Raven Stratagem (The Machineries of Empire, #2)

by Yoon Ha Lee

Brezan would rather they had sent a shipment of extra boots. Because, with all the marching they did in space, the boots would be more useful.

he knelt to pet the friendlier of Zehun’s two cats, Fenez. The other one was hiding, as usual. Fenez still bore a scary resemblance to a knitting project gone horribly awry.