Vengeance Protocol: A Space Rats Novel

by Will Kincaid

Humanity called him a hero. The enemy called him a butcher. He wasn’t sure—some nights, it depended how many drinks it took to forget.

Now Jero Rakkan hauls rock in a forgotten asteroid belt, killing the bounty hunters sent to collect on his past. When a shadow syndicate offers him a deal—extract a high-value prisoner from an impregnable fortress—he takes it. Not for redemption. For a shot at saving the daughter he never knew.

The mission is a crew of mercs with shifting loyalties, a traitor in his ranks, and a force in the dark known only as the Hunger—a force that devours worlds.

With brutal close-quarters combat, tactical betrayals, and blistering orbital battles, Vengeance Protocol is a cinematic sci-fi assault from burning skies to blood-soaked ground. As enemies close in on all fronts, Rakkan must lead a fractured squad through a war no one’s ready for—and stop an enemy that’s never been stopped.

370 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2025

About the author

Will Kincaid was born in Scotland and now lives in Sydney, Australia. He read the sci-fi section dry in his local library before he was a teenager—hooked from the moment he found The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester.

Early influences included Pohl, Niven and Pournelle, and later Iain M. Banks, whose scale and structure rewired what science fiction could be.

After an early career in advertising, he completed a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Sydney and began work on Vengeance Protocol—a cinematic military sci-fi novel about fractured loyalties, orbital firestorms, and what one life is worth when nothing else is left.

Reviews

[Tobias · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC in return for an honest review of this book.

I liked this book. I liked the setting, the universe, the characters, and the invention. I really liked the descriptions of the tactical troop-level combats, which felt visceral and plausible. It had some intriguing premises, and the politics within felt tangible and credible. What I really enjoyed was the professionalism of the characters, who were genuinely good at what they did, which came across well.

However... there are gaps. Big, big gaps, and this is frustrating. The book has a pace and vibrancy that means you can't get bored, but some of the characters just... disappear, and you never hear from them again. Likewise, there are scene shifts and jumps that leave you wondering a) if it's happened, and b) how it happened. Both of these feel like unnecessary omissions, and meant I was scratching my head on occasions, as well as wanting to have some of the story arcs completed. There are also bits which just felt implausible (Jerro's behaviour on hearing he has a daughter, and notably in the final encounter, with Knox's conduct being questionable). Lastly, the editing needs tightening up; there are instances where the narrative shifts between characters, but the only indication is a new paragraph and a change from the third to the first person, which can be a bit confusing. There are also way too many repetitions, for example, Jerro finds out he has a daughter, and then has her to fight for. We're told this repeatedly. And repeatedly. And repeatedly. And... well, you get the idea.

I enjoyed this, and I'm keen to see what follows. This is the author's first book, which shows, but he has an engaging style, and with better editing, as well as some judicious gap-filling and arc-capping, this would move from 'good' to 'great'.

[Kenneth Ocklund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vengeance Protocol by Will Kincaid, published in 2025, is a military space sci-fi novel that introduces us to war veteran Jero Rakkan. A hero to some, a murderer to others, he lives fending off bounty hunters. He accepts a mission that turns out to be not only life-changing, but also critical for the survival of human kind. Re-united with his trusted group of genetically enhanced super soldiers, known as the Space Rats, they fight their way through alien hordes and human traitors, until they’re faced with impossible odds.

As far as military space sci-fi goes, this story hits all the high notes with intense close-quarter combat, grueling ground war and massive space battles with hundreds of battleships. The combat scenes are gritty and gripping. You can feel the camaraderie of the Space Rates, forged in battle. It’s rewarding to follow Rakkan from being a rejected has-been, to see him gain a new purpose in life, and finally lead the mission to save mankind. There are also other interesting characters that add to the intrigue, which makes for unexpected turns. Even the trusted AI aboard Rakkan’s ship has more than one personality.

I recommend Vengeance Protocol to any reader that enjoys intense military sci-fi action. Apparently, there’s a follow-up to this book, Dragon Rising. So, it looks like the break is over for the Space Rats.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jero Rakkan, ex-war hero turned asteroid hauler, kills bounty hunters to survive. When a shadow syndicate offers him a mission to extract a prisoner from an impenetrable fortress, he accepts—for a chance to save the daughter he never knew. The job is chaos: mercs with shifting loyalties, a traitor onboard, and the Hunger—a cosmic force that devours worlds. As war erupts across space and ground, Rakkan must lead a broken squad through brutal combat and stop an enemy no one’s ever survived.

A gritty sci-fi thriller, Vengeance Protocol delivers intense action, emotional depth, and rich world-building. Jero Rakkan, a reluctant hero, is pulled into a suicidal facing cosmic threats, political intrigue, and fractured loyalties that only he can survive. With mercenaries at his back, a traitor in his ranks, and enemies on all sides, Rakkan must unite the broken to defy the unstoppable. This story explores redemption, leadership, and the power of unity in a universe on the brink.

For those who like gritty, sci-fi, and underdogs.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[DHMC45 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty engaging space opera about some interplanetary war veterans pulling off a big last job and inadvertently getting dragged into grand political machinations on a galactic scale. The first person perspective was decent, though there were a few breaks where the character probably wouldn't have known about that information or described some actions in a far too removed omniscient way. But the chapters switching into both the third person perspective of other characters along with historical excerpts in a more grand and mythical tone was especially amazing. A pretty good standalone, though leaves enough little threads that could lead to further stories that I would def be interested in reading through.

[MalibuMary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an arc copy, have never seen this author before. I really enjoyed it, the pace is fast, the characters are well defined. I bore easily and It didn't lose my attention! I loved the relationship between Rakkan and his daughter, and if there was one thing I had to say to improve it would be to have more emotional connection between the characters. Giving it 5* as I actually really enjoyed the ride!

[Alexis Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vengeance Protocol (A Space Rats Novel) had an interesting premise and a setting that showed some creativity, but it just wasn’t really my cup of tea. The story didn’t fully keep my interest, and I struggled to stay engaged with the plot and characters. That said, I can see how it could be really enjoyable for other readers who are into space adventures and high-stakes sci-fi.

Overall, not a personal favorite, but it might be a great pick for fans of the genre.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A free book from Voracious Readers. Thank you.

Exciting, nail biting, and a good story.
A fight against the odds and this round has been won despite the graft and manipulation of the powerful and greedy.

Terrific first book, Thank you for the opportunity to read your book Will.

[Nicole Deanne Veracruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't say this was a bad book.
But I will say it wasn't for me.
It had a hard time keeping me engaged with the story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gavin Ritz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written, exciting story. Great weekend read. Better than watching TV.

[Marc Hilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicely done. Great reading for the New Year 2026