Zenith (The Androma Saga Series #1)

by Sasha Alsberg, Lindsay Cummings

Overview

From #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings comes the first book in The Androma Saga, an action-packed thrill ride of adventure, intrigue and steamy star-crossed romance

Known across the galaxy as the Bloody Baroness, Captain Androma Racella and her motley crew of space-bound privateers roam the Mirabel galaxy on the glass starship Marauder, taking what mercenary work they can find to stay alive.

When a routine job goes awry, the Marauder’s all-girl crew find themselves placed at the mercy of a dangerous bounty hunter from Andi’s past. Coerced into a life-threatening mission, and straight into the path of a shadowy ruler bent on revenge, Andi and her crew will either restore order to the ship—or start a war that will devour worlds.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781488026034
Publisher:	Harlequin
Publication date:	01/16/2018
Series:	Androma Saga Series , #1
Sold by:	HARLEQUIN
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	1,070,031
File size:	1 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Sasha Alsberg is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose work includes the Breaking Time duology and, as co-author, the Androma Saga. When Sasha is not writing or obsessing over Scotland, she is working as a Social Media Manager for Joffe Books and taking too many photos of her dogs, Fraser and Fiona. Sasha lives in London, England.
Lindsay Cummings is the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Zenith. She is also the author of The Murder Complex duology and The Balance Keepers trilogy for HarperCollins. She lives in north Texas, where she writes full-time.

Editorial Reviews

10/30/2017
Androma “Andi” Racella was a rising star in the Arcadian military until she accidentally crashed General Cortas’s personal transport vessel, killing his daughter, Kalee. Andi fled Arcadius to avoid execution, becoming one of the most notorious criminals in the Unified Systems of Mirabel. Now dubbed the “Bloody Baroness,” Andi and her all-female crew of space pirates are planning their next heist when bounty hunter Dex Arez, Andi’s traitorous ex, captures the women and delivers them to Cortas. The general offers to pardon Andi if she rescues his son, Valen, from an impenetrable Xen Pterran prison. But Dex must accompany her, and if they are caught, the Xen Pterrans will likely kill them and declare war on the Unified Systems. First in a trilogy, this sprawling space opera from Alsberg and Cummings (the Balance Keepers trilogy) features plentiful action, complex politics, and a rich mythology. Regrettably, these assets can’t overcome the drag created by clichéd characters, manufactured drama, and an overstuffed and largely predictable plot. Ages 14–up. Agent: (for Alsberg) Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary; (for Cummings) Pete Knapp, New Leaf Literary. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"A dazzling space opera by Sasha Alsberg and Lindsay Cummings, Zenith moves at hyperspace speed and never lets up. Epic, mesmerizing and heart stopping, you'll be left breathless and wanting more." -Danielle Paige, New York Times bestselling author

"A whirlwind, out-of-this-galaxy adventure! The dynamic cast of characters, edge-of-your-seat action and sprawling universe had me hooked from the very first pages." -#1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas

"With characters whose over-the-top shtick would fit right into Guardians of the Galaxy, this series opener morphs unexpectedly into a dark and complex sci-fi drama." -School Library Journal

"This sprawling space opera from Alsberg and Cummings (the Balance Keepers trilogy) features plentiful action, complex politics, and a rich mythology." -Publishers Weekly

"Zenith is a spectacularly stunning, whirlwind adventure with a race-against-the-clock plot and strong as hell female characters." -Buzzfeed

From the Publisher

10/01/2017
Gr 10 Up—From a beginning that draws heavily on elements of the early "Star Wars" movies, with characters whose over-the-top shtick would fit right into Guardians of the Galaxy, this series opener morphs unexpectedly into a dark and complex sci-fi drama. Androma Racella has been on the run for four years since escaping a death sentence for the purported murder of her best friend. She stole her former boyfriend's star ship and, along with three other teen runaways, became a space pirate. Known throughout the galaxy as the Bloody Baroness, Androma has managed to keep ahead of would-be captors. But to former boyfriend, Dex, who taught her how to evade capture, Androma is easy prey. Dex is hired to bring her in, then blackmailed into joining forces with her to find and return Valen, the kidnapped son of the leader of the Arcardian system. The tortured and imprisoned Valen is barely hanging onto life when Dex and Androma finally rescue him. Shortly after their harrowing escape from the prison planet, what at first appear to be devastating but isolated coincidences are discovered to be part of a well-planned plot to take over the galaxy that only Dex and Androma may be able to stop. An action-packed, semi-romantic sci-fi adventure/drama that will have broad appeal. VERDICT Purchase where sci-fi romps are popular.—Cary Frostick, formerly at Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA

School Library Journal

2017-10-10
A wanted space mercenary is offered clemency in return for executing a dangerous mission with the ex who betrayed her.Andi is the outlaw Bloody Baroness, a ruthless mercenary who's quick to kill and yet haunted by her dead. She's close only with her all-female crew: Second-in-Command Lira, a leadership-averse ace pilot with scales that change color and heat up with her emotions, and a package-deal pair of gunners, 7-foot-tall amnesiac Breck and adorable 13-year-old Gilly. (The gunners are sadly underdeveloped and underutilized.) When they're apprehended by bounty hunter Dex (Andi's ex), who's working for her home planet Arcardius' Gen. Cortas (who also has history with Andi), they're offered amnesty if they can rescue Cortas' kidnapped son, Valen, from a notorious Xen Pterran prison. Meanwhile, Xen Ptera's Queen Nor is a vague, lurking menace who is prone to melodramatic vows of vengeance against her planet's enemies and who, unsurprisingly, plots a devious scheme to achieve it. Vengeance, forgiveness, and family ties are big themes for Nor and the heroes alike—as, of course, Andi and Dex must work through their own predictable, thematically related issues. Plot twists are heavily forecasted, right up to the cliffhanger ending. Background nonhumans are very diverse (spikes, extra limbs), but the romantic leads appear to be human; Andi is white (as are most Arcardians) and Dex, brown-skinned.Trope-filled mediocrity. (Science fiction. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews