#published 2026

Book 8. What am I supposed to do with my life now? But actually, what am I supposed to read next? Horrified to find out that this book was published so recently, so now I have to wait for book 9.

This book felt like a natural progression after Network Effect and System Collapse. It’s nice to see the Murderbot’s character development. The books flow so naturally that I hadn’t quite realized how much Murderbot had progressed until looking back at book 1.

Anyways, despite all the action, this was a breather after the last two books, probably due to Murderbot itself being in a different (somewhat improved) place mentally. And it’s getting back to the Murderbot roots of doing a security retrieval mission without horror elements other than the usual horrors of capitalism unchecked.

Despite feeling less tense overall, this was the first Murderbot book to make me cry. The ending reveal with Janity hit so hard.

I did miss ART and the various crews, but it’s always nice to watch Murderbot interacting with new(er) humans.

Now, I just desperately need an update about what was going on with Three’s rogue SecUnits. I laughed so hard when the one SecUnit tried to give Murderbot the code packet. Absolutely hilarious.

This series has become one of my all-time favorites. Right up there with A Memory Called Empire. It’s just so good.

Book 8. It turns out that I can do audio books, or at least an audio and physical/ebook mix, but only when forced to be on airplane mode. However, this was absolutely THE book to primarily audiobook. Chapter 57 Karaoke was a highlight of the entire series and the audiobook performance really elevates the scene.

I really enjoyed this book. Probably ranking it as my 2nd favorite in the series so far, only behind book 4. The more focused/linear plot in this one was a nice change. Book 7 (and 5 and 6) were so chaotic that they were sometimes exhausting. Book 8 I never found there to be too much happening simultaneously, but also it was never boring.

The last 20% of this book feels like the midpoint of a Greek classic, complete with gods that have an Oedipal complex and other crazy family drama, and gods continuously roping in mortals into their nonsense. Always to the mortal’s detriment. Hell, there’s even funky shit going down involving pigs. Very excited to see how that nonsense gets resolved.

Also, Scolopendra. Whaaaaaat.