Hold Fast Through The Fire

A NeoG Novel

By: K. B. Wagers

Narrated by: Marisha Tapera

The Near-Earth Orbital Guard (Neo-G)—inspired by the real-life mission of the Coast Guard—patrols and protects the solar system. Now the crew of Zuma’s Ghost must contend with personnel changes and a powerful cabal hellbent on dominating the trade lanes in this fast-paced, action-packed follow-up to A Pale Light in the Black.

Zuma’s Ghost has won the Boarding Games for the second straight year. The crew—led by the unparalleled ability of Jenks in the cage, the brilliant pairing of Ma and Max in the pilot seats, the technical savvy of Sapphi, and the sword skills of Tamago and Rosa—has all come together to form an unstoppable team. Until it all comes apart.

Their commander and Master Chief are both retiring. Which means Jenks is getting promoted, a new commander is joining them, and a fresh-faced spacer is arriving to shake up their perfect dynamics. And while not being able to threepeat is on their minds, the more important thing is how they’re going to fulfill their mission in the black.

After a plea deal transforms a twenty-year ore-mining sentence into NeoG service, Spacer Chae Ho-ki earns a spot on the team. But there’s more to Chae that the crew doesn’t know, and they must hide a secret that could endanger everyone they love—as well as their new teammates—if it got out. At the same time, a seemingly untouchable coalition is attempting to take over trade with the Trappist colonies and start a war with the NeoG. When the crew of Zuma’s Ghost gets involved, they end up as targets of this ruthless enemy.

With new members aboard, will the team grow stronger this time around? Will they be able to win the games? And, more important, will they be able to surmount threats from both without and within?

A great follow-up to the first Neo-G story.

Consistent characterization, likable & flawed characters that grow over time, a cracking action plot without a lull, real losses and real stakes. I enjoyed the rendering of characters on the gender spectrum and even more the themes of divided loyalties & trust. It's read well too! And what is up with Doge?

Use of non-sex references is very confusing

“They” I would assume is plural -is used rather than “he or she” - but the author is caught up on non-sex everything to the point of distraction of the story. I like the story but am so annoyed with trying to figure out who is doing what or how many ? My last read for this author - is hitch is a shame.

Liked 1st Book

Not the second book. Second book is a just a pointless convoluted love story/betrayal that just pointlessly drones on and on. Main characters are misled by friends they trust due to "orders" which all obviously falls apart only for them to do the same damn "following orders bit" later on. Completely untested and apparently unvetted newbie is dropped into the BEST spec ops team, for the 2ND book in a row. C'mon man...

terribly disappointing

I liked the first book so very much! I was thrilled when this, second one was released. Unfortunately it had barely any plot at all. I hope that next time they will write something completely new. This book added nothing to the characters and themes of the first. I feel terribly guilty for failing to like this one, when I so loved the other. They have exhausted these characters and themes. Time to start fresh, with something completely different.