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Four Horsemen Tales #9
Hunter
Within the Galactic Union, few entities are as powerful—or as feared—as the Mercenary Guild. They have absolute power; after all, they are the ones with the weapons. The only other armed agency, the Peacemaker Guild, is far smaller and unable to bend them to their will. But absolute power has the tendency to corrupt absolutely, and this is becoming increasingly apparent as the guild’s members pursue their hidden agendas.
Leeto, the Merc Guild’s Speaker, and the Veetanho General Peepo are no different than the rank and file. They will use any means necessary—within the law or not—to accomplish their goal of destroying humanity. With the invasion of Earth already complete, a single compliant Hunter could be the Guild’s perfect weapon to finally accomplish their goals.
Except that Hunters aren’t known for their compliance.
Sparks are sure to fly as the unstoppable force of the Mercenary Guild comes up against the immovable object that is the will of the galaxy’s deadliest assassins. Guns in the light battle knives in the dark as the Mercenary Guild takes on the Depik Hunters, and only one will emerge victorious. Who will survive to kill another day?
Leeto, the Merc Guild’s Speaker, and the Veetanho General Peepo are no different than the rank and file. They will use any means necessary—within the law or not—to accomplish their goal of destroying humanity. With the invasion of Earth already complete, a single compliant Hunter could be the Guild’s perfect weapon to finally accomplish their goals.
Except that Hunters aren’t known for their compliance.
Sparks are sure to fly as the unstoppable force of the Mercenary Guild comes up against the immovable object that is the will of the galaxy’s deadliest assassins. Guns in the light battle knives in the dark as the Mercenary Guild takes on the Depik Hunters, and only one will emerge victorious. Who will survive to kill another day?
- GenresScience Fiction
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2019
148 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Kacey Ezell
82 books107 followersKacey Ezell was born in South Dakota in 1977. Her parents joined the US Air Force in 1984, and she grew up around the world on various military bases. When she was seven, her mother gave her a copy of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragondrums, and shortly thereafter, Kacey decided that she wanted to be a dragonrider when she grew up. In 1999, she followed her parents into the “family business” and graduated from the United States Air Force Academy before going to pilot training. As dragons were in short supply at the time, she reasoned that flying aircraft was the next best thing. She earned her wings in 2001, and has over 2500 hours in the UH-1N and Mi-17 helicopters.
From the time she was a small child, Kacey made up stories to tell to her friends and family. In 2009, while deployed to Iraq, she wrote the military-themed supernatural story “Light”, which was accepted for publication in the Baen Books anthology Citizens. She was asked to consult on John Ringo’s 2015 novel Strands of Sorrow, and wrote the cover story for the Black Tide Rising anthology set in Ringo’s zombie apocalypse universe. That story, “Not in Vain” was selected for inclusion in the “Year’s Best Military SF and Adventure Fiction” anthology produced by Baen Books.
In addition, she’s written a story called “Gilded Cage” for the Four Horsemen Universe anthology A Fistful of Credits, and her story “Family Over Blood” will be included in the upcoming Forged In Blood anthology set in Michael Z. Williamson’s Freehold Universe.
She and Christopher L. Smith are currently collaborating with John Ringo on a new post-apocalyptic steampunk trilogy from Baen.
Kacey writes science fiction, fantasy, horror, noir, romance… etc. fiction. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two cats.
From the time she was a small child, Kacey made up stories to tell to her friends and family. In 2009, while deployed to Iraq, she wrote the military-themed supernatural story “Light”, which was accepted for publication in the Baen Books anthology Citizens. She was asked to consult on John Ringo’s 2015 novel Strands of Sorrow, and wrote the cover story for the Black Tide Rising anthology set in Ringo’s zombie apocalypse universe. That story, “Not in Vain” was selected for inclusion in the “Year’s Best Military SF and Adventure Fiction” anthology produced by Baen Books.
In addition, she’s written a story called “Gilded Cage” for the Four Horsemen Universe anthology A Fistful of Credits, and her story “Family Over Blood” will be included in the upcoming Forged In Blood anthology set in Michael Z. Williamson’s Freehold Universe.
She and Christopher L. Smith are currently collaborating with John Ringo on a new post-apocalyptic steampunk trilogy from Baen.
Kacey writes science fiction, fantasy, horror, noir, romance… etc. fiction. She lives with her husband, two daughters, and two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 25, 2019
Great Story / killer kitty assassins!
Cat assassins sounds a bit, unlikely. Cats are killing machines, and some will commit mass killings gladly on any mice, rabbits, lizards, and birds that dare to step in a backyard thru have claimed. But scaling that up to human size? With invisibility, lasers, poisons, and an eidetic memory it actually makes sense...
Book 2 on the Hunters / assassins of the 4 horseman universe. Very well written with lots of unexpected plot twists and turns. Great read that was really hard to put down. There is a race of giant rats in this universe, that have managed now to upset a race of giant spiders, assassin cats, and humans through treachery. I kinda feel sorry for what will happen to them...
Cat assassins sounds a bit, unlikely. Cats are killing machines, and some will commit mass killings gladly on any mice, rabbits, lizards, and birds that dare to step in a backyard thru have claimed. But scaling that up to human size? With invisibility, lasers, poisons, and an eidetic memory it actually makes sense...
Book 2 on the Hunters / assassins of the 4 horseman universe. Very well written with lots of unexpected plot twists and turns. Great read that was really hard to put down. There is a race of giant rats in this universe, that have managed now to upset a race of giant spiders, assassin cats, and humans through treachery. I kinda feel sorry for what will happen to them...
November 30, 2022
What a great story this is. Kacey and Marisa have written a fantastic tale set in the 4 Horsemen Universe about the race they created, the cat-sassins, the Depik.
The cover is misleading, in that I honestly can't remember any such scene, not that it matters.
The Veetanho and the Mercenary Guild decide that the Depik are too dangerous to be allowed to continue without being under Guild control, and so they invade the Depik homeworld. To do so, they have some kind of technology that "freezes" the Depik where they stand. The Depik decide that they all would rather die free, than be slaves, and the entire homeworld commits suicide.
Only Depik that were currently off-world are left, and thankfully, one of them is Estick, a Healer who has been gathering genetic samples from most of the clans, to try and find why birth rates have been declining of the years. He, along with several Humans, some other Hunters, and Jessica Francis, the human Peacemaker, gather big cats from Earth, and use them as surrogate mothers for new Depik kits to be born.
Meanwhile, on the Depik homeworld, the non-Depik sigil holders from the verious clans flee into the forest, only to meet a possibly insane Depik who welcomes them, and prepares to fight for their world.
The cover is misleading, in that I honestly can't remember any such scene, not that it matters.
The Veetanho and the Mercenary Guild decide that the Depik are too dangerous to be allowed to continue without being under Guild control, and so they invade the Depik homeworld. To do so, they have some kind of technology that "freezes" the Depik where they stand. The Depik decide that they all would rather die free, than be slaves, and the entire homeworld commits suicide.
Only Depik that were currently off-world are left, and thankfully, one of them is Estick, a Healer who has been gathering genetic samples from most of the clans, to try and find why birth rates have been declining of the years. He, along with several Humans, some other Hunters, and Jessica Francis, the human Peacemaker, gather big cats from Earth, and use them as surrogate mothers for new Depik kits to be born.
Meanwhile, on the Depik homeworld, the non-Depik sigil holders from the verious clans flee into the forest, only to meet a possibly insane Depik who welcomes them, and prepares to fight for their world.
March 24, 2019
A great story
This book does a great job of filling in the blanks and giving us a deeper insight into the enigmatic Deepik society. It started off a bit slow and tad confusing for me, likely because I couldn't remember all of the prior stories involving the Deepik's fully. It picks up pace greatly, brings in some old and new characters and ends on a note that makes you want to read the next instalment. There are a lot of moving parts and sub stories which can be slightly hard to recall but all in all,a great read.
This book does a great job of filling in the blanks and giving us a deeper insight into the enigmatic Deepik society. It started off a bit slow and tad confusing for me, likely because I couldn't remember all of the prior stories involving the Deepik's fully. It picks up pace greatly, brings in some old and new characters and ends on a note that makes you want to read the next instalment. There are a lot of moving parts and sub stories which can be slightly hard to recall but all in all,a great read.
March 25, 2019
An amazingly bittersweet story
Great editing, plot development, world building, and character development. After reading the 20+ books in this series, you get used to certain characters, and a level of expectation. This book shatters this, and breaks your heart. The author skillfully twists your emotions, and at the end you are left exhausted and hopeful.
Great editing, plot development, world building, and character development. After reading the 20+ books in this series, you get used to certain characters, and a level of expectation. This book shatters this, and breaks your heart. The author skillfully twists your emotions, and at the end you are left exhausted and hopeful.
April 7, 2019
An awesome continuation i to the future from Assassin. The characters are well developed, the storyline is smooth and i could not tell it had two authors. I hope you enjoy the emotionally evocative skills shown with this book.
April 8, 2019
Gripping!
I was gobsmacked when in other books it mentioned the fall of the Depik homeworld however in this book sll thst had happened was explained and brought upto date. It put a smile on my face to see that the Depik are still in the game and the hunt goes on!
I was gobsmacked when in other books it mentioned the fall of the Depik homeworld however in this book sll thst had happened was explained and brought upto date. It put a smile on my face to see that the Depik are still in the game and the hunt goes on!
April 6, 2019
Love of cats and other species
Kacey and Marisa hit me right in the heart AGAIN. They had me crying on the first page. If you love cats, this story will speak to you.
Kacey and Marisa hit me right in the heart AGAIN. They had me crying on the first page. If you love cats, this story will speak to you.
July 17, 2019
Outstanding is normal for Ezell and Wolf. More please!
April 10, 2020
Assassin cats in outer space.
Need I say more?
Need I say more?
April 10, 2021
I read this after Assassins, which I liked better, but this one is still good! Especially if you want to learn more about the Four Horsemen Universe.
November 6, 2021
One of my favorites
Of all the dozens of books I've read in this series, this is one of my favorites! Well paced with an amazing conclusion. I actually said wow ! Well done.
Of all the dozens of books I've read in this series, this is one of my favorites! Well paced with an amazing conclusion. I actually said wow ! Well done.
April 21, 2022
4.5
I have so enjoyed the tales of the sentient aliens, especially the Depik and the tortanula and their riders. This book clearly demands a sequel.
I have so enjoyed the tales of the sentient aliens, especially the Depik and the tortanula and their riders. This book clearly demands a sequel.
June 10, 2022
Better to die free than live a slave
ETA: I liked this better the second time through. Also note that the last story in Negotiation is a continuation of the Epilogue.
The Veetanho leadership of the Mercenary Guild are after even more power. They want to eliminate the human mercs, and think they can use the Depik assassins to do it. The Depiks have other ideas, even though it means sacrificing everything.
If you like Depiks, have a box of tissues handy.
ETA: I liked this better the second time through. Also note that the last story in Negotiation is a continuation of the Epilogue.
The Veetanho leadership of the Mercenary Guild are after even more power. They want to eliminate the human mercs, and think they can use the Depik assassins to do it. The Depiks have other ideas, even though it means sacrificing everything.
If you like Depiks, have a box of tissues handy.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews