship's crew safe while traveling through the cosmos and manage to rescue Honey and the little girl in time before her burgeoning plan falls apart?
After the events of the last book, Juliet, now codenamed "Lucky" has decided to get off world and travel to Luna station to continue her work as an operator. However, before she can line up a job she get's a sketchy rushed plea for aid from her friend Honey. It looks like the easy babysitting gig Honey went on turned sideways when she and her charge (a little girl) were kidnapped.
With not much time and a lot of space to cover to rescue her friend- Angel and Juliet decide to hitch a ride on a salvager ship to get her closer to her destination. While being the muscle on a salvage mission doesn't seem to difficult Juliet and her AI find that fighting in space is a whole different beast.
Can Juliet keep her new ship's crew safe while traveling through the cosmos and manage to rescue Honey and the little girl in time before her burgeoning plan falls apart?
May 15, 2024
This quickly became one of my favorite series. There is so much I love about the first three books. I’m dying for the fourth to come out. I love the relationship between Juliet and Angel. I love how the author takes you through the ups and downs of Juliet’s mental journey. I love the juxtaposition of beautiful friendships and brutal fights. I love the creativity of the world building and eccentricities of the human augmentations. I love that there is no direct statement of sexuality, just the question of attraction to any gender or person. I really enjoy that there no romance just the incredible relationship between Juliet and Angel.
Audiobook narrator is excellent as well.
I’m so freaking excited for the fourth audiobook to come out in August!!!!
Audiobook narrator is excellent as well.
I’m so freaking excited for the fourth audiobook to come out in August!!!!
May 28, 2024
Definitely my favourite book out of them all. Worldbuilding was slightly more in depth compared to the last installations, the characters (including side characters) saw growth and development, the technology is still on point and I'm looking forward to seeing what all the buildup for the next installation will come to.
A lot of stuff that I wish the author would expand on - the history of terraforming, how the corporations came to be, AI's, technology being worse now than in the past, the different governmental/corporation organisations, the human population, the density of the human race, have they attempted other solar systems?, wtf do you mean communication from titan to earth is only at 2 hours.
3.75*-4*
A lot of stuff that I wish the author would expand on - the history of terraforming, how the corporations came to be, AI's, technology being worse now than in the past, the different governmental/corporation organisations, the human population, the density of the human race, have they attempted other solar systems?, wtf do you mean communication from titan to earth is only at 2 hours.
3.75*-4*
June 4, 2025
Disappointing Character Development
We are back to the hemming hawing hand wringing crap. MC has no problem assassinating pirates, but street thugs try to kill her or a pregnant woman and she’s bending over backwards looking for non lethal options.
Wouldn’t be so bad if she was good at tactics and strategy but this is more Wile E Coyote does mercenary.
We are back to the hemming hawing hand wringing crap. MC has no problem assassinating pirates, but street thugs try to kill her or a pregnant woman and she’s bending over backwards looking for non lethal options.
Wouldn’t be so bad if she was good at tactics and strategy but this is more Wile E Coyote does mercenary.
April 16, 2024
Best in the series so far.
I was ready a big fan of the series after reading the first two books, but this book was just outstanding. The character development and story progression were just so good. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I was ready a big fan of the series after reading the first two books, but this book was just outstanding. The character development and story progression were just so good. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
April 16, 2024
Fantastic!
I really enjoyed this book! Well paced and held my interest throughout. This series started strong and shows no signs of letting up. I can’t wait for the next book! I’m serious. Read it!
I really enjoyed this book! Well paced and held my interest throughout. This series started strong and shows no signs of letting up. I can’t wait for the next book! I’m serious. Read it!
April 18, 2024
One of my fav authors
This and Victor from Tucson.. Two of my fav series... Great stories, characters and interweaving plots... Brilliant writer.. Highly recommend
JD Glasscock
Author of the Series Blood Brothers and the Dream
This and Victor from Tucson.. Two of my fav series... Great stories, characters and interweaving plots... Brilliant writer.. Highly recommend
JD Glasscock
Author of the Series Blood Brothers and the Dream
June 1, 2024
Lost some of the grit and got a bit into the opera side. Things kind of just happened. Still fun though. Keep it up.
June 5, 2025
I found this one to be very fun and engaging, the author obviously put a lot of tough into intrastellar transport in the near future using mostly know technology.
Problems started towards the end.
They started with finding out what the girl actually and the horrific implications that come from it. Not only is she a gender bent clone, but essentially she was a baby that had her brain scooped out and replaced with a corrupt male politicians brain. And before the adult's brain takes fully over the walking corpse is piloted by a PAI. The other characters' only response is contemplate the nature of humanity. They don't react with horror at the cruelty, greed, and inhumanity of this. And Honey goes as far to declare this walking corpse of a innocent child is more of a person than Angel and therefore Juliet has no right to judge her for abandoning both her family and Juliet for the next 5 years to care for it while the politicians brain takes over. There is next to no push back and it left me with a butter taste in my mouth and caused me to loose a lot if respect for Juliet and see Honey as an outright narcissistic villian. So picture this, Juliet dropped everything to is mortally wounded repeated and flies out to the corpo shit hole that is Titan all to save Honey, and the reason Honey gives for valuing this affront to humanity over both Juliet and her own family is because the PAI that is controlling the brain dead girl comforted her while she was in captivity. Sure the experience was scary but at no point was she tortured or fatally wounded. Unlike like what Juliet experienced multiple times. And even based on Honey's Stockholm syndrome, her protectiveness of this exil experiement doesn't make any sense cause after the adilt brain takes over, the very PAI she grew attached to will likely be removed and reverse engineered and sold to make every evil rich corpo functionally immortal rulers of the endentured slave population that is everyone else. I am honestly not sure if I can continue this series and will have to wait and see if my disgust for Juliet goes down to tolerable levels over time.
Problems started towards the end.
They started with finding out what the girl actually and the horrific implications that come from it. Not only is she a gender bent clone, but essentially she was a baby that had her brain scooped out and replaced with a corrupt male politicians brain. And before the adult's brain takes fully over the walking corpse is piloted by a PAI. The other characters' only response is contemplate the nature of humanity. They don't react with horror at the cruelty, greed, and inhumanity of this. And Honey goes as far to declare this walking corpse of a innocent child is more of a person than Angel and therefore Juliet has no right to judge her for abandoning both her family and Juliet for the next 5 years to care for it while the politicians brain takes over. There is next to no push back and it left me with a butter taste in my mouth and caused me to loose a lot if respect for Juliet and see Honey as an outright narcissistic villian. So picture this, Juliet dropped everything to is mortally wounded repeated and flies out to the corpo shit hole that is Titan all to save Honey, and the reason Honey gives for valuing this affront to humanity over both Juliet and her own family is because the PAI that is controlling the brain dead girl comforted her while she was in captivity. Sure the experience was scary but at no point was she tortured or fatally wounded. Unlike like what Juliet experienced multiple times. And even based on Honey's Stockholm syndrome, her protectiveness of this exil experiement doesn't make any sense cause after the adilt brain takes over, the very PAI she grew attached to will likely be removed and reverse engineered and sold to make every evil rich corpo functionally immortal rulers of the endentured slave population that is everyone else. I am honestly not sure if I can continue this series and will have to wait and see if my disgust for Juliet goes down to tolerable levels over time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2025
I’m going to stop with the series. After a major rescue mission/job is finished it seems like our main character is catching romantic feelings for everyone around her. Is she attracted to her best friend? Maybe. Is she wanting to hook up with her crew members? Who knows.
What happened? I just feel like the female character is falling short for me. As a woman, her personality does not seem realistic to me. I love a strong female character, and I love the idea of the plot. I don’t know what happened with this book. Someone convince me to read the next one in the series because I think I’m tapping out.
I do like the description of AI and the plot line is very interesting…. Especially the things that happened before we see the corporation run world and solar system. I want more of that and less of everybody winking at each other ——- what the hell is going on?
In this book, everybody is winking at each other and I don’t understand it. Why is it bothering me so much? Hard to say, but it sure does.
What happened? I just feel like the female character is falling short for me. As a woman, her personality does not seem realistic to me. I love a strong female character, and I love the idea of the plot. I don’t know what happened with this book. Someone convince me to read the next one in the series because I think I’m tapping out.
I do like the description of AI and the plot line is very interesting…. Especially the things that happened before we see the corporation run world and solar system. I want more of that and less of everybody winking at each other ——- what the hell is going on?
In this book, everybody is winking at each other and I don’t understand it. Why is it bothering me so much? Hard to say, but it sure does.
April 21, 2024
Eh?
As a book it was ...decent. Honestly though I think I was hoping for a bit more usefulness of her AI? Or finding more unique gear. Something. Like so far her AI besides a little disguise hacking seems pretty basic of what other AIs would be doing. I was hoping for it to showcase why it's such a 'amazing' AI and start training the MC in more things and faster. Then perhaps her getting tons of gear that only her AI could handle. Then unique things from the corps like her psionic web but other one of a kind or rare tech that that she'd gather with the help of Angel.
So far it seems more like she's just the average operator, if not a little worse. Even after all that training, she somehow gets hit by some first timer pirate punks in space? Like...how did she not keep an eye on her six.
As a book it was ...decent. Honestly though I think I was hoping for a bit more usefulness of her AI? Or finding more unique gear. Something. Like so far her AI besides a little disguise hacking seems pretty basic of what other AIs would be doing. I was hoping for it to showcase why it's such a 'amazing' AI and start training the MC in more things and faster. Then perhaps her getting tons of gear that only her AI could handle. Then unique things from the corps like her psionic web but other one of a kind or rare tech that that she'd gather with the help of Angel.
So far it seems more like she's just the average operator, if not a little worse. Even after all that training, she somehow gets hit by some first timer pirate punks in space? Like...how did she not keep an eye on her six.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
I'm impressed how easily this moves from straight cyberpunk, to corporate espionage, to space adventure. It even feels like a natural progression, hopping from job to job to dire request to following your heart.
And I think that's what I love most about it. It's just plain fun. A what-if Cyberpunk 2077 just opened up to brand new vistas, to the moon, to Saturn. I likey. I likey alot. And all the while, we've got that progression feel, with cybernetic upgrades and spunk.
And I think that's what I love most about it. It's just plain fun. A what-if Cyberpunk 2077 just opened up to brand new vistas, to the moon, to Saturn. I likey. I likey alot. And all the while, we've got that progression feel, with cybernetic upgrades and spunk.
September 9, 2024
Continued Excellent page turner
Continued Excellent story craft.
Plot continues with start of poor woman being given a potential leg up. And surviving later thriving.
Including significant traumatic events.
Continued Excellent story craft.
Plot continues with start of poor woman being given a potential leg up. And surviving later thriving.
Including significant traumatic events.
January 29, 2025
Lost 2 stars for NOT writing a Recap.
I think every reader needs to start doing this to force authors to write a quick Recap chapter, which readers can skip if they remember, and those who don't won't stop reading the series.
I think every reader needs to start doing this to force authors to write a quick Recap chapter, which readers can skip if they remember, and those who don't won't stop reading the series.
September 19, 2024
Love the story. Had a couple nitpick science moments that ejected me, but *shrugs* story and writing are solid, and it's an excellent read.
November 4, 2024
I liked it. The story drags in a lot of places, but I still got into it.
January 3, 2025
Rescue mission to Titan. Wealth accumulates. Borrowed using Kindle Unlimited. Read Kindle book using Alexa audio asset.
March 2, 2025
Favorite of the series so far
March 9, 2025
Really good story
April 13, 2025
Decent cyberpunk, but veering into space opera. Progression is quite fast.
May 18, 2025
This Series keeps getting better and better, Juliet and Angel are one heck of a team! I can't wait to finish the next book
June 11, 2025
Another top tier story.
Miss the team operations stuff but still hitting all the cyber punk notes perfectly. Looks to be setting up some great stuff for the future.
Miss the team operations stuff but still hitting all the cyber punk notes perfectly. Looks to be setting up some great stuff for the future.
August 15, 2025
All action
The more I get into this series the more I can't put it down. Never a dull moment. Lots of action. If your into futuristic cyberpunk this series is awesome
The more I get into this series the more I can't put it down. Never a dull moment. Lots of action. If your into futuristic cyberpunk this series is awesome
September 4, 2025
I ❤️ Plum Parrot.
August 12, 2024
4.25 stars
January 19, 2025
See my review for book one. This is a great series; recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews