Synopsis
Ada had no intention whatsoever to continue working for the rebel group that hired her to retrieve the government’s plans for a nanobot climate cleaner if they weren’t willing to pay her for it, but then they offer a different perk: an undercover mission to a charity gala where Rian will be in attendance. Rian, meanwhile, has volunteered his services for the gala believing that the rare items up for auction will attract Ada’s eye. Hoping to catch her in the act and pin her with a punishable crime, Rian has no idea Ada’s really after.
In a high-stakes game of theft and deception, Ada plays to win…and Rian will do anything to stop her.
Review
…and we’re back!
Last week, I offered up a review of Beth Revis’ Full Speed to a Crash Landing. (Found here). I’m thrilled to say that in many ways, the second book in Revis’ Chaotic Orbits series — How to Steal a Galaxy is even more of a blast than the first.
Space Heist Meet Cute Part 2 – The Rise of Fake Elon.
So to recap Book 1 (Spoilers if you’re reading this without reading Full Speed to a Crash Landing), Ada Lamarr fooled Rian White and the crew of the Halifax in pursuit of information off a hard drive located on a crashed spaceship, all while throwing herself at Rian, partly because she’s legitimately attracted to him, and partly to distract him from finding out her secrets. Ada escapes with the goods, and Rian is left holding nothing but a slightly broken heart.
The overall story starts to show in the middle portion of the trilogy and we find out that Ada was working for a rebel group, who want to hire her again. After much back-and-forth, Ada takes another gig from the group, this time heading to a charity gala to steal another something. And who shows up trying to catch Ada with her hand in the cookie jar? None other than Rian White.
Once again, the sexual tension kicks in the moment the two of them are in the same space. Just like planets orbiting the sun, Rian can’t help but orbit Ada, picking up debris and satellites in the process. One of those satellites turns out to be mega-uber-rich entrepreneur Strom Fetor. I’m not saying that Strom Fetor is Beth Revis’ attempt at writing Elon Musk as a villain into her book, but I’m NOT saying it isn’t.
Fetor’s role is slightly comedic, but he is a key figure for both this book and the final book in the trilogy.
The ending again has Ada monologuing about how she pulled off the heist and what it ultimately is all about as we head into the third and final book in the trilogy. We see a little more depth to Ada’s character — that maybe she isn’t all about the money, and isn’t as vain as she appears.
Maybe.
In the end, this is a nice second act to the novella trilogy and if anything, continues to cement the trilogy title, Chaotic Orbits as fitting for the unpredictable nature of Ada as she circles her goals and Rian, not necessarily in that order.
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