The Queen's Spawn

by Nick Snape

The Butcher hunts for a secret … but which one?

'This series is filled with well-rounded three-dimensional characters, found family, sentient aliens from benevolent to terrifying, believable science and tech, space battles, action, devious schemes, and the return of a truly ominous artificial intelligence,' TK Toppin, Scifi author of Bis Rose and The Dark Without.

With the Wrecking Squad seeking refuge on the rundown space station Benetai from the machinations of the Empire, fear of the Butcher sweeps the Emperor’s Court. Commanding a vulnerable navy and sceptical officers, Countess Segfi begins the hunt for the human/AI hybrid, risking everything as she attacks Daphene, where he first emerged as a threat.

But the Butcher shows his hand elsewhere, attempting to take Scarva’s ship and uncover the secrets of Senti FTL. Desperate, Scarva calls upon Benetai for help, only for Rebekah and her crew to respond as they recognise the AI’s hand and dread what he might have stolen, and where he is headed next.

Drawn back into the fight, the Wrecking Squad are forced to hunt for an alien Queen’s spawn that may well be the key to Almaar’s future.

But the Butcher has other plans, and piece by piece, prepares for a war like no other.

Where The Expanse and Firefly meet, The Queen’s Spawn launches the second cycle of The Wrecking Squad series as humanity fights for its future.

Praise for the
“It's all here, from the Firefly wisecracking, broken crew and the fatally weaponised mind, to the claustrophobic terror ship of Alien. "
“Fast-paced and action-packed…”
"The prose is sharp, the dialogue witty, the characters likeable and relatable, and the story oozing with layers of intrigue, secrets and revelations."
"You don’t want to miss this series."
"Snape is a masterful storyteller, who has created a believable universe with a rich backstory of war, political intrigue and a historic cast of characters."

449 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2025

About the author

Nick Snape has been steeped in Science Fiction and Fantasy since his friends first dragged him from his schoolwork and stuck a book under his nose. Lost to the world of imagination he became a teacher by accident though he thoroughly enjoyed developing the joy of reading and writing in his pupils. Having retired after thirty years he thought it was high time to practise what he preached.

Reviews

[Meenaz Lodhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! As always, Nick Snape has managed to engage an extraordinary world building with a magnificent characters’ in-depth. Chapeau, Nick.

.

[Jeanette Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy they are back!
Everyone aboard the Sunstar. How that thing is still in one piece and still... flying is beyond me, but I do not care! I am just happy they are here. 😁

🔹️
"Bloody logical warbots."
🔹️

I find myself smiling when I read their names again. I know I am in for a great read, just like the previous three books, and opening the book, I can barely wait.

Let's see, we are in hiding, but that will not last for long.
The Butcher is back, well, he never left, did he really? He is as powerful as ever, and our team gets roped into more trouble, or should I say they find more trouble?😂

I have missed our chosen family, and I am even warming up to our symbiotes.

It does not take long until we have galactic amounts of action, all at risk, then when the quiet break settles, I let out the breathI did not know I was holding... the suspense creeps in.

🔹️
"Our glorious leader, the alien sitter."
🔹️

War is coming between humans and machines.
Can the Senti bring hope?

I am worried, though.
What is up with Erikson?
Why are the symbiotes acting weird?
And am I the only one wanting to send all my credits for dessert for the twins?

🔹️

Because

Nobody breaks a breaker

And

I am crew.

[CHARLES WALKER BOWSER · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's obvious body horror os this authors kink. Every novel has an aspect of mutated humans attacking the heroes in some way.

While thst is certainly formulated. is not horrible.

It just could he better

Like a lot of gimmick military science fiction it's full of quips and snark, but it does have a pretty impress8ve ...of at times forced.....dramatic element that gives it enough depth to be readable.

[Gloria C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book of the second TWS trilogy and I’m in the saddle ready to ride this series to the end. With the alien Senti drawn into the struggle with the Butcher AI, the crew are dragged into recovering…ah, that’d be telling. Let’s say Rebekah and her crew may well be the bridge between the Senti and the Empire. It’s a rollercoaster, and dragged me back on board the Sunstar, hard burn engaged! Started Bk5 already, that should be enough of a hint!

[T.K. Toppin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each time I read a book by Nick Snape, I expect an adrenaline rush after the next. The Queen's Spawn did not disappoint. The Butcher returns, the malevolent AI intent on taking over the universe, and it has seized a precious item. We see some new players as well, the intriguing Senti, who have tasked the crew of the Sunstar to retrieve the stolen spawn of one of their queens. The crew must once more step up to the plate and battle the impossible odds. Having read three books with the same characters, it was like revisiting old friends, becoming invested in their story, and learning more about them as they evolve individually, and as a unit. Nick Snape once again shows his devious and crafty talent of weaving a tale riddled with action and suspense and tangled effortlessly with politics and schemes. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next instalment in the series, Emperor's Fall.