QSFer K.M. Watts has a new queer space opera out: Born Andromeda.
She was destined for a royal life—until galactic pirates changed the course of destiny.
Being eighteen is difficult, especially when you’re a cyborg and heir to the entire kingdom of the Moon. Disillusioned with royal life, Princess Andromeda dreams of nothing but freedom and adventure outside the protective dome of royalty. But when her parents arrange her marriage to an Earthen prince, she is forced to put her kingdom before her dreams of independence.
While traveling to Earth, Andromeda’s ship is attacked by galactic pirates led by her father’s sworn enemy, the Lord Captain Bran. Taken prisoner, Andromeda realizes that her captors are unaware of her true identity and sees an opportunity: To best her enemies, she may have to join them.
Born Andromeda, the action-packed debut from K.M. Watts, is perfect for fans of Aurora Rising, Daughter of the Pirate King, and Crown Chasers.
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Excerpt
It is said, in the Princess Handbook, that a princess should be courteous and well-mannered. She should exude grace and dignity, be the face of the monarchy for which she stands. A princess should never steal the spotlight from those above her station, nor should she strive to be in any spotlight at all, for that matter. It is for the best, really, that she maintains a background role to those who know better than herself. But above all else, a princess should behave in her private life as she does in public. A standard must be upheld, for a princess is the example which all others will strive to emulate.
Or rather, that’s what a princess handbook would say if there were such a thing. As it is, any books on royal etiquette have long since been tossed aside in preference for oral repetition, passed down from mother to daughter. Perhaps if there had been a book, with clearly detailed instructions and easily recognizable points, it would have been some help to Andromeda. If she had been able to tear out a page and stick it to her bathroom mirror, she could point to it and say, “This. This is what I should be.” But as it stands, there is nothing so easily identifiable. Because why would anyone make anything easy?
So really, it’s her family’s fault that she was now tucked beneath the engine of an SG8 Moon Cruiser. It took up half her bedroom, the expensive armoire her uncle gave her for her tenth birthday shoved back beside the bed to accommodate it.
“Damn it, just turn!”
Andromeda used both her hands to force the wrench to move, and little by little it did, until with a final grunt the bolt came loose. A sigh racked her body as she allowed her arms to fall to either side of her. A bead of sweat slid down her temple and found its way into her ear.
“Ah, gross!” She rubbed her ear against her shoulder, and when that didn’t work, used her knuckle to wipe out the moisture.
She finished unscrewing the bolt and set it beside her head as the sound of her door being opened alerted her that someone was coming. Two pairs of feet approached, then stopped beside her. A moment later, a face appeared in the gap between the floor and the engine.
Andromeda smiled at the dark eyes of her handmaiden, Korra. “Hey, perfect timing. Could you hand me that screwdriver?”
Korra raised her eyebrows as she got onto her knees, her black braids swishing against the floor. “I thought your father told you not to bring any more machinery into your room?”
Andromeda shrugged and rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. “What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.”
Another face appeared beside Korra’s, this one featuring green eyes and golden locks. Emmi, her second handmaiden, scrunched up her face. “How could he not notice you having a giant motor brought to your room?”
Andromeda slid from beneath the engine, her shirt hiking up and exposing the smooth skin of her stomach. “As it turns out, kings have more important matters to worry about than disobedient daughters.”
They helped her to her feet, and Emmi tugged at Andromeda’s grease-covered shirt with a wrinkled nose. “What about your mother?” “Oh, you know my mom. As long as I’m falling in line with their plans, she doesn’t care what I do with my free time.”
Emmi and Korra glanced at each other, then Korra nodded and turned to the princess. “So, it’s still happening?”
Andromeda pulled off her shirt and threw it to the floor, not turning to look at her friends. She knew what they were talking about and would rather not discuss it. The less she needed to think about the fast-approaching horror, the better. But Emmi and Korra were ladies of the court at heart, daughters of lords, and there was nothing they liked better than a bit of gossip. Given that said gossip was about herself, Andromeda found it exhausting.
“You mean my impending wedding to an unknown man? Yes, it’s still happening. Mother and Father are insistent about it.”
Korra rolled her eyes. “He’s not unknown, Andy. Eden is the crown prince of Someron.”
Andromeda pulled the clips from her hair and allowed her black curls to fall. That was easy for her friend to say—she wasn’t the one being auctioned off to the highest bidder. “Yeah, well, that’s pretty much all I know about him. He could have two heads and a drug addiction for all I know.”
Emmi laughed as Andromeda pulled off her brown work pants. “I’m pretty sure that information would have leaked.”
With a kick of her foot, Andromeda shoved her dirty clothes under the bed. “You don’t know that. Most people know little about my… affliction.”
Korra bent down to retrieve the dirty clothes and flashed her an annoyed look. “You don’t have an affliction. You’re just… modified. As it doesn’t affect your appearance much, I don’t think the media would be particularly bothered.”
Andromeda flexed her metal fingers. She very much doubted what Korra said. People on the outside had been trying to catch a glimpse of her for years, ever since her accident. Not that she cared if they saw her or not. They would undoubtedly tear her to shreds regardless of her appearance, as the media were known to do. Already, the headlines filtered through her head.
“Princess Andromeda, Still Beautiful Despite Horrific Accident! It’s a Miracle!”
“Heir to the Celestine Empire Not as Horrifying as We All Imagined! Prince Eden Has Lucked Out!”
“Vain Princess Uses People’s Tax Money to Get Cosmetic Surgery! More on the Spoiled Child of Luxury at Six! “
Author Bio
K.M. Watts is a debut novelist who first dreamed of becoming an author when she won her school’s Young Author Award at the age of five. She enjoys reading and writing YA fantasy and sci-fi, though she also dabbles with YA romantic thrillers. In her free time, she enjoys canyon hiking in her home state of Arizona.
| Author Website | https://www.kmwatts.com |
| Author Twitter | https://twitter.com/kmwattsofficial |