Wayward Saint: Mission 1

Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire #1

by J.S. Morin

The galaxy’s worst bounty hunter just might be its most relentless hero.

Esper may dress the part. She has her own ship. She even carries a blaster—not that she ever uses it.

But she violates the cardinal rule of the galaxy’s most cold-blooded get paid.

At least she's not alone. Her partner Kubu is an alien who gets mistaken for a dog.

One is a wizard on the run from her past. The other is a lovable eating machine. Between them, they haven’t got a ruthless bone in their bodies.

But when a client hires them, they’ll do whatever it takes to bring a target home safely.

This time, it’s a teenage kidnapping victim, and Esper and Kubu will crisscross the galaxy to track her down and make sure she’s safe.

Wayward Saint is the first mission of Black Mercy for Hire. It follows the exploits of a pair of do-gooder bounty hunters who care more about saving the day than getting a payday. Mercy for Hire builds on the rich Black Ocean universe and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series.

Grab your copy and support the cause of justice.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Audiobook, Adventure, Magic, Action

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 18, 2018

About the author

I am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.

Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.

I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.

My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.

Reviews

[☆Kylie☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so much fun, I have all the 16 missions on audible and I'm loving it.
Imagine being a for hire mercenary but you actually save people from themselves... That's the whole idea behind this book.
Esper is such a smart and resilient girl.
This book is amazing to read in between books, when you're still trying to find your next read or you just finished a brutally big book and need something small to decompress!

[David Firmage · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Esper and Kubu are not my favourite Black Ocean characters but I certainly warmed to the story throughout the book.

[Vakaris the Nosferatu · Rating 3 out of 5]

all reviews in one place:
night mode reading ;
skaitom nakties rezimu

About: Esper is a very bad bounty hunter. After a very traumatic childhood, she went ahead to a monastery or something, and learned herself some magic. Doing so she decided she wants to help people. And is doing exactly that, even while not being a good bounty hunter.

Her current task is a teenager whom both her parents seek separately. Esper is hired by the mother, seemingly a far better choice, for her father is a known vicious gangster. But the kid doesn’t want to be caught and taken back. She keeps escaping, choosing life in boxes, dark alleys, over, what, a loving mother? Story becomes ever clearer as Esper is doing her best to catch up with the girl. Neither of the parents is a saint, and it’s all a question of who is the lesser evil here.

Mine: Plastic surgery is beyond norm here. Mothers are all vicious and jealous of their daughters, doing their best to be more sexy than them. Sex is a great driving force, whether women want it or not. And lucky for me, there was no sex in this book, for I’m not sure I’d like it in such a concept. Characters were sadly pretty darn dull, lacking personality, and following a trope pattern. Possibly not an intended one, but hey, still a present one. The story didn’t redeem anything either, as is common with poorly written characters. But the silver lining remains in general concept of the book. I do believe author has plenty of potential, and it’s only a matter of time, and possibly a better editor, until we get a very fine cup of tea in a book form.

Speaking of which, this was not my cup of tea. I can only give a 3 out of 5, yet will add, that the story was short and light, and reads about the same way as a sci-fi cartoon would, with no overbearing information, common in sci-fi books.

[Dale Russell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The life of a Mercenary for Hire - a FIXER so to speak - in the BLACK OCEAN can tend to be a little problematic. It's not as if you can advertise. Word of mouth tends to be either effusive praise from those you have helped (if you do your job right), or just as effusive hate and anger (hey...they don't know you!!). Everyone looks at you as if your after them and law enforcement would be just as happy to incarcerate YOU!!! Combine that with the fact that you look like you just stepped out of an upscale House of Pleasure and making it to the next day can be...tough.

But, Esper Richelieu has decided she needed to make a change in her life. Leaving her "Family" behind was tough but she simply couldn't go on being the personal star-drive and "You break it, I fix it!" member of the crew of the Mobius. Her powers as a wizard are strong and growing stronger every day. And she wants to do some good with those abilities...as long as the good helps and does not harm.

So, Esper finds herself taking on a mission to find and bring home a wayward teen-ager, returning her to her "loving" mother. But, what seems to be a simple mission soon turns into a chase across multiple star systems while confronting professional acquisition experts and actual pirates...I mean "space pirates!!!" Soon the mission turns from recovery and return to rescue and liberate.

And...finding a new member of her expanding family.

With the publication of WAYWARD SAINT, Jeff Morin kicks off his 3rd series of stories that take place in the BLACK OCEAN. Morin continues to expand the adventures of those characters that were introduced in BLACK OCEAN OUTLAWS in this case giving newly minted wizard Esper Richelieu and undoubted fan favorite Kubu, a sentient who looks like not more than a 9-ton, almost big as a cement truck, canine who is an endearing presence and the source of much of the humor and emotional warm fuzzies found throughout the books.

New readers to the BLACK OCEAN can very easily jump in to that universe here and very easily grasp and understand the basics. But, once dipping your toe into the depths of the BLACK OCEAN, I'm fairly sure you're going to want more.

[Russell Wardle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy j.s. morin books there are a fun read with good characters and lots of laughs

[Isabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining. A female all powerful but humble and very kind wizard mercenary in a sci-fi world.

[The Mysterious Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I should’ve been more prepared. I mean I’ve read all of J.S. Morin’s marvelous Black Ocean: Astral Prime stories that have been published, so I know just what a wonderfully complex yet genuine multi-species universe the author has created. And I’ve read other series by this author, so I know he has the “chops” (skill set) to write great science fiction. I should’ve been prepared but nope, Wayward Saint (Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire Book 1) still managed to blow me away. Read the publisher’s blurb. If it is even remotely appealing to you then prepared to be gob-smocked (yes, that’s a wonderful thing) reading the actual book. Esper and Kubu are new favorite characters. I don’t even know which one I adore more. I’ll need to think on that ... just as soon as I get past my current post-reading bliss. Yes indeed. Frankly, but for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review my husband from my hospital bed, I could go on and 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. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

Oh yes, in case you didn’t guess it by now: highly recommended.

[Niall Teasdale · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, it's short and cheap. I enjoyed bits of it. There were bits I'd have liked to enjoy more but they weren't fleshed out enough. The exciting bits are just kind of... not that exciting and the world-building has already happened elsewhere.

Fundamentally, the problem here is that this isn't a book for people to start with. You get a taste of the setting. If I'd have started with the original Black Ocean series, I think I'd have got more setting and I'd have a better idea of the characters. I actually picked up this book because I saw the covers for the series on ArtStation. 'Looks interesting,' I thought, and I'm probably right, if I want to go back and read all the other books before moving on.

So, good for people who have already read the Black Ocean books. Not so good for those who haven't.

[Michael Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I was in high school, I have enjoyed the idea of combining science fiction and fantasy. (You've got mystical powers in my spaceship! Well you've got lasers shooting at my wizards! (wait a minute - is that a description of Star Wars?) So when I first saw J. S. Morin's Black Ocean series I was intrigued. However once I started reading it, I was hooked.

Now he begins a new series, set in the same universe, a sequel to the first. Taking two of the most intriguing characters and giving them their own shot at adventure. So, like any first, this is a great jumping on spot. Or a spot to continue if you have read all the Black Ocean series.

Not quite a good place to jump in if you have only read part of Black Ocean, which unfortunately is where I am (currently "paused" (real life seems to get in the way some times) between books 11 and 12 (and just discovered that there are four more as well)). As such I know these characters, but not quite how they ended up where they are.

Esper is a wizard "innnnnn space" (ok, my muppets "pigs in space" sound effect was much better in my head than written out). In the Black Ocean universe, wizards have the ability to tell reality to what to do, sometimes nicely, other times a bit more forcefully. This tends to get in the way of science based tech however, as when you tell one law of science to shit down and shut up, the other laws around it tend to listen a bit too much as well. A very interesting take on magic, and one I quite enjoy as an alternative to spells or magical items. Esper's back story is hinted at enough to interest the new reader, but not so much as to recap what old readers already know.

Kubu is NOT a dog, in much the same way that a Lion or Tiger is NOT a cat. He was one of my favorite characters in the Black Ocean series, and watching him grow (both figuratively and literally) has been a lot of fun. Not only is he getting bigger, but smarter as well (he is still quite young you know), and coming into his own as a full, rich character. I really look forward to seeing where he goes not as Esper's pet or even companion, but as her partner. (I can even see the idea of him taking center stage for a story).

While this isn't the strongest story, it is much like the first episode of a well written television show. My wife didn't care much for the first episode of "Breaking Bad", but by the third she was hooked. I like this analogy, because Morin's writing is extremely cinematic. While reading his books, it often feels more like I am watching a great space opera (kind of Firefly with magic). While many authors have engrossed me in their worlds, rarely have I had one paint such a vivid verbal portrait that I can practically watch it in my mind as I read. And much like a great show, I want to get to the next episode and don't want them to end. And while it isn't (yet) possible to binge-read the Mercy for Hire series (since there is only the one book out so far), I enjoyed it enough to already pre-order the next three books, as well as complete my collection (if you can call it that on a Kindle) of the original series as well as the first spin-off series (Atral Prime, co written with M. A. Larkin (which appears, for Star Trek fans, to be the Deep Space Nine to Black Oceans Next Generation).

I am looking forward to more adventures of Esper and Kubu, and whether you are a long time fan or someone who is dipping their toe into the Black Ocean for the first time, Wayward Saint is a great place to jump in.

[Frank Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently dipped my toe into the Black Ocean with Salvage Trouble, and enjoyed it a lot, so I thought I’d try one of Morin’s more recent series to see how things have developed. There are usually two possibilities when an author expands a story into a series: things either deteriorate into cookie-cutter sequels or blossom into a richer world and a more diverse set of characters. I am happy to report that this book sits firmly in the second category.

Esper, the self-taught religious healer with a complicated past from the first book has learned more magic and grown into a capable and confident woman, but kept her moral compass. She has also taken up work as a mercenary bounty hunter, which she struggles to manage without all the gratuitous killing which might be assumed from the role. Along for the ride is Kuba, an enthusiastic and continually hungry alien who, for convenience, looks like a talking dog.

In this story, Esper and Kuba find themselves in the middle of a high-stakes custody battle as an ex pirate and a washed-up diva tussle over their bitter teenage daughter. The action hops from planet to planet and we get snapshots of what seems a complex and detailed universe. Each place has its own flavour and with each change of scene we learn a bit more about Esper and Kuba, as well as Tiffany the rogue daughter and Odin her father’s tenacious henchman.

Although this is an offshoot from an established series, it doesn’t require any prior knowledge of the background. Enough backstory is dropped in as the story progresses to give you a good feel for the characters and the universe by the end. The book makes a good entry point to the wider Black Ocean universe.

The only thing that snagged me was the name of the main character. I’m old enough to remember the 1970's sci-fi tropes, in which “esper” was always used as a description of someone with psychic powers, a practitioner of Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP), and it continued to feel odd every time I read the name. I guess that as I read more of this series, I will probably get more used to it.

[Mervi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esper Richfield is a wizard and a bounty hunter/mercenary. However, she’s not the ruthless or money-hungry type. Instead, she wants to make the galaxy a better place. Her partner Kubu agrees. Kubu is an alien who looks like a dog. He’s also quite young and sometimes naive about humans. He’s also constantly hungry.

Her current mission is to find a runaway teenage girl, Tiffany St. Cloud. Her parents are separated. Her mother sent Esper and her father, a gangster, his right-hand man. Tiffany doesn’t want to return to either of them. In fact, she runs away from Esper, as well. Soon, Esper realizes that the mother isn’t a saint, either (sorry, couldn’t resist), so Esper has difficult choices to make.

The setting is a science fiction with spaceships and blasters. Esper was born on Mars. The setting has also several intelligent alien species but we only get to know Kubu. Interestingly enough, the setting doesn’t seem to have a universal translator. Instead, the characters speak different languages.

Esper’s magical abilities make her a formidable close-combat fighter. She can also persuade the universe to see things her way, for example, by opening locks or changing material from one to another. She has a traumatic past and Tiffany’s situation forces Esper to confront her feelings about her abusive mother. She’s not good with tech but this brings mostly humor to the story.

Kubu also brings humor to the story. He has sometimes difficulty understanding what people say, is hungry, and smells things a lot better than humans. Humans mistake him for a dog all the time and Esper even keeps him on a leash in cities.

This was a good series opening. I enjoyed both Esper and Kubu. Tiffany got a bit on my nerves at first but later we got to understand her more.

Apparently, the two main characters are from Morin’s other series. I didn’t have a problem understanding them, but there are, of course, some references to Esper’s previous experiences. I bought an omnibus edition that has 16 missions. I’m already listening to the next one.

[Derek Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, the characters, the lore, the magic, and the settings of this book. I found it well fleshed out and was very pulled into the plights of the characters. My heart was pulled one direction and then another pretty quickly which is something I enjoy in a story. To give me perspective that encapsulates the full cast and desires rather than just one entity and the flawed storytelling that could come of that.

It's a quick read, but Morin does a really great job solidifying the characters quickly and getting you into their thoughts and desires as well. One of my favorite things about any book.

My biggest beef with these stories are the flagrant language that comes with them. While it can be brushed past, there are times it is difficult. I can see why it was used and who used it. The 'real' world is the real world. I like when author create new curses that mean nothing to real world, but something in theirs. It creates a layer of development and takes away the harshness of our world. Which I prefer in a story. This could be said of any story that had course language though so if that has not bother to you or you can brush it aside as I often do; you will enjoy this story.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second spin-off of the Black Ocean series, and you might want to read at least a couple of missions in the original series to get a feeling for the world and the main characters, Esper and Kubu.

To be honest, I was surprised at how much I liked this book. It had been a while since I read the Black Ocean series, and for whatever reason I hadn't read beyond mission 8. And from what I remembered about Esper and Kubu, her Goody-Two-Shoeism and his very child-like manner (especially the baby talk) had kind of grated on me towards the end.

But a lot has happened in the Black Ocean between where I left off and where Wayward Saint starts (there may be some spoilers for the original series), Esper and Kubu have both grown up, so to speak, so I was pleased to have my prejudice against those two proven wrong. :)

TL;DR: Wayward Saint is a fun romp mostly for fans of the original series.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thoroughly pleasant read. I really enjoyed it. So, why three stars? I can only think of a few people who would enjoy this as much as I did. It's caught between YA fiction and more mature fare. It's also a bit like Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy but with a good heart; it's too kind to be too irreverent but I loved that it had a moral core. Once again, I really liked it, but J.S. Morin reminds me of Matin Millar. I love his work, but I'm one of few. If you are serious about Dune-esque sci-fi world building, or are looking for huge laughs at the expense of any moral core, this book might disappoint; if you like amiable characters instead of ponderous attempts to create completely new worlds and slight smiles in well-crafted stories instead of a book that will stop at nothing for a laugh, than this is for you. I wrote the same thing about Good Omens, so maybe there are more of us out there than I realize.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fast and fun read! I couldn't wait to dive into this new series starring Esper as a bounty hunter with Kubu as a sidekick.

I surely was not disappointed. I literally could not put this book down until I was finished.

I know what you're thinking...meek, prim, proper Esper as a bounty hunter? Yep. It works. And she can kick ass when needed. She still needs to work on standing up to her clients but I think she will be just fine.

There were also some surprise visitors towards the end of the book. Look forward to that and hopefully we will get to see more in the future. Until then, I'm overjoyed reading about two of my favorite characters. Esper and Kubu. What a great team!

Special thanks to J. S. Morin for the advanced reader's copy. In return, I offer this completely unbiased review.

[Adam K · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3

This was a fine story introducing Esper and Kubu's new life as mercenaries. In some ways, I guess this path makes a lot of sense for Esper. Though she didn't really interest me that much as a character, her journey to become a wizard in the original Black Ocean series was fun to follow.

In this story, Esper has taken on the job of bringing a runaway girl back to her mother. The problem is, the girl's father is also looking for her. Hijinks ensue. It's entertaining enough and provides us with some insight to the direction that Esper's own series will be taking. Personally, though it was a fine diversion, I'm not 100% sure there will be enough to keep my attention for 16 stories. They're so quick and easy to get through, though, that I might just give it a shot anyway.

[Troy Frette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esper and Kubu are the most interesting mercenaries I’ve come across in a while. They’ve got big hearts and an unconventional approach. Yet there is much more to meets the eye than just a pretty girl and her dog. Instead of guns and explosives, Esper and Kubu rely on their wits, some magic, and sheer determination to get the job done.

The story is clever and moves quickly, and the characters are interesting and nuanced. Its definitely a fast read and I’m very much looking forward to the next installment.

I originally read the Black Ocean Mission Pack 1, and found this story easy to follow. As a spin-off, the background of the technology, magic, and culture isn’t very well explained, but I think a reader will be happy with this story if they’re not familiar to the setting.

[Brett Wickersham · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who have read other books in the Black Ocean series, "Wayward Saint" will seem like familiar territory. The universe is the same one you have read about in the past. Some of the characters are familiar faces. And the main character is everyone's favorite wayward priestess, Esper. In this book we find her trying a new role in life, a for-hire mercenary, but only of cases she is comfortable taking. She has been hired to bring a runaway 16 year old home to her mother, however the runaway's father has sent his own hired help, to bring her to him. This ends up becoming a cat-and-mouse chase across several planets, with twists turns and quips that you would expect from this series. For sure this is a ride that will leave you wanting some more.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A merc for hire who leads with her heart and doesn’t worry about the money she’s supposed to be earning, Esper is a wizard on a mission to return a kidnapped teenage girl to her mother. She’s assisted by her partner Kubu, an alien canid who is incognito as a dog (who talks). Apparently this is a spin off of another series, but I had no problem following the story, although now I want to go and read that series too. I loved the characters and the sense of justice and doing the right thing that Esper follows, however that needs to happen. This start to the Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire series was a lot of fun and I look forward to reading more, in addition to more of the previous works by this author.

[Wayne Scace · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** SPOILER ALERT ****
In "Wayward Saint: Black Ocean: Mercy For Hire Mission 1" Morin kicks off a new series in the "Black Ocean" universe with an entertaining tale featuring Esper and Kubu.
The author does a superb job of world building and character development while also doing a bang up job of balancing action and exposition.
I devoured this page turner quicker than Kubu snarfs down three kilograms of diner bacon.
This book is an interesting hybrid of the Science Fiction, fantasy, and supernatural genres. I highly reccomend this book.
In the interest of transparency: I was given a review copy of this book and I am voluntarily sharing this review.
It is my own honest opinion.

[Biana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun! I think I will keep this author around...it was just what I needed. Something fun, light and quick to read.

The title character is a clever combination of hunter, nun, fighter, and warrior for justice. She befriends a strange and young companion that has me asking for more information! And maybe a picture. The Job...return a runaway to her parents. But no story is that straightforward and I was a big invested in the outcome.

The shortness of the book was actually a plus in this case. I just wanted to take my mind away from the heavy book that was clogging my flow. This was it! Like cool lemonade on a hot summer day.

[Faith Hakimian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story. I think I like it even more than the original Black Ocean stories... and I wasn't expecting that. The story was tight and enjoyable, and it built even more on the characters that I already loved. Esper and Kubu as partners is a stroke of brilliance, and this coming from someone who thought that Mriy and him were the best together. This contains everything that made me fall in love with these characters in the first place, and it's all wrapped up in a kick-ass story beside. Keep writing. Please keep writing. I love this so much.

[Tracy O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t realize this was a spinoff series when I picked up the audiobook in my “I have two days to cancel my Audible subscription” omnibus spree—but I don’t know that recognizing the characters who show up in the final chapter would have improved my experience that much.

Reads like a sidequest fanfic from a property I don’t know, with no worldbuilding to speak of and a plot that seems to exist only to allow the two main characters to quip at each other, interrupted by a truly horrific childhood trauma dump that felt out of step with the tone of the rest of the novel.

[Maren · Rating 1 out of 5]

It tries to be an edgy futuristic sci fi, but it comes off as childish and immature YA that takes place in the future. There's potential, but the characters are stereotypical Mary Sue or Boringly Evil Bad Guys, and the dialogue is sub-par and juvenile.

Additionally, I'm no prude and will nod respectively at a well placed "Fuck!", but when you use it every few words in an effort to sound tough, I can't help but take your IQ down a point for every unnecessary expletive.

[C.A. Knutsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun blend of sci-fi and fantasy

It was a little vague getting started, but the story begin to take on shape as the book went on, and it finished very well. I liked the heroine Esper. She is a powerful wizard as well as an accomplished martial arts expert. She uses both skills with restraint until she understands what is going on, and then cleverly employs them as needed.

[Lee Piner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm glad to see the Esper character get continued life, but this was a little hard to read. The suffering of the young girl as she was returned to her father made me uncomfortable. The resolution left me dissatisfied. I feel like it was just an excuse to continue the Black Ocean series. I'm glad I read it but not sure yet whether to continue the Mercy for Hire series.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was fun returning to Morin's universe. The mixture of magic and sci-fi is great, and I enjoy Esper and Kubo. It was like a fun family reunion after reading the original series by Morin. If you liked the other series, you'll enjoy this one. If you haven't read the others he does enough quick summaries to give you a solid grasp of the backstory. Fun read!

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting world, set in the future with both advanced science and magic. The characters are very colorful and the plot was creative. It dealt with the dark side of society so had very adult themes, but didn't go all the way over the line into explicit descriptions of the dark stuff.

I'll check out the next book. This series has potential.

[Lisa K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun read from J.S. Morin.

Black Ocean spin-off follows Esper and Kubu as they attempt to bring in their 16yr old bounty. But they aren't the only ones after her!

Fast paced chases and ethical dilemmas. And a hungry non-dog!

Looking forward to the next episode : )

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25