"A Bad Deal for the Whole Galaxy" by Alex White (BR)

[Kristin B.]

This is the sequel to A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe which was our February Sci Fi read.

I'm starting the thread a little early because I came across something in chapter four that is cracking me up. Not really a spoiler, but I'll throw it behind a tag just in case.

(view spoiler)[ Taitutian Special Branch Agent Cedric Withers obviously disliked Boots.

From the moment she'd entered his office and they'd locked hands she knew. It was in the look in his eyes, the grip of his handshake, and the way he said, "Everyone likes you, Miss Elsworth, but I don't" (hide spoiler)]

I know these aren't the best written books ever, but they sure are fun!

[Joon]

I'ma start this in a couple days. I said it in the other topic but I'll say it here too; I have higher hopes for this one since it doesn't really have to establish the characters or the universe (something the first book did rather clumsily), so it can kind of hit the ground running.

[Lowell]

I will jump into it on the fourth. but I'm looking forward to it!

[HeyT]

Oop I finished it already.

[Mareike]

I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish the first book by the 4th, but I think I'll just join you guys belatedly once I get to the second one.

[Kristin B.]

Mareike wrote: "I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish the first book by the 4th, but I think I'll just join you guys belatedly once I get to the second one."

That's totally cool! I'm looking forward to coming back to this thread when you've finished!

I finished the book yesterday and I loved it! It was even better than the first and the writing continued to get smoother throughout this second installment.

Since I'm done, I'll just say spoilers for the whole book because I am bad at remembering at what point in the story I read something. (First tag isn't super spoilery)

(view spoiler)[ I really wish I had read this on Kindle so I could have had my highlight function. Particularly for paperback pages 431 and 432. Boots was "flattened out" by Malik's spell. The whole scene was both funny and really interesting watching her remember all her frustrations from such a distant perspective.

I loved most of the action scenes in this book. I think the author did a great job of keeping them interesting and different.

I don't really have a ton of specifics about what I loved. I just adored how fun the book was. (hide spoiler)]

(Extra spoiler protection for the ending) (view spoiler)[And the end with Vandevere and the crew remembering him legitimately had me misty-eyed. That to me is the sign of a good book. If it can make me laugh out loud and mourn for the characters, then it's done it's job.

I really wanted them to get more into Orna's past and Charger. Anyone else think that the voice of Charger is the voice of her lost brother? (hide spoiler)]

None of that was particularly articulate. I just really loved these books way more than I expected to and I really want it to be 2020 so we can read The Worst of All Possible Worlds!

[Mareike]

So, I started this yesterday and really liked the first chapter, especially (view spoiler)[the scene between Nilah and Boots on the balcony. I felt like their friendship came on a little sudden in the first book, but I hope it'll be explored some more in this one. (hide spoiler)]

[Lowell]

(view spoiler)[”I’m not putting love handles on my killbot.” (hide spoiler)]

Great line.

[Mareike]

Ch. 3: (view spoiler)[Reading the part about the interrogation was...a lot. It's a bit creepy what Alister and Jeannie can do.
I liked that Boots tried to reach out to them (or at least to Alister). I wonder what will come of that.
And I'm really enjoying all the quiet moments that Boots and Nilah are getting so far. This definitely helps to make their friendship more believable.
And of course Durand is dead....would have been too easy if they could just have dropped him off with the Taitutian authorities... (hide spoiler)]

[Mareike]

Ch. 7 + 8 (view spoiler)[The description of the cult and how they initiates people/brainwash them into believing the cult's teaching are hartowing. I wonder if Allister has been compromised. It feels like their teaching might resonate with him.
I found it interesting that the story Pointe out that all of the people trying to join were from well-off families.

I also wish Boots and Orna hadn't lingered in that vault. Clearly, the other woman is also there for Durand's box. (hide spoiler)]