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Black Flag #1
Safe Passage
Go big or go home.
For privateer Captain Magdalene Landon, it's all about going big. For Kay Ellis, it's about getting home. Together, they're about to architect the most daring heist in the galaxy.
Kay knows too much. She knows it’s a matter of time before a Conglomerate hitman finds her. She’s desperate for safe passage back to Union space. Then Magdalene shows up, promising a way home in exchange for that information. It’s a risky bet, but Kay is out of options. So she strikes a the heist of the century for her freedom.
Kay is playing a dangerous game, and she knows it. She’s made herself Enemy Number One of the Conglomerate. She’s relying on privateers for her safety. It’s a fool’s game. But the worst part is, her fool’s heart is starting to warm to the enigmatic captain. And that’s a risk for which she hadn’t planned.(Cover by May Dawney Designs)
For privateer Captain Magdalene Landon, it's all about going big. For Kay Ellis, it's about getting home. Together, they're about to architect the most daring heist in the galaxy.
Kay knows too much. She knows it’s a matter of time before a Conglomerate hitman finds her. She’s desperate for safe passage back to Union space. Then Magdalene shows up, promising a way home in exchange for that information. It’s a risky bet, but Kay is out of options. So she strikes a the heist of the century for her freedom.
Kay is playing a dangerous game, and she knows it. She’s made herself Enemy Number One of the Conglomerate. She’s relying on privateers for her safety. It’s a fool’s game. But the worst part is, her fool’s heart is starting to warm to the enigmatic captain. And that’s a risk for which she hadn’t planned.(Cover by May Dawney Designs)
337 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2019
144 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Ford
74 books126 followersRachel Ford lives in beautiful Central Wisconsin. She is a programmer, who works in everything from SQL to .NET to Cisco CVP and IVR. Her latest foray into new and exciting things has been developing custom Java plugins for CVP applications.
Rachel also enjoys recreating historically authentic jewelry, and mixing historical recreations with fantasy elements to create exciting new pieces.
When not designing jewelry or tinkering with computers, Rachel spends her time writing and reading science fiction and fantasy.
Rachel also enjoys recreating historically authentic jewelry, and mixing historical recreations with fantasy elements to create exciting new pieces.
When not designing jewelry or tinkering with computers, Rachel spends her time writing and reading science fiction and fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
May 16, 2021
**'The degree of excitement that a writer feels during their process of composition do give that indication of how valuable their finished work appears to readers..'
Enjoyable read!
A very intriguing 1st series. Recommended read!
Enjoyable read!
A very intriguing 1st series. Recommended read!
June 15, 2019
3.5 Stars. This was an entertaining sci-fi ride. I actually enjoyed it more than I expected. I love sci-fi but some of the self-published lesfic sci-fi on Amazon can be a little hit or miss for me. I was happy to see that this was a well written and a well edited read. I didn’t notice any of those blatant mistakes that can be common with self-publishing and Kindle Unlimited. It was a good clean story and I was glad for it.
Ford did a really good job of creating a whole universe with many planets and aliens. It was very easy to get the feel of each new world. In fact the whole book was very easy to get into. There was never a lot of info-dumping or anything too technical that made me scratch my head. Everything was easily explained and the book had a nice fast pace that kept me turning the pages. There was a good amount of action mixed in and even when the story slowed, it never got bogged down or boring.
There is a lesfic romance. It was pretty sweet with only mildly explicit sex scenes. My main complaint was the angst that was thrown in. No offense to Ford but I thought it was just dopey. It just seemed too contrived and came out of nowhere. This being a sci-fi book with a good amount of action, the forced angst was just not needed. Actually the forced angst was the only part of the whole book that had me scratching my head. I was glad it didn’t last any longer than it was, and the book was enjoyable again once it passed. I don’t mind angst, I never have, it just needs to be more purposeful to the characters or story.
Besides my one main complaint, I had fun with the rest of the book. It was a good cast of characters with some excitement thrown in that kept me turning the pages. A book two is coming out shortly and I am interested in reading it. I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans and Kindle Unlimited users.
Ford did a really good job of creating a whole universe with many planets and aliens. It was very easy to get the feel of each new world. In fact the whole book was very easy to get into. There was never a lot of info-dumping or anything too technical that made me scratch my head. Everything was easily explained and the book had a nice fast pace that kept me turning the pages. There was a good amount of action mixed in and even when the story slowed, it never got bogged down or boring.
There is a lesfic romance. It was pretty sweet with only mildly explicit sex scenes. My main complaint was the angst that was thrown in. No offense to Ford but I thought it was just dopey. It just seemed too contrived and came out of nowhere. This being a sci-fi book with a good amount of action, the forced angst was just not needed. Actually the forced angst was the only part of the whole book that had me scratching my head. I was glad it didn’t last any longer than it was, and the book was enjoyable again once it passed. I don’t mind angst, I never have, it just needs to be more purposeful to the characters or story.
Besides my one main complaint, I had fun with the rest of the book. It was a good cast of characters with some excitement thrown in that kept me turning the pages. A book two is coming out shortly and I am interested in reading it. I would recommend this book to sci-fi fans and Kindle Unlimited users.
August 17, 2019
You might not know this yet but I’m a Star Wars fan. Not the type who can list all the planets or the different ships (my memory doesn’t work that way), but put John Williams’ music on and I’m in heaven. Princess Leia is my hero (as was Carrie Fisher), I love Chewbacca, R2D2 and BB8 and I have a Millennium Falcon tattoo. If there’s a spaceship in a story, chances are I’ll read it, especially if there are lesbians on that spaceship.
Safe Passage is part space opera, part heist of the century and part romance. Kay is the programmer behind the Conglomerate’s (some sort of space crime syndicate) bank’s security system. She’s really good at her job and the Conglomerate wants her dead as she’s the only person who could break into the bank. In an effort to leave the desolate planet where the Conglomerate has left her stranded in the meantime, Kay meets Captain Magdalene Landon and her privateer crew. They offer to help her get away if she helps them rob the bank. Kay doesn’t trust them at first, she only sees them as pirates, but she has no real choice if she hopes to stay alive a little longer. As days go by, she finds herself making friends and unexpectedly falling in love.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Barbara Rich, and the different voices were great, very easy to distinguish, even though I felt Kay’s was a little too fragile. I loved the laughs. I haven’t heard many laughs in audiobooks, it was nice to not just know the characters were laughing but hear them too.
If you’re not a sci-fi fan yet, this would be a good entry point. It’s not too technical, there are just enough aliens and planet-talk to feel in space but not so much that the reader would get confused. The pace is good, the characters are well-written and the action is exciting.
Safe Passage is part space opera, part heist of the century and part romance. Kay is the programmer behind the Conglomerate’s (some sort of space crime syndicate) bank’s security system. She’s really good at her job and the Conglomerate wants her dead as she’s the only person who could break into the bank. In an effort to leave the desolate planet where the Conglomerate has left her stranded in the meantime, Kay meets Captain Magdalene Landon and her privateer crew. They offer to help her get away if she helps them rob the bank. Kay doesn’t trust them at first, she only sees them as pirates, but she has no real choice if she hopes to stay alive a little longer. As days go by, she finds herself making friends and unexpectedly falling in love.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Barbara Rich, and the different voices were great, very easy to distinguish, even though I felt Kay’s was a little too fragile. I loved the laughs. I haven’t heard many laughs in audiobooks, it was nice to not just know the characters were laughing but hear them too.
If you’re not a sci-fi fan yet, this would be a good entry point. It’s not too technical, there are just enough aliens and planet-talk to feel in space but not so much that the reader would get confused. The pace is good, the characters are well-written and the action is exciting.
August 8, 2019
This week’s read was a wild ride, y’all! Black Flag: Safe Passage by Rachel Ford is an enjoyable sci-fi space opera with a lesbian romance at its heart. The vast world Ford created, and the quirky cast of characters kept me turning the pages.
I was a little nervous going into this, because I struggle a bit with sci-fi. I can easily get lost in all the high-tech gadgets and gizmos, and the endless universe of a space opera can prove even more overwhelming for my simplistic brain. However, Ford does a wonderful job of drawing just enough intrigue with her usage of technology and varied worlds without bogging down the read and leaving readers like myself scratching their head.
The romance itself shined, and there was enough action to compliment the plot that I was on the edge of my seat, both hoping for the romantic resolution I so yearned for and wondering what might happen next.
I would recommend this to sci-fi lovers, but even to those who are hesitant about the genre. Ford has a steady writerly hand and crafts her words with ease and care.
I was a little nervous going into this, because I struggle a bit with sci-fi. I can easily get lost in all the high-tech gadgets and gizmos, and the endless universe of a space opera can prove even more overwhelming for my simplistic brain. However, Ford does a wonderful job of drawing just enough intrigue with her usage of technology and varied worlds without bogging down the read and leaving readers like myself scratching their head.
The romance itself shined, and there was enough action to compliment the plot that I was on the edge of my seat, both hoping for the romantic resolution I so yearned for and wondering what might happen next.
I would recommend this to sci-fi lovers, but even to those who are hesitant about the genre. Ford has a steady writerly hand and crafts her words with ease and care.
did-not-finish
May 19, 2022DNF 34% in. Just nothing unique here. The characters and the scenario seemed basic, almost boring, if I'm honest.
But I freely admit I'm in one of those 'nothing is holding my interest' types of moods, so it could entirely be me.
I believe it's on KU so check it yourself.
But I freely admit I'm in one of those 'nothing is holding my interest' types of moods, so it could entirely be me.
I believe it's on KU so check it yourself.
October 27, 2019
Safe Passage by Rachel Ford // Or, Be Gay Do Crimes (But Only as a Revenge to an Evil Organisation because You’re a Good Person)
★★★★☆ | Gays in space? Gays in space!
🌙 f/f; bi MC
🌙 space heist
🌙 fricking hilarious
🌙 amazing banter
🌙 lowkey enemies to lovers
➽ WRITING STYLE
It was the FUNNIEST sapphic book I’ve ever read! The banter hit off from the start and there was a nice side character who could always loosen up the mood.
The light writing style was superb and I was so surprised when I realised this was self-published! The writing was so neat and clean I’m still marvelling about it!
➽ PLOT & PACING
I LOVE HEIST PLOTS! And it was a pretty good heist? Some minor things required a certain amount of suspension of disbelief but it was an acceptable amount and the book wasn’t written in a serious tone so you naturally let more things slide.
➽ CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS
The ship had chemistry from the first interaction. I basically felt the electricity on my skin. Seriously, Magdalene is so badass and hot and Kay just keeps pushing her buttons! Please, more.
Though, I felt the chemistry was just a bit blander after they got together? Just… all this crying didn’t do it for me. I’m not very in touch with my emotional side though so… Yeah. may be a me problem.
I also loved Katrine’s relationship with Frank — I liked that even though she was stuck on a ship with a limited crew she still had other romantic options than Magdalene and just another close person because having zero support system (other than the LI) is always a little ehhhh? with me.
➽ NUANCE
Ok, let’s break it apart on what I LOVED — mainly, Katrine’s realisation that she has a crush on a woman for the first time and just rolling with it. No time for gay angst. We are chasing girls like it’s not a big deal here. A hero.
And now onto some details, I didn’t enjoy.
- the whole attempted rape. I felt like it was used as a plot device more than legitly approaching the subject and it bugged me
- idk, it felt like Magdalene was slightly biphobic for a moment?
- I feel like sci-fi and alien stuff is a good way to explore genders and different takes on them in different species but it was… super binary
- there were a few references to a polyamorous species that painted polyamory in a very negative light
- you have aliens but I don’t think there were any POC?
➽ ALL IN ALL
There were a few hiccups but it was a very enjoyable read. I laughed a lot and the sapphic content was *chef’s kiss*
★★★★☆ | Gays in space? Gays in space!
“You’re insane.”
“We’ve already established that.”
🌙 f/f; bi MC
🌙 space heist
🌙 fricking hilarious
🌙 amazing banter
🌙 lowkey enemies to lovers
➽ WRITING STYLE
It was the FUNNIEST sapphic book I’ve ever read! The banter hit off from the start and there was a nice side character who could always loosen up the mood.
The light writing style was superb and I was so surprised when I realised this was self-published! The writing was so neat and clean I’m still marvelling about it!
➽ PLOT & PACING
I LOVE HEIST PLOTS! And it was a pretty good heist? Some minor things required a certain amount of suspension of disbelief but it was an acceptable amount and the book wasn’t written in a serious tone so you naturally let more things slide.
➽ CHARACTERS & RELATIONSHIPS
The ship had chemistry from the first interaction. I basically felt the electricity on my skin. Seriously, Magdalene is so badass and hot and Kay just keeps pushing her buttons! Please, more.
Though, I felt the chemistry was just a bit blander after they got together? Just… all this crying didn’t do it for me. I’m not very in touch with my emotional side though so… Yeah. may be a me problem.
I also loved Katrine’s relationship with Frank — I liked that even though she was stuck on a ship with a limited crew she still had other romantic options than Magdalene and just another close person because having zero support system (other than the LI) is always a little ehhhh? with me.
➽ NUANCE
Ok, let’s break it apart on what I LOVED — mainly, Katrine’s realisation that she has a crush on a woman for the first time and just rolling with it. No time for gay angst. We are chasing girls like it’s not a big deal here. A hero.
And now onto some details, I didn’t enjoy.
- the whole attempted rape. I felt like it was used as a plot device more than legitly approaching the subject and it bugged me
- idk, it felt like Magdalene was slightly biphobic for a moment?
- I feel like sci-fi and alien stuff is a good way to explore genders and different takes on them in different species but it was… super binary
- there were a few references to a polyamorous species that painted polyamory in a very negative light
- you have aliens but I don’t think there were any POC?
➽ ALL IN ALL
There were a few hiccups but it was a very enjoyable read. I laughed a lot and the sapphic content was *chef’s kiss*
“Well,” Landon was saying, “what do you think, Kate?”
“Katrine,” I reminded her. “And about what? The soup?”
“No. But, wow, that looks disgusting. What are those lumps?”
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October 16, 2019
This book was read for Sapphic Book Club, hosted by sapphicliterature.
To be honest, I have very mixed feelings about this book. In general it was a nice read, I looove sci-fi adventures and added lesbian romance sounded great. At first glance, it seemed like this book would be a great fit for me, but sadly there were things I simply couldn’t ignore. But I’ll get to them later.
First, let’s start with things I enjoyed. This was a fun story to read, it was a bit predictable, sure, but sometimes you just want to jump into an adventure and have fun. Writing had a quite nice flow, the story wasn’t jarred by bunch of infodumping, which can definitely be a problem with sci-fi. Worldbuilding and introductions were crafted so they were easy to understand, although it also didn’t go very deep. But that wasn’t really main focus of this book, so it didn’t bother me.
There were also some characters I liked, even if I didn’t get that attached to many of the main cast. Especially Frank and Sydney were quite interesting, and in a way they brought some balance among story’s characters. They were funny and relatable (even if the latter one is actually a bot, hah). The protagonist Kay and her eventual love-interest Maggie were both a bit of miss to me. Kay sounded sometimes so silly, I didn’t feel she was that well developed along the story, and Maggie… well, there were times when I just couldn’t really bring myself to like her. But it might also be just the way Kay portrayed her.
While the story itself was enjoyable, it didn’t feel all that balanced to me. There was romance that probably wasn’t supposed to disturb the storyline and action itself, but at one point there was so much relatonship drama, I literally forgot what the actual story was supposed to be about. And I don’t believe that’s exactly a good thing. Romance also felt a bit wonky and it had this YA vibe, and even though there’s absolutely nothing wrong with YA, it didn’t quite fit with this story. There was unnecessary drama that didn’t really further the plot at all.
I also have to mention that there were at least three times (I think?) when there were hints or threats of sexual violence. None of them felt necessary to me and basically all of them were resolved by the love-interest saving the day. It simply made me uncomfortable and utterly annoyed. While this story for sure was supposed to occasionally deal with quite serious events, stakes never felt that high to me. I wasn’t left gripping my seat, wondering if everything was going to be okay, and mostly everything did end up pretty sweet. Too sweet.
When I began to write this review, I thought I’d give this three stars but in the end I have to give just two. More I think about this, more frustrated I get. This story had so much potential, but it just didn’t deliver. It had wonderful aspects, and I can see how the author’s background did super well to the story, but the result wasn’t as balanced and enjoyable as I would’ve wished for.
To be honest, I have very mixed feelings about this book. In general it was a nice read, I looove sci-fi adventures and added lesbian romance sounded great. At first glance, it seemed like this book would be a great fit for me, but sadly there were things I simply couldn’t ignore. But I’ll get to them later.
First, let’s start with things I enjoyed. This was a fun story to read, it was a bit predictable, sure, but sometimes you just want to jump into an adventure and have fun. Writing had a quite nice flow, the story wasn’t jarred by bunch of infodumping, which can definitely be a problem with sci-fi. Worldbuilding and introductions were crafted so they were easy to understand, although it also didn’t go very deep. But that wasn’t really main focus of this book, so it didn’t bother me.
There were also some characters I liked, even if I didn’t get that attached to many of the main cast. Especially Frank and Sydney were quite interesting, and in a way they brought some balance among story’s characters. They were funny and relatable (even if the latter one is actually a bot, hah). The protagonist Kay and her eventual love-interest Maggie were both a bit of miss to me. Kay sounded sometimes so silly, I didn’t feel she was that well developed along the story, and Maggie… well, there were times when I just couldn’t really bring myself to like her. But it might also be just the way Kay portrayed her.
While the story itself was enjoyable, it didn’t feel all that balanced to me. There was romance that probably wasn’t supposed to disturb the storyline and action itself, but at one point there was so much relatonship drama, I literally forgot what the actual story was supposed to be about. And I don’t believe that’s exactly a good thing. Romance also felt a bit wonky and it had this YA vibe, and even though there’s absolutely nothing wrong with YA, it didn’t quite fit with this story. There was unnecessary drama that didn’t really further the plot at all.
I also have to mention that there were at least three times (I think?) when there were hints or threats of sexual violence. None of them felt necessary to me and basically all of them were resolved by the love-interest saving the day. It simply made me uncomfortable and utterly annoyed. While this story for sure was supposed to occasionally deal with quite serious events, stakes never felt that high to me. I wasn’t left gripping my seat, wondering if everything was going to be okay, and mostly everything did end up pretty sweet. Too sweet.
When I began to write this review, I thought I’d give this three stars but in the end I have to give just two. More I think about this, more frustrated I get. This story had so much potential, but it just didn’t deliver. It had wonderful aspects, and I can see how the author’s background did super well to the story, but the result wasn’t as balanced and enjoyable as I would’ve wished for.
October 9, 2019
This is the October book for the Sapphic Book Club.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a light fun sci-fi caper. It had a little bit of that firefly meet Oceans 11 feel to it. In general, Sci-fi books can be a hit or miss for me due to the fact that I can be a lazy reader and I don’t like being bogged down by large info dumps, which are common in sci-fi books. Luckily, this book was crafted in a way to be easily accessible with minimal jargon or new concepts to digest. I greatly appreciated that.
The two main characters were enjoyable and same with the few side characters we got to spend a decent amount of time with (looking at you Frank and Syd). The romance was slow burn with some unnecessary angst, and placed mostly on the back burner. The angst could have worked better if it was delved into more, but it wasn’t a big part of the story and was easily enough to handle as is.
If there is one problem I had with this book it was the use of names. To be fair, this “problem” is a pet peeve of mine, so take it with a grain of salt. I like when people and characters go by one name. Yes there may be an informal and formal name use, but you know what they are and they don’t change. I found myself thoroughly annoyed when Kay would refer to the captain as, Captain, Magdalene, Maggie, and/or Mags, in some combination of several or all of those in the span of one conversation. With Kay, she was Katherine formal situations and Kay to friends. Simple, easy to follow, and easier to pick up on when someone is teasing or trying to be annoying. Given that there wasn’t a clear consensus on the various names of the captain, it made it harder to pick up on the tone of the conversation. I disliked that.
Outside of my pet peeve, I don’t have complaints of this book and look forward to the sequel, which is already to go on my kindle. I would recommend this to sci-fi fans.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a light fun sci-fi caper. It had a little bit of that firefly meet Oceans 11 feel to it. In general, Sci-fi books can be a hit or miss for me due to the fact that I can be a lazy reader and I don’t like being bogged down by large info dumps, which are common in sci-fi books. Luckily, this book was crafted in a way to be easily accessible with minimal jargon or new concepts to digest. I greatly appreciated that.
The two main characters were enjoyable and same with the few side characters we got to spend a decent amount of time with (looking at you Frank and Syd). The romance was slow burn with some unnecessary angst, and placed mostly on the back burner. The angst could have worked better if it was delved into more, but it wasn’t a big part of the story and was easily enough to handle as is.
If there is one problem I had with this book it was the use of names. To be fair, this “problem” is a pet peeve of mine, so take it with a grain of salt. I like when people and characters go by one name. Yes there may be an informal and formal name use, but you know what they are and they don’t change. I found myself thoroughly annoyed when Kay would refer to the captain as, Captain, Magdalene, Maggie, and/or Mags, in some combination of several or all of those in the span of one conversation. With Kay, she was Katherine formal situations and Kay to friends. Simple, easy to follow, and easier to pick up on when someone is teasing or trying to be annoying. Given that there wasn’t a clear consensus on the various names of the captain, it made it harder to pick up on the tone of the conversation. I disliked that.
Outside of my pet peeve, I don’t have complaints of this book and look forward to the sequel, which is already to go on my kindle. I would recommend this to sci-fi fans.
October 29, 2019
Dieses Buch wurde im Rahmen des Sapphic Book Club gelesen, gehosted von sapphicliterature
Worum geht’s?
Ein Sicherheitssystem für das berüchtigte “Conglomerate” auszuklügeln hat Kay Ellis reich gemacht. Ihr umfangreiches Wissen über die Sicherheitsmaßnahmen des Verbrechersyndikats bedeutet aber auch, dass sie eine Zielscheibe auf dem Rücken hat. Verzweifelt macht sie sich auf die Suche nach einem Schiff, das sie in die sicheren Gefilde der “Union” zurückbringen kann.
Die Piratin Magdalene Landon erklärt sich schließlich bereit, Kay nachhause zu bringen – doch nur unter einer Bedingung. Sie muss Magdalene und ihrer Crew zunächst mit ihrem Wissen dabei helfen, das “Conglomerate” auszurauben. Im Bewusstsein, dass sie mit Feuer spielt, lässt Kay sich auf den Deal ein...
Meine Meinung
Obwohl sich hinsichtlich Diversität in Fantasy- und Sci-Fi-Romanen sicherlich viel getan hat, ist es immer noch nicht ganz einfach, Geschichten mit F/F-Pärchen zu finden. Ich habe mich daher ganz besonders auf “Safe Passage” gefreut und hatte alles in allem auch Spaß beim Lesen. Der Roman ist leicht, flüssig und wunderbar witzig zu lesen. Ohne die schlagfertigen Dialoge zwischen den Figuren wäre das Lesevergnügen nur halb so groß gewesen. Die Autorin baut dazu immer wieder unterhaltsame Details ein, beispielsweise die legendär schlechten Kochkünste von Magdalenes Koch.
Der Plot ist rasant und Langeweile ist bei mir ganz sicher nicht aufgekommen. Allerdings wurden Kay, Magdalene und ihre Crew aus brenzligen Lagen oft auf zu einfache und vorhersehbare Weise gerettet. Bei allen technischen Details rund um den Raubüberfall sind die Vorkenntnisse der Autorin als Programmiererin spürbar, ansonsten werden wenig Fachbegriffe o.ä. eingeführt. Das war mir auch ganz recht so, weil ich es immer schrecklich finde, mich zu Beginn eines Sci-Fi-Romans erst einmal durch kapitelweise Info-Dumping kämpfen zu müssen.
Zwischen Kay und Magdalene war von Anfang an Chemie spürbar, siehe oben erwähnte Schlagfertigkeiten. Gut gefallen hat mir auch, dass wir nicht mit Kay eine Oh-mein-Gott-ich-bin-verliebt-in-eine-Frau-was-bedeutet-das-Phase durchmachen müssen. Die Autorin lässt der Beziehung viel Zeit, um sich zu entwickeln, was die Romanze glaubwürdiger macht. Die Tatsache, dass ich sowohl Kay als auch Maggie auf Anhieb sympathisch fand, war dem Lesespaß natürlich auch sehr zuträglich.
Worum geht’s?
Ein Sicherheitssystem für das berüchtigte “Conglomerate” auszuklügeln hat Kay Ellis reich gemacht. Ihr umfangreiches Wissen über die Sicherheitsmaßnahmen des Verbrechersyndikats bedeutet aber auch, dass sie eine Zielscheibe auf dem Rücken hat. Verzweifelt macht sie sich auf die Suche nach einem Schiff, das sie in die sicheren Gefilde der “Union” zurückbringen kann.
Die Piratin Magdalene Landon erklärt sich schließlich bereit, Kay nachhause zu bringen – doch nur unter einer Bedingung. Sie muss Magdalene und ihrer Crew zunächst mit ihrem Wissen dabei helfen, das “Conglomerate” auszurauben. Im Bewusstsein, dass sie mit Feuer spielt, lässt Kay sich auf den Deal ein...
Meine Meinung
Obwohl sich hinsichtlich Diversität in Fantasy- und Sci-Fi-Romanen sicherlich viel getan hat, ist es immer noch nicht ganz einfach, Geschichten mit F/F-Pärchen zu finden. Ich habe mich daher ganz besonders auf “Safe Passage” gefreut und hatte alles in allem auch Spaß beim Lesen. Der Roman ist leicht, flüssig und wunderbar witzig zu lesen. Ohne die schlagfertigen Dialoge zwischen den Figuren wäre das Lesevergnügen nur halb so groß gewesen. Die Autorin baut dazu immer wieder unterhaltsame Details ein, beispielsweise die legendär schlechten Kochkünste von Magdalenes Koch.
Der Plot ist rasant und Langeweile ist bei mir ganz sicher nicht aufgekommen. Allerdings wurden Kay, Magdalene und ihre Crew aus brenzligen Lagen oft auf zu einfache und vorhersehbare Weise gerettet. Bei allen technischen Details rund um den Raubüberfall sind die Vorkenntnisse der Autorin als Programmiererin spürbar, ansonsten werden wenig Fachbegriffe o.ä. eingeführt. Das war mir auch ganz recht so, weil ich es immer schrecklich finde, mich zu Beginn eines Sci-Fi-Romans erst einmal durch kapitelweise Info-Dumping kämpfen zu müssen.
Zwischen Kay und Magdalene war von Anfang an Chemie spürbar, siehe oben erwähnte Schlagfertigkeiten. Gut gefallen hat mir auch, dass wir nicht mit Kay eine Oh-mein-Gott-ich-bin-verliebt-in-eine-Frau-was-bedeutet-das-Phase durchmachen müssen. Die Autorin lässt der Beziehung viel Zeit, um sich zu entwickeln, was die Romanze glaubwürdiger macht. Die Tatsache, dass ich sowohl Kay als auch Maggie auf Anhieb sympathisch fand, war dem Lesespaß natürlich auch sehr zuträglich.
September 24, 2022
I enjoyed the book, but I had some issues with the ‘feel’ of the story. The ’Universe’ is filled with amoral characters and is dominated by massive crime syndicate, who want to kill Kay. Having set this up, it seemed that the author really just wanted to write a ‘nice’ lesbian romance. Perhaps I have read too many ‘hard’ science fiction books.
As for the main characters, I quite liked Maggie, although her suddenly deciding she couldn’t have a relationship with Kay because it was too dangerous was not only clichéd, but ridiculous as Kay is already in far more danger from the Conglomerate. I wasn’t so happy with Kay, I presume the author was trying to make her interesting, but I'm afraid I found her quite irritating.
The best character was Sydney the robot.
Overall it was a decent story and I was almost inclined to give four stars, but I wasn’t convinced by the ending. It wasn’t that I disliked the ‘twist’, but that there were far too many ‘holes’ in the way it was written.
As for the main characters, I quite liked Maggie, although her suddenly deciding she couldn’t have a relationship with Kay because it was too dangerous was not only clichéd, but ridiculous as Kay is already in far more danger from the Conglomerate. I wasn’t so happy with Kay, I presume the author was trying to make her interesting, but I'm afraid I found her quite irritating.
The best character was Sydney the robot.
Overall it was a decent story and I was almost inclined to give four stars, but I wasn’t convinced by the ending. It wasn’t that I disliked the ‘twist’, but that there were far too many ‘holes’ in the way it was written.
April 19, 2019
*I received an advance copy in return for a an unbiased review*.
Software engineering genius Katherine is on the run after creating the most un-breakable code in the galaxy for a shady syndicate...and it didn't take them long to figure out she's the only loose end in their un-hackable security system, and Kay's just waiting for a bullet in the back. Captain Magdalene Landon and her privateer crew of the ship Black Flag come to her rescue by offering Kay
a ride out of harm's way--in return for using her talents to help them pull off the heist of the century. Without any real options, Katherine reluctantly agrees, but she never expected to fall for the fiery, no-nonsense Maggie Landon.
Loved it! This was a really fun space opera/Firefly kind of heist adventure with a female Captain Tightpants, and it featured a great cast of characters. I especially liked Kay's friend and confidant, Frank, and Kay's bodyguard-murderbot, who takes his job very seriously. I developed a crush on Maggie Landon about the same time Katherine did. The book kept my attention, and it's a quick, exciting read. Definitely worth checking out!
Software engineering genius Katherine is on the run after creating the most un-breakable code in the galaxy for a shady syndicate...and it didn't take them long to figure out she's the only loose end in their un-hackable security system, and Kay's just waiting for a bullet in the back. Captain Magdalene Landon and her privateer crew of the ship Black Flag come to her rescue by offering Kay
a ride out of harm's way--in return for using her talents to help them pull off the heist of the century. Without any real options, Katherine reluctantly agrees, but she never expected to fall for the fiery, no-nonsense Maggie Landon.
Loved it! This was a really fun space opera/Firefly kind of heist adventure with a female Captain Tightpants, and it featured a great cast of characters. I especially liked Kay's friend and confidant, Frank, and Kay's bodyguard-murderbot, who takes his job very seriously. I developed a crush on Maggie Landon about the same time Katherine did. The book kept my attention, and it's a quick, exciting read. Definitely worth checking out!
January 18, 2025
This was an okay read but a little disappointing at the end as I was hoping it would build up to a thrilling heist.
The first 30% was interesting with how the world was set up and the different characters. After that, it became similar to a regular lesfic. I really wanted more space antics and less pining.
Communication issues plauged the lead and the love interest. Unfortunately, to get the two characters to start talking, a third character had to intervene, which is a pretty big pet peeve.
The ending felt complete. I am not sure if the story continues in book 2, but it was a good place to end.
If you are interested in trying out a sci themed lesfic but want something a bit more familiar, this might be for you. It's not a very long read like some sci-fi titles, and you don't have to commit to the series.
The first 30% was interesting with how the world was set up and the different characters. After that, it became similar to a regular lesfic. I really wanted more space antics and less pining.
Communication issues plauged the lead and the love interest. Unfortunately, to get the two characters to start talking, a third character had to intervene, which is a pretty big pet peeve.
The ending felt complete. I am not sure if the story continues in book 2, but it was a good place to end.
If you are interested in trying out a sci themed lesfic but want something a bit more familiar, this might be for you. It's not a very long read like some sci-fi titles, and you don't have to commit to the series.
February 28, 2021
I like sci fi but get sick of what I call male sci fi - whether it is pages describing a space laser or an alien's reproductive anatomy, there are always details that don't interest me.
This was written by a woman (I assume from the name) and the main characters were women. It had a different vibe and I really enjoyed it.
This was written by a woman (I assume from the name) and the main characters were women. It had a different vibe and I really enjoyed it.
August 10, 2019
2.5, rounded up reluctantly.
Spoiler alert
I can't say I enjoyed this book much. I didn't find much that grabbed me. I felt the world wasn't well developed, the romance was abrupt, the casual use of attempted heterosexual rape as motivation unoriginal (especially in a lesbian romance), and the characters were too Mary Sue like. Here's an example, they kept people alive when they shouldn't have. It felt like an artificial mechanism to move the plot along AND that the just author didn't want them to seem like bad guys, especially considering those same characters end up dead anyway. It seemed inconsistent this insistence on 'doing the right thing' when they are basically thieves (and have already killed others).
This tendency to use obvious and inelegant artificial events for plot progression was also present in the romance. The characters got together, then one broke it off for sudden and stupid reasons. Then later apologized so they could get back together just as abruptly. You see it all coming a mile away.
Similarly, all the twists are as obvious as the sun. You know from very early on what is going to happen and when.
The writing itself is fine, minus a tendency for characters to call Kay by name too often. And the narration too...for the most part. I actually greatly disliked how Rich voiced the characters. But that's a matter of taste not quality.
All in all, I think this was just a poorly matched book for me. I went in with high hopes. I love sci-fi romance, but this one wasn't a winner for me.
Spoiler alert
I can't say I enjoyed this book much. I didn't find much that grabbed me. I felt the world wasn't well developed, the romance was abrupt, the casual use of attempted heterosexual rape as motivation unoriginal (especially in a lesbian romance), and the characters were too Mary Sue like. Here's an example, they kept people alive when they shouldn't have. It felt like an artificial mechanism to move the plot along AND that the just author didn't want them to seem like bad guys, especially considering those same characters end up dead anyway. It seemed inconsistent this insistence on 'doing the right thing' when they are basically thieves (and have already killed others).
This tendency to use obvious and inelegant artificial events for plot progression was also present in the romance. The characters got together, then one broke it off for sudden and stupid reasons. Then later apologized so they could get back together just as abruptly. You see it all coming a mile away.
Similarly, all the twists are as obvious as the sun. You know from very early on what is going to happen and when.
The writing itself is fine, minus a tendency for characters to call Kay by name too often. And the narration too...for the most part. I actually greatly disliked how Rich voiced the characters. But that's a matter of taste not quality.
All in all, I think this was just a poorly matched book for me. I went in with high hopes. I love sci-fi romance, but this one wasn't a winner for me.
January 21, 2020
~AUDIO REVIEW~
Great Narration
A lesbian romance sci-fi adventure with a bit of suspense and action. This story was fun, entertaining, and well written with plenty of twist and turns. I was easily sucked in to the story the entire time that I listened to it in one sitting.
I liked Maggie and Kay, but I found myself more interested in Frank and Sydney at times. I thought all the cast of characters were interesting and each had their own personality.
Barbara Rich gives each character a different voice. She captures the emotional scenes well, giving a great performance. I hope the other stories in this series are put into audio and that Barbara Rich narrates them. I enjoyed her performance and can’t wait to hear what happens next.
Great Narration
A lesbian romance sci-fi adventure with a bit of suspense and action. This story was fun, entertaining, and well written with plenty of twist and turns. I was easily sucked in to the story the entire time that I listened to it in one sitting.
I liked Maggie and Kay, but I found myself more interested in Frank and Sydney at times. I thought all the cast of characters were interesting and each had their own personality.
Barbara Rich gives each character a different voice. She captures the emotional scenes well, giving a great performance. I hope the other stories in this series are put into audio and that Barbara Rich narrates them. I enjoyed her performance and can’t wait to hear what happens next.
May 29, 2020
Sapphic Book Club: October 2019 book
Science fiction is one of my favorite genres, and this was a fun one! Rachel Ford doesn't get bogged down or complicate things by orchestrating strange, gadgety-sounding names for things. I really liked Maggie and Kay, and Frank and Syd made for great supporting cast. The story was also a ride from start to finish. Everyone likes a good revenge fic, right?
I would recommend this to my friends for a casual, entertaining read.
Science fiction is one of my favorite genres, and this was a fun one! Rachel Ford doesn't get bogged down or complicate things by orchestrating strange, gadgety-sounding names for things. I really liked Maggie and Kay, and Frank and Syd made for great supporting cast. The story was also a ride from start to finish. Everyone likes a good revenge fic, right?
I would recommend this to my friends for a casual, entertaining read.
December 19, 2019
Safe Passage is the first book in the Black Flag series. This book can be read as a standalone. There is some violence and adult content. This book does have a FF relationship in it, so pass it by if you don't want to read about it. Overall, this is an enjoyable book with interesting characters. In the Audible version, the narrator ispeaks clearly and is easy to listen to.
May 2, 2019
Contenting warnings:
I’m a sucker for scifi romance, and when I saw this had lesbian space pirates taking on a big heist, well, I couldn’t wait to read it. And for the most part, it definitely lived up to my expectations.
Kay’s had a bit of a run of bad luck and bad choices lately, with the latest leaving her stranded on a backwater planet waiting for the galactic mob, the Conglomerate, to decide to kill her. Turns out, being the key engineer behind securing their planet-sized bank means they’d be happier off with her out of the picture. So when a pirate captain – excuse me, a privateer captain – approaches her with a crazy idea to rob that bank, well, what’s one more bad decision? But falling in love with that captain might be an even worse one…
Kay’s an interesting character. After a multibillion dollar mistake – caused mostly by being run ragged by her employer – Kay’s basically blacklisted. The only job she can find is with a security-obsessed businessman, and while she realizes quickly that he’s affiliated with the Conglomerate, she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. For a lot of the book, she’s stuck reacting out of desperation instead of making conscious choices, but when she finally recovers, she’s got an amazing backbone of steel – she’s a survivor. While Kay almost immediately develops a crush on Maggie, since the book is from Kay’s first person POV, Maggie’s feelings are much less obvious. Maggie’s sort of your stereotypical no-nonsense ice queen, and it’s a ton of fun watching for all the little hints that she’s thawing.
Kay describes her initial infatuation with Maggie as sort of a teen crush, and parts of the romance do read a bit YA-ish. It’s light on actual sexual content, but the tension between the two of them was great (when Maggie wasn’t freezing her out). There’s a lot of “does she like me? no, she doesn’t like me” back and forth, and it doesn’t help that Maggie blows hot and cold for the majority of the book. One moment they’re going on their first date (buying parts to fix the ship at a seedy hole in the wall joint, followed by a drink at an equally seedy hole in the wall bar, hello, AWESOME), the next thing Maggie’s giving Kay the cold shoulder with zero explanation. There’s reasons behind Maggie’s behavior, which she does share with Kay eventually, but it is initially frustrating, and I could see it turning some readers off. There’s also a hint of a gay-for-you vibe, since this is the first time Kay’s been attracted to a woman, but I think it was handled well – there’s a deliciously sweet list of all the reasons why she likes Maggie. The only other thing that bothered me is that there’s a bit of a love triangle. There’s some parts where other people (including Maggie) assume Kay is romantically involved with another member of the crew, but she sorts that out with him as soon as she realizes it, and while he does have feelings for her, he supports her (possible) relationship with Maggie.
I didn’t read the author’s bio before I started the book, but I guessed pretty quickly that she was a programmer. The techie stuff – from firewalls to rebooting servers – was well done and Kay not only loves her job, but she’s really quite good at it. Maggie’s equally a great captain, managing her crew with efficiency and camaraderie, and quite frankly it was great competence porn. The heist portion was a little bit understated for me – the actual heist part is pretty fun, but I wished there was more about the planning of it.
Of the other crew members, we get the most about Frank, and then, to a lesser extent, Fredricks, the doctor, Ginny the engineer, and the cook, David. I really liked Kay’s friendship with Frank and all the little bits that came with him being an alien. I also got a ridiculous kick out of Kay’s robot, Sydney. She accidentally acquires him after their first heist, where the rich owner decided it was a good idea to reprogram hulking security bots to serve as a butler. This results in an interesting mishmash of programming, and the robot basically adopts her and follows her around like a puppy dog.
Overall, I think I’d rate this around 3.5 stars. While I had some issues with the book, I still really enjoyed it, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series to see what happens!
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I’m a sucker for scifi romance, and when I saw this had lesbian space pirates taking on a big heist, well, I couldn’t wait to read it. And for the most part, it definitely lived up to my expectations.
Kay’s had a bit of a run of bad luck and bad choices lately, with the latest leaving her stranded on a backwater planet waiting for the galactic mob, the Conglomerate, to decide to kill her. Turns out, being the key engineer behind securing their planet-sized bank means they’d be happier off with her out of the picture. So when a pirate captain – excuse me, a privateer captain – approaches her with a crazy idea to rob that bank, well, what’s one more bad decision? But falling in love with that captain might be an even worse one…
“But from where I’m sitting, I’m a dead woman anyway. I’ve got nothing to lose. But you?” I shrugged. “There’s trillions of credits sitting there in Deltaseal’s vaults. And the only way you see a penny of them is through me.”
She gritted her teeth. “Ten.”
“Forty-five.”
She snorted. “You’re insane.”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll give you fifteen, and nothing else. I’ve got an entire crew to split this between.”
“And I’ve got a life on the run to fund. Forty. And that’s undercutting myself.”
She scowled at me, and I fought to repress a grin. I had the impression that Magdalene Landon wasn’t used to losing, and didn’t care for it. She pushed her seat back and got to her feet. “I’ll give you twenty-five percent, Kate Ellis. And that’s my final offer. I mean it.”
Kay’s an interesting character. After a multibillion dollar mistake – caused mostly by being run ragged by her employer – Kay’s basically blacklisted. The only job she can find is with a security-obsessed businessman, and while she realizes quickly that he’s affiliated with the Conglomerate, she’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. For a lot of the book, she’s stuck reacting out of desperation instead of making conscious choices, but when she finally recovers, she’s got an amazing backbone of steel – she’s a survivor. While Kay almost immediately develops a crush on Maggie, since the book is from Kay’s first person POV, Maggie’s feelings are much less obvious. Maggie’s sort of your stereotypical no-nonsense ice queen, and it’s a ton of fun watching for all the little hints that she’s thawing.
Kay describes her initial infatuation with Maggie as sort of a teen crush, and parts of the romance do read a bit YA-ish. It’s light on actual sexual content, but the tension between the two of them was great (when Maggie wasn’t freezing her out). There’s a lot of “does she like me? no, she doesn’t like me” back and forth, and it doesn’t help that Maggie blows hot and cold for the majority of the book. One moment they’re going on their first date (buying parts to fix the ship at a seedy hole in the wall joint, followed by a drink at an equally seedy hole in the wall bar, hello, AWESOME), the next thing Maggie’s giving Kay the cold shoulder with zero explanation. There’s reasons behind Maggie’s behavior, which she does share with Kay eventually, but it is initially frustrating, and I could see it turning some readers off. There’s also a hint of a gay-for-you vibe, since this is the first time Kay’s been attracted to a woman, but I think it was handled well – there’s a deliciously sweet list of all the reasons why she likes Maggie. The only other thing that bothered me is that there’s a bit of a love triangle. There’s some parts where other people (including Maggie) assume Kay is romantically involved with another member of the crew, but she sorts that out with him as soon as she realizes it, and while he does have feelings for her, he supports her (possible) relationship with Maggie.
I didn’t read the author’s bio before I started the book, but I guessed pretty quickly that she was a programmer. The techie stuff – from firewalls to rebooting servers – was well done and Kay not only loves her job, but she’s really quite good at it. Maggie’s equally a great captain, managing her crew with efficiency and camaraderie, and quite frankly it was great competence porn. The heist portion was a little bit understated for me – the actual heist part is pretty fun, but I wished there was more about the planning of it.
“My algorithms are adaptive, Katherine. They will adapt to adjust for this new information.”
“That sounds ominous,” Maggie observed.
“On the contrary, Magdalene. I only mean that – as you humans would say – ‘a friend of Katherine’s is a friend of mine.’ Knowing the value she places on you, I shall now adjust my own.”
I wasn’t sure I had ever heard anything simultaneously so sweet and yet so insanely creepy.”
Of the other crew members, we get the most about Frank, and then, to a lesser extent, Fredricks, the doctor, Ginny the engineer, and the cook, David. I really liked Kay’s friendship with Frank and all the little bits that came with him being an alien. I also got a ridiculous kick out of Kay’s robot, Sydney. She accidentally acquires him after their first heist, where the rich owner decided it was a good idea to reprogram hulking security bots to serve as a butler. This results in an interesting mishmash of programming, and the robot basically adopts her and follows her around like a puppy dog.
Overall, I think I’d rate this around 3.5 stars. While I had some issues with the book, I still really enjoyed it, and I’ll definitely be picking up the next in the series to see what happens!
I received this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
December 21, 2019
3.5 stars.
May 6, 2019
Now, I’m gonna admit straight up front that I am rather tech stupid. Please see my uber simple (simple sounds so much nicer than basic as hell) blog. So I went into this read a little unsure how I’d read it because when I hear tech talk it basically sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher in my head.
However I’m delighted to report that Ms. Ford doesn’t allow her readers to drown in a ton of indecipherable tech talk. Which is rather admirable given the fact that the main character Kay is a software engineering genius. However our darling Kay has… some issues. I mean, we all do, but she may have gotten involved with people who have used her genius and now want her dead.
Tiny issue, that.
So now Kay is using her brilliance to devise a way to get away from the Conglomerate. This leads to a series of unfortunate events and lands her happy little self in the universal version of BFE, still far from her ultimate destination and the hope of safety.
Enter Maggie, a space pirate who has a bright idea of her own: rob the bank Kay used to work for. In exchange, Maggie would give Kay safe passage away from the Conglomerate.
Now let’s be real here, Kay was basically in a “back against the wall” place. She was a dead woman walking if she couldn’t get away so… agreeing was a no brainer really. What else is a girl to do?
Apparently fall in love. Because on their adventures, Kay and Maggie grow closer and, though both appear uncertain about how the other feels, a connection forms. As well as budding chemistry that ignites into steamy intimate times.
Safe Passage is a very fun, intriguing, and unique story that takes the threads of crime noir stories of the 50’s and throws them far into the future with sci-fi twists and turns that update the heist stories of old. And fortunately this is only book one, because the crazy mixed up crew is absolutely delightful and charming and I can’t wait to read more about them.
However I’m delighted to report that Ms. Ford doesn’t allow her readers to drown in a ton of indecipherable tech talk. Which is rather admirable given the fact that the main character Kay is a software engineering genius. However our darling Kay has… some issues. I mean, we all do, but she may have gotten involved with people who have used her genius and now want her dead.
Tiny issue, that.
So now Kay is using her brilliance to devise a way to get away from the Conglomerate. This leads to a series of unfortunate events and lands her happy little self in the universal version of BFE, still far from her ultimate destination and the hope of safety.
Enter Maggie, a space pirate who has a bright idea of her own: rob the bank Kay used to work for. In exchange, Maggie would give Kay safe passage away from the Conglomerate.
Now let’s be real here, Kay was basically in a “back against the wall” place. She was a dead woman walking if she couldn’t get away so… agreeing was a no brainer really. What else is a girl to do?
Apparently fall in love. Because on their adventures, Kay and Maggie grow closer and, though both appear uncertain about how the other feels, a connection forms. As well as budding chemistry that ignites into steamy intimate times.
Safe Passage is a very fun, intriguing, and unique story that takes the threads of crime noir stories of the 50’s and throws them far into the future with sci-fi twists and turns that update the heist stories of old. And fortunately this is only book one, because the crazy mixed up crew is absolutely delightful and charming and I can’t wait to read more about them.
April 28, 2019
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
_____
Thanks a lot to Rachel Ford for sending me an eARC of her book in exchange for an honest review.
After a huge job for the Conglomerate Kay needs to get back to Union space or risk being stranded and eventually killed. Margaret, a privateer, may be her way home. But Margaret wants the very information that got Kay into her current situation, and Kay is reluctant but she strikes a deal: She will help Margaret and her crew to pull off the heist of the century, and Margaret will get her to Union space.
