Hardcover, 448 pages
English language
Published May 5, 2026 by Orbit.
Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend must come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow—to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her death. But when she’s offered a final mission, she can’t refuse, especially when she realizes who lies at the center of it all: Martim, her last—and worst—apprentice, who’s somehow made his way to the top. As she’s thrust into a world of corporate espionage and shadowy secrets, what she uncovers could forever change humanity’s existence among the stars.
Perhaps this reflects my fading attention span, but I was struggling with this around the 40% mark, despite loving the two MCs. Glad I stuck with it because it really picked up and culminated in a twisty, satisfying ending. Lots of reflection on impermanence and mortality, which seems to be a bit of a theme for me at the moment.
