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Bounty Hunter #1
Bounty Hunter: Lone Gunfighter of the Wastelands
The world went down the crapper a long time ago.
Then the revolution came. Things stink even worse now.
The wealthy Sloan brothers stake their claim over the lawless wastelands. With no one to stand against them, the people are left to the mercy of the corrupt tyrants. We need a gunfighter who isn't afraid to stand against impossible odds. The problem is that all the heroes died in the revolution… which means we'll have to settle for "Havoc" Joe Ballast.
Ballast is no stranger to bad luck, but when the Sloan brothers corner him, they'll soon learn that you should never, ever underestimate the Bounty Hunter.
The Mandalorian meets Fallout in this epic adventure sure to be enjoyed by all ages. Read the first book in the ongoing story of "Havoc" Joe Ballast, lone gunfighter of Earth's wastelands.
Then the revolution came. Things stink even worse now.
The wealthy Sloan brothers stake their claim over the lawless wastelands. With no one to stand against them, the people are left to the mercy of the corrupt tyrants. We need a gunfighter who isn't afraid to stand against impossible odds. The problem is that all the heroes died in the revolution… which means we'll have to settle for "Havoc" Joe Ballast.
Ballast is no stranger to bad luck, but when the Sloan brothers corner him, they'll soon learn that you should never, ever underestimate the Bounty Hunter.
The Mandalorian meets Fallout in this epic adventure sure to be enjoyed by all ages. Read the first book in the ongoing story of "Havoc" Joe Ballast, lone gunfighter of Earth's wastelands.
Hardcover
First published April 20, 2020
212 people are currently reading
621 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Aukes
66 books407 followersRachel Aukes is the bestselling author of over forty books, including 100 Days in Deadland, which made Suspense Magazine’s Best of the Year list. She writes in a number of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, thriller, and more. Her series includes Waymaker Wars, Space Troopers, Flight of the Javelin, Fringe, Deadland Saga, Colliding Worlds, and Guardians of the Seven Seals. Her novels have repeatedly been Amazon Top 100 bestsellers and #1 bestsellers in Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, Space Fleet, Space Marine, Galactic Empire, Colonization, Alien Invasion, and Cyberpunk. When not writing, Rachel can be found flying old airplanes with an incredibly spoiled dog over the Iowa countryside.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
April 19, 2020
“His gut was the only thing in the world he trusted because it could see what his eyes couldn’t.”
Wow! A jaw clenching, teeth grinding, heart wrenching SciFi story, with a delightful Wild West, Roman gladiator flavour to it. “Home is where the blaster is.” To live like this and think like this is a lonely world to be in. Having gone through different wars, your armour and weapons are your only friends and who you trust most. Coercion is the the word of the day, each to his/her own in a depressive atmosphere living in the Wastelands. A gritty, sometimes dark premise, I also found a touch of love and emotive scenes. The author has made a clear and compelling storyline, with a fluid narrative, combining both action filled scenarios with sarcastic and witty dialogue, making it a fun read. A perfect combination, I’m totally snagged! This book had it all - character development, mystery, suspense, drama- I was so enthralled-captivating, thought-provoking and well researched. I’m looking forward to reading Bounty Hunter: Dig Two Graves #2!
Wow! A jaw clenching, teeth grinding, heart wrenching SciFi story, with a delightful Wild West, Roman gladiator flavour to it. “Home is where the blaster is.” To live like this and think like this is a lonely world to be in. Having gone through different wars, your armour and weapons are your only friends and who you trust most. Coercion is the the word of the day, each to his/her own in a depressive atmosphere living in the Wastelands. A gritty, sometimes dark premise, I also found a touch of love and emotive scenes. The author has made a clear and compelling storyline, with a fluid narrative, combining both action filled scenarios with sarcastic and witty dialogue, making it a fun read. A perfect combination, I’m totally snagged! This book had it all - character development, mystery, suspense, drama- I was so enthralled-captivating, thought-provoking and well researched. I’m looking forward to reading Bounty Hunter: Dig Two Graves #2!
April 17, 2020
Rachel Aukes' Deadland Saga is one of my all time favorite reads, so you bet I jumped on the chance to read and review this book, especially as it was pitched to me as "The Mandalorian meets Fallout". Who can resist that?!
And this is such a cool read!
Havoc/Joe isn't a nice guy. He's not a bad guy either, but he's jaded, practical, and totally shoots first if it looks like bullets will start flying. He does have his soft spots though, and those make that you can root for him, and they are what gets him in trouble.
I loved the setting, which indeed reminded me of some of the Fallout games. It's a grim world, full of bandits, so called law makers, bounty hunters, and those who are just trying very hard to survive. There are mentions of the wars that led to this situation, and that add to the overall atmosphere in this book.
From the start this book is full of action and I was hooked right away. I could really relate to Joe, even though he can be quite the grump (or maybe because he's a grump ;-) ). I really enjoyed the narrative voice, which is quite humorous at times. It mostly follows Joe, but switches to other characters at times as well. I especially loved T-Rex of the other characters: a bounty hunter who's even more pragmatic than Joe.
All in all this is a really great read, and you bet I'm getting my hands on the next book, because I want more!
And this is such a cool read!
Havoc/Joe isn't a nice guy. He's not a bad guy either, but he's jaded, practical, and totally shoots first if it looks like bullets will start flying. He does have his soft spots though, and those make that you can root for him, and they are what gets him in trouble.
I loved the setting, which indeed reminded me of some of the Fallout games. It's a grim world, full of bandits, so called law makers, bounty hunters, and those who are just trying very hard to survive. There are mentions of the wars that led to this situation, and that add to the overall atmosphere in this book.
From the start this book is full of action and I was hooked right away. I could really relate to Joe, even though he can be quite the grump (or maybe because he's a grump ;-) ). I really enjoyed the narrative voice, which is quite humorous at times. It mostly follows Joe, but switches to other characters at times as well. I especially loved T-Rex of the other characters: a bounty hunter who's even more pragmatic than Joe.
All in all this is a really great read, and you bet I'm getting my hands on the next book, because I want more!
April 27, 2020
If you like your fantasy books to be all action, then give this one a look. This first in a planned long series is action from start to finish. In fact, it's almost devoid of any kind of world building because the characters just can't stop fighting long enough to notice much about their surroundings. Character development is also rather lean but some of that might be because there are lots of throw-away characters here. Don't plan on having everybody on the good-guy team surviving.
The nucleus of characters has been established and they range from hard bitten bounty hunters - who will take on any job for a price - all the way to a rescued dog. Add in the widow of a bounty hunter, her son and an orphaned girl and you are all set for a great number of possible plot developments. This is Earth at least seven generations into the future where stark is a condition everybody is familiar with. There was a nuclear war and people still die from the radiation if the wind comes from the wrong direction and you are caught outside. See, stark. The bad guys are the kind you love to jeer at and the good guys have hearts of gold under their exoshields. Joe Ballast (Havoc) has that required heart of gold but it only extends to a tiny circle of people so, offer him a job and he's off to kill somebody.
This may not be great literature but the writing is quite good, you are given plain direction as to who is *good* and who is *bad* (in case you need some help) and this series has the gumption to leave me with a cliffhanger of sorts and make me not care. Next episode available in May. Stock up on popcorn, y'all, cause this new war is about to heat up again. Plans appear to be for a new book to be released from April to October 2020. Now if somebody would just invent a spaceship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Waypoint Books for an e-galley of this smokin' hot adventure.
The nucleus of characters has been established and they range from hard bitten bounty hunters - who will take on any job for a price - all the way to a rescued dog. Add in the widow of a bounty hunter, her son and an orphaned girl and you are all set for a great number of possible plot developments. This is Earth at least seven generations into the future where stark is a condition everybody is familiar with. There was a nuclear war and people still die from the radiation if the wind comes from the wrong direction and you are caught outside. See, stark. The bad guys are the kind you love to jeer at and the good guys have hearts of gold under their exoshields. Joe Ballast (Havoc) has that required heart of gold but it only extends to a tiny circle of people so, offer him a job and he's off to kill somebody.
This may not be great literature but the writing is quite good, you are given plain direction as to who is *good* and who is *bad* (in case you need some help) and this series has the gumption to leave me with a cliffhanger of sorts and make me not care. Next episode available in May. Stock up on popcorn, y'all, cause this new war is about to heat up again. Plans appear to be for a new book to be released from April to October 2020. Now if somebody would just invent a spaceship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Waypoint Books for an e-galley of this smokin' hot adventure.
April 12, 2020
Summary
Havoc (Joe) is a veteran of 3 wars. His ideals and morals were forced on vacation by his need for money. Thanks to the Sloan brothers, his ideals and morals are need by a lot of people. He, an old war buddy, and an annoying bounty hunter co-worker must kill the brother before the brother takes over the government, kill them, and their loved ones.
My opinion
The writing starts slowly for the first five chapters, but it picks up quickly. The slow start is needed for the amazing world-building that made this book great. The characters feel real and they have full personalities. The combat scenes are amazing as well. They were in fact pace and well written.
Havoc (Joe) is a veteran of 3 wars. His ideals and morals were forced on vacation by his need for money. Thanks to the Sloan brothers, his ideals and morals are need by a lot of people. He, an old war buddy, and an annoying bounty hunter co-worker must kill the brother before the brother takes over the government, kill them, and their loved ones.
My opinion
The writing starts slowly for the first five chapters, but it picks up quickly. The slow start is needed for the amazing world-building that made this book great. The characters feel real and they have full personalities. The combat scenes are amazing as well. They were in fact pace and well written.
April 15, 2020
A bad-ass hero with a soft spot set in a dystopian world twisted like an old- fashioned western.
It's about Havoc, a veteran of previous wars who earns his living as a bounty hunter. With bounty hunters being the closet thing to something like the police in this world, even though it's like the law for the highest bidder.
This is a fast paced and action packed story that I totally recommend, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
☛ I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I'm voluntarily making this review.
It's about Havoc, a veteran of previous wars who earns his living as a bounty hunter. With bounty hunters being the closet thing to something like the police in this world, even though it's like the law for the highest bidder.
This is a fast paced and action packed story that I totally recommend, and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
☛ I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I'm voluntarily making this review.
April 18, 2020
Ms. Aukes once again delivers the first book in what promises to be an exciting new series!
The setting is part old west and dystopian future set after a series of wars has laid much of the planet's surface to waste. After many years, some of the population has left their subterranean silos to begin living on the surface once again. It's a lawless wasteland, run by bosses who contract out their Bounty Hunters to try to keep things under control. Joe Ballast, nicknamed Havoc, is one such Bounty Hunter.
He is part badass and softie at heart. Using the skills he learned while fighting in three separate campaigns during the wars, he scrapes a living not only for himself, but for Sara and Nick, the widow and son of an old war buddy of his.
Bounty Hunting is not an easy job, and the hunters are all competing against each other for jobs or tickets as they are called. Some tickets require capturing a fugitive and turning them in while others are "hits" requiring the fugitive to be killed. When one such "hit" goes badly and Joe fails to deliver on a ticket for the Sloan Brothers, a ticket is issued on him and he soon finds himself in the middle of an uprising. The Sloan brothers are taking over the wastelands and they will not let anyone get in their way. The stakes are high as Joe tries to find a way to protect himself and those he loves from being trampled by the Sloan brothers' greed.
Ms. Aukes creates such wonderful characters in all her books. The reader can't help but root for their success through all the hell she puts them through. There are no throw away characters, and every character is given depth and background. The setting is rich and imaginative. The "old west" mixes well with the futuristic blasters and exoskeletons the Bounty Hunters wear as armor. Without doubt there is a Mad Max / Gladiator feel to this story.
The book starts a bit slow getting the reader caught up on current events and world building, but soon the action starts and it's non stop to the end!
Bounty Hunter #2 is due approximately May 2020 and I can hardly wait!
The setting is part old west and dystopian future set after a series of wars has laid much of the planet's surface to waste. After many years, some of the population has left their subterranean silos to begin living on the surface once again. It's a lawless wasteland, run by bosses who contract out their Bounty Hunters to try to keep things under control. Joe Ballast, nicknamed Havoc, is one such Bounty Hunter.
He is part badass and softie at heart. Using the skills he learned while fighting in three separate campaigns during the wars, he scrapes a living not only for himself, but for Sara and Nick, the widow and son of an old war buddy of his.
Bounty Hunting is not an easy job, and the hunters are all competing against each other for jobs or tickets as they are called. Some tickets require capturing a fugitive and turning them in while others are "hits" requiring the fugitive to be killed. When one such "hit" goes badly and Joe fails to deliver on a ticket for the Sloan Brothers, a ticket is issued on him and he soon finds himself in the middle of an uprising. The Sloan brothers are taking over the wastelands and they will not let anyone get in their way. The stakes are high as Joe tries to find a way to protect himself and those he loves from being trampled by the Sloan brothers' greed.
Ms. Aukes creates such wonderful characters in all her books. The reader can't help but root for their success through all the hell she puts them through. There are no throw away characters, and every character is given depth and background. The setting is rich and imaginative. The "old west" mixes well with the futuristic blasters and exoskeletons the Bounty Hunters wear as armor. Without doubt there is a Mad Max / Gladiator feel to this story.
The book starts a bit slow getting the reader caught up on current events and world building, but soon the action starts and it's non stop to the end!
Bounty Hunter #2 is due approximately May 2020 and I can hardly wait!
April 21, 2020
Bounty Hunter: Lone Gunfighter of the Wastelands
by Rachel Aukes
What a fun way to escape today. Well, perhaps escaping to a post apocalyptic world while in the midst of a real pandemic might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it really worked for me. Instead of being locked in during a lock-down I escaped to a ruthless world filled with interesting characters and earth as I hope to never see it in my lifetime. With greedy evil men trying to take over the world, people just trying to survive, bounty hunters out to get their wo/men, not enough for everyone and violence and death a daily occurrence this book made me think...what if? I mean, what would I do if I lived in that time and place? What would I be willing to do to survive? It also made me consider what a hero really is. I can definitely see this as a graphic novel or movie and can’t wait to read more by this author.
What I liked:
* Joe Ballast – Havoc – Bounty hunter who gets his man and doesn’t think about the man while doing his job. He does, however, think and care about a few people and takes in strays from time to time.
* The way the story was written – felt I was there and all of my senses were engaged
* The backstory that set the stage
* Sara and Nick – they gave Joe a reason to care and made him a bit more human
* Romy – plucky young girl
* Champ – a canine survivor
* T-Rex – he made me smile...kind of a brute but an interesting one
* The crafting of the world in the story with guilds and cutters and all the rest
* Being able to relate to the people in the story and the situations they found themselves in
* Val – a good woman that I would like to know better
* Kit – an interesting character
* The feeling that Val, Kit and Joe might be a bit like the three musketeers in the next book as they continue with the story but would that make T-Rex D’artagnan?
What I didn’t like:
* The evil men… but then, I wasn’t supposed to like them!
* Having to wait to find out what will happen next
Thank you to NetGalley and Waypoint Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
by Rachel Aukes
What a fun way to escape today. Well, perhaps escaping to a post apocalyptic world while in the midst of a real pandemic might not be everyone’s cup of tea but it really worked for me. Instead of being locked in during a lock-down I escaped to a ruthless world filled with interesting characters and earth as I hope to never see it in my lifetime. With greedy evil men trying to take over the world, people just trying to survive, bounty hunters out to get their wo/men, not enough for everyone and violence and death a daily occurrence this book made me think...what if? I mean, what would I do if I lived in that time and place? What would I be willing to do to survive? It also made me consider what a hero really is. I can definitely see this as a graphic novel or movie and can’t wait to read more by this author.
What I liked:
* Joe Ballast – Havoc – Bounty hunter who gets his man and doesn’t think about the man while doing his job. He does, however, think and care about a few people and takes in strays from time to time.
* The way the story was written – felt I was there and all of my senses were engaged
* The backstory that set the stage
* Sara and Nick – they gave Joe a reason to care and made him a bit more human
* Romy – plucky young girl
* Champ – a canine survivor
* T-Rex – he made me smile...kind of a brute but an interesting one
* The crafting of the world in the story with guilds and cutters and all the rest
* Being able to relate to the people in the story and the situations they found themselves in
* Val – a good woman that I would like to know better
* Kit – an interesting character
* The feeling that Val, Kit and Joe might be a bit like the three musketeers in the next book as they continue with the story but would that make T-Rex D’artagnan?
What I didn’t like:
* The evil men… but then, I wasn’t supposed to like them!
* Having to wait to find out what will happen next
Thank you to NetGalley and Waypoint Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
May 11, 2020
This book took me by honest surprise, I don't normally gravitate towards stories with guns and blasters, it just doesn't grab my attention. But bounty hunters and mercenaries and the like, do grab my attention. So the premises of following a bounty hunter had my interest. I am so glad I didn't read the synopsis for this, and just went on title and cover alone, because boy was this a fun, fast paced, and action packed story.
Right from the start we are just thrown into the bounty hunter world of Joe, there is no wait or build up to him being a bounty hunter, this is a man who has been doing this job for some time now and that's where we start his story at. When you met him you just know Joe is going to be that protagonist who just gets involved in others business for it to only go sour, and he does not come up short on this aspect. The action is nonstop throughout this story, which makes for a compelling atmosphere, it pulls you in and makes you want more. Aside from Joe
the cast of characters does not come up short, there was honestly way more characters then I was expecting.
Through the story we met an array of characters from other bounty hunters, a town sheriff, to some adorable as heck kids, and everything else in between. The cast is large but well balanced, the story never loses its focus on Joe being our main leading man, But I wont lie, Kit and Rex won my heart over.
While I appreciated the large cast I will say one of the major things that bothered me was the conversations, specifically ones between the bounty hunters. These guys are suppose to be ex-military (some not all), rough, gruff, no nonsense, shoot first ask questions later kind of guys, but their conversations with each other felt like 13yr old boys bantering back and fourth, my mind pictures early to late 30ish for most of these guys, so the childish banter kind of killed that. Now I'm not saying they needed to be full of swears and nastiness but I mean a little rough language flavor would have sold me a bit more on their rough "personalities", especially Rex, I had expected him to be abit more on the fowl side with the way he is described.
The world-building was a lot smaller in comparison to the characters and plot, From what I am hoping I understood, its a world in the distant future where a ton of wars just laid waste to lands and now people struggle to get by in what is pretty much the Wastelands. The world building is minimal but I do think that is do to the amount of work that was put into all the action, Joe didn't have much time to stop and take in the flowers, if you know what I mean, but this did make it a bit hard at times to understand what possible location style I was suppose to envisioning in my mind.
The only other thing that I wasn't particularly fond of was the mutant story-line. That was so odd and felt so out of place, It just kind of snuck up and then it was gone. So unless this will be touched upon more in later books, right now, it just felt strange and left me confused.
I will be continuing this series, as I really like the characters, and frankly I am a nosy person when it comes to background stories, so a girl can only hope she will learn what happened in Westown!
Right from the start we are just thrown into the bounty hunter world of Joe, there is no wait or build up to him being a bounty hunter, this is a man who has been doing this job for some time now and that's where we start his story at. When you met him you just know Joe is going to be that protagonist who just gets involved in others business for it to only go sour, and he does not come up short on this aspect. The action is nonstop throughout this story, which makes for a compelling atmosphere, it pulls you in and makes you want more. Aside from Joe
the cast of characters does not come up short, there was honestly way more characters then I was expecting.
Through the story we met an array of characters from other bounty hunters, a town sheriff, to some adorable as heck kids, and everything else in between. The cast is large but well balanced, the story never loses its focus on Joe being our main leading man, But I wont lie, Kit and Rex won my heart over.
While I appreciated the large cast I will say one of the major things that bothered me was the conversations, specifically ones between the bounty hunters. These guys are suppose to be ex-military (some not all), rough, gruff, no nonsense, shoot first ask questions later kind of guys, but their conversations with each other felt like 13yr old boys bantering back and fourth, my mind pictures early to late 30ish for most of these guys, so the childish banter kind of killed that. Now I'm not saying they needed to be full of swears and nastiness but I mean a little rough language flavor would have sold me a bit more on their rough "personalities", especially Rex, I had expected him to be abit more on the fowl side with the way he is described.
The world-building was a lot smaller in comparison to the characters and plot, From what I am hoping I understood, its a world in the distant future where a ton of wars just laid waste to lands and now people struggle to get by in what is pretty much the Wastelands. The world building is minimal but I do think that is do to the amount of work that was put into all the action, Joe didn't have much time to stop and take in the flowers, if you know what I mean, but this did make it a bit hard at times to understand what possible location style I was suppose to envisioning in my mind.
The only other thing that I wasn't particularly fond of was the mutant story-line. That was so odd and felt so out of place, It just kind of snuck up and then it was gone. So unless this will be touched upon more in later books, right now, it just felt strange and left me confused.
I will be continuing this series, as I really like the characters, and frankly I am a nosy person when it comes to background stories, so a girl can only hope she will learn what happened in Westown!
April 22, 2020
I was provided this book by the author free of charge for reviewing purposes.
Bounty Hunter is a light yet fast paced and entertaining novel, at 330 pages it's a relatively quick read that once started is rather hard to put down. Set in a war torn post apocalyptic/dystopian world I couldn't help but picture Fallout or Rage imagery in my mind as I was reading which made it all the more rich a reading experience as a fan of such.
It was really quite the enjoyable western style romp through the wastelands as we follow Joe Ballast aka "Havoc" through his role as a bounty hunter who diligently tracks down those with bounties outstanding. Whilst the initial impression is a rather uncaring ex-soldier as the story unfolds we see he is anything but that as he fights for those he cares about and against those that impinge his moral framework. A rich background is painted for not only Joe but the surrounding characters involved in the story which makes each relatable in their own way. I would definitely recommend this to fans of post apocalypse & modern western adventures.
I eagerly await the release of the next book in the series to see where the adventure takes Joe & his cohort.
Bounty Hunter is a light yet fast paced and entertaining novel, at 330 pages it's a relatively quick read that once started is rather hard to put down. Set in a war torn post apocalyptic/dystopian world I couldn't help but picture Fallout or Rage imagery in my mind as I was reading which made it all the more rich a reading experience as a fan of such.
It was really quite the enjoyable western style romp through the wastelands as we follow Joe Ballast aka "Havoc" through his role as a bounty hunter who diligently tracks down those with bounties outstanding. Whilst the initial impression is a rather uncaring ex-soldier as the story unfolds we see he is anything but that as he fights for those he cares about and against those that impinge his moral framework. A rich background is painted for not only Joe but the surrounding characters involved in the story which makes each relatable in their own way. I would definitely recommend this to fans of post apocalypse & modern western adventures.
I eagerly await the release of the next book in the series to see where the adventure takes Joe & his cohort.
April 7, 2020
This Western style book was simply a blast to read. The Hero is a real badass and yet has a soft spot.
This soft spot does not keep him from doing his share of giving the bad guys justice. I really enjoyed it.
This soft spot does not keep him from doing his share of giving the bad guys justice. I really enjoyed it.
April 23, 2020
Surprisingly excellent read
I really like this way more than I thought I would. You really see the characters develop and kind of grow attached to them. I look forward to the sequels to this series. By the way don't ever kill the dog.
I really like this way more than I thought I would. You really see the characters develop and kind of grow attached to them. I look forward to the sequels to this series. By the way don't ever kill the dog.
April 27, 2020
Good Read
Fun and entertaining read with good characters and interesting plot twists. Looking forward to book number two coming out soon.
Fun and entertaining read with good characters and interesting plot twists. Looking forward to book number two coming out soon.
November 15, 2022
Sci-fi Dystopian Western is a super fun vibe and this one was action-packed! This was a great read and I’m looking forward to the next installment 🤠✌🏻
April 10, 2020
Bounty Hunter: Lone Gunfighter of the Wastelands was a fabulous read! Think a bit of the Mandalorian, a bit of the Wild West, and a bit of Mad Max (the world is a wasteland after all) and you have one heck of a story. The book was fast paced and Joe Ballast (HAVOC) the bounty hunter is such an interesting MC. I also really liked the secondary characters and the bad guys are just so, so bad. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 12, 2020
Fast-paced, engaging, non-zombie post-apocalyptic fun! Think you know which side are the good guys and which are the bad? Think again, even Havoc isn't sure nor his companions, since loyalty is based on what needs to be done at the moment. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
I was provided with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was provided with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 25, 2020
A good escape read.
Much like a good old-fashioned western. Good vs Evil mostly, a lot of action, and even some mutants.
Much like a good old-fashioned western. Good vs Evil mostly, a lot of action, and even some mutants.
May 22, 2020
In the book Bounty Hunter, author Rachel Aukes writes about Havoc, maybe the last hero after the revelation that is alive. Havoc uses his skills as a bounty hunter but wants to do the right thing. And that gets him in trouble with the Sloan brothers who are raising an army to take over the area.
This was an interesting story style of sci-fi meets wild west. It was an enjoyable read! I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting story style of sci-fi meets wild west. It was an enjoyable read! I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 10, 2020
A modern twist to the old-fashioned western novel. Havoc is a bounty hunter who can't seem to stay out of trouble. He does seem to be intelligent but he is too gallant for the age in which he lives.
This is a really exciting and spectacular book by an author I've never read before. However, it is so good that I preordered the rest of the series.
This is a really exciting and spectacular book by an author I've never read before. However, it is so good that I preordered the rest of the series.
May 29, 2020
This novel is less sci-fi than a post-apocalyptic action novel. The main characters are mostly former soldiers, most of whom served in 3+ wars in a recent history that also involved humans living underground for 7 generations. The central point of view is a bounty hunter named Havoc (Joe) who introduces us to the idea that guilds of bounty hunters act as a sort of police force to deliver people to "justice" as determined by the MRC, a somewhat laissez-faire government that is being subverted from within. The bounty hunter (I keep picturing the Mandalorian) ends up in the middle of a war between guilds as well as between a sheriff and those trying to take over the region.
The descriptions of the world come as flashbacks or thoughts while characters are moving between action scenes. Although, a good way to get a sense of things would be to think of the original Fallout game followed by wars in which the hero has acquired really good armor. Dog is even a character (kinda)!
There were a couple of problems though. One is the sheer amount of world building and action that (based on the story) had taken place in the lifetime of what seems to be a under-middle-aged main character. The second were the references to things from today's world that were used as sayings our descriptions. Sometimes they were write-off as read in a book, other times they were just dismissed as something old people said. The reason this bugged ne is that this is set 7 generations after a series of apocalyptic events. No one from before would still be alive to recall things like fireworks used as celebration. Not a huge thing, but it would take me out of the story occasionally.
It was enjoyable enough to hold my interest so long as I wasn't needing anything too deep. It was fun though and a nice light read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.
The descriptions of the world come as flashbacks or thoughts while characters are moving between action scenes. Although, a good way to get a sense of things would be to think of the original Fallout game followed by wars in which the hero has acquired really good armor. Dog is even a character (kinda)!
There were a couple of problems though. One is the sheer amount of world building and action that (based on the story) had taken place in the lifetime of what seems to be a under-middle-aged main character. The second were the references to things from today's world that were used as sayings our descriptions. Sometimes they were write-off as read in a book, other times they were just dismissed as something old people said. The reason this bugged ne is that this is set 7 generations after a series of apocalyptic events. No one from before would still be alive to recall things like fireworks used as celebration. Not a huge thing, but it would take me out of the story occasionally.
It was enjoyable enough to hold my interest so long as I wasn't needing anything too deep. It was fun though and a nice light read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.
May 13, 2020
Rachel Aukes has a new hit on her hands
Having read some of Rachel's other work, I was excited to hear about this new series. It's got action, adventure and a dog named Champ. The story moves along quickly and I cannot wait for book 2 - if you like dystopian or post apocalyptic fiction this series is for you
Having read some of Rachel's other work, I was excited to hear about this new series. It's got action, adventure and a dog named Champ. The story moves along quickly and I cannot wait for book 2 - if you like dystopian or post apocalyptic fiction this series is for you
September 23, 2022
I really didn't think I would like this book but I am glad I gave it a go. Interesting characters and an interesting story. Follow one Bounty Hunter in particular, Havoc, in his adventure across the desolate wasteland. It's hard to not give away any spoilers but if you like dystopian, sci-fi with grit and action this is a great place to start. I found it thoroughly enjoyable. Audible version in the double publisher's pack. Worth a listen or a read, an easy 4 stars.
May 8, 2020
Great book
Good characters, good lead on to further chapters. Would be cool to see some images of the Cutters. Hoping to see more characters from the past in future books.
Good characters, good lead on to further chapters. Would be cool to see some images of the Cutters. Hoping to see more characters from the past in future books.
April 27, 2021
In the first of a series Rachel Aukes takes readers to a lawless place that is mainly controlled by the Bounty Hunters:
The world is in the Shits. The revolution was supposed to make everything better, but from what Joe can tell nothing has really changed, other than a lot of people died and now he works as a Bounty Hunter. When some brother named Sloan want to make the Wasteland's their own territory there are more than a few Hunter Guilds that want nothing to do with it. But the Sloan brothers refuse to take no for an answer. When they come after the company that Joe works for they're about to learn why he earned the named Havoc in the revolution. Joe hates nothing more than a bully so the Sloan brother better watch out, or they are going to find out why you never corner a Bounty Hunter
This book is a really fun read and for those who love sci-fi and western mash up they are sure to enjoy this book. I recently started watching the Mandalorian (I know I’m late to that party) but this book reminded me of that series just no space travel. Even the cover of the book has some mandalrian flare to it. It has great action/fight scenes that play out in very dramatic fashion, especially if a character named T-Rex is there. He has some creative ideas on how to piss the other guys off, and I really enjoyed every second of those events. It also has quite a bit of heart to it, that I was not expecting from this book.
Joe is a great character, he is loyal to a fault, has some pretty high morals but also a badass to go along with it. Trust me you want Joe to be on your side in a fight. He is resourceful, thinks a few steps ahead but also on the fly. I appreciate that Aukes let Joe get hurt and that he was not invincible and had to compensate when this happened. I really like Joe's loyalty to a fallen soldier from one of the past revolutions and his need to take care of that man's family and also to his employ Reuben even though he could make more money or not have people shooting at him every two seconds if he were to betray him.
The main issue I have with this book is that the World wasn’t fully developed. There were constant reference as to what happened before the world got this way and which side Joe fought for, that I just felt like there was a book before this one. I know there was a revolution, maybe even two to get to the world that Joe is living in now, but even the current world is really undefined. I know they are in the wasteland, but why is is called that? Is there other cities or civilizations outside of the wastelands or is that all that is left after the War(s). This is the area that the book lacks the most, I actually checked to see if there was a book before this one just to make sure it was me and not the book that was off on this point.
I enjoyed this book as it was a fun ride from beginning to end especially if you like cowboy sci-fi action. I look forward to checking out the next book in this series and hope that the world is a little better defined.
Enjoy!!!!
The world is in the Shits. The revolution was supposed to make everything better, but from what Joe can tell nothing has really changed, other than a lot of people died and now he works as a Bounty Hunter. When some brother named Sloan want to make the Wasteland's their own territory there are more than a few Hunter Guilds that want nothing to do with it. But the Sloan brothers refuse to take no for an answer. When they come after the company that Joe works for they're about to learn why he earned the named Havoc in the revolution. Joe hates nothing more than a bully so the Sloan brother better watch out, or they are going to find out why you never corner a Bounty Hunter
This book is a really fun read and for those who love sci-fi and western mash up they are sure to enjoy this book. I recently started watching the Mandalorian (I know I’m late to that party) but this book reminded me of that series just no space travel. Even the cover of the book has some mandalrian flare to it. It has great action/fight scenes that play out in very dramatic fashion, especially if a character named T-Rex is there. He has some creative ideas on how to piss the other guys off, and I really enjoyed every second of those events. It also has quite a bit of heart to it, that I was not expecting from this book.
Joe is a great character, he is loyal to a fault, has some pretty high morals but also a badass to go along with it. Trust me you want Joe to be on your side in a fight. He is resourceful, thinks a few steps ahead but also on the fly. I appreciate that Aukes let Joe get hurt and that he was not invincible and had to compensate when this happened. I really like Joe's loyalty to a fallen soldier from one of the past revolutions and his need to take care of that man's family and also to his employ Reuben even though he could make more money or not have people shooting at him every two seconds if he were to betray him.
The main issue I have with this book is that the World wasn’t fully developed. There were constant reference as to what happened before the world got this way and which side Joe fought for, that I just felt like there was a book before this one. I know there was a revolution, maybe even two to get to the world that Joe is living in now, but even the current world is really undefined. I know they are in the wasteland, but why is is called that? Is there other cities or civilizations outside of the wastelands or is that all that is left after the War(s). This is the area that the book lacks the most, I actually checked to see if there was a book before this one just to make sure it was me and not the book that was off on this point.
I enjoyed this book as it was a fun ride from beginning to end especially if you like cowboy sci-fi action. I look forward to checking out the next book in this series and hope that the world is a little better defined.
Enjoy!!!!
June 20, 2022
This was pretty good, about Bounty hunting in the Wastelands. There was lots of killing because they thought nothing about human lives. It was pretty much kill-or-be-killed. All the very very rich and treacherous lived a normal, sort of, life, While all the others went hungry or lived underground to keep from being taken as slaves. The worst two were the Sloan brothers. It was similar to the Mandalorian. That's probably why I enjoyed it so much. So, on to book 2.
Absolutely no romance and swearing but no F-bombs.
As for the narration: James Anderson Foster was good with the voices but he had no emotions whatsoever. No whispering, no yelling, no arguing, no nothing. Narration is NOT only about voices, IMO.
Absolutely no romance and swearing but no F-bombs.
As for the narration: James Anderson Foster was good with the voices but he had no emotions whatsoever. No whispering, no yelling, no arguing, no nothing. Narration is NOT only about voices, IMO.
June 12, 2020
Mixing Fallout with the Mandalorian, with a dash of Eastwood's Man with No Name in there for flavor, Rachel Aukes' Bounty Hunter is a fun, summer hammock read. Her characters show growth and depth, with motivations outside the normal "good vs evil", enough worldbuilding to keep you intrigued (I'm still curious to know more about the Ravens and the Wild), and more action than you can shake a stick at. Enough, in fact, that I wouldn't be surprised if it were eventually optioned for a screenplay; it feels like Havoc and his compatriots would be great on a screen. I'm definitely planning on reading book two, and look forward to finding out more.
June 2, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I assume this is set in the future of Earth but that is not clear. This in a post apocalypse of somewhere and it all makes sense in a wild west fashion. Have you seen Disney+ 'The Mandalorian'? If so then this book will seem very familiar. No spaceships but there are guns that shoot forever. Lots of action and good character development.
January 26, 2021
I'll admit: I downloaded this book because I love The Mandalorian and anything western themed. But while the Mandalorian vibes are strong in Bounty Hunter, Joe Ballast is as unique as they come. I loved his character along with many others as they entered the story. The post-apocalyptic setting, the great dialogue, fantastic world building, and bits of wry humor all play so well together. This series is going to be great!
May 29, 2020
An Homage (Maybe)?
This is the first novel I've ready by Ms. Aukes. That said, I felt like I was reading a mix of The Mandalorian, Firefly, a Western with a bit of Mad Max thrown in for extra kick. I'm not quite sure if this was meant as an homage or what but it was a decent read.
This is the first novel I've ready by Ms. Aukes. That said, I felt like I was reading a mix of The Mandalorian, Firefly, a Western with a bit of Mad Max thrown in for extra kick. I'm not quite sure if this was meant as an homage or what but it was a decent read.
July 14, 2020
Refreshingly awesome
Loved this book from the moment I started reading.
Really enjoyed the bounty hunter almost old west feel but with apocalypse tilt. I mean this in most respectful way but very Mandalorion-ish. I would recommend this book to any readers who enjoy a good book. Period.
My rating of five stars is an understatement of its quality as a great read.
Loved this book from the moment I started reading.
Really enjoyed the bounty hunter almost old west feel but with apocalypse tilt. I mean this in most respectful way but very Mandalorion-ish. I would recommend this book to any readers who enjoy a good book. Period.
My rating of five stars is an understatement of its quality as a great read.
November 18, 2020
Very good!!
I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. But I have to admit I was very pleased with it. Very good, story was engaging, characters are likable, there was a fair amount of humor that made me chuckle. All-in-all I definitely recommend that you read this book.
I didn't know what to expect when I started this book. But I have to admit I was very pleased with it. Very good, story was engaging, characters are likable, there was a fair amount of humor that made me chuckle. All-in-all I definitely recommend that you read this book.
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