V171 reviewed How to Steal the Galaxy by Beth Revis (Chaotic Orbits, #2)
None
3 stars
This was a fun little next chapter in this series that was randomly chosen for book club. The setting, pacing, and story were in stark contrast to the first, but the "heart" was the same, for better or for worse.
We pick up with Ada shortly after where we left her. Having fulfilled her job from the previous book, her employer reluctantly hires her again for a job, more important, and time sensitive, than the last one. But ever cynical Ada only takes it for one reason -- Rian. The job specifically will put her squarely back into Rian's sights, so why not? The job seems simple, go to a fundraising gala that is raising money for the original Earth to scrub the pollution and radiation out of it, funded by their version of intergalactic Elon Musk. The problem is the method, nanobots designed to self-replicate and complete the scrubbing, …
This was a fun little next chapter in this series that was randomly chosen for book club. The setting, pacing, and story were in stark contrast to the first, but the "heart" was the same, for better or for worse.
We pick up with Ada shortly after where we left her. Having fulfilled her job from the previous book, her employer reluctantly hires her again for a job, more important, and time sensitive, than the last one. But ever cynical Ada only takes it for one reason -- Rian. The job specifically will put her squarely back into Rian's sights, so why not? The job seems simple, go to a fundraising gala that is raising money for the original Earth to scrub the pollution and radiation out of it, funded by their version of intergalactic Elon Musk. The problem is the method, nanobots designed to self-replicate and complete the scrubbing, but something is suspicious with their programming, the very programming Ada secured in the first book. So she has to go to the gala and steal.. something else. A nice change of pace, but trouble is never too far away as protesters, other warring underground groups, and Rian all have their eyes on her the entire time she's there, and she's only happy about one of them.
This was cute, I found that I've warmed up to the characters, particularly after devoting myself to reading the physical book rather than the audiobook, which I don't recommend. I liked the change in setting, but also appreciated the same small scale; one small job, the buildup, the climax, the resolution, and the promise for more. It kept it as tight as it needed to be, and it was a breeze to read.
If you absolutely hated the tone of the first book, this will not be for you. Probably not surprising but it is maintained here. I disliked it a bit in the first, largely in part due to the audiobook narrator, but I grew more accustomed to it this time around. It still reads as juvenile "manic pixie" a bit, but I do think Ada has a bit more complexity to her character here. And it resolved the problem of the first book which had too many named characters for the length of book, this kept the cast small and the story laser focused. If you even have middling feelings about the first book, I'd recommend picking this up from the library or something, it is such a quick and easy read you might as well!