Catrina in Space — Michael Atkinson

Princess Catrina knows she's a story character, and she's learned to love it. Almost too much. She knows she's the heroine, which means she always wins and her arch-nemesis, Susan, always loses. Even when she gets killed, her author always finds a creative way to resurrect her. She's got mad sword-fighting skills, and she's saved her world at least twice. She's even started a relationship with her sidekick, Perry, cousin of the librarian of Shmirmingard Castle. Princess Catrina believed that her story was destined for a happy ending. But then Susan shows up, and Catrina is suddenly plunged into an entirely different story. Now she must face a nemesis that makes Susan look like a cuddly snuggle bunny, not just a Big Bad, but a Bigger Bad. Her only chance is to join forces with the valiant hamsters of the starship Dangling Participle, in a desperate attempt to withstand the peril before it becomes really perilous. But even with the space hamsters, Catrina isn't sure if she'll survive. Because now, the rules have changed. Now the heroine doesn't always win. Now, if she wants a happy ending, she's going to have to earn it.