Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire Series by J.S. Morin

The galaxy’s worst bounty hunter just might be its most relentless hero. Esper may dress the part. She has her own ship. She even carries a blaster—not that she ever uses it.But she violates the cardinal rule of the galaxy’s most cold-blooded profession: get paid.At least she's not alone. Her partner Kubu is an alien who gets mistaken for a dog.One is a wizard on the run from her past. The other is a lovable eating machine. Between them, they haven’t got a ruthless bone in their bodies... moreThe galaxy’s worst bounty hunter just might be its most relentless hero. Esper may dress the part. She has her own ship. She even carries a blaster—not that she ever uses it.But she violates the cardinal rule of the galaxy’s most cold-blooded profession: get paid.At least she's not alone. Her partner Kubu is an alien who gets mistaken for a dog.One is a wizard on the run from her past. The other is a lovable eating machine. Between them, they haven’t got a ruthless bone in their bodies.But when a client hires them, they’ll do whatever it takes to bring a target home safely.This time, it’s a teenage kidnapping victim, and Esper and Kubu will crisscross the galaxy to track her down and make sure she’s safe.Wayward Saint is the first mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. It follows the exploits of a pair of do-gooder bounty hunters who care more about saving the day than getting a payday. Mercy for Hire builds on the rich Black Ocean universe and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series.Grab your copy and support the cause of justice. less

Laying low isn’t supposed to work this way. Esper and Kubu take an outlaw vacation to a remote planet whose tiny colony seems idyllic. It’s far enough for the Convocation wizards dogging them to lose their trail. The plan is simple: stay out of trouble, let the heat die down, and slink back quietly to civilized space. But these two aren’t good at keeping out of trouble. Before long, they’re exposed to the rotten core beneath this purported Utopia. Bitter feuds lurk just below the surface... moreLaying low isn’t supposed to work this way. Esper and Kubu take an outlaw vacation to a remote planet whose tiny colony seems idyllic. It’s far enough for the Convocation wizards dogging them to lose their trail. The plan is simple: stay out of trouble, let the heat die down, and slink back quietly to civilized space. But these two aren’t good at keeping out of trouble. Before long, they’re exposed to the rotten core beneath this purported Utopia. Bitter feuds lurk just below the surface. Feigned friendships mask deadly rivalries. Cliques control what passes for a government on the colony. And when a good man finds himself in the crosshairs of a conspiracy to run him off the planet… …well, you’ve probably guessed it by now. Esper steps in and takes a stand. Because what good is vigilante justice if it’s left to amateurs? Behind Blue Skies is the second mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series. Rescue your copy today! less

Core World problems… Rigel IV glistens beneath a giant, blue-white sun. Its vast surface is covered in tall cities shining like hope itself. Law enforcement protects the people. Or at least… most of the people. Because even core worlds have a seedy side. Esper finds a home of sorts among the endangered, the unprotected, the ones that the law turns a blind eye toward. And when one of her protectees gets kidnapped, Esper will stop at nothing to bring her home. Well, almost nothing... moreCore World problems… Rigel IV glistens beneath a giant, blue-white sun. Its vast surface is covered in tall cities shining like hope itself. Law enforcement protects the people. Or at least… most of the people. Because even core worlds have a seedy side. Esper finds a home of sorts among the endangered, the unprotected, the ones that the law turns a blind eye toward. And when one of her protectees gets kidnapped, Esper will stop at nothing to bring her home. Well, almost nothing. Because Esper’s work has pushed her to the edge of a moral precipice. She’s clinging by the last of her willpower to avoid the easy path, the one that might lead her to damnation and turn her into the sort of person she’s been battling all along. And the voice in her head keeps egging her on. House of the Orion Sun is the third mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series. Buy your copy its freedom today! less

The jig is up. The news is out. They finally found her. As Esper has tried to save the galaxy’s wayward children, she’s done it with the looming threat of the Convocation dogging her steps. She knows why they’re after her, even if she can’t remember the events. She’s shaken them across a dozen star systems. She’s bested their hunters the few times they’ve caught up. Now, Esper is about to face her greatest fear: the truth about what she’s done... moreThe jig is up. The news is out. They finally found her. As Esper has tried to save the galaxy’s wayward children, she’s done it with the looming threat of the Convocation dogging her steps. She knows why they’re after her, even if she can’t remember the events. She’s shaken them across a dozen star systems. She’s bested their hunters the few times they’ve caught up. Now, Esper is about to face her greatest fear: the truth about what she’s done. This latest pair of Convocation bounty hunters is a cut above the previous failures who tried to catch her. They’re more resourceful, closer on her trail, and have one advantage that NONE of the others could boast. The help of an old associate who sold Esper out. Break the Chain is the fourth mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series. Grab yours and contribute to the Esper Defense Fund! less

The galaxy’s worst bounty hunter just might be its most relentless hero.Esper is a vigilante Samaritian with more moral fiber than business sense. Any bounty hunter worth the title knows three rules:Collect half the money up front.Never get emotionally attached.Don’t ask nosy questions.But with a heart of gold and her companion Kubu by her side, Esper sets out to make the galaxy a better place, preferably making enough money to pay for the fuel to get from one job to the next... moreThe galaxy’s worst bounty hunter just might be its most relentless hero.Esper is a vigilante Samaritian with more moral fiber than business sense. Any bounty hunter worth the title knows three rules:Collect half the money up front.Never get emotionally attached.Don’t ask nosy questions.But with a heart of gold and her companion Kubu by her side, Esper sets out to make the galaxy a better place, preferably making enough money to pay for the fuel to get from one job to the next. But just because she’s not cut out to be ruthless doesn’t mean the galaxy is going to eat her alive.After all, Esper is also a wizard.Mission 1: Wayward SaintA runaway teen needs protection and Esper takes the job. But a simple rescue and recovery turns ugly when Esper finds herself in the middle of a custody battle with a vicious pirate who’s hired a bounty hunter of his own.Mission 2: Behind Blue SkiesOn the run from troubles of her own, Esper tries to lie low on a suspiciously Utopian colony planet. Unable to keep out of other people’s troubles, Esper gets a terrifying look into justice on a world where truth is a matter of who you know.Mission 3: House of the Orion SunEsper’s mission to protect the galaxy’s most vulnerable takes a turn for the seedy when she tracks a trafficking victim. How long can she hold out when her morals are tested at every turn?Mission 4: Break the ChainEsper’s own dark past catches up with her when bounty-hunting wizards corner her. Esper has faced down the galaxy’s worst criminals. Now, she’s going to be forced to stand up to one of the galaxy’s most esteemed institutions—Convocation of Arcane Practitioners. less

The witch is back! Esper tracks the Cult of Ra to an arms factory on a grimy colony world. With limited magical resources, they're reduced to doing their vigilante act the old fashioned way. But when their best efforts fall short, Esper is forced to make an impossible choice. In the aftermath, Esper is going to have to reevaluate her priorities and rediscover what magic means to her. With her powers returned, so has the dark voice that haunts her day and night... moreThe witch is back! Esper tracks the Cult of Ra to an arms factory on a grimy colony world. With limited magical resources, they're reduced to doing their vigilante act the old fashioned way. But when their best efforts fall short, Esper is forced to make an impossible choice. In the aftermath, Esper is going to have to reevaluate her priorities and rediscover what magic means to her. With her powers returned, so has the dark voice that haunts her day and night. A reckoning is coming, and the only way to get out alive is to give in and be the wizard she's always had inside her. Walk Like a Magician is the sixth mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. It follows the exploits of a pair of do-gooder bounty hunters who care more about saving the day than getting a payday. Mercy for Hire builds on the rich Black Ocean universe and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series. Grab your copy and don't get left behind. less

You can't own a warship and still think small.With the capture of the Eye of Ra, Esper and her friends discover that small problems have started looking too small. When a plague breaks out on the occupied planet of Meyang, she decides it's time to see what her new ship and crew are capable of.However, the situation is more complicated than they counted on. Not only does the occupying force not want them there, the azrin living on Meyang are none to keen on interference from outsiders... moreYou can't own a warship and still think small.With the capture of the Eye of Ra, Esper and her friends discover that small problems have started looking too small. When a plague breaks out on the occupied planet of Meyang, she decides it's time to see what her new ship and crew are capable of.However, the situation is more complicated than they counted on. Not only does the occupying force not want them there, the azrin living on Meyang are none to keen on interference from outsiders. But never let it be said that Esper wasn't willing to help those who refused to be helped.Ship with No Name is the ninth mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series. less

Home is where the bark is.Fleeing from an unwinnable battle, Tanny is forced to find a planet where she can take refuge from a syndicate with galaxy-spanning reach. The first planet that meets the bill is a wild, forbidden world, home to all manner of monsters. But she has an ace up her sleeve; one of her closest allies was born there.But even with the help of a local, can Tanny and her crew survive long enough to contact help?

Meet the new boss, daughter of the old boss.Tanny and Esper are done with games and tricks. This war is costing both sides too much. The peaceful transition of power Tanny had dreamed of now seems impossible. It’s time to do what they should have done long ago: take the fight to the Rucker Syndicate and worry about the fallout afterward... moreMeet the new boss, daughter of the old boss.Tanny and Esper are done with games and tricks. This war is costing both sides too much. The peaceful transition of power Tanny had dreamed of now seems impossible. It’s time to do what they should have done long ago: take the fight to the Rucker Syndicate and worry about the fallout afterward.What sacrifices are Esper and Tanny willing to make to reshape the galaxy into a better place, and who will be asked to pay the price?Empathy for the Devil is the sixteenth mission of Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire. Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series. less