Draw Out

Aces High, Jokers Wild #5.5

by O.E. Tearmann

In 2127, a young farmhand who calls herself Janice runs away from her corporate contract, her home, and everything in her past. Ahead of her is the Colorado desert, baking in a hundred and ten degrees of summer heat.

But it’s better than what’s behind her.

Fans of the Aces High, Jokers Wild series have asked to hear Janice’s story many times. In this novella, her story is told.

Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!

94 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 22, 2021

About the author

Bringing their own experiences as a marginalized author to the page with flawed but genuine characters, O.E. Tearmann’s work has been described as “Firefly for the dystopian genre.”
Tearmann is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, a finalist for the Cygnus award and the winner of the 2022 Feathered Quill award. They live in Colorado with two cats, their partner, and the belief that individuals can make humanity better through small actions. In their spare time, they teach workshops on writing GLTBQ characters, plant gardens that showcase sustainable agricultural practices, and play too many video games.

Reviews

[Ronie Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got more and more, with a bit of Tik on the side. Now learning more about the indigenous people in a dystopia. That would be interesting!

[Lori Alden Holuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fans of the "Aces High, Jokers Wild" series have asked to hear Janice’s story many times. In this novella, her early life is finally revealed.

This is my 7th review of books in this cyberpunk dystopian hopepunk (yes I said hopepunk) series by O.E. Tearmann - and if you've read my other reviews, you won't be surprised that Draw Out will receive high praise from me.

This time around we learn Janice's backstory, which she grudgingly tells to her Wildcards family. They've been eager to learn more about her life before she joined the Wildcards, and so was I! I can certainly see why she needed to be bribed with a few strong drinks to be able to spill the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes triumphant details that are the story of her younger self's life.

If you are new to the Wildcards, set this book aside and grab a copy of The Hands We're Given, the first book in the series.  Janice's story is important, but much more meaningful if you've come up through the storyline and are better acquainted with present-day Janice and her chosen family.