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Mercy's Gate
This is Planet Futurum, Death’s Hollow, and where Jacks is going, there is no mercy.
Jacks is a corporate-owned mercenary who leads a skilled extraction squad. His goal is to buy out his lifetime contract by collecting whatever industrial secrets, agents, or turncoat executives AstEx Corp wants removed from under the noses of their main competitors.
That is until the mission of a lifetime falls into his team’s lap, promising more money than they could possibly imagine.
The target? An organic object known as the heartseed, prized by an alien race, that grows on a hostile planet.
The remit? Four corporate squads all competing for the same target, and to the winners, exclusive access to alien technology.
The catch? Six months, one hundred and fourteen teams of lost souls, ninety-three dropships, and the highest echelon of military technology, yet no one has ever come back from Futurum alive.
Time is running out, and where they’re going, everything wants to kill, eat, or lay its eggs inside them. Possibly all three.
But Jacks’ greatest enemy just might be his own mind as the creeping malevolence of the planet worms its way in. As his reality fractures, he begins to question what the aliens really want, and whether this world will ever let it go.
For fans of Battle Royale and Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation, where the planet is more dangerous than the competitors.
“Atmospheric, Ominous, Malignant & Thrilling, Mercy’s Gate meshes horror with SF in a truly outstandingly creepy unsettling manner.” — Goodreads
“A book that reminds you that the universe is full of wonder, mystery and…terror.”— Martin Lejeune, author of the Pulsar Sky series
Jacks is a corporate-owned mercenary who leads a skilled extraction squad. His goal is to buy out his lifetime contract by collecting whatever industrial secrets, agents, or turncoat executives AstEx Corp wants removed from under the noses of their main competitors.
That is until the mission of a lifetime falls into his team’s lap, promising more money than they could possibly imagine.
The target? An organic object known as the heartseed, prized by an alien race, that grows on a hostile planet.
The remit? Four corporate squads all competing for the same target, and to the winners, exclusive access to alien technology.
The catch? Six months, one hundred and fourteen teams of lost souls, ninety-three dropships, and the highest echelon of military technology, yet no one has ever come back from Futurum alive.
Time is running out, and where they’re going, everything wants to kill, eat, or lay its eggs inside them. Possibly all three.
But Jacks’ greatest enemy just might be his own mind as the creeping malevolence of the planet worms its way in. As his reality fractures, he begins to question what the aliens really want, and whether this world will ever let it go.
For fans of Battle Royale and Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation, where the planet is more dangerous than the competitors.
“Atmospheric, Ominous, Malignant & Thrilling, Mercy’s Gate meshes horror with SF in a truly outstandingly creepy unsettling manner.” — Goodreads
“A book that reminds you that the universe is full of wonder, mystery and…terror.”— Martin Lejeune, author of the Pulsar Sky series
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2026
About the author
Nick Snape
30 books106 followersNick Snape has been steeped in Science Fiction and Fantasy since his friends first dragged him from his schoolwork and stuck a book under his nose. Lost to the world of imagination he became a teacher by accident though he thoroughly enjoyed developing the joy of reading and writing in his pupils. Having retired after thirty years he thought it was high time to practise what he preached.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 20, 2026
This was an action packed, fast paced, military sci-fi that I enjoyed immensely. The characters are solid and the overall setting is visceral, to say the least - lots of horror elements present. I have to say that this one does not reinforce my hopes for humankind in the future (continuing to screw each other over for a percentage...). If you like military sci-fi, or fast-paced sci-fi action stories, give this one a shot!
August 25, 2026
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A great performance!
Complete review to come soon.
A great performance!
Complete review to come soon.
September 6, 2026
Fun fast-paced sci-fi action-thriller with a focus on corporate greed, humanity in the aftermath of war, and a vengeful planet from where nobody returns alive.
Full review on my blog.
Full review on my blog.
September 8, 2026
I’ve just finished what will have to be one of my best reads of 2026
Mercy’s Gate is a vicious nerve shredding story that invades your brain and won’t let go.
If you love superbly written action rich sci-fi then Nick Snape is your man
Mercy’s Gate is a vicious nerve shredding story that invades your brain and won’t let go.
If you love superbly written action rich sci-fi then Nick Snape is your man
September 6, 2026
What a wild ride! A hostile alien planet takes on all-comers, & only the best survive - the story kicks off at pace and never lets up. Brilliant example of the heights indie writers can achieve. It’s the series opener so I look forward to more in the same vein.
August 30, 2026
Atmospheric, Ominous, Malignant & Thrilling, Mercy’s Gate meshes horror with SF in a truly outstandingly creepy unsettling manner
August 12, 2026
‘Pilot. Planetfall. And he was falling…’ – An engrossing sci-fi fantasy begins!
UK author Nick Snape has retired from teaching and devotes his acumen to creating fantasy science fiction: his excellent series to date include Weapons of Choice, The Wrecking Squad, Warriors of Spirit and Bone, The Scorching Standalones – and now he unveils his new series The Heartseed Chronicle with the bristling MERCY’S GATE. Opening with a telling moment that illustrates the author’s ability to establish immediate atmosphere well, Snape writes – ‘As if awoken from the bottomless pit of a stark but swiftly forgotten dream, he opened his eyes. Except this still had to be beyond reality. A hypno-induced dreamscape. Scent filled his nose, dense, pungent, tickling his senses with a deep earthy aroma. The source hovered above him, a branch, the bark like a lizard’s scales, straddled by a dry nest of tangled moss at the centre of which lay three purple…eggs? Spores, perhaps, or fruiting bodies. Yes, that was the term….’
This being the initial offering a ne series, Snapes provides a helpful synopsis: ‘‘This is Futurum, Death’s Hollow, and where Jacks is going, there is no mercy. Jacks, a corporate-owned mercenary, leads a skilled extraction squad. His goal is to buy out his lifetime contract by collecting whatever industrial secrets, agents, or turncoat executives AstEx Corp wants removed from under the noses of their main competitors. That is until the mission of a lifetime falls into his team’s lap, promising more money than they could possibly imagine. The target? An organic object known as the heartseed, prized by an alien race, that grows on a hostile planet. The remit? Four corporate squads all competing for the same target, and to the winners, exclusive access to alien technology. The catch? Six months, one hundred and fourteen teams of lost souls, ninety-three dropships, and the highest echelon of military technology, yet no one has ever come back from Futurum alive. Time is running out, and where they’re going, everything wants to kill, eat, or lay its eggs inside them. Possibly all three. But Jacks’ greatest enemy just might be his own mind as the creeping malevolence of the planet worms its way in. As his reality fractures, he begins to question what the aliens really want, and whether this world will ever let it go.’
In this absorbing series Snape successfully introduces a keen sense of realism with this knowledge of military action confronting alien technology, presented so naturally that the advanced sci-fi concepts appear wholly credible. He has created characters worthy of following in this stunning series. Very highly recommended
UK author Nick Snape has retired from teaching and devotes his acumen to creating fantasy science fiction: his excellent series to date include Weapons of Choice, The Wrecking Squad, Warriors of Spirit and Bone, The Scorching Standalones – and now he unveils his new series The Heartseed Chronicle with the bristling MERCY’S GATE. Opening with a telling moment that illustrates the author’s ability to establish immediate atmosphere well, Snape writes – ‘As if awoken from the bottomless pit of a stark but swiftly forgotten dream, he opened his eyes. Except this still had to be beyond reality. A hypno-induced dreamscape. Scent filled his nose, dense, pungent, tickling his senses with a deep earthy aroma. The source hovered above him, a branch, the bark like a lizard’s scales, straddled by a dry nest of tangled moss at the centre of which lay three purple…eggs? Spores, perhaps, or fruiting bodies. Yes, that was the term….’
This being the initial offering a ne series, Snapes provides a helpful synopsis: ‘‘This is Futurum, Death’s Hollow, and where Jacks is going, there is no mercy. Jacks, a corporate-owned mercenary, leads a skilled extraction squad. His goal is to buy out his lifetime contract by collecting whatever industrial secrets, agents, or turncoat executives AstEx Corp wants removed from under the noses of their main competitors. That is until the mission of a lifetime falls into his team’s lap, promising more money than they could possibly imagine. The target? An organic object known as the heartseed, prized by an alien race, that grows on a hostile planet. The remit? Four corporate squads all competing for the same target, and to the winners, exclusive access to alien technology. The catch? Six months, one hundred and fourteen teams of lost souls, ninety-three dropships, and the highest echelon of military technology, yet no one has ever come back from Futurum alive. Time is running out, and where they’re going, everything wants to kill, eat, or lay its eggs inside them. Possibly all three. But Jacks’ greatest enemy just might be his own mind as the creeping malevolence of the planet worms its way in. As his reality fractures, he begins to question what the aliens really want, and whether this world will ever let it go.’
In this absorbing series Snape successfully introduces a keen sense of realism with this knowledge of military action confronting alien technology, presented so naturally that the advanced sci-fi concepts appear wholly credible. He has created characters worthy of following in this stunning series. Very highly recommended
September 15, 2026
What an absolute page-turner! Mercy’s Gate is high-octane science fiction from start to finish, packed with action, tension, horror and just the right amount of mystery to keep me turning the pages.
The easiest way I can describe it is as a combination of Starship Troopers, Predator and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, thrown onto a hostile alien planet where absolutely everything seems determined to kill you, eat you, or use you as an incubator. Sometimes all three!
From the moment Jacks and his team escape Mars, I felt like I was right there with them. The characters were easy to get invested in, and I genuinely felt like a member of the team as they fought their way across Futurum and tried to make sense of what was happening around them. The constant sense of danger made every step of their journey feel like it could be their last.
The world-building is another real strength. Futurum is intricately constructed and wonderfully descriptive, giving me a vivid picture of the planet without ever becoming overwhelming. There is enough detail to make you feel completely planetside alongside the characters, while still keeping the story moving at a relentless pace.
And then there’s Jacks’ increasingly fractured reality, which adds another layer of intrigue and kept me questioning exactly what was happening and what the aliens truly wanted.
Nick Snape has definitely earned a place on my auto-read list with this one. Now I just have to wait patiently for the next installment of the Heartseed Chronicles!
The easiest way I can describe it is as a combination of Starship Troopers, Predator and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, thrown onto a hostile alien planet where absolutely everything seems determined to kill you, eat you, or use you as an incubator. Sometimes all three!
From the moment Jacks and his team escape Mars, I felt like I was right there with them. The characters were easy to get invested in, and I genuinely felt like a member of the team as they fought their way across Futurum and tried to make sense of what was happening around them. The constant sense of danger made every step of their journey feel like it could be their last.
The world-building is another real strength. Futurum is intricately constructed and wonderfully descriptive, giving me a vivid picture of the planet without ever becoming overwhelming. There is enough detail to make you feel completely planetside alongside the characters, while still keeping the story moving at a relentless pace.
And then there’s Jacks’ increasingly fractured reality, which adds another layer of intrigue and kept me questioning exactly what was happening and what the aliens truly wanted.
Nick Snape has definitely earned a place on my auto-read list with this one. Now I just have to wait patiently for the next installment of the Heartseed Chronicles!
August 17, 2026
Yet another intense and gripping tale from the unstoppable mind of Nick Snape! The detailing behind the new worlds he creates simply gets better and better with each new book. Mercy's Gate is the start of another series, where we get an eye-opening and immersive dive of the hostile planet Futurum.
We follow corporate-owned mercenary, Jacks, and his specialised team who are sent to a far-flung planet to procure an organic matter called the heartseed - coveted by an alien race who have hired corporations and their teams to retrieve it. Yet none have succeeded, or returned alive.
Facing unsurmountable odds, the biological lifeforms of the planet are intent on removing Jacks and his team. From monkey-like creatures, aggressive plant matter to giant worm-like behemoths, Futurum is a veritable nightmare. Like an adrenaline-rushed quest, the visceral images were realistic and heart-pounding, the odds confounding, and the ending, satisfying. I cannot wait for the next in the series to see what more is in store for Jacks and his team.
We follow corporate-owned mercenary, Jacks, and his specialised team who are sent to a far-flung planet to procure an organic matter called the heartseed - coveted by an alien race who have hired corporations and their teams to retrieve it. Yet none have succeeded, or returned alive.
Facing unsurmountable odds, the biological lifeforms of the planet are intent on removing Jacks and his team. From monkey-like creatures, aggressive plant matter to giant worm-like behemoths, Futurum is a veritable nightmare. Like an adrenaline-rushed quest, the visceral images were realistic and heart-pounding, the odds confounding, and the ending, satisfying. I cannot wait for the next in the series to see what more is in store for Jacks and his team.
November 6, 2026
I have the fortune of coming in as the author is developing their forn and their writing is evolving.
The characters are different and more nianced thst his Wreckijg Squad series, showing depth and intriguong back stories
The plot is thin, bit the wriing keeps inteeesr and the dialog is well written.
Its pretty clear the author read the Harry Harrison Deathworld series. The planet its cmystery and how it operstes is directly from it. Even the equip and ways characters prepare are sinilar. The Flora and Fauna are more lurid, bit the corepremis is the same
The language conparing it to a more recent science fiction series is...well...a lie Its Deathworld, but a little more.
The author has evolved from the monsters in a closed space stories that are the first Wreckibg Squad stories which is a good thing.
The pacing is problenati c it takes too long to get throigh an event. Other thab that its fine.
The characters are different and more nianced thst his Wreckijg Squad series, showing depth and intriguong back stories
The plot is thin, bit the wriing keeps inteeesr and the dialog is well written.
Its pretty clear the author read the Harry Harrison Deathworld series. The planet its cmystery and how it operstes is directly from it. Even the equip and ways characters prepare are sinilar. The Flora and Fauna are more lurid, bit the corepremis is the same
The language conparing it to a more recent science fiction series is...well...a lie Its Deathworld, but a little more.
The author has evolved from the monsters in a closed space stories that are the first Wreckibg Squad stories which is a good thing.
The pacing is problenati c it takes too long to get throigh an event. Other thab that its fine.
August 27, 2026
The book hook me from the start. the fast pase action. I hade little hard with the writing stile (it may for my last to books was young adult. I will read book 2 and may tray to reread then
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews