James Fouhey’s outstanding narration heightens every nuance of the complicated characters and lush world-building in this queer space adventure. Orphaned by war, Ettian has built a life for himself as a military pilot when he learns that his best friend is heir to the empire that destroyed his homeworld. Then an attempted assassination causes the boys to flee on a cross-galaxy quest for safety. Fouhey creates specific voices for every character, utilizing a range of accents that bring diverse galactic societies to life. His voice enlivens the fast-paced action sequences and tenderly—sometimes painfully—embodies Ettian’s turmoil and romantic longing. Fouhey’s chameleon-like ability to express emotions ranging from rage to desire brings listeners deep into an unfamiliar world and turns this compelling novel into something truly magnificent. L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
Bonds of Brass: Book One of The Bloodright Trilogy
Narrated by James Fouhey
Emily SkrutskieUnabridged — 10 hours, 20 minutes
Bonds of Brass: Book One of The Bloodright Trilogy
Narrated by James Fouhey
Emily SkrutskieUnabridged — 10 hours, 20 minutes
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Overview
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“An exciting space opera full of action and adventure that explores the bonds of loyalty and love, and what happens when they are stretched to their limits.”-Rebecca Roanhorse, Nebula and Hugo award-winning author of*Trail of Lightning
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Ettian's life was shattered when the merciless Umber Empire invaded his world. He's spent seven years putting himself back together under its rule, joining an Umber military academy and becoming the best pilot in his class. Even better, he's met Gal-his exasperating and infuriatingly enticing roommate who's made the academy feel like a new home.
*
But when dozens of classmates spring an assassination plot on Gal, a devastating secret comes to light: Gal is the heir to the Umber Empire. Ettian barely manages to save his best friend and flee the compromised academy unscathed, rattled that Gal stands to inherit the empire that broke him, and that there are still people willing to fight back against Umber rule.*
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As they piece together a way to deliver Gal safely to his throne, Ettian finds himself torn in half by an impossible choice. Does he save the man who's won his heart and trust that Gal's goodness could transform the empire? Or does he throw his lot in with the brewing rebellion and fight to take back what's rightfully theirs?
Praise for Bonds of Brass
“Skrutskie's*Bonds of Brass*is*a high-octane galactic adventure replete with heart, drama, and a keen edge of pain.”-Caitlin Starling, author of*The Luminous Dead
“Full of breathless action and dazzling characters,*Bonds of Brass*is space opera at its most exciting.”-Adam Christopher, author of*Stranger Things: Darkness on the Edge of Town
Editorial Reviews
11/04/2019
Skrutskie (Hullmetal Girls) draws from classic adventure tales to create an action-packed space opera, the first in the Bloodright trilogy. When the Umber Empire conquers the Archon Empire, 10 year old Archonian Ettian is left a disenfranchised orphan. Seven years later, Ettian is a student pilot in the Umber Imperial Academy and nursing a crush on his roommate, Gal. The boys are inseparable, dancing on the edge of something more than friendship even after shocking truths about Gal’s past come to light: he is heir to the Umber throne. When Gal is targeted by their fellow classmates for his royal Umber blood, Ettian and Gal flee together. As the friends strike out on their own, Ettian must contend with conflicting loyalties, torn between Gal, his heritage, and a strange young woman named Wen who joins the adventure. Despite an out-of-the-blue twist at the end, Skrutskie’s sympathetic characters, perfectly-tuned pop-culture references, and harsh glimpses into the realities of empire and war keep the pages turning. This inspired tale will please fantasy fans and has cross-over YA appeal. Agent: Thao Le, Sandra Dijkstra Literary. (Apr.)
A fast-paced space opera with heart and style, Bonds of Brass had me screaming KISS ALREADY on every page.”—Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma
“Fast ships, quick decisions, a new friend who likes to blow stuff up, and a love story with empires at stake: This story’s got it all.”—Kevin Hearne, New York Times bestselling author of A Plague of Giants and the Iron Druid Chronicles
“Thrilling and unpredictable, this book kept me on the edge of my seat all the way to an end that I did not see coming. All I can say now is . . . wait for it . . . wait for it.”—Mindee Arnett, author of Onyx & Ivory
“Bonds of Brass is an action-packed, incisively clever, and unapologetically queer space opera.”—Tordotcom
“Fun and refreshing. I LOVED this book.”—Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
“Bonds of Brass is a riveting space story full of adventure.”—FanFiAddict
“Phenomenal . . . 5/5 stars!”—Superstardrifter
“Cheeky dialogue, straightforward rollicking plot, and intelligent storytelling make [Bonds of Brass] a captivating page-turner.”—Your Money Geek
“A gripping tale of romance and galactic intrigue that snared me from the first chapter and never released its hold. With lovable, memorable characters, an exciting web of empires and freedom fighters, and dangerous secrets, this book will keep you breathless to the last page!”—S. J. Kincaid, New York Times bestselling author of The Diabolic
“Bonds of Brass is straight out of your sci-fi fanfic dreams; every trope is lovingly acknowledged and turned on its head, making it impossible to put this book down. Fast-paced and flirty, I’ve fallen in love with the flyboys in Skrutskie’s novel.”—Sam Maggs, bestselling author of The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy
“Lush, atmospheric, and tense, Skrutskie captivates, setting a near-impeccable foundation for a devastatingly brilliant trilogy in Bonds of Brass. A must-read space opera.”—Paperback Paris
“An impeccably paced, character-driven SF novel.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Skrutskie’s sympathetic characters, perfectly tuned pop-culture references, and harsh glimpses into the realities of empire and war keep the pages turning. This inspired tale will please fantasy fans and has crossover YA appeal.”—Publishers Weekly
02/01/2020
Gr 9 Up—How much would you sacrifice for love? Umber Imperial Academy cadet Ettain Nassun has spent the past seven years putting his life back together after his homeland was destroyed. Now the only thing that truly matters is his friendship with his roommate, the frustratingly enticing Gal Veres. So when their fellow classmates stage a coup and attempt to assassinate Gal—the secret heir to the Umber Empire—Ettain makes a life-altering decision. The first in an adult/YA crossover trilogy, this book is a departure for Skrutskie, who typically writes kick-butt female leads. But fans will recognize her signature sci-fi world-building and find much to love in Wen, a "junker princess" living on the street, whose story gets tangled up in Ettain's and Gal's. And a twist ending, slyly hinted at throughout the story in M. Night Shyamalan–esque fashion, will take even the most clever readers by surprise. Main characters appear to be people of color, though very few descriptors are given—Ettain's skin is "several shades darker" than that of his fellow Archon classmates, while Gal is described as "golden." VERDICT A Rhoda Belleza–style space opera meets a devastating queer romance à la Adam Silvera. Recommended.—Kaitlin Frick, Darien Library, CT
James Fouhey’s outstanding narration heightens every nuance of the complicated characters and lush world-building in this queer space adventure. Orphaned by war, Ettian has built a life for himself as a military pilot when he learns that his best friend is heir to the empire that destroyed his homeworld. Then an attempted assassination causes the boys to flee on a cross-galaxy quest for safety. Fouhey creates specific voices for every character, utilizing a range of accents that bring diverse galactic societies to life. His voice enlivens the fast-paced action sequences and tenderly—sometimes painfully—embodies Ettian’s turmoil and romantic longing. Fouhey’s chameleon-like ability to express emotions ranging from rage to desire brings listeners deep into an unfamiliar world and turns this compelling novel into something truly magnificent. L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
2020-02-10
Ettian Nassun and Gal Veres are best friends, and maybe more, who are attending the Umber Empire’s system-spanning military academy, but when Gal is outed as heir to the Empire that killed Ettian’s parents and conquered his people, Ettian must choose whether to follow his heart and keep Gal alive or follow the drumbeat of his people as they attempt to restore their empire.
Ettian, an Archon war orphan, and Gal, who appears to be the well-off son of Umber-born parents, look out for one another at the Umber military academy. Ettian shines as a pilot and officer—his way of ensuring that he's never hungry or homeless again—while peace-loving Gal spends more time goofing off and finding ways to subvert the Empire’s warmongering ways. All that changes when other Archon war orphans at the academy learn that Gal's the Umber heir and try to kill him. Despite the revelation, Ettian risks his life to save Gal. Then, when Umber politicians try to use the prince’s vulnerability to their own advantage, Ettian is the only one Gal can trust to keep him safe. They escape to the neutral Corinthian system, where Ettian discovers the Archon people are not done fighting for their homes and families. He's torn between his love for Gal—and his hope the prince can forge a lasting peace—and his love for the Archon people he thought lost forever. Together with Wen, a sharp-witted girl running from the Corinthian mob, the boys’ loyalties, love, and mettle will be tested as their secrets and sacrifices are forced into the light. Fans of Pierce Brown's Red Rising series will find a fantastic home in Skrutskie’s (Hullmetal Girls, 2018, etc.) rich, diverse, and multilayered world. Her thoughtful SF portrayal of children navigating war, displacement, and PTSD while finding love and friendship in unimaginable circumstances is very much worth the read.
An impeccably paced, character-driven SF novel—the first in a trilogy—aimed at both adults and teens.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940179047605 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Penguin Random House |
| Publication date: | 04/07/2020 |
| Series: | The Bloodright Trilogy , #1 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
| Sales rank: | 886,649 |
Read an Excerpt
Chapter 2
The human mind isn’t built to process hurtling through a vacuum at skin-peeling speeds in a cockpit just big enough for a single pilot and all of his fear. The Viper around me is sleek and athletic, and the engines at my back roar as I urge a little extra speed out of them. The vast dark of space envelops me, the stars washed out by the daytime glow of Rana five hundred miles beneath us. I should be pissing myself.
And yet.
My mind goes a little inhuman in the cockpit of a Viper. My awareness pushes its limits, my body forgotten in favor of the ship around me. My eyes unfocus. My heartbeat steadies. Any residual anxieties vaporize in the void, yielding to the immediacy of flying, and instinct takes over the way my hands twist and pull the craft’s controls. The readouts spit information about the vector my ship is sailing on, but I don’t need it.
All I need is the feeling. That’s what keeps me in formation as we sweep through the black. The distance between each ship is measured, but instinct is what holds us there.
“This is Gold One. Execute first maneuver,” I announce to the comm.
I fire the attitude thrusters, pulling my nose up. My Viper’s engine drives a frantic tattoo into my spine. The burn is silent outside the craft, deadened by the vacuum, but inside my radio goes live. Thirty Vipers fill with the howls and whistles of cadets being jammed down into their gel-seats by the vicious inertia.
The glowing curve of Rana eases into view and then slides back out as we complete our arc and level off. At the edge of my vision, I catch the shine of Viper noses as the rest of the formation follows my lead. “Gold Twenty-Eight, get that vector straightened out,” I grumble as one of them lists off-track.
“Sorry, Ettian.”
My teeth set on edge, but I can’t help the smile that tugs the corners of my lips. I’ve given up on trying to get Gal to use call signs during exercises, and so has most of the senior staff—though they certainly won’t cut me any slack for letting him get away with it. His Viper jerks in my periphery, settling shakily back into formation.
“No apologies, Gold Twenty-Eight. Get it right.” It’s hard to say with a straight face, and I can picture the way Gal’s smirking in his own cockpit. “Rest of you, this is Gold One. Execute second maneuver.”
I close my eyes and spin up my gyros with a twist of the controls. I could flip my Viper with a preset, but where’s the fun in that? Pure instinct sends my craft end over end—540 degrees, for show—and pure instinct fires the engines at the right moment, the attitude thrusters locking the Viper straight along the inverse of its former vector as the main burn kicks, driving me into my seat with the force of a missile strike.
That pure instinct is why I’m Gold One.
“Ruttin’ showoff,” Gal mutters over the comm, and bursts of laughter snap through from the other pilots.
“Jealous bastard,” I shoot back, and Gal chuckles.
“Keep it professional, Ettian,” he warns.
“Cut the chatter, Gold Twenty-Eight,” I reply, but he knows I’d rather he didn’t. Even though this is technically my drill and I should be keeping things serious, these flight exercises are a formality. Rana’s Imperial Academy is a playground, a regimen of basic training that puts us in the shoes of pilots before we graduate for the leadership tracks. In true combat, none of us would be flying Vipers. We’re destined for the command centers of a dreadnought, overseeing troops that will deploy from the cityships.
I wish it were otherwise. I prefer the Viper. In this cockpit, everything’s under my control. It’s simple and pure. I’m responsible for myself and myself alone.
Not today though. As leader of this exercise, I’m expected to keep all thirty cadets on my wing under control. Even with the Viper demanding my attention, a part of me pulses with constant awareness that the senior staff will be watching every move I make. They can excuse some friendly chatter, but if anything serious goes sideways, it’s my hide on the line. I know for certain some of the officers aren’t thrilled about an Archon whelp holding steady at the top of our class, and they’re just waiting for an excuse to rip my command away.
“This is Gold One. Execute—”
“Wraith Squadron, detach,” a familiar voice announces, cold and clear. A single fighter peels off the back of our formation.
Wraith? My gaze drops to the Viper’s instruments. “Seely—Gold Eight, what the hell are you doing?” I snap. “This is Gold One, and I do not authorize whatever—”
A shriek of static cuts through the radio, and in my periphery, nineteen more Viper hulls fall away. Something goes fuzzy in my brain as I watch my control dissolve. My formation flies on, cut by two-thirds, holes torn in its former perfection. This can’t be happening. Why is this happening? Sure, Seely hates me, but how in any system’s hell did he convince nineteen of our classmates to ruin my drill? There’s no way the bitter little rutter has that much clout.
My heart rate doubles, my mind reeling as I try to inventory which fighters have fallen back. At my left, I spot the glint of sunlight off a Viper’s nose—Gal’s Viper. He’s still with me.
“This is Wraith One. Form up on me,” Seely announces.
“Seely, what the hell is going on?” I shout, wrestling with my controls. Another spin of the gyros flips my Viper around, pointing me at the stray flock as I continue to sail backward in what’s left of my formation.
They’re shifting into an arrowhead. An attack pattern. My mouth goes dry. This isn’t disobedience. This isn’t just to stick it to me. This is something more. Something worse.
“Gods,” Gal whispers over the comm. “Not now. Not . . . Ett—”
Seely’s voice overpowers the line, full of authority I never suspected him of possessing. “Wraith One, authorizing weapons free.”
Every lesson I’ve ever had about leadership under pressure crystalizes in my mind. “Gold One, evasive action immediately,” I scream at what’s left of my fighters. The Vipers split like they’ve been cleaved by a knife.
All except for Gal, who bolts across the black with no regard for pattern, for order, for any sort of direction that might save his ass.
Something in his brain has gone animal. Not the pack-animal mentality you sometimes slip into when you’re flying in formation. No, Gal’s just doing everything in his power to run.
“Heavens and hells,” I swear, twist out of formation, and take off after him. The comms go live with confusion, the other pilots uncertain whether they’re supposed to follow me.
Above the chatter, Seely’s voice comes through loud and clear: “This is Wraith One. Shoot to kill.”
I throw everything I have into the engines as the vacuum around me comes alive with the flash of boltfire. Gal swerves erratically, and my heart leaps into my throat as one of the bolts skims his Viper’s wing. I hazard another glance at my instrumentation. Watch as the twenty defectors point their arrowhead directly at Gal’s retreating tail. Not at the remaining nine Vipers holding formation as they flee across the black.
Just Gal.
“What the rut do you think you’re doing?” I seethe through my teeth. I watch Gal on the instruments, my face heating with fury as another burst to the engines drives me deeper into my seat. This isn’t the Gal I know—the Gal I’ve known for years, the one who pranks the senior staff, who struggles to keep even the most stalwart ships flying steady, who doesn’t fear anything the way he should. Something’s terribly wrong.
My calm evaporates into the vacuum.
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