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Chaotic Orbits #1
Full Speed to a Crash Landing
A high octane sexy space heist from New York Times-bestselling author Beth Revis, the first in a novella trilogy.
Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission.
But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…
A phenomenally fun novella that kicks off a trilogy of sexy space heists and romantic tension, Full Speed to a Crash Landing is packed with great characters and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.
Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission.
But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…
A phenomenally fun novella that kicks off a trilogy of sexy space heists and romantic tension, Full Speed to a Crash Landing is packed with great characters and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.
181 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
243 people are currently reading
10394 people want to read
About the author
Beth Revis
57 books6,696 followersBeth Revis writes books. She also eats too much chocolate, wishes she could travel more, and prefers puppies to people. Beth lives in rural NC with her boys: one husband, one son, two very large puppies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,059 reviews
April 25, 2025
4 Stars
What can I say? I obviously really enjoyed this sci-fi novella!
As per the blurb, Ada is a lone scavenger, mostly scouring space and planets for random ghost ships or wreckage to salvage anything that might be valuable for resale. While trying to work a crash site before others find it, an accident renders her helpless, and it’s divine luck that another ship is nearby to rescue her or is it?
When Ada’s reluctantly taken in by the Halifax, she somehow charms her way through the governmental crew, especially Rian, the man in charge who’s desperate to find an important piece of intel from the very ruined spacecraft Ada has found. The interactions between these two were spot on, and though they each hold their cards close to the vest for reasons, how fortuitous is it that Ada just so happens to have the skill and equipment to make Rian’s endeavor achievable.
Know that this has some interesting world building. Earth is basically a dying planet, and humanity has colonized a few new places, but as with most science fiction with this scenario, there’s always the admirable goal to restore Earth to its former glory. Touching on overpopulation and its repercussions, government bureaucracy, corporate greed, and the fringe factions that have their own agendas, I was impressed that this small package contained so much. The seriousness of these topics contrasted nicely with the suspenseful mission and entertaining crew dynamics, making this a propulsive quick read.
Ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, overall, this was a fun space romp with action, drama, and a touch of romance in the making! I definitely want to see how these pesky political and personal motives will either keep our two engaging protagonists at odds with each other or bring them together. My obvious bet is on the latter, and I’ll be over here waiting impatiently for the next installment to drop later this year!
Thank you to the author and DAW via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review
Chaotic Orbits Series
1. Full Speed to a Crash Landing - 4 Stars
2. How to Save a Galaxy - 4 Stars
3. Last Chance to Save the World - 4 Stars
What can I say? I obviously really enjoyed this sci-fi novella!
As per the blurb, Ada is a lone scavenger, mostly scouring space and planets for random ghost ships or wreckage to salvage anything that might be valuable for resale. While trying to work a crash site before others find it, an accident renders her helpless, and it’s divine luck that another ship is nearby to rescue her or is it?
When Ada’s reluctantly taken in by the Halifax, she somehow charms her way through the governmental crew, especially Rian, the man in charge who’s desperate to find an important piece of intel from the very ruined spacecraft Ada has found. The interactions between these two were spot on, and though they each hold their cards close to the vest for reasons, how fortuitous is it that Ada just so happens to have the skill and equipment to make Rian’s endeavor achievable.
Know that this has some interesting world building. Earth is basically a dying planet, and humanity has colonized a few new places, but as with most science fiction with this scenario, there’s always the admirable goal to restore Earth to its former glory. Touching on overpopulation and its repercussions, government bureaucracy, corporate greed, and the fringe factions that have their own agendas, I was impressed that this small package contained so much. The seriousness of these topics contrasted nicely with the suspenseful mission and entertaining crew dynamics, making this a propulsive quick read.
Ending on a bit of a cliffhanger, overall, this was a fun space romp with action, drama, and a touch of romance in the making! I definitely want to see how these pesky political and personal motives will either keep our two engaging protagonists at odds with each other or bring them together. My obvious bet is on the latter, and I’ll be over here waiting impatiently for the next installment to drop later this year!
Thank you to the author and DAW via NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review
Chaotic Orbits Series
1. Full Speed to a Crash Landing - 4 Stars
2. How to Save a Galaxy - 4 Stars
3. Last Chance to Save the World - 4 Stars
July 24, 2024
To be honest, where this book first went wrong for me was with the audiobook narrators. There are two narrators (one for the heroine, one for the love interest's chapters). The heroine's narrator was way over the top, giving the voice a cartoonish quality. The main character is already kind of obnoxious, and this only intensified it. Our protagonist is of the Chaotic&Quirky variety, with the banter that never stops and is never really clever either. The chapters narrated by the love interest were also terrible, as they were given in a report-format. This led to a very dry recitation, constantly interrupted by footnotes that were called out by the narrator saying "Footnote: ..." If you are going to read this book, don't listen to the audiobook.
The next thing that bothered me was the technobabble. I do not expect perfect science in my scifi, and I think scifi can be more fun when it doesn't get hung up on what is currently proven. However, if a science fact is presented it should at least not be blatantly wrong. Even in just the first few chapters, this book was already riddled with characters confidently saying "facts" about physics that are in direct contradiction to how physics actually works (yes, mass still matters, even in outer space).
Also, a romance needs to be more than characters ogling each other, which is what this one felt like. Of course, with our heroine annoyingly yammering the whole time.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Lore for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
The next thing that bothered me was the technobabble. I do not expect perfect science in my scifi, and I think scifi can be more fun when it doesn't get hung up on what is currently proven. However, if a science fact is presented it should at least not be blatantly wrong. Even in just the first few chapters, this book was already riddled with characters confidently saying "facts" about physics that are in direct contradiction to how physics actually works (yes, mass still matters, even in outer space).
Also, a romance needs to be more than characters ogling each other, which is what this one felt like. Of course, with our heroine annoyingly yammering the whole time.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Lore for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
July 25, 2025
Inscrutably transparent
When we first meet Ada Lamarr she is alone on her ship Glory with less than an hour of oxygen left. Ada makes her living by salvaging abandoned spaceships. She is ostensibly here to salvage valuable metal from a ship that crashed on a nearby planet. But as a result of an explosion, Glory now has a three-meter hole in her hull, and almost all systems are down. That includes life support, but not communications. Ada knows that there is another ship in the vicinity and has sent out a distress call.
Ada is straight as a corkscrew and trustworthy as a seven-dollar bill. I have no hesitation in mentioning Ada's dodginess, because it is (1) Extremely obvious from page 1, and (2) Intentionally obvious. That is, in my judgment Beth Revis fully intends to make it obvious that Ada is up to something.
In fact, this is the thing I don't get about Full Speed to a Crash Landing. It is transparently obvious what Ada is about, and you will work out in some detail how she intends to do it. You don't need to be particularly clever to do so -- Ada tells you. She's the first-person narrator of this story -- you're in her head and you know what she's thinking for most of the book. (I say "most" because a few chapters are ostensibly documents written by and to government agent Rian White.) Ada doesn't exactly blurt out her detailed plans, but honestly, not much is left to the imagination.
The upshot was that nothing surprised me. Well, I take that back -- one thing did surprise me. I was surprised that Revis wrote a book whose plot twists were so transparently revealed in advance by the narrator. I suspect that she intended something sophisticated, and that it flew right over my head.
But it DID fly over my head.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is the first book in a planned trilogy. I probably won't read the sequels.
I thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance reader copy of Full Speed to a Crash Landing.
Blog review.
When we first meet Ada Lamarr she is alone on her ship Glory with less than an hour of oxygen left. Ada makes her living by salvaging abandoned spaceships. She is ostensibly here to salvage valuable metal from a ship that crashed on a nearby planet. But as a result of an explosion, Glory now has a three-meter hole in her hull, and almost all systems are down. That includes life support, but not communications. Ada knows that there is another ship in the vicinity and has sent out a distress call.
Ada is straight as a corkscrew and trustworthy as a seven-dollar bill. I have no hesitation in mentioning Ada's dodginess, because it is (1) Extremely obvious from page 1, and (2) Intentionally obvious. That is, in my judgment Beth Revis fully intends to make it obvious that Ada is up to something.
In fact, this is the thing I don't get about Full Speed to a Crash Landing. It is transparently obvious what Ada is about, and you will work out in some detail how she intends to do it. You don't need to be particularly clever to do so -- Ada tells you. She's the first-person narrator of this story -- you're in her head and you know what she's thinking for most of the book. (I say "most" because a few chapters are ostensibly documents written by and to government agent Rian White.) Ada doesn't exactly blurt out her detailed plans, but honestly, not much is left to the imagination.
The upshot was that nothing surprised me. Well, I take that back -- one thing did surprise me. I was surprised that Revis wrote a book whose plot twists were so transparently revealed in advance by the narrator. I suspect that she intended something sophisticated, and that it flew right over my head.
But it DID fly over my head.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is the first book in a planned trilogy. I probably won't read the sequels.
I thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance reader copy of Full Speed to a Crash Landing.
Blog review.
October 6, 2024
3.0 Stars
Video Review https://youtu.be/ylEjUV5CZi8
This is a short and sweet sci fi novella. From the premise, I expected it to be more suspenseful than it turned out to be.
The narrative was easy to follow with generally likable characters. There is very minimal worldbuilding so it felt like this novel could have taken place in our modern times with only superficial changes. This was an easy read but I wish it had been more memorable or impactful.
I would mostly recommend this one to readers who prefer lighter sci fi stories that are mostly character stories set in space.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Video Review https://youtu.be/ylEjUV5CZi8
This is a short and sweet sci fi novella. From the premise, I expected it to be more suspenseful than it turned out to be.
The narrative was easy to follow with generally likable characters. There is very minimal worldbuilding so it felt like this novel could have taken place in our modern times with only superficial changes. This was an easy read but I wish it had been more memorable or impactful.
I would mostly recommend this one to readers who prefer lighter sci fi stories that are mostly character stories set in space.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 2, 2025
4.5 stars. Rounding up to 5 because of the wit, cleverness, and superb lying ability of our main gal. This is a novella that is both entertaining, death defying, and cute all at once. Even as our leading lady is performing deadly maneuver’s she is telling sad stories that make you think about the cost of both life and death. Of how close we all come at any given moment to the one tiny thing that might end it all. This is amplified in space, of course, as the smallest error or malfunction can bring down an entire ship and its crew. Yet certainly, Beth Revis means for the reader to consider that same minute possibility of death at any given moment here on climate ravaged, gravity pulled Earth.
While this is not a climate change dystopian book, it still holds a strong, compelling climate change message. That even from the depths of space all anyone can think about is what Earth once was, is today, or could still be with the right technology. Really what any planet could be with the right amount of carbon, H2O, oxygen, hydrogen, and (of course) radiant sunlight. I couldn’t help but think of Serenity at times and the messaging of what happens when government gets too involved in ‘perfecting’ society as it deems fit. There are no Reavers here, at least not yet; but there is a lot of political intrigue and possible conspiracy theories that have me scheming for book two.
Fair warning this little novella is a quick read and leaves all the questions unanswered. So you might want to be prepared with book two on deck; and not feel stranded on your own desolate ship as I am to learn my library hasn’t ordered it yet! Book 3 is (just) out so that’s something at least, and is the end of the trilogy. As always, for me, it’s nice to know there is an ending in place that is written and attainable as I read through any series (big or small).
This one is for anyone who loves Murderbot (although there is no AI as of yet), Rebecca Roanhorse, or any space book that doesn’t need to be a huge opera and/or have aliens. Full Speed to a Crash Landing is solely centred around humans and our nature. Our guilt of ruining Earth, our possible technological advances of the future, and our fallible tendencies when greed creeps in. Best of intentions or not Revis reminds us what being human really means; that one tiny misstep or malfunction could mean the end of it all.
I cannot wait to go onto book 2!
While this is not a climate change dystopian book, it still holds a strong, compelling climate change message. That even from the depths of space all anyone can think about is what Earth once was, is today, or could still be with the right technology. Really what any planet could be with the right amount of carbon, H2O, oxygen, hydrogen, and (of course) radiant sunlight. I couldn’t help but think of Serenity at times and the messaging of what happens when government gets too involved in ‘perfecting’ society as it deems fit. There are no Reavers here, at least not yet; but there is a lot of political intrigue and possible conspiracy theories that have me scheming for book two.
Fair warning this little novella is a quick read and leaves all the questions unanswered. So you might want to be prepared with book two on deck; and not feel stranded on your own desolate ship as I am to learn my library hasn’t ordered it yet! Book 3 is (just) out so that’s something at least, and is the end of the trilogy. As always, for me, it’s nice to know there is an ending in place that is written and attainable as I read through any series (big or small).
This one is for anyone who loves Murderbot (although there is no AI as of yet), Rebecca Roanhorse, or any space book that doesn’t need to be a huge opera and/or have aliens. Full Speed to a Crash Landing is solely centred around humans and our nature. Our guilt of ruining Earth, our possible technological advances of the future, and our fallible tendencies when greed creeps in. Best of intentions or not Revis reminds us what being human really means; that one tiny misstep or malfunction could mean the end of it all.
I cannot wait to go onto book 2!
December 26, 2024
4.25 🌟
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is one wild ride through the stars! 🚀 This space heist novella kicks off Beth Revis’s Chaotic Orbits trilogy with a bang, mixing high-stakes adventure, flirtatious banter, and a cliffhanger that will have you counting down the days until the next book drops! ⏳
✧ Space Heist 🚀
✧ Hidden Agendas 🎭
✧ Environmental Catastrophe 🌍
✧ Government Conspiracy
✧ Cliffhanger Ending
Ada Lamarr is a scavenger in desperate straits—her ship is wrecked, oxygen is running low, and she’s stuck in space with no way out. Enter Rian White and his government salvage crew, who reluctantly rescue her and end up with an unexpected passenger. The chemistry between Ada and Rian is electric, and their witty, flirtatious exchanges add a delightful zing to the narrative. 💥 Their interactions are a highlight, with Ada's cleverness and Rian's charm creating a dynamic that’s both entertaining and intriguing. 💫
The world-building in this novella is impressive for its length. 🌌 Earth is on the brink, and humanity’s attempts at space colonization are plagued by overpopulation and environmental collapse. The themes of eco-grief and corporate greed are woven seamlessly into the plot, adding depth to the action and suspense. 🌍
However, while the heist and mission were gripping, I felt the romance was a bit lacking in development. Ada and Rian’s relationship had potential, but it felt like it was more about the teasing and less about a deep connection. The cliffhanger ending is both exciting and frustrating—so many questions left unanswered and tensions left hanging! 😩
Despite these minor gripes, the novella is a fantastic, fast-paced adventure with plenty of twists and turns. The engaging characters, clever plot, and thrilling stakes make it a must-read for fans of space operas and sci-fi romances. 📚✨
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is one wild ride through the stars! 🚀 This space heist novella kicks off Beth Revis’s Chaotic Orbits trilogy with a bang, mixing high-stakes adventure, flirtatious banter, and a cliffhanger that will have you counting down the days until the next book drops! ⏳
✧ Space Heist 🚀
✧ Hidden Agendas 🎭
✧ Environmental Catastrophe 🌍
✧ Government Conspiracy
✧ Cliffhanger Ending
Ada Lamarr is a scavenger in desperate straits—her ship is wrecked, oxygen is running low, and she’s stuck in space with no way out. Enter Rian White and his government salvage crew, who reluctantly rescue her and end up with an unexpected passenger. The chemistry between Ada and Rian is electric, and their witty, flirtatious exchanges add a delightful zing to the narrative. 💥 Their interactions are a highlight, with Ada's cleverness and Rian's charm creating a dynamic that’s both entertaining and intriguing. 💫
The world-building in this novella is impressive for its length. 🌌 Earth is on the brink, and humanity’s attempts at space colonization are plagued by overpopulation and environmental collapse. The themes of eco-grief and corporate greed are woven seamlessly into the plot, adding depth to the action and suspense. 🌍
However, while the heist and mission were gripping, I felt the romance was a bit lacking in development. Ada and Rian’s relationship had potential, but it felt like it was more about the teasing and less about a deep connection. The cliffhanger ending is both exciting and frustrating—so many questions left unanswered and tensions left hanging! 😩
Despite these minor gripes, the novella is a fantastic, fast-paced adventure with plenty of twists and turns. The engaging characters, clever plot, and thrilling stakes make it a must-read for fans of space operas and sci-fi romances. 📚✨
February 25, 2025
I don’t typically read sci-fi, so I’m surprised I didn’t hate this. I’ll review soon.
What to expect:
~ mostly single 1st person POV, present tense
~ some chapters at end in 1st, past tense
Narration notes:
Both did a fantastic job. No complaints.
What to expect:
~ mostly single 1st person POV, present tense
~ some chapters at end in 1st, past tense
Narration notes:
Both did a fantastic job. No complaints.
November 9, 2024
3.5
This became muchhhhhh more interesting in the last fourth….! I love a twist. It makes the characterization of our main character much more palatable. Multi media esque at the end too!!
This became muchhhhhh more interesting in the last fourth….! I love a twist. It makes the characterization of our main character much more palatable. Multi media esque at the end too!!
August 7, 2024
Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this one, but I wonder if this'll be an experience made better by the whole than it is in bits and bites. As this is a novella we don't get too much worldbuilding or too much character development but we get enough to get by and enjoy the snippet of the action.
This was an easy, fast, space-y adventure that leaves you with the sense that an even bigger adventure awaits you in book two. Where I think some of this doesn't quite land for me, however, was in Ada's extra-ness. And also how all of her interactions with Rian were kind of on two-times speed (yes yes I realize it's a novella things have to move along but still). I much preferred her non-dialogue voice and introspection than the rest of her (and, of course, her skills).
FULL SPEED TO A CRASH LANDING didn't surprise me in the way it was maybe supposed to (though I can definitely respect the play!) but it does leave me wanting more. So I'm pretty glad I have the sequel already in my hot little hands. Because while this one read like vignette of a heist, with a little bit of intrigue, I think what's coming will lean into more intrigue, and maybe fill in the blanks on the outlines we've been given of these characters. And also deliver on the promised sexy because, yo, where even was that! I'm not saying false advertising but I'm not not saying that, either.
On to book two!
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
This was an easy, fast, space-y adventure that leaves you with the sense that an even bigger adventure awaits you in book two. Where I think some of this doesn't quite land for me, however, was in Ada's extra-ness. And also how all of her interactions with Rian were kind of on two-times speed (yes yes I realize it's a novella things have to move along but still). I much preferred her non-dialogue voice and introspection than the rest of her (and, of course, her skills).
FULL SPEED TO A CRASH LANDING didn't surprise me in the way it was maybe supposed to (though I can definitely respect the play!) but it does leave me wanting more. So I'm pretty glad I have the sequel already in my hot little hands. Because while this one read like vignette of a heist, with a little bit of intrigue, I think what's coming will lean into more intrigue, and maybe fill in the blanks on the outlines we've been given of these characters. And also deliver on the promised sexy because, yo, where even was that! I'm not saying false advertising but I'm not not saying that, either.
On to book two!
** I received an ARC from Edelweiss+ and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
July 24, 2024
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing went by so freaking quickly. In this, you will meet Ada. She's a lone scavenger who is dangerously low on oxygen. Eventually she is saved by a crew on the Halifax and charms her way into some friendships. Among the crew is Rian, who is in charge of a mission to retrieve something very special from a ruined spacecraft. The spacecraft that Ada was allegedly scouring metal from.
I really enjoyed whenever Rian and Ada talked to one another. They bantered, flirted, and somehow bonded. Sure, the flirting was typically one-sided, but Ada made it fun. Then the betrayal happened but it was pretty obvious it was coming. He, and the crew, just weren't listening to her and now they have to deal with the consequences.
The cliffhanger is a dagger to the heart. It's such a short book filled with action and drama, that I'm annoyed with how it ended. I'm also wondering if we will get more romance in the next book. Okay, maybe I'm more than wondering and absolutely begging for it. More action, drama, and romance please because I need a reunion between these two stat!
In the end, I devoured this audiobook in one sitting and can't wait for the next one to be available.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing went by so freaking quickly. In this, you will meet Ada. She's a lone scavenger who is dangerously low on oxygen. Eventually she is saved by a crew on the Halifax and charms her way into some friendships. Among the crew is Rian, who is in charge of a mission to retrieve something very special from a ruined spacecraft. The spacecraft that Ada was allegedly scouring metal from.
I really enjoyed whenever Rian and Ada talked to one another. They bantered, flirted, and somehow bonded. Sure, the flirting was typically one-sided, but Ada made it fun. Then the betrayal happened but it was pretty obvious it was coming. He, and the crew, just weren't listening to her and now they have to deal with the consequences.
The cliffhanger is a dagger to the heart. It's such a short book filled with action and drama, that I'm annoyed with how it ended. I'm also wondering if we will get more romance in the next book. Okay, maybe I'm more than wondering and absolutely begging for it. More action, drama, and romance please because I need a reunion between these two stat!
In the end, I devoured this audiobook in one sitting and can't wait for the next one to be available.
January 27, 2025
The literal perfect junk food book: fun, light, and fast-paced. I feel like I’ve been looking for something like this for ages. In less than 200 pages it packs in secret plots and mysterious organizations and volcanic eruptions and the setup to what seems like it’ll be a really enjoyable cat-and-mouse romance.
There are so many elements of this book that probably should have bothered me more - the aggressively quirky main character, the predictable plot twists, the nonsensical science - but they just… didn’t. I had a great time. In particular I actually liked the romance element a lot, in spite of it being technically very insta-lusty, because it doesn’t try to go straight from insta-lust into traditional romance beats. This is only book one of a trilogy, all focusing on the same characters, so these two are just getting started. Rather than feeling unrealistically rushed, their interactions just felt like two adults flirting with each other, each for their own reasons and keeping their own secrets. Which was fun! And the very end… I’m seated. I’m giggling. Just a little, but I’m prepared to giggle more.
Also - reading a romance where the male love interest is described as “average height and build” just felt like such a breath of fresh air. Is the Ali Hazelwood effect fading? Is nature healing?
I have to say - I do NOT recommend the audiobook. The FMC is already pretty obnoxious, and the narrator’s cartoonish delivery makes it even more grating. The MMC’s narrator, on the other hand, has this flat monotone that’s almost impossible to focus on.
Anyways: loved this, about to immediately start the next one.
There are so many elements of this book that probably should have bothered me more - the aggressively quirky main character, the predictable plot twists, the nonsensical science - but they just… didn’t. I had a great time. In particular I actually liked the romance element a lot, in spite of it being technically very insta-lusty, because it doesn’t try to go straight from insta-lust into traditional romance beats. This is only book one of a trilogy, all focusing on the same characters, so these two are just getting started. Rather than feeling unrealistically rushed, their interactions just felt like two adults flirting with each other, each for their own reasons and keeping their own secrets. Which was fun! And the very end… I’m seated. I’m giggling. Just a little, but I’m prepared to giggle more.
Also - reading a romance where the male love interest is described as “average height and build” just felt like such a breath of fresh air. Is the Ali Hazelwood effect fading? Is nature healing?
I have to say - I do NOT recommend the audiobook. The FMC is already pretty obnoxious, and the narrator’s cartoonish delivery makes it even more grating. The MMC’s narrator, on the other hand, has this flat monotone that’s almost impossible to focus on.
Anyways: loved this, about to immediately start the next one.
August 26, 2024
Fun audiobook.
Heist/con in space. Ends on a huge cliffhanger. It kinda feels like the story isn't complete at all. Ugh. Have to wait until the next book is published!!
Heist/con in space. Ends on a huge cliffhanger. It kinda feels like the story isn't complete at all. Ugh. Have to wait until the next book is published!!
September 19, 2024
I'm sorry, but "sexy" WHERE? I usually love Beth's books, but this one fell so flat for me. First of all, the main character is quite possibly THE single most obnoxious MC I've ever met, and I hated her. Her narrator didn't help, either. Ada is already over the top annoying and juvenile, and the narrator was almost cartoonishly ridiculous. I think she was supposed to seem plucky and snarky, but it tried WAY too hard, which only made her look childish and petulant. Her humor was just plain annoying and not funny at all. I didn't crack a smile once, and it was pretty much constant 'jokes' because she couldn't take anything seriously. The result was that I found her absolutely insufferable. For this reason, I almost DNFed the book. And it's only 192 pages.
I liked the world well enough - I'm a sucker for anything space related, so that's the only thing that kept me going. I also wanted to see what the big reveal was, because it was very clear that Ada was up to something and untrustworthy from the beginning. Actually, I felt like it was made TOO obvious that Ada was being duplicitous. Which rendered the "twist" at the end utterly predictable and unsurprising. I kept hoping it would take another direction, but nope.
I hated the "romance." Like I said, this book is not sexy. There's a guy that's apparently sexy, as Ada tells him MULTIPLE times (it was kind of gross, actually), and she does a lot of flirting and making innuendos, but there is no actual chemistry or relationship development of any kind. I guess they had feelings for each other by the end, but there was zero depth whatsoever to it. There was also a lack of world building due to the book being so short, so I really didn't grasp the dynamic of the different factions and governments. They weren't explained, just vaguely referred to.
Pros of this book? It's short and fast paced.
I liked the world well enough - I'm a sucker for anything space related, so that's the only thing that kept me going. I also wanted to see what the big reveal was, because it was very clear that Ada was up to something and untrustworthy from the beginning. Actually, I felt like it was made TOO obvious that Ada was being duplicitous. Which rendered the "twist" at the end utterly predictable and unsurprising. I kept hoping it would take another direction, but nope.
I hated the "romance." Like I said, this book is not sexy. There's a guy that's apparently sexy, as Ada tells him MULTIPLE times (it was kind of gross, actually), and she does a lot of flirting and making innuendos, but there is no actual chemistry or relationship development of any kind. I guess they had feelings for each other by the end, but there was zero depth whatsoever to it. There was also a lack of world building due to the book being so short, so I really didn't grasp the dynamic of the different factions and governments. They weren't explained, just vaguely referred to.
Pros of this book? It's short and fast paced.
June 7, 2025
I feel certain that if Ada Lamarr and Kiva Lagos lived in the same universe they would be the best of friends.
August 9, 2024
Yay, a space adventure novella series, we love to see it! Especially when it has all the stuff this one has: It's fun, witty, full of twists and adventure and fabulous characters... need I go on? I mean probably, otherwise this review will be one sentence, but. Novella reviews have to be shortish, right? Lest I give something away. Ugh fine I'll do more. This book hooked me from the epigraph, which is saying something. I thought about telling you what it said so you could chuckle and realize you need the book, but don't you realize that already anyway? Buy it yourself, see the epigraph that had me cackling from the start!
Yeah so it is very high stakes and features all kinds of stuff I did not see coming. So it's the perfect blend, you see. Action, excitement, laughs, swoons, feels... and in such a tiny, unputdownable, quick-read package. And the best news? The sequel is out in December. Which means no waiting years on end to see what happens next for Ada and company!
Bottom Line: If I haven't convinced you by now, that's kind of on you.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
Yeah so it is very high stakes and features all kinds of stuff I did not see coming. So it's the perfect blend, you see. Action, excitement, laughs, swoons, feels... and in such a tiny, unputdownable, quick-read package. And the best news? The sequel is out in December. Which means no waiting years on end to see what happens next for Ada and company!
Bottom Line: If I haven't convinced you by now, that's kind of on you.
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
June 22, 2024
4.5 stars
Headlines:
Gimme the next now
Cunning FMC
Wrecks, lava & salvage
This short read/novella packs a fun sci-fi punch with a fast-paced rescue and salvage mission. Ada
needed an urgent rescue and found herself needing refuge but she had something to offer this crew that were wary to trust and full of secrets. Add in an interesting but smalll set of side characters a smattering of chemistry between Ada and Rian, and this read had my full attention.
Ada was a strong FMC and it took a while for the pennies to drop regarding what she was really up to. She was ten steps ahead in her plans, wily and clever; she was full of spark, wit and half-truths. I liked crewmates Rian and Nandina especially and the battle of wits between Ada and Rian was fun to observe.
The mystery of the wreck, the conditions on the planet and the salvage made for an engaging plot. Where Revis left us was one part cruel and one part clever because I'd like the next installment of this trilogy of novellas yesterday. This is the ideal evening or one-day read for sci-fi fans.
Thank you to DAW for the eARC.
Headlines:
Gimme the next now
Cunning FMC
Wrecks, lava & salvage
This short read/novella packs a fun sci-fi punch with a fast-paced rescue and salvage mission. Ada
needed an urgent rescue and found herself needing refuge but she had something to offer this crew that were wary to trust and full of secrets. Add in an interesting but smalll set of side characters a smattering of chemistry between Ada and Rian, and this read had my full attention.
Ada was a strong FMC and it took a while for the pennies to drop regarding what she was really up to. She was ten steps ahead in her plans, wily and clever; she was full of spark, wit and half-truths. I liked crewmates Rian and Nandina especially and the battle of wits between Ada and Rian was fun to observe.
The mystery of the wreck, the conditions on the planet and the salvage made for an engaging plot. Where Revis left us was one part cruel and one part clever because I'd like the next installment of this trilogy of novellas yesterday. This is the ideal evening or one-day read for sci-fi fans.
Thank you to DAW for the eARC.
May 25, 2025
‼️Cute
‼️Fun
‼️Adventurous
‼️Novella
🎧Decent Audiobook
‼️Triliogy
‼️sci-fi
‼️Romance although not a big part of the story and not really my favorite
‼️Clean Romance
💘 Overall this was fun and fast the FMC is smart and witty. I enjoyed this quick novella audio
‼️Fun
‼️Adventurous
‼️Novella
🎧Decent Audiobook
‼️Triliogy
‼️sci-fi
‼️Romance although not a big part of the story and not really my favorite
‼️Clean Romance
💘 Overall this was fun and fast the FMC is smart and witty. I enjoyed this quick novella audio
November 21, 2024
I’m a huge fan of Beth Revis and her Across the Universe series so when the opportunity came around to read another spacemance of hers, I jumped at it!
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is a new series of novellas featuring Ada, a brilliant space grifter, who is found near a crash site where she’s been scavenging, with very low oxygen in her spacesuit and a big hole in her own ship’s hull.
Enter the government who arrives to also salvage the ship wreck where they proceed to save the damsel in distress.
Ada ends up helping out the government sponsored crew to find the valuable cargo on the ship wreck.
I love space books, and when the twists hit in this fun, banter filled, space heist novella, I was delighted, and can’t wait for the rest of this series!
*Thanks so much to Beth Revis and Daw Books for the wonderful PR box which included an early copy of this book!*
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is a new series of novellas featuring Ada, a brilliant space grifter, who is found near a crash site where she’s been scavenging, with very low oxygen in her spacesuit and a big hole in her own ship’s hull.
Enter the government who arrives to also salvage the ship wreck where they proceed to save the damsel in distress.
Ada ends up helping out the government sponsored crew to find the valuable cargo on the ship wreck.
I love space books, and when the twists hit in this fun, banter filled, space heist novella, I was delighted, and can’t wait for the rest of this series!
*Thanks so much to Beth Revis and Daw Books for the wonderful PR box which included an early copy of this book!*
July 24, 2025
I shrug. “salvage is just a few letters away from scavenge. I bet they have the same roots. probably french. wild that a country that doesn’t even exist anymore can fuck up our language so much.”
(just by the way, ‘salvage’ and ‘scavenge’ do NOT have the same roots—‘salvage’ originates from PIE *sol- if we go back far enough, and ‘scavenge’ from *keu-—but they both DO come to english by way of french!)
I quite liked ada; I feel like we get male characters like this much more often than we do female characters, and I think it’s sold really well: I really buy her as a character, as a person.
I wake up every morning, and I remind myself how futile it all is. you can do everything right, try to be good, try to do good, and sometimes it won’t matter. your o-ring gets a crack in it, and you die before you have time to panic. a nothing part, ignored until it’s broken, and then you’re dead. [...] that’s how close life and death are. not just here, in space or on a volatile planet. everywhere. everywhere in the universe, you’re one cracked o-ring away from total failure. and we all just go through each day, ignoring that.
I actually didn’t realize this was going to be as explicitly about, you know, anthropogenic climate destruction as much as it is; maybe I’m silly for being surprised? but at any rate, I was glad of it.
very minor nitpicks and/or just like, idk, points of note I guess:
- homo sapiens no capital H no italics is so weird to me but ykw I can see it developing easily in common usage I can accept it
- it bizarrely grinds my gears when in the case of a reduplicative adjective for emphasis people stress the second one rather than the first. a former principal was once reading a simon rodia quote aloud (“you have to be good good or bad bad to be remembered”) and said it like “good good” and “bad bad.” I ask you: WHY. beth revis does the same: “beneath the foil-lined top on the box is a real piece of meat. like, real real.” AGH! to my ears, these should all be pronounced with the first iteration stressed and not the second: good good, bad bad, real real. et fucking cetera, man. I weep. the fact that two very different people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds both have the same idea different from my own suggests that they’re not just individual anomalies, but god, do I hate it. MY WAY IS RIGHTTTTTTTTTTTT
- this one doesn’t feel ‘wrong’ to me but it killed me when ada thinks, “the thing about real meat that I miss so, so much is the feel of it in my teeth. the way my mouth has to work for the prize.” holy shit. I am cracking up lmao. I know I’m a vegetarian, but that’s just the past 6 of my 32 total years, and in all the years before that, this was in fact my absolute least favorite thing about meat and in fact the bit that freaked me out the most. in this case it simply made me marvel at the diversity of humanity
wait actually this next one is BONKERS and needs its own section beyond just ending up in the bullet points like when I read it I was floored to the point that I wanted to make an immediately update about it but the goodreads app is actually garbage for updating a book from ‘want to read’ to ‘currently reading’ for the purposes of making an update but: PEELING A PEACH?????? PEELING a PEACH????????????? I am in all honesty gobsmacked. the only time I can understand peeling a peach is if you’re like, making cobbler/pie/whatever or canning, and even then I don’t think it’s necessary, just that it does enter the realm of possibility at that point. or if you’re like allergic to/irritated by the fuzz like my wife is. but otherwise peeling a peach just to EAT IT LIKE THAT. monstrous. I won’t even apologize in advance if you the reader of this review are a peach-peeler and I’ve just called you monstrous. baking, allergies, sensory issues; those are your only passes. otherwise: WILD CHOICES!!!!!!!!!!! she even asks “do I just...” before “lift[ing] the fruit to [her] mouth” but he says “let me peel it first.” I’m crying. why would you strip the peach of its identity. what’s happening here. I’m having a breakdown
there’s also a bit that made me laugh because it was so very henry david thoreau but not in a copying or even unintentional inspiration way, more just in a multiple independent discovery sort of way.
on the whole: entertaining stuff, even though it’s hard to really evaluate at this point without having read the rest.
most people who have never had to look at the golden safety net underneath them to know they’ll be fine if they fall have no concept whatsoever that poverty isn’t a matter of bad choices and poor planning.
+
“bravery’s a choice, right? no one chooses to get sick like that. so, they’re not brave. they’re just surviving.”
because, I don’t say, you have to look at it the other way. if they’re brave for living, you’re saying they’re a coward for dying.
October 5, 2024
Ahh this book was too fun! I wish it was longer but there are multiple!! The wit, feminism, quotes, science, plot. I'm obsessed.
November 29, 2024
If you love Illuminae and Skyward, give this novela a try.
October 2, 2024
Review coming soon.
February 4, 2025
This was a lot of fun and I can't wait for the next one.
August 14, 2024
That was a cracking little novella!
Holy moly the writing was excellent and the pace was fast!
It was just go go go the whole time and I loved every single second!
A very sexy space heist! The romance was white HAWT!!
4 stars
Holy moly the writing was excellent and the pace was fast!
It was just go go go the whole time and I loved every single second!
A very sexy space heist! The romance was white HAWT!!
4 stars
February 27, 2025
Fun and fast read. Initially, I didn't think I'd enjoy this novella as much as I eventually did. The snarky heroine, right in the beginning of the story was a bit much for me. But as the plot progressed and it became increasingly clear that Ada had an important hidden agenda, my view started to change.
Overall, this was very entertaining, so I want to continue with the series at a later date.
Overall, this was very entertaining, so I want to continue with the series at a later date.
May 28, 2025
Story: 4 stars
Audio: 5 stars
Narrator: Dara Rosenberg – David Bendena
This was so much fun to listen to, I just wish it was longer. Dara Rosenberg made an excellent narration of Ada's wit and personality, it was pure joy listening to her.
I found this novella an excellent start to this new world and I'm looking forward to read what awaits next Ada and Rian.
Audio: 5 stars
Narrator: Dara Rosenberg – David Bendena
This was so much fun to listen to, I just wish it was longer. Dara Rosenberg made an excellent narration of Ada's wit and personality, it was pure joy listening to her.
I found this novella an excellent start to this new world and I'm looking forward to read what awaits next Ada and Rian.
August 20, 2024
What seems like a long time ago, I read a Young Adult Sci-Fi Across the Universe Trilogy that utterly captivated me. The author created a world, characters, and plot that drew me in and had me in a fever to know what came next at the end of each installment. Here I am again having a similar experience with her new heist-fueled Space Opera.
From the first desperate moments as Ada’s breathing equipment is about to give out, I was hooked. This was a novella-length so Full Speed to a Crash Landing lived up to its title name and rushed forward at a furious pace. It is obvious from the get-go that Ada isn’t exactly what she claims, but the amusing part is that the government ship that comes to her rescue aren’t sold by her explanations. This cat and mouse game goes both ways and there is a fun and flirty tone as Rian and Ada dance around each other.
As the reader, I was complacently certain there is a lot of larceny in Ada and that Rian is a straight arrow type. I was watching for it and still got a fun shocker there before the story abruptly ends at a good spot.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is not a complete story. It was the first part of a story with the job of introducing Beth Revis’ futuristic sci-fi world, her characters, and a bit about the plot. There is an exciting conflict in the form of the race to get to what’s on the ship before the unstable volcanic eruptions on the planet swallow up the crashed ship and they lose their chance.
The story ends abruptly at a good spot leading to the next segment. That said, the reader doesn’t want to close the book too soon. There are addendums afterward that can’t be missed. The novella had been told from Ada’s point of view, but the addendum info is Rian’s side. Oh, and those footnotes throughout? Those lead to little extras worth a glance.
In summary, this did the job of hooking me in and getting me excited for what comes next. Those who love a sassy heroine, a sweet and flirty hero, a twisty heist-adventure in a sci-fi setting, and some intrigue on the side should really give this one a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About 8.8.24
From the first desperate moments as Ada’s breathing equipment is about to give out, I was hooked. This was a novella-length so Full Speed to a Crash Landing lived up to its title name and rushed forward at a furious pace. It is obvious from the get-go that Ada isn’t exactly what she claims, but the amusing part is that the government ship that comes to her rescue aren’t sold by her explanations. This cat and mouse game goes both ways and there is a fun and flirty tone as Rian and Ada dance around each other.
As the reader, I was complacently certain there is a lot of larceny in Ada and that Rian is a straight arrow type. I was watching for it and still got a fun shocker there before the story abruptly ends at a good spot.
Full Speed to a Crash Landing is not a complete story. It was the first part of a story with the job of introducing Beth Revis’ futuristic sci-fi world, her characters, and a bit about the plot. There is an exciting conflict in the form of the race to get to what’s on the ship before the unstable volcanic eruptions on the planet swallow up the crashed ship and they lose their chance.
The story ends abruptly at a good spot leading to the next segment. That said, the reader doesn’t want to close the book too soon. There are addendums afterward that can’t be missed. The novella had been told from Ada’s point of view, but the addendum info is Rian’s side. Oh, and those footnotes throughout? Those lead to little extras worth a glance.
In summary, this did the job of hooking me in and getting me excited for what comes next. Those who love a sassy heroine, a sweet and flirty hero, a twisty heist-adventure in a sci-fi setting, and some intrigue on the side should really give this one a go.
I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.
My full review will post at That's What I'm Talking About 8.8.24
April 12, 2024
I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ada Lamarr: scavenger, having recently claimed looter’s rights on a wreckage she wasn’t supposed to know about, finds herself in dire straits after her half-blown up ship left her stranded and almost out of oxygen in space.
Rian White: head of the intergalactic government salvage crew on a super secret mission to retrieve something from the inhabitable planet below… and Ada might be the only one who can help the mission succeed. But what is she hiding? And what is Rian not saying about the mission?
This was such a fun space heist! Ada is a spunky, smart, mysterious protagonist that won’t stop at anything to get what she wants, including flirting to death with Rian, who is competent and collected and matches her wit. The mission is high-stakes and you can feel the tension of everything pending on it. And it kept me guessing to the last page!
The descriptions are so well done, you can picture everything perfectly, and the worldbuilding deals with interesting (if depressing) themes of environmental catastrophe, eco grief and space colonization.
I admit I was confused at the descriptor of a ‘sexy’ heist, lol. Don’t let that sway you either way: it’s a heist, our protagonists flirt, there’s some UST, but nobody is pole dancing!
There were a couple of nods to Star Wars that made me smile (no bras in space is bullshit!!).
This is the first novella from a planned trilogy, so we have more questions than answers by the end... but now I'm really looking forward to the rest! If you enjoy a space romp that feels like a comic book, with familiar sci-fi elements, you might want to check it out.
Ada Lamarr: scavenger, having recently claimed looter’s rights on a wreckage she wasn’t supposed to know about, finds herself in dire straits after her half-blown up ship left her stranded and almost out of oxygen in space.
Rian White: head of the intergalactic government salvage crew on a super secret mission to retrieve something from the inhabitable planet below… and Ada might be the only one who can help the mission succeed. But what is she hiding? And what is Rian not saying about the mission?
This was such a fun space heist! Ada is a spunky, smart, mysterious protagonist that won’t stop at anything to get what she wants, including flirting to death with Rian, who is competent and collected and matches her wit. The mission is high-stakes and you can feel the tension of everything pending on it. And it kept me guessing to the last page!
The descriptions are so well done, you can picture everything perfectly, and the worldbuilding deals with interesting (if depressing) themes of environmental catastrophe, eco grief and space colonization.
I admit I was confused at the descriptor of a ‘sexy’ heist, lol. Don’t let that sway you either way: it’s a heist, our protagonists flirt, there’s some UST, but nobody is pole dancing!
There were a couple of nods to Star Wars that made me smile (no bras in space is bullshit!!).
This is the first novella from a planned trilogy, so we have more questions than answers by the end... but now I'm really looking forward to the rest! If you enjoy a space romp that feels like a comic book, with familiar sci-fi elements, you might want to check it out.
March 20, 2024
4 stars ⭐
I loooved this book. It was quick, easy to understand, and had a really interesting and captivating plot. I really enjoyed how resilient yet funny the fmc, Ada, was. The romance was on the lighter side, but it was still cute. If there are other books that involve her in the future I would definitely check them out.
Thank you NetGalley and DAW books for an arc in exchange for my honest review!
I loooved this book. It was quick, easy to understand, and had a really interesting and captivating plot. I really enjoyed how resilient yet funny the fmc, Ada, was. The romance was on the lighter side, but it was still cute. If there are other books that involve her in the future I would definitely check them out.
Thank you NetGalley and DAW books for an arc in exchange for my honest review!
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October 3, 2024DNF @ 50% - "A high octane sexy space heist"
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