Power Play: A Novel

I’ll admit, I went into *Power Play* expecting another Steel romance with a side of boardroom drama—but this is something sharper, almost cynical in its portrayal of corporate power. The dual perspectives of the two CEOs (one a woman who’s had to fight for every inch, the other a man who’s never had to) create a fascinating push-pull dynamic. Steel doesn’t just tell you about the glass ceiling; she shows you the cracks in it, the blood on the shards. That said, the pacing in the middle act drags slightly—there’s a lot of internal monologue about strategy that, while realistic, could’ve been tightened. Still, Dan John Miller’s narration saves it from feeling sluggish. His voice is like a well-tailored suit: impeccable, slightly detached, but with an undercurrent of steel. He doesn’t overperform the female lead’s sections, which I appreciated; instead, he lets her dialogue carry its own weight, making her victories feel earned rather than melodramatic. The audiobook’s production is flawless—no awkward pauses or volume spikes—but I did wish for a touch more variation in Miller’s delivery during the more emotional beats. His strength lies in the cerebral moments, where his measured cadence makes even a simple email exchange feel like a high-stakes gambit. The ending, without spoiling, lands with satisfying finality, though Steel’s tendency to wrap things up a bit too neatly peeks through. If you love stories about ambition, gender politics, and the cost of success, this is a standout. Just don’t expect warm fuzzies—this is Steel’s coldest, most calculating work in years, and it’s all the better for it.