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Despite Duty
Meet Captain Elianorra Salazar of the Independent Merchant Ship Despite and her ragtag crew. You've not heard of them before? Well then, it's bloody well time.
Outwardly, Salazar is like most captains traveling the stars, simply trying to make some money in the tedious long-haul freight business. But her secret life soon puts both herself and her unsuspecting crew in danger, pulling her into a maelstrom of complications when the murky world of criminal overlords, drug smuggling, and the interference of the Confederacy's Navy clash head-on with her duty. Struggling amidst the ever-increasing chaos, things only get worse when a past adversary and a forgotten threat come to the fore, leaving her crew not only questioning who their captain is but whether the risks are worth following her to the end.
With more twists and turns, both Salazar and the crew of the Despite begin to learn the price that comes with following orders, no matter who it is that's giving them.
Outwardly, Salazar is like most captains traveling the stars, simply trying to make some money in the tedious long-haul freight business. But her secret life soon puts both herself and her unsuspecting crew in danger, pulling her into a maelstrom of complications when the murky world of criminal overlords, drug smuggling, and the interference of the Confederacy's Navy clash head-on with her duty. Struggling amidst the ever-increasing chaos, things only get worse when a past adversary and a forgotten threat come to the fore, leaving her crew not only questioning who their captain is but whether the risks are worth following her to the end.
With more twists and turns, both Salazar and the crew of the Despite begin to learn the price that comes with following orders, no matter who it is that's giving them.
155 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 17, 2020
8 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Jasmin Joachims
7 books38 followersJasmin Joachims is a poet, writer and author of Despite Distress, Despite Duty, and The Flying Kite. Previously working as an IT consultant, she now prefers to put words onto the page and dabble in a plethora of genres that include science fiction, romance and post-apocalyptic dystopia. One of her passions is to create gripping LGBTQ+ novels and trying to write the kind of stories she would have loved to be able to read while she was growing up. Her second passion is ice cream. No, sorry, it's dogs. Okay, she can't decide. Let's call them her other two second passions and be done with it.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 5, 2024
4,5 - 5 ⭐️
Humorous sci-fi book with a very likable lesbian main character and her crew.
No romance for the heroine but a love interest on the horizon. Yeah.
The main focus is on the story in general, the characters and the created “space world” and not on the romance. And especially these parts make the book very interesting to read.
I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
Humorous sci-fi book with a very likable lesbian main character and her crew.
No romance for the heroine but a love interest on the horizon. Yeah.
The main focus is on the story in general, the characters and the created “space world” and not on the romance. And especially these parts make the book very interesting to read.
I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
April 14, 2025
4 Stars
I got my nosebleed moments when the author was explaining the science fiction part of the story. It’s very detailed and quite immersive but I’m not smart so I was in over my head. I enjoyed the story in general though, the mission, the chasing, the fight scenes, it was fascinating and kept me entertained. Book 2 here I come!
I got my nosebleed moments when the author was explaining the science fiction part of the story. It’s very detailed and quite immersive but I’m not smart so I was in over my head. I enjoyed the story in general though, the mission, the chasing, the fight scenes, it was fascinating and kept me entertained. Book 2 here I come!
October 31, 2024
What a wonderful adventure this book takes you on. It has angst, droid attacks, friendship, wicked side characters, and excitement of some sort in nearly every chapter. It's a book I couldn't put down.
The plot was well-conceived and executed flawlessly. I enjoyed all the characters and the development of their relationships. There were many humorous moments throughout. The enemies-to-friends relationship between Elianorra and Haggerty had palpable romantic potential.
My favourite character is N'guyerra. She is a formidable Malekon Warrior and the starship's Navigator of the Despite for Elianorra and her crew. N'guyerra is always ready for a fight and may ask questions later. She is an exceptional and brilliant individual.
I do not usually read science fiction books, but for Jas, I made an exception. I really enjoyed her other books and had to read this one too. I am glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I highly recommend this book. It was an excellent read, and I eagerly anticipate the release of future instalments in the series.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The plot was well-conceived and executed flawlessly. I enjoyed all the characters and the development of their relationships. There were many humorous moments throughout. The enemies-to-friends relationship between Elianorra and Haggerty had palpable romantic potential.
My favourite character is N'guyerra. She is a formidable Malekon Warrior and the starship's Navigator of the Despite for Elianorra and her crew. N'guyerra is always ready for a fight and may ask questions later. She is an exceptional and brilliant individual.
I do not usually read science fiction books, but for Jas, I made an exception. I really enjoyed her other books and had to read this one too. I am glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I highly recommend this book. It was an excellent read, and I eagerly anticipate the release of future instalments in the series.
Star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
January 3, 2024
Despite Duty follows on from the fun short Despite Distress 3 years further on. We continue to follow Elianorra Salazar, who now has a couple more members on her crew, as she proceeds to continue her double life of a smuggler and secret agent.
The narrative is always fun, breezy and completely captivating. The crew all have their own individual characteristics (think Guardians of the Galaxy, Firefly, Farscape) and you grow to love each of them as the story unfolds. Hopefully, we get a back story on how Hector and Chen were recruited in the future.
In the past, I have only dabbled in sci-fi on TV or at the cinema but Jasmin Joachims has completely changed that. I hated having to put the book down and just wanted to keep reading as I was taken on Elianorra's journey.
Just like watching a season of your favourite TV show, I can't wait for the next installment of this adventure. This is simply a stunning debut full length novel!
The narrative is always fun, breezy and completely captivating. The crew all have their own individual characteristics (think Guardians of the Galaxy, Firefly, Farscape) and you grow to love each of them as the story unfolds. Hopefully, we get a back story on how Hector and Chen were recruited in the future.
In the past, I have only dabbled in sci-fi on TV or at the cinema but Jasmin Joachims has completely changed that. I hated having to put the book down and just wanted to keep reading as I was taken on Elianorra's journey.
Just like watching a season of your favourite TV show, I can't wait for the next installment of this adventure. This is simply a stunning debut full length novel!
January 5, 2024
ARC Review ✨
This was the first sci-fi book I've read and I have to say I completely enjoyed this story!! The author had a phenomenal way of combining a bunch of world building without making it confusing! It was actually pretty easy to follow along and the concept of the story was highly interesting! This book definitely makes me want to check out more of the sci-fi genre!
This was the first sci-fi book I've read and I have to say I completely enjoyed this story!! The author had a phenomenal way of combining a bunch of world building without making it confusing! It was actually pretty easy to follow along and the concept of the story was highly interesting! This book definitely makes me want to check out more of the sci-fi genre!
December 16, 2023
I had so much fun with this sci-fi book.
Instantly, I was in love with the main characters, and that's really this books greatest strength. Elia, the captain is badass, but with so much depth. My favourite was definitely the pilot character though.
The plot was full of enough twists and turns to keep me interested, and the dilemmas surrounding balancing doing what is right for justice vs doing what is right for yourself will keep me thinking about it for a long time after finishing! It's fast paced and action packed, but not without its introspective and thoughtfulness too, like all good sci-fi should have. The comedy and absurd moments hit all the right notes too, which not all sci-fi does well.
The world feels fleshed out and expansive, and I love that we get a look at several locations in detail as well. I particularly liked a scene where they were chasing someone on one of the planets, and it gave such a natural cross-section of the environment. Makes you really feel like you're in a galaxy that is alive.
The teases and the mysterious left open make me excited for what is to come. Can't wait for the next one!
Instantly, I was in love with the main characters, and that's really this books greatest strength. Elia, the captain is badass, but with so much depth. My favourite was definitely the pilot character though.
The plot was full of enough twists and turns to keep me interested, and the dilemmas surrounding balancing doing what is right for justice vs doing what is right for yourself will keep me thinking about it for a long time after finishing! It's fast paced and action packed, but not without its introspective and thoughtfulness too, like all good sci-fi should have. The comedy and absurd moments hit all the right notes too, which not all sci-fi does well.
The world feels fleshed out and expansive, and I love that we get a look at several locations in detail as well. I particularly liked a scene where they were chasing someone on one of the planets, and it gave such a natural cross-section of the environment. Makes you really feel like you're in a galaxy that is alive.
The teases and the mysterious left open make me excited for what is to come. Can't wait for the next one!
December 19, 2023
I’m not much into SciFi but I really liked this. What an adventure! I love the characters and how we’re able to see their camaraderie and loyalty to one another, just makes them more endearing to me.
Looking forward to the next one!
Looking forward to the next one!
September 21, 2025
Yey! The death mongers! I mean... The death Monger! I mean... The Despite crew! I could use a bit more of N'guyerra to be honest, but the rest of the crew was also a great addition.
It maintains the light and cheeky vibe through the story, great characters and more intriguing back story. It took a little bit to get me completely focused, but after that, I was glued.
On to the next one!
It maintains the light and cheeky vibe through the story, great characters and more intriguing back story. It took a little bit to get me completely focused, but after that, I was glued.
On to the next one!
January 10, 2024
After I read the free prequel novella the author provides through her website, I couldn’t wait for this release.
I don’t read sci-fi often because I find the narrative gets bogged down with world-building and unimportant details. This book is different. The world building is easy and creative, allowing the characters and plot to take centre stage. And this author knows how to craft fun and individual characters! I fell in love with Elia and found her so relatable. She’s someone that is battling with the idea of right and wrong, and she has so much depth to her. I also loved her dynamic with Haggerty. I can’t wait to see how that develops. But the attention to detail with the rest of the crew is one of the things that makes this series so good. They’re unique and each bring something to the dynamic. They’re that type of group you could read about doing mundane things like washing dishes, because it would just be hilarious.
The plot has twists and turns to keep you guessing, has well-written action scenes and a whole lot of comedy and snark too (mostly from Elia)
Also, Eighty-Three? Is it weird that I love that little AI so much? Probably.
Such a great debut. Joachims is one to watch, for sure.
I don’t read sci-fi often because I find the narrative gets bogged down with world-building and unimportant details. This book is different. The world building is easy and creative, allowing the characters and plot to take centre stage. And this author knows how to craft fun and individual characters! I fell in love with Elia and found her so relatable. She’s someone that is battling with the idea of right and wrong, and she has so much depth to her. I also loved her dynamic with Haggerty. I can’t wait to see how that develops. But the attention to detail with the rest of the crew is one of the things that makes this series so good. They’re unique and each bring something to the dynamic. They’re that type of group you could read about doing mundane things like washing dishes, because it would just be hilarious.
The plot has twists and turns to keep you guessing, has well-written action scenes and a whole lot of comedy and snark too (mostly from Elia)
Also, Eighty-Three? Is it weird that I love that little AI so much? Probably.
Such a great debut. Joachims is one to watch, for sure.
January 15, 2024
Love it!
This is such a good story, and a great beginning to The Sword of the Queen series. Speaking of… where’s book 2? I cannot wait to continue reading about this world and I am hoping for much more of Salazar and Haggerty! Great start Jasmin Joachims!
This is such a good story, and a great beginning to The Sword of the Queen series. Speaking of… where’s book 2? I cannot wait to continue reading about this world and I am hoping for much more of Salazar and Haggerty! Great start Jasmin Joachims!
December 28, 2023
And a star is born!!! If you're looking for something new in the sci-fi/space opera genre, then here it is! Jasmin Joachim's Despite Duty is a well conceived and crafted debut novel and I am sure the first of many from this skilled new author.
The dry humour and smart one-liners effectively caught my attention from the beginning of the story. They made for a few swallowed down chuckles and paragraph rereads and were part of what kept the pace moving along so well.
As you'd expect with this genre, there was a lot of world building. The author did a superb job though and there was no info dump or tedious retelling in any form in this story. This let the narrative flow smoothly while building up the convincing construction of several races, their incredibly unique technology and hence a good portion of a solid universe.
The main character, Captain Elia Salazar, was a pleasure to travel with. She was our first person POV for the story and gave us insights into several facets of the people of this story, thus strengthening the world building, as she had a close royal connection, was masquerading as a pirate while Captain of the space ship, was one half of an awkwardly burgeoning relationship and an extremely competent soldier. Her crew were also well written and interesting as individuals and a unit, and their interactions as a group were fun, infuriating and witty.
As well as the lighter, action filled side of this story there was a more thought provoking and unexpected layer to challenge readers. The presence of an AI seeking education about emotions, a spy/pirate captain in a moral quandary about doing what's right even when the cost to not just herself was potentially extraordinarily high, and the theft and feared misuse of DNA were all presented concisely in the narrative and left for the reader's contemplation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will be recommending it to all and sundry! I am looking forward to more in this series.
The dry humour and smart one-liners effectively caught my attention from the beginning of the story. They made for a few swallowed down chuckles and paragraph rereads and were part of what kept the pace moving along so well.
As you'd expect with this genre, there was a lot of world building. The author did a superb job though and there was no info dump or tedious retelling in any form in this story. This let the narrative flow smoothly while building up the convincing construction of several races, their incredibly unique technology and hence a good portion of a solid universe.
The main character, Captain Elia Salazar, was a pleasure to travel with. She was our first person POV for the story and gave us insights into several facets of the people of this story, thus strengthening the world building, as she had a close royal connection, was masquerading as a pirate while Captain of the space ship, was one half of an awkwardly burgeoning relationship and an extremely competent soldier. Her crew were also well written and interesting as individuals and a unit, and their interactions as a group were fun, infuriating and witty.
As well as the lighter, action filled side of this story there was a more thought provoking and unexpected layer to challenge readers. The presence of an AI seeking education about emotions, a spy/pirate captain in a moral quandary about doing what's right even when the cost to not just herself was potentially extraordinarily high, and the theft and feared misuse of DNA were all presented concisely in the narrative and left for the reader's contemplation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will be recommending it to all and sundry! I am looking forward to more in this series.
January 17, 2026
For some reason, I had the second book of this series, so I decided to buy this one and read them. At first, I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about the book. The author throws a lot of sci-fi jargon at you very quickly, but once I got past that, I really liked it.
The plot wasn't bad, but it also felt like something that had been done before or at least parts of it. I haven't read much (any?) sci-fi, but this reminded me of several things I do love. So to me, it felt like a bit of a mash of Firefly (the crew), Star Wars (the aliens, the worlds), and Mass Effect (the history of the war with the Archimeda reminded me of the Rachni Wars and Eighty-Three made me think of EDI). But those are probably things that exist in a lot of sci-fi books (I just wouldn't know because I haven't read them).
The characters are all likeable, which is what really made the book for me. Of the side characters, I particularly liked Eighty-Three and Hector. I also liked N’guyerra and Chen, though I wish we had gotten more of the latter. He felt nonexistent for a lot of the book.
Overall, an enjoyable, well written book. I read it quickly because it kept my interest and I always wanted to know what happened next. I am looking forward to the second one, which I will probably start soon. Here's hoping there's a little romance for Elia in it, a bit more of Chen, and a lot more shenanigans.
Below are my random thoughts while reading the book. Obvious spoilers.
The plot wasn't bad, but it also felt like something that had been done before or at least parts of it. I haven't read much (any?) sci-fi, but this reminded me of several things I do love. So to me, it felt like a bit of a mash of Firefly (the crew), Star Wars (the aliens, the worlds), and Mass Effect (the history of the war with the Archimeda reminded me of the Rachni Wars and Eighty-Three made me think of EDI). But those are probably things that exist in a lot of sci-fi books (I just wouldn't know because I haven't read them).
The characters are all likeable, which is what really made the book for me. Of the side characters, I particularly liked Eighty-Three and Hector. I also liked N’guyerra and Chen, though I wish we had gotten more of the latter. He felt nonexistent for a lot of the book.
Overall, an enjoyable, well written book. I read it quickly because it kept my interest and I always wanted to know what happened next. I am looking forward to the second one, which I will probably start soon. Here's hoping there's a little romance for Elia in it, a bit more of Chen, and a lot more shenanigans.
Below are my random thoughts while reading the book. Obvious spoilers.
June 17, 2025
A solid starter that sets up for a space opera series with plenty of politics, daring adventures, the chance of some found family, and maybe just the slightest inkling of a romance waiting to happen in future.
What I Loved:
- This is your classic space opera fare, and it does it all with Star Wars-esque flair. "Alien" races, weird worlds, even weirder political wrangling going on beneath the surface; basically everything you could wish for, including...
- A hard-bitten heroine who just happens to be a space pirate and her crew of the usual outcasts: the heavy who has a heart of gold, the quiet tech guy, the brash cyborg ex-military aide, and a cute lil' floating AI robot. They've all got more facets to them than just what you see, and their backstories are hinted at throughout in ways meant to tantalize in anticipation of the series continuing.
- A satisfying open ending. I feel like I read a story, even if it is very obviously a setting-things-up part 1 of a story.
- The writing style is so easy to get into the flow of, and being narrated by our pirate captain Elia, we get to know more about the world in her own personal style.
-There's no overt romance, just the seeds of it.
What I Noticed:
- Some scenes I felt a little lost as to what I should be picturing, where details are only mentioned if the character interacts with something. I had no idea it was there, and would go back to re-read to check.
- Some world building details seemed a little sudden and not foreshadowed to me
TL;DR: If you like a good space opera, this will be such a comfort read.
What I Loved:
- This is your classic space opera fare, and it does it all with Star Wars-esque flair. "Alien" races, weird worlds, even weirder political wrangling going on beneath the surface; basically everything you could wish for, including...
- A hard-bitten heroine who just happens to be a space pirate and her crew of the usual outcasts: the heavy who has a heart of gold, the quiet tech guy, the brash cyborg ex-military aide, and a cute lil' floating AI robot. They've all got more facets to them than just what you see, and their backstories are hinted at throughout in ways meant to tantalize in anticipation of the series continuing.
- A satisfying open ending. I feel like I read a story, even if it is very obviously a setting-things-up part 1 of a story.
- The writing style is so easy to get into the flow of, and being narrated by our pirate captain Elia, we get to know more about the world in her own personal style.
-There's no overt romance, just the seeds of it.
What I Noticed:
- Some scenes I felt a little lost as to what I should be picturing, where details are only mentioned if the character interacts with something. I had no idea it was there, and would go back to re-read to check.
- Some world building details seemed a little sudden and not foreshadowed to me
TL;DR: If you like a good space opera, this will be such a comfort read.
December 16, 2023
I read the zero book in this series and I liked it, so I figured I would like this too. The characters are so great! Elia is fabulously badass, her chemistry with Haggerty is the right kind of awkward, and the rest of the crew members are dynamic and interestingly. Unlike a lot of scifi books these days, Elia isn't "coming into" her powers, she's well aware of her powers but can't use them because of dampers on them. This might seem like a small distinction since at the end of the day it's obvious she's going to become more powerful as the series goes on, but it means that the hero can start off more confident and ready to throw down than in a lot of stories.
Weirdly, one of my favorite characters is the AI Eighty-Three ... I feel like a lot of times if a book has an AI asking something like "What is empathy?" they're about to start killin' people, but this was an unexpectedly wholesome convo and I hope the AI finds some kind of fulfillment.
I got some Firefly vibes from it--the Confederacy, the space pirates--and just like Firefly, I think the most interesting thing was the characters. The plot was fun and full of opportunities for mayhem, but this is definitely a book you read to experience Elia and her friends getting snarky while blowing stuff up. I also liked the contrast between the sci-fi elements and a government system that felt feudal, full of bloodlines and swords.
Weirdly, one of my favorite characters is the AI Eighty-Three ... I feel like a lot of times if a book has an AI asking something like "What is empathy?" they're about to start killin' people, but this was an unexpectedly wholesome convo and I hope the AI finds some kind of fulfillment.
I got some Firefly vibes from it--the Confederacy, the space pirates--and just like Firefly, I think the most interesting thing was the characters. The plot was fun and full of opportunities for mayhem, but this is definitely a book you read to experience Elia and her friends getting snarky while blowing stuff up. I also liked the contrast between the sci-fi elements and a government system that felt feudal, full of bloodlines and swords.
February 23, 2025
“But if it causes emotional discomfort, why do you cherish the existence of compassion?”
“It is what makes us, more than anything else, feel closest to those around us. Not feeling like you’re alone in the universe … it matters.”
I didn’t know how much I needed sapphic, sci-fi, space operas in my life, until I started this series! I am HOOKED!
And as someone who loves Star Wars, I honestly don’t know how I haven’t picked up a space opera before this!
As I have always prided myself in reviewing books honestly, I was beyond thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this copy of “Despite Duty” by Jasmin Joachims.
With that being said, I absolutely LOVED this book! I was already introduced to the main character, Elia, from reading the prequel novella, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading more of her adventures. In this story, we get more details about her ship, The Despite, and we meet her crew: N’guyerra and Eighty-Three, Elia’s AI (we met both of them in the novella), as well as Hector and Chen! This rag-tag crew was so diverse and entertaining. For example, Chen is an alien species that doesn’t have vocal cords, so he invented his own version of sign language to communicate with the rest of the crew! As someone who is part of the Deaf community, I really loved that this book included sign language (and in space)!
The story is told from Elia’s point of view and I love her witty inner monologue throughout the book, as well as the banter between her and her crew. I had several moments of laughter throughout the story.
“…I hadn’t counted on fighting actual cows. I would so get an earful from the crew for this. “F**king cows,” my navigator N’guyerra muttered, then dove behind the boulder I was squatting.”
We follow the crew’s space adventures as they smuggle merchandise to the far reaches of the galaxy. However, unknowingly to the rest of the crew, Elia is an undercover agent working for the queen and is trying to find the person responsible for a terrorist attack. Of course the crew hits some bumps along the way and Elia struggles to keep her secret from them. We also get a hint of possible romance blossoming between Elia and the military commander, Allen Haggerty, despite her consistently trying to catch Elia doing things she shouldn’t be.
“The only way for evil to triumph is for a good person to do nothing.”
- Hector
I think Jasmin Joachams has a fantastic writing style. Her words throughout the story were very engaging and easy to follow. She was able to effectively create the world Elia and her crew reside in and I enjoyed all the details she put into the story. I am very much looking forward to reading more of her work!
If you enjoy sapphic science fiction, space adventures, a badass female lead, a rag-tag found family crew, witty banter and beautiful writing, then “Despite Duty” is definitely a book you will enjoy!
January 29, 2026
This book and I… we just get off on the wrong foot. With the cow-people and grenades that bury them head-first in the sand with their feet sticking out and kicking, it starts with the comically absurd. And if I’m reading Spaceballs, fine, let’s do that.
But the rest of the book is way more of a serious sci-fi story. Terrorist attacks and bad guys who blow people’s leg off in cold blood, leaving them to bleed out… that’s not a comic story. That story I preferred — it was compelling and action-packed and often gritty with a hint of romance. There was the occasional backsliding with talk of booboos and radioactive goo… but on the whole, I’d rather just skip the first chapter and pretend it was a more serious story all along.
I liked that there was a decent stopping point but with plenty of open questions for future installments. I’d like to read on. I hope the next books are more like the end and less like the start. 3 stars for the confusion at the beginning that threw me for a loop, and 5 stars for the rest.
But the rest of the book is way more of a serious sci-fi story. Terrorist attacks and bad guys who blow people’s leg off in cold blood, leaving them to bleed out… that’s not a comic story. That story I preferred — it was compelling and action-packed and often gritty with a hint of romance. There was the occasional backsliding with talk of booboos and radioactive goo… but on the whole, I’d rather just skip the first chapter and pretend it was a more serious story all along.
I liked that there was a decent stopping point but with plenty of open questions for future installments. I’d like to read on. I hope the next books are more like the end and less like the start. 3 stars for the confusion at the beginning that threw me for a loop, and 5 stars for the rest.
December 11, 2023
‘We all need to live with the choices we make’
How much of our past do we disclose to those not included in “a need-to-know basis”? Under which circumstances is it allowed to change someone’s status so as to disclose information? What if the information is not your story to tell? Etc.
Some sage advice from the author:
Avoid dancing Jelqins at all costs.
Pirates need hunting skills just as much as undercover security agents.
Fave line:
‘What’s wrong with a bit of old-fashioned violence?’
I really enjoyed this tale full of friendship & casual banter and was already looking forward to the next in series – and then The Epilogue happened. ‘What in the cosmos…?’
How much of our past do we disclose to those not included in “a need-to-know basis”? Under which circumstances is it allowed to change someone’s status so as to disclose information? What if the information is not your story to tell? Etc.
Some sage advice from the author:
Avoid dancing Jelqins at all costs.
Pirates need hunting skills just as much as undercover security agents.
Fave line:
‘What’s wrong with a bit of old-fashioned violence?’
I really enjoyed this tale full of friendship & casual banter and was already looking forward to the next in series – and then The Epilogue happened. ‘What in the cosmos…?’
January 17, 2025
I’ll start with what I didn’t like because there isn’t much, the first 10-20% was a lot of information packed into such a small amount of time so it was a little overwhelming but the information was needed.
I loved that it included a map, I always have a soft spot for illustrations in the book relating to places or characters so loved that.
Overall a great book. The plot and characters were great, N’guyerra’s hangry moments were so funny and relatable. Looking forward to reading the second book.
*full disclosure I was given this book by the author Jasmin Joachims in exchange for an honest review*
I loved that it included a map, I always have a soft spot for illustrations in the book relating to places or characters so loved that.
Overall a great book. The plot and characters were great, N’guyerra’s hangry moments were so funny and relatable. Looking forward to reading the second book.
*full disclosure I was given this book by the author Jasmin Joachims in exchange for an honest review*
February 12, 2024
This slaps pretty hard.
If you're into lighthearted space opera you will love this. The scope and love for the world reminded me of Neil Asher somehow - minus the gore and less nihilistic but with girl on girl undertones instead (can't say i disliked that). The prose is more easygoing but the universe feels the same kind of lived in. The author strings the story from set piece to set piece and there is almost none, if any slouch in the story.
I'm probably gonna reread this in the future.
If you're into lighthearted space opera you will love this. The scope and love for the world reminded me of Neil Asher somehow - minus the gore and less nihilistic but with girl on girl undertones instead (can't say i disliked that). The prose is more easygoing but the universe feels the same kind of lived in. The author strings the story from set piece to set piece and there is almost none, if any slouch in the story.
I'm probably gonna reread this in the future.
June 22, 2025
4.5 rounded up
This was a very entertaining read, and took maybe two sessions to rip through. The writing just keeps you engaged the whole way through.
Elianorra is a great character, who is smart, strong and witty. Her crew are all very distinctive people and make for a great found family. Eighty three was the best.
The story is really good, has several things going on, with only a few things answered in this book. I didn't feel short changed though.
Elia's crush on Haggerty is super funny lol
This was a very entertaining read, and took maybe two sessions to rip through. The writing just keeps you engaged the whole way through.
Elianorra is a great character, who is smart, strong and witty. Her crew are all very distinctive people and make for a great found family. Eighty three was the best.
The story is really good, has several things going on, with only a few things answered in this book. I didn't feel short changed though.
