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Derelict Thief: The Acquisition Specialist
For a kleptomaniac like Ginny, it's no surprise that she finds herself in hot water once again. Caught and sentenced, she finds herself with a one-way ticket to the breakers—aka, a slow agonizing death. While en route to the Triv homeworld, the prison transport she is aboard is attacked and in the aftermath, she manages to escape. Moreover, she acquires control of an ancient derelict ship with an AI...
With a new lease on life and a ship of her own, Ginny is ready to spread her wings—just as soon as she can get the old girl in working order.
Join Ginny on her adventure, from evading pursuit by the Triv aliens who have it out for her, to the middle of a world war on a remote world, Ginny is in for a wild ride with nothing but her snarky personality, sticky hands, and an AI on a ship that's falling apart. Oh, and super-advanced tech powers, and genetic enhancements she finds along the way.
Ginny's story is one of adventure, a search for purpose, and friends she can trust.
What to
- Snarky humor
- Light Swearing
- Action adventure with small elements of LitRPG (stats)
- genetic enhancement/magical powers
- morally grey character (she's a thief, duh!) but a decent person
- light romantic elements (very mild)
With a new lease on life and a ship of her own, Ginny is ready to spread her wings—just as soon as she can get the old girl in working order.
Join Ginny on her adventure, from evading pursuit by the Triv aliens who have it out for her, to the middle of a world war on a remote world, Ginny is in for a wild ride with nothing but her snarky personality, sticky hands, and an AI on a ship that's falling apart. Oh, and super-advanced tech powers, and genetic enhancements she finds along the way.
Ginny's story is one of adventure, a search for purpose, and friends she can trust.
What to
- Snarky humor
- Light Swearing
- Action adventure with small elements of LitRPG (stats)
- genetic enhancement/magical powers
- morally grey character (she's a thief, duh!) but a decent person
- light romantic elements (very mild)
- GenresScience Fiction
377 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 1, 2025
boring, and insipid
I don’t know where all of these reviews are coming from.
The main character isn’t some lovable scamp , they’re just a stupid thief. Not a good thief, not a thief with the cause, not a hero thief with the heart of gold, just someone who wants to steal your stuff. And not because they have a need for it or plan to use it, it’s just shiny and they want it.
And they’re not a competent thief. Every time this character has successfully “broken in” to something it’s because they got a gift from God (or the author) of exactly the tool they needed exactly the right moment. There was no planning, there was no preparation, there no competence.
And when it comes time to decision-making, they just pick something like a toddler picking dinner. They don’t ask what the consequences are, they don’t ask what the best way to go about doing something is, they just demand whatever it feels right at the moment, as long as they don’t have to think.
At one point, the “hero” has a strange AI they met less than two days ago, inject unknown nano into her body with no medical testing, without ever haven’t even been medically scanned to see if she has a compatible physiology. The most likely outcome which she would die, screaming in pain as her body was dissolved from the inside out, but no, the author likes her so there’s a brief comedy interlude.
The word editing is good, some structures are solid. The story flows from one part to the next.
There are even moments where you can almost like the character .
But then it all falls apart when they talk, make a decision, plan for the future (oh wait they don’t do that), we pretty much take any action.
This character survives exclusively on luck and ego , and not in a good Han Solo kind of way.
Overall, this book just wasn’t worth reading .
I don’t know where all of these reviews are coming from.
The main character isn’t some lovable scamp , they’re just a stupid thief. Not a good thief, not a thief with the cause, not a hero thief with the heart of gold, just someone who wants to steal your stuff. And not because they have a need for it or plan to use it, it’s just shiny and they want it.
And they’re not a competent thief. Every time this character has successfully “broken in” to something it’s because they got a gift from God (or the author) of exactly the tool they needed exactly the right moment. There was no planning, there was no preparation, there no competence.
And when it comes time to decision-making, they just pick something like a toddler picking dinner. They don’t ask what the consequences are, they don’t ask what the best way to go about doing something is, they just demand whatever it feels right at the moment, as long as they don’t have to think.
At one point, the “hero” has a strange AI they met less than two days ago, inject unknown nano into her body with no medical testing, without ever haven’t even been medically scanned to see if she has a compatible physiology. The most likely outcome which she would die, screaming in pain as her body was dissolved from the inside out, but no, the author likes her so there’s a brief comedy interlude.
The word editing is good, some structures are solid. The story flows from one part to the next.
There are even moments where you can almost like the character .
But then it all falls apart when they talk, make a decision, plan for the future (oh wait they don’t do that), we pretty much take any action.
This character survives exclusively on luck and ego , and not in a good Han Solo kind of way.
Overall, this book just wasn’t worth reading .
December 26, 2025
Very good first book
Highly entertaining first book in a series
The only reason I didn't give it 5* was the fact that it jumped about a little too much for me.
The heroine, Ginny, has lots of mini adventures through out the book all of them, kind of tie together, but in reality you could skip them, get to the last adventure and still end up with the same result
What the intervening storylines do provide, is an insight in Ginny's character and with some of the retrospection she does an understanding of who she is, and why she is the way she is
A very good book. Very much looking forward to the next in the series
Highly entertaining first book in a series
The only reason I didn't give it 5* was the fact that it jumped about a little too much for me.
The heroine, Ginny, has lots of mini adventures through out the book all of them, kind of tie together, but in reality you could skip them, get to the last adventure and still end up with the same result
What the intervening storylines do provide, is an insight in Ginny's character and with some of the retrospection she does an understanding of who she is, and why she is the way she is
A very good book. Very much looking forward to the next in the series
June 4, 2025
After dozen chapters I still couldn’t decide if the author had made Ginny so lacking in common sense on purpose, was she meant to be a comic figure? On the surface Ginny looks like a potentially interesting heroine, but the number of times she makes stupid mistakes just becomes so irritating that I nearly gave up on more than one occasion. Overall I suppose it wasn’t too bad comic science fiction story, although at times it is far too ‘comic book’ and there were occasions in the second half that it were more ‘Fantasy’ than SciFi.
July 20, 2025
The Derelict Thief is a fast-paced science fantasy adventure. Ginny, an orphan girl with skills at computer hacking and a talent for appropriating property owned by others, picks the wrong target and is shipped off-planet in a prison ship bound for an organ farm. She is rescued by the AI on a derelict warship that has been parked in the corona of a star. From there on, the plot is driven by a series of improbable coincidences with alien technology that give her eye-popping abilities. Gnizak is clearly inspired by progression fantasies.
August 1, 2025
Excellent
Great read!!! How nice it is to read a truly good story without all the blood and guts \ death and destruction that so many authors use to fill the pages. Some good chuckles and he kept me reading, not scanning, which is the biggest compliment I can pay him. I'll read more of his... Hope he continues to write good stories without a lot of blood and guts etc. 🙂
Great read!!! How nice it is to read a truly good story without all the blood and guts \ death and destruction that so many authors use to fill the pages. Some good chuckles and he kept me reading, not scanning, which is the biggest compliment I can pay him. I'll read more of his... Hope he continues to write good stories without a lot of blood and guts etc. 🙂
July 3, 2025
Fun Story
What a wonderful vacation from the real world. Characters are well written and even side characters are written where you become invested in their stories and root for them when things go wrong and cheer when they win. Great story.
What a wonderful vacation from the real world. Characters are well written and even side characters are written where you become invested in their stories and root for them when things go wrong and cheer when they win. Great story.
July 28, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book!
This fun book is not tremendously complicated. There, I’ve found a fault and have to lower my rating to 4.9 stars, but as I’m still smiling about it and honestly looking forward to book 2, I’m round back up to 5.
This fun book is not tremendously complicated. There, I’ve found a fault and have to lower my rating to 4.9 stars, but as I’m still smiling about it and honestly looking forward to book 2, I’m round back up to 5.
September 14, 2025
Book 2 coming?
Great read. I'm looking forward to the next! Not a fan of any proselytizing though as Noted in authors bio. Everyone floats their own boat. - Happy to read great stories though 😊
Great read. I'm looking forward to the next! Not a fan of any proselytizing though as Noted in authors bio. Everyone floats their own boat. - Happy to read great stories though 😊
September 22, 2025
It's a pretty good book.
Derelict Thief is a pretty good book. It was entertaining with the young heroin overcoming adversity with really good luck and the help of almost unlimited technological magic and a nearly omnipotent AI.
Derelict Thief is a pretty good book. It was entertaining with the young heroin overcoming adversity with really good luck and the help of almost unlimited technological magic and a nearly omnipotent AI.
October 8, 2025
Good read. Looking forward to next!
This was a good story, I just wish the series was finished with a hundred books already! I hate waiting! So I’ll go find out what else this author has written :). Happy reading!
This was a good story, I just wish the series was finished with a hundred books already! I hate waiting! So I’ll go find out what else this author has written :). Happy reading!
January 18, 2026
surprisingly good
I really enjoyed the characters, very good writing style that kept the flow of the book moving. Lots of technology. Can’t wait for a book 2. One of the better Facebook I’ve read in a while.
I really enjoyed the characters, very good writing style that kept the flow of the book moving. Lots of technology. Can’t wait for a book 2. One of the better Facebook I’ve read in a while.
May 30, 2026
Rocking Ride
This was a fun fun fun book. The FMC is a sassy, smart daredevil who really loves to live on the edge Loved her character and all her adventures. The hope this turns into a series
This was a fun fun fun book. The FMC is a sassy, smart daredevil who really loves to live on the edge Loved her character and all her adventures. The hope this turns into a series
June 19, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, kept my interest from beginning to end.
June 29, 2025
Fun book
I liked the characters' personalities. Interesting storyline. Heroine is not a thief but an "acquisition specialist". No boring sections in the book.
I liked the characters' personalities. Interesting storyline. Heroine is not a thief but an "acquisition specialist". No boring sections in the book.
August 21, 2025
Excellent story
I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and edited. The characters are believable. I hope that it , turn into a series.
I really enjoyed this book. It is well written and edited. The characters are believable. I hope that it , turn into a series.
August 31, 2025
Smashing
Great read...almost too fast
paced...full to the brim with a thousand possibilities and characters barely touched on who all have their own stories I hope to read.
Great read...almost too fast
paced...full to the brim with a thousand possibilities and characters barely touched on who all have their own stories I hope to read.
September 14, 2025
Enjoyable read!
A pleasant read. The girl shows that you never are defeated, unless you give up. Hope and street smarts are the cure.
A pleasant read. The girl shows that you never are defeated, unless you give up. Hope and street smarts are the cure.
September 23, 2025
Memorizeing Epic Story
The story kept me turning pages after page until I finished. I want to know more about Ginny & Bob. Let us know when the next book will be out.
The story kept me turning pages after page until I finished. I want to know more about Ginny & Bob. Let us know when the next book will be out.
November 10, 2025
A good read overall but some parts did drag out a bit
June 11, 2026
A Very Good Book
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I hope there is another book in this series. if not, I will be looking for another book by this author.
I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. I hope there is another book in this series. if not, I will be looking for another book by this author.
August 15, 2025
liked the heroine and twists and turns
It was a really fun read filled with twists and turns. I really enjoyed it and hope for a book 2
It was a really fun read filled with twists and turns. I really enjoyed it and hope for a book 2
January 28, 2026
I had a lot of fun with Derelict Thief: The Acquisition Specialist, even though it definitely isn’t perfect.
Ginny is not a mastermind thief and she is not trying to be. She is impulsive, reckless, and runs on instinct more than planning. That will probably annoy some readers, and honestly, I get why. She survives on a mix of luck, stubbornness, and timing that is sometimes a little too convenient. If you are looking for a carefully plotted heist story or hard sci fi realism, this is not that book.
What it is is a fast, entertaining adventure with a strong voice. Ginny’s snark and inner commentary kept me reading, and the AI ship adds a lot of personality and humor. Once the story gets moving, it rarely drags. The worldbuilding is light but fun, and the progression fantasy elements like upgrades and enhancements are handled in a way that feels accessible instead of overwhelming.
The structure can feel episodic, almost like a series of mini adventures, and not all of them are strictly necessary for the main plot. That said, they do help flesh out Ginny as a character and explain why she behaves the way she does. She is flawed, sometimes frustrating, but not unlikable, and I found myself rooting for her despite rolling my eyes more than once.
This feels very much like a first book finding its footing. There are rough edges and a bit too much reliance on coincidence, but there is also charm, humor, and momentum. I finished the book wanting to see where Ginny goes next, which is really the point.
Not flawless, but definitely worth the read if you enjoy snarky sci fi adventure with a morally gray lead and light progression elements.
Ginny is not a mastermind thief and she is not trying to be. She is impulsive, reckless, and runs on instinct more than planning. That will probably annoy some readers, and honestly, I get why. She survives on a mix of luck, stubbornness, and timing that is sometimes a little too convenient. If you are looking for a carefully plotted heist story or hard sci fi realism, this is not that book.
What it is is a fast, entertaining adventure with a strong voice. Ginny’s snark and inner commentary kept me reading, and the AI ship adds a lot of personality and humor. Once the story gets moving, it rarely drags. The worldbuilding is light but fun, and the progression fantasy elements like upgrades and enhancements are handled in a way that feels accessible instead of overwhelming.
The structure can feel episodic, almost like a series of mini adventures, and not all of them are strictly necessary for the main plot. That said, they do help flesh out Ginny as a character and explain why she behaves the way she does. She is flawed, sometimes frustrating, but not unlikable, and I found myself rooting for her despite rolling my eyes more than once.
This feels very much like a first book finding its footing. There are rough edges and a bit too much reliance on coincidence, but there is also charm, humor, and momentum. I finished the book wanting to see where Ginny goes next, which is really the point.
Not flawless, but definitely worth the read if you enjoy snarky sci fi adventure with a morally gray lead and light progression elements.
May 19, 2026
A villain or a hero?
Interesting plot. Lots of action. Our MC has to work through a lot of angst, but she’s getting there. This book was an excellent fun read. I’m hoping our author works through his writing block.
Interesting plot. Lots of action. Our MC has to work through a lot of angst, but she’s getting there. This book was an excellent fun read. I’m hoping our author works through his writing block.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews