One survivor, one secret, one spark that could start a war
Retribution is a fast- paced, high-stakes space opera with romance woven through the action. Tian Axmar and Brent Walker team up to stop a killer who wants an inter-species war – and intends to hit a target very close to home
About the book
Tensions simmer on a world where Humans still blame the Yrmaks for their defeat in the last war. For Celia Whitley—former head of Imperial Security and now leader of Humans First—it’s the perfect place to spark another conflict. All she needs are weapons and money, and she knows how to get both. The Yrmaks who murdered her husband will pay.
Imperial agent Tian Axmar wants Whitley dead—but her orders are to bring the traitor back alive. With partner Brent Walker and the auralfang, Puss, Tian follows a trail of stolen heavy weapons that could ignite the galaxy.
As they race to stop Whitley’s plan from erupting into interspecies war, Tian and Brent discover her true target hits far closer to home. To stop her, they’ll need every scrap of their cyborg strength—and the courage to face the cruelest vengeance of all.
This novel is the third story starring Brent Walker and Tian Axmar. Like the other Dryden books, it’s a space opera full of action and adventure. And of course it includes Puss.
If you’d like to read a bit more about Princess Amira and Admiral Ul-Mellor, take a look at A Matter of Trust. How Tian and Brent got together is the story in Eye of the Mother. And we first meet Puss in For the Greater Good.
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FAQ
Genre and details
- Space opera with science fiction romance elements
- Action, political tension
Is this the first book in the series
It is the final book in the Imperial Agent trilogy
Who are the Yrmaks
The Yrmaks are an alien species with its own culture and traditions. They tend to be warlike, fighting amongst themselves. They are often pirates and slavers. Read more here.
What is Puss
Puss is an alien feline species that superficially resembles a domestic cat. She is an auralfang, a rare species with some telepathic abilities
Is there romance?
Not really. Tian and Brent are already a couple but the chase for Celia Whitley cements their relationship
Is there sex
Yes, but the scenes are non-specific and focused on emotion and character.
Is this hard science fiction
The science is realistic but the story focuses on character, action, and political tension. Readers who enjoy smart SF with heart tend to settle in quickly.
What themes does the book explore?
Prejudice, fear, and the cost of mistrust between species
Duty versus personal desire
Found partnership, two loners learning to rely on each other
Moral choices in a politically charged investigation
Cultural understanding, seeing an alien society from the inside
Violence as manipulation, how a hidden hand can push worlds toward war
What formats is it available in
Ebook and paperback. Audiobook status depends on future plans.
Tropes and elements
- The problems with being a cyborg
- Murder investigation with political stakes
- Conspiracy that uses violence to trigger a larger conflict
- High-risk fieldwork far from safety or backup
- Two characters learning to trust each other when trust is hard to give
- Race against time
- Enemies in the shadows manipulating both sides