DEVIL’S GUN by Cat Rambo – Review

I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Devil's Gun by Cat Rambo
Series: Disco Space Opera #2
Published by Tor Books on August 29 2023
Genres: Adult, Science fiction
Pages: 288
Format: Finished hardcover
Source: Publisher
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The nitty-gritty: A sequel just as good as the first book, Devil’s Gun excels at character development and world-building, with plenty of heart and emotion.

“But I am not a soldier,” she said. “We are not fighting anyone or hiring out as mercenaries, are we?”

“No, “ he said, coiling hoses to put them away. “Niko and I have had enough of war and we will not take anyone back into it. But life is its own kind of war and we have banded together in order to survive that battle.”

Devil’s Gun is the sequel to You Sexy Thing, which I read a couple of years ago and loved. I thought Sci Fi Month would be the perfect time to catch up with it, especially since it came out last year and I haven’t been able to fit it into my schedule until now. And I’m so glad I read it! Cat Rambo’s series (which is rumored to be a ten book series when it’s finished) is cozy sci-fi at its best, and although the covers scream “traditional space opera,” don’t let the spaceship artwork fool you. You will have a perpetual smile on your face while reading these books, I guarantee it!

There may be small spoilers ahead if you haven’t read You Sexy Thing, but I’ll do my best to avoid them. The story picks up after the explosive events at the end of the last book with the vicious space pirate Tubal Last. Captain Niko Larsen and her crew know that Tubal Last will come after them again, and Niko thinks their success in surviving an attack might lie in finding Niko’s ex-lover Petalia, the last of the plant-like race called Florians. But Niko and Petalia parted on bad terms and she doesn’t know where they are.

As You Sexy Thing and her crew travel to the Gate that will take them closer to Petalia’s presumed location, shocking news arrives. The Gate is down and not working, which is something Niko didn’t think was possible. A stranger named Jezli Farren claims to know how to repair the gate, and she might have vital information on how to take care of Tubal Last, once they confront him. Niko doesn’t trust her at all, but keeping her close might be the best way to defeat her enemy.

Most of the story is set onboard the Thing as the crew is traveling from one place to another, so there isn’t a lot of action or plot in this installment. However, please don’t let that stop you from reading this. The best thing about Rambo’s series is her wonderful cast of characters and the ways they interact with each other, and the story is full of “slice of life” moments that cemented my feelings for all the characters. Most of the characters from the last book are still around, and Rambo continues to develop each one. In You Sexy Thing, we met Atlanta, a young girl who was smuggled aboard the Thing in a sealed box. Atlanta thought she was the Imperial heir of her people, but she turned out to be a clone of the real Atlanta. This was upsetting news for her, and in this book she’s coming to terms with her status and trying to find her purpose aboard the Thing. I loved her journey, which takes some surprising turns.

The other character going through an emotional journey is Talon, twin brother to the late Thorn, who was murdered in the last book. Talon and Thorn were not only brothers but soulmates, and Talon is finding it almost impossible to live without his brother. He makes a hasty and ill advised decision in this book that leads to some interesting consequences and lots of drama. Talon’s anger at the world jumps off the page, and I really felt for him.

The bioship You Sexy Thing is one of my favorite characters, and we get to see them grow in lots of ways. Thing has just become aware of emotions, and now they are learning about things like subterfuge and secrets—to Niko’s dismay!

Food is still an important part of the crew. In You Sexy Thing, Niko owned a restaurant, and Second in Command Dabry was the head chef. Although the restaurant blew up at the end of the last book, Dabry is determined to carry on cooking elaborate meals for the crew, aided by Gio and Skidoo. Gio mourns the loss of their old life more than the others, and wants nothing more than to finish this awful business with Tubal Last and settle down and open a new restaurant.

Despite all the low key moments in the story, though, the tension slowly builds until the last few chapters, when the crew finds themselves in danger once again. Rambo introduces the moth ships in this installment, and rather than go into detail, I’ll just say I loved everything about them, and I hope the author explores them further in future books. A rather shocking cliffhanger ends this story, and for once I don’t mind because I will be starting the next book, Rumor Has It, very soon.

This series is such a treat and highly recommended for readers who love a good cozy/thriller mix in their stories.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

Read my review of You Sexy Thing.