Breakout:

Space Outlaw #1

by Dominique Mondesir

Locked away with the scum of the galaxy! Phoenix Jones is having a bad week. Looking for a major payoff to save his brother and sister, he needs money and fast. But when his imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit and shipped lightyears away from family that need him the most, his options are taken from him one by one. Now locked away in a prison where the vilest and most dangerous reside, hope looks bleak. He needs help and he needs it fast. But can he rely on the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy, a crazed scientist, a plucky engineer and a backstabbing thief, to get the job done? There’s only one way to find out, but is he willing to bet his life on it? What people are saying about (Space Outlaw 1):
Thug, ruffian, ex-military smartass meets intergalactic awakening. Humour and sarcasm abound while you figure out what the hell is going on. A good read that keeps you laughing and wondering what'll happen next.
Unique story that starts off with a very plausible alien encounter. Unique characters that you learned to love and distrust, making the story personal. The series was great, the goal Noble, in the end there was a twist, I'll only say that the right person ended it. If you love science fiction this is a fantastic story. I'm looking forward to 4,5 and 6.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 18, 2017

About the author

Dominique Mondesir has always wanted to be a writer since the age of sixteen. He could remember reading the hobbit and Harry Potter late at night and thinking, I could do that. More than ten years later and he has.
His first book Origins (Fallen Angels) was published September 2015, with three more so far released.
He lives in England with his girlfriend and cat and hopes to travel the world before he gets to old.

Reviews

[Heike]

This was probably one of the worst written attempts for a space opera I have ever (tried to) read. Except the ridiculously stereotyped characters it was like walking blindfolded through a scenery, just getting a glimpse here and there. There was absolutely NO description of surroundings except "I am tied to a chair. In a spaceship." (even the spaceship part had to be assumed).
Then there was this Redhead Woman. And then she was gone. Puff.
Then that alien who had to talk to him real quick, no time to waste! Except that they spend several days alone on this spaceship, not talking after a couple of sentences exchanged. The MC did not eat, pee or shit for that matter during this time either, he was just tied to the chair.
This was BAD.

[Cherri-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will escape. 5 HANDY FORKS

Have you lost your senses, Earth man? You are a long way from home. Turn your head and look outside that portal. you are being taken to Dredar. It is a place of no return. It is what you humans would call prison. WOOOOWEEE! WHAT A TRULY SPACETACULAR BREAKOUT OF A RUSH AND A HALF!! I ABSO-FLARING-LUTELY love, Love, LOVE this book!! Right from the start you realize that Phoenix isn't your typical "hero", I mean, come on, he's holding up a small store, for *beep* sakes! But like most great books, you realize that everything is not as it appears, and before you know it you are halfway through the story, hanging onto every word, rooting for Phoenix and thoroughly & immensely enjoying every little bit of it! Except the zapping...or the p..a..i... Well, you'll see & understand when you get to that part! wink I love how the story is told, the way that we don't discover all of the secrets, how Phoenix's past - recent & growing up - is still being revealed at the end, and how Dom doesn't only shy away from having a flawed character take lead, but had me rooting for and really liking Phoenix through it all! I think it’s safe to say that I giggled, chuckled & outright laughed just as much as I gasped, cringed, held my breath, fretted & panicked! I may have even cried a time or two. Dominique has that perfect blend of humor, seriousness, action, "downtime" and most every other quality & quantity that keeps the story flowing, the reader engaged, cursing when they have to put the book down for "real life" moments, and eagerly ( & impatiently) anticipating – CRAVING - the next Space Outlaw fix! I love how greatly & perfectly detailed everything is! From the storylines & storytelling, the humorous dialog & descriptions that bring it all to life, to the numerous & varied species, including the "core" cast of well-developed, complex characters, and more! I think the author did a beautiful job with it all because it enhances, enriches and adds depth to the story without detracting from it in any way! I was instantly captivated, intrigued and BEYOND excited to tag along with Phoenix, to live his first space "adventure" with, through & as him, even if he does tend to speak long before he thinks!! LOL Dominique is one astronomically talented author who has created one helluva sci-fi series for the masses! This isn't one of those that is heavy on the "science" part, nor the technicalities of everything. It is a semi-lighter, humorous, character driven story that most everyone can read & enjoy right from the start, and it only gets better & better the more you read! “I need to know everything there is to know about Phoenix Jones. His journey couldn't end here. Not yet, not now.”

[Erin Penn · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 5% (chapter one and two were read)

One star for me is an unreadable book or has something damaging to society - basically the book shouldn't exist. As far as I got, this book is okay and doesn't deserve my one-star rating.

The problem from an editing point of view - the story starts at the wrong place, in two different ways.

First, and most obviously, is the book is sold as a prison's breakout story. Phoenix is in jail "for a crime he didn't commit" says the blurb. The book starts with him committing a crime - several in fact, and chases after him following this. The book should have started with him in jail. That should be the "status quo" the book builds from.

It doesn't help the crime, the run, and the aftermath, are all predictable and common. Since this book has the genre expectation of "space outlaw" - ie, science fiction - in its billing. The crimes should have given us a flavor of science fiction and there is nothings but blah. Like a book on romance should starting giving us romance on the first page or at least the first chapter, same with science fiction should be doing science fiction things. And it is not. Maybe if it started at the prison, sci-fi would have been on the "screen" sooner?

Second, the character started doing unforgiveable things before we liked, or at least developed sympathy/identified with, him. The five options of connection are: sympathy, jeopardy, likability, power, humor. Instead we see him demanding a volume change from his ride, then breaking the radio. Next him committing a crime - then beating the person being robbed, threatening the life.

After that, the options of connections are done - sympathy/humor with the dogs and constant "bad luck", the likability at the restaurant, the jeopardy with the cops. Yes, the robbery and the breaking of the radio show "power", but it isn't power we want and covet - but an abuse of power. Abusing the power would have been fine AFTER we become "pals" with the point-of-view character. People love bad guys being bad, but it is like an abusive relationship, they have to sneak into our hearts first and we start gaslighting ourselves about how they aren't THAT bad - sure he flew up and dropped the hero a mile onto concrete, but remember in chapter one where him flew to help his mom when she got locked out of her house - he is good underneath all that.

Since I didn't like the character, didn't see the jail or breakout, and got no science fiction goodness. I stopped.

(Read through Kindle Unlimited)

[Natasha TerMaat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so let me start by saying sci-fi is no it my go type of read. I generally cant get into them. Unless its romance based. This is obviously not that!
I loved it though! which is a first for me! This story is action packed!
From start to finish! Loved phenonix! Hes hilarious at times with his witty retorts, he's a strong characters that is protective and caring.... Can feel the love he has for his sick little brother and sister.so much so tht he has done alot of criminal activity trying to pay to get them better! This definitely gets him in trouble and messes with a powerful family.He's sent to a prison in space for alien/species to live a life sentence. You can guess tht prison houses alot of bad ppl. On the way to the prison, phenonix is given a message to give to another inmate. This is where his journey truley begins in the story on his mission to get back to earth to Save his siblings! You'll have to read to find out! Its One Hell Of A Ride

[Ken Finlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Breakout”, first in the 'Space Outlaw' series is, quite simply, Space Opera.
And I am a sucker for the genre.
The writing may be rough but the action is pretty much constant and a wisecracking hero, Phoenix Jones, adds to the fun.
Phoenix needs money so his much younger siblings receive expert medical treatment.
He robs a local gangster – that's when his troubles begin.
Celebrating his success he wounds a meddling drunken idiot … who just happens to be a member of one of the most powerful families in the galaxy.
He's soon on his way to a prison ship for life.
It's every man (and alien) for himself or herself as they fight to survive.
But Phoenix is determined to escape and, despite the dangers and ordeals he faces at the hands of the inmates, the malicious second-in-command Shanks and the downright evil Warden, he slowly assembles a team.
It's great fun – I reead it in a single sitting.
3.5 Stars, raised to 4 Stars.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dominique Mondesir’s Breakout (Space Outlaw, Book 1) is a truly fun sci-fi tale that had me break out laughing at times but always kept me interested. Phoenix Jones is a great leading character and his supporting crew, “the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy, a crazed scientist, a plucky engineer and a backstabbing thief” are a total riot. This is a well done story that’s a real pleasure to read. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on with praises. The book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, and it is easy to recommend. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Scott Vout · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this as an add on FaceBook and it was billed as a space opera in the fashion of Firefly.

Well I love Firefly so here we go. This aint no Firefly.
It is a fun story with a couple of interesting characters. The action is hard and heavy with some quality kills per minute in the main battle scene. There is a good bit of sarcastic humour which i guess could be considered Malcolm Reynolds ish.

This is book one of a series, and it was enjoyable enough to give book two a read after a get a few more books off the pile but my leash will be short on this one.

[Jeff Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the risks of a "this-meets-that" comparison in the book description is readers won't be familiar with the properties you're comparing. Another risk is that they are familiar and their expectations are set sky-high. This book was a case of the latter. "Firefly," "Guardians of the Galaxy," and "Star Wars" are some of my favorite properties ("A-Team" not so much) and claiming that a book hits all those marks is a tall order. One that this book, unfortunately, fell short on. It was a serviceable story, but didn't meet expectations the way it was advertised.

[Chrissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the beginning a little slow, but once through that, I devoured this book.
The author has created a fantastic cast of characters, with humour and snark not often see in these types of books. The world building is great and the storyline moves fairly swiftly, once past the slow beginning.
I love that this isn’t tech spec heavy, but rather relies on the strengths and interactions of the characters to drive the story.
Definitely want to read more!

[Ed · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very unrealistic and sophomoric attempt. The dialog is almost childish and shallow. The main character gets almost beat or tortured to death at least 5 times in the first third of the book. Of course there is a robot who can bring him back to full health in no time. The fight scenes are comical. This author has never had a fight or seen the result of a real physical beating. And the martial arts is ubiquitous yet amateurish.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phoenix Jones has found out the hard way that aliens exist and are on Earth and never upset them. Marooned in a space ship prison, he must make friends fast, in order to escape back to Earth, to save his family and the planet. Good book and start to a series, with interesting characters to build on. Seems to be a similar environment/format to the Omega Force series.

[Carl Berger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much unnecessary violence and gore. Otherwise good story.

Good story but with excellent problem solving. Unfortunately almost completely hidden by gratuitous violence and gore. Hope the next in the series will tone it down.

[Eric Prater]

Great read! I

I liked this book, well written, lots of prison time here, bad guys get what they deserve! I'm looking forward to the dequel!

[S D Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent start to a new series.

[cris vaiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was very good. The pace of each chapters were all well done.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple easy read from the point of view of a clueless human. Nice story. Predictable.

[Bill Rathbone · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author does not have mastery of English. The book is awkward and childish.