Monkey's Luck

The Aliya War Universe

by Bonnie Milani

Monkey’s Luck. That’s what the Commonwealth citizens call the kind of hard luck that turns even the good stuff bad. For a not-even-legally-human woman like Kat, it’s the only kind of luck there is. Why else would her regiment be shipped out to an unknown post at the edge of human space in the cargo hold of an old freighter? When a Lupan hunting pack blows out the freighter’s hold, Kat figures her luck has changed. With an old ship and a new identity, she plans to put her bloody past behind her for good. Or so she thinks. The other two a pretty boy slave and a mysterious Lupan officer have different plans. Worse, the rescue team delivers Kat to her worst enemy. Trapped on a base where nothing and no one is what they seem, can she stay alive long enough to outrun her monkey's luck?

Genres: Science Fiction

84 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2017

Reviews

[L.N. Denison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another novella set within the Home World series by Bonnie Milani. The animosity between the Lupan's and Aryan's grows, and in the midst of it comes Kat, Roy and Lupan, Romeo.

Again, the story was told in the first person and from the MC, which in this case was Kat V. Please don't ask me to.spell her surname, it's about 20 letters long. As usual, the writing is quirky and well polished. It flows really well. The dialogue is witty and inspired.

I look forward to reading more within the Home World realm. I recommend this quick, easy read highly.

[Angelique Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Milani is a very talented writer, and this book was nothing short of everything you’d want in book. Interesting characters, fun sci-fi elements, mixed breed people... not to mention plenty of action, a little romance, and even some humor. Everything about this story is likable, simply because of the way the author writes. Her descriptions are intriguing, her characters are the kind that make feel happy, irritated, etc... the kind where it strikes up emotion as you read. Once you pick it up, it’s hard to put down.
This is a fantastic sci-fi/space-opera read. I love it!

[Mary Woldering · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monkey’s Luck starts in the middle of battle and the action never lets go. Author Bonnie Milani writes splendid battle scenes and scenes of smaller group combat that the reader can truly visualize and never skimps on character building. I particularly liked the Sprite class character Roy ‘s dual nature. Most of the characters kept me guessing and wondering how much their altered DNA contributed to their personalities. I usually don’t like first-person point of view, but Milani handled the writing so effectively I didn’t really notice it. It certainly didn’t hinder the flow of the story. For me, this story is 4.5 stars only because it took me quite a few chapters to discover exactly what was going on in the story. I discovered later, after reading other reviews, that this was the third novel in a larger “Homeworld” series. I feel that certain hints might have been placed earlier about the nature of the war, the races involved, and more about the genetics of the characters without writing long backstory.
All in all, it makes me curious enough to read the first two novels in the series.
If you like a fast-paced space opera with characters you’ll grow to love, read all the Homeworld series.

[Leo McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonnie Milani is a smashing writer. If you haven't discovered her before, then really, you have a treat awaiting you. I still say the best place to start to discover the universe she has created is her novel Home World, but Monkey's Luck is a rollicking bit of action to jump into too.
Kat is a wayward refugee, survivor of torture and space marine, caught up in a whole new world of hurt when the spaceship she's serving on gets blasted to hell and pitches her into an uneasy alliance with the ship's only other remaining crew member and a menacing Lupan named Romeo.
Lupans recur regularly in Bonnie's tales - an offshoot of humanity with wolf DNA wrapped in the mix. Both Kat and the other crew member have their own altered DNA cocktails going on, each bringing with it certain behaviour patterns and strengths - or weaknesses.
This is one of the nicest things about this tale - in that, despite rattling on at a fair old pace with explosions aplenty, there's a consideration at the heart of it of what makes us who we are, and what drives us to fight, or to love.
There's romance, betrayal, drama and stakes that grow increasingly higher as the story goes on - all told, my only complaint is that I wish it was longer so we could spend more time with this intriguing trio.

[Shasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast military sci-fi with a dash of romance

The action doesn't stop! The world building is learn as you go. Military intrigue keeps the truth hidden until the end. The romance is sparse but makes the ending work.

Read in KU, MMF
Typos

[Leighton Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book in haste and discovered very quickly that it is a novella, so my biggest criticism of Monkey’s Luck is that it is too short...

This is my first outing in Bonnie Milani’s Home World series, and it is a well crafted piece which starts at a sprint and refuses to slow down until ‘the end’. Was I confused, maybe a little. It is a novella within a larger series of stories and that in mind, some of its story is taken out of context as I had no basis for it. I assume that it is explained in other books.

Did it sour my reading experience? Hells no. This story follows a (space) marine, Kat, who starts her journey leaking oxygen from her armoured EV suit and by a small miracle has not been spaced with the rest of her team. Kat is flawed in some very interesting ways, but what I love about her is how she understands the risks, has believable reservations on dealing with the obstacles thrown at her and then she just goes for it anyway.

Kat is joined by a Lupan (a human/wolf hybrid) named Romeo. I did roll my eyes when he turned up, but he’s actually well crafted too and there is some great humour spawned from their interactions – but I had the biggest belly laugh from the third character and I don’t want to spoil anything here because it’s so bat-sh*t crazy, you wouldn’t believe me anyway and I couldn’t do them justice. Suffice to say, these three are the least likely candidates to lead a story – but they work so well together. But that’s Monkey’s Luck for you.

I would have liked it to have been longer. The story moves at such a pace that you don’t need to stop and admire the trees, or the universe in which the story is based. It left me wanting to know more, which isn’t a bad thing, especially as there are more books in the series...

Thanks Bonnie, which one should I read next?

[Chris Keaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bigger look into the same universe of 'Tales from The Rime'.

As always Bonnie's writing is superb. In a universe were no one is quite human due to genetic manipulations the war between the mostly human and the Lupan human animal warrior caste is coming to an end and that doesn't sit well with some. Kat, the hero of the story is just trying to live under her assumed genetic identity but when Lupans attack the freighter she was traveling on that isn't going to happen. She's faced with her horrid past and hoping for a future. This is a fast paced read, but I struggled with the odd love story sub plot, but that's probably just me. An entertaining Sci-FI

[Don Viecelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Book Review Number 160:

This review is on Monkey’s Luck by Bonnie Milani. This is the first book I have read by this new Sci-Fi author. It is a fast paced, action-packed MSF struggle on a distant world with a heroine protagonist.

The story opens with a space Marine soldier’s nightmare of being sucked out into the black of space with no oxygen left in the tank. The troop transport freighter has been attacked and all troops have been killed except a lone female Marine Sergeant named Katrina Vahrheitsyaeger, of which the last name is Aryan with special meaning. The situation adds up to “Monkey’s Luck”, which refers to unplanned events for mixed breed types regular humans called a Monkey.

The attack comes as a complete shock to the surviving Marine because the war with the Lupans was supposed to be over and the Marines were on their way for routine duty in a DMZ. The Lupans apparently committed horrific crimes against women Marines at a place called Marg Sang. This only outrages Sergeant Vahrheitsyaeger even more, being female and all.

Luckily, the freighter is still intact and Vahrheitsyaeger tries to regain control and head for safety. Unfortunately, a lone Lupan warrior is still onboard and tries to stop her. Vahrheitsyaeger finds a survivor named Roy Bunyasam, a male slave called a SpriteType who actually looks pretty in a dress. Even stranger than this, Lupans are hybrid humans called Dogs, because they are genetically designed for combat, which makes them very deadly and even harder to kill.

The story progresses from surviving on the freighter to finding a distant military outpost in the Aram system filled with troops preparing for an attack on a Lupan base, even though this is not sanctioned by the Commonwealth. Even worse for Katrina, the person in charge is a man named Colonel Herman Kriegsman, who is on Katrina’s kill list for reasons you just have to read to find out why.

The characters in this story are interrelated in past ways that become known as the story unfolds. What seems true to others is found out to be full of lies and untruths. New conspiracies rise to the top to be dealt with in deadly fashion. Katrina is not sure who she can trust anymore. It takes a gritty, hard luck, female Marine with a hidden past like Katrina Vahrheitsyaeger to rise to the top of the pile and bring military justice to those who deserve it.

I give this book Five Stars because the story is action packed from the very beginning to the very end and very entertaining and fast moving. The plot is full of twists and turns with hidden conspiracies and actions. The military settings are colorful and action scenes are well written and thrilling. The characters are original, independent, interrelated by past events and truly out of this world. The first person writing style is witty and full of humor with excellent dialogue and romantic undertones. I only wish the story had been longer. I look forward to reading more books by this exciting, new Sci-Fi author.

Keep reading good science fiction and let me know when you find an interesting novel or author.

[Viking Jam · Rating 1 out of 5]

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2018/01/0...

Publisher: Booksgosocial

Publishing Date: December 2017

ISBN: 9780993242564

Genre: SciFi

Rating: DNF

Publishers Description: Monkey’s Luck. That’s what the Commonwealth citizens call the kind of hard luck that turns even the good stuff bad. For a not-even-legally-human woman like Kat, it’s the only kind of luck there is. Why else would her regiment be shipped out to an unknown post at the edge of human space in the cargo hold of an old freighter?

Review: Let us follow some story line pathways together, and perhaps find a cogent thread from which logic blossoms. (Deep Breath). Ok, Kat is a soldier in a cargo hold with other soldiers whom all die and she is the only survivor. She makes her way on board the main part of the ship to find a lady boy (sprite) with BABY BROWN EYES and a huge sexy Lupin wolf guy, whom she shoots. Good plan, as they are at war with the galactic wolf people. She calls for help, is arrested by a colonel that raped and tortured her in another phenotypical form, he lets her and Lady boy go, and now she is bringing sausage sandwiches to sexy wolf man whom is being tortured with this inner mantra constantly in play….”I must save sexy wolf man and lady boy as soon as possible.”.

So with all the fucks out there to give, why do I give a fuck? Well one reader saved looks good on my karmic record or I have an ego that demands attention. So how has Kat determined that Colonel Klink is evil (besides being a rapist and bumping into him in a huge galaxy) and that she must thwart any plans the military has as it will throw the galaxy into inter-stellar war the likes of which no one has ever seen? Or how she suddenly throws all her training and battle hardness out the door to save a sexy wolf guy and a lady boy with BABY BROWN EYES in lieu of a court martial? Or how a hidden military sister hood resides in a military camp where she is immediately invited into and the women there have fucking wolf mates on planet wolf with little humanoid wolf puppies? They ask her about her DEEP CONNECTION to sexy wolf guy cause he touched her forehead. Really?

Lets take a look at Lady Boy. As you can guess he has BABY BROWN EYES, as it is said over and over and over. He is a slave or claims to be but is a fucking medic that fixes Kat’s broken foot while staring daggers at her the whole time. When no one is looking, there is something deep, dark and hidden within Lady Boy. We get it. Foreshadowing. This little turd should have been dumped or killed real quick but manages to derail and mitigate a story line into crap.

So that’s as far as I got before throwing in the reading towel on this POS. If you can make sense of this novel please tender your fucks in the comments section.

[Brent Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monkey’s Luck is the 3rd Novella set in the Universe of Milani’s Homeworld. She’s a fantastic writer, and the backdrop she has created is so compelling and well-constructed that I’ll read any story set in it. So, I was thrilled to start reading Monkey’s Luck.

Kat’s ship is blown apart by a Lupan attack. She survives, though the ship is lifeless but for a young boy, Roy and a Lupan Kat assumes was responsible. During her investigation and attempt at rescue, many of her assumptions are called into question, forcing her to reassess her prejudices, her orders, and eventually, her own loyalties – if she can survive her unfortunate bout of Moneky’s Luck.

While I tremendously enjoyed this story, I’ll say that the developing love triangle, if you could call it that, was the weakest part of the story. Lupans have an ability to imprint, to connect monogamously, at first touch. This is more fleshed out in her Homeworld novel and other novelettes but may not be clear to readers of just this story. Furthermore, the connection goes awry, leading to some interesting conflicts and discussions of love, emotion, and relationships. This last part I liked as Milani is never one to shy away from delving deep into her characters, but at times, I felt Kat was curious enough by nature to question events without romantic entanglements muddling her motivation.

That said, I’m really grasping at straws here to find any bone to pick, just so I can present a better balanced review. Milani is a first-rate story-teller who can leave you breathless in the space between the pages. The characters are people you care about, are real and fleshed out, and the pacing and action make this a fast read that will leave you looking for more of this Universe. 5 out of 5 stars.

[Mike Horn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wall to wall action!

This story gets going on page 1 and never lets up. Kat, the MC and narrator, is on the verge of death in one scene after another. The author is so good at writing action sequences, I was right there with her the whole time. From deadly spaceship exploMonkey's Lucksions in deep space, to hand-to-hand combat with a too-powerful adversary, to encounters on a supposedly-friendly planet with her implacable enemy.

Three main characters: Kat, a space marine with altered genetic identity that gives her two personas that she’s trying to come to terms with. Romeo, a Lupan with combined human/dog DNA—an enemy to all true humans. And Roy, supposedly a slave, but a trickster with a very hard to define persona. How these three disparate beings come to rely on each other despite pain and antipathy, makes this an excellent story. The most surprising element is the incipient romance among the three. Have to read the next book in the series to see where this goes!

Milani is great with language. She uses terms that are clearly not today’s talk—like gobbing gods and monkey’s luck—but are clearly understandable in context.

Not for hard sci fi purists. But the impossible physics is plausible in sci fi terms. I dislike the term “space opera” but this tale is an exemplar of that type.

The story hangs together even though it’s part of a series. But I highly recommend reading the other books as well.

[Rod Pyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Up front, I'll say that I am a fan of Milani's previous writing, and found "Monkey's Luck" to be the best yet. And, as a fellow author, I'm picky. So there's that to consider. In sum: "Monkey's Luck" is a fun romp with colorful, complex, and interesting characters that I cared about. The good guys have bad traits; the bad guys--most of them--have what they consider to be good intentions. This is a relief from some of the simplistic writing one finds in many newer SF authors.

This is a cracking good read. Others have outlined the plot, so I'll not repeat what has already been well summarized. In brief: "Monkey's Luck" is part space opera (in a very good way), part adventure story (ditto), and part action/thriller. Not easy to put into one volume, but the author has done so with skill and verve. It's a true page-turner, and I don't know of a higher compliment than that.

This book is well worth the price of admission. If you choose to read it, I'll wager that you'll be sufficiently intrigued to read her other work, which I highly recommend. An enthusiastic 5 stars.

[UnusualChild{beppy} · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Synopsis: Kat is in the military, and has changed everything about who she used to be: her looks, her classification. Her natural genetics would have had her classified much lower, as she wouldn't have even been classified as human. Kat hasn't had the best luck, and when the ship that she is on is attacked by Lupans, she knows that her luck is running par for the course, since this was supposed to be a civilian ship. She discovers another survivor on the ship, and they find that one of the Lupans was left on board. Kat tries to kill him, but when he turns out to be still alive, Kat formulates a plan to try and figure out what was really going on for this mission.
When the ship is taken to a battle station that shouldn't be there, Kat knows that her plans for getting help and figuring out what is going on may have hit a snag.

What I liked: Kat. She worked hard and knew her limitations, but worked around them, rather than letting them define her. She always had the best of intentions, and worked with everything that she knew or could find out to figure out the best solution, even if that ended up making things worse. Kat had worked to overcome some pretty horrific things in her past, but she didn't let it define her. I liked that Kat was willing to listen to things, instead of just going by what the majority thought.

What I didn't like: the story felt as though it was rushed, with a lot crammed in to a short amount of story space.

Overall impression: I enjoyed the world building and would definitely like to read more about Kat, Romeo and Roy.

*I received a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Jacqueline Simonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am quickly becoming a real fan of author Bonnie Milani. Her novel, MONKEY’S LUCK, is all the things that you want in a sci-fi story featuring a tough female space-marine: the threat of death in deep space, action, a complex political structure that threatens the known human universe, action, some sexy aliens, action, a complex backstory you really want to know more about, and did I mention ACTION? Throw in a character who is waaaay more interesting than he first appears, a shadowy Sisterhood, and pending inter-species peace talks about to be upended, and you have yourself a can’t-put-it-down read. Get this book and her short “Liquid Gambit.” Like this author and follow her!

[MystiqueLaLynx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Action we got.. maybe too many

This may have spoiliers...
End if war, space military, bad guy has other ideas. Female lead with a past story that is trauma based she had completed her revenge on the trauma but it still effects her now, 2nd is a lady boy slave but with secrets, and the 3rd is enemy made by political propaganda but what is the truth? And who is the real enemy? The synopsis is accurate in the things go from bad to worse though out the book.. a lot of action but also physicsl abuse and swearing .. the story objective is simple but the actions taken to reach the destination is convoluted to the extreme.
Ultimately not my kinda story.

[Kay Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luck or determination?

Was it Monkey’s luck or sheer determination that made sure Kat survived even the worst of war as well as the torture of her own officers? I think she had the will to live no matter what life threw at her. The author covered the blood and gore as well as the torture perfectly without going into too much detail. A wonderful story that plucks at the heart strings!

[R.M. Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read! Although short, this story is exciting, quick-paced, and fun, with enjoyable characters, lots of action, and a touch of romance. There was never a dull moment, and I loved watching the story play out. This is the first book I’ve read by Bonnie Milani, but it certainly won’t be my last!

[Tom · Rating 1 out of 5]

You needed complete knowledge the type of universe that this Novella was written in. I had no knowledge of that setting so it made the book hard to follow. I prefer more space Opera and high-tech information rather than the kind of ground-based setting and the storyline that was in this book. If I could sum it up in a small phrase it would be, " you had to be there".

[Zuzana899 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am confused. I am not sure how to rate this book. The plot was interesting, But the romance in it was so unbelievable and .... well, it wasn’t romance at all. It was just so weird. I didn’t feel any emotions from the characters, so why did they end together I have no idea..

2 stars.

[Cathie Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

A few places spell check made wrong but it's so fast paced you barely notice. Great characters you find yourself rooting for. All with a mostly happy ending! Highly recommend to read, even if WiFi isn't your gig!

[Yvette Bostic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy read. The story drew me in, and I never felt lost or confused. The characters are well developed and the main character is easy to relate to. I was thoroughly entertained!

[Jim Garrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot chick gos for the dogs!

Lots of action, genetic tweaking and a quest to zap the bad guy.The book is a fun read and well worth it's price. Read it sparky!

[Sherry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m often wary of self-published books, because they can have significant problems. However, sometimes the description of the story sounds interesting enough that I’ll give one a try, which was the case with Monkey’s Luck. Now that I’ve finished it, I’m kind of conflicted about how to rate it.

The basic idea of the story is a good one. Our narrator, Kat, a Marine for an interstellar government, survives an attack on the spaceship carrying her unit. She finds two other survivors—Roy, a lady boy pleasure slave, and a Lupan, a soldier modified with animal DNA; the Lupans were the enemy in a recent conflict that is currently the subject of peace talks. This odd trio find themselves caught up in a conspiracy and having to work together to save themselves and stop a war.

I liked other things about the book, too. The opening scene really grabbed my attention and made me want to read more. I liked Kat’s voice—she’s not too smart, but she’s tough, she has a sense of humor, and her heart is generally in the right place. She’s also got an interesting backstory. Individual scenes throughout the book were well-written, particularly the action toward the end of the story.

BUT. The book also had significant problems. Some of them had to do with worldbuilding. For example, there are human women, soldiers, who are married to Lupans and have children with them. How and why are they fighting on opposite sides in the current war? It’s never explained. Another source of problems had to do with providing sufficient motivation for the characters to do what they do. Kat is attracted to the Lupan, but she doesn’t like Roy, and yet she decides she needs to save them both. Then she seems to want to cut Roy loose, then she wants to save him again, because . . . reasons. I don’t know. The author tries to introduce a romantic element by creating some sort of mating bond between Kat and the Lupan, which would justify her saving him, I suppose. But the bond is flawed, yet she still wants to save him, because he’s the first man she’s liked the looks of in a while? It wasn’t convincing as either motivation or a romance. (I will admit, though, that I liked where the “romance” ended up, even if it was a rocky road to get to that point.)

Normally, those kinds of problems would irritate me to the point that I might not even finish a novel, and yet, I didn’t want to stop reading, so . . . I’m conflicted. If the author expanded the length of the story to allow for more worldbuilding and for more development of the relationships between the characters, I think some of the major problems could be fixed. Her writing has its good points, but what she needs is a strong editor or some really tough critique partners who can help her smooth out the rough spots.

Read at your own risk, I guess.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

[Claire Fun · Rating 2 out of 5]

A weird one, this. Lots of sci-fi terms, lots of plot /world building that was clearly explained elsewhere (I've not read any others by this author), a tough kick-ass lead character with background trauma and flaws, a manly handsome wolf-man, a sex slave who we're supposed to like then not like then like then not like. A group of soldiers all married to the enemy, and a sudden romance plot despite their being no apparent reason for it other than 'the nearest man / woman at the time'. It wasn't terrible and was certainly very short, I was just expecting to know what was going on a bit more. Maybe much better if you've read other books set in this world.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.