Firesetter Series by J. Naomi Ay

It was clear to Lance that his father hated him. Why else would he leave everything to Hank, except for that coin? You know, the one with some dude’s head on it, the ancient Euro or whatever it was. Except it wasn’t a Euro according to the pawnbroker. Turns out, it’s an old Imperial Coin from the days of the Great Emperor, and it might be worth a whole lot of dough on the other side of the galaxy, if Lance could somehow manage to take it there... moreIt was clear to Lance that his father hated him. Why else would he leave everything to Hank, except for that coin? You know, the one with some dude’s head on it, the ancient Euro or whatever it was. Except it wasn’t a Euro according to the pawnbroker. Turns out, it’s an old Imperial Coin from the days of the Great Emperor, and it might be worth a whole lot of dough on the other side of the galaxy, if Lance could somehow manage to take it there. But, how does a guy, who owes the hospital a lifetime’s worth of earnings, manage to travel across the stars? Turns out, he can do it for free. Not only that, but he can get three squares a day, an apartment complete with roommates, and two sets of clothes, albeit in spandex. It’s like prison, but with benefits. It’s SpaceForce. In the meantime, on the other side of the galaxy, Ailana is stuck next to her hated cousin, Embo in their grandmother’s sewing shop, forever listening to the old woman wax on about her glory days as a Royal Seamstress. No matter how she tries, Ailana can’t break free of Grandmother and her needling, even after the old woman is dead. However, it will be through her needle and thread, that Ailana gains admittance into the privileged world of the nobility, where fate will introduce her to a man that bears a striking resemblance to the face on Lance’s coin. less

Lance thought his life was going well. He had his own ship, the Flying Mule, an awesome crew including his best friends, Wen and Nood, a lovely and intelligent, teenage daughter, Sandy, and lucrative contracts hauling coconuts between two warring planets. When a twist of fate sends the Flying Mule to an unscheduled stop at a nearby spacebase, Lance’s almost-perfect world goes spiraling out of control... moreLance thought his life was going well. He had his own ship, the Flying Mule, an awesome crew including his best friends, Wen and Nood, a lovely and intelligent, teenage daughter, Sandy, and lucrative contracts hauling coconuts between two warring planets. When a twist of fate sends the Flying Mule to an unscheduled stop at a nearby spacebase, Lance’s almost-perfect world goes spiraling out of control. His daughter disappears, a leak in the hydraulic system temporarily grounds the ship, and a SpaceForce safety auditor, who just-so happens to be sleeping with Lance’s ex, is demanding a full audit of his cargo. Lance is forced to take evasive action. To find his daughter, he’s got to leave the spacebase fast, but the only way he can is by kidnapping the SpaceForce officer, and allowing a strange, alien guy, with a propensity to light fires, to join his crew. Now, Lance is at the mercy of the alien guy, who not only knows where Sandy has gone, but is taking the cargo to somewhere else, to a planet in turmoil on the other side of the galaxy. less

Sandy is heading off to college as brand new cadet at the SpaceForce Academy when something goes horribly wrong with the transport plane. Two hundred teenagers are trapped with only a drunken captain and a mechanical droid, who is programmed to do nothing more than serve tiny cups of soda and non-legume snacks. Fortunately, the Flying Mule is in the vicinity and a rescue is only moments away. That’s until the transport plane is sucked into a worm tunnel, whisking everyone across the galaxy... moreSandy is heading off to college as brand new cadet at the SpaceForce Academy when something goes horribly wrong with the transport plane. Two hundred teenagers are trapped with only a drunken captain and a mechanical droid, who is programmed to do nothing more than serve tiny cups of soda and non-legume snacks. Fortunately, the Flying Mule is in the vicinity and a rescue is only moments away. That’s until the transport plane is sucked into a worm tunnel, whisking everyone across the galaxy. Back on Rehnor, Dov has moved Ailana and her young son to his duchy in Kildoo, after the destruction of yet another palace. As no one else is sitting the throne, Dov has declared himself the new king, despite his lack of an army, lack of funds, and lack of subjects. Ailana has contracted a disease and has requested to see her son Amyr before she dies. Sir Bennet is now tasked with locating the elusive young man and dragging him back to Rehnor kicking and screaming. In the meantime, in Karupatani, King Rekah frets about his own lack of funds to provide for the many immigrants returning to his shores. If only they had something to sell, something upon which they might build an economy. To that end, he visits Pellen, the most successful businessman in the land, whereupon they embark upon an adventure across the sea. less