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Collaborator #2
Fugitive
Hope is a luxury traitors can't afford.To say Rebecca has some doubts about her personal choices would be underestimating the situation. In this second installment of the Collaborator series, Rebecca finds herself being chased by Blackout officers, border patrol, military intelligence, and surveillance drones. Rebecca still isn't sure she can trust any of these people who'd escaped the exploding station, but what choice does she have? She is a fugitive and a certain Blackout officer wants her back.
178 pages, Paperback
Published February 27, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 13, 2018
Book two in the Collaborator series- The first is Traitor.
I read this in a matter of a few hours, partially because it’s short and partially because the author has an easy, trimmed all the fat-off, brisk style that’s super easy to digest- unlike half the food featured in this book.
Rebecca, is adjusting to life outside the Corps. Dealing with her ex, her low self-esteem, ptsd and a myriad of other things while finally starting to learn to live again.
I have to admit Rebecca’s not the easiest pov to be with, her spiraling emotions that never quite climb out of the unhealthy negativity zone can get tiresome after a while. You just want her to stop self-flagellating and buck up! So, the odd time when she does, it’s like- aw yay, I see progress! I see light coming and I hope we see more of it soon!
The crew is fun, I enjoyed getting to know them although, I still kind of hate Kat, even though I know a lot of her meanness towards Rebecca is stemmed from guilt and a general cynicism of life. She’s not nice and I don’t like her, and I was a bit relieved at the turn of events that make it look like (in this book anyway) there will be no ‘reuniting and it feels so good’. Let’s hope it stays that way.
I did love Mav and Tobi. They are a welcome relief from the downer head-space of Rebecca, and the state of her and Kat’s past love life.
The ideas around different things from the money to the clothing (can I please have a bra and jean fitting machine like that- I hate clothes shopping, I would kill for that machine) are really well thought out and feel like a viable future thing (one can only hope).
My only complaint would be I would have liked more all around. More plot, more Mav and Tobi, more Becca adjusting to station life and showing her smart side, just more, more, more! Other than that, looking forward to the next book.
3.5
I read this in a matter of a few hours, partially because it’s short and partially because the author has an easy, trimmed all the fat-off, brisk style that’s super easy to digest- unlike half the food featured in this book.
Rebecca, is adjusting to life outside the Corps. Dealing with her ex, her low self-esteem, ptsd and a myriad of other things while finally starting to learn to live again.
I have to admit Rebecca’s not the easiest pov to be with, her spiraling emotions that never quite climb out of the unhealthy negativity zone can get tiresome after a while. You just want her to stop self-flagellating and buck up! So, the odd time when she does, it’s like- aw yay, I see progress! I see light coming and I hope we see more of it soon!
The crew is fun, I enjoyed getting to know them although, I still kind of hate Kat, even though I know a lot of her meanness towards Rebecca is stemmed from guilt and a general cynicism of life. She’s not nice and I don’t like her, and I was a bit relieved at the turn of events that make it look like (in this book anyway) there will be no ‘reuniting and it feels so good’. Let’s hope it stays that way.
I did love Mav and Tobi. They are a welcome relief from the downer head-space of Rebecca, and the state of her and Kat’s past love life.
The ideas around different things from the money to the clothing (can I please have a bra and jean fitting machine like that- I hate clothes shopping, I would kill for that machine) are really well thought out and feel like a viable future thing (one can only hope).
My only complaint would be I would have liked more all around. More plot, more Mav and Tobi, more Becca adjusting to station life and showing her smart side, just more, more, more! Other than that, looking forward to the next book.
3.5
February 3, 2018
This book definitely fixed some of the problems I had with the first one. It really did! And it did it well! And I quite enjoyed it!
I'm starting to like Rebecca more and more. She just seems real, and human. Someone whose been through literal hell, so she has panic attacks and freaks out. She's not some stoic "this complete change in life was nothing, let's crush this dudes head" kinda person, she has feelings and shows them.
Of course, I still think these books could use more pages (I'm sorry Krista). There's just so much that hasn't been explored, and I wish it could be explored. There's this interesting universe with interesting characters and we barely cover anything.
On that note, god there was a lot of food talk. Maybe I didn't like it because I'm horribly sick and food makes me feel bad, but it just felt like the descriptions were constant. There was too much food.
On a totally different note, I fucking love Rowe. She's a war hardened rebel making a living off the organ trade, and her personality is fun.
Overall, super fun romp of a book. Sure it has flaws, but that's the same for every book.
It also has lots and lots of cock. But not the kind of cock your thinking about. :P
I'm starting to like Rebecca more and more. She just seems real, and human. Someone whose been through literal hell, so she has panic attacks and freaks out. She's not some stoic "this complete change in life was nothing, let's crush this dudes head" kinda person, she has feelings and shows them.
Of course, I still think these books could use more pages (I'm sorry Krista). There's just so much that hasn't been explored, and I wish it could be explored. There's this interesting universe with interesting characters and we barely cover anything.
On that note, god there was a lot of food talk. Maybe I didn't like it because I'm horribly sick and food makes me feel bad, but it just felt like the descriptions were constant. There was too much food.
On a totally different note, I fucking love Rowe. She's a war hardened rebel making a living off the organ trade, and her personality is fun.
Overall, super fun romp of a book. Sure it has flaws, but that's the same for every book.
It also has lots and lots of cock. But not the kind of cock your thinking about. :P
May 9, 2018
It turned out that being a rebel fugitive was rather boring, with occasional moments of traumatizing terror.
As a fugitive, Rebecca finds herself being chased by Blackout officers, border patrol, military intelligence, and surveillance drones. To make things worse she still isn't sure she can trust any of these people who'd escaped the exploding station, but what choice does she have?
To tell the truth, I enjoyed Traitor more. The story pulled me in, but at times I was tired of Rebecca's fear and feeling bad about everything. Christ girl, pull yourself together.
It was cool to learn a bit more about Mav. Tobi is such a great character, I'd like to read more about her past adventures.
Because of lack of time, it's a low effort review. Suffice to say I enjoyed the book, I still am motivated to follow the series. Having said that, I enjoyed Traitor more.
Actual rating: 3.5/5
February 1, 2018
Following their escape from Jupiter Station, Rebecca, Kat and company are on the run with some other business to attend to.
Another fast paced, quick read. Now that I'm a bit more settled into the characters, it pulled me along with greater ease. It was nice seeing Rebecca grow some, even if she still has her doubting side (don't we all) eating at her sometimes. Tobi continues to be a favorite, getting even more focus this time around.
I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here now that our gang is, somewhat, out of danger for the time being.
Another fast paced, quick read. Now that I'm a bit more settled into the characters, it pulled me along with greater ease. It was nice seeing Rebecca grow some, even if she still has her doubting side (don't we all) eating at her sometimes. Tobi continues to be a favorite, getting even more focus this time around.
I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here now that our gang is, somewhat, out of danger for the time being.
October 25, 2019
Somehow, Rebecca starts this one even MORE pathetic but goodness do you want to see her get better. There's not but maybe two action scenes. This is all about the strange food (Krista's legacy continues!) and Rebecca finding herself a new life. It's a fine sequel.
January 23, 2020
TW: four letter words, same sex romance but no sex scenes
A bunch of rebels escaping across space from the evil Corps, constantly arguing among themselves but pulling together out of necessity. Our heroine, Rebecca, fighting her own fears and self-loathing is beginning to heal a little bit. Surprisingly gripping. This was a quick read. But still no tech or science and no real world-building.
A bunch of rebels escaping across space from the evil Corps, constantly arguing among themselves but pulling together out of necessity. Our heroine, Rebecca, fighting her own fears and self-loathing is beginning to heal a little bit. Surprisingly gripping. This was a quick read. But still no tech or science and no real world-building.
August 26, 2020
Krista D. Ball’s Fugitive (Collaborator Volume 2) picks right up where Traitor left off. Rebecca and the rebels she has semi-accidentally joined up with are fleeing the Corps. Tobi Rowe is badly injured and in need of surgery for another reason–if she doesn’t have it soon, she’ll die. Half of the rebels–well, mostly Kat and Patrice–would prefer to shove Rebecca out of the nearest airlock rather than have a collaborator in their midst. But to Kat’s surprise, Rebecca has some seriously useful skills. And Tobi seems to have adopted her, while Mav, Chad, and Nate just think she deserves a chance after helping them to escape the Jupiter station.
Kat and Patrice clearly would have been happy to leave Rebecca behind on Jupiter station, so it’s hard to like them at first–Rebecca would certainly have been blamed for the explosions, deaths, and prisoner escape, which is a hell of a punishment for being too scared to fight back and trying to bargain for her parents’ lives.
Rebecca is so different from your average sci-fi heroine. She’s crippled by depression and anxiety, and pretty clearly has PTSD left over from the events of Earth’s subjugation. She’s frequently suicidal, and has difficulty speaking up for herself. I related to her so hard that I kept crying while reading this. Her emotional difficulties are just depicted with such utter, breathtaking realism. The fact that she manages to do good things despite this situation is awesome. It’s excellent that Kat is forced to face the fact that Rebecca isn’t “useless,” and is also forced to examine why she’s so angry with Rebecca.
Zain is still after Rebecca (and the others–but his anger at Rebecca is personal). This certainly ups the tension level. There’s lots of fleeing, and looking for things they need, and haggling with riffraff, and visiting a station that’s much farther away from Earth. Tobi’s life hangs in the balance, and Rebecca is determined to look after her.
I can’t wait to read book three!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/08/r...
Kat and Patrice clearly would have been happy to leave Rebecca behind on Jupiter station, so it’s hard to like them at first–Rebecca would certainly have been blamed for the explosions, deaths, and prisoner escape, which is a hell of a punishment for being too scared to fight back and trying to bargain for her parents’ lives.
Rebecca is so different from your average sci-fi heroine. She’s crippled by depression and anxiety, and pretty clearly has PTSD left over from the events of Earth’s subjugation. She’s frequently suicidal, and has difficulty speaking up for herself. I related to her so hard that I kept crying while reading this. Her emotional difficulties are just depicted with such utter, breathtaking realism. The fact that she manages to do good things despite this situation is awesome. It’s excellent that Kat is forced to face the fact that Rebecca isn’t “useless,” and is also forced to examine why she’s so angry with Rebecca.
Zain is still after Rebecca (and the others–but his anger at Rebecca is personal). This certainly ups the tension level. There’s lots of fleeing, and looking for things they need, and haggling with riffraff, and visiting a station that’s much farther away from Earth. Tobi’s life hangs in the balance, and Rebecca is determined to look after her.
I can’t wait to read book three!
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/08/r...
January 6, 2018
This felt so short, which really says something for how much I enjoyed it. I just want more of Rebecca's story, and more than that, I want to see her heal and be happy.
The pace for this was a bit slower, a bit less action-packed than the first book; the antagonists and conflict felt slightly less compelling, but I loved the way the relationships are building between Rebecca and everyone else. I even ended up hating Kat slightly less than I did at the beginning of the series (still kinda hate her tho').
I can't wait to read the third book.
The pace for this was a bit slower, a bit less action-packed than the first book; the antagonists and conflict felt slightly less compelling, but I loved the way the relationships are building between Rebecca and everyone else. I even ended up hating Kat slightly less than I did at the beginning of the series (still kinda hate her tho').
I can't wait to read the third book.
March 3, 2024
The Collaborator series is interesting in that the heroine is not at all heroic, but manages to muddle through regardless. I'm on the 3rd one and intend to complete the series.
I gave it (actually the series) only 3 stars because Ball seems obsessed with one particular version of profanity - a crude term for male genitalia. The characters, except for the heroine, seem to use it every other sentence, often with minimal meaning or relevance. There's an obsession here, and it seriously interferes with the narrative.
I gave it (actually the series) only 3 stars because Ball seems obsessed with one particular version of profanity - a crude term for male genitalia. The characters, except for the heroine, seem to use it every other sentence, often with minimal meaning or relevance. There's an obsession here, and it seriously interferes with the narrative.
December 6, 2024
There are things I just love about this space opera. It's about relationships - at this point in the story we know very little about the "bad guys". Our main character Rebecca is not a hero. She's an ordinary person, sucked into extraordinary events. This book answers the questions that other, more epic sci-fi and fantasy ignore. The characters eat, and worry about buying and paying for food, things like that. It's not entirely the best written book ever, but it's pretty good and I can forgive a lot for the plot.
May 27, 2021
Wow. This is not a fun read. It's not an happy story – but it is an exceptional one.
Rebecca has escaped from the colony on Jupiter where she was an indentured servant. She's traumatised, suffers from PTSD and panic attacks, and is suicidal. But gradually, over the course of this book, we see her beginning to claw her way back from the depths.
In the end, this is an uplifting, optimistic story. It's a story of finding hope for the future when you thought there was none.
Rebecca has escaped from the colony on Jupiter where she was an indentured servant. She's traumatised, suffers from PTSD and panic attacks, and is suicidal. But gradually, over the course of this book, we see her beginning to claw her way back from the depths.
In the end, this is an uplifting, optimistic story. It's a story of finding hope for the future when you thought there was none.
January 31, 2018
It felt like an episode of Firefly where you replaced the crew with terrorists/freedom fighters. it was a surprisingly feel good story considering how damaged many of the characters are. It might not be unfair to describe it as a slice of life book, and I preferred it to highly praised SciFi slice of life book "A long way to a small angry planet".
January 21, 2018
I intended to read a quarter or so of the book before I went to bed, but I ended up finishing the entire thing and missing my bed time. I absolutely love the characters you've introduced us to (minus Zain ;)) and I can't wait to read book 3.
December 7, 2019
Krista comes through again with
gut punching emotion throughout every twist and turn.
gut punching emotion throughout every twist and turn.
March 31, 2023
Couldn't put it down!
January 9, 2018
Great!
Loved this second book in the Collaborator series. The characters are brilliantly written and I empathize much with the main protagonist and her internal struggles. Loved the bits of action and descriptions of ship board life as well as the space station-had a flavor all it's own. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Loved this second book in the Collaborator series. The characters are brilliantly written and I empathize much with the main protagonist and her internal struggles. Loved the bits of action and descriptions of ship board life as well as the space station-had a flavor all it's own. Can't wait to see what happens next.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews