SUPERBUG

I picked this book up after reading some recommendations that said it had Firefly vibes. The story is fun overall, it keeps things interesting by switching POV back and forth from the new inexperienced crew member to the seasoned leader.

Jenna, the latest addition to the ship Keiko, is determined and crafty, as you would expect/hope. While I didn't find her particularly unique or relatable, I was surprised by her foresight at times. She lends a level of competency to the average newbie-type character thanks to the precautions she takes in her role as hacker.

Apirana, the "heavy" of the crew, is really likable. He's Maori, and I felt that some care was taken to include his background without making it his entire presence. The author definitely had fun writing him, what with crafting his unfortunate past and developing him so far beyond just a hired thug. Apirana and Jenna become friends and it's a nice progression for the both of them.

But anyways, we bounce from Jenna to the captain's perspective often, but I really wish we'd ventured more into the captain's head! Drift is supposed to be this charismatic, mysterious guy, it's often stated that his mind is so fascinating, but we don't spend any time in there. In fact, most of the prose just relays events that happen, without much introspection from the characters other than their immediate responses. This makes for some muted interactions at times and a few grating examples of why they say "show don't tell." Also, I'm not sure quite sure how to express this but Drift (his name was picked well, it's got such ring to it) is described as a womanizer, but he only gets the chance to womanize, or even think lecherously, maybe... two, three times? So it's actually jarring and almost uncomfortable when it does happen.

Additionally, I will say was a little disappointed by how derivative it seemed. The cast is standard, with roles and even a name or two ripped straight from a certain tv show. Much of the first and second acts center around arriving at Old Earth while other planets/systems are only briefly mentioned, which made me feel as if the universe was underdeveloped.

I could have liked this more than I did, I think some clumsy writing held it back BUT it had heart and I still liked it well enough!! I glanced at a few reviews of the next book in the series that say it's better written, so I'll give that one a shot.

Review written November 2025.

Getting off the ground was a little easier this time around because we didn't have to meet all the characters again, which is a given but still nice. That said, the circumstances of this run are totally different. The crew made it out of their last adventure with a bit of money to spend and they're practically on vacation, so you'd think everything's peachy. But no—secrets got out, plans went awry, their faith in Drift is wavering. A super intriguing position for everyone to be in. The captain is invited to do a retrieval job, an easy in-and-out type deal, the perfect thing to remind everyone why they've thrown in their lot with him in the first place.

I liiiked Captain Drift in this one. He had way more opportunities to actually charm the reader and the other characters instead of just... being described as charming. There were times when his intuition and experience really shone, and he just seemed like a true space captain in this. (Also, the lecher concept was dropped, which I was grateful for.)

Drift and the crew members all came into their own a bit individually, and the cast was split up for most of the story so a few relationships got to develop—even romantically, which was a nice surprise. Exploring Tamara's past in this one was a nice progression from learning about Drift's in the previous book.

The players we met for the first time in Dark Sky all had roles that made for a cohesive story, fitting together like puzzle pieces. I guessed really early on what would happen with one new character, and I was super pleased when I was proven right because it was such a serendipitous route for things to take!! I liked how a character death from the previous book propelled this as well.

To top it all off, this takes place on a unique planet and the setting is explored a satisfying amount. Underground mining communities are common enough so there didn't need to be any long-winded descriptions or anything, but the twist of it being a Russia-controlled operation added a little je ne sais quoi.

So, I liked Dark Sky all around! I found it more entertaining and a smoother read than the previous book. In retrospect, I feel I was harsh on Dark Run, especially because it kinda felt like the author's baby. To atone, I will say I'm really looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy, Dark Deeds :D

Review written December 2025.

In this final act of the Keiko trilogy, Tamara Rourke, Captain Drift's right-hand woman, is held hostage as a result of their failure in the previous book. Under strict time constraints, the crew fights to scrounge up ransom money while Tamara attempts to make it into her captor's good graces.

One place our protagonists could acquire the money is a new planet, one not-so-secretly run by interstellar gangsters. It's an agrarian world with metropolitan centers, so the action is confined to a cityscape. On Tamara's end, the setting often returns to casinos (well, one casino in particular), so bouncing between worlds stayed interesting even though it's all city.

With each of these worlds, the spotlight falls on both old and new characters. The focus on Kuai and Jia was much needed, after two books where some core members of the crew were sidelined. As expected, letting them take point on some missions has its consequences. We also got to see some facets of Muradov's personality. His nobility and tendency to blame himself when things go wrong was fascinating in the previous book, and in this one his willingness to adapt to being on the other side of the law really hooked me. Towards the end, I found myself thinking it was a shame we only got to see him slip into the icy, emotionless sniper role once.

But of course, the other characters needed their screentime as well. Tamara's plotline is especially fraught. On the last mission the crew ran, she assumed a commanding role in overthrowing a planetary government. Now, she's on her own in hostile territory. Despite the odds, she needs only her wits and a sliver of opportunity to turn the tables in her favor. Between her leadership skills and independence, we see that she could easily make a life for herself, a successful one without the perils of interstellar smuggling and whatnot. It begs the question of *why* she's still tethered to Drift after all these years.

The direction this is going is obvious, and paired with unsubtle foreshadowing of a certain character death, the culmination of Dark Sky and Dark Deeds is no longer an "if." You're just left wondering how and when our cocky and bold captain is going hit the limit and lose everything. And the thing is, he doesn't *have* much to lose. All this time he's been smuggling his way around the galaxy, searching for that big break, never striking gold. He and his crew have been scraping by. They find happiness in their own ways. I have limited patience for romance, as it's usually forced, but in this, the natural progression of a friendship between two adults who maintain their individuality serves to enhance the dynamic of the entire crew. Drift recognizes the development and thinks that at least one good thing has come of all the shit he's done.

Also, while we're on the subject of romance, the side gay couple in Dark Sky and one of the guy crew members being attracted to other men in this one... good stuff. A side character is bisexual, and along those lines there are TWO characters with no specified gender who use ze/zir pronouns. Not in a zany sci-fi way related to the plot or anything, they're just people.

It's neat, how all the characters are just people. They argue and act selfishly and they're not a big happy family or whatever. The crew isn't dysfunctional, but there are varying levels of dedication and those differences in loyalty really pay off in the end.

And that end, despite some bloodshed, is rather quiet. It's not bittersweet, it's just... somber. Melancholy, maybe. As someone once said, "not with a bang but a whimper." The tone and the stakes shifted quite a bit over the course of the series, so I found this direction pretty satisfying.

Obviously, I'm not a book critic or an author or anyone who knows anything, but this was such a cool trek—not only following the characters themselves, but watching the author develop his writing style and his own ability to explore this world he created. That concept of witnessing growth isn't something I expected or sought when I picked these up. In fact, while I might have been turned away by the thought of having to go through a rough book to get to a gem, I value the time I spent on this journey.

Review written March 2026.

"Someone had once said that for evil to prevail, all that needed to happen was for good men to do nothing. Drift didn't consider himself a good man, but perhaps he had his moments."

Every time Drift references famous lit and says "Nobody appreciates the classics anymore"