On Vicious Worlds

ONE OF ESQUIRE'S BEST SCI-FI BOOKS OF 2024

Bethany Jacobs returns with On Vicious Worlds, the electrifying sequel to These Burning Stars, the Philip K. Dick Award-winning space opera novel about revenge, power, and the price of legacy.

The Jeveni have found a fragile sense of peace on the ice planet of Capamame, far from the Kindom's domineering control. There, Jun Ironway and Masar Hawks are tasked with the impossible: protecting their colony from a faceless saboteur who is hell-bent on spreading mayhem and murder through the colony.

Meanwhile, stoic Cleric Chono and Six, the wild manipulator responsible for outwitting the Nightfoot family, struggle to stay one step ahead of their enemies. A collision is on the horizon. One that could ignite the spark of revolution.

And over it all hangs the cruel legacy of Esek Nightfoot. A legacy that may prove impossible to escape. . . .

Praise for These Burning Stars:

★ "An intricate plot for revenge drives this far-future SF political thriller. An exciting start from a fresh talent."―Kirkus (Starred Review)

★ "Readers who love smart thrillers and explosive science fiction won't want to miss this book."―Booklist (Starred Review)

★ "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."―BookPage (Starred Review)


About the Author
Bethany Jacobs is a former college instructor of writing and science fiction, who made the leap to education technology and now teaches tech heads how to write. She lives in Buffalo, New York with her wife and her dog and her books. These Burning Stars is her debut novel.