So I was working on a puzzle the other night and decided to listen to this second Murderbot book as background - that seemed like a nice, take-your-mind-off-things, kind of evening. And oh my goodness was it ever. I got so into the zone that all of a sudden it had been 3 hours, I was almost done with the puzzle, and I had finished this book in one sitting. Haha. Though that probably shouldn;t have been a surprise, since I read the first book, All Systems Red, in one sitting during a flight a few months ago. 

As hoped, and expected (based on how many others I know have loved this series), this was a great second novella. Murderbot is now out on his own, trying to keep his secret of having turned off his governor module and doing some sleuthing to find out more about his past. In order to get to the destination he has in mind, he takes a job as security for a work group that had some of their data stolen by a previous -employer. And of course, adorable adventure ensues. This novella had the same great narrative tone as the first - snarky and sincere - which was awesomely communicated by the audiobook narrator. It was a bit fluffier, plot-wise, than the first. But I felt like that matched Murderbot’s need to reset and find himself, so it worked. Plus, this story now clearly sets up his ability to slowly journey back to the OG gang/found fam (I assume), which I am excited for. I also loved meeting the research transport, ART, and the dry sarcastic AI tone of his voice and the clearly developing relationship between them and Murderbot. Can't wait for (hopefully) more of that! 

This is like the low stakes cozy sci-fi version of cozy fantasy (like Baldree's Legends & Lattes) and I am here for it in this period of life/world events.