Play the game. Murder the innocent. Don’t let them see you sweat. Commander Boone’s treacherous secret could save thousands of lives—if he could only escape from the murderous warlord who employs him. He wears his game face while following orders to destroy enemy fleets and handles a reckless assassin with elemental powers. Behind the scenes, he is undermining the warlord’s pursuit of an innocent rival. The duplicity and the horrors are taking their toll. Boone wants out. In a bold gambit, he crafts a plan to escape. But his superiors might be catching on, and the plan is not without its own horrors. With everything working against him, including the woman he thought was his salvation, he may not live long enough to execute it. BOOKFEST AWARD WINNER 2024. READERS’ FAVORITE 5-STAR x3. “One of the best space opera stories I’ve read all year.” — P. Deka, Reader’s Favorite “A fresh take on the classic themes of rebellion and redemption.” —Demetria H., Reader’s Favorite “Loved it! Perfect for fans of Ender's Game, Handler's Gambit contains intricate worldbuilding and gripping action scenes.” — Jodi F., Reedsy Discovery “A stellar piece of science fiction that left me utterly captivated.” — Dustin L., Amazon Space Battles | Biological “Magic” | Ground Assaults Reckless Assassins | Betrayal | Unlikely Allies The Handler's Gambit is a dark, character-driven thrill ride across the galaxy, where the sacrifices made for freedom clash with the indomitable human spirit.

A Republic soldier A reluctant Emperor When love and duty collide, who wins? Layla is a patriotic soldier of the Altainan Republic. And patriots don’t ally themselves with rival empires. But when she reencounters the handsome imperial noble she fell in love with years before, she falls again. Hard. And she decides: she’s going to marry that man. Duty be damned. Unfortunately, he’s also the new Valharan Emperor. And their planets are about to go to war. As tensions rise between the two worlds, Layla’s attempts at neutrality go awry. She finds herself unsafe and threatened, a foreigner no matter where she lands. Eventually, instability in their isolated galactic community leaves it ripe for invasion. Layla has to overcome her dual loyalty and end this war for once and for all–before the Whorl goes up in flames, and she loses the man she loves.