A fun sci-fi adventure with a cast of lovable if miscreant characters. I loved their adventure. I loved their character arcs. Really fun read.

I tend to struggle to read scifi, but i love a good heist, so i was sold pretty quickly. This book needs more attention than it gets, I loved it, I'm super late reading it, and I don't remember ever seeingnthis on the shelves. Will be ordering it into the store!

A fantastically funny and adventurous book, THE GOOD FOR NOTHINGS is a great story about not-so-good thiefs trying to find one of the most coveted items in the known universe - an immortality serum. The characters' voices are so individualized and I thoroughly enjoyed every twist and turn. Please pick it up if you enjoy "Guardians of the Galaxy", "Ocean's Eleven", or other heist/action movies.

The Good for Nothings was an incredibly fun twist on Guardians of the Galaxy meets YA. It had heart, humor and charm wrapped up in a story that was oh so fun! This is the type of book that is impossible not to devour in one sitting. And space pirates?! I. Was. Obsessed! With characters that were flawed and relatable, I found myself deeply caring for this fabulous group of misfits. I could read so many stories about their antics together! So if you’re looking for a book that is filled to the brim with adventure, friendship, and humor, then you have to add this one to your tbr!

We’d broken a criminal’s only rule.
We got caught.


From those first few pages, I was sucked right in. This story started out in a situation that mixed humor and action, along with technology like nothing I had ever seen. I was completely addicted. But eventually Cora and her android friend Elio ended up in jail together. And from there they met Wren and Anders. When the four of them were offered their freedom in exchange for going on a dangerous treasure hunt across the galaxies, they were all in! They had SO many obstacles in their way! Including themselves. But I adored the four of them so much. Especially while they were trying to figure out how to work together as a team. The storyline was a wild ride and these characters etched themselves into my heart. So here’s a little bit about each of them…..

The only way I could steal from them was if they trusted us completely.


Cora:

My family was in the business of lying, and I could confidently say the best lies were the ones that you believed to be true. They were the ones that you wanted so desperately; they were your first breath of air in the morning and the last before you went to sleep at night.


Cora was from a notorious crime family and her best friend in the world was her android friend, Elio. They had the most beautiful friendship ever, one that felt like true family. I loved Cora right away because she was brave, fierce and cared so deeply for Elio. I love that she tried her best but at times, life got in the way. Be prepared for her to have the most random and bizarre distractions, during a crisis ha. She was just so easy to connect with and love. But Cora was keeping secrets and lies. I understood the whys, I just knew my emotions were going to get tangled in the inevitable fallout.

Elio:

”Beep! Beep! Beep!”
I couldn’t lose him. Not like this. Not when we were so close.


Elio was the cutest android ever and was such a wonderful friend to Cora. His heart felt so pure and I loved all of his little quirks. Like wanting to eat and smell food, even though he wasn’t a human or alien. He was smart and I loved how fast he was able to process things, even sarcasm *heart emoji eyes*. Elio was someone who was not only brave but resourceful and he rounded out their little group perfectly. He is definitely going to charm everyone that picks up this book. There’s no way he won’t sneak into your heart.

Wren:

Wren reached under her veil and squeezed my hand. “Together we will accomplish great, but possibly not legal, things,” she whispered.
Against my better judgment, I squeezed back. “Aye aye, Captain.”


Wren was impossible not to love too! She was bubbly, fun and cracked me up! But that girl knew how to steal stuff like no other. And she could easily steal everything in sight ha! She was a fabulous pilot, was beyond loyal and she was someone I’d want to be best friends with and have by my side for treasure hunts and battles. Wren’s heart of gold and bravery was commendable!

Anders:

There were too many words to describe the sensation, like the endless stars in the sky, the endless galaxies in the universe. Even when we pulled apart, I knew that I would carry this moment, this brief little flash of existence where time and space held still and there was us – only us – with me for infinity.


Oh boy. At first I wasn’t sure what to think of Anders, since he was so closed off. He tried his best to keep his walls up, but when they would fall down from time to time, the peaks we would get of him *sigh*. Yup. I was obsessed. When his humor started to poke through I was a goner. Anders was brave, fierce, deadly and someone I swooned very hard over!

He didn’t need to know that whatever minuscule bit of camaraderie we had cultivated was a game that I desperately wanted to make real.


I absolutely loved the Good for Nothings! There was a little bit of a romance going on that made me so happy! And the moments where I got to be a part of their inside jokes, I felt like part of the team! But deals with the devil were made. Secrets were kept. And impossible journeys and obstacles were around every corner. This story even made me shed a few tears. So if you’re looking for a story that will make you smile, laugh and get lost in then definitely add this one to your TBR! This is the second book I’ve read by Danielle Banas that I’ve loved and I can’t recommend her books enough!

This wasn't for me but I think teens will have fun reading this book. It is like a cross between Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy. A misfit crew are given one chance at freedom from prison if they can find a long lost, mythical treasure. For me unfortunately the humor was a little too cheesy and didn't work for me. I rolled my eyes more than I enjoyed a lot of this. It did have its moments and I can understand why other people might enjoy reading this book though. All the characters were just fine, I just never cared about Cora or Wren or the Saros family drama. I thought Anders was an interesting character but not enough to make up for my other issues with the book.

A really entertaining YA sci-fi with some awesome characters and plenty of laughs. This was a book that didn't take anything too seriously and had me smiling throughout.

DNF at 50%

The Good for Nothings is a light-hearted take on a thieving space crew that really relies on humor. Of course, what's funny is subjective and unfortunately the humor in this really didn't work for me and made it a pain to get through. By halfway it was clear where the book was going and I decided it was better to cut my losses. The main character is the grumpy, misfit daughter of a well-know crime family who gets in trouble, finds her self in prison, and forms a crew with her cellmates. It says it's good for fans of Guardians of the Galaxy and Firefly, which I kind of understand although I think Guardians makes more sense given that the characters are so very tongue-in-cheek and lack much depth. This is the sort of thing that could be really entertaining if you enjoy the humor, and could also be better as an audiobook with a cast of actors who can really bring life to the characters. Sadly, this just wasn't a good fit for me. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

That was so good!! I couldn't stop reading. :)



Cora is the daughter of a crime family, but she didn't exactly inherit the family's talents. She is the best at reading auras, and her inventions mostly work, but when her mother puts her in charge of distracting the guards at the huge job, she makes a complete mess out of it. To make up for it, and get back into the family's grace (mostly for the paycheck she desperately needs) she and her BF robot try to rob the family's next job a day before. Unfortunately, it goes horribly wrong and they end up in prison.



At failed escape plan, she bargains with the warden for their and their cellmates' release, in exchange for going on a treasure hunt.



Onboard of an ancient ship, Cora, Elio the robot, kleptomaniac Wren and disgraced soldier they call Anders, embark on an intergalactic treasure hunt.



It's such a fun story to read, it has a little bit of Lunar Chronicles vibe - which I love. :) All of the characters are very different, with secrets and secret agendas.



I was instantly pulled in to the story, it's gripping, fun, and very intense. One hard it's a trainwreck waiting to happen, on the other, it's a charming story of reluctant teamwork for a semi-common goal. :)



Highly recommend it!

Overall, a good, entertaining read. Nothing that blew my socks off, but the story moved right along.

(I saw something somewhere indicating that this might be Book #6 of a series, but this is the first I've heard that; and I can't find any more info to that effect. But, regardless, it reads just fine as a standalone tale.)

There is a host of quirky main characters whom we very slowly get to know, as they head off on a quest together. (Honestly, it greatly reminded me of the original "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie.)

In addition to the fun characters, it boasted a rather intriguing story, a few surprises, many predictables. There are a lot of betrayals, several of which I did not see coming; and some of which still left the ultimate victorious resolution of the story a bit of a downer. Nothing spectacular here, but all-in-all a fun, entertaining read.

This is such a delightful and fun read set in space.
The Good for Nothings is packed with snark and sass set in space that I ended up enjoying way more than I thought I would. When Cora lands herself in prison after a heist with good intentions (and to prove to her family she can fit in) goes wrong, she’s given a chance at freedom and a clean record if she, along with her new cell companions, find a legendary treasure giving immortality that is only rumored to exist.

But Cora accepts the chance to be free, and especially at a chance to give her robot best friend Elio, a body that won’t glitch. (And if you want my opinion, I’d do the same in Cora’s shoes, because Elio is charming as hell.)

The characters are lovable and adorable.
You might not like them at first, but by the end of reading Banas’ book, you’ll probably want to be friends with all of them. Here’s a run-down of our group of criminals in The Good for Nothings:

• Anders – supposedly violent, but secretly warm and fuzzy who likes lollipops and meat
• Cora – just trying her best and wanting to fit in her family to no avail (according to her mother, with the silent agreement from her father)
• Elio – the cutest robot who glitches and beeps but also wants to be as human as possible like smelling milkshakes and food (good choice, not gonna lie)
• Wren – overly chatty and probably rambles if you’re in the same room, which can be annoying, but secretly she’s a nice softie who’s good at stealing things when no one can notice

They all have good intentions and hearts, and it was fun seeing them develop a friendship and bond with each other as they uncover the clues to find the pieces that would lead them to the treasure. Personally, Anders was hard to warm up to at first because he’s just there when Cora first lands in Ironside prison on the planet of Andilly, but he grew on me quickly as the group set off on their adventure across multiple galaxies.

The Good for Nothings is, overall, a charming book perfect for who want a heist set in space with the found family trope among characters who probably wouldn’t be friends in other circumstances.

The Good for Nothings is a rollicking sci-fi adventure by author Danielle Banas, and is a dazzling tale of finding your true family. It showcases the idea that although the road of friendship and camaraderie may be bumpy at times, change is achievable through the strongest of bonds. Readers are swept along a treasure hunt that spans galaxies, led by a ragtag group of sassy thieves with hearts of gold hidden behind hard shells developed by hard lives lived. With danger nipping at our heels every step of the way, we fly through the vast expanse of space and find ourselves on strange planets inhabited by a colorful range of people, flora and fauna. The tribulations faced inevitably crack those aforementioned shells, creating a touching narrative that leaves it mark, and one I’ll not soon forget.

The characters Banas has crafted and their dynamics are some of the finest I’ve encountered in a young adult novel; their trait differences so diverse to the naked eye, but there’s a collective togetherness the deeper you dive. Initially it seems the rift between them is too wide to traverse, but as the story continues, bonds strengthen and bloom into something truly beautiful. Their tale is a true testament to the power of found family, where all are willing to step forward to pull another away from the edge of despair. There’s also hints of a tender and heartwarming romance, so subtle it feels so real.

Cora is a conflicted and outlying member of a crime family, taught to disassociate herself from emotions and care for nothing but the job at hand. She’s driven by her need to prove herself to those who refuse to believe in her, and her efforts land her in one of the most infamous prisons known in all the galaxies. She’s joined by her sidekick Elio, a vintage AI that expresses human emotions to the fullest, and has a penchant for baking and operating in the exact opposite way than that he was intended for. Our duo meet Wren, a skilled thief that wears her heart on her sleeve (sometimes), and Anders/Andy/Andykins, the brooding male counterpart, feared and protected by his tough exterior shell, but pained beyond belief by sins of the past within. With this cast it’s all about balance, and Banas executes this skillfully.

In addition to wonderful characterization, the action and adventure, ripe with danger and secrets and puzzles, is non-stop throughout the entire novel. As readers are towed along on a hunt for the remaining keys to a treasure of immeasurable wealth, we’re transported to various planets across galaxies, and met with wondrous landscapes and creatures as diverse as our main cast. Only an incredible imagination can conjure up what peppers these pages. A recurring theme throughout is the stark contrast between beauty and underlying peril, and this is portrayed perfectly. Lurking menace and uncertainty is a catalyst for betrayal, and the many finely constructed trials faced is the driving force for not only the advancement of the plot, but for the evolution of the characters, as well.

This book’s uniquely original cover illustration is what initially caught my attention, but the story itself and how it is told is so wonderfully consuming. A simply conveyed tale told in first-person narration gives readers an insight into the ongoings in Cora’s mind – her intentions, most cherished hopes and dreams, the internal conflict she constantly battles. It’s a refreshing story that doesn’t take itself too seriously until it absolutely needs to, and when it does, it’s done so exceedingly well. I found myself laughing out loud at its healthy amount of sarcasm and banter, evocative of Guardians of the Galaxy, and it’s fast pace led by nail-biting action completely saturated with tension made this a sure page-turner. Banas has created something fantastic here, and I can only hope to see more in the future.

The Good for Nothings is a story I went in to with high hopes, and I was pleasantly surprised with what I was presented. This is a perfect example of a feel-good tale that packs a serious emotional punch when read the way I believe it’s intended to be read. Sure, there’s enough sass in here to keep this a light-hearted read, but the level of poignancy that builds this book’s foundation is something special. If you’re looking for a strange and alluring space opera-esque adventure, this is one that can definitely be enjoyed by audiences of all ages. I highly recommend.

If you love sci-fi adventures then this one is for you! I liked all of the action, family bonds, growing romance, and fast paced friendships that are out of this world! I would love to see some spin offs from this story, this is one crew you will never forget. This will be a great recommendation for my students this year!

The Good for Nothings was a fun, found family heist romp through space. While I wish the scifi elements had been fleshed out better as it was a weird mash of current Earthen things and space-y things, the story overall was pretty sound. The climax could have been a little more cohesive - I believe Danielle was going for an Ocean's 11-esque reveal which worked but other parts needed to be actually told. Overall, a solid book that I would recommend for people looking for lighter scifi.

What to say about this book? It's fantastic, for a start! It really reminded me of a Pathfinder campaign I played in the Spring! A quirky group of thieves, a heist gone wrong, and so many elements on fantasy and science fiction that I adore! This is a quick read that is non-stop enjoyable and incredibly funny! This book features well-rounded characters, reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, a fast pacing, and a story line that will suck you in from page 1 and spit you out into the vacuum of space at the end! This would absolutely make a great movie or Netflix series!

I loved getting to go on this adventure with Cora, Elio, Anders, and Wren! And what awesome character names! They are loveable, flawed, quirky, and all the things I love about good characters. They get into hijinks, trouble, and all kinds of mischief in this space adventure. I feel like there is potential for more adventures with this group in the future and I can't wait to find out more about them!

Danielle Banas is a great author and this was a wonderful book that I would recommend to anyone who loves space adventures with a misfit group or those that enjoy a good heist book, in space! Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book as part of the tour! Thanks to Danielle Banas as well!

My first Danielle Banas novel is a blast to read. It's filled with laughter, action and adventure, friendship, tragedy, and a little bit of romance. What more could you ask for?

Cora is part of the infamous Saros crime family of thieves and ne'er do wells. With her best friend Elio, the endearing and selfless robot who sees the best in others, she tries to prove herself to a greedy and unloving mother by attempting to steal a priceless treasure only to end up being thrown in the worst prison in the galaxy. In prison, she finds a couple of unusual friends: An Earthan pickpocket and petty thief named Wren, and a fierce and grumpy Andillian nicknamed Anders. Learning to trust is hard for all of them, and unfortunately, one of them will betray the others.

The banter between the four friends is LOL funny as they get to know one another's fears, likes, and dislikes. Watching Anders turn from grumpy and frightening to sarcastic and lovable is a sight to see. Not to mention watching Elio's obsession with food even though he can't eat it. Wren is a treat as well with her sassiness, her longing for friendship, and her kleptomania. And Cora, who sees others' auras, is the narrator, the hacker, and bomb-maker, who thinks she is only a bad distraction for her crime family, but she ends up being a great friend to Cora, a good distraction to Anders, and a best friend to Elio. Let's not forget all of the evil and colorful characters they meet along the way.

Overall, this is a delightfully refreshing page-turner of a book. It's a caper with alien misfits on a mission to save their lives and finding true friendship along the way. If you are looking for a hilarious tale with bloodsucking plants, a pigman, shapeshifters, and lollipop-eating Andillians, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Banas for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

This is an excerpt of the book review on my blog https://trails-of-tales.com

.......My relationship with the sci-fi genre is complicated. Unlike murder mysteries that I wil be reading even in my afterlife, I am extremely critical about the sci-fi I read. I approach this genre with caution. Because I feel that while science fictions are highly imaginative, they also stand the risk of losing their audience somewhere along the story. Sometimes the futuristic elements could be a little difficult for the reader to hold on to.

Therefore, I consider a science fiction with a systematic combination of the impressions the blurb/ book cover make on me and my impeccable book intuitions. I need to be absolutely sure before starting to read a sci-fi.

And oh my, did The Good for Nothings come prepared to convince me! First of all take a look at the cover. Doesn’t it make your hand itch to take a peek inside. If the cover is so interesting, how amazing would the story be? Extremely, is your answer.

Then I read the blurb. And what words do I see? A robot who is a baker? Tell me that does not interest you in the slightest?!

Most importantly my book intuition practically shouted at me- “Why is it taking you so long to sign up for reviewing this?!”

When your intuition resorts to shouting at you, you better know that it is important.

I simply lapped up The Good for Nothings. The creativity of the story does not compromise on the element of relativity at all. In fact, you can find a bit of yourself in perhaps all the characters, humans, aliens and robots included. Besides, the action sequences are wrapped with palpable excitement.

The Good for Nothings has a tendency to tickle your funny bone when you least expect it. You don’t laugh out loud but you find yourself smiling and giggling. And the smile stays till the last chapter.

The humour doesn’t just spill out from the character interactions but it is rather a natural part of the story flow......

Reminding a bit of Guardians of the Galaxy, these pages are packed with action, humor and more than a little heart.

Cora is the daughter of the most renowned crime family in the universe, but her life isn't what anyone probably suspects, especially since she can't seem to live up to her mother's expectations. When the latest heist...um, job...ends up in disaster thanks to Cora's supposed mistakes, she decides to prove herself once and for all. Which lands her in prison. Her two cell-roomies are more than irritating, but when one comes up with a plan to escape, Cora's in. Of course, it doesn't go as planned. Instead, the prison director breaks a deal—steal a treasure (which borders on myth), and they can go free. Not only do they have to find said treasure, but it's a deadly quest. Add the director's own lies and schemes, and Cora knows she's in over her head. But that doesn't mean she has any other choice.

When I saw the cover, I'll admit that I wasn't sure this read was going to be as fun as I'd hoped, but I was pleasantly proved wrong. This story is simply a fun, entertaining read with explosions, near escapes, odd aliens, evil plots, twisted characters, snarky humor, true friendship, lots of food, and tons of heart. Oh, and some quirky romance, too. The pages fly by with ease and created more than one or two smiles along the way.

Cora is a great character to pull this type of story together. She's snarky, she's tough...and yet, she's neither of these. The first chapter already made her more than likable as she tries to live up to her name, almost makes it, and desperately fails. But there's so much fire in her, and she's a piece of gold in her own way. I loved her friendship with her robot, but then, that robot was impossible not to like. The idea of friendship and trust and family are what centers this tale. Not that everyone can be trusted. There are characters to love, characters to hate, and those that are very hard to see what their true intentions might be. As to the romance...well, that one fits the rest of the story nicely.

In other words, anyone who loves a bit of hair-brained fun with heart and spacey adventure will want to pick this one up.

This ARC was provided by NetGalley for an honest review and is crossposted on Amazon and GoodReads

SPOILERS AHEAD

The Good for Nothings by Danielle Banks is a young adult novel that takes the idea of a thief making a deal to steal something valuable for their freedom with a sci-fi twist. To me the best part of this novel was the characters, Cora being my favorite. She was realistic with flaws especially the trauma from her emotionally abusive mother. Anders had a great backstory that fit his character and added a touch of darkness to the novel. Wren was too perky for my taste and Elios was your too human android, something that has been done too much. I would
love to see a sci-fi YA novel were the android was an android. The worst part for me was how the ending felt rushed with the biggest problem being the past relationship between Nana Rae and Empress Verena.
Honestly it needed a couple pages or paragraphs exploring that. Overall it was a nice little space story.

3.5 out of 5

I love The Lunar Chronicles. I also love Marvel and Guardians of the Galaxy, (still waiting on vol. 3), so when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. The story itself starts out fairly slow. With sci fi stories, you need it to be fast paced so the reader becomes engaged.

The rag-tag family dynamic was almost too similar to The Lunar Chronicles and Guardians of the Galaxy for my taste. Cora picks up her crew in a prison cell just like Star Lord and Cinder. Cora’s group consists of an alien warrior, (Drax and Wolf), a cocky pilot, (Rocket and Thorne), and a droid who enjoys baking, (Groot, Mantis, and Iko). That aspect is identical to the movie and book “The Good for Nothings” is being compared to!

On the plus side, I love heist stories and this book did satisfy my need for a good heist. While the found family felt really close to other comparable stories, I really loved seeing how Cora found a family in her crew. “The Good for Nothings” could be compared to “Aurora Rising” in that way.

Overall, I really did have fun reading this book!

The Good for Nothings by Danielle Banas was a little out of my comfort zone since I am not typically a fan of sci-fi, but this was just the book I needed to get me out of a slump. There are so many aspects of the book that I adored, including heists and a misfit group of criminals, and the tone of the book is so fun. I would definitely recommend this to those looking for a quirky and original read.

❀ A HEIST GONE WRONG

This book follows a group of misfit criminals who go on a treasure hunt through space after making a deal with a prison warden. I really loved the opening scene with a heist gone wrong, and I found the setting of the novel so unique. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the humour, but I can definitely see where others will love it. This book is very fast-paced, and it will both put a smile on the reader’s face and leave them on the edge of their seat.

❀ WELL-DEVELOPED CHARACTERS

The characters in this book are really well-developed, and their interactions are so much fun to read about. This group of unlikely friends is diverse, consisting of aliens, a robot, and a human, and the lessons they learn from each other are so interesting. Cora, the main character, is strong and sarcastic, and she is trying to fit in with her family of renowned criminals. I was really rooting for her, and I loved her voice. Elio, the robot, would probably have to be my favourite character since he has such an entertaining personality. His character also brings more tension to the story since he is in need of a new body.

❀ AN ENJOYABLE STORY

The Good for Nothings by Danielle Banasis an enjoyable story about heists and found family. I loved the setting, and the characters are all so loveable. Fans of Guardians of the Galaxy will definitely enjoy this one.