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Jitterbug
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Expected 3 Mar 26In this twisty and action-packed adventure from the BSFA award-winning author of Descendant Machine and Future's Edge, a crew of bounty hunters find themselves ensnared in a conspiracy on the very fringes of the devastated solar system. Perfect for fans of James S. A. Corey and Adrian Tchaikovsky.
"On Earth, they depicted justice as blindfolded and impartial, but out here on the frontier, she was red in tooth and claw."
Jupiter and Saturn are gone, and a mysterious force has built a huge habitable sphere from their ashes. When criminals try to lose themselves on this new frontier, bounty hunters like Copernicus Brown and the crew of his sentient ship Jitterbug get paid to hunt them down. But when Brown rescues Amber Roth, sole survivor of a pirate attack, the Jitterbug and her crew find themselves the target of powerful political factions who want control of the data chip hidden in Roth's stomach.
And all the while, something vast and ancient creeps towards them from the depths of space…
"On Earth, they depicted justice as blindfolded and impartial, but out here on the frontier, she was red in tooth and claw."
Jupiter and Saturn are gone, and a mysterious force has built a huge habitable sphere from their ashes. When criminals try to lose themselves on this new frontier, bounty hunters like Copernicus Brown and the crew of his sentient ship Jitterbug get paid to hunt them down. But when Brown rescues Amber Roth, sole survivor of a pirate attack, the Jitterbug and her crew find themselves the target of powerful political factions who want control of the data chip hidden in Roth's stomach.
And all the while, something vast and ancient creeps towards them from the depths of space…
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
3 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 22, 2025
Bounty hunters, space pirates, conspiracies, an unknowable force … what a great standalone sci fi!
I loved the way this was set up, it felt very accessible and easy to get into. The idea of this new frontier and how it came about was really cool. It’s humanity taking baby steps into space exploration, the need for space allowing people to colonising the new edges. Cue space travel in the inner planets and a new frontier filled with pirates and government bounty hunters.
The crew were quirky and fun, Copernicus is just doing his best for his crew and his ship and he’s a good person at heart - which is why he ends up embroiled in a conspiracy, hunted and tasked with the impossible. Plus Jitterbug was a fantastic character - a sentient spaceship with a parrot avatar?! Say less. She even got her own pov chapters so she really can to life on the page and was an essential part of the team.
The other characters were complimentary and there were some high emotion moments when things got heated. (If you’ve read the Expanse, then one of them was very Avasarala coded!)
The story was a fast paced, action filled story that had me speeding through it. I loved how it all unfolded and the ending! I wasn’t expecting how intense and cool it was going to be but I loved it. It linked everything together really well and left the story feeling hopeful and exciting.
It did have a very tiny romance subplot which I’m hesitant to even call it that. It just sort of happened and that was it? Very abrupt and honestly I kind of just ignored it and it made no difference to my reading experience but it’s worth noting.
This book was an enjoyable fast paced read with some interesting sci fi plot. It’s not a grand epic that transcends the stars, it’s short, it’s fun, it’s almost cosy in the way it left me feeling but with some good battles thrown in. It’s you’re looking for a quick sci fi hit that you can get into straight away then this is a good choice!
I loved the way this was set up, it felt very accessible and easy to get into. The idea of this new frontier and how it came about was really cool. It’s humanity taking baby steps into space exploration, the need for space allowing people to colonising the new edges. Cue space travel in the inner planets and a new frontier filled with pirates and government bounty hunters.
The crew were quirky and fun, Copernicus is just doing his best for his crew and his ship and he’s a good person at heart - which is why he ends up embroiled in a conspiracy, hunted and tasked with the impossible. Plus Jitterbug was a fantastic character - a sentient spaceship with a parrot avatar?! Say less. She even got her own pov chapters so she really can to life on the page and was an essential part of the team.
The other characters were complimentary and there were some high emotion moments when things got heated. (If you’ve read the Expanse, then one of them was very Avasarala coded!)
The story was a fast paced, action filled story that had me speeding through it. I loved how it all unfolded and the ending! I wasn’t expecting how intense and cool it was going to be but I loved it. It linked everything together really well and left the story feeling hopeful and exciting.
It did have a very tiny romance subplot which I’m hesitant to even call it that. It just sort of happened and that was it? Very abrupt and honestly I kind of just ignored it and it made no difference to my reading experience but it’s worth noting.
This book was an enjoyable fast paced read with some interesting sci fi plot. It’s not a grand epic that transcends the stars, it’s short, it’s fun, it’s almost cosy in the way it left me feeling but with some good battles thrown in. It’s you’re looking for a quick sci fi hit that you can get into straight away then this is a good choice!
January 3, 2026
I like a book where the main character has to say “Recalibrate our course, we need to intercept those incoming missiles or they’ll hit the aliens!” (*not an exact quote, but you get the idea). So, I liked this book.
Two space pirates, a space politician, and a space crew gang up together for a heist-first contact-ish adventure. This is familiar enough, but I was taken in by the landscape—several planets disintegrate, and then a ginormous hollow sphere encloses the remaining solar system, split into segments that have gaps between them and are inhabitable on the interior planes. Neat!
As I’m reflecting, I frankly wasn’t super invested in the plot or (weak) character development, but the visual descriptions were excellent and allowed me to sit back and enjoy the book version a great action movie.
Thanks NetGalley and Titan Books for the advance!
Two space pirates, a space politician, and a space crew gang up together for a heist-first contact-ish adventure. This is familiar enough, but I was taken in by the landscape—several planets disintegrate, and then a ginormous hollow sphere encloses the remaining solar system, split into segments that have gaps between them and are inhabitable on the interior planes. Neat!
As I’m reflecting, I frankly wasn’t super invested in the plot or (weak) character development, but the visual descriptions were excellent and allowed me to sit back and enjoy the book version a great action movie.
Thanks NetGalley and Titan Books for the advance!
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November 7, 2025A big thank you to the publisher for an ARC of the book!
JITTERBUG is a thrilling journey filled with witty banter, unlikely allies and friendships, secrets and sacrifices, and found family, exploring the cyclical nature of both history and the future, and the way our fates are often shaped not just by choice but also by luck and coincidence.
JITTERBUG is a thrilling journey filled with witty banter, unlikely allies and friendships, secrets and sacrifices, and found family, exploring the cyclical nature of both history and the future, and the way our fates are often shaped not just by choice but also by luck and coincidence.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Titan Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Jitterbug follows Copernicus, a bounty hunter, and his crew. When they rescue Amber, the sole survivor of a pirate attack, they find themselves targeted by powerful political factions who want control of a data chip Amber has stolen.
Jitterbug hooked me from the first page. The prologue is horrifying in the best way as we watch the complete destruction of a planet, not even the first one, and the repercussions this means for Earth. Cut to the story many years into the future, where we now follow Copernicus and his crew aboard the Jitterbug. This was such a jump in tone and I loved it.
These are people that have lived with the new normal for so long that there's no immediate threat anymore. I found myself completely wrapped up with them, already forgetting how I felt in the prologue—I was along for the ride and enjoying every second. This was already shaping up to be a 5-star book for me, I was having so much fun. And just like that, the tone shifts again so effortlessly and Jitterbug cements itself as something so much more profound than I was expecting.
This is a story where every character matters, each person meticulously crafted and unique in their own way. There are multiple POVs throughout and they work so well, I was enraptured by each one. I especially loved that we had chapters from the Jitterbug, it was great to bounce between humans that we can relate to as a reader and the ship itself that is such a vital part of this story.
I also really enjoyed the message boards in between chapters—some made me laugh a lot, and they were a great reminder of the life that was still happening outside this tiny world I was wrapped up in.
This is not just a space opera, this is a story about humanity's sense of prevail against the backdrop of a devastated solar system.
Tropes and Themes:
Space Opera
Multiple POV
Sentient spaceship (that communicates via synthetic parrot!)
TWs:
Death of parents (referenced)
Jitterbug follows Copernicus, a bounty hunter, and his crew. When they rescue Amber, the sole survivor of a pirate attack, they find themselves targeted by powerful political factions who want control of a data chip Amber has stolen.
"I want to tell you a story. I want to tell you how it all began..."
Jitterbug hooked me from the first page. The prologue is horrifying in the best way as we watch the complete destruction of a planet, not even the first one, and the repercussions this means for Earth. Cut to the story many years into the future, where we now follow Copernicus and his crew aboard the Jitterbug. This was such a jump in tone and I loved it.
These are people that have lived with the new normal for so long that there's no immediate threat anymore. I found myself completely wrapped up with them, already forgetting how I felt in the prologue—I was along for the ride and enjoying every second. This was already shaping up to be a 5-star book for me, I was having so much fun. And just like that, the tone shifts again so effortlessly and Jitterbug cements itself as something so much more profound than I was expecting.
"We had a scant handful of years in this universe, and time was our most precious commodity. To rob anyone of even a second of life was a crime of cosmic proportions."
This is a story where every character matters, each person meticulously crafted and unique in their own way. There are multiple POVs throughout and they work so well, I was enraptured by each one. I especially loved that we had chapters from the Jitterbug, it was great to bounce between humans that we can relate to as a reader and the ship itself that is such a vital part of this story.
I also really enjoyed the message boards in between chapters—some made me laugh a lot, and they were a great reminder of the life that was still happening outside this tiny world I was wrapped up in.
"Some mysteries are too large to be solved in a single human lifetime. Compared to the Sun, the planets, and the stars, we are ridiculously fragile and short-lived."
This is not just a space opera, this is a story about humanity's sense of prevail against the backdrop of a devastated solar system.
Tropes and Themes:
Space Opera
Multiple POV
Sentient spaceship (that communicates via synthetic parrot!)
TWs:
Death of parents (referenced)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gareth L. Powell's Jitterbug is a science fiction adventure novel that is as exciting as it is mysterious.
Years before the story begins, the gas giants of our solar system were destroyed. In their place a giant megastructure was built, surrounding all remaining planets with new and habitable space: The Swirl. Within this new world of space colonisation, piracy and bounty hunting, everyone is out for their own piece.
The protagonist of the story is Copernicus Brown, a space bounty hunter who travels the solar system with his crew aboard Jitterbug, their sentient ship. After another successful bounty, the crew encounters the remains of a pirate attack. They rescue its sole survivor - Amber Roth - and are then swept up into a dangerous adventure involving the solar government, pirates, and cosmic forces beyond the stars.
What I totally loved about Jitterbug was the breakneck pace at which the story reveals itself. Dangers are immediately placed upon the core crew, and right from the get-go Powell writes this daring adventure across the solar system as a thrilling race against time. It's the purest definition of a page turner, with a story that's always asking questions and pulling the rug out. Within a short amount of time we come to love the cast of characters, most surprisingly the ship itself! The novel switches perspectives with each new chapter, and I was pleasantly surprised to see multiple chapters from the Jitterbug's point-of-view. It's such a unique viewpoint which gives the story so much personality.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone with a love of science fiction, and even those who are new to the genre. The sci-fi elements are treated with the necessary seriousness required of the story, but the brisk pace and lovably blunt characters mean it's more than an exercise in world-building.
I found the story so captivating, as it brilliantly draws from that feeling of staring up into the sky and wondering what the future holds. The story is always leaning forward with you, wondering "what's out there?"
To say anything more would be giving away the mystery, so you'll have to read it to find out!
The book releases on the 3rd of March this year, definitely check it out when it drops!
Many thanks to Gareth L. Powell and the team at Titan Books for providing a digital review copy of this one in exchange for a sincere review!
Years before the story begins, the gas giants of our solar system were destroyed. In their place a giant megastructure was built, surrounding all remaining planets with new and habitable space: The Swirl. Within this new world of space colonisation, piracy and bounty hunting, everyone is out for their own piece.
The protagonist of the story is Copernicus Brown, a space bounty hunter who travels the solar system with his crew aboard Jitterbug, their sentient ship. After another successful bounty, the crew encounters the remains of a pirate attack. They rescue its sole survivor - Amber Roth - and are then swept up into a dangerous adventure involving the solar government, pirates, and cosmic forces beyond the stars.
What I totally loved about Jitterbug was the breakneck pace at which the story reveals itself. Dangers are immediately placed upon the core crew, and right from the get-go Powell writes this daring adventure across the solar system as a thrilling race against time. It's the purest definition of a page turner, with a story that's always asking questions and pulling the rug out. Within a short amount of time we come to love the cast of characters, most surprisingly the ship itself! The novel switches perspectives with each new chapter, and I was pleasantly surprised to see multiple chapters from the Jitterbug's point-of-view. It's such a unique viewpoint which gives the story so much personality.
I'd highly recommend this book to anyone with a love of science fiction, and even those who are new to the genre. The sci-fi elements are treated with the necessary seriousness required of the story, but the brisk pace and lovably blunt characters mean it's more than an exercise in world-building.
I found the story so captivating, as it brilliantly draws from that feeling of staring up into the sky and wondering what the future holds. The story is always leaning forward with you, wondering "what's out there?"
To say anything more would be giving away the mystery, so you'll have to read it to find out!
The book releases on the 3rd of March this year, definitely check it out when it drops!
Many thanks to Gareth L. Powell and the team at Titan Books for providing a digital review copy of this one in exchange for a sincere review!
January 2, 2026
A fast-paced, sci-fi adventure with a compelling ‘what-if’ premise. I read an eARC of this book on NetGalley so thank you to the author and the publisher.
This was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I really like sci-fi where it explores a what-if premise in this style. This novel is pacy, it’s not particularly long. It doesn’t go into heaps of incidental detail. It posits a premise and then looks at how the characters react to it. In this book, the gas giants have been disassembled and been made into segments in the asteroid belt that could perfectly encircle the sun if they were to come together. We follow the crew of the ship Jitterbug (and the ship’s consciousness itself). They find themselves entangled in an escalating situation whilst on a bounty hunting mission. They’re having to react quickly as they become enmeshed in dangerous plans and different parties vying for control of something influential.
I liked the small cast of characters here. We follow the crew of the Jitterbug, Jitterbug themselves and additional political figures. This kept the story feeling really tight as we see the impact of what’s happening on these people trying to react in the moment. Additional context is provided from little news alerts at the end of each chapter. This was really effective and worked to bring up new thoughts and information without too much incidental detail.
My only issue with this book was the romance. I understood why it was necessary for the story but it happened way too fast and involved a character who I had very little trust for. I needed more depth on this character’s rehabilitation to stop this feeling odd. Other than that, this was a fantastic, entertaining and tense read.
This was an entertaining and enjoyable read. I really like sci-fi where it explores a what-if premise in this style. This novel is pacy, it’s not particularly long. It doesn’t go into heaps of incidental detail. It posits a premise and then looks at how the characters react to it. In this book, the gas giants have been disassembled and been made into segments in the asteroid belt that could perfectly encircle the sun if they were to come together. We follow the crew of the ship Jitterbug (and the ship’s consciousness itself). They find themselves entangled in an escalating situation whilst on a bounty hunting mission. They’re having to react quickly as they become enmeshed in dangerous plans and different parties vying for control of something influential.
I liked the small cast of characters here. We follow the crew of the Jitterbug, Jitterbug themselves and additional political figures. This kept the story feeling really tight as we see the impact of what’s happening on these people trying to react in the moment. Additional context is provided from little news alerts at the end of each chapter. This was really effective and worked to bring up new thoughts and information without too much incidental detail.
My only issue with this book was the romance. I understood why it was necessary for the story but it happened way too fast and involved a character who I had very little trust for. I needed more depth on this character’s rehabilitation to stop this feeling odd. Other than that, this was a fantastic, entertaining and tense read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A ship of bounty hunters is ensnared in a solar-system-wide conspiracy, while even bigger problems loom on the horizon. (the problems = also a metaphor for my enjoyment.)
The blurb was easily enough to persuade me to pick this up, but unfortunately it didn't land for me. The tone is generally light, but there's a detailed description of a dead body that any grimdark author would be proud of (and that I wish an editor had red-penned). The world-building is rather shallow -- huge changes to our solar system & tech levels have had relatively little impact on human culture. The characterisation is enough to bounce the plot along but not enough to feel that there's weight to anyone's actions or relationships. In particular, [spoiler]
Recommended to fans of of the author still, but otherwise, if you tend to like what I like: from the blurb's author comps, hang on for book 4 of Children of Time in March, or book 2 of Captive's War in April.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
The blurb was easily enough to persuade me to pick this up, but unfortunately it didn't land for me. The tone is generally light, but there's a detailed description of a dead body that any grimdark author would be proud of (and that I wish an editor had red-penned). The world-building is rather shallow -- huge changes to our solar system & tech levels have had relatively little impact on human culture. The characterisation is enough to bounce the plot along but not enough to feel that there's weight to anyone's actions or relationships. In particular, [spoiler]
Recommended to fans of of the author still, but otherwise, if you tend to like what I like: from the blurb's author comps, hang on for book 4 of Children of Time in March, or book 2 of Captive's War in April.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you liked the show Firefly I think you’d really like this, very similar in vibes and tone. This is a great entry level sci fi if you’re intimidated by big space operas; not because it’s simple or anything but it’s very digestible.
This is actually fairly short for a typical sci fi but it really utilizes all those pages. Multi POV (one of course is the spaceship lol), well explained science that doesn’t feel boring or stale and the plot kept moving very well. I liked the cast of characters and I think the world building was solid. Very witty and heartfelt with a solid plot. Would definitely recommend.
This has a satisfying conclusion but of course this crew could probably see some new adventures at some point, should the author allow.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.
This is actually fairly short for a typical sci fi but it really utilizes all those pages. Multi POV (one of course is the spaceship lol), well explained science that doesn’t feel boring or stale and the plot kept moving very well. I liked the cast of characters and I think the world building was solid. Very witty and heartfelt with a solid plot. Would definitely recommend.
This has a satisfying conclusion but of course this crew could probably see some new adventures at some point, should the author allow.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author/publisher for an early copy of this book in exhange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Jitterbug comes out swinging and never slows down. It’s loud, chaotic, and unmistakably Guardians-of-the-Galaxy coded, packed with bounty hunters, pirates, terrible decisions, and a solar-system-sized problem. The short chapters and rapid POV handoffs keep the pace tight and kinetic, and the book smartly refuses to overexplain itself.
This isn’t a book trying to be profound - it’s here to entertain, and it succeeds, with twists that land cleanly and feel cinematic. My only real knock is the rushed ending, though it stays true to the tight, fast-moving narrative the book establishes early on. This is highly digestible sci-fi with an almost cozy vibe - if your idea of cozy includes galactic chaos and imminent doom.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher - Titan Books, and the author - Gareth L. Powell for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This isn’t a book trying to be profound - it’s here to entertain, and it succeeds, with twists that land cleanly and feel cinematic. My only real knock is the rushed ending, though it stays true to the tight, fast-moving narrative the book establishes early on. This is highly digestible sci-fi with an almost cozy vibe - if your idea of cozy includes galactic chaos and imminent doom.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher - Titan Books, and the author - Gareth L. Powell for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2026
Good book and I definitely didn’t expect the last plot twist!
I think I struggled to adapt to the pacing - long inner Sci-Fi monologues coupled with a fast-paced storyline (this is a short standalone after all) and relationships developments that are a bit too rushed/off. I was expecting to meet crazy/ballsy ++ characters and to have my jaw dropped on the floor a few times… but I didn’t.
This is still a good standalone with lots of mysteries and an intriguing quest!
I think I struggled to adapt to the pacing - long inner Sci-Fi monologues coupled with a fast-paced storyline (this is a short standalone after all) and relationships developments that are a bit too rushed/off. I was expecting to meet crazy/ballsy ++ characters and to have my jaw dropped on the floor a few times… but I didn’t.
This is still a good standalone with lots of mysteries and an intriguing quest!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Yes yes yes…. I am new to this author and I so enjoyed this novel. Space, and an awesome cast of characters. A great plot and mind bending …. Thank you so much to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.
December 11, 2025
fun and fantastic scifi book with some awesome plotting and impeccable vibes. would recommend this one. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.
January 4, 2026
As ever this is a fast-paced and entertaining read from Gareth L Powell. You’re not going to get dense and allusive literary works from him (yet), but straightforward action SF that somehow unlocks the part of me that was once thirteen and reading every SF book in the local library, soaking up this exciting new world. He has an eye for space battles and giant alien objects that is frankly delightful, and to be able to rekindle that sense of wonder in a grizzled mid-50s grump is no small achievement. A caveat though - some elements of his novels risk becoming stale at this point. I wouldn’t mind if he gave the ragtag crews and sentient spaceships a rest for a couple of books. In isolation though this is a lot of fun, and yes I did spot the mandatory Aliens quote.
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