I love a good first contact story. But what if 2 different groups, who have beef, make first contact for their respective outfits at the same time? That's what you get in "The Fourth Consort" by Edward Ashton. Out 25 February 2025.

Dalton Greaves is a bit out of his comfort zone. He took a job for Unity, a pan-pan species confederation that wants all sentient life to work together. Nothing like the folks in the Assembly. But he finds himself marooned on a planet with the representative of the Assembly, a fellow who really doesn't like humans and our lack of honor. Oh and the hosts are not the kind of aliens Kirk would take a pass at if you catch my meaning. Dalton has to survive politicking from a society he barely knows anything about while figuring out what kind of human he wants to be.

Narrated by Barrie Kreinik, I enjoyed the delivery of Second and Third very much.

Reasons to read:
-Stand alone scifi
-How does a being that has evolved like humans have cope with more armed species without the use of guns?
-Rather enjoyed that growing relationship
-When all the pieces are in play that politics makes a ton of sense

Cons:
-A certain name made the whole book kinda weird for me