I will start by reviewing the end, you know what, I thought I would have a book narrated by two people since we had 2 distinct narrators, and I didn’t have that (but it makes sense) early in the book we had the female narrator making a mock pretend of the male narrator and I must say she was spot on hahah a deep and sexy voice, check!

I really enjoyed Dara Rosenberg narration, she was witty and fun, yeah she really brought Ada to life. Only about 10% of the audio was read by David Bendena, and it was more like a diary of what had happened and how he will act to find Ada again, but that is for me to know and for you to find out.

At fist this book started as if the Martian had a couple more characters and the main character was a woman, then you grab lost in space show and mix it well and sift it until you’re left with doctor smith as our main character, and I swear I imagined her as our main character in all situations even more when she was shoving food down her cake hole hahah. Hey I’ll just say it out loud I didn’t expect what she revealed in the end, well not all, but it was a fun ride.

Its a short read, but it was amusing, funny and we’re left with a very open ending, we still don’t know the full story, the why and for who is still in a very open page, but I definitely know that I want to read or listen to what comes next Ada is funny and really thinks ahead, like a very modern Jane bond! If you don’t like open ended stories, I will advice you to wait until the second book comes out, and then without any doubt, grab a copy and start listening to this one because you’ll want to continue the story! If like me, you’re impatient, well start reading now and then when the second book comes out, you’re ready as one can be!

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media | Dreamscape Lore, for the free AAC, and this is my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media audiobooks for an advanced readers copy of this book.

This novella reads like a TV pilot. You're introduced to a cast of characters, tension is built, and you're left on a cliffhanger. I enjoyed the voice and patter of our FMC's thoughts and there was definite groundwork laid for what's coming next. You get a bit of humor and a bit of love interest, but no spice. This was a bit out of my usual genre, but I enjoyed it!

📚Trope(s): (Sorta) Dystopian Future Space, Espionage, Deception
What you get: 🚀💥🪐🥘👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻
⭐️Plot: 4/5
🔥Chemistry: 3/5
🌶️Spice: 0.5/5

Sci-fi novellas have really been hitting recently and this was no different. Fast-paced, exciting, and funny, the dialogue and twists in this book were brilliant. Can't recommend it enough!

Short but full of action! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see how this all plays out. I loved getting to know Ada, figuring out what her agenda was, and watching her fall for Rian. A lot happens in this short novella and the world that is created is fascinating. Looking forward to more.

I can count with one hand how many sci fi books I have read. I am interested in the genre, but I am always scared of picking sci-fi books because I have this preconception that they are difficult to understand and I end up feeling lost in the world and the plot.

If you are like me, haven't read much sci-fi, want to get into the genre, or you already enjoy sci-fi but need something lighter, I would recommend Full Speed to a Crash Landing. It is sci-fi but since it is a novella it starts right off and it wastes no time, so something is always happening, setting a good pace and making the reader hooked.

We are immediately introduced to Ada, who is sending a distress signal after her ship has been through a wreck. She will be rescued by the crew of the Halifax and there we will see her try to appeal to the members of the ship and take part in their space heist. It was nice seeing Ada interact with the members of the crew, and her warming up to the ship as well as the members to her. Apart from the obvious elements, it also has some romance and mystery, and I really appreciated the latter. The book truly focuses on that mission, which makes scenes flow one right after the other, leaving you no time to rest, which is great in a book in this genre.

The plot seems basic at first, because it is, which is nice because it is easy to get into and you understand the setting well, but throughout the chapters you can see the plot unravel, discovering the Halifax's mission and little snippets of Ada and Rian, our leads. I really liked Nandina, Magnusson and Saraswati and I hope to see them more in the second and third installments. For it being a novella, they were in it quite a bit, but I want more interactions and to get to know them better.

Having listened to the audiobook was a good touch, because it felt like a mission report, especially when they were actually carrying it out and at the end, when we have some actual reports presented to us.

In the acknowledgements, the author says she sneaked some references and links to Across the Universe, her first and probably most popular work, which I think is so cool and will make so many fans happy. I have not read that trilogy, nor I think it spoils anything out of it, but now that I have seen Beth Revis's style, Across the Universe is back into my radar and I think this was a good introduction to her books.

Ada Lamarr has found herself in a bit of a bind. What should have been a simple looting mission has turned code red when her ship sustained damage and she's running precariously close to losing oxygen. Luckily, she's saved in the nick of time by the crew of the Halifax. Once aboard, it appears that both Ada and the crew of the Halifax - most notably mission leader Rian White - are on the same, albeit mysterious, mission: Salvaging the USG Roundabout after it crashed into a terran-based planet.

Ada and Rian don't necessarily trust each other's motivations, but they acknowledge that in order to complete the mission, they'll have to play nice.

I absolutely loved this short space romp. Beth Revis knows what she's doing 100% with this story. Every detail has its place and purpose nothing is filler and it is all a good time. And I felt like this was helped along immensely by the narrator. This book does have a dual narration and I like the way in which it was applied here. Ada's character is the main narrator however and Dara Rosenberg did a great job embodying Ada, quirkiness and all. There's also this kind of slyness that comes across, but doesn't negate the moments of emotion. I hope we keep the same narrators throughout the series.

Beth Revis definitely drops us in the middle of the story with Ada as our guide out of and around what's happening in the galaxy. She's quite the narrator as well if I do say so myself. A little chaotic, a little all over the place but also endearing and clearly knows what she's doing as she cleverly leads Rian to the same conclusions she's already made.

Speaking of, I liked Rian and Ada's opposition yet still shared interest in the Roundabout. This makes for some great tension between the two which I know will be something explored in the next book.

Really, this story worked so well to get me out of a reading slump. It's a shorter story, I'd say closer to a novella which makes it this perfect morsel to devour in a couple hours. This also makes everything that happens within all the more impressive because it is all so precise. I interested to see what the consequences will be for events that transpired within this story and how it carries over into the next which I can say without a doubt I'm looking forward to reading. Highly recommended if you're looking for a fun, quick sci-fi read.

A big thanks to NetGalley and DAW for providing both an eARC and an advance audio book in exchange for an honest review.

Beth Revis is one of THE best writers of Sci-fy.

Full Speed to a Crash Landing is a science fiction novella with plenty of hijinks and space heists. Ada Lamarr may have gotten to the spaceship wreck first, but looter’s rights won’t get her far when she’s got a hole in the side of her ship and her spacesuit is almost out of air. Fortunately for her, help arrives in the form of a government salvage crew—and while they reluctantly rescue her from certain death, they are not pleased to have an unexpected passenger along on their classified mission. But Ada doesn’t care—all that matters to her is enjoying their fine food and sweet, sweet oxygen—until Rian White, the government agent in charge, starts to suspect that there’s more to Ada than meets the eye. He’s not wrong—but he’s so pretty that Ada is perfectly happy to keep him paying attention to her—at least until she can complete the job she was sent to pull off. But as quick as Ada is, Rian might be quicker—and she may not be entirely sure who’s manipulating who until it’s too late…

I loved Revis' previous books of Across the Universe and A World Without You, and I'm glad she's back to writing science fiction. Even though it is a little shorter than I would have liked. Though I already have approval for book 2, and have it loaded on my Kindle. If you need me. I'll totally not be in bed reading it until 3 am.

This first of a trio of novellas is great fun: a space-opera heist with a hint of spice. Expertly narrated by Dara Rosenberg and David Bending, this fast-paced adventure (3.5 hours of listening pleasure) starts with snarky space scavenger Ada awaiting rescue, her beloved ship adrift above a wrecked vessel she'd been salvaging on a protoplanet way out in the Dark. Rian is the governmental agent in charge of retrieving a certain valuable something from that wrecked vessel. He's suspicious of her, but it turns out he needs her particular set of skills to retrieve the valuable object from the perilous wreckage.

What happens next is 100% caper, with plenty of snappy dialogue and budding tension between the two, with the physicality of space (oh, the sensual delight of real food, even lentils! after months of recycled nutrient sludge) never far offstage.

Thanks NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the chance to listen to this in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

I listened to this in one sitting and couldn't get enough! The suspense was killer, and I could feel the tension between Ada and Rian. Definitely left me wanting more!

An enjoyable, quick read with a twist at the end I did not see coming. I liked the audio narrators for this and will pick up the sequel. 3.5 stars

◇ Synopsis
In this high-octane, sexy space heist novella from New York Times-bestselling author Beth Revis, the first in a trilogy, Ada Lamarr finds herself in dire straits with a damaged ship and nearly depleted air supply. Her rescue by a government salvage crew is less a relief and more a complication, as they're none too pleased to have her along on their secret mission. Despite her predicament, Ada relishes their luxurious food and fresh oxygen, until Rian White, the agent in charge, begins to suspect she’s hiding something. As Ada navigates their tense dynamics and tries to complete her own mission, she discovers that Rian’s charm might be as dangerous as his suspicions, leading to a thrilling game of cat and mouse.
◇ Thoughts
I love space-based sci-fi, especially when it involves thieves or salvagers, so I was thrilled to review this novella and wasn't disappointed. The story features Ada and Rian, who engage in a riveting battle of wits as they try to uncover each other's secrets. Ada is a whirlwind of chaotic energy but proves to be quite analytical and clever. Rian, on the other hand, is a stoic military type, making their interactions especially entertaining. While the novella includes romance, it lacks the spice some readers might expect. It reminded me of a gentler, kinder version of the Murderbot series. I enjoyed the characters, though the ending felt a bit abrupt, and I wished the antagonist had a more developed role. I found myself wanting to shout at one character or another at times, but overall, I'm eagerly anticipating the rest of the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!
◇ Publisher
DAW
◇ Audio
Dreamscape Media provided the audio of this novella and was narrated by Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena. They performed very well although I did speed the audio up a nudge.

Sadly this book was just an okay read for me. Due to it being so short it lacked character depth and the story felt rushed. I'm not sure whether I'm invested enough to read the next book in the series.

THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN!!

The main character was hilarious and I loved her dynamic with the side characters, especially between her and Rian. The way she thought/talked about food made me hungry.

This gave me a lot of the same fun adventury scifi vibes as All Systems Red by Martha Wells, but with the addition of a developing romance that I am very excited to follow in the future books.

The audiobook narrators were both fantastic as well, and I really liked the structure of the bulk of the book being in Ada's perspective and then having report logs from Rian after the fact.

Can't wait for the next installments!

So Ada is a salvager who's just come upon a wreck. That's all well and good but she's good a hole in her ship, and she's almost out of air. Enter a government salvage crew. They swoop Ada to safety and basically wine and dine her which she's beyond happy about, but the good-looking man in charge has caught Ada's eye. But she's caught his too for a different reason as he suspects she may not be all that she seems.

I snatched this up because a space heist, what's not to love? Well, for this book it's Dara Rosenberg, who's laying it on extra thick narrating Ada. I don't think I've ever been as annoyed by a character as I have with her. I stuck it out because it was short, and I kept hoping Ada would get better. Spoiler alert, she doesn't.

David Bendena was not one I loved as a narrator, a bit stuffy and boring. But I mean if that was how the character was supposed to be then well done.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. This one was definitely not for me.

Genre: sci-fi romance

Ada Lamarr is a space looter, but she’s on her last gasps of oxygen and beaming distress signals to anyone who might save her. Once safely on board her rescuers’ ship, she’ll do anything to ingratiate herself to the crew who saved her, but especially the gorgeous government agent in charge, Rian White.

I had a great time reading Full Speed to a Crash Landing. I'd read a Beth Revis book many years ago and was lukewarm on it, but when @Plottrysts couldn’t stop raving about this one, I listened, and this book paid off. It's a really fun setup novella, building groundwork for a new series. Ada is snarky and unrepentant, making for a very fun POV who hit the spot. I love a heist, I love a romantic arc, and I love when that all clicks in a SF setting.

It translates remarkably well to audio, with Ada’s snark and Rian’s starchiness coming through from Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena.

I enjoyed this ARC so much that I immediately requested the second in the series. There’s just something outstanding about a fun, sexy space heist novella with a tone like this.

5 Stars

This super quick novella immediately sucks you in and keeps you gripped as you follow the first installment of a sci-fi heist, full of wit, banter, and a dose of romance. I cannot wait to see where this story goes and absolutely loved the audio version! Can’t recommend this enough for a quick and fun read.

This was an curious and captivating story. The conclusion was a bit flat, but the overall story was compelling and interesting.

Ada Lamarr has a hole in the side of her salvage ship and only a few minutes remaining in her oxygen tank. When the crew of the Halifax -- a government issue ship -- finally deigns to answer her distress signal and rescue her, she cannot believe her luck. They have much better food on their ship, and a man in charge with just the dreamiest eyes.

Since Ada was in the process of scavenging the same ship they are here to loot, she manages to convince the crew to take her back down to the planet to recover the precious cargo they are seeking. Ada has been at this game long enough to know that this crew isn't telling her everything. But hopefully they won't figure out she isn't telling everything either.

The female narrator for this novella was amazing. She really brought the quick-witted, feisty Ada to life. She was definitely performing and not just reading. I recommend this novel to anyone who loves a good space heist, especially the audiobook.

This review will be posted to Goodreads on August 1, 2024 and Instagram (@goodquietkitty) on August 2, 2024.

You had me at “space heist”!

Ada Lamarr is rescued from her spaceship just moments before her suit ran out of oxygen. Help arrives in the form of a government space craft that is on a mission to salvage items from a nearby crash, a crash that Ada got to first to scavenge. As Ada gets close to Rian White, the government agent in charge of the salvaging operation, both begin to suspect the other isn’t being completely truthful on why they are there.

Once again, SPACE HEIST! This story was so much fun! It being a novella, the story is fast paced with little down time. The characters were all distinct and memorable. Both Dara Rosenberg and David Bendena were fantastic narrators. I’m so looking forward to the next two books in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

A very quick, enjoyable audiobook with a fun narrative style. It was the perfect roadtrip book for me and my partner.