What do you think?
Rate this book
Deuces Wild #1
Deuces Wild: Beginners' Luck
All Slap ever wanted was his ranch and family.
The gangster Lyssel destroyed all that, leaving only charred remains.
Tristan wanted nothing—
He had no expectations from life and trusted no one, surviving by his wits, his sole amusement taunting his enemies—like Lyssel.
When the bereaved cowboy and space rogue meet, they discover they are hunted by this common enemy. Forced to work with each other against the gangster and his mob, the duo must try to escape the planet.
But can two total opposites put their differences aside long enough to stay alive?
The gangster Lyssel destroyed all that, leaving only charred remains.
Tristan wanted nothing—
He had no expectations from life and trusted no one, surviving by his wits, his sole amusement taunting his enemies—like Lyssel.
When the bereaved cowboy and space rogue meet, they discover they are hunted by this common enemy. Forced to work with each other against the gangster and his mob, the duo must try to escape the planet.
But can two total opposites put their differences aside long enough to stay alive?
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 25, 2008
5 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
L.S. King
11 books16 followersL.S. King has worked as a submissions editor and a copy editor on several magazines and was a founding editor of the online magazine, Ray Gun Revival, now on hiatus. Currently, she has several works in progress.
She has books published in two series: Deuces Wild and the Sword's Edge Chronicles. Her short stories have been published in Deep Magic, The Sword Review, Dragons, Knights & Angels, Digital Dragon Magazine, Residential Aliens, and Ray Gun Revival. The fact that several of the publications which have released her stories are now defunct has nothing to do with her. Honest.
She has books published in two series: Deuces Wild and the Sword's Edge Chronicles. Her short stories have been published in Deep Magic, The Sword Review, Dragons, Knights & Angels, Digital Dragon Magazine, Residential Aliens, and Ray Gun Revival. The fact that several of the publications which have released her stories are now defunct has nothing to do with her. Honest.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 6, 2025
While I really enjoyed this book, I did feel that the writing was hard to follow at points and could also use some more descriptions of the characters, environment, and scene. But I did love the plot and the idea of an almost space western, almost like tattooine from Star Wars! I would say that I am excited to read the other books to see what more this world has in store!
February 22, 2024
Very enjoyable read for fans of space opera and action/adventure as I am. Some spots at the beginning and end that were a bit hard to follow what was happening (for me at least) but did not detract from the overall read. I enjoyed the characters and the plot the most. Decided to pick up the next two in the series. Looking forward to them both.
January 18, 2026
I read the PB version of this book. I got right into the story and characters and I am not much of a sci-fi fan. However, L.S. King has characters so absolutely appealing and they drive the story and adventures (one after another). I read with gusto, rapt by the world and beings she's created. I'm a fan!
January 27, 2019
Very fast paced and engaging story. It takes you into the action first answering questions second. You get the feeling that this universe setting would make a great online game. The starships, settings, and characters are all well thought out and would make an awesone movie!
January 19, 2026
L.S. Sold me on her book with the hook that’s was similar to Firefly. This held true. The story and interaction between the two main characters was wildly fun and engaging.
April 26, 2010
On the surface, Deuces Wild: Beginners’ Luck by L. S. King is a good, old-fashion, space opera story full of adventure with a touch of humor that most, if not all, will enjoy. Are there are explosions? Yes! Battles? A plenty! Spacey technology? Yep, but the story doesn’t get bogged down in it. Aliens? You bettcha, including their cultures and a believable world.
But there are two other details needed to make a book of any kind interesting: plot and characters.
On the plot front, the story consist of the two main characters, Slap and Tristan, who confront the Mordas, a Mafia-like group controlling Slap’s planet. The Mordas attempt to steal the settlers’ land, even if it means killing. Slap’s loss of his wife and children at their hands leads to meeting Tristan at the beginning of the story. Their two fates become intertwined with interesting results as they attempt to avoid capture, or are busy rescuing one another from capture. Along the way, they meet a respectable cast of secondary characters and adventures that adds spice to the tale and moves the story forward. In the end, they return for a final confrontation with the self-appointed organization controlling Slap’s planet in a satisfying battle.
The plot is standard fare, but L. S. King puts enough of her own spin on it to keep it interesting. However, if this was the extent of the book, it wouldn’t be enough to make it stand out. What really causes this to rise above your average space opera tale are the two characters. King has taken pains to paint two very three-dimensional characters who you’d never expect to become friends. They don’t even expect themselves to become friends. But by the end of the book, they know it and the reader knows it. But what does a mercenary with a hidden past and agenda, and a moral cowboy-like family man have in common? On the surface, not much, but the fun is in watching them find out that real friendship has roots that dig under the surface of differences and bind them to one another. Then when events force them to make a decision, they discover their bond brings them to one another’s aid—because they care.
The real joy of this book is in watching that friendship unfold and tested between these two endearing characters. For me, it is what makes this book worth reading. The interesting plot, the space and planetary backdrop and cultures, the adventure and explosions, are all icing on the cake, making this book one well-rounded story that few would regret plunking down the money to read.
There are some minor drawbacks to note. For me, it took a while to get into the story with the switching between the two main characters frequently. One character per chapter would have made it easier. That said, the confusion was temporary. Once I read further in and the two story lines became more solidified in my head, I had no problem. Most of the time the switches were done well, but I think it was the frequency of them that made getting a handle on the story more difficult, at first.
There were also spots where it was too easy to lose who was talking, but that didn’t happen frequently. And a minor info-hiding toward the end of the story. It could be justified and was minor enough it didn’t distract from the story, but it was info hiding.
Positives aside from what I’ve mentioned above is solid writing—it never distracted me from the story but pulled me into it. The printing is of good quality, and a snappy cover that while giving a picture of the two characters and is a cool graphic, doesn’t accomplish much more, but fun to look at.
I recommend this as a good read for most anyone. While set in a science fiction world, the story itself is one anyone can identify with. For space opera lovers, this is a must read—a prime example of an exciting but well-rounded adventure. I fully enjoyed it, and I bet you’ll not regret picking this one up.
But there are two other details needed to make a book of any kind interesting: plot and characters.
On the plot front, the story consist of the two main characters, Slap and Tristan, who confront the Mordas, a Mafia-like group controlling Slap’s planet. The Mordas attempt to steal the settlers’ land, even if it means killing. Slap’s loss of his wife and children at their hands leads to meeting Tristan at the beginning of the story. Their two fates become intertwined with interesting results as they attempt to avoid capture, or are busy rescuing one another from capture. Along the way, they meet a respectable cast of secondary characters and adventures that adds spice to the tale and moves the story forward. In the end, they return for a final confrontation with the self-appointed organization controlling Slap’s planet in a satisfying battle.
The plot is standard fare, but L. S. King puts enough of her own spin on it to keep it interesting. However, if this was the extent of the book, it wouldn’t be enough to make it stand out. What really causes this to rise above your average space opera tale are the two characters. King has taken pains to paint two very three-dimensional characters who you’d never expect to become friends. They don’t even expect themselves to become friends. But by the end of the book, they know it and the reader knows it. But what does a mercenary with a hidden past and agenda, and a moral cowboy-like family man have in common? On the surface, not much, but the fun is in watching them find out that real friendship has roots that dig under the surface of differences and bind them to one another. Then when events force them to make a decision, they discover their bond brings them to one another’s aid—because they care.
The real joy of this book is in watching that friendship unfold and tested between these two endearing characters. For me, it is what makes this book worth reading. The interesting plot, the space and planetary backdrop and cultures, the adventure and explosions, are all icing on the cake, making this book one well-rounded story that few would regret plunking down the money to read.
There are some minor drawbacks to note. For me, it took a while to get into the story with the switching between the two main characters frequently. One character per chapter would have made it easier. That said, the confusion was temporary. Once I read further in and the two story lines became more solidified in my head, I had no problem. Most of the time the switches were done well, but I think it was the frequency of them that made getting a handle on the story more difficult, at first.
There were also spots where it was too easy to lose who was talking, but that didn’t happen frequently. And a minor info-hiding toward the end of the story. It could be justified and was minor enough it didn’t distract from the story, but it was info hiding.
Positives aside from what I’ve mentioned above is solid writing—it never distracted me from the story but pulled me into it. The printing is of good quality, and a snappy cover that while giving a picture of the two characters and is a cool graphic, doesn’t accomplish much more, but fun to look at.
I recommend this as a good read for most anyone. While set in a science fiction world, the story itself is one anyone can identify with. For space opera lovers, this is a must read—a prime example of an exciting but well-rounded adventure. I fully enjoyed it, and I bet you’ll not regret picking this one up.
May 15, 2022
What a wonderful read. Firefly meets the Expanse. Well suited for all readers and not buried in technical. This was the first book I read from this author and I have read 3/4's of her work and working on the rest now. You cannot help but smile as you read through. Hard to explain but this is the perfect book for a cool summers day, a porch swing and some iced tea. You may or may not understand that. If you do, you know what I mean.
July 18, 2013
I first read this novel when it was a serial in Ray Gun Revival, an online magazine specializing in space opera. Since I caught the series in the middle, I'd always intended to go back and read the beginning episodes, but never did. After all, I was looking forward to the NEXT episode; and, if I pick up the second or third book in a series, I rarely go back and read the volumes that came before. (shrug)
However, now the series is contained in one book. Whoo Hoo! Now I know how Slap and Tristan joined forces.
I won't give the story away, but from the excellent writing to the adventure to the banter between characters, be prepared for a good time!
However, now the series is contained in one book. Whoo Hoo! Now I know how Slap and Tristan joined forces.
I won't give the story away, but from the excellent writing to the adventure to the banter between characters, be prepared for a good time!
January 18, 2015
It's a space western! Imagine if a classed-up Han Solo teamed up with a cowboy with a well-developed sense of justice. And they're never quite really on the right side of the law, and things keep getting a little too close for comfort. :-)
This is a compilation of stories that appeared in the online magazine Ray Gun Revival, and once I got used to the format, it was really enjoyable. When King starts tackling longer stories, she really hits her stride, and the characters begin to blossom. Highly recommended!
This is a compilation of stories that appeared in the online magazine Ray Gun Revival, and once I got used to the format, it was really enjoyable. When King starts tackling longer stories, she really hits her stride, and the characters begin to blossom. Highly recommended!
March 24, 2009
In the tradition of old space opera, Deuces Wild brings you to the edge of your chair and leaves you hanging there with each episode!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews