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Gunboat #1
Gunboat
Coast Guard Captain Jesse Watkins is killed in action.
Instead of moving on to the afterlife, Watkins wakes up as something different. He has been reborn as the core of a war-ravaged starship and must work to repair his vessel if he wants to find his way home.
Threats to his new existence abound, both in the darkness of space, and lurking aboard the ruined hulk of the ship he now commands. Despite the danger, Captain Watkins has a lifetime of naval service experience to call upon. With the help of his system adjunct, they must rebuild and prepare their vessel for the battles to come.
Captain Watkins must become something more than he was before. He must become a vessel powerful enough to survive the journey home.
Instead of moving on to the afterlife, Watkins wakes up as something different. He has been reborn as the core of a war-ravaged starship and must work to repair his vessel if he wants to find his way home.
Threats to his new existence abound, both in the darkness of space, and lurking aboard the ruined hulk of the ship he now commands. Despite the danger, Captain Watkins has a lifetime of naval service experience to call upon. With the help of his system adjunct, they must rebuild and prepare their vessel for the battles to come.
Captain Watkins must become something more than he was before. He must become a vessel powerful enough to survive the journey home.
- GenresScience Fiction
496 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 13, 2025
309 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 26, 2025
A Waste of Time
Weak mash up of LitRPG with Space Opera that fails at both- author should pick one or the other probably LitRPG as author grasp of STEM, especially cybernetics and physics is pathetic.
Kobolds in Space might be a better title.
This was a waste of the me.
Weak mash up of LitRPG with Space Opera that fails at both- author should pick one or the other probably LitRPG as author grasp of STEM, especially cybernetics and physics is pathetic.
Kobolds in Space might be a better title.
This was a waste of the me.
April 19, 2026
Mostly boring and nonsensical
The book sets up a protagonist with a military and leadership background, then proceeds to ignore that pedigree entirely. Instead of tactical depth, we get a repetitive "Zerg rush" strategy: create a mob, point them at a target, and hope the enemy breaks before the MC runs out of materials. It’s less Art of War and more "bashing your face into a wall until the wall moves."
The lack of creativity regarding technology is jarring. The MC:
Treats the "research machine" like a rigid vending machine rather than a tool for innovation.
Uses landmines only on his ship’s exterior, ignoring their obvious tactical utility elsewhere.
Gets hit by grenades constantly but never thinks, "Hey, maybe I should make some of those."
The characters are hollow shells with zero emotional connection, making them feel like interchangeable lines of code rather than people. Without clever problem-solving or interesting personalities to bridge the gaps, the story is just a mechanical, frustrating grind. Skip this unless you enjoy watching a "tactical expert" play the most inefficient game of attrition possible.
The book sets up a protagonist with a military and leadership background, then proceeds to ignore that pedigree entirely. Instead of tactical depth, we get a repetitive "Zerg rush" strategy: create a mob, point them at a target, and hope the enemy breaks before the MC runs out of materials. It’s less Art of War and more "bashing your face into a wall until the wall moves."
The lack of creativity regarding technology is jarring. The MC:
Treats the "research machine" like a rigid vending machine rather than a tool for innovation.
Uses landmines only on his ship’s exterior, ignoring their obvious tactical utility elsewhere.
Gets hit by grenades constantly but never thinks, "Hey, maybe I should make some of those."
The characters are hollow shells with zero emotional connection, making them feel like interchangeable lines of code rather than people. Without clever problem-solving or interesting personalities to bridge the gaps, the story is just a mechanical, frustrating grind. Skip this unless you enjoy watching a "tactical expert" play the most inefficient game of attrition possible.
September 28, 2025
okay
Coast Guard captain dies and gets made into a spaceship Core. His new ship is a derelict. He starts rebuilding. His first interactions with aliens are negative, with them wanting to destroy him. This makes him target all future aliens as enemies. He finds their station, give a token effort at negotiating, and takes it. He then finds another station and targets it. That station views him as rouge and tries to stop him. He views himself as liberator and conquers the station. He finds his old crew now turned inferior Cores, and a host of biological experiments to create a servant race. He ends it, upgrades himself, and goes to fight a creature from beyond that the governing body lured to destroy him.
Premise is nice. Pace is consistent. Character is steady, neither growth nor degradation.
Coast Guard captain dies and gets made into a spaceship Core. His new ship is a derelict. He starts rebuilding. His first interactions with aliens are negative, with them wanting to destroy him. This makes him target all future aliens as enemies. He finds their station, give a token effort at negotiating, and takes it. He then finds another station and targets it. That station views him as rouge and tries to stop him. He views himself as liberator and conquers the station. He finds his old crew now turned inferior Cores, and a host of biological experiments to create a servant race. He ends it, upgrades himself, and goes to fight a creature from beyond that the governing body lured to destroy him.
Premise is nice. Pace is consistent. Character is steady, neither growth nor degradation.
September 2, 2025
I enjoyed
I enjoyed it. It was a fun quick read. But the characters interaction just felt dry. Hopefully as they get back more memories they’ll be a bit more lively. I do plan on reading the next book in the series.
I enjoyed it. It was a fun quick read. But the characters interaction just felt dry. Hopefully as they get back more memories they’ll be a bit more lively. I do plan on reading the next book in the series.
February 4, 2026
I would like to start off on that there is nothing wrong with this book. It has a good flow to it, appropriate amount of action, steady pace, and solid progression. Im closer to 4 on the rating but I would rate this 3.5-4.0 Range and I will tell you why.
This book does everything technically right but has some serious flaws. Its lack of character, relationships, and any sense of disagreement. For all intents and purposes there are 4 characters, 5 if you really want to go with a small support role. All of them are loyal to the Captain, no talk back, no disagreements, everyone just does what the Captain says. There is very little personality to these characters. Now, 3 of them are not alive anymore and are part computer programming. You would expect there to be more cold driven AI than any emotion. That sadly does come across.
I am a huge stickler for dialogue. For these friendships there is a trial and then after that they become subservient and submissive to the Captain. Next, the Captain doesnt make any mistakes through the whole novel. There is no action you can point to that is a mistake. He doesnt second guess himself, he always does the logical right thing. Now, bad stuff happens to him sure but not due to any logical process. There is nothing we as the reader can attach to the Captain and root for him.
Lastly, the first half of the book was addictive and got through in a couple days but the last half took me 2 weeks to finish. Its very wordy and while the progression is done rather well, its boring. The action sequences, you know whats going to happen. You can see the progression and what will have to happen. You think to yourself, "What is the author going to do to increase the danger." You find out pages later that is exactly what happened. Predictable in other words. This has the same problems that Derelict had in that it has a problem with connecting with reader and is rather predictable. We have multiple types of MOBs but just like in Derelict the MC just spams the same unit over and over again. It makes the ready believe there is only 1 right choice just like there is only 1 right choice for every single decision the MC makes. The more I write this review the more I want to put it at 3 stars but Ill stick with 4.
This book does everything technically right but has some serious flaws. Its lack of character, relationships, and any sense of disagreement. For all intents and purposes there are 4 characters, 5 if you really want to go with a small support role. All of them are loyal to the Captain, no talk back, no disagreements, everyone just does what the Captain says. There is very little personality to these characters. Now, 3 of them are not alive anymore and are part computer programming. You would expect there to be more cold driven AI than any emotion. That sadly does come across.
I am a huge stickler for dialogue. For these friendships there is a trial and then after that they become subservient and submissive to the Captain. Next, the Captain doesnt make any mistakes through the whole novel. There is no action you can point to that is a mistake. He doesnt second guess himself, he always does the logical right thing. Now, bad stuff happens to him sure but not due to any logical process. There is nothing we as the reader can attach to the Captain and root for him.
Lastly, the first half of the book was addictive and got through in a couple days but the last half took me 2 weeks to finish. Its very wordy and while the progression is done rather well, its boring. The action sequences, you know whats going to happen. You can see the progression and what will have to happen. You think to yourself, "What is the author going to do to increase the danger." You find out pages later that is exactly what happened. Predictable in other words. This has the same problems that Derelict had in that it has a problem with connecting with reader and is rather predictable. We have multiple types of MOBs but just like in Derelict the MC just spams the same unit over and over again. It makes the ready believe there is only 1 right choice just like there is only 1 right choice for every single decision the MC makes. The more I write this review the more I want to put it at 3 stars but Ill stick with 4.
November 17, 2025
Freakintastic! Loved it!
Ohhhh! Freakintastic! I love Dean Henegar and wow, this book is just a funtastic read. I had totally forgotten about Derelict and that the grand fanale landed as my top favorite for 2025! How could I have forgotten?!?
In this spinoff series, we find a Coast Guard vessel the USS Barricuda in hot pursute of Smugglers when Captain Watkins is blinded by a brilliant light... Watkins is Isekaied into a different reality becoming a ships core. His saving grace is LANI a helper AI and with a voice, keeping him sane... while he figures out how to turn the light on! And level! But there's a catch 🤔 and in time he finds LANI trying to take over his system! Then we have an all out Captain Blood Battle complete with Frigates!!! Wow! And still there's plenty to do fighting Kobolds, Halflings, and leveling. But soon enough he has'ta contend with the Void Beasts... and plenty of 'em, ugh!
You'll need to snat this one for your library for reals!
Here's a quote for ya:
“It looks like the rat guy isn’t going to, uh, well, rat us out,” Watkins said awkwardly. “That was bad, and you made fun of my sense of humor earlier,” Lani replied with a groan."
Ohhhh! Freakintastic! I love Dean Henegar and wow, this book is just a funtastic read. I had totally forgotten about Derelict and that the grand fanale landed as my top favorite for 2025! How could I have forgotten?!?
In this spinoff series, we find a Coast Guard vessel the USS Barricuda in hot pursute of Smugglers when Captain Watkins is blinded by a brilliant light... Watkins is Isekaied into a different reality becoming a ships core. His saving grace is LANI a helper AI and with a voice, keeping him sane... while he figures out how to turn the light on! And level! But there's a catch 🤔 and in time he finds LANI trying to take over his system! Then we have an all out Captain Blood Battle complete with Frigates!!! Wow! And still there's plenty to do fighting Kobolds, Halflings, and leveling. But soon enough he has'ta contend with the Void Beasts... and plenty of 'em, ugh!
You'll need to snat this one for your library for reals!
Here's a quote for ya:
“It looks like the rat guy isn’t going to, uh, well, rat us out,” Watkins said awkwardly. “That was bad, and you made fun of my sense of humor earlier,” Lani replied with a groan."
October 7, 2025
A Coast Guard Captain Isekai Becomes A Space Faring Warship's Core.
An interesting premise becomes an intriguing plot with some mysterious characters. Not that they are trying to be mysterious, a few have been robbed of their bodies and large portions of their memories as they have been converted into Cores or Tranfered Intelligences for powering and controling spaceships, space stations, or other installations. One of the mysterious characters is so, because it is very alien and has limited ability to communicate to the others. The other mysterious characters are so because they don't know their own origins and have only know lives of abuse, ignorance, and terror.
This is an excellent read. I will be checking out the author's other titles soon.
An interesting premise becomes an intriguing plot with some mysterious characters. Not that they are trying to be mysterious, a few have been robbed of their bodies and large portions of their memories as they have been converted into Cores or Tranfered Intelligences for powering and controling spaceships, space stations, or other installations. One of the mysterious characters is so, because it is very alien and has limited ability to communicate to the others. The other mysterious characters are so because they don't know their own origins and have only know lives of abuse, ignorance, and terror.
This is an excellent read. I will be checking out the author's other titles soon.
February 9, 2026
I picked this up because of how much I enjoyed Limitless Lands.
This isn't that.
well, I had a longer review but I just deleted it. Basically, I don't buy that the best defense against a terrible Void invader is a random research facility. I don't buy that if there was concern about the void they'd not keep up constant communication (or trust the defense to shackled power?). I don't know why they have to put people into cores but then shackle them. Mostly, eh.
Probably not the next book, or at least not anytime soon. But it isn't bad. Just a strange mismatch that I didn't really ever 'get.'
This isn't that.
well, I had a longer review but I just deleted it. Basically, I don't buy that the best defense against a terrible Void invader is a random research facility. I don't buy that if there was concern about the void they'd not keep up constant communication (or trust the defense to shackled power?). I don't know why they have to put people into cores but then shackle them. Mostly, eh.
Probably not the next book, or at least not anytime soon. But it isn't bad. Just a strange mismatch that I didn't really ever 'get.'
April 18, 2026
Dungeon core book does not work for Sci-fi
It's too stupid. A spacecraft that has had no person on it for an extremely long time.... but it has rats on it? How did the rats survive exactly? There are no humans, no food, no water. Why did the rats not just destroy his core while it was forming for 108 years?
Oh right, "core energy" sustained the rats. LOL. So Magic then? We got magic in sci-fi. That's always a shitty mix.
DNF 10%
It's too stupid. A spacecraft that has had no person on it for an extremely long time.... but it has rats on it? How did the rats survive exactly? There are no humans, no food, no water. Why did the rats not just destroy his core while it was forming for 108 years?
Oh right, "core energy" sustained the rats. LOL. So Magic then? We got magic in sci-fi. That's always a shitty mix.
DNF 10%
August 18, 2025
Yarr, sail the space-y seas!…of space!
Very good book by the inestimable Mr. Henegar. Very different from the Derelict series and very well done space ship combat litrpg. Great pacing, extremely few errors, good action sequences, all that.
I read it on RR and Patreon and I look forward to the second book. You should give it a shot!
Very good book by the inestimable Mr. Henegar. Very different from the Derelict series and very well done space ship combat litrpg. Great pacing, extremely few errors, good action sequences, all that.
I read it on RR and Patreon and I look forward to the second book. You should give it a shot!
October 1, 2025
A good book
I loved the book and have read many books, including your other space ship books, I liked the pace and the rat kin were fun. I liked the 5 books dealing with Roma military rpg. The 2 sea books were amazing I thank you for your hard work and look forward to reading more
I loved the book and have read many books, including your other space ship books, I liked the pace and the rat kin were fun. I liked the 5 books dealing with Roma military rpg. The 2 sea books were amazing I thank you for your hard work and look forward to reading more
August 17, 2025
Gunboat is a fun ride.
I enjoyed Dean Henegar's Derelict series, so when he wrote another book in the same universe, I was all in. Gunboat is packed with action and adventure in space. I read it in one day! Keep the great stories coming Dean.
I enjoyed Dean Henegar's Derelict series, so when he wrote another book in the same universe, I was all in. Gunboat is packed with action and adventure in space. I read it in one day! Keep the great stories coming Dean.
August 23, 2025
Book one
I've been reading this since it first came out on Royalroad.
It's a bit simplistic, but a fun little story.
This is just my way of giving back to the author for letting us ride along as they create the story.
7/10 Decent way to kill a day.
I've been reading this since it first came out on Royalroad.
It's a bit simplistic, but a fun little story.
This is just my way of giving back to the author for letting us ride along as they create the story.
7/10 Decent way to kill a day.
September 26, 2025
good start to the story
Decent story, a standard dungeon core lit RPG set on a spaceship. The buildup for book two is solid. The biggest complaint is the lack of editing or possibly AI writing.
Decent story, a standard dungeon core lit RPG set on a spaceship. The buildup for book two is solid. The biggest complaint is the lack of editing or possibly AI writing.
February 3, 2026
For the audiobook:
Made it to 7:03 hours of a 13:49 book.
It's just boring, I don't see a reason to continue, it started off pretty decently, but this fighting cobalds in space is putting me to sleep. Good idea, bad execution
Made it to 7:03 hours of a 13:49 book.
It's just boring, I don't see a reason to continue, it started off pretty decently, but this fighting cobalds in space is putting me to sleep. Good idea, bad execution
March 2, 2026
Coast Guard captain dies and gets made into a spaceship Core .A mix of Litrpg and space opera.
It was an ok book. The story does not quite work in either genre but I applaud the try by the author. A decent book with good action.
It was an ok book. The story does not quite work in either genre but I applaud the try by the author. A decent book with good action.
April 29, 2026
Fun take.
I enjoyed this take on a core-based story. Rather than a dungeon, the main character is a core inside a spaceship. He’s got some familiar challenges, and some new problems. Rather than adventurers invading, it is aggressive alien creatures.
I enjoyed this take on a core-based story. Rather than a dungeon, the main character is a core inside a spaceship. He’s got some familiar challenges, and some new problems. Rather than adventurers invading, it is aggressive alien creatures.
September 21, 2025
Has potential
An interesting take on space litrpg. I enjoyed it enough that I’ll read the next in series when it comes out
An interesting take on space litrpg. I enjoyed it enough that I’ll read the next in series when it comes out
September 26, 2025
great
It was slow in some places but I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it for people who like space type books.
It was slow in some places but I truly enjoyed this book and recommend it for people who like space type books.
October 30, 2025
Very good
This had a unique plot. Space opera meets litprg. Fast paced timing and good characters. I hope there's a another book in the works.
This had a unique plot. Space opera meets litprg. Fast paced timing and good characters. I hope there's a another book in the works.
November 30, 2025
Dull. DNF.
didn-t-like-it
December 5, 2025note to self: normally I like the author's work, but this time it's not doing it for me. Maybe it's because "another dungeon core book, wee" or the narrator's voice... regardless, meh.
January 27, 2026
No. Let's upgrade our space-ship. no thanks.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews