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Pretty Boy
For fans of John Scalzi, Jack Campbell, and character-driven military science fiction where the cost of war is measured in more than casualties.
Some pilots are born. Some are forged in fire. Logan Gilbert is both.
Navigator Logan Gilbert is two weeks from earning his pilot’s wings when a sabotaged ejection seat forces an impossible choice. He saves his partner’s life — and loses his right arm, his face, and nearly everything else in the fire that follows.
Burned beyond recognition, the doctors piece him back together with an experimental brain patch. It keeps his heart beating and accelerates his recovery. But it also does something it lets him fly a spacecraft with his mind.
The military revokes his pilot slot anyway.
As humanity’s war against the alien Lithics collapses on every front, Logan is handed the controls of the Sled, the most dangerous weapon ever built. A fighter that doesn't just respond to its pilot. It thinks with him. Fights with him. And slowly, mission by mission, burns through him like a fuse.
Each flight costs him something he can't get back. A memory. A name. A face he used to know.
The surgeon who rebuilt him, who fell in love with him, married him, and keeps stitching him back together, watches it happen in real time, powerless to stop a man who would rather die flying than live grounded.
He survived fire and sacrifice once. The question isn't whether he'll face them again. It's how much of him will be left when it's over.
Some pilots are born. Some are forged in fire. Logan Gilbert is both.
Navigator Logan Gilbert is two weeks from earning his pilot’s wings when a sabotaged ejection seat forces an impossible choice. He saves his partner’s life — and loses his right arm, his face, and nearly everything else in the fire that follows.
Burned beyond recognition, the doctors piece him back together with an experimental brain patch. It keeps his heart beating and accelerates his recovery. But it also does something it lets him fly a spacecraft with his mind.
The military revokes his pilot slot anyway.
As humanity’s war against the alien Lithics collapses on every front, Logan is handed the controls of the Sled, the most dangerous weapon ever built. A fighter that doesn't just respond to its pilot. It thinks with him. Fights with him. And slowly, mission by mission, burns through him like a fuse.
Each flight costs him something he can't get back. A memory. A name. A face he used to know.
The surgeon who rebuilt him, who fell in love with him, married him, and keeps stitching him back together, watches it happen in real time, powerless to stop a man who would rather die flying than live grounded.
He survived fire and sacrifice once. The question isn't whether he'll face them again. It's how much of him will be left when it's over.
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy
This was, without a doubt, one of the best ARC novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. From start to finish, the story pulled me in and never let go.
The character development was exceptional—each character felt real, layered, and purposeful. Watching them grow and evolve throughout the story was one of the strongest aspects of the book, and it made the stakes feel even more personal and engaging.
The author’s style reminded me of writers like Ryk Brown, J.N. Chaney, and Terry Maggert—blending strong storytelling, immersive world-building, and compelling pacing. If you enjoy that style of sci-fi or military/space opera storytelling, this book will absolutely hit the mark.
One of the most unique and enjoyable elements was the use of random media releases woven into the narrative. These added depth to the world and carried subtle underlying propaganda themes that loosely reminded me of Starship Troopers. It was a clever touch that made the universe feel more alive and believable.
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations in every way. Strong characters, engaging storytelling, and creative world-building make it an easy 5-star recommendation. I’m genuinely excited to see what comes next from this author.
I will say I like the book cover with the ship better.
The character development was exceptional—each character felt real, layered, and purposeful. Watching them grow and evolve throughout the story was one of the strongest aspects of the book, and it made the stakes feel even more personal and engaging.
The author’s style reminded me of writers like Ryk Brown, J.N. Chaney, and Terry Maggert—blending strong storytelling, immersive world-building, and compelling pacing. If you enjoy that style of sci-fi or military/space opera storytelling, this book will absolutely hit the mark.
One of the most unique and enjoyable elements was the use of random media releases woven into the narrative. These added depth to the world and carried subtle underlying propaganda themes that loosely reminded me of Starship Troopers. It was a clever touch that made the universe feel more alive and believable.
Overall, this book exceeded my expectations in every way. Strong characters, engaging storytelling, and creative world-building make it an easy 5-star recommendation. I’m genuinely excited to see what comes next from this author.
I will say I like the book cover with the ship better.
April 27, 2026
This is such a great read
The depth of technical and physiological detail put the icing on the cake that makes this novel such a great and compelling story.
Well done to the Williams bunch.
I now want to sit down and read it again.
The depth of technical and physiological detail put the icing on the cake that makes this novel such a great and compelling story.
Well done to the Williams bunch.
I now want to sit down and read it again.
May 12, 2026
My kind of military space opera!
Could not put it down. Fantastic!
I sincerely hope that there will be a sequel. Perhaps where the enemy background is explained more
Could not put it down. Fantastic!
I sincerely hope that there will be a sequel. Perhaps where the enemy background is explained more
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews