Dark Deeds (Class 5 #2) by Michelle Diener

Science Fiction Romance/Space Opera

From Goodreads:

Far from home . . .

Fiona Russell has been snatched from Earth, imprisoned and used as slave labor, but nothing about her abduction makes sense. When she’s rescued by the Grih, she realizes there’s a much bigger game in play than she could ever have imagined, and she’s right in the middle of it.

Far from safe . . .

Battleship captain Hal Vakeri is chasing down pirates when he stumbles across a woman abducted from Earth. She’s the second one the Grih have found in two months, and her presence is potentially explosive in the Grih’s ongoing negotiations with their enemies, the Tecran. The Tecran and the Grih are on the cusp of war, and Fiona might just tip the balance.

Far from done . . .

Fiona has had to bide her time while she’s been a prisoner, pretending to be less than she is, but when the chance comes for her to forge her own destiny in this new world, she grabs it with both hands. After all, actions speak louder than words.

I loved Dark Horse the first book in the Class 5 series.  In fact I liked it so much it was one of my Hugo Nominees this year.   That left me fearful before I started reading Dark Deeds.  Sometimes when I love the first book in a new series the second is a disappointment.  Dark Deeds held up my expectations with an unexpected twist.

Fiona Russell is a great main character and Hal Vakeri does a good job of being her alien support.  Small spoiler – I knew that there was an AI in Dark Horse so I expected one in Dark Deeds.  There was on,  just not where I expected.  I liked how Fiona moved from slave labor to someone of power as the story progressed.  She needs that strength when she finally meets Eazi, the AI in the story.  Hal also changes as the story progresses.  When he first meets Fiona he feels sorry for her but as the action progresses he begins to see her for the strong person she is.   That brings their relationship to a new level. 

The plot in Dark Deeds is very well planned.  The characters, both main and secondary, are well drawn and do a good job keeping the story moving.   There is some additional back story and world building that helps add depth to the Class 5 world.  

The action keeps the tension building on several levels.   There is the danger to Fiona from the group that abducted her,  the dangerous move to save the class 5 ship, the slow going attraction between Fiona and Hal, and the trouble it causes with some of Hal’s officers.  All of this is very skillfully woven into a fun character driven story.  There is also a hook for the next story in the Class 5 series.

You can read Dark Deeds as a stand alone but it will be much better if you start with Dark Horse.  If you are a Science Fiction Romance fan you do not want to miss either book.  Same for a Science Fiction fans.  

Eclipse published Dark Deeds by Michelle Diener in 2016.

I received an ARC of Dark Deeds from Nethalley in return for an honest review.