As it turns out this is almost incredibly tailor made for me. All female heist crew that is thrown as a human sacrifice to a living prison ship of an old ancient empire that is interested in "reforming" them. To the point that she'll use the crew that's loyal to her as bodies to flirt with and attempt to seduce the protagonist to her side. Throw in tensions that already exist within the heist crew, some fun exquisite twists, and Skrutsie leaning into the horniness of it all, and you have a fun romp of a book. I will freely admit that I didn't like the Bonds of Brass trilogy, and am happy to say that she proved me wrong here. Definitely pick this up, it's one of the hidden gems of the year.

This book is about what happens when a megalomaniacal centuries-old sentient prison ship comes on too strong. We’ve all been there.

The protagonist of this is a hacker named Murdock. She was keeping herself alive by scrounging and petty crimes on a run-down space station when she got noticed and recruited by a team of confidence scammers. But their string of successes has come to an end, and the book begins with Murdock & company being transferred to the prison ship *Justice*. *Justice* is a dreadnought from an empire that died 3 centuries previously; it maintains its existence by showing up at colony worlds and using its still-impressive arsenal to demand they hand over their criminals. Most of those onboard seem to be left to their own devices. Some live as gangs and scavengers, some have built enclave towns.

But there’s also those who are mind-linked to the central AI that runs the ship, and the ship wants Murdock herself to be one of them.

Murdock quickly finds herself separated from half of her crew, including the leader they all orbit around. She’s left trying to find her way back to them with the member of her crew she gets along with the least, with the ship and its agents dogging her steps and trying to convince her to join up (with the threat that it won’t be long before they stop asking).

The story this tells is great entertainment. It’s a very fun standalone, and I burned through it very quickly. It’s got twists and turns, and intrigues, and cleverness, and a romance I got very invested in very quickly. It’s not a book that will change my life, but it is a great book if you want to relax for a few hours and just enjoy a good story.

Trigger warning for sexual assault, kind of. There’s a scene where the ship has Murdock at its mercy; no SA happens, but Murdock’s feelings of powerlessness are definitely described in terms appropriate for SA.

I really had a hard time starting this one, which is probably more due to personal problems than any issue with the book; the premise was engaging, but it took a few chapters to really get into the story, which was a challenge since I had such a stack of books I was trying to read. However, it was totally worth it when I did get into it. The premise of a warship from a fallen empire collecting "sinners" from around the galaxy is a truly unique and fascinating take on the AI warship trope, and Murdock was an enjoyable and relatable to follow throughout the story. The best sci-fi books take the big issues and use them as a backdrop for struggles that are intensely personal, and that was at the heart of The Salvation Gambit. The question appeared to be, "How do we escape this ship?", but the more important question was, "How do we escape the narrow conceptions we've built of ourselves?" Throw in a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance, and I'm absolutely sold!

A lovely, fun little cyberpunk, scifi romp. This was a quick read for me, but I definitely enjoyed it.

My favorite thing about THE SALVATION GAMBIT was the way in which character traits and traumas served not just as character building, but also as plot points! A splendid space outing!

I thought I had already reviewed this one, but I guess I must have not posted it. I found it very forgettable and am currently struggling to write this review. The romance felt forced and too fast for me. It was amusing until the end at which point what seemed to be others manipulating and gaslighting the MC was almost entirely blamed on the MC’s own insecurities. Also, the author seemed to be trying for a big reveal, but due to the point of view choice, the attempt to leave out certain details was just awkward and felt forced. I felt this way about the author’s first book as well, but your milage may vary on this point. Anyway, a decidedly average book that a couple months down the road is very forgettable.

I didn't know what to expect going in and I'm glad although maybe knowing a little bit of the synopsis would have been alright. I do think it helps to keep some mystery

-thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- a story that i felt fell flat in execution, but had a strong promise. the characters did pull me out of the story the most, as they felt weirdly executed and stiffly acted, which dragged me out of the story the most.

Despite having almost all of Skrutskie's novels I think this might be the first one I've actually read and while I didn't blow me away I enjoyed it well enough. Murdock was an interesting main character for the most part, and I mostly enjoyed following her journey through the heart of this giant sentient prison. Also kudos to Skrutskie for coming up with such an interesting concept; the idea of a con-woman facing off against a god-level AI prison ship was super cool, but I think in the end I was a little let down by some of Murdock's stumbling. Her overall character ARC was a lot of fun, and I loved seeing her not only come into herself but also change her views on her antagonistic crew member, but the middle part of this book dragged quite a bit. I think the whole book takes place over the course of a month or so (maybe a little longer?) but we only really see a handful of days, which would be fine except I feel like some of the really important aspects of the story are somewhat glossed over. Her sudden change of heart from running from the AI to all of a sudden being a devout follower doesn't make a lot of sense to me, and then for her to randomly switch back again? I'm not really buying it. We get to see into Murdock's brain and her though process during this whole time and neither of those huge changes seem fully grounded to me. The ending is also rather abrupt; I would have liked to see a little more of an aftermath to everything that went down. Those things being said most of the characters were great (although Hark was kind of terrible and I'm not sure why everyone was so in love with her). I think it would be interesting to see these characters come back at some point, especially because the fourth member of the group, Bea, seems underutilized; I would have loved to see more of her. Basically, this wasn't a bad book by any means, but I don't think I'll go out of my way to suggest it to people unless they ask for something that meets this particular criteria. But I am curious enough to pick up some of Skrutskie's previous novels that I have, because I think she's a decent author with some good ideas, and I'll be curious to see what she comes up with for her next book.

In the midst of my reading I left myself a note, "Murdock is pathetic." by which I mean that I found the main character of this book so lacking in self esteem that I could hardly stand to read about her. IMO she doesn't grow or evolve or truly see herself. Is her willingness to live under Hark's wing adapting to the situation or is it subordination of self to another. I don't really recommend this book to anyone who has anything else on their TBR shelf.

The writer is clearly very skilled, but I found the story and worldbuilding highly confusing and hard to follow. Not for me.

This was between 4 and 5 stars for me. It was so incredibly enjoyable, but I wish it had a little bit more depth. But honestly, sometimes it's just fun to enjoy the ride.

Emily Skrutskie's "The Salvation Gambit" is a thrilling and very fast-paced sci-fi adventure that features a group of women con artists who excel at daring heists and cunning schemes; getting by with their charm, confidence, fancy flying, and hacking abilities. The characters in this story are the real highlight. Murdock, the hotheaded hacker, takes center stage. Her journey is engaging and the dynamic between Murdock, Hark, and the rest of the crew, including fearless driver Bea and mercurial rival Fitz, is a driving force behind the narrative. Their interactions, rivalries, and camaraderie make you feel like you're part of the team by proxy. The sapphic romance is well-developed and is a refreshing addition to the story.

The book opens with them being turned over to a sentient ancient warship (of a long-dead civilization) turned penal colony. The ship, the Justice, fancies itself a vengeful god, and the society onboard is a mix of scavengers, criminals looking to build new lives, and cultists worshiping the ship. When the ship decides it wants Murdock, for some reason, and won't take no for an answer, the group rushes to figure out how to survive and, hopefully, escape. The book is filled with action and suspense and the pacing is excellent. I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish.

If there's any critique, it's that I wanted to delve deeper into the lives of the other colonists on the ship. Additionally, a touch more darkness and drama could have added even more depth to the story. However, these are minor points in what is overall a highly enjoyable and fun read with great world-building.

Readers will eagerly anticipate what comes next from this talented author.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and Del Rey for the eARC. This is an honest review.

there are some books that feature arguably hard-to-like protagonists that I loathe the whole way through; and then there's books like The Salvation Gambit, wherein Murdock grabbed me by the throat and dragged my ass to the end.

the story largely follows Murdock, the jack of all trades hacker sort of figure in her all-lady criminal squad. she's got terrible self-esteem (it has a tendency to flip flop between "I'm worthless" and "psh of course I can do this impossible job"), a smart mouth, and an eagerness to please that I immediately knew was gonna be a problem in her future.

her and her friends are offered up as sacrifices to the Justice, an enormous sort-of retired war ship. I say sort-of retired because its original empire has literally collapsed and consumed itself and its the only lil remnant left, but it's also definitely not retired in the sense that it trawls around the galaxy picking up 'sinners' after holding various settlements at gun point. the Justice wants these sinners on board, mostly to help with repairs but also just as a flex??? could not riddle out the rest of that reasoning lol but considering it's run by a god-like AI I'm fine with not getting the point.

unfortunately, life aboard the Justice is the opposite of relaxing, especially if you catch the ship's eye. and Murdock, woe is her, catches its eye.

"Murdock, this doesn't have to be difficult," the Justice croons. There's something about its voice that sends a shiver up my spine, and I hate that it's the good kind. "You can save everyone so much trouble. I heard what your precious Hark said. She thinks you were holding her back. I know the truth. I know you're far more useful than you let on. And I can put you to such exquisite use. Isn't that all you've ever wanted?"

the story follows Murdock in her travels through the labyrinthine ship, the clever manipulative conversations she holds with the Justice's intelligence, and her uncomfortable game of footsy with a special someone. (view spoiler)

there were (many many) times where hating Murdock was easier than liking her but there's something about a cockroach character that just always gets me. I liked that Murdock took a beating and kept on ticking, over and over and over again. I'm a sucker for the character with the insanely tall walls finally cracking open a bit for a friend or lover, and it's done so well in The Salvation Gambit.

also, I adored the very end scene. I'm gonna be reccing this to folks looking for lighter sci-fi reads or Murdock's particular brand of huge-asshole-but-you-somehow-like-them-anyway protagonists. I know there's an audience out there for her lol.

"I'll make you look back on this moment and regret just how far my foot's gonna be up your ass," I retort.

4/5 stars

rep - bi/sapphic mc, sapphic love interest, minor bg queer characters
thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc ✨

A fast-paced, action-packed adventure through space. A band of female delinquents is captured and must outsmart the AI spaceship. I liked the characters a lot, and it was fun to witness their interactions and development through the ever-shifting plot. A great option for middle grade students who enjoy technology, hacker stories, and space travel.

Murdock is part of a four woman con team, wreaking secret havoc across the universe. But, when a con goes wrong, Murdock and the crew are caught and ingested (yes eaten) by a giant sentient warship turned prison community. Now, Murdrock, Hark, Bea, and Fitz have to pull off an even bigger heist - escaping The Justice.

This book had a brilliant premise. Queer space con women? Yes please. Giant talking warship? Check. But unfortunately, the execution of the premise left much to be desired. Not enough worldbuilding, character development, and a lack of likeable characters made reading <i>The Salvation Gambit</l> difficult. In other words, this one dragged.

I didn't connect to any of the main characters, and I realized about halfway through that I cared very little about what happened to them. I wish this book had been written in third person, perhaps with 2-3 character viewpoints. The Justice is so big and so complex that I think readers would gain a fuller understanding of the situation with a variety of perspectives.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

A well written and thoughtful sci-fi book.

My main issue I think comes down to mismarketing. I was prepped for a heist book - main character is a con woman, her and the crew are trying to work an angle to get off the ship. So I was expecting a high paced book with an intricate twisty plot. But really this is an adventure/quest type of book - periods of intense action followed by long periods of travel where the characters learn/meditate on themselves and life. If I had been sold that book my expectations would have been completely different (and I think more favorable). I like the book I read, and I would have liked the book I was sold, but I don't think those are the same book and it will only disappoint readers when they realize it isn't exactly the book on the tin so to speak.

I really like Murdock as a character and I think there are some fascinating themes touched on throughout the book. I think that if there is another book after this it will be more of the heist/conwomen plot that I was looking for and I will happily try again.

Fun fact: I have never felt so much like the protagonist of a wattpad novel from 2014 as I did when reading this book. This has absolutely nothing to do with the contents of the book itself (aside from me being entirely engrossed in it), but the fact that I started it in the stadium at a Harry styles concert in London, and continued reading during some of the opening acts.
So this novel is practically set in the superhero movie version of ancillary justice, if that makes any sense. And I absolutely loved the non heteronormative society of the book, but more importantly the queer criminal found family that this book delivered to me. The plot itself was really solid for all of it except for the 60-80 percent areas, where the characters scheming didn’t come with the euphoria of a crime successfully pulled off, but simply a character arc that went wildly off the rails. However, the rest of the book was amazing, and more than made up for it (did not make up the fifth star, but it was pretty close to doing so). Also rivals to lovers where everyone knows they're in love with each other except for the two people involved never fails to drive me insane in the best way.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for this ARC!

This book unfortunately wasn't for me. It was too fast-paced for my liking and wasn't as developed as I'd expect from a sci-fi novel. It didn't feel like there was much depth in any of the characters or the relationships (aside from one part with Murdock and Ham), the universe/world seemed under-developed, and it felt all over the place.

If you're into extremely fast-paced adventurous sci-fi books, you'll probably enjoy this book- it just didn't fit my taste. The setup and the plot of the novel had so much potential (I was originally drawn to this book by the description), but it just wasn't executed in the way I imagined it.

I didn't enjoy the character development/relationship developments- everything just felt extremely rushed. It could've been written much better.

A lot of fun! It's rare that I come across a truly unique concept but this definitely has it. Ship AI playing God and kidnapping sinners to repair itself? Heck yes. Also love to see standalone sci-fi.

What a thrill ride! I've always been a fan of Skrutskie's sci-fi and I'm so glad Del Rey keeps bringing it to us. I can already see my shelf talker reading: AWFUL GIRLS WITH SWORDS IN SPACE. and the paperback first release guarantees it'll be easier for me to hand sell. But anyway, back to the book!

Con artists are some of my absolute favorite character archetypes, especially ones who do intricate heists. Sure, I might not know what the key signatures Hark's crew mean, I trust that they do--and I like how they're named after key signatures. Cool bit of world building there. And I've always been a fan of AI who think they are gods because, well, when you are all-seeing all the time, isn't that what you are? I especially love that the Justice is not only a ship but a ship from a dead empire and doesn't realize it so goes about its business expecting everything to go its way which leads the Justice ripe for a con. I also appreciate how, for a while there, I totally understood the Justice's motivations and //shakes fist//. Well played.

Thank you Del Rey for the eARC (and physical!)