Firewall

The Ungovernable #5

by R.M. Olson

The crew of the Ungovernable might have just gambled more than they can pay.

Ex-smuggler pilot Jez and the crew of the Ungovernable desperately need is a way to stop the government killing them all. And they’re running out of time. So when Grigory Korzhikov, the godfather of the biggest mafia organization in the System, invites them aboard his private gambling ship and tells them he can give them a way out, it’s an offer they can’t refuse.

But accepting means dealing into Grigory’s game, and he’s playing with a stacked deck. He hasn’t forgotten the money they cost him in their first heist, and he’s notorious for holding grudges. If they don’t want to end up floating in space without a space suit, they’ll have to find a way to beat him at his own game, and in Grigory’s ship, the odds are on the house.

Firewall is the fifth book in R.M. Olson’s science fiction space opera series The Ungovernable. With a crazy, close-knit crew, plenty of humour, and loads of action, Firefly meets Ocean’s Eleven in this fast-paced, kick-ass, wickedly fun series.

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2020

About the author

R.M. Olson writes queer, feel-good space opera, featuring diverse casts, found families, and loads of action. R.M. has ridden the Trans Siberian railway, jumped off the highest bungee jump in the world, gone cage-diving with great white sharks, faced down a charging buffalo bull, and knows how to milk a goat. Currently they reside in Alberta, Canada with their four children, three cats, and a dog the size of a small bear. R.M. goes hiking and skiing more often than they probably have time for, eats more chocolate than is probably good for them, and reads more books than is probably prudent.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The crew of the Ungovernable is in trouble again, but what’s new. This time they’re in the clutches of the mafia, hoping to use them to stop the government from killing all the crew plus many more people. They end up on Grigory Korzhikov’s ship, the head of the biggest mafia organization in the System, trying to beat him at his own game, which is easier said than done. This time Jez doesn’t get beaten up too much, but not for lack of trying. They run into Ivan, one of the men that helped them in their mission to rescue Tanya and the children from prison, he’s trying to figure out what is going on with the mafia and joins forces with them. As usual, there is lots of action, danger, a lot of planning and executing of those dangerous plans, and somehow they all manage to live to see another day. I’m off to read the next story to see what the crew gets up to next.

[Tyson Hazard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gripping plot

Fast and furious!! The plot line is gripping and the characters, especially Jez, ALWAYS surprise me. This is not a genre I typically read but the story keeps pulling me back in.

[Susan Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading two of these books in one day gave me really wild dreams.

[Tianay Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lighthearted & quality drama

I love the banter between the characters, the depth of the individuals and there are always twists you aren't expecting!

[Geetha Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me want to yell at a lot of people.
After the incident in Pravishoni, when the mafia boss Grigory Korzhikov “invites” them to his gambling ship by holding Peti, one of Tae’s friends captive, the crew has no choice but to accept.
But when Masha suggests using Grigory to hold the government in check, no one except Tae and Tanya objects. Jez trusts Masha now, and Levi and Ysbel will do anything to keep Jez and Tanya from harm respectively.
But working with Grigory isn’t as simple as Masha makes it sound and the crew soon find themselves in the horns of a moral dilemma. Just how far will they go to protect the ones they love? Will they sacrifice their loved ones in the process?
Ah fuck, I wish I could say I saw this coming, but I did not see ALL of it coming. Some things, yes, they were obvious. You don’t work with mafia bosses and expect good things to happen. Only Tae and Tanya seem to have some kind of moral compass here. I was yelling at Ysbel to listen to Tanya because fuck woman, this is not how you show love!
And Masha! Fuck. That was a dick move, but idk why Jez still trusts her.
Next book please.