I read this as an ARC, but I am a little late with my review. I know. Shame on me. But, I am here and writing my review now.

Admittedly, at the start, it had a bit of difficulty grabbing my attention. The plot was fairly cookie cutter for a sci-fi adventure. Loner renegade teams up with naive girl, goes on an adventure, hijinks ensue, but they manage to overcome their differences and save the day.

As for the characters, Levi felt like “discount Han Solo.” He is a loner, obsessed with his ship, flirty, involved with criminals, and has large debts. Meanwhile, Vera is constantly abandoned and backstabbed by Levi, has her own issues, but don’t worry, she constantly winds up coming back to Levi and sleeping with him. Their whole interaction/romance together seemed very forced and didn’t make much sense to me.

Overall, it was fairly average and wasn’t very deep. If you want an sci-fi adventure that doesn’t need too much thinking to pass the time, then this is a decent pick.

DNF at 35%

I wanted to adore this book and had been highly anticipating it for months. The main characters have no personality, and I didn't care what happened to them. Levi is supposed to be this con artist that has a reputation that spans the entire galaxy but he's painfully predictable and unlikeable.

Thank you to Orbit for the early release copy.

Space Opera with a little bit of Romance thrown in? Say no more. If you're looking for a real adventure, this is a great book. The plot is NON-STOP. The worldbuilding is intense, but I found the different types of planets and aliens very interesting. The characters could use a bit more backstory, particularly Levi, who is a real piece of a trash. I get that he's a con-artist and that he will do anything to get his beloved ship back, but he is really non-stop bad without enough reason. He just enjoys being a jerk? He partners with Vera so that she can decode some very important blueprints that they can sell. Vera needs to job because she wants to get off her corrupt planet and do something other than help her brother run his bar. Vera plans to backstab Levi and steal his plans. Lots of backstabbing in this book. Anyhow, if you love SF and Firefly and Star Wars, give his book a go!

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love to see a slimy, unlikeable character that is deeply entertaining to follow and this is a great example of just that. Levi is such a strong character with such distinct voice, he leads the story with a surprising amount of charisma for someone who really sucks. I also deeply love the contrast and balance between him and Vera, they make for an easy to devour read that is never dull. I also really enjoyed the balance between space adventuring and slower, intimate moments to really get to know the characters. This could easily have been a funny space romp without a ton of depth and it still would have been deeply enjoyable, but adding those extra beats really added a lot to the story as a whole and made it feel more well rounded. Overall a really excellent read and I can't wait for more!

Thank you, Orbit, for the eARC!

This book was a really fun time! Truly one of the most unlikeable MMCs that you end up rooting for and liking, eventually. This book was con after con, in space! While Levi is a smarmy liar with little to no redeeming qualities, he is such a fun main character to read! He certainly has charm and charisma, despite it being disingenuous most of the time. He’s like if you took Han Solo, but made him have no friends or morals at all. And gave him even more charm, somehow.

Vera, on the other hand, is a delight. A genius, albeit rather doom-and-gloom a lot of the time. She balanced out Levi, even though it took her a while to finally grasp that Levi is NOT trustworthy.

The ending tied up a little too neatly and easily, for my taste, but I look forward to the next misadventure!

There is no question that Galaxy Grifter by A. Zaykova is likely to appeal to fans of Firefly. After all our main character is a slick conman who loves his spaceship and the freedom it grants him almost more than anything else. The problem is that Levi is no Malcom Reynolds. Now the unavoidable problem with comparing this to Firefly is…that nothing will ever be Firefly. That’s not Zaykova’s fault. Firefly was just magic, lightning in a bottle, that can never be remade so everything is going to pale by comparison. But what Galaxy Grifter is is a fun, fast paced space adventure, with a decent if somewhat flat cast of characters. 3.5 stars. It shows promise and I’d like to see things get more fleshed out in future books. I’d like to thank Orbit Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Galaxy Grifter.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R30IG7S9LBGY3R/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I enjoyed the action in this book and it read really quickly - the pacing was nice in that way. Beyond that, I don't think this book should be marketed on the romance/romantic subplots, because the two main characters have absolutely no chemistry. As two kind of idiotic, marginally criminal characters, they were fun to read but every time they slept together I got so mad. Levi is pretty much a psychopath - no emotions for any person in his sphere but deeply manipulative, his only goal to be reunited with his spaceship. Vera is supposed to be so competent but she bumbles every interaction with Levi. It's hard to be excited for characters or root for them when they aren't competent or interesting. I wanted Levi to at least be GOOD at being BAD but he was lowkey just a slimeball?

All of that said, I didn't hate reading this and if the author has more development time with the characters and/or plot builds this series could really work.

Fun, smart and funny!

Fantastic way to spend a few hours in outer space. Come for the space opera, stay for the atmosphere! (rimshot, pun intended.)

If you love snarky characters, roguish heroes and galactic adventures, you can't mess up with this.

ARC provided by NetGalley, opinions provided by me.

Galaxy Grifter is a wild, whip-smart space opera with a brilliant plot and unforgettable characters.

Levi, in particular, stood out for me. He’s not your typical space rogue – definitely not a cardboard cut-out antihero. There’s something slightly offbeat about him, almost Han Solo-adjacent, but with a twist that made me question how I felt about him from scene to scene (in the best way). Complex, compelling, and never boring – my kind of character.

The worldbuilding is rich and inventive, packed with unique details that never feel forced. It’s all woven in so organically that you barely notice how expansive the universe is until you look up and realise how far you've travelled.

Among all the high-stakes action, racing around the galaxy, and general 'grifting', there’s a beautifully timed, quieter scene that slows the pace just enough to reveal more about the characters’ backgrounds. It deepened my connection to them and added unexpected emotional weight.

Smart plot, layered characters, general 'grifting', and a genuinely satisfying ending. What more could you want from a space opera?

If Starlord and Han Solo had a love child, it would be Levi. His character parallels in so many ways but still stands uniquely on itself. This story is action packed from the beginning and doesn't let up. I started on a Saturday and finished it within 4 days. If you're looking for a fun, gritty space opera I'd highly recommend Galxy Grifter. It has been one of the most entertaining reads of 2025 for me.

This was a wild and fun ride. The MMC was super clever and the nickname the Weasel will forever be my favorite way of describing a man who cons his way into anything and out of everything. Like seriously this guy was so unpredictable. I couldn't guess at anything that he was about to do, and the FMC was k8nd of boring but she had her growth and she was super slick herself at times. This was a really nice space opera with a mix of shenanigans. Would highly recommend to my scifi friends.

Finally! A morally gray MC that's *actually* morally gray. Prepare for your new problematic fave because Levi Adder is objectively the worst person in the galaxy and you're going to love to hate him.
Galaxy Grifter is a fast paced, gritty, heist novel in space - think Six of Crows meets Star Wars. The world building is vivid and thorough, without ever feeling forced or exposition-y. The two main characters have distinct voices that leap off the page and their constant push and pull, the deceit, and betrayals, kept me hooked to the end. Levi and Vera are the perfect disaster you can't help but root for.

This is an SF book layered with heist elements and a little bit of romance. Levi is the titular "galaxy grifter," and he spends the entire book abandoning everyone he's conned into helping him. This includes Vera, a tech genius from a crime-syndicate-run asteroid, Blackjack. Vera has not had the best foundation in life, and she currently helps her brother run the family bar while barely keeping their heads above the water of a mafia loan. When Levi asks for Vera's help translating some alien documents, a plot to destroy the world order (the galaxy order?) as they know it begins to be revealed...

The plot never stops, with double crossings, interstellar voyages, so many grifts!, etc. I was never bored and was always interested to see how it would play out - as Levi and Vera collide and then fly apart over and over again. I wish I'd felt more connected with the characters, especially Levi: he's SUCH an asshole, with truly no redeeming qualities, that it was not an easy perspective to read from. I needed just a little more of his motivation and his backstory, because as-written, he's basically a sociopath.

I did really like the writing and world building. I think this is a great space opera for people who want a little less "pew pew" (although Zaykova gives us at least one literal "pew pew" moment) and more To Catch a Thief vibes.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I wanted to love this book so much more. And by the end, I think I liked it. It's a space heist book, which I love. The characters on the other hand....were kind of obnoxious. They mellowed towards the end, which made everything a bit more fun. I will definitely continue to read this series because the space heist stuff and supporting characters are fun.

I love a good heist/con situation. A Clever character who is pulling one over on both the reader and the establishment. And I especially love a funny one with a strong romance. Unfortunately, this didn't quite live up to my expectations. The writing felt clunky and I didn't connect to the characters and their struggles.

Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

What a fun romp through the galaxy! Levi's the king of guys you love to hate, and Vera is the queen of "please don't make that decisi--oh, nope, she made that decision."

The stakes got higher and higher, the twists and turns had me off-balance, and I loved being along for the ride.

I freaking loved this book.

Levi is a charming disaster that makes you want to punch him…and then follow him across the galaxy. Vera’s sharp and capable (not to mention exhausted in a way that drives her to desperation, which is hella relatable). I was rooting for them from the get-go. Together, their dynamic was chaotic yet addictive. [see: dripping with tension, shaky alliances, and just enough heat to keep things deliciously unstable.]

Honestly, even the spaceship is a character in its own right.

The pacing never drags; solid structure start to finish. The world’s gritty and alive without ever getting bogged down in info-dumping. The writing’s tight and voicey—perfect fit for the story it was telling. IE, funny when it needs to be, biting when it counts, and never trying too hard.

The stakes build up so nicely. When shit hit the fan, there were actual consequences. And even when I thought I had someone figured out, the story would pull a wild card. Loved the unpredictability.

In summary, this is a killer debut. If you like your space operas driven by messy characters making questionable choices in space, READ THIS.

Galaxy Grifter is a slick, fast-talking space romp packed with charm, double-crosses, and just enough heart to keep you hooked through the chaos. Levi is the kind of scoundrel you love to hate, equal parts reckless and irresistible, and his reluctant partnership with the fiercely sharp Vera crackles with tension and wit. Their shifting loyalties, high-stakes scheming, and undeniable chemistry make for a compelling ride, especially as their selfish goals clash with the looming threat of interstellar genocide. The plot zips along with cinematic flair, though at times the rapid pace leaves emotional depth trailing in the dust. Still, for fans of morally gray rogues and star-swept danger, this one delivers a damn good time.

"Galaxy Grifter" by A. Zaykova - fun, but not the space heist caper I'd hoped for. Mostly because the male lead is appalling and hilariously unsympathetic. Highly recommended, if that's your jam. #NetGalley #eARC

Levi Adder is the titular character in A. Zaykova's Galaxy Grifter: a con-man constantly on the hunt for his next mark. Be it blackmail, corporate espionage, or con games and scams as old as time -- Levi uses his good looks and fluency in deception to fleece the unsuspecting. But when Levi stumbles across an encrypted data disk of the alien race that builds all of the galaxy's hyperdrive engines, he sees the potential for his biggest score yet.

To get the data decoded, Levi turns to Vera, a tech savant on a mining asteroid controlled by a crime boss who is just one of the many people around the galaxy owed by Levi. Vera agrees to help for a cut of the take, but looking to get out from under her own debt to the asteroid's crime boss she does a little freelancing on the side. In no time at all, both she and Levi are being hunted over the data disk and Vera's data skimming.

There have been a handful of books that upon finishing I've said in my review: "I wanted to like this story more than I did." For the first time, I'm going to flip that around and say at times I wanted to not like Galaxy Grifter more than I did. It isn't bad by any means, but there were some things about it that kept me from really losing myself in the story. The central issue for me was the Galaxy Grifter himself.

Immature and narcissistic, Levi is the least likeable lead character I've ever encountered. Scenes that seem designed to allow him to grow as a person are then immediately undercut by his internal dialogue -- some of which border on the sociopathic -- and subsequent actions. He's not really an anti-hero so much as a colossal jerk, and I found myself preferring the chapters focused on Vera.

Galaxy Grifter has a lot of action across many different planets including Mars and Earth. There's a variety of different and interesting alien races in the mix, and an overarching story of espionage that takes a bit longer to unfold that was perhaps necessary. Add it to your e-reader for the beach or a long flight, sit back and disengage while you take the ride.

My review scale:
5 Stars: Outstanding and highly recommended. The total package executed exceptionally well: characters, plotlines and prose. A joy to read.

4 Stars: An excellent story that I recommend. A fun, thrilling, exciting or enlightening book that I wish had not ended.

3 Stars: A good read, worth a reader’s time in my opinion.