At Orbit UK we’re thrilled to announce our publication of CHILLING EFFECT by Valerie Valdes! This debut novel is a hilarious, action-packed space opera that features an irresistible foul-mouthed captain and her misfit crew.

‘Hilarious and heartwarming . . . my shields are at full strength and my heart is ready for Eva’s next adventure’ Patrick Weekes, Lead writer at BioWare (Dragon Age, Mass Effect)

Captain Eva Innocente and the crew of La Sirena Negra cruise the galaxy delivering small cargo for even smaller profits. When her sister is kidnapped, Eva must undergo a series of dangerous missions to pay the ransom. But Eva may lose her mind before she can raise the money. The ship’s hold is full of psychic cats, an amorous fish-faced emperor wants her dead, and her engineer is giving her a pesky case of feelings. The worse things get, the more she lies, raising suspicions and testing her loyalty to her found family. To free her sister, Eva will risk everything: her crew, her ship, and the life she’s built on the ashes of her past misdeeds. But when the dominoes start to fall and she finds the real threat is greater than she imagined, she must decide whether to play it cool or burn it all down.

CHILLING EFFECT is now available in ebook, and the paperback will follow February 2020.
The psychic cats are waiting . . .

Valerie Valdes lives in ‘an elaborate meme palace’ with her husband and kids, where she writes, copyedits and moonlights as a muse. She enjoys crafting handmade bespoke artisanal curses and telling her friends how amazing they are. Join her in opining about books, video games and parenting on Twitter @valerievaldes.

‘Jam-packed with weird aliens, mysterious artefacts, and lovable characters… A tremendous good time and an impressive debut’
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

‘Mass Effect meets The Expanse in this energetic space opera adventure. Eva Innocente is an unforgettable starship captain and I love every member of her crew-slash-family. This book has enough twists to keep you up way past bedtime, and I can’t wait for the sequel’
Michael R. Underwood, host of The Skiffy and Fanty Show

‘This engaging space opera debut delivers a story that dances between hilarity and seriousness, with all the joy and frustration psychic cats can bring to the mix’
Library Journal (starred review)

‘Imagine if Firefly and Mass Effect got together and had a baby, and that baby were delivered by Guillermo del Toro. This book is that baby’
Curtis C. Chen