I am itching for the finalle novella! This sequel was fun and developed the romance and intrigue between Rian and Ada.

"One Goal. Full Speed."

Thank you to NetGalley, Beth Revis and DAW for the E-ARC!

If you enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, then you'll definitely have fun on this new adventure with Ada and Rian!

I love a good heist and this one did not disappoint. I felt so engaged trying to figure out what Ada's true objective was on this mission, especially after how the first book ended. I felt like I was playing cat and mouse with Ada and Rian, trying to pick up on any clues I could. Like the first book, the pay off at the end was worth it!

The story takes place almost entirely at the gala, and while there, Beth Revis is able to paint even more pictures of the world on the outside. It's interesting to learn more about Sol-Earth and Ada's previous life on it. As well as learning more about how life on Rigel-Earth's differs.

I did miss the Halifax crew, but it was interesting to meet other important characters, not only in Ada's circle, but also to the government's plans for the nanobots. As always, Ada's interactions with these players was extremely entertaining and definitely had me laughing.

I don't know how I'll manage the wait until the last book in this trilogy! The setup for the finale leaves me with so many questions that I can't wait to figure out!

Rubric says 3.375, so rounding up.

I definitely enjoyed Full Speed to a Crash Landing more than this one, but it's difficult to put my finger on why. Ada is always transparent with her plans and motivations, so I'm not sure that it's that. Part of it may be that the entire thing takes place in about the amount of time it took me to read (3½ hours with distractions and a nap break), but it wasn't as fast-paced as that would lead you to believe. Regardless, I love Ada and am looking forward to Last Chance to Save the World in April (or sooner, if Daw will keep approving me for ARCs [thanks, Daw!]).

Brilliantly written! This sci-fi romance captivates with its lush prose and the vivid setting. The romance is heartily beautiful, even across galaxies. The characters, strong and complex, navigate face impossible odds, making their romance even more compelling. Overall, it was a fun and an entertaining read.

This was fast, fun, and entertaining, but it was not as awesome as the first book in the series. I want to give this more than three stars, but I don't want to give it four stars, so here we are, stuck in the middle again. Classic Middle-Book Syndrome!

The first book was written and polished in a fit of anger, and it came out perfect. This one was an attempt to get from point A to point B, and it's got some noticeable flaws, not least of which is a total non-ending ending. Bring on book 3, stat! I need to know what happens! Because right now, I have NO IDEA what Ada was really up to in this book.

Yes, this one is full of the same fun snark as the first book, but it's also got a bit of chaff that I found irritating. A lot of passages repeat information that was already shared - enough, we get it. Several times there are inconsistencies: For example: Rian says "I knew you'd be here" and then on the next page says "why are you here?" - if he knew she'd be there, would he need to ask why? The dialogue made no sense. After that exchange, it says he can't approach her again without drawing attention, and yet he proceeds to approach her at least three more times (depending on how you count). Another character is described as having "medium dark" skin, and in the next chapter he has pale skin. (That one can easily be fixed, and I hope they catch it.)

The first few chapters could have been shortened up a good bit, and maybe these things will be fixed by the final edit, I don't know. It's fun, and I'm enjoying it, but I could shorten it by ten pages or so by removing all the nonsense about rich people and their fancy clothes, and how the drone cameras are filming people, and the entire bit about King Tut's reliquary. I'm honestly not sure what Revis was trying to convey with the King Tut part.

Short and sweet just what I look for in a novella of one of my favorite series. I would read every single novella from this series.

This book was so much fun, and great for those who like snarky characters and competence. For something so short, the characters are nicely complex, with the exception of the one we are all supposed to hate. The build to the action is just right, not precipitous and not dragging. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one and if the earring matters.

When I saw this come up on NetGalley I got my request in straight away and I was thrilled to be accepted by DAW. This is the second book in the Chaotic Orbits Trilogy of novellas by Beth Revis and has a real museum heist vibe to it. It’s a little less action packed that the first installment, it’s definitely the filler in the story sandwich setting everything up for the culmination in the finale (which I obviously can’t wait to read too!).

In this story we are given the classic evil billionaire who is the mastermind behind a plan to clean up the climate of Sol-Earth. However, there’s no true altruism in a man with that much money here, he’s a businessman at heart and if there’s a way to use the decaying climate of a planet to his monetary gain then he is all for it.

Ada and Rian are still the opposite sides of the same coin, they want to save Sol-Earth but Rian is the law abiding government official wanting to follow protocol whilst Ada is a fearless and independent lone ranger, she’s got a plan and uses everything she can to her advantage. I read a lot of books with female main characters who mirror the average woman in doubting their own abilities and second guessing their decisions, but I love the role model that Ada is, she’s feisty, assertive and full of confidence in her abilities and I am sooooo here for it. She shows that it’s ok to be good at what you do and state those abilities loudly and proudly.

This instalment isn’t out until December, but I couldn’t hold off on reading it because I had so much fun with the first book. I can’t wait for the final installment to see how Ada and Rian’s stories end!

After reading Full Speed to A Crash Landing, I immediately jumped into How to Steal A Galaxy because why wait? Ada Lamarr is one fucking badass female heroine who just can’t  stop at being one. In this second Novella, we get to see Ada and Rian meet again the latter’s home planet. As usual, every thing that Ada does always entails trouble. Although Rian is one brilliant government official, he is no match against Ada’s cunning and lustful ways. Heh.

How to Steal A Galaxy provides us more details about what’s really happening in the whole Universe and who are the fucking assholes contributing to the misery of everyone. While the book was definitely straightforward at what it wants to accomplish, there was still enough guessing game all throughout the story that made me laugh so hard in the end. As I’ve said, Ada is a scheming, brilliant bitch.

My only gripe about this book is that we didn’t get to see the old Halifax crew as the story mostly centered on Rian and Ada. The timeline of the story was also short as it only happened one day. But then again, these are small gripes and did not really affect the entertainment factor of How To Steal A Galaxy. But uh, why are you always teasing us with so many ungratified sexual innuendos, Beth? I was hoping for some sexy action but it kept getting cut.

Anyhow, just pick up this book and save me from blabbering so much about how amazing it is. So when’s Novella 3 coming out in Netgalley, Beth?

This book was quick and simple to understand. I love sci-fi and this was perfect, and quick and easy to understand. I enjoyed reading it and hope another one comes out soon! Ada is hilarious and Rian is just the one who deals with the chaos. I laughed so much!

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing this book, with my honest review below.

How to Steal a Galaxy took the concepts of a heist novel and sci fi book set in space and married them perfectly. As the second book in the Chaotic Orbits trilogy the general context of the novel is already set but standalone readers won’t be left behind if they haven’t read the first book, Full Speed to a Crash Landing (which I would still encourage picking up as it’s excellent).

Ada is a rebel who’s looking out for Ada but having proven her savvy and skills she’s asked to help rebels in a mission that takes her to charity gala. There she meets up with Rian, who is firmly aligned with the Galactic Federation. This book isn’t too complicated to get into as far as the universe so a reader is quickly caught up in the action of figuring out what Ada’s plan is (she doesn’t reveal it to us) and what exactly she’s after. A space adventure isn’t usually what I’m passionate about reading but fun heists are and this book showed me that with excellent writing and a fun mission, any setting can shine. My caveats are that Ada is wiley even with readers following her perspective so you don’t get the sense of being in the action but really just observing it, and Rian remains a mystery to the readers as well. In addition, this ends without resolution as it’s part of a series, so go into this knowing you’ll be dying to read the next book (which won’t be a chore given how entertaining this series is).

If you’re a fan of heist novels and fun intrigue I’d recommend you pick this up!

Beth Revis's 'How to Steal a Galaxy' is a whirlwind of a novel, a thrilling blend of science fiction, romance, and a dash of heist-movie mayhem. The story centers around Ada, a skilled thief with a code of ethics, and Rian, a dedicated officer of the Galactic Federation, locked in a game of cat and mouse amidst a galaxy-scale conspiracy. Ada's motives are clear: she wants to get paid for her work. When the rebels offer her a mission, it's less about saving the galaxy and more about securing her own future. She's pragmatic, resourceful, and unafraid of bending the rules, even if it means kidnapping the guy whose job it is to catch her. Rian, on the other hand, is a stickler for the rules. He sees Ada as a criminal, a threat to the stability of the galaxy. His pursuit of her is driven by a sense of duty, but beneath the surface, there’s a flicker of intrigue, a fascination with Ada's cunning and audacity. The story unfolds at a breakneck pace, filled with action-packed sequences. The charity gala becomes a playground for intricate schemes and unexpected betrayals. The chemistry between Ada and Rian is palpable, sparking a charged dynamic as they navigate their conflicting goals and growing attraction.
Revis masterfully balances the high-stakes plot with moments of humor and genuine emotional depth. Ada's cynicism is counterbalanced by her loyalty to her friends and her unwavering belief in justice. Rian's initial rigidity melts away as he begins to see Ada not as a criminal but as a complex individual fighting for something she believes in. How to Steal a Galaxy is more than just a space opera, it's a story about the power of choice, the blurred lines between good and bad, and the unexpected connections that can blossom in the most unlikely of circumstances. While the narrative leans heavily on tropes, Revis's fresh take and compelling characters transform the familiar into something truly captivating. I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it. Filled with engaging characters, intriguing plot, and a healthy dose of romance, it's a must-read for fans of sci-fi and heist novels.

How to Steal a Galaxy is a quick second installment to the Chaotic Orbits novella series, and a bit of fun at times, but unfortunately didn’t land quite as well for me as the first book, Full Speed to a Crash Landing.

In this book, we revisit Ada Lamarr and Rian White at a gala auction to support environmental efforts to make Sol-Earth hospitable for the people that still live there. Ada has a plan (she makes sure you know she has one, but won’t tell the reader what it is), on top of plans, on top of plans. Competing factions are using this gala for their own purposes - to protest? Another heist? Something larger at play than Rian is even aware of?

The first story of this series was a wild ride with a sassy main character who you weren’t quite sure if they were supremely competent, or an overly confident mess. It was a blast. Unfortunately, the side characters and gala setting in this installment fell pretty flat for me, and instead it felt more repetitive in its pattern of Ada dangling information to the reader, but never giving us anything exciting or engaging to get into. I loved the epilogue memos of Full Speed as they gave Rian some depth and personality, but here Rian reverts to just being there for most of the story, till the last quarter when things finally happen once again. Ada can be a lot of fun, but her interactions with good side characters was what made the first book better in my mind - on her own she doesn’t give enough info in her brain thoughts to move things along in an interesting way. I’d love to get more of Rian’s pov (as annotated notes even) throughout the book to give some response to Ada’s frustratingly flirty personality, and it would make Rian more fleshed out as a character himself

I’m still interested to see how things wrap up, but I’m hoping things get back to the off the wall chaos and fun of the first book for the final book.

What is going on here. What is our main character up to this time. One thing accomplished. More to come. PThis is a cliffhanger. Hints as to more to come. Just have to wait and see. .

If there’s one thing I love in a book, it’s a ball gown high steaks charity gala. Add in space, heist., and top tier banter between between Ada and Rian. As I said in my review for book one, keep in mind these are novellas. Great if you want to read something quick, and I am thoroughly enjoying the series. Ada is feisty and Rian is equally in his own way. I’d recommend reading in order the entire series, even though the author does give you little details to help remind you what happened in book one. Looking forward to book 3!

YAY FOR PART TWO! This novella is a continuation of Revis's first novella, FULL SPEED TO A CRASH LANDING. You don't want to read this on its own. In How to Steal a Galaxy, we are BACK with Ada and Rian on another heist, where the item Ada is heisting is not what Rian or the reader thinks it is. From where the story ends I am assuming there will be another portion of the story in a trilogy of novellas or perhaps more, a la the first 4 Murderbot Diaries novellas that make 1 complete story. Looking forward to the conclusion!

I will say that these do feel short and I would hope that in print these would be packaged all together at some point (haha, an unlikely hope I know, but we can dream) because paying 23 dollars for a hardcover novella feels kind of insane.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC.

How to Steal a Galaxy by Beth Revis
Chaotic Orbits - Book 2
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 3 December 2024

"How to Steal a Galaxy" by Beth Revis is an exciting continuation of the Chaotic Orbits series, picking up a few months after the events of "Full Speed to a Crash Landing." This novella blends elements of heist, romance, and science fiction, creating an engaging read for fans of the genre.

The story centres around Ada, a clever and sardonic protagonist, who finds herself at a charity gala with Rian, her former adversary. Their cat-and-mouse game at the auction for Earth's restoration adds tension and excitement to the plot. Ada's wit and unpredictability continue to shine, making her an incredibly entertaining character to follow.

Revis expertly builds on the chemistry between Ada and Rian, deepening their relationship while maintaining the fast-paced action. The closed setting of the gala provides an interesting backdrop for Ada's schemes and allows for intriguing interactions with other characters who represent various facets of humanity.

While the novella serves as an excellent bridge between the first book and the anticipated third instalment, some readers might find the pacing slightly slower compared to its predecessor. The plot twists, while enjoyable, may be predictable for some, although the author manages to keep readers guessing until the reveal.

One of the story's strengths lies in its character development. Ada remains true to herself, presenting a strong, unapologetic female protagonist that readers can root for. Her banter with Rian is particularly enjoyable, adding humour and lightness to the narrative.

"How to Steal a Galaxy" is perfect for readers who enjoy a blend of strong character dynamics, sweet romance, and high-stakes heists in a science fiction setting. Despite being part of a series, it stands well on its own, though familiarity with the first book enhances the experience.

In conclusion, this novella is a captivating read that will leave fans eagerly anticipating the next instalment in the Chaotic Orbits series. Its mix of action, humour, and romance, coupled with Beth Revis's engaging writing style, makes it a recommended read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, DAW, and the author, Beth Revis, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Thank you NetGalley and DAW for giving me early access to this book! All opinions are my own.

When I realized I was at the end of the book, I literally screamed with frustration. I feel personally victimized…I cannot believe I now have to wait an unknown length of time until the third book.

How To Steal a Galaxy is a continuation of the Chaotic Orbits series, showing us where Ada is after Full Speed to a Crash Landing. Ada continues to dazzle the other characters and myself in this book with her wit and sardonic nature, making this story even more enjoyable than the last. More heists, more space, more sarcasm, the only thing this book was missing was more pages so I could know what was going on! I sincerely hope Beth and DAW do not keep us waiting long for the 3rd book, but until it arrives I will just console myself with preordering both books. 5⭐️

Not liking this book is probably more my fault than anything else. I have not read the previous novella, so I was a little lost reading this one. The author provided enough background and context that allowed me to follow the story, but I felt there were some parts I was unable to appreciate. Additionally, I find novella’s like this one frustrating. The story does not end at the end of this book. It does not feel finished, but at the same time the story didn’t end with a cliffhanger. I don’t know that I will read the third installment to see how it ends.

This novel is perfect for readers who enjoy a mix of romance, science fiction, and thrilling heist plots, with complex characters and a captivating storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat.