The Near-Earth Orbital Guard Interceptor ship, Zuma's Ghost, has a new commander: Nika Vagin, Jenks' brother, returning from his stint with Intel, and a new ensign, Chae Ho-ki, from the Trappist colonies. The only problem: both of them have something to hide and it's messing up the dynamics of the team. When Zuma's Ghost is sent to the Trappist system, it becomes a target of a deep conspiracy to disrupt trade and reignite a war with Mars. Loyalties and relationships are tested in ways they might not survive, and a shocking tragedy strikes deep. This second entry in the NeoG series (after A Pale Light in the Black, 2020) packs an emotional gut punch. What makes Wagers' work stand out in the field of military science fiction is how characters rely on forgiveness, kindness, and trust to solve challenges. They're vulnerable, share their emotions, and rely on each other, and Wagers shows how this can be people's greatest strength--a bracing contrast to the typical braggadocio of the genre. Their talent for creating characters readers care about is on full display.

Seamlessly blending elements of military science fiction and space opera, the second installment in Wagers' NeoG series--after A Pale Light in the Black (2020)--continues the exploits of the crew of Zuma's Ghost as they patrol the solar system as part of the Near-Earth Orbital Guard, the space equivalent of the Coast Guard. Having won the annual Boarding Games--a team competition among various military branches--two years in a row, Lt. Max Carmichael is concerned about her ship's chances against other NeoG teams in the upcoming preliminary competitions as key crew members have retired and new, untested personnel have joined the ranks. The focus on the competitions is all but forgotten, however, when the crew is deployed as part of a task force to ensure safer trade routes around a remote Trappist station where invaluable funds and supplies have gone missing. The task force uncovers a grand-scale conspiracy in which those behind the plot are attempting to ignite a war between the military and Mars separatists to draw attention away from their nefarious dealings. The storyline gets exponentially more complicated when members of the Zuma's Ghost realize that one of their own is being blackmailed and forced to help the ruthless conspirators, who will stop at nothing to keep their maneuverings a secret--even if it means murder. Although the storyline is powered by an impressively intricate plot that features mystery, intrigue, and nonstop action, it's the deeply developed characters and the dynamic relationships among them that fuel this narrative. Wagers creates a cast of characters that are not only authentic, but endearingly flawed. Many characters are memorable, but it's Chief Petty Officer Altandai "Jenks" Khan who steals the show. So much more than a proverbial badass ("I'm just the weapon you point at whatever you want destroyed"), she has an extensive backstory, and her relationship issues with those she loves are worth the price of the book alone. Top-notch character-driven science fiction. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

As soon as the crew of Zuma's Ghost (a futuristic coast guard ship) wins its second Boarding Games, their success is snatched out from under them. Their commander and master chief leaves, forcing them to rebuild the crew from the ground up. Nika comes back to command, Jenks is promoted, and everyone must recreate the strong ties that took them to the top. Spacer Chae Ho-ki joins the crew and must navigate not only their open secret (that their placement in NeoG was a plea deal against a 20-year mining sentence) but also the secrets that Chae holds close--and those threaten their loved ones. As Zuma's Ghost heads back into the black to deal with disrupted Trappist supply lines, the crew will face mounting odds. To survive the shadowy cabal bent on their destruction and win the Boarding Games, they must find their strength and trust. Wagers's sharp prose highlights the fast action and dialogue they're known for, bringing to life this story of found family, talent, and hard punches. VERDICT The second "NeoG" novel (after A Pale Light in the Black) further expands the world of the futuristic coast guard and details the faithful, delightful crew of Zuma's Ghost.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Wagers's second NeoG novel (following A Pale Light in the Black) serves up buffet-size portions of everything their fans have come to expect: dug-in friendships, action, impossible odds, and clever dialogue that always hits home. The Near-Earth Orbital Guard, a space-based Coast Guard equivalent, is gearing up for the annual Boarding Games, and the crew of Zuma's Ghost worries they won't be able to maintain their winning streak following a personnel shake-up. But once they're back out in the black, that concern is put on the back burner as the crew confronts a massive conspiracy that could spell war between the military and the separatists on Mars. Contending with dangerous secrets and mounting mistrust, the crew is almost torn apart--but what the bad guys don't understand is that the more you attack the Zuma's Ghost team, the more they'll draw together and fight back. Wagers's characterization plumbs incredible depths, particularly with street rat--turned--engineering chief Jenks, a brain with vicious fists. Wagers's fans should snap up this fun, thrilling latest. Agent: Andy Zack, the Zack Company. (July)