Ryker Dane: The Ghost Chronicals

by B.W. Dickerson, Brad Pender (Contributor)

Ryker Dane is no hero. A former soldier turned outlaw captain, he’s made a life at the edge of the law aboard the Marauder, a ship held together by grit, luck, and the loyalty of a crew as fractured as the galaxy they wander.

There’s Haven, the hunted technomancer whose brilliance borders on dangerous; Terra, the warrior raised in exile whose silence carries its own scars; Alex, the sniper who never misses but can’t escape her past; and Kaj, the monk who wields his faith and fury with equal precision.

Together they scrape by chasing bounties and salvaging wrecks—until they stumble across something no crew should ever find. A derelict Ghost Ship, pulsing with alien tech and the echo of an ancient intelligence, waiting to wake.

What should have been fortune becomes a curse. Now Ryker and his crew are hunted by corporations, betrayed by allies, and stalked by a machine that remembers too much.

To survive, Ryker must confront the one thing he’s spent his life outrunning: becoming the ghost that others fear.

200 pages, Hardcover

Published August 14, 2025

Reviews

[Jane Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how it wasn’t just about aliens or old tech ,the corporations chasing them were just as terrifying. Felt way too real at times, which made the whole thing hit harder.

[WILLIAM BRUNNET · Rating 5 out of 5]

Didn’t expect to love this as much as I did. Ryker is such a broken dude, but that’s what makes him so believable. The Ghost Ship scenes were creepy as hell, I actually had to stop one night because it got under my skin.

[Adam J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put it down. The pacing is tight, the action scenes are vivid, but honestly it was the crew banter and loyalty that kept me hooked. They feel like real people you want to hang out with.

[Linda B. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up way too late finishing this, and now I just want the next book. Haven’s my favorite (her technomancer stuff is so cool), but all of them bring something. Totally worth the ride

[JANE Austen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down. The Ghost Ship gave me chills the whole way through

[Faye J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked how every crew member had their own story. Haven is my favorite.

[Gloria Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare that a book makes me feel both creeped out and emotional, but this one did.

[Layla Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s rare that a book makes me feel both creeped out and emotional, but this one did.

[James Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The corporations in this story were almost scarier than the AI. Hit a little too close to home

[Joann F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some chapters felt slow, but when the Ghost Ship scenes kicked in, I was hooked again.

[Charles K. Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This crew feels like a family I shouldn’t even care about, but I do. They’re messy, broken, and I love them.

[Mary Christ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up till 3 a.m. finishing this. No regrets

[Ruth danaella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending hit way harder than I thought it would. Still thinking about Ryker’s last choice

[Robert L. Hills · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from page one. The action is great, but it’s the characters that made it unforgettable

[Rick J. Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked the pacing overall, though a couple parts slowed down. Still, the payoff at the end was totally worth it.

[Angela C. Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly didn’t expect to get scared by a sci-fi book, but the Ghost Ship scenes? Terrifying in the best way

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven deserves her own spin-off. She’s such a badass and also the heart of the crew.

[Dark Relevations · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure about Ryker at first,he’s rough and bitter,but he grew on me. By the end I was fully invested.

[Karen S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Roe might be my favorite sniper character ever. Calm, deadly, and loyal in her own way

[Evie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The corporations being just as dangerous as the alien AI was such a clever angle. Really gave it depth.

[Meera Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually cry at sci-fi, but the bond between the crew got me. That final chapter wrecked me.

[Ashley Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced, creepy, emotional—basically everything I want in a book. Already waiting for book two

[Glory Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryker is a mess, but the kind you can’t help but root for.

[Jeffrey C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn’t stop turning the pages. Creepy, exciting, and surprisingly emotional.

[Jessica Osterhagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best space opera books I’ve read in a while. Felt like a mix of horror, action, and family drama

[Libby Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily one of my new favorite sci-fi reads. Left me wanting more of Ryker and his crew.

[Marcus Nora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some parts were brutal, but that’s what made it feel real. War, loss, survival it all hit hard.

[Kristen Humphreys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the mix of found family, survival, and big moral choices. It’s not just action it has heart.

[Juana Manuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ghost Ship itself felt alive. Creepiest setting I’ve read in a long time.

[Julia W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terra was my favorite. So much power in her silence. Amazing character.