I’ve yet to read a book by Jasmin Joachims that I didn’t love, and Despite Doubt is no exception. Part two in the Sword of the Queen series, it picks up in the middle of an adventure. Pirate-ish Captain Elianorra Salazar and her crew are infiltrating an ICN base on a quest to track down her nemesis Thono, the King of Spades, who is intent on taking over the universe with some help from some nasty enemies once thought extinct. There’s just one big problem: they have the beautiful and vexing Captain Allen Haggerty, whose magnetism Elia can’t resist, dogging their every move. 

I love a good sci-fi adventure, and Joachims continues to expand on the world she built in Despite Duty, with more detail, more alien species, and more intrigue and adventure. The characters are awesome, from the two Captains, to Elia’s crew, and even the baddies and other supporting characters. We also get a bit of spice, with Salazar and Haggerty giving in to their attraction to each other, although things get...complicated. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! 

I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.