Ten Low

Holborn (Triggernometry) delivers a crisply written space western brimming with hard living, villainy, and the search for redemption. In the aftermath of interstellar war, veteran medic and ex-con Ten Low works as a rough-and-ready doctor on Factus, a remote planet of desert and scrub. Haunted by a dark secret from her past, the last thing Low wants is to draw the attention of the authorities. After witnessing a spaceship crash, she rescues teenaged general Gabriella Ortiz from the wreckage. The product of a notorious medical program to turn children into deadly warriors, Gabriella has nothing but scorn for Low, whom she sees as a traitor—but she won’t be able to get off Factus without Low’s help. They strike a deal and set off to find a ship, evading bandits, military assassins, and other dangers along the way. Holborn handles Low’s narration with skill, creating an immersive world. With plenty of action and vivid worldbuilding, this tense adventure will have readers hooked. (June)