On Vicious Worlds

By: Bethany Jacobs

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus

One of the most exciting new voices in space opera returns with the thrilling sequel to These Burning Stars, the explosive space opera debut that launched the dangerous cat‑and‑mouse quest for revenge that will define a people forever.

The Jeveni have finally found freedom on the distant planet Capamame, delivered from Kindom oppression through their alliance with stoic Cleric Chono, intrepid caster Jun Ironway, and Six, the wildly unpredictable manipulator who has outwitted the Nightfoot family.

But when Six and Chono return to the Treble star systems, the dream of freedom meets a dangerous test. The Secretaries of the Kindom are intent on reclaiming power in the Treble, as well as control over the Jeveni. Meanwhile, Jun Ironway and Jeveni collector Masar Hawks struggle to protect Capamame from a population brimming with resentment, not to mention a faceless saboteur spreading mayhem and murder.

As the two groups struggle to outwit their enemies, divergent battles wend toward a climatic reunion that will spark a revolution. But over it all hangs the cruel legacy of Esek Nightfoot, whose rippling effects may prove impossible to survive.

Praise for These Burning Stars:

“An exciting start from a fresh talent, offering emotional and political complexity plus plenty of interplanetary action.” – Kirkus (Starred Review)

"Readers who love smart thrillers and explosive sf won’t want to miss this book." – Booklist (Starred Review)

“Plotted like a chess match, confident and surprising as Jacobs moves each piece thoughtfully across her board ... If Jacobs’ second entry is anything like the first, we’ll have so much more to discover across her universe in the years to come." – BookPage (Starred Review)

Critic reviews

“An intricate plot for revenge drives this far-future SF political thriller. An exciting start from a fresh talent, offering emotional and political complexity plus plenty of interplanetary action.”—Kirkus (Starred Review) on These Burning Stars

"Readers who love smart thrillers and explosive sf won’t want to miss this book."—Booklist (Starred Review) on These Burning Stars

"Warps readers across the galaxy on a devilishly fun thrill ride ... These Burning Stars is plotted like a chess match, confident and surprising as Jacobs moves each piece thoughtfully across her board ... If Jacobs’ second entry is anything like the first, we’ll have so much more to discover across her universe in the years to come."—BookPage (Starred Review) on These Burning Stars

"The resulting multiplayer cat-and-mouse game is intricately plotted and tightly paced with a satisfying ending that sets the stage nicely for the next installment. Space opera fans will eat this up."—Publishers Weekly on These Burning Stars

“Immersive and epic; a sprawling space opera perfect for fans of A Memory Called Empire and Too Like the Lightning.”—Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade on These Burning Stars

“Like every good revenge story,These Burning Stars is baroque, intense, inventive, vivid, violent, and visceral. An impressive debut.” —Kate Elliott, author of Unconquerable Sun on These Burning Stars

“A richly imagined space opera packed with intricate worldbuilding, compelling prose, and twisty politics, artfully woven together and delivered through a cast of fallible, endearing characters. An incredible debut perfect for fans of Ann Leckie, Kate Elliott, and Scalzi’s Interdependency series.”—J. S. Dewes, author of The Last Watch on These Burning Stars

“A sizzling political space opera exploring the borders of passion and monstrosity, hunter and hunted, obsession and devotion. Jacobs is an exciting new author to watch.”—Essa Hansen, author of Nophek Gloss on These Burning Stars

"I love a book that makes me pay attention and rewards me for it. I love even more a book with complicated, messy politics. But really, I'm here for the characters, and Jacobs ' are compelling, flawed, tragic and hopeful at the same time. What's that? There's a sequel? I can't wait."—K. Eason, author of How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse on These Burning Stars

“Jacobs’s characters and prose have a sharpness to them that’s both beautiful and devastating. These Burning Stars blew me away.”—Marina Lostetter, author of The Helm of Midnight on These Burning Stars

Amazing second book!

This was a great second book of the trilogy. I was hooked! Highly recommend and now I am frothing at the mouth for the third book!!!

Great follow up!

This series is amazing and I will for sure continue this trilogy. Great follow up for an amazing series.

Very entertaining

Great narration. Interesting entertaining and a good story. 14 hours just flew by, credits well spent. Loved the characters of this series.

I couldn’t stop listening

Loved the first book and when I found out there was a 2nd one I could be happier. This book with definitely not disappoint. Action packed storyline with very cool characters. The narrator is as wonderful. I hope there’s a 3rd one coming out.

Sci-Fi with political commentary

This book had a lot of twists and turns. I enjoyed the plot twists. There continues to be a frustration underneath the text with those who talk about morality and righteousness but are corrupt.

The world building is fascinating. There were some twists that made me feel for the characters. There seems to be conversations about the totalitarian government and how bad that is for society. I am excited for the next book.

The author has created characters that feel very relatable and are people with deep faults and trauma. They are layered and complicated.