Bounty War

Parse Galaxy #2

by Kate Sheeran Swed

Sloane Tarnish doesn't mean to collect enemies like a Nano-Healer collects germs. They just keep showing up, for absolutely no reason at all.

Yes, she hired her last bounty target to work on her ship instead of turning him in. And yes, she supposes she can see why the Cosmic Trade Federation might take issue with that.

They don't have to shoot at her over it, though.

When Sloane's new client offers her a lead on her uncle's whereabouts in exchange for her help in tracking down an elusive pirate-type, Sloane figures she might finally be on the path to fixing this messed-up situation. She's always been overly optimistic that way.

But every step Sloane takes feels like the wrong one – and the Federation refuses to drop its grudge. If she doesn't take care, she's bound to stumble into a trap… and this time, she might just take the whole galaxy down with her…

Genres: Science Fiction, Space Opera

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 26, 2022

About the author

Kate Sheeran Swed loves hot chocolate, plastic dinosaurs, and airplane tickets. She has trekked along the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, hiked on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in Iceland, and climbed the ruins of Masada to watch the sunrise over the Dead Sea. She holds degrees in music from the University of Maine and Ithaca College, as well as an MFA in Fiction from Pacific University. Her stories are forthcoming or have appeared in the Young Explorer's Adventure Guide Volume 5, Daily Science Fiction, Electric Spec, and Andromeda Spaceways. You can find her on Twitter @katesheeranswed.

Reviews

[Marie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're really getting into the story now! What started as a pretty humorous search for Sloane's missing uncle Vin has turned into meetings with secretive alien races and attempted galaxy takeovers, but still with a good dash of humor (BRO is the best AI and no one can convince me otherwise) and a couple good size slices of "omg just kiss already"

The new characters were great and I loved seeing more of the friendship and working relationship Fortune has with his crew members. On to the next book!

[Maren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This one was kind of odd, at least as far as my attention span was concerned. I tend to zip through books pretty quick if I am really into them - maybe three or four days if like them; two days if I REALLY like them. This one... i really did like it - the characters are just as fun and quirky as they were in the first book, the plot moves along at a fairly steady pace, and there's plenty of action and banter to keep the reader engrossed - but for whatever reason it really didn't hook me and took me several weeks to finish even though it isn't that long. When i was reading it, I very much enjoyed the story. But the draw to keep reading was less an active interest and more of an "I have time to kill and this is a good a story as any to fill that time" mindset. Even with the ending being what it is, and even though i already have the next book downloaded to my phone and ready to go, I feel no strong pull to start in on it.

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A week has passed since Sloane last saw Fortune. She's searching for Ivy, who claims to have information about her uncle Vin's whereabouts, while he's having trouble with the Federation, and his ships have vanished. What's going on? This time, he'll be the one who needs Sloane's help to uncover the truth.

Sloane remains silly, and the addition of the new characters (and the AI ​​BRO) makes their relationships dynamic, fun, and intriguing. Then there's Fortune, pressured and worried by the Federation and the control they're exerting over him, until his frigates disappear and he faces one disaster after another. This storyline has more mystery and action, well-balanced chapter by chapter, although the ending is arguably shocking. The two protagonists are already developing a bond; there are several scenes between them, and I continue to love how the author describes their thoughts about each other.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

And the adventure continues!

I had so much fun following "exasparatingly capable" shero Sloane and her more-bickering-family-than-professional-crew along on this second chapter in her quest to find her uncle Vin. I'm also getting more and more invested in Gareth's search for his missing ships, not to mention that delicious slooooooow burn relationship developing between the two quite reluctant MCs.

On to book 3!

[Heather Texle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. This book (series really) has All of the Things. I read the first two books and the novella in a week (which is pretty fast for me). I made my bestie read it just so we could talk about it. Swed hits all the rights with good humor (BRO just slays me every time), action, and swoony (swooning? swoonish) moments. I'm so happy I stumbled on this series.

[SELENE LAKE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving this series

I am loving this series.
I do wish there was a little romance, but the dysfunctional 'family' drama is entertaining.

I did find some continuity issues, but nothing the ruins the reading flow.

[M.J. Blehart]

Ok, now I'm hooked

The story takes some unexpected turns, and the overall plot gets increasingly convoluted. Glad I continued to read this series and am looking forward to the next.

[Stephanie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I wasn't quite sure about, but the whole series was dirt cheap on Amazon. The second book though... Holy smokes the author definitely found her rhythm. This one had me from start to finish and I cannot wait to see where this series goes.

[Jayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just couldn't put this down. I got lost in the story. I love an underdog like Sloane.

[GREGG CORDELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read and getting better.

This was a good book to read and seems to be getting better. I think I have found my new series to read.

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun! great action!

No sex, a tiny bit of swearing. Crews getting themselves out of impossible scrapes. A real page-turner, book #2 in series- I enjoyed it