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Reviewed by Stephanie Chapman for Readers' Favorite
Sarah Branson’s A Merry Life is the first book in the Pirates of New Earth Series. Starting in 2349, it divides the story into four parts and features Kat Wallace, who is on an island owned by Rob Abernathy. She and her friend Carisa are fleeing to escape being enslaved. Carisa attempts to hide from their pursuers, but Kat knows their captor will find them. She leaves Carisa behind and stows away on an airship. Master Commander Teddy Bosch discovers her. He rehabilitates her to become a trained pilot for the Bosch Pirate Force. Kat becomes accustomed to her new home and is close to the Bosch family. However, Kat never forgets her past and plans to rescue Carisa and end Abernathy’s life.
Sarah Branson provides a dystopian story that left out no details when describing the individual characters. Kat’s internal dialogue is one of complete suspicion and I could see why she had put up a solid wall of defense. In her view, trust has to be earned, and she even questioned her loyalty to Teddy and his wife. What I found interesting is that the story depicted Teddy as a noble person, yet Bosch exports a substance called “Glitter.” Judging from the drug’s effects, I believe it is like cocaine or methamphetamine. The four parts of the story follow periods in Kat’s life as she progresses from a frightened teenager into a mature pilot ready to take on the world. A Merry Life ends with a decision, but the consequences leave room for a sequel. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves an adventure-filled dystopian novel with well-developed characters with emotional turmoil.
