Recruiting Phantom

by S.T. Arsheep

Ever since Sasha's eyes flickered open to cold laboratory lights, her body has been whole, but something alien lies under her skin. The cybernetics fused with her organic tissue weren't a rescue — they were someone's work.

She's going to find them. Make them pay. And if a body count follows, that's their fault for starting it.

The problem isn't the mission. The problem is she can't run it without someone watching her six.

Her best friend is a SpecOps sniper. She could just ask him. Except... she hasn’t spoken to him in three years. She’s been meaning to call him. Honest!

The longer she keeps him in the dark, the easier it is to avoid finding out if she's still the soldier he once knew.

Turns out three years of silence doesn't survive five minutes in a firefight together.

And Zaven always could see straight through her.

Phantom Vengeance is a queer MFM slow burn, one relationship spanning the whole series. A scrappy crew built on banter and bad odds, a love story that refuses to be rushed, and people complicated enough to earn it.

Adventure, banter, and the galaxy's most inconvenient feelings. HFN ending.

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

About the author

S.T. Arsheep was a copywriter (writing fiction only in secret, shhh!) long before trading slinging ink in marketing for wordsmithery in book writing. As an industry veteran with over two decades of experience crafting captivating copy, she brings a masterful command of voice to her evocative prose.

Known as the Slow Burn Queen of gritty speculative fiction, this LGBTQ+ author reigns supreme in creating character-driven, slathered-in-feels sci-fi and fantasy that simmers with delicious tension. She loves pairing grumpy heroes with sassy, self-assured heroines, and savouring every longing glance and accidental touch until you’re screaming “Kiss already!!!” at a book. Expect steamy scenes, witty banter, and happily ever afters that’ll leave you smiling through tears of hard-earned joy.

A Scandinavian descended from Vikings and one Polish horse thief, she’s an autistic elder millennial who loves a sinfully moist tiramisu. When not writing, you can find her at the stables with her kiddo, in the kitchen with her husband, learning a new craft, chaos gardening, dreaming of countryside living, and doing the same thing she does every night; plotting how to take over the world. (No, not really; just how to start an alpaca farm.)

Reviews

[Niamh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the author and Beth from Wings & Words for the advance reader copy of Recruiting Phantom

Another fantastic wee space romp! The slow burn is fekking killing me tho so imma need book 3 please 😩

Love how for such a big and intimidating dude - Zaven is actually kinda awkward and bumbling 😍

I even like Moss (usually hate how Scots are portrayed in books - accents terrible haha) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #freedom

Filled with action, feels and adventure this faced paced wee book is definitely worth picking up!

[T || · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recruiting Phantom by S.T. Arsheep
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book contains themes of violence, gun violence, depression, death, loss, grief, drugs, alcohol, and sexual content.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Zav, Sasha & Kasia. Moss was halerious with a his scottishness too 🤣🤣🤣 I loved all the action and liturally read this in 1 sitting!!!

I definitely have to grab this as a physical copy

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Wings & Words for giving me access to this book.

Thank you to Wings & Words for giving me access to this book.

OMG! I am in love with this series!!!!! I was told it has firefly vibes and it really does. It’s a short book, but jam packed with action and suspense.

I absolutly love all the banter that has been written into the story, Binny (the ships AI) is 100% a main chanracter in my eyes, at some points Binny reminded me of a ship AI from that dr who episode “The Doctor Dances”.

There better be a “fuck it” moment in the next book, the suspense is killing me, I shouted at the book multiple times saying “Just kiss already!!!”

I will be reading the other 2 books ASAP, I have seen that they are much chunkier, and I love me a chunky book that's for sure.

[Emma Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was short and sweet and I loved it! Sasha is fierce which I love in FMC. Zaven I want to know more about. Can’t wait for the next book to see what they will get up to!

[Simplymetaramarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story left me with questions. Not plot wholes, but wanting to know what's next? What caused this? When can I read the next installment? I say installment because both books have a completed story, but opens the doors hinting to another story. There is action, humor, and slow burn tension. I love how the crew interacted with each other. The found family, and the way Zaven and Sasha stumble into learning about their cultures are entertaining, tension creating interactions. Bring on the next Phantom installment!

[Heather Deffley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the series. I enjoyed reading more about Zaven and Sasha and I am enjoying the story line.
I can't wait to read more in the next book.
Definitely worth a read if you're looking for something a little different.

[Amber Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨

Thank you so much to Beth at Wings & Words for sending me an e-arc copy of Recruiting Phantom by S.T.Arsheep.

This book is a short, fun and action packed read! I really liked all of the main characters in the book especially Binny and Sasha! the banter was hilarious! It made me laugh out loud!
I haven’t read a Sci-fi book before and it was a nice introduction to the genre! I will definitely continue reading the series.

[Zia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun Scifi story. It’s well written and easy to follow and I am really enjoying the characters. I will definitely be continuing the series.

[Chloe Downie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ & 0.5 🌶️. Another fantastic shorter story that follows our somewhat chaotic crew, and follows on from the first instalment. We catch up with Draven and Sasha now that they are reunited, and get to know the other characters a bit better. Their tension filled dynamic starts to make more sense with each story we read.

I adored Binny/Bins the ships AI absolutely hilarious at times. I also like all the banter all of our characters share. I’m excited to read the next instalment’s and if these two will ever admit their inner feelings to each other. I think the crew secretly see their struggle too.

I can’t wait for that tension to snap and I hope we get a “fuck it” moment!

I was kindly sent this book from the author and the wings & words community for an opportunity to read and review which I am leaving honestly and voluntarily!

[Cloud · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
ARC Review. A quick fun read, although I think to fully appreciate it I should’ve read the first book too. This story started out explosive and fun, I found th middle part a bit slow an heavy on the dialogue with a bit too much back story. However the last third again was exciting and fun to read. I enjoyed the banter between the crew so will definitely go back to book 1 so I fully appreciate the story before reading the next one.
Thank you to Wings & Words for providing me with a copy of the book. This review was voluntary.

[Denise O · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story picks up from book 1, where Zaven is under attacked but a ghost from his past comes to his rescue. Sasha Barrett was someone he thought he’d never see again it had been three years since he saw her last.

Sasha is now a merc and she recruits Zaven to her team. She feels guilty for the way she left things but she doesn’t want to tell what happened to her and why it took her so long to contact him.

She’s still the same person and when they finally talk Zaven comes to realise how much he missed her and he feels he could have done more to protect her.

And when a mission goes wrong and Sasha’s life is in a danger, he will not lose her again especially just after finding her 💕

Expect:
♡Slow Burn
♡MC’s in their 40’s
♡Grumpy x Sunshine
♡Banter
♡Ex military MC’s
♡Secrets & Lies

I loved reading this story, we learn more about why Zaven was the way he was and I love how even after all the time they were apart, he still can still push Sasha buttons and Sasha to me is someone not to be messed with, even though she sometimes has a habit of act now think later. The dynamic between the crew definitely gives off Firefly vibes, they are like a band of misfits and yes it’s still at a slow burn stage 💕 I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I found myself at the end of Ravaging Phantom, I knew I was in the for long haul with Zaven. Little did I know how hard I’d fall for Sasha “Socks” Barrett. There is a scene between them in this book that haunts me. It lives in my head rent-free and pops up unbidden on a regular basis.

Aside from the character development, there’s action, a revenge mission, and a whooooooole lot of tension. What else could you want?

This author is the absolute MASTER of the slow burn. If you want yearning, pining, absolute longing… you’ve found the right series. Did I scream “KISS ALREADY!!!!” at these characters? Multiple times. Do they? Read and find out.

[Amy Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not expecting this at all.
I read the first one and enjoyed it, but I was not hopeful that the second would be any good.
Boy, was I wrong. The second instalment was fabulous. The humour was perfect. I can't believe how many times I actually sat giggling at the situations presented to the characters.
The sexual tension between the two main characters was great, but it made for some funny moments.

I love Sci-fi, but this is totally different from my usual bag. Thank you for this S.T.Asheep. I cannot wait for the next one.
I received this ARC read from the Wigs and Words community.
The opinions are my own.

[Wings & Words · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 150 pages of wonder. It reminded me so much of Firefly which i loved. This book is part of a series and you are left with a lot of questions. If your someone who needs on page romantic relationships and quickly, this is not for you. It hints but it is a slow slow burn...i need to read the next to see if Sasha can get revenge and if we can find out more about what happened to her. This very much felt like an episode in a series and not a completed movie. Does that make sense?

[Ninosleah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book a mixture of classic sci fi with a really fast paced action storyline but also the deeper back story which slowly starts unfurling through the book absolutely loved how easy it was to read 5***** all the way

[Reign Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The slowest and most delicious of slow burns, but I love how awkward Sasha and Zaven are with each other. The vibes of this sci-fi are impeccable, taking me back to my junior high days of burning through every mass market sci-fi book I could get my hands on. It’s got that wonderful noir bite, while ramping up the thriller edge and the romantic undercurrent.

[J.J. Hynd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Girl, you are killing me with the slow slow burn. I can't cope...

The ship, the crew, THE BINNY!, all amazing. But I need Sasha to stop being an idiot, please.