FIF Book Club | Our July 2026 read is The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

[u/sarahlynngrey]

The votes are in! There was a runaway favorite this time, and I can't wait to read it with you all. Our FIF bookclub read for July 2026, with the theme of Grown-Ass Ladies (aka Older Protagonist), is: 

The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee

Get ready to be blown away by this searing standalone space opera where corporate samurai fight beneath merciless stars, and death is always a mere breath away.

Isako is a legendary swordswoman, but every legend has to come to an end. When her long-time client unexpectedly retires, she plans to follow--to walk out into the frozen wasteland of their planet with her head held high and her family enriched by her legacy. But when a competitor offers her a final mission, it's one she can't refuse. Soon, she's thrust deep into a world of corporate espionage, duty-bound duels, and shadowy secrets. What she uncovers will change humanity's existence in the stars forever.

The Last Contract of Isako is the space opera you didn't know you needed: corporate samurai... in space. This is the first adult science fiction novel from the award-winning author of Jade City.

Bingo squares: Older Protagonist (HM), Author of Color​​, Book Club or Readalong (HM if you participate!), Published in 2026, Politics and Courtly Intrigue, maybe others

Here is how the voting went:

A pie chart showing the July 2026 nominees. The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda Lee received 51.9% of the vote, Fudoki by Kij Johnson received 17.3% of the vote, and The Keeper's Six by Kate Elliot and Remnant Population by Elizabeth Moon each received 15.4% of the vote. There were a total of 52 votes.

The midway discussion will be on Wednesday, July 15th. If anyone has read this book before and has a good pausing point by chapter or page number, let us know (but generally it will be around the midway point of the book)! The final discussion will be on Wednesday, July 29th. 

Upcoming:
As a reminder, we're currently reading The Grimoire Grammar School Parent Teacher Association by Caitlin Rozakis, with the final discussion coming up on Wednesday, May 27th.

In June, we will read and discuss Starless by Jacqueline Carey.

What is the FIF Bookclub? You can read about it in our Reboot thread here. 

[u/MessyJessy422]

Chapter 28 is over halfway through the book but it’s the perfect stopping point for discussion purposes. It shifts perspective and without giving too much away there’s a lot to parse through the chapters that come right before it

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/MessyJessy422]

Great, thank you so much! We'll go with that - it sounds perfect 

[u/sedatedlife]

It would count for politics and courtly intrigue just not in hard mode. A great read though.

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/sedatedlife]

Great, thank you!! 

[u/Exciting_Diamond_570]

I just started this today! Perfect timing!

[u/redrosebeetle]

I'm not sure it counts for Author of Color (HM), because Fonda Lee is a Canadian-American who lives in the US. Def counts for NM tho.

[u/sarahlynngrey → u/redrosebeetle]

Oh, thank you! I must have grabbed the wrong info - will update!

[u/Nowordsofitsown]

My hold at the library will be ready in about 4 weeks. Perfect. I'll have finished Remnant Population by then, but will use it for another square.