This week has been…busy.

Late last night the electronic Advance Reader Copy of the second Bronze Legion book by Melissa Olthoff and I, VESSELS GRIM AND DARING, went live over at the Baen Books website. You can get your early copy here. It comes out everywhere on December 1, 2026.

Don’t worry, we still get royalties if you buy the eARC. Of course, we’d always prefer that if you do, you also pick up the hardcover…and the ebook…oh, and the audio. 😀

I kid, I kid.

Sort of.

After the events of TO TREAD OBSIDIAN SHORES, Tavi and Blue continue to make their way through the Protectorate of Mars Foreign Legion, each more determined than before to reach their goals. For Tavi, it’s to be the best Legionnaire possible, repay them for saving his life. For Blue, the Survey Corps is still her ultimate destination, to follow the footsteps of her famous grandmother.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A HERO?

The Protectorate of Mars Foreign Legion isn’t just a path to citizenship—it’s a calling. To be more than you were before. A defender, a protector . . . a hero.

COURAGE
Private Diego Tavi proved his worth during the evacuation of Aurora, earning his drop name and finding a new home within the Bronze Legion. But beneath the calm exterior of a battle-tested legionnaire lies a mind in turmoil—about who he is, what he will become, and whether he will be able to keep his sworn oath to be the best legionnaire possible.

HONOR
Lieutenant Astra “Blue” Eliassen proved herself ready for command in the skies of Aurora, earning her Raven wings and a promotion to aircraft commander of Bronze Raven Four. But everything has a cost, and rescuing 4th Squad carried a steep bill—one Sir Percival Norwood is determined to collect. With political games interfering with her military career, Blue will have to lean hard on the lessons of her legendary grandmother or risk losing everything she’s worked so hard for . . . including her dreams of joining the Survey Corps.

Haven’t picked up the first book in the series yet? You still have time to grab your copy and read it! Available everywhere books are sold!