Elia's crush on Haggerty is super funny lol
March 12, 2024
Enjoyed reading this story so much! It was only a few pages in when I got my first "wait, what!?" moment and I was hooked.
Witty and captivating, the story takes you on a journey across the galaxy with an interesting crew. As the story develops, you get to know more about the endearing characters that form the crew. Lots of banter and solidarity, hard not to love them.
Can't wait to find out what the next adventure is.
Witty and captivating, the story takes you on a journey across the galaxy with an interesting crew. As the story develops, you get to know more about the endearing characters that form the crew. Lots of banter and solidarity, hard not to love them.
Can't wait to find out what the next adventure is.
February 21, 2024
For someone who doesn't usually read science fiction Despite Duty was a great introduction and eye opener to how much fun it can be.
I was recommended to try this and it doesn't disappoint.
With a great paced story line based round a very real and relevant moral question, and quirky characters, all of whom are developed in their own right, I would love to read more from this author.
I was recommended to try this and it doesn't disappoint.
With a great paced story line based round a very real and relevant moral question, and quirky characters, all of whom are developed in their own right, I would love to read more from this author.
February 26, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. The characters were everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed how strong everyone worked with this series. I thought the writing style worked well and left me wanting to read more from the author.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 18, 2025
I rather enjoyed the story, the plot, the world building. But as a biologist I gotta say I liked even more so the zoology references used to name things like alien species, planets or cities.
August 28, 2025
4 stars. Great cast of characters, action packed and funny. Not much to say but I really liked this.
October 10, 2025
(4.25)
November 18, 2025
Despite Duty by Jasmin Joachims is a well-written science fiction series starter with a lesbian lead. Our captain, Elia Salazar, is operating as a pirate but is on a secret mission from her queen to locate a terrorist. Her unwitting crew has her back despite learning that some things are not as they seem.
I don't read many science fiction novels but have come across a few really entertaining ones recently, of which this is one. I am not science-minded, but Joachims does a great job creating an engaging story with solid world-building, what seems like sound science and tech, an exciting, action-packed, suspenseful plot, and diverse characters, and I was easily immersed. Excellent descriptions of settings and action scenes held my attention. She gave us likable characters and some pretty shady ones, too. I am a fan of Captain Salazar. She is smart, dedicated, has a strong sense of morality, and is a good leader. I also like the variety of locations mentioned. The author has a nice balance of describing things like the locations and tech without overdoing it.
This is not a romance but hints at a possible future romantic subplot.
The pace was slower in the beginning but picked up later on. Those action scenes were very exciting!
I also love the cover.
I've read a couple of other books by this author, and she is consistent in her writing style and quality.
Book 2 of this series will be published on February 22, 2025. I am looking forward to the follow-up.
#scifi #spacepirates #spaceship #spacestation #epilogue #action #AI #speciesspecifipowers #foundfamily
I received a free ebook copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
I don't read many science fiction novels but have come across a few really entertaining ones recently, of which this is one. I am not science-minded, but Joachims does a great job creating an engaging story with solid world-building, what seems like sound science and tech, an exciting, action-packed, suspenseful plot, and diverse characters, and I was easily immersed. Excellent descriptions of settings and action scenes held my attention. She gave us likable characters and some pretty shady ones, too. I am a fan of Captain Salazar. She is smart, dedicated, has a strong sense of morality, and is a good leader. I also like the variety of locations mentioned. The author has a nice balance of describing things like the locations and tech without overdoing it.
This is not a romance but hints at a possible future romantic subplot.
The pace was slower in the beginning but picked up later on. Those action scenes were very exciting!
I also love the cover.
I've read a couple of other books by this author, and she is consistent in her writing style and quality.
Book 2 of this series will be published on February 22, 2025. I am looking forward to the follow-up.
#scifi #spacepirates #spaceship #spacestation #epilogue #action #AI #speciesspecifipowers #foundfamily
I received a free ebook copy from the author. This is my honest opinion.
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