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Disco Space Opera #2
Devil's Gun
No one escapes their past as the crew of the You Sexy Thing attempts to navigate the hazards of opening a pop-up restaurant and the dangers of a wrathful pirate-king seeking vengeance in Cat Rambo's Devil's Gun .
Life’s hard when you’re on the run from a vengeful pirate-king…
When Niko and her crew find that the intergalactic Gate they're planning on escaping through is out of commission, they make the most of things, creating a pop-up restaurant to serve the dozens of other stranded ships.
But when an archaeologist shows up claiming to be able to fix the problem, Niko smells something suspicious cooking. Nonetheless, they allow Farren to take them to an ancient site where they may be able to find the weapon that could stop Tubal Last before he can take his revenge.
There, in one of the most dangerous places in the Known Universe, each of them will face ghosts from their past: Thorn attempts something desperate and highly illegal to regain his lost twin, Atlanta will have to cast aside her old role and find her new one, Dabry must confront memories of his lost daughter, and Niko is forced to find Petalia again, despite a promise not to seek them out.
Meanwhile, You Sexy Thing continues to figure out what it wants from life—which may not be the same desire as Niko and the rest of the crew.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Life’s hard when you’re on the run from a vengeful pirate-king…
When Niko and her crew find that the intergalactic Gate they're planning on escaping through is out of commission, they make the most of things, creating a pop-up restaurant to serve the dozens of other stranded ships.
But when an archaeologist shows up claiming to be able to fix the problem, Niko smells something suspicious cooking. Nonetheless, they allow Farren to take them to an ancient site where they may be able to find the weapon that could stop Tubal Last before he can take his revenge.
There, in one of the most dangerous places in the Known Universe, each of them will face ghosts from their past: Thorn attempts something desperate and highly illegal to regain his lost twin, Atlanta will have to cast aside her old role and find her new one, Dabry must confront memories of his lost daughter, and Niko is forced to find Petalia again, despite a promise not to seek them out.
Meanwhile, You Sexy Thing continues to figure out what it wants from life—which may not be the same desire as Niko and the rest of the crew.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2023
32 people are currently reading
1873 people want to read
About the author
Cat Rambo
250 books582 followersF&SF writer Cat Rambo lives and writes in the Midwest. They have been shortlisted for an Endeavour Award, Locus Award, World Fantasy Award and most recently the Nebula Award. Their debut novel, BEASTS OF TABAT, appeared in 2015 from WordFire Press, the same year she co-edited AD ASTRA: THE SFWA 50TH ANNIVERSARY COOKBOOK. Their most recent book is DEVIL'S GUN (novel, Tor Macmillan). They are a former two-term President of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and still volunteers with the organization.
They run the popular online writing school focused on fantasy and science fiction, the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. (academy.catrambo.com)
Sign up for Cat's newsletter at
They run the popular online writing school focused on fantasy and science fiction, the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. (academy.catrambo.com)
Sign up for Cat's newsletter at
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
September 14, 2023
3.5 Stars
Video: https://youtu.be/eLlHLaTmHd0
This was such an entertaining sequel within this cozy space opera series. I enjoyed You Sexy Thing so I was happy to return back to this world for another story.
As one would expect with a series like this, the story itself felt lighter in tone with fairly low stakes. This was a fun romp where the reader will not have to worry about the wellbeing of the characters.
I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a comforting read in the vein ofthe Wayfarer series.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video: https://youtu.be/eLlHLaTmHd0
This was such an entertaining sequel within this cozy space opera series. I enjoyed You Sexy Thing so I was happy to return back to this world for another story.
As one would expect with a series like this, the story itself felt lighter in tone with fairly low stakes. This was a fun romp where the reader will not have to worry about the wellbeing of the characters.
I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a comforting read in the vein ofthe Wayfarer series.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
August 29, 2023
Ahoy there me mateys! I really enjoyed the first book in this series. Though that book could be a standalone, I was happy to pick up the sequel. The blurb for the second book is filled with spoilers and a bit misleading. The pirate-king doesn't appear in this novel at all!
This was a good bridge book. The highlight for me was seeing Thing (the ship) navigate its existence and the choices it chose to make. The novel sets up a cliffhanger ending with no real idea of where the story will go next. That said, I be excited by the possibilities.
The plot was a bit light. The majority of the first part of the novel felt like no plot and and all character angst which I don't tend to enjoy. Captain Niko is fretting about her past and loses a lot of her strong leader characteristics. While I understood Talon's pain, how he deals with it and how the crew fails to notice grew extremely tiresome. Talon's choices were beyond stupid. Atlanta also spends time trying to figure out her purpose. Her journey was a bit more realistic to read about because she was trying to make progress.
The second half was filled with a lot more action and sped by. I really loved the moments of humor (Thing's logo being a favorite). It may seem like a more negative review but I really did enjoy this quick read and really want to know what happens next. Arrr!
This was a good bridge book. The highlight for me was seeing Thing (the ship) navigate its existence and the choices it chose to make. The novel sets up a cliffhanger ending with no real idea of where the story will go next. That said, I be excited by the possibilities.
The plot was a bit light. The majority of the first part of the novel felt like no plot and and all character angst which I don't tend to enjoy. Captain Niko is fretting about her past and loses a lot of her strong leader characteristics. While I understood Talon's pain, how he deals with it and how the crew fails to notice grew extremely tiresome. Talon's choices were beyond stupid. Atlanta also spends time trying to figure out her purpose. Her journey was a bit more realistic to read about because she was trying to make progress.
The second half was filled with a lot more action and sped by. I really loved the moments of humor (Thing's logo being a favorite). It may seem like a more negative review but I really did enjoy this quick read and really want to know what happens next. Arrr!
September 23, 2023
You would think that as I age and have more disposable income (at least in theory) and more control over my free time (at least in theory) that I would get better, not worse, at reading series … but no. So here I am, partaking in Devil’s Gun, having not read You Sexy Thing first. I don’t know if the first book in this series from Cat Rambo just passed me by or if I passed on it because the title made it sound like not my kind of thing. If it was the latter, that was a mistake, for this series delivers delightful and surprisingly cozy space opera. I’m sure I won’t be alone in comparing this to Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers series (though I have also managed to somehow not read all of those as well). I received an eARC from NetGalley and Tor in exchange for a review.
Picking up on the events of the book I didn’t read, Devil’s Gun follows the now-legitimized crew of the You Sexy Thing, a sentient bioship. It’s a ragtag crew very much giving Farscape vibes, and I am here for it. They spend this book processing trauma from the first while trying to figure out their next move, which eventually comes down to finding the eponymous MacGuffin in the hopes that it will help them deal with the space pirate who is hunting them all. Oh, and there’s clones and con artists and all manner of discussion of food.
I took a chance that it was OK I hadn’t read the first book, and that gamble paid off big. Firstly, Rambo has written the book in such a way that despite definitely not being standalone you can slide into this world and still understand the characters and their current struggles. Secondly, this book provides a synopsis of You Sexy Thing at the start—thank you! I really do wish more series did this; it improved my experience of this book immensely. Thus, while I recommend you read the first book, you don’t need to.
The cast is delightfully diverse and varied in how they deal with situations. I think I am (re)learning how much I enjoy space opera involving heterogeneous crews rather than the military SF or adjacent setups of more rigid, hierarchal structures. Niko is captain, sure, but she has far from the last word about You Sexy Thing—and Thing itself has a startling level of “ask for forgiveness” attitude about it. This all makes for a great deal of drama and conflict, though it is often very low stakes. Through a hopping, limited third-person narrator, we get to know some of the characters more than others. Overall, I love how Rambo develops each of them. Atlanta is probably my favourite in that respect.
Similarly, I loved following along as Rambo fleshed out the larger universe. They draw easily on established tropes (like an extinct civilization literally called the Forerunners) to create their own unique take on a cosmopolitan, intergalactic society. I especially love how they set up what appears to be a great and dramatic mystery surrounding the Gates, arguably the most important Forerunner tech around, only to provide an anticlimactic solution near the end of the book in what is almost a throwaway line. This firmly establishes Devil’s Gun as “cozy” science fiction. Yes, there are hardships and existential conflict; on the other hand, the conflict is extremely interpersonal.
If you’re looking for space battles and military strategy or high-stakes, boots-on-the-ground combat, you won’t get it here. But if you want arguments, people sneaking around behind each other’s backs, a sarcastic sentient spaceship, and more such shenanigans—then, yeah, Devil’s Gun and the previous book in this series are going to be just your thing.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
Picking up on the events of the book I didn’t read, Devil’s Gun follows the now-legitimized crew of the You Sexy Thing, a sentient bioship. It’s a ragtag crew very much giving Farscape vibes, and I am here for it. They spend this book processing trauma from the first while trying to figure out their next move, which eventually comes down to finding the eponymous MacGuffin in the hopes that it will help them deal with the space pirate who is hunting them all. Oh, and there’s clones and con artists and all manner of discussion of food.
I took a chance that it was OK I hadn’t read the first book, and that gamble paid off big. Firstly, Rambo has written the book in such a way that despite definitely not being standalone you can slide into this world and still understand the characters and their current struggles. Secondly, this book provides a synopsis of You Sexy Thing at the start—thank you! I really do wish more series did this; it improved my experience of this book immensely. Thus, while I recommend you read the first book, you don’t need to.
The cast is delightfully diverse and varied in how they deal with situations. I think I am (re)learning how much I enjoy space opera involving heterogeneous crews rather than the military SF or adjacent setups of more rigid, hierarchal structures. Niko is captain, sure, but she has far from the last word about You Sexy Thing—and Thing itself has a startling level of “ask for forgiveness” attitude about it. This all makes for a great deal of drama and conflict, though it is often very low stakes. Through a hopping, limited third-person narrator, we get to know some of the characters more than others. Overall, I love how Rambo develops each of them. Atlanta is probably my favourite in that respect.
Similarly, I loved following along as Rambo fleshed out the larger universe. They draw easily on established tropes (like an extinct civilization literally called the Forerunners) to create their own unique take on a cosmopolitan, intergalactic society. I especially love how they set up what appears to be a great and dramatic mystery surrounding the Gates, arguably the most important Forerunner tech around, only to provide an anticlimactic solution near the end of the book in what is almost a throwaway line. This firmly establishes Devil’s Gun as “cozy” science fiction. Yes, there are hardships and existential conflict; on the other hand, the conflict is extremely interpersonal.
If you’re looking for space battles and military strategy or high-stakes, boots-on-the-ground combat, you won’t get it here. But if you want arguments, people sneaking around behind each other’s backs, a sarcastic sentient spaceship, and more such shenanigans—then, yeah, Devil’s Gun and the previous book in this series are going to be just your thing.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews, where you can easily browse all my reviews and subscribe to my newsletter.
August 22, 2024
A reprise of classic space operas back to (at least) Andre Norton's Forerunners. This one starts out a bit slow, but once the author got all their balls in the air, I had no further complaints. They are clearly well-read in this genre. I had fun picking out their inspirations and direct quotes: in Known Space, "You're my only hope!" The titular Devil’s Gun was inspired by Iain M. Banks’ Lazy Gun — and made a clever last line to tease you on to the next book. Rebbe the clone had me recalling Monty Python and the “Life of Brian”… And many more!
The found-family light adventure stuff worked well for me. I appreciated the reprise of What Has Gone Before at this book’s start. Of the new characters, Jezli the Forerunner archaeologist/con-woman was a hit with me, and a thorn in Captain Niko’s side. The Paladin Roxana, Jezli’s partner, was poignant, and the adventure in the ancient, dangerous Forerunner starship was great. And gave young Atlanta a big boost.
This one is definitely a Middle Book in the projected “Disco Space Opera” trilogy, with the third book, scheduled for publication in late Sept. 2024, already high on my TBR list. Plus, Rambo has a tentative outline for a 10-book series in this story arc!
You will see that reactions to the first two books are mixed. Well, so what. I liked this one a lot, at least a solid 4 stars worth, and I considered giving the book a 4.5 rating. See what you think. Good stuff, and a notch up from the first. I had a lot of fun with this one. Hope you like it, too!
The found-family light adventure stuff worked well for me. I appreciated the reprise of What Has Gone Before at this book’s start. Of the new characters, Jezli the Forerunner archaeologist/con-woman was a hit with me, and a thorn in Captain Niko’s side. The Paladin Roxana, Jezli’s partner, was poignant, and the adventure in the ancient, dangerous Forerunner starship was great. And gave young Atlanta a big boost.
This one is definitely a Middle Book in the projected “Disco Space Opera” trilogy, with the third book, scheduled for publication in late Sept. 2024, already high on my TBR list. Plus, Rambo has a tentative outline for a 10-book series in this story arc!
You will see that reactions to the first two books are mixed. Well, so what. I liked this one a lot, at least a solid 4 stars worth, and I considered giving the book a 4.5 rating. See what you think. Good stuff, and a notch up from the first. I had a lot of fun with this one. Hope you like it, too!
November 14, 2024
4.5 stars
The nitty-gritty: A sequel just as good as the first book, Devil's Gun excels at character development and world-building, with plenty of heart and emotion.
Devil’s Gun is the sequel to You Sexy Thing, which I read a couple of years ago and loved. I thought Sci Fi Month would be the perfect time to catch up with it, especially since it came out last year and I haven’t been able to fit it into my schedule until now. And I’m so glad I read it! Cat Rambo’s series (which is rumored to be a ten book series when it’s finished) is cozy sci-fi at its best, and although the covers scream “traditional space opera,” don’t let the spaceship artwork fool you. You will have a perpetual smile on your face while reading these books, I guarantee it!
There may be small spoilers ahead if you haven’t read You Sexy Thing, but I’ll do my best to avoid them. The story picks up after the explosive events at the end of the last book with the vicious space pirate Tubal Last. Captain Niko Larsen and her crew know that Tubal Last will come after them again, and Niko thinks their success in surviving an attack might lie in finding Niko’s ex-lover Petalia, the last of the plant-like race called Florians. But Niko and Petalia parted on bad terms and she doesn’t know where they are.
As You Sexy Thing and her crew travel to the Gate that will take them closer to Petalia’s presumed location, shocking news arrives. The Gate is down and not working, which is something Niko didn’t think was possible. A stranger named Jezli Farren claims to know how to repair the gate, and she might have vital information on how to take care of Tubal Last, once they confront him. Niko doesn’t trust her at all, but keeping her close might be the best way to defeat her enemy.
Most of the story is set onboard the Thing as the crew is traveling from one place to another, so there isn’t a lot of action or plot in this installment. However, please don’t let that stop you from reading this. The best thing about Rambo’s series is her wonderful cast of characters and the ways they interact with each other, and the story is full of “slice of life” moments that cemented my feelings for all the characters. Most of the characters from the last book are still around, and Rambo continues to develop each one. In You Sexy Thing, we met Atlanta, a young girl who was smuggled aboard the Thing in a sealed box. Atlanta thought she was the Imperial heir of her people, but she turned out to be a clone of the real Atlanta. This was upsetting news for her, and in this book she’s coming to terms with her status and trying to find her purpose aboard the Thing. I loved her journey, which takes some surprising turns.
The other character going through an emotional journey is Talon, twin brother to the late Thorn, who was murdered in the last book. Talon and Thorn were not only brothers but soulmates, and Talon is finding it almost impossible to live without his brother. He makes a hasty and ill advised decision in this book that leads to some interesting consequences and lots of drama. Talon’s anger at the world jumps off the page, and I really felt for him.
The bioship You Sexy Thing is one of my favorite characters, and we get to see them grow in lots of ways. Thing has just become aware of emotions, and now they are learning about things like subterfuge and secrets—to Niko’s dismay!
Food is still an important part of the crew. In You Sexy Thing, Niko owned a restaurant, and Second in Command Dabry was the head chef. Although the restaurant blew up at the end of the last book, Dabry is determined to carry on cooking elaborate meals for the crew, aided by Gio and Skidoo. Gio mourns the loss of their old life more than the others, and wants nothing more than to finish this awful business with Tubal Last and settle down and open a new restaurant.
Despite all the low key moments in the story, though, the tension slowly builds until the last few chapters, when the crew finds themselves in danger once again. Rambo introduces the moth ships in this installment, and rather than go into detail, I’ll just say I loved everything about them, and I hope the author explores them further in future books. A rather shocking cliffhanger ends this story, and for once I don’t mind because I will be starting the next book, Rumor Has It, very soon.
This series is such a treat and highly recommended for readers who love a good cozy/thriller mix in their stories.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
The nitty-gritty: A sequel just as good as the first book, Devil's Gun excels at character development and world-building, with plenty of heart and emotion.
Devil’s Gun is the sequel to You Sexy Thing, which I read a couple of years ago and loved. I thought Sci Fi Month would be the perfect time to catch up with it, especially since it came out last year and I haven’t been able to fit it into my schedule until now. And I’m so glad I read it! Cat Rambo’s series (which is rumored to be a ten book series when it’s finished) is cozy sci-fi at its best, and although the covers scream “traditional space opera,” don’t let the spaceship artwork fool you. You will have a perpetual smile on your face while reading these books, I guarantee it!
There may be small spoilers ahead if you haven’t read You Sexy Thing, but I’ll do my best to avoid them. The story picks up after the explosive events at the end of the last book with the vicious space pirate Tubal Last. Captain Niko Larsen and her crew know that Tubal Last will come after them again, and Niko thinks their success in surviving an attack might lie in finding Niko’s ex-lover Petalia, the last of the plant-like race called Florians. But Niko and Petalia parted on bad terms and she doesn’t know where they are.
As You Sexy Thing and her crew travel to the Gate that will take them closer to Petalia’s presumed location, shocking news arrives. The Gate is down and not working, which is something Niko didn’t think was possible. A stranger named Jezli Farren claims to know how to repair the gate, and she might have vital information on how to take care of Tubal Last, once they confront him. Niko doesn’t trust her at all, but keeping her close might be the best way to defeat her enemy.
Most of the story is set onboard the Thing as the crew is traveling from one place to another, so there isn’t a lot of action or plot in this installment. However, please don’t let that stop you from reading this. The best thing about Rambo’s series is her wonderful cast of characters and the ways they interact with each other, and the story is full of “slice of life” moments that cemented my feelings for all the characters. Most of the characters from the last book are still around, and Rambo continues to develop each one. In You Sexy Thing, we met Atlanta, a young girl who was smuggled aboard the Thing in a sealed box. Atlanta thought she was the Imperial heir of her people, but she turned out to be a clone of the real Atlanta. This was upsetting news for her, and in this book she’s coming to terms with her status and trying to find her purpose aboard the Thing. I loved her journey, which takes some surprising turns.
The other character going through an emotional journey is Talon, twin brother to the late Thorn, who was murdered in the last book. Talon and Thorn were not only brothers but soulmates, and Talon is finding it almost impossible to live without his brother. He makes a hasty and ill advised decision in this book that leads to some interesting consequences and lots of drama. Talon’s anger at the world jumps off the page, and I really felt for him.
The bioship You Sexy Thing is one of my favorite characters, and we get to see them grow in lots of ways. Thing has just become aware of emotions, and now they are learning about things like subterfuge and secrets—to Niko’s dismay!
Food is still an important part of the crew. In You Sexy Thing, Niko owned a restaurant, and Second in Command Dabry was the head chef. Although the restaurant blew up at the end of the last book, Dabry is determined to carry on cooking elaborate meals for the crew, aided by Gio and Skidoo. Gio mourns the loss of their old life more than the others, and wants nothing more than to finish this awful business with Tubal Last and settle down and open a new restaurant.
Despite all the low key moments in the story, though, the tension slowly builds until the last few chapters, when the crew finds themselves in danger once again. Rambo introduces the moth ships in this installment, and rather than go into detail, I’ll just say I loved everything about them, and I hope the author explores them further in future books. A rather shocking cliffhanger ends this story, and for once I don’t mind because I will be starting the next book, Rumor Has It, very soon.
This series is such a treat and highly recommended for readers who love a good cozy/thriller mix in their stories.
Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.
June 28, 2025
3.5 stars. I enjoyed spending more time with the crew of the You Sexy Thing, but overall, I found the plot less engaging than the first book.
July 28, 2023
I received an advance copy via NetGalley.
Devil's Gun is a sequel to You Sexy Thing, a space opera romp that mixes in a lot of fantasy elements along with some light-hearted foodie aspects. I highly recommend starting the series with the first book, as there's a lot of world-building and the narrative hops between perspectives in a broad cast.
Most of the protagonists are former soldiers/current restauranteurs. I'll avoid specifics to keep away from spoilers, but I shall say that the events of the first book resulted in the loss of their business as they came aboard a sentient space ship named Big Sexy Thing. A big bad guy sought revenge against them and somewhat succeeded, and the crew now seeks to eliminate him once and for all so that they can resume cooking in peace.
This very much feels like the bridge book in a series. There's not a lot of action, and instead, the focus is on character development; there's also not as much cooking. That said, I still found it a fairly fast and breezy read. The combination of science fiction and magic fascinates me, and the developments here in book two make me very curious about how things will play out in the next volume.
Devil's Gun is a sequel to You Sexy Thing, a space opera romp that mixes in a lot of fantasy elements along with some light-hearted foodie aspects. I highly recommend starting the series with the first book, as there's a lot of world-building and the narrative hops between perspectives in a broad cast.
Most of the protagonists are former soldiers/current restauranteurs. I'll avoid specifics to keep away from spoilers, but I shall say that the events of the first book resulted in the loss of their business as they came aboard a sentient space ship named Big Sexy Thing. A big bad guy sought revenge against them and somewhat succeeded, and the crew now seeks to eliminate him once and for all so that they can resume cooking in peace.
This very much feels like the bridge book in a series. There's not a lot of action, and instead, the focus is on character development; there's also not as much cooking. That said, I still found it a fairly fast and breezy read. The combination of science fiction and magic fascinates me, and the developments here in book two make me very curious about how things will play out in the next volume.
April 3, 2023
Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo
This is a sequel to You Sexy Thing. I almost didn’t read You Sexy Thing due to the title. I’m not particularly interested in sex in my scifi but it was just the name of the ship. The ship is a self-aware ship that illustrates some of the current concerns about AI. Some of the ship’s decisions are decidedly questionable. It is a major character in the book. Captain Niko and her mixed alien crew are trying to go on the offensive with the pirate Tubal Last. They pair up with a con artist and paladin and go on a quest.
Rambo does a good job illustrating the success and foibles of interpersonal relationships. Talon’s loss leads him into questionable behavior but is a good study of how grief can impact the logical decision-making process.
There is action, deceit, and acceptance.
I enjoyed the book.
This is a sequel to You Sexy Thing. I almost didn’t read You Sexy Thing due to the title. I’m not particularly interested in sex in my scifi but it was just the name of the ship. The ship is a self-aware ship that illustrates some of the current concerns about AI. Some of the ship’s decisions are decidedly questionable. It is a major character in the book. Captain Niko and her mixed alien crew are trying to go on the offensive with the pirate Tubal Last. They pair up with a con artist and paladin and go on a quest.
Rambo does a good job illustrating the success and foibles of interpersonal relationships. Talon’s loss leads him into questionable behavior but is a good study of how grief can impact the logical decision-making process.
There is action, deceit, and acceptance.
I enjoyed the book.
April 1, 2024
This book felt like it was just going through the motions. It wasn't bad, it was just vaguely lifeless. None of the characters felt real, none of the stakes really meant anything. Things happened to characters but very little ever felt by choice. Readable, but a little slow. Not really bad, just kind of blah. 2.5 of 5.
July 25, 2025
Nico and the crew of the bioship You Sexy Thing continue on with their adventures in "Devil's Gun," the second in the Disco Space Opera trilogy. I enjoyed the tale, but it wasn't as engaging as the first book, probably because the majority of the book was taken up with interpersonal issues between the found family crew members, and nothing much really happened plot-wise until the last third of the book. Once we got there, however, it was satisfying.
Onward to the final book!
Onward to the final book!
January 31, 2024
Solid continuation of a fun, extremely readable series. The characters are still charming, the actual plot still nebulous at best. I do think it's really doing something neat and interesting with the Thing itself as a character; the whole evolving sentience/learning emotions deal is a trope I always like, but I'm particularly having fun with the way the Thing has this sort of 'rebellious teenager who hasn't figured out emotional intelligence because it's only just now getting a grasp on emotions as a concept to begin with, give it some time' deal going on.
October 13, 2023
Definitely a spoiler to You Sexy Thing, the first pages are a synopsis of book one. Niko receives a message that says Tubal Last is alive. The first order of business is to locate Petalia. Last is probably looking for them, they need protection and might know some weakness. As they set out in the direction where Petalia was dropped off, we then focus on the crew. Especially Atlanta who is trying to find her place, something that will make her a valuable member of Niko’s crew. Talon is melancholy because his twin died. They hear a rumor that the Gate is down, this is leftover technology from the forerunners and no Gate has ever been known to fail. When they find it is down and someone is coming who says she can fix it, it seems suspicious.
This didn't hook me right away, maybe I'm too focused on the football season, but it never mired into a slog either. The interaction between Atlanta and the ship was fun. The other story lines were good. When I got my focus it went quickly, four stars.
This didn't hook me right away, maybe I'm too focused on the football season, but it never mired into a slog either. The interaction between Atlanta and the ship was fun. The other story lines were good. When I got my focus it went quickly, four stars.
December 24, 2023
This book picks up directly after the first one “You Sexy Thing”. There’s a helpful summary of that novel at the beginning. This really is a space opera, with all the OTT drama and silly plot twists that a soap opera implies. I think it’s important for me to keep that attitude in mind when reading, because I was a little let down.
For a good 60% of the book, nothing happens other than interpersonal melodrama and setting up a pop up restaurant. When the plot finally gets going, I enjoyed it more, though the resolution comes seemingly by accident. However, as Lassite would claim, there are no accidents in The Known Universe. LOL
For a good 60% of the book, nothing happens other than interpersonal melodrama and setting up a pop up restaurant. When the plot finally gets going, I enjoyed it more, though the resolution comes seemingly by accident. However, as Lassite would claim, there are no accidents in The Known Universe. LOL
November 9, 2025
DNF @ 44%/ 14 chapters read
I'm so bummed. Honestly, I think I'm just not a huge fan of cozy sci-fi. I've been so bored waiting for things to happen and now that there is finally a set up for things to come I've, sadly, lost interest.
Here is the thing, I really like the characters, I like the setting, and there is a lot of potential for me to enjoy this. If you like found family that's already together, but trying to hold together after grief and a newbie trying to find her place -- this is great. There is a lot of character-driven material here. Lots of emotion and exploration.
I'm so bummed. Honestly, I think I'm just not a huge fan of cozy sci-fi. I've been so bored waiting for things to happen and now that there is finally a set up for things to come I've, sadly, lost interest.
Here is the thing, I really like the characters, I like the setting, and there is a lot of potential for me to enjoy this. If you like found family that's already together, but trying to hold together after grief and a newbie trying to find her place -- this is great. There is a lot of character-driven material here. Lots of emotion and exploration.
October 20, 2023
This was good but good lord was it slow. This is not plot heavy. It is character heavy and is great at fleshing them out and the found family aspect. But not a lot actually happens. The big baddie Tubal doesn’t even make an appearance? But some new bad-ish guy shows up? Idk. It felt a little rushed at the end.
February 19, 2024
The series continues to be fun. It channels Firefly and Farscape while managing to be its own thing. New folks enter, some exit, and ancient relics.
August 6, 2024
Our crew struggled a lot more in this one, mostly with becoming themselves and finding peace within. Can't wait for the next one!
August 3, 2024
A fun middle book of a trilogy that deals with the ship slowly developing sentience, identity in the context of clones, and trying to figure out what to do with yourself after you find out everything you've known was a lie. Oh, also, space pirates are trying to kill you all. Fun little read, and honestly, I'm interested to see where the next book goes.
July 1, 2024
Unfortunately, this sequel to ‘You Sexy Thing’ does not live up to the quality of story provided int he first book. The characters remain engaging, but the storyline skims important actions (e.g.: The Moth visit) and spends far too much time dealing with the angst of one adolescent character. Very little actually happens in this sequel. Frustrating.
August 13, 2023
Devil's Gun has a lot to live up to, as sequel to You Sexy Thing. It's the housework between the first and third books. Niko is too stuck in her own misery over losing Petalia to lead them effectively. The crew have their own agendas. There's at least one traitor on board. The Thing is like a toddler learning to exercising its free will, with sometimes disastrous consequences.
On top of that, they're stranded when the Gate they need goes down. An archaeologist turns up, claiming to be able to fix it, and she manages to get herself taken aboard the Thing.
There were a lot of threads in this book, a lot of switching between the POVs of the various characters, and a lot of exposition. I'm making it sound bad, and it's not. It was a good read, but it wasn't as...well-seasoned?...as You Sexy Thing.
Why you should read this: well, because, like me, you loved the first book, and want to spend time with these awesome characters. You also really, really want Tubal to get their comeuppance.
Why you might not want to read this: lots of switching between POVs, lots of dithering by the characters, not a lot of cooking, and not a lot of action, overall, as compared to YST.
I received an advance copy from Tor via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Find this and other reviews at redhatcatreviews.com.
4 out of 5 stars. Recommended.
On top of that, they're stranded when the Gate they need goes down. An archaeologist turns up, claiming to be able to fix it, and she manages to get herself taken aboard the Thing.
There were a lot of threads in this book, a lot of switching between the POVs of the various characters, and a lot of exposition. I'm making it sound bad, and it's not. It was a good read, but it wasn't as...well-seasoned?...as You Sexy Thing.
Why you should read this: well, because, like me, you loved the first book, and want to spend time with these awesome characters. You also really, really want Tubal to get their comeuppance.
Why you might not want to read this: lots of switching between POVs, lots of dithering by the characters, not a lot of cooking, and not a lot of action, overall, as compared to YST.
I received an advance copy from Tor via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Find this and other reviews at redhatcatreviews.com.
4 out of 5 stars. Recommended.
September 6, 2023
Now, that's more like it!
I criticized the first book in this series,'You Sexy Thing', for having too many continuity errors and other simple mistakes that kept pulling me out of the narrative. A shame, because I was enjoying this space opera romp.
This book picks up where the last one left off, and is a much smoother ride. As with a second book, we learn more about the background of the crew members. This is enhanced by the roving POV that puts us inside the head of each character in turn (including the bad guy, and the sentient spaceship).
Interstellar gates, mysterious ghosts, magic, strange weaponry, a formidable giant paladin – it's got a lot. Some of the parts I enjoyed most were the humor that kept cropping up. It's a strange crew, but they are (largely) devoted to each other and often find amusement with each other. The sentient ship in particular is done well, brilliant but emotionally immature and prone to mistakes in judgment it doesn't understand.
The larger message is about finding a supportive found family, and dealing with the loss of those you love. Grief and loss play a major role in driving the narrative..
The book it reminds me of is Alastair Reynolds 'Revenger' and its sequels. That book is unabashedly YA (and won the YA award from Locus). Thins in common include ghosts, strange transportation methods, space pirates with weird names, and siblings. This does not mean the book is elementary in any way, it rings the chimes on the space opera trope the way they should be rung. Both books can be enjoyed by adults or young adults alike; it's just that there's nothing in this book that would make it not YA, and many themes that a young person could identify with. The character of Talon, in particular, would be most sympathetic to a YA reader.
I tagged a spoiler alert on this because it's clear this is not the last book in the series, despite what Amazon says. Stay tuned for more ghosts, space pirates, exotic weaponry, and questing through the galaxy, along with one of the most diverse and cleverly drawn crews in SF.
I criticized the first book in this series,'You Sexy Thing', for having too many continuity errors and other simple mistakes that kept pulling me out of the narrative. A shame, because I was enjoying this space opera romp.
This book picks up where the last one left off, and is a much smoother ride. As with a second book, we learn more about the background of the crew members. This is enhanced by the roving POV that puts us inside the head of each character in turn (including the bad guy, and the sentient spaceship).
Interstellar gates, mysterious ghosts, magic, strange weaponry, a formidable giant paladin – it's got a lot. Some of the parts I enjoyed most were the humor that kept cropping up. It's a strange crew, but they are (largely) devoted to each other and often find amusement with each other. The sentient ship in particular is done well, brilliant but emotionally immature and prone to mistakes in judgment it doesn't understand.
The larger message is about finding a supportive found family, and dealing with the loss of those you love. Grief and loss play a major role in driving the narrative..
The book it reminds me of is Alastair Reynolds 'Revenger' and its sequels. That book is unabashedly YA (and won the YA award from Locus). Thins in common include ghosts, strange transportation methods, space pirates with weird names, and siblings. This does not mean the book is elementary in any way, it rings the chimes on the space opera trope the way they should be rung. Both books can be enjoyed by adults or young adults alike; it's just that there's nothing in this book that would make it not YA, and many themes that a young person could identify with. The character of Talon, in particular, would be most sympathetic to a YA reader.
I tagged a spoiler alert on this because it's clear this is not the last book in the series, despite what Amazon says. Stay tuned for more ghosts, space pirates, exotic weaponry, and questing through the galaxy, along with one of the most diverse and cleverly drawn crews in SF.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2023
I loved You Sexy Thing – it was pacy, action-packed, great characters, and just a lot of fun. I’d been looking forward to the sequel for ages, but honestly I’m puzzled by Devil’s Gun. The characters are all there, and it was fun to spend more time with them and get to know them all a little better. The plot though, and the pacing…it just felt completely off. Nobody so much as leaves the Thing until 50% of the way through, and it hits 60% before the plot properly starts going. After that, the rest of the book is good fun, balancing action and excitement with interesting character development, but it all feels a little rushed. Which is no surprise really, after that slow first half.
Your enjoyment of Devil’s Gun may depend on how much you liked the characters last time around, and how much you can appreciate just spending time with them talking, planning, training and cooking for a full half of the book. Oh, and also how you feel about head-swapping mid-chapter, which occurs with alarming regularity here – I got used to it, but I don’t love it. I think it probably happened in You Sexy Thing too, but somehow it seems more noticeable here.
Overall, I did kind of enjoy this in the end, and I do want to know what happens next, but it feels like a very strangely paced book. Proceed with caution, I’d say.
Your enjoyment of Devil’s Gun may depend on how much you liked the characters last time around, and how much you can appreciate just spending time with them talking, planning, training and cooking for a full half of the book. Oh, and also how you feel about head-swapping mid-chapter, which occurs with alarming regularity here – I got used to it, but I don’t love it. I think it probably happened in You Sexy Thing too, but somehow it seems more noticeable here.
Overall, I did kind of enjoy this in the end, and I do want to know what happens next, but it feels like a very strangely paced book. Proceed with caution, I’d say.
July 4, 2024
This is my favorite volume.
The first had some rough parts with violence but this one was about recovering from the losss. Especially with two of my favorite characters (nah. I love them all and Thing even more, no favorites). Thorn is having a hard time with the loss of his twin brother, it's worrisome until he decides to do something about it, secret and illegal. Let's say it doesn't go as he expects. Atlanta, who struggles to find a meaningful task/part among this crew, becomes someone with a larger and honorable goal. I am glad that there are new characters as well and that Petalia returns to the plot. The climax of this volume was awesome and epic and I am looking forward to reading more of Niko's crew. I laughed out loud when the Thing took a new pet just to make a point. The ship's interaction with the crew is hilarious as always. Very fun read perfect for summer break as well. Loving this found family ship running away from a physocapth pirate King murderer.
The first had some rough parts with violence but this one was about recovering from the losss. Especially with two of my favorite characters (nah. I love them all and Thing even more, no favorites). Thorn is having a hard time with the loss of his twin brother, it's worrisome until he decides to do something about it, secret and illegal. Let's say it doesn't go as he expects. Atlanta, who struggles to find a meaningful task/part among this crew, becomes someone with a larger and honorable goal. I am glad that there are new characters as well and that Petalia returns to the plot. The climax of this volume was awesome and epic and I am looking forward to reading more of Niko's crew. I laughed out loud when the Thing took a new pet just to make a point. The ship's interaction with the crew is hilarious as always. Very fun read perfect for summer break as well. Loving this found family ship running away from a physocapth pirate King murderer.
July 21, 2024
Installment one introduced Captain Niko Larsen and her mixed crew of cooks, ex-soldiers, humans, and extraterrestrials of all shapes, sizes, abilities, and psychologies earned a grudging three stars for inventiveness and descriptive writing. Volume two fails to energize the quirky world and bring it to life. It is a variation of Pirandello's play, where the characters are not in search of an author, but in search of a story. Rather than abandon the book, I read to the end hoping for some payoff to justify the effort but was disappointed.
There are far too many characters and plot lines. The narrative is choppy, and slow, slow, slow to develop only to switch gears between characters and start over again. Repetitive, plenty of opportunities for conflict and tension which fade quickly with each shift in POV. Entirely too much whining for ex-soldiers. The novel comes to an end not only with an unsatisfactory resolution but also a jarringly inconsistent twist given the setup harped on throughout the narrative.
There are far too many characters and plot lines. The narrative is choppy, and slow, slow, slow to develop only to switch gears between characters and start over again. Repetitive, plenty of opportunities for conflict and tension which fade quickly with each shift in POV. Entirely too much whining for ex-soldiers. The novel comes to an end not only with an unsatisfactory resolution but also a jarringly inconsistent twist given the setup harped on throughout the narrative.
August 31, 2023
Devil’s Gun picks up the story of You Sexy Thing and its crew just after the moment at the end of the first book in the Disco Space Opera series, named after the ship and the damnable earworm of the song that the title comes from.
It’s the point where they’ve just learned that the evil space pirate they hoped they’d killed as they escaped his imploding, exploding ship/space station. Which, to be totally fair, was entirely deserved as he had already murdered one of their number and spent years brainwashing Captain Niko Larson’s former lover against her.
Pirate King Jubal Last is a bad, bad man, and the universe wasn’t going to miss him if he was gone. The only problem is that he isn’t. Meaning that Larson and her crew are on the run, away from Last and towards someone who they hope will help them figure out a way to take him out. Again.
If only they can find her. And if only she’ll give them the time of day. Because it’s that same brainwashed ex-lover that Larson still hasn’t gotten over. Just as the rest of the crew hasn’t gotten over the damage that Last did in their recent encounter.
And in the midst of Larson chasing down what once was, and one of her crew members trying to breathe life back into someone who has lost theirs, a new member of the crew searches for purpose while the sentient, sapient bioship that Larson is nominally – sometimes very nominally – in command of pursues its own interests for its own purposes. Specifically, for the purpose of creating drama and not getting bored.
It’s a recipe for disaster – but that’s not the problem it would be for most ship’s crews. Because if there is one thing that this crew is good at, it’s making a tasty dish out of a completely mismatched and even downright dangerous list of ingredients!
Escape Rating B: I picked this up because I enjoyed the first book in the series, You Sexy Thing, very much in spite of its unfortunate case of villain fail. The crew is as motley as you’d expect, but their bone-deep respect and reliance on each other – and the way they deal with their life and their livelihood through bantering away the stress made it an overall fun read with a heaping helping of heartbreak at the end.
But thank goodness that there’s a “when last we left our heroes” summary of that first book in the beginning of this second one, because it’s been over a year since I read it and almost two years since it came out.
I liked Devil’s Gun but didn’t love it nearly as much as I did You Sexy Thing in spite of that villain fail. Jubal Last was just a bit too over-the-top bwahaha to make sense as a character. But I loved the crew and got invested in their situation more than enough to feel for them as things went down.
Devil’s Gun reads like a middle book. It also reads as a chase for a macguffin that no one, least of all Niko Larson herself, is ever sure isn’t a scam. And it felt like a collection of separate plot threads that don’t quite braid together into a whole, as several members of the crew have their own problems to pursue and keep themselves to themselves more than a bit.
With the ship in pursuit of its own goals – to the detriment of everyone and everything else – as the story goes along. Admittedly, that part is fascinating. It’s as though Moya in Farscape took the ship where she wanted to go instead of where the crew wanted to go ALL THE TIME.
Which would have been cool – even as the crew would have been infuriated. As Larson often is in this story.
The sentient ship You Sexy Thing will certainly make readers think of Farscape and its sentient ship, Moya, although You Sexy Thing has considerably more personality. I’m not sure about the regular comparisons between this series and the Great British Bake Off as there’s no food competition going on – although there is plenty of cooking and baking. There’s also more than a bit of a resemblance between this universe and its intergalactic ‘gates’ left behind by an ancient race of Forerunners and Mass Effect and its mass relay travel gates left behind by the ancient Prothean race.
In other words, there are elements of Devil’s Gun and the Disco Space Opera series that will ring a lot of bells and bring back a lot of memories for SF readers, (I’m sure I’ve seen the Devil’s Gun itself, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, in Simon R. Green’s intertwined universes) blended into a story that’s a whole lot of fun and rides or dies on the interpersonal relationships among the crew. Which is also not an uncommon element of SF and space opera in general.
So if that’s your jam as it is for this reader, take a trip on the You Sexy Thing with Devil’s Gun. And the fun – for certainly deadly and sometimes insane definitions of fun – isn’t over yet. Devil’s Gun, like You Sexy Thing before it, ends on a mic drop. There is clearly more to come for this crew, and I’m looking forward to it!
Originally published at Reading Reality
It’s the point where they’ve just learned that the evil space pirate they hoped they’d killed as they escaped his imploding, exploding ship/space station. Which, to be totally fair, was entirely deserved as he had already murdered one of their number and spent years brainwashing Captain Niko Larson’s former lover against her.
Pirate King Jubal Last is a bad, bad man, and the universe wasn’t going to miss him if he was gone. The only problem is that he isn’t. Meaning that Larson and her crew are on the run, away from Last and towards someone who they hope will help them figure out a way to take him out. Again.
If only they can find her. And if only she’ll give them the time of day. Because it’s that same brainwashed ex-lover that Larson still hasn’t gotten over. Just as the rest of the crew hasn’t gotten over the damage that Last did in their recent encounter.
And in the midst of Larson chasing down what once was, and one of her crew members trying to breathe life back into someone who has lost theirs, a new member of the crew searches for purpose while the sentient, sapient bioship that Larson is nominally – sometimes very nominally – in command of pursues its own interests for its own purposes. Specifically, for the purpose of creating drama and not getting bored.
It’s a recipe for disaster – but that’s not the problem it would be for most ship’s crews. Because if there is one thing that this crew is good at, it’s making a tasty dish out of a completely mismatched and even downright dangerous list of ingredients!
Escape Rating B: I picked this up because I enjoyed the first book in the series, You Sexy Thing, very much in spite of its unfortunate case of villain fail. The crew is as motley as you’d expect, but their bone-deep respect and reliance on each other – and the way they deal with their life and their livelihood through bantering away the stress made it an overall fun read with a heaping helping of heartbreak at the end.
But thank goodness that there’s a “when last we left our heroes” summary of that first book in the beginning of this second one, because it’s been over a year since I read it and almost two years since it came out.
I liked Devil’s Gun but didn’t love it nearly as much as I did You Sexy Thing in spite of that villain fail. Jubal Last was just a bit too over-the-top bwahaha to make sense as a character. But I loved the crew and got invested in their situation more than enough to feel for them as things went down.
Devil’s Gun reads like a middle book. It also reads as a chase for a macguffin that no one, least of all Niko Larson herself, is ever sure isn’t a scam. And it felt like a collection of separate plot threads that don’t quite braid together into a whole, as several members of the crew have their own problems to pursue and keep themselves to themselves more than a bit.
With the ship in pursuit of its own goals – to the detriment of everyone and everything else – as the story goes along. Admittedly, that part is fascinating. It’s as though Moya in Farscape took the ship where she wanted to go instead of where the crew wanted to go ALL THE TIME.
Which would have been cool – even as the crew would have been infuriated. As Larson often is in this story.
The sentient ship You Sexy Thing will certainly make readers think of Farscape and its sentient ship, Moya, although You Sexy Thing has considerably more personality. I’m not sure about the regular comparisons between this series and the Great British Bake Off as there’s no food competition going on – although there is plenty of cooking and baking. There’s also more than a bit of a resemblance between this universe and its intergalactic ‘gates’ left behind by an ancient race of Forerunners and Mass Effect and its mass relay travel gates left behind by the ancient Prothean race.
In other words, there are elements of Devil’s Gun and the Disco Space Opera series that will ring a lot of bells and bring back a lot of memories for SF readers, (I’m sure I’ve seen the Devil’s Gun itself, or a reasonable facsimile thereof, in Simon R. Green’s intertwined universes) blended into a story that’s a whole lot of fun and rides or dies on the interpersonal relationships among the crew. Which is also not an uncommon element of SF and space opera in general.
So if that’s your jam as it is for this reader, take a trip on the You Sexy Thing with Devil’s Gun. And the fun – for certainly deadly and sometimes insane definitions of fun – isn’t over yet. Devil’s Gun, like You Sexy Thing before it, ends on a mic drop. There is clearly more to come for this crew, and I’m looking forward to it!
Originally published at Reading Reality
March 11, 2024
Quick synopsis
: In the last third of the book (the first 60% had no plot), the crew of You Sexy Thing had to deal with a small-time bad guy, an ancient and dead space moth, and a were-lion clone.
Plot : Book 2 of the Disco Space Opera trilogy; book 1, You Sexy Thing, was reviewed by me here.
The first two-thirds of this book had no plot at all. Nothing happened. The crew only talked about or thought about their backstories and relations with each other. This was completely pointless -- book one introduced them and we knew about them enough to continue with book one's plot. The plot of book two did not need to be held up for two-thirds of the book for more backstory.
At about the 65% point of the book, the plot started up. (Though honestly, by that point I had lost interest.) A small-time bad guy (a captain of a different ship) had serious anger management problems. Serious, serious, serious. He was about as realistic as the bad guy from book one (as in: not at all). Dealing with him was Plot A, including a romp through the corpse of a giant dead space moth. I skimmed about half of it.
Plot B was the slightly more interesting one. In book one, we met two were-lion twins. One of them was killed, and the other was over the top mourning him. Finally the small-time bad guy from Plot A slipped the remaining twin illegal cloning tech, so mourning twin made a clone of dead twin. Since the clone had no memories and a different personality and all that, this plot was the more interesting one to me, but unfortunately it got a fraction of the time Plot A got.
Writing/editing : I wish this trilogy had been organized differently. Take the two-thirds of a book of backstory from this one, narrow it down to the necessary bits, then add it into the character introductions in book one.
Other than that, the writing and editing were fine.
What I Liked/What I Didn’t Like : I need a realistic, believable threat in my stories, and unfortunately the bad guys in both books were just not believable at all.
Also, the captain of You Sexy Thing had love for an alien plant person that lasted through many many years of them not seeing each other, it just felt over the top and not believable to me.
Finally, I feel like I've had the You Sexy Thing song stuck in my head for weeks now, and it's driving me insane.
Rating: 1-Hated / 2-Disliked / 3-Okay / 4-Liked / 5-Loved : 2. I wish I could have enjoyed this book. I stuck through the two-thirds of character backstory part of the book to get to the plot part, but I should have DNFed it.
Sadly I won't be picking up the final book of the trilogy.
Plot : Book 2 of the Disco Space Opera trilogy; book 1, You Sexy Thing, was reviewed by me here.
The first two-thirds of this book had no plot at all. Nothing happened. The crew only talked about or thought about their backstories and relations with each other. This was completely pointless -- book one introduced them and we knew about them enough to continue with book one's plot. The plot of book two did not need to be held up for two-thirds of the book for more backstory.
At about the 65% point of the book, the plot started up. (Though honestly, by that point I had lost interest.) A small-time bad guy (a captain of a different ship) had serious anger management problems. Serious, serious, serious. He was about as realistic as the bad guy from book one (as in: not at all). Dealing with him was Plot A, including a romp through the corpse of a giant dead space moth. I skimmed about half of it.
Plot B was the slightly more interesting one. In book one, we met two were-lion twins. One of them was killed, and the other was over the top mourning him. Finally the small-time bad guy from Plot A slipped the remaining twin illegal cloning tech, so mourning twin made a clone of dead twin. Since the clone had no memories and a different personality and all that, this plot was the more interesting one to me, but unfortunately it got a fraction of the time Plot A got.
Writing/editing : I wish this trilogy had been organized differently. Take the two-thirds of a book of backstory from this one, narrow it down to the necessary bits, then add it into the character introductions in book one.
Other than that, the writing and editing were fine.
What I Liked/What I Didn’t Like : I need a realistic, believable threat in my stories, and unfortunately the bad guys in both books were just not believable at all.
Also, the captain of You Sexy Thing had love for an alien plant person that lasted through many many years of them not seeing each other, it just felt over the top and not believable to me.
Finally, I feel like I've had the You Sexy Thing song stuck in my head for weeks now, and it's driving me insane.
Rating: 1-Hated / 2-Disliked / 3-Okay / 4-Liked / 5-Loved : 2. I wish I could have enjoyed this book. I stuck through the two-thirds of character backstory part of the book to get to the plot part, but I should have DNFed it.
Sadly I won't be picking up the final book of the trilogy.
October 19, 2024
Shopping at book stores is delightful because you can find weird books in addition to mainstream ones with big marketing budgets. Devil's Gun seemed to be a gem of a find -- a book I hadn't heard of that promised a truly baffling mélange of space opera and restaurant drama, like The Bear on board the Millenium Falcon. Unfortunately, some books are obscure because they don't quite work, and Devil's Gun didn't land for me.
The book didn't land in part because this is the second book in a series, and the context of the first, "You Sexy Thing", is essential. I was drawn into this book by solid cover art and a really spectacular pen name -- Cat Rambo! -- but I do wish the front cover or back cover blurb bothered to mention this was part of a series. Unfortunately, the book is almost all interpersonal drama based on the fallout of the last book, so it spoiled the first book and failed to stand on its own.
The interpersonal drama plays out with a weird, semi-omniscient 3rd person narrator that will often bounce back and forth between describing the emotional responses of different characters in the scene. I much prefer a more limited narration, following the thoughts of one view point character in each chapter (or staying fully out of characters' heads), which may be a matter of taste, but I felt this narration often belabored interpersonal details that might have been better exposed in conversation or with description.
It also didn't help that very little happened in the book besides characters arguing with one another. I can tick off 2-3 inciting incidents, but they come quite late. For instance, the popup restaurant I was promised doesn't show up until halfway through the book (and doesn't last more than a few chapters), and we don't meet a promised antagonist until 2/3 of the way in. The whole thing is pretty languid, indulging in a cast of characters that I didn't know and wasn't convinced to love. (Notably, the captain, the star of the show, is weirdly dry. Other characters have hooks, but Niko is kind of barren.)
To the book's credit, it is very big swing space opera -- there's space magic, prophecies, octopus space hackers who are just learning the meaning of friendship, uplifted apes and some compelling inter-spaceship drama. It did deliver on all the weirdness it promised, but didn't really follow through on a plot or on conflict -- ultimately culminating with a weird dream sequence. Despite being charmingly weird, I was bored, which doomed this in my mind.
The book didn't land in part because this is the second book in a series, and the context of the first, "You Sexy Thing", is essential. I was drawn into this book by solid cover art and a really spectacular pen name -- Cat Rambo! -- but I do wish the front cover or back cover blurb bothered to mention this was part of a series. Unfortunately, the book is almost all interpersonal drama based on the fallout of the last book, so it spoiled the first book and failed to stand on its own.
The interpersonal drama plays out with a weird, semi-omniscient 3rd person narrator that will often bounce back and forth between describing the emotional responses of different characters in the scene. I much prefer a more limited narration, following the thoughts of one view point character in each chapter (or staying fully out of characters' heads), which may be a matter of taste, but I felt this narration often belabored interpersonal details that might have been better exposed in conversation or with description.
It also didn't help that very little happened in the book besides characters arguing with one another. I can tick off 2-3 inciting incidents, but they come quite late. For instance, the popup restaurant I was promised doesn't show up until halfway through the book (and doesn't last more than a few chapters), and we don't meet a promised antagonist until 2/3 of the way in. The whole thing is pretty languid, indulging in a cast of characters that I didn't know and wasn't convinced to love. (Notably, the captain, the star of the show, is weirdly dry. Other characters have hooks, but Niko is kind of barren.)
To the book's credit, it is very big swing space opera -- there's space magic, prophecies, octopus space hackers who are just learning the meaning of friendship, uplifted apes and some compelling inter-spaceship drama. It did deliver on all the weirdness it promised, but didn't really follow through on a plot or on conflict -- ultimately culminating with a weird dream sequence. Despite being charmingly weird, I was bored, which doomed this in my mind.
March 14, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Devil's Gun is the second SF novel featuring the cast and crew of You Sexy Thing (a space ship) by Cat Rambo. Released 29th Aug 2023 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher 3rd quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.
I've been a fan of the author for years and some of their short fiction is not just good, but sublime. The writing here is, as always, more than competent and eminently readable. The main themes here, of found family, finding one's purpose, and making the universe a slightly better place, sit side by side with LGBTQIA+ representation (which -hallelujah- does *not* drive the entire plot), adventure, and a solid mix of humor which surprised an audible chuckle in several places.
The titular "Sexy Thing" is an AI bio-ship central to the plot, and this is not a racy/sexy book by any salacious definition of the word. There is some inherent violence (it's a pirate space opera SF cozy mystery adventure), but again, not egregious, and the violence is integral to the plot. As in much of the author's oeuvre, there is heavy tragedy mixed in amongst the humor.
There is so much going on in the plot that it could easily have devolved into a muddled chaotic mess, but the author is skilled and technically so adept at the craft of writing that the whole gels into a cohesive and entertaining melange. Despite being the second book in a series (with a third due out in Aug 2024), it works fine as a standalone. The author provides enough backstory and context to enjoy the book without drowning the reader or info-dumping character background. The first book is equally delicious and this would be a great choice for public library acquisition, a long weekend binge or buddy read.
Four stars. All in all a good and worthwhile space opera with some foodie moments. The author writes very very well.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Devil's Gun is the second SF novel featuring the cast and crew of You Sexy Thing (a space ship) by Cat Rambo. Released 29th Aug 2023 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 288 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher 3rd quarter 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.
I've been a fan of the author for years and some of their short fiction is not just good, but sublime. The writing here is, as always, more than competent and eminently readable. The main themes here, of found family, finding one's purpose, and making the universe a slightly better place, sit side by side with LGBTQIA+ representation (which -hallelujah- does *not* drive the entire plot), adventure, and a solid mix of humor which surprised an audible chuckle in several places.
The titular "Sexy Thing" is an AI bio-ship central to the plot, and this is not a racy/sexy book by any salacious definition of the word. There is some inherent violence (it's a pirate space opera SF cozy mystery adventure), but again, not egregious, and the violence is integral to the plot. As in much of the author's oeuvre, there is heavy tragedy mixed in amongst the humor.
There is so much going on in the plot that it could easily have devolved into a muddled chaotic mess, but the author is skilled and technically so adept at the craft of writing that the whole gels into a cohesive and entertaining melange. Despite being the second book in a series (with a third due out in Aug 2024), it works fine as a standalone. The author provides enough backstory and context to enjoy the book without drowning the reader or info-dumping character background. The first book is equally delicious and this would be a great choice for public library acquisition, a long weekend binge or buddy read.
Four stars. All in all a good and worthwhile space opera with some foodie moments. The author writes very very well.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 19, 2024
I put this on a pedestal because I was so in love with the first book. I pre-ordered the paperback version, waited months for it to come out (because the book sizes have to match, obviously), and began reading the moment I got my hands on it.
And woah buddy was I let down.
Book 1 was rife with wit, cunning, danger, and commraderie. I was literally laughing out loud at several points in the book and then sitting on the edge of my seat mere pages later. Book 2? Had none of that. Every single character (You Sexy Thing included) experienced some sort of existential crises, be it mild or life-altering. Niko was off-kilter; Dabry (who I love) was mournful and mean; Gio saw his past return; Milly dealt with the consequences of her actions; Atlanta struggles with her purpose; Talon isn't even a person outside of his grief; and YST self-actualizes. Even Lassite has his moments where he gets thrown for total loops. And there were no moments of humor or witty one-liners to break up the drudgery of flying through space and dealing with all their inner turmoils.
This was a bridge book, for sure. My only hope is that all this character development we saw here becomes incredibly useful in the next book. I'm also desperate for the return of Rambo's humor.
I do have a theory I need to share with the class about the ending, though.
*** SPOILERS ***
*** YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ***
Petalia holding the Devil's Gun and getting the error message. I do not believe, for one second, that there are two of Tubal Last. I believe that they harbor so much hatred for both Last and Niko that the Gun cannot choose a target because she's targeting BOTH of them, intentional or otherwise. What better way to truly get their freedom than removing both Tubal Last and Niko so that no one chases them down? I think we're going to spend the entirety of Book 3 chasing down a nonexistent clone of Last while we see the rebuilding of Niko and Pet's relationship (though never rekindling the romance because some things truly are dead) to the point where Pet only wants to kill Last and maybe only mildly maim Niko.
We'll see.
But I'm eager for Book 3 to return to the drama of Book 1.
And woah buddy was I let down.
Book 1 was rife with wit, cunning, danger, and commraderie. I was literally laughing out loud at several points in the book and then sitting on the edge of my seat mere pages later. Book 2? Had none of that. Every single character (You Sexy Thing included) experienced some sort of existential crises, be it mild or life-altering. Niko was off-kilter; Dabry (who I love) was mournful and mean; Gio saw his past return; Milly dealt with the consequences of her actions; Atlanta struggles with her purpose; Talon isn't even a person outside of his grief; and YST self-actualizes. Even Lassite has his moments where he gets thrown for total loops. And there were no moments of humor or witty one-liners to break up the drudgery of flying through space and dealing with all their inner turmoils.
This was a bridge book, for sure. My only hope is that all this character development we saw here becomes incredibly useful in the next book. I'm also desperate for the return of Rambo's humor.
I do have a theory I need to share with the class about the ending, though.
*** SPOILERS ***
*** YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED ***
Petalia holding the Devil's Gun and getting the error message. I do not believe, for one second, that there are two of Tubal Last. I believe that they harbor so much hatred for both Last and Niko that the Gun cannot choose a target because she's targeting BOTH of them, intentional or otherwise. What better way to truly get their freedom than removing both Tubal Last and Niko so that no one chases them down? I think we're going to spend the entirety of Book 3 chasing down a nonexistent clone of Last while we see the rebuilding of Niko and Pet's relationship (though never rekindling the romance because some things truly are dead) to the point where Pet only wants to kill Last and maybe only mildly maim Niko.
We'll see.
But I'm eager for Book 3 to return to the drama of Book 1.
August 2, 2023
*copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*
The Devil's Gun is the sequel to Cat Rambo's You Sexy Thing, which I would characterise as a space opera in which an ex-admiral turned restauranteur has to save themselves and their found family from an ominous nemesis and their own feelings. Occasionally, they blow stuff up!
The Devil's Gun serves up a lot of the same dishes as its predecessor, but with some interesting new flavours. The crew, fresh from their defeat of Tubal Last - space pirate and general do-babder - are trying to settle into themselves after a fairly hectic period. They've had losses that they need to deal with. They've brought new members into their little family, including a sentient, star-hopping bio-ship with a bit of an attitude. They've lost people. too, and need to grieve. And even as they're doing that, new stormclouds are gathering, threatening to tear away at all they've built.
The team on the Thing are on a mission, a mission to find an old love, an old friend. And while they're doing that, they're still trying to rebuild themselves, physically and mentally. Most of the book feels like a character piece, in a good way. An ensemble cast, whose views we get to see, whose weaknesses and fears are laid bare on the page, even while their actions set up their strengths. Some of them, like Atlanta, one time Imperial heir, now occasional mushroom-chopper are feeling insecure and looking for purpose. Some of them, like the Thing itself, are reaching out, trying to define their boundaries. Understand their feelings, and what provokes them, what makes them happy, and why, sometimes, you might need to do the harder thing. And some of them are deep in their grief. You can feel that roiling off them, a miasma that infects everything they do, and tries to define what they are. In some ways, large parts of the story are meditations on that grief; the way that loss shapes people, the way it makes them do things they wouldn't normally do, for better or worse. The way that living it can be horrible and hurtful and healthy, and clutching it too tight can be poison.
Which all sounds very dramatic, and in some ways it is. But the crew of the Thing spend a large amount of the story working alongside each other, a story in a bottle over a flame, slowly simmering away. There are, for those of you who were wondering, more twists, more betrayals, and more revelations in the world of Niko and her gang. Some of them are potentially galaxy-spanning in their impacts. Others are quieter - the click of a kitchen knife chopping vegetables, the fierce strength of someone digging in raw soil for their purpose.
I won't spoil here beyond saying that the Thing will run into enemies and friends old and new. Some of them are charming and rougish and e a delight to read; others are petty tyrants, with a sense of turgid malice about them that makes you grit your teeth, and feel catharsis when comeuppance occurs. This is The Devil's Gun, another story about the family that is the crew of the Thing. It's their stories, the complex notes of tragedy and joy over the base of action, adventure, and really wild things, those stories that make the meal. It's a slow burn, building context and emotional investment layer by layer, page by page, but the final product deserves, well, whatever a Michelin star is for stories. If you're new to the series, it's probably worth going back before you go forward, the story works better that way, has more weight, more depth to it. But if you're fresh off the first book and looking for more, don't worry.
The Devil's Gun does not disappoint.
The Devil's Gun is the sequel to Cat Rambo's You Sexy Thing, which I would characterise as a space opera in which an ex-admiral turned restauranteur has to save themselves and their found family from an ominous nemesis and their own feelings. Occasionally, they blow stuff up!
The Devil's Gun serves up a lot of the same dishes as its predecessor, but with some interesting new flavours. The crew, fresh from their defeat of Tubal Last - space pirate and general do-babder - are trying to settle into themselves after a fairly hectic period. They've had losses that they need to deal with. They've brought new members into their little family, including a sentient, star-hopping bio-ship with a bit of an attitude. They've lost people. too, and need to grieve. And even as they're doing that, new stormclouds are gathering, threatening to tear away at all they've built.
The team on the Thing are on a mission, a mission to find an old love, an old friend. And while they're doing that, they're still trying to rebuild themselves, physically and mentally. Most of the book feels like a character piece, in a good way. An ensemble cast, whose views we get to see, whose weaknesses and fears are laid bare on the page, even while their actions set up their strengths. Some of them, like Atlanta, one time Imperial heir, now occasional mushroom-chopper are feeling insecure and looking for purpose. Some of them, like the Thing itself, are reaching out, trying to define their boundaries. Understand their feelings, and what provokes them, what makes them happy, and why, sometimes, you might need to do the harder thing. And some of them are deep in their grief. You can feel that roiling off them, a miasma that infects everything they do, and tries to define what they are. In some ways, large parts of the story are meditations on that grief; the way that loss shapes people, the way it makes them do things they wouldn't normally do, for better or worse. The way that living it can be horrible and hurtful and healthy, and clutching it too tight can be poison.
Which all sounds very dramatic, and in some ways it is. But the crew of the Thing spend a large amount of the story working alongside each other, a story in a bottle over a flame, slowly simmering away. There are, for those of you who were wondering, more twists, more betrayals, and more revelations in the world of Niko and her gang. Some of them are potentially galaxy-spanning in their impacts. Others are quieter - the click of a kitchen knife chopping vegetables, the fierce strength of someone digging in raw soil for their purpose.
I won't spoil here beyond saying that the Thing will run into enemies and friends old and new. Some of them are charming and rougish and e a delight to read; others are petty tyrants, with a sense of turgid malice about them that makes you grit your teeth, and feel catharsis when comeuppance occurs. This is The Devil's Gun, another story about the family that is the crew of the Thing. It's their stories, the complex notes of tragedy and joy over the base of action, adventure, and really wild things, those stories that make the meal. It's a slow burn, building context and emotional investment layer by layer, page by page, but the final product deserves, well, whatever a Michelin star is for stories. If you're new to the series, it's probably worth going back before you go forward, the story works better that way, has more weight, more depth to it. But if you're fresh off the first book and looking for more, don't worry.
The Devil's Gun does not disappoint.
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