First published 2023
Cal Kestis has found something he never expected after the Jedi purge: a family. The crew of the Stinger Mantis has become his world. Merrin, Cere, Greez, and BD-1 fight beside him against bounty hunters and Inquisitors. They have even escaped Darth Vader himself. Their success makes them bold. During what appears to be a simple mission, they encounter a stormtrooper who wants to abandon the Empire. She offers them information about a weapon that could damage Imperial forces. The crew agrees to help her start over in exchange for access to this tool. But pursuing it means confronting the Fifth Brother, one of the Empire's most lethal Inquisitors. Cal wonders if the deserter tells the truth about her intentions. His crew has survived previous encounters with these dark side warriors, but each battle brings greater risk. The question becomes whether their bond can protect them when the Empire closes in.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, action, star-wars
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Stinger Mantis
Period: Jedi Purge
304 pages · Hardcover · Random House Worlds
Content warnings: violence