And as they prepare their plan, Kay and Margaret get to know each other better and Kay has to realise that her feelings for Margaret might complicate things.
I've been on a bit of a sci-fi bender recently, so this fit right in with that. And I really enjoyed this a lot.
Safe Passage is a quick read, and I had a lot of fun. The characters are great and I really loved Kay getting to know everyone and building relationships with all of the crew members. And while I could have lived without some of the aspects of her friendship with Frank, the ship's helmsman, I really enjoyed their friendship.
I also loved the way the romance between Kay and Margaret developed. It had it's ups and downs and they had lots of great moments.
The one thing I felt could have been done better was the world building. I'm a sucker for world building and I do realise that I can expect more than there necessarily should be. However, I felt that Safe Passage could have done with a little more world building than it had.
All in all the world building didn't take much away from the story though, and if you're looking for an enjoyable space pirate wlw romance I think this will be the book for you.
_____
Thanks a lot to Rachel Ford for sending me an eARC of her book in exchange for an honest review.
After a huge job for the Conglomerate Kay needs to get back to Union space or risk being stranded and eventually killed. Margaret, a privateer, may be her way home. But Margaret wants the very information that got Kay into her current situation, and Kay is reluctant but she strikes a deal: She will help Margaret and her crew to pull off the heist of the century, and Margaret will get her to Union space.
And as they prepare their plan, Kay and Margaret get to know each other better and Kay has to realise that her feelings for Margaret might complicate things.
I've been on a bit of a sci-fi bender recently, so this fit right in with that. And I really enjoyed this a lot.
Safe Passage is a quick read, and I had a lot of fun. The characters are great and I really loved Kay getting to know everyone and building relationships with all of the crew members. And while I could have lived without some of the aspects of her friendship with Frank, the ship's helmsman, I really enjoyed their friendship.
I also loved the way the romance between Kay and Margaret developed. It had it's ups and downs and they had lots of great moments.
The one thing I felt could have been done better was the world building. I'm a sucker for world building and I do realise that I can expect more than there necessarily should be. However, I felt that Safe Passage could have done with a little more world building than it had.
All in all the world building didn't take much away from the story though, and if you're looking for an enjoyable space pirate wlw romance I think this will be the book for you.
September 1, 2019
Kay gets herself into some trouble. To her surprise, she's rescued by pirates. No wait, they're "privateers", my mistake. It's not like they go around robbing ships or anything..... Captain Maggie makes a great first impression, but then for some odd reason turns a cold shoulder which lasts an annoying few chapters.
Sidney the robot is a little too...what's the word. pleasing? No matter how much people are irritated at Sidney, he wants to help out Kay. I miss the depressed marvin from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy or the psychotic robot from Mia Archer's Villains Don't Date Heroes. Chapter 47 (audible 48) is my favourite chapter because of the fluff scene. Kay and Maggie are playing video games, and Maggie's kicking her butt. Then Sidney nags Maggie to drink more water to stay healthy, since Sidney wants Kay's girlfriend to be healthy.
I like Frank. Initially interested in a relationship with Kay, he sticks to being her best friend. He protects her and tries to set her up with maggie, who he feels is a better fit for her.
The rest of the characters weren't very memorable for me. I mix them up since they refer to different names. I think drake and sage are the same person?
After the theft, there were 10 more chapters (~90 minutes), so I was expecting some kind of twist. It wasn't a surprise, and it was a bit short lived.
While I liked the narrator overall, I wasn't a big fan of her portrayal of the main character. Her voice was always hysterical/nervous, even when she's supposed to have different emotions. It reminds me of harley quinn whenever batman does something. "Mr. J, I don't think that's supposed to do that.." kind of voice.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Sidney the robot is a little too...what's the word. pleasing? No matter how much people are irritated at Sidney, he wants to help out Kay. I miss the depressed marvin from hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy or the psychotic robot from Mia Archer's Villains Don't Date Heroes. Chapter 47 (audible 48) is my favourite chapter because of the fluff scene. Kay and Maggie are playing video games, and Maggie's kicking her butt. Then Sidney nags Maggie to drink more water to stay healthy, since Sidney wants Kay's girlfriend to be healthy.
I like Frank. Initially interested in a relationship with Kay, he sticks to being her best friend. He protects her and tries to set her up with maggie, who he feels is a better fit for her.
The rest of the characters weren't very memorable for me. I mix them up since they refer to different names. I think drake and sage are the same person?
After the theft, there were 10 more chapters (~90 minutes), so I was expecting some kind of twist. It wasn't a surprise, and it was a bit short lived.
While I liked the narrator overall, I wasn't a big fan of her portrayal of the main character. Her voice was always hysterical/nervous, even when she's supposed to have different emotions. It reminds me of harley quinn whenever batman does something. "Mr. J, I don't think that's supposed to do that.." kind of voice.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
August 15, 2019
Safe Passage (Black Flag, Book 1) by Rachel Ford and narrated by Barbara Rich is a fun space opera. Would recommend if you’re into space operas or looking for something new that has a light YA romance feel to it.
What’s it about? Kay has made some not good choices that left her fleeing from the conglomerate. Enter Maggie and her crew and the adventures begin. There’s a good amount of focus on romance (more of a YA feel to it) mixed with space elements. Other things you’ll come across: planets, different races, pirates, bots, space ships, betrayal, love, death, kidnapping, heists, and more. Four stars for story- at times the dialogue was a bit drawn out.
The narrator, Barbara Rich, was OK. I’m not sure she is a good fit for this series. I enjoyed her speaking voice (easy to listen to) but most of the character voices I struggled with in the long run. And maybe she’s just not for me and you’ll feel different? Three stars for narration.
Overall I recommend if you are looking for something new in the space opera genre, looking to venture in it, or for a light romance.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: kidnapping, kissing and sex indicated (light romance/not in graphic details- a YA feel to it), forced touching of leg by bad guy to the MC- also grabbing of hair forcefully to remove MC from bar, death (multiple), stealing, black out drunk, and possibly more I’m forgetting. Going light on the warnings due to spoilers.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
What’s it about? Kay has made some not good choices that left her fleeing from the conglomerate. Enter Maggie and her crew and the adventures begin. There’s a good amount of focus on romance (more of a YA feel to it) mixed with space elements. Other things you’ll come across: planets, different races, pirates, bots, space ships, betrayal, love, death, kidnapping, heists, and more. Four stars for story- at times the dialogue was a bit drawn out.
The narrator, Barbara Rich, was OK. I’m not sure she is a good fit for this series. I enjoyed her speaking voice (easy to listen to) but most of the character voices I struggled with in the long run. And maybe she’s just not for me and you’ll feel different? Three stars for narration.
Overall I recommend if you are looking for something new in the space opera genre, looking to venture in it, or for a light romance.
Parental guidance/trigger warnings: kidnapping, kissing and sex indicated (light romance/not in graphic details- a YA feel to it), forced touching of leg by bad guy to the MC- also grabbing of hair forcefully to remove MC from bar, death (multiple), stealing, black out drunk, and possibly more I’m forgetting. Going light on the warnings due to spoilers.
*I was given a free review copy of the audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank you for allowing me to listen and review the book!
June 25, 2019
I loved this story and thought it was a great sci-fi adventure thriller, but the only reason that I didn't make it a 5-star rating was because there were a few scenes that kind of made me angry and tense where I thought that Katherine might get abducted and Magdeline, AKA Maggie, AkA Mags, would always step in and save her, but realistically speaking that wouldn't happen in the real-world and sometimes nobody can save you but yourself. There was a few scenes that I almost wanted to skip entirely because I don't like the threat of sexual violence in books and stories, unless it's there to further the plot and/or character development throughout the story's progression, but if it's just there to scare the audience and shock and piss us off, I don't like that style and I felt my heart racing everytime Kay would get stuck with some colorful characters that were trying to flirt, take advantage of, or grope (or worse) I just felt those types of scenes showed up a bit too much, even for a story surrounding futuristic star pirates.
Other than that, I definitely suggest reading this because there will be a sequel to this first one.
Other than that, I definitely suggest reading this because there will be a sequel to this first one.
May 12, 2020
Rachel Ford creates a dynamic adventure for Katherine “don’t call me ‘Katie’” Ellis. I had a great time. Ford creates a growth period for Kay in this first book in the “Black Flag” series that takes Kay from wimpy “I don’t know how I got here” to “Yes, I will be a pirate.” I loved Kay’s growth process as she comes face to face with her decisions and has to deal with them.
Now most would probably think that the romance would be the highlight for me, but it was actually Kay’s relationships with Frank and Sydney that were. I hope Ford continues with the friendship that Kay and Frank have formed and it becomes a rock solid buddy team. They are good for each other. As for Sydney, I predict growth for Sydney. I am very interested in seeing where this character goes in the future “Black Flag” books.
Overall, the writing is on target. It is a fun read. Ford threw in some "fun", drama, betrayals, and of course a robbery - they are pirates after all. I cannot wait to see where the Flag team goes next because I will be right there with them.
Thank you to the Author for putting this on Kindle Unlimited making it affordable to read. Thank you!
Now most would probably think that the romance would be the highlight for me, but it was actually Kay’s relationships with Frank and Sydney that were. I hope Ford continues with the friendship that Kay and Frank have formed and it becomes a rock solid buddy team. They are good for each other. As for Sydney, I predict growth for Sydney. I am very interested in seeing where this character goes in the future “Black Flag” books.
Overall, the writing is on target. It is a fun read. Ford threw in some "fun", drama, betrayals, and of course a robbery - they are pirates after all. I cannot wait to see where the Flag team goes next because I will be right there with them.
Thank you to the Author for putting this on Kindle Unlimited making it affordable to read. Thank you!
June 19, 2024
Romance in Space
I'm not a big fan of Romance novels, because they often don't have enough of a plot to keep me interested. Safe Passage (Black Flag Book 1) by Rachel Ford just blew away that excuse for me.
Safe Passage has a compelling Space Opera narrative with rakishly lovable characters. Katherine Ellis is stuck off Earth, banished because she contracted to work IT security for the nefarious conglomerate. She's despaired of ever getting home.
Magdalene, the fiery red headed Captain of the privateer ship, Black Flag, knows an opportunity when she sees one. Contracting with Katherine's special access to the Conglomerate, the crew of the Black Flag heads to the top owner's space complex with a brilliant plan.
What I loved most about this space race is the tightly written mystery of what will happen next surprising you in practically each chapter. The characters make you love them, even Sydney, the repurposed Battle Bot.
Rachel Ford is such a good writer, mixing several genres effortlessly into an exciting sci-fi, romance and space opera that any true Sci-fi lover would gladly read. I'll be following this series closely.
I'm not a big fan of Romance novels, because they often don't have enough of a plot to keep me interested. Safe Passage (Black Flag Book 1) by Rachel Ford just blew away that excuse for me.
Safe Passage has a compelling Space Opera narrative with rakishly lovable characters. Katherine Ellis is stuck off Earth, banished because she contracted to work IT security for the nefarious conglomerate. She's despaired of ever getting home.
Magdalene, the fiery red headed Captain of the privateer ship, Black Flag, knows an opportunity when she sees one. Contracting with Katherine's special access to the Conglomerate, the crew of the Black Flag heads to the top owner's space complex with a brilliant plan.
What I loved most about this space race is the tightly written mystery of what will happen next surprising you in practically each chapter. The characters make you love them, even Sydney, the repurposed Battle Bot.
Rachel Ford is such a good writer, mixing several genres effortlessly into an exciting sci-fi, romance and space opera that any true Sci-fi lover would gladly read. I'll be following this series closely.
November 29, 2024
Fun space opera, with a heist, a romance, a lot of bad guys, and a fun crew. My favorite characters, and it sounds like this is fairly common, were Frank the alien and Sydney the battle bot. (!) But I also enjoyed the slow-ish burn between Kay and Maggie; given the setup I had kind of expected it to be more “insta,” and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t, despite the assumptions of everybody around them, lol. (Ginny and Fredericks, on the other hand…) I found their names for each other amusing too; they were a great reflection of their moment by moment moods and attitudes.
The various planets and spaceports were diverse and entertaining; there was a nice series of small adventures on the way to the big adventure. I was occasionally surprised by which parts went smoothly and which parts didn’t, but on the whole it was balanced enough that the presence of the smooth parts didn’t make me feel like they got off easy.
All in all, I haven’t come across a whole lot of sapphic sci-fi, and this was a fun and well-written installment. I’ll be happy to go on with the series.
The various planets and spaceports were diverse and entertaining; there was a nice series of small adventures on the way to the big adventure. I was occasionally surprised by which parts went smoothly and which parts didn’t, but on the whole it was balanced enough that the presence of the smooth parts didn’t make me feel like they got off easy.
All in all, I haven’t come across a whole lot of sapphic sci-fi, and this was a fun and well-written installment. I’ll be happy to go on with the series.
June 26, 2019
Our heroine didn't have a lot of choices and took a job she probably shouldn't have. Now she knows too much and her employers want to keep her on ice. But others want to use her to break the very security she designed. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.
This is billed as the start of a new space opera series and I couldn't be happier to see that happen. This book was very well written with a detailed and well developed plot that kept my attention throughout the story. It helps that the story is centered around two tough and smart female leads with a diverse supporting cast that help bring the story to life. Excellent character interactions with just the right amount of snark made the story very enjoyable to read and really difficult to put down. I am really looking forward to the next book to see what our crew gets into next.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is billed as the start of a new space opera series and I couldn't be happier to see that happen. This book was very well written with a detailed and well developed plot that kept my attention throughout the story. It helps that the story is centered around two tough and smart female leads with a diverse supporting cast that help bring the story to life. Excellent character interactions with just the right amount of snark made the story very enjoyable to read and really difficult to put down. I am really looking forward to the next book to see what our crew gets into next.
Highly recommended
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
April 15, 2019
SAFE PASSAGE is a really fun sci-fi novel, with all the elements you could want in a heist story featuring Space Pirates (sorry, privateers) going up against the Space Mafia to steal a whole bunch of money and other goodies. The FF romance aspect is very sweet with just a bit of steam--enough to satisfy most readers without making anyone blush too hard.
If you like the following:
* wisecracking secondary characters
* a fun ensemble cast full of human and non-human characters
* one (1) socially awkward murderbot-turned-butler
* character angst over previous traumas
* characters being Very Competent at their jobs
* awful men getting what they deserve, and good men graciously taking "no" for an answer
* FF romance with a bit of will-they-won't-they
then get this book without delay.
Disclosure: I was happy to receive an advance copy of this book.
If you like the following:
* wisecracking secondary characters
* a fun ensemble cast full of human and non-human characters
* one (1) socially awkward murderbot-turned-butler
* character angst over previous traumas
* characters being Very Competent at their jobs
* awful men getting what they deserve, and good men graciously taking "no" for an answer
* FF romance with a bit of will-they-won't-they
then get this book without delay.
Disclosure: I was happy to receive an advance copy of this book.
August 13, 2019
This is the first book by his author that I have listened to and I did enjoy it but wished there had been more action scenes than romance. I liked the plot idea and some of the characters were good fun.
Kay is trying to get of planet but when it is a conglomerate that you are running from your options are few and far between. In steps Maggie with a proposal, help rob a bank held by the conglomerate and she and her band of pirates would help her out run the hit men sent to killer. This leaves Kay a choice a certain death to stay on planet or death by robbing a bank,the most secure building on the universe. Kay should know she designed the system that protects it.
The narrator was good and you could tell who was speaking but one of the voices she used sounded whinny at times.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
Kay is trying to get of planet but when it is a conglomerate that you are running from your options are few and far between. In steps Maggie with a proposal, help rob a bank held by the conglomerate and she and her band of pirates would help her out run the hit men sent to killer. This leaves Kay a choice a certain death to stay on planet or death by robbing a bank,the most secure building on the universe. Kay should know she designed the system that protects it.
The narrator was good and you could tell who was speaking but one of the voices she used sounded whinny at times.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
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