What do you think?
Rate this book
The Factus Sequence #3
Ninth Life
After forty years of wreaking havoc across the galaxy, the outlaw Nine Lives – AKA Former General Gabriella Ortiz – has finally run out of lives. Shot down into a backwater at the system’s edge, she is rescued by Deputy Air Marshall Havemercy Grey.
Hav is a true soul, trying to uphold what is right in the heedless wastes. Hav is determined to see justice done. And Hav could sure use that 20-million bounty…
But escorting the most dangerous fugitive in the system across the stars is no easy task, especially when decades of fire and destruction are catching up with her, and every gutspill with a pistol wants that payday. So when Ortiz offers a deal – to keep them both alive, as long as Hav listens to the stories of her lives – Hav can’t refuse.
There’s just one catch: everywhere they go, during every brawl and gunfight and explosive escape, people say the same thing – don’t let her talk…
Hav is a true soul, trying to uphold what is right in the heedless wastes. Hav is determined to see justice done. And Hav could sure use that 20-million bounty…
But escorting the most dangerous fugitive in the system across the stars is no easy task, especially when decades of fire and destruction are catching up with her, and every gutspill with a pistol wants that payday. So when Ortiz offers a deal – to keep them both alive, as long as Hav listens to the stories of her lives – Hav can’t refuse.
There’s just one catch: everywhere they go, during every brawl and gunfight and explosive escape, people say the same thing – don’t let her talk…
416 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2024
31 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Stark Holborn
26 books139 followersStark Holborn is a novelist, games writer, film reviewer, and the author of Nunslinger, Triggernometry and Ten Low.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 28, 2024
Ninth Life is perfect. No. It’s better than perfect. It’s so good, it makes perfect look ordinary.
If you’ve read Ten Low and Hel’s Eight (the first two books in the Factus series) then you’ll already know the grim and gritty glory that is Factus. It would have been so easy for this third book to retread all the familiar beats and dance to the same tune that we already love. There would’ve been little risk in taking that approach, and I’m sure it would’ve turned out to be a satisfying addition to the series. But Stark Holborn has done something truly courageous by transforming Ninth Life into a totally different beast to what we’ve seen before, changing its shape and giving us something completely fresh. And boy, does her gamble pay off!
This third standalone book is every bit as unforgiving, unrelenting, and unforgettable as you’d hope it to be. But it doesn’t rest on any laurels. Instead, it pushes the boundaries even further than I could ever have expected, leaving Factus behind as it forces us to go deeper into territories that are powerful, provocative, and more insular than anything we’ve experienced in this universe so far.
One of its biggest strengths is the structure. The way it’s been put together feeds the style of storytelling to such brilliant effect. This is, ostensibly, an archivist’s attempt to catalogue a history that is disappearing — the life of General Gabi Ortiz — who you’ll know already from Ten Low and Hel’s Eight. If they dished out awards for “best supporting character in a book”, Gabi would’ve already netted two of them for the way she was written in the preceding books. And here, in her own story, she still remains a supporting player as her account is told from various perspectives, and it works beautifully. The standout of these accounts is a young deputy marshal called Havemercy Grey, or Hav for short.
Hav starts out naive, but is taken on the kind of arc that could only belong to a Factus story. After arresting Gabi, Hav makes a deal to listen as Gabi talks, and in return, Gabi promises to come quietly. The book straddles two timelines — the adventure that follows as Hav attempts to deliver Gabi (AKA Nine Lives) to justice, and the events Gabi relates over the last eight of her deaths / lives, depending on how you look at it. This non-linear approach elevates both storylines brilliantly, and gives the book such a unique flavour — it’s addictive and delicious to read. You’ll find stories within stories within stories, but the whole thing feels so organic and relatable, rather than aloof or cerebral.
There’s an artistry to the way the events unfold, as well as the style in which they’re written. The pace is gorgeous. So much of the narrative feels like a love letter, with most of it being addressed to “you” rather than describing “her.” And I absolutely adored this aspect to the storytelling. It felt like I was reading a work of art — a glorious experiment from the imagination of a total genius.
I’m trying to find the right way to sum this book up, but there isn’t one. It’s magic. It’s electric. It’s menacing. It’s folkloric. It’s soulful. It’s meditative. It’s beautiful. Every word works, and that’s not an exaggeration — every single word feels exactly right. I won’t spoil the plot, but sufficed to say, it’s every bit as inventive as you’d expect. And the way it all ties up is *chef’s kiss*.
For those (like me) who have been fascinated by the Ifs, Ninth Life adds to their lore without ruining any of their mystery. I feel as though the clues we get through this third instalment have given me so much to speculate about, but also painted the clearest picture of them yet. The balance is precise and impressive. But so is everything about this book!
If Ninth Life doesn’t qualify as an instant classic and the best space western you’ll ever read, then I’ll eat my robot cowboy hat. It’s my favourite Factus book by far, and could be in my top five favourites of all time books in general. Stark Holborn hasn’t just knocked it out of the park with Ninth Life, she’s obliterated the field. Mesmerising, mind-blowing, and a total masterpiece, 10/10 doesn’t do it justice. I’m so glad Hav decided to listen to Gabi, because I wouldn’t want to live any of my nine lives without reading this non-stop, adrenaline-fuelled, deeply haunting thrill-ride.
If you’ve read Ten Low and Hel’s Eight (the first two books in the Factus series) then you’ll already know the grim and gritty glory that is Factus. It would have been so easy for this third book to retread all the familiar beats and dance to the same tune that we already love. There would’ve been little risk in taking that approach, and I’m sure it would’ve turned out to be a satisfying addition to the series. But Stark Holborn has done something truly courageous by transforming Ninth Life into a totally different beast to what we’ve seen before, changing its shape and giving us something completely fresh. And boy, does her gamble pay off!
This third standalone book is every bit as unforgiving, unrelenting, and unforgettable as you’d hope it to be. But it doesn’t rest on any laurels. Instead, it pushes the boundaries even further than I could ever have expected, leaving Factus behind as it forces us to go deeper into territories that are powerful, provocative, and more insular than anything we’ve experienced in this universe so far.
One of its biggest strengths is the structure. The way it’s been put together feeds the style of storytelling to such brilliant effect. This is, ostensibly, an archivist’s attempt to catalogue a history that is disappearing — the life of General Gabi Ortiz — who you’ll know already from Ten Low and Hel’s Eight. If they dished out awards for “best supporting character in a book”, Gabi would’ve already netted two of them for the way she was written in the preceding books. And here, in her own story, she still remains a supporting player as her account is told from various perspectives, and it works beautifully. The standout of these accounts is a young deputy marshal called Havemercy Grey, or Hav for short.
Hav starts out naive, but is taken on the kind of arc that could only belong to a Factus story. After arresting Gabi, Hav makes a deal to listen as Gabi talks, and in return, Gabi promises to come quietly. The book straddles two timelines — the adventure that follows as Hav attempts to deliver Gabi (AKA Nine Lives) to justice, and the events Gabi relates over the last eight of her deaths / lives, depending on how you look at it. This non-linear approach elevates both storylines brilliantly, and gives the book such a unique flavour — it’s addictive and delicious to read. You’ll find stories within stories within stories, but the whole thing feels so organic and relatable, rather than aloof or cerebral.
There’s an artistry to the way the events unfold, as well as the style in which they’re written. The pace is gorgeous. So much of the narrative feels like a love letter, with most of it being addressed to “you” rather than describing “her.” And I absolutely adored this aspect to the storytelling. It felt like I was reading a work of art — a glorious experiment from the imagination of a total genius.
I’m trying to find the right way to sum this book up, but there isn’t one. It’s magic. It’s electric. It’s menacing. It’s folkloric. It’s soulful. It’s meditative. It’s beautiful. Every word works, and that’s not an exaggeration — every single word feels exactly right. I won’t spoil the plot, but sufficed to say, it’s every bit as inventive as you’d expect. And the way it all ties up is *chef’s kiss*.
For those (like me) who have been fascinated by the Ifs, Ninth Life adds to their lore without ruining any of their mystery. I feel as though the clues we get through this third instalment have given me so much to speculate about, but also painted the clearest picture of them yet. The balance is precise and impressive. But so is everything about this book!
If Ninth Life doesn’t qualify as an instant classic and the best space western you’ll ever read, then I’ll eat my robot cowboy hat. It’s my favourite Factus book by far, and could be in my top five favourites of all time books in general. Stark Holborn hasn’t just knocked it out of the park with Ninth Life, she’s obliterated the field. Mesmerising, mind-blowing, and a total masterpiece, 10/10 doesn’t do it justice. I’m so glad Hav decided to listen to Gabi, because I wouldn’t want to live any of my nine lives without reading this non-stop, adrenaline-fuelled, deeply haunting thrill-ride.
September 5, 2024
Review of the Factus Sequence on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2TeNrXPa56E
This book feels more ambitious and broader in scale than the previous two Factus books, but is just as entertaining. It has the vibe of epic pulp science fantasy, with the life of its main character told through a series of gripping events. It’s episodic, but that only strengthens that pulp feel.
This book feels more ambitious and broader in scale than the previous two Factus books, but is just as entertaining. It has the vibe of epic pulp science fantasy, with the life of its main character told through a series of gripping events. It’s episodic, but that only strengthens that pulp feel.
Read
June 23, 2024Gabriella Ortiz has worn and shed many names. Tales of her exploits transcend time and space, defying reality. Depending on which name, she is a hero of both sides. A felon with a bounty on her head worth twenty million. Ortiz has been officially declared dead a handful of times and, in some realities, died almost twice that amount. Her next death will be her last. Her last alias will be remembered by all. Ninth Life by Stark Holborn is a compilation of myths, the unofficial story of a legend.
The Factus Sequence trilogy spans a hundred years of history regarding the moon of Factus and its war with the Accord. It begins with an Ex-convict medic dubbed Ten Low discovering a crashed spaceship and rescuing Gabriella Ortiz. Ten Low soon realizes Ortiz is not an innocent child, but a genetically enhanced super soldier. Once the Accord’s greatest achievement and pride, it seems these soldiers were betrayed. They are being hunted for elimination. What originated as a mission to save Ortiz starts the threads of destiny. The transpiring events and their actions will define the fate of Factus. Stark Holborn concludes this epic space adventure in Ninth Life.
Stark Holborn shakes up the narrative in the final novel of The Factus Sequence trilogy. While Ten Low and Hel’s Eight are primarily told from Ten’s point of view, Ninth Life celebrates Garbriella Ortiz. This is a surprising and necessary turn in perspective. The character readers know as Ten Low would not exist without Ortiz. Their lives intwine. They are pivotal players in the rebellion against the Accord. Together, they shape the future of Factus.
Ninth Life is told from a dossier by military Proctor Idrisi Blake. As a professional, Blake is tasked with compiling all information regarding Gabriella Ortiz, her aliases, and every life she has lived. A task made impossible by all the conspiracies and cover ups surrounding this legend. Blake’s dossier mainly consists of recordings left by a new character Havemercy Grey and is supported by other testimonies and interviews.
Stark Holborn takes a risk with changing the primary point of view in Ninth Life and succeeds. While Ninth Life is a secondary account of Gabriella Ortiz’s life, the characters involved are bursting with personality. They develop like any other well written main characters. Due to the nature of Stark Holborn’s world, telling Ortiz’s life through different accounts is the truest approach. This dossier is compiled of unverifiable information and tall tales. The half truths offered by alternate realities blending together.
Even well-read science fiction fans will find much to be excited about in The Factus Sequence trilogy. The compelling characters are rivaled by an equally fascinating world. The moon of Factus is a savage wasteland ruled by possibility. While its inhabitants hold no respect for the Accord, all know to fear the chaotic power present there. Little is understood about this divine force or reality splitting phenomenon. Stark Holborn expands the worldbuilding in Ninth Life, revealing more about the mysterious power on Factus and the other worlds in this universe.
Stark Holborn writes an extraordinary conclusion to The Factus Sequence trilogy. Ninth Life is an explosion of action and imagination. This epic finale takes risks and, in doing so, honors its amazing characters and world.
Review first published in Grimdark Magazine
The Factus Sequence trilogy spans a hundred years of history regarding the moon of Factus and its war with the Accord. It begins with an Ex-convict medic dubbed Ten Low discovering a crashed spaceship and rescuing Gabriella Ortiz. Ten Low soon realizes Ortiz is not an innocent child, but a genetically enhanced super soldier. Once the Accord’s greatest achievement and pride, it seems these soldiers were betrayed. They are being hunted for elimination. What originated as a mission to save Ortiz starts the threads of destiny. The transpiring events and their actions will define the fate of Factus. Stark Holborn concludes this epic space adventure in Ninth Life.
Stark Holborn shakes up the narrative in the final novel of The Factus Sequence trilogy. While Ten Low and Hel’s Eight are primarily told from Ten’s point of view, Ninth Life celebrates Garbriella Ortiz. This is a surprising and necessary turn in perspective. The character readers know as Ten Low would not exist without Ortiz. Their lives intwine. They are pivotal players in the rebellion against the Accord. Together, they shape the future of Factus.
Ninth Life is told from a dossier by military Proctor Idrisi Blake. As a professional, Blake is tasked with compiling all information regarding Gabriella Ortiz, her aliases, and every life she has lived. A task made impossible by all the conspiracies and cover ups surrounding this legend. Blake’s dossier mainly consists of recordings left by a new character Havemercy Grey and is supported by other testimonies and interviews.
Stark Holborn takes a risk with changing the primary point of view in Ninth Life and succeeds. While Ninth Life is a secondary account of Gabriella Ortiz’s life, the characters involved are bursting with personality. They develop like any other well written main characters. Due to the nature of Stark Holborn’s world, telling Ortiz’s life through different accounts is the truest approach. This dossier is compiled of unverifiable information and tall tales. The half truths offered by alternate realities blending together.
Even well-read science fiction fans will find much to be excited about in The Factus Sequence trilogy. The compelling characters are rivaled by an equally fascinating world. The moon of Factus is a savage wasteland ruled by possibility. While its inhabitants hold no respect for the Accord, all know to fear the chaotic power present there. Little is understood about this divine force or reality splitting phenomenon. Stark Holborn expands the worldbuilding in Ninth Life, revealing more about the mysterious power on Factus and the other worlds in this universe.
Stark Holborn writes an extraordinary conclusion to The Factus Sequence trilogy. Ninth Life is an explosion of action and imagination. This epic finale takes risks and, in doing so, honors its amazing characters and world.
Review first published in Grimdark Magazine
August 6, 2024
Stark Holborn is one of the most talented writers around right now. This series has been one breathtaking book after another. It breaks all genre expectations, has beautiful writing, and make me feel so many things. I can't believe it's a real series. I can't believe this world was created in someone's mind. There are no laws, no limits, and it's the most exciting thing to read and know that anything and everything will happen.
February 23, 2025
Gabi Ortiz has come full circle - from the Child weapon found and saved by Ten Low & /or Hel the Converter, Gabi has supposed lived and died Eight lives. Once again being rescued and arrested the young Air Marshall attempts to take her in. Will this be the end Gabi's Ninth death?
Another powerful book by Stark Holborn, crossing fighting their way from planet to planet, fight and evading the Accord, Xoon and every bounty hunter to get back to Fractus where it all began.
World is rich, characters (even the traitors) are often morally reprehensible but anything to survive. A book full of talented, snarky women as leading characters for the most part (though there are plenty of supporting and supportive men) and of course one can't forget the Seekers and the "ifs" that warp time, space a reality. I give the 3 book trilogy 8.5/10
Another powerful book by Stark Holborn, crossing fighting their way from planet to planet, fight and evading the Accord, Xoon and every bounty hunter to get back to Fractus where it all began.
World is rich, characters (even the traitors) are often morally reprehensible but anything to survive. A book full of talented, snarky women as leading characters for the most part (though there are plenty of supporting and supportive men) and of course one can't forget the Seekers and the "ifs" that warp time, space a reality. I give the 3 book trilogy 8.5/10
June 7, 2025
Ninth Life is the last book in the series and was, by far, my favorite. Immensely satisfying ending to an already amazing series. Highly recommend you read them all.
August 11, 2025
5/6 points, now THAT I call an amazing read, started with this third book in series, oops, loved the three narrative strands weaving together
July 30, 2024
An excellent instalment in this series challenging the idea of a hero’s journey and really increasing the size and scope of the universe this story takes place in
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
May 29, 2024
This book kicks ass. Space cowboy fate defying cosmic action, NINTH LIFE jumps the Factus series to a whole new level. Holborn's superb structure and deftly crafted narrative will draw you into a tale of violence, destiny, and connection. In this third installment the series sprawls outward and shows us Factus and our protagonists through a wider lens- it is lovingly crafted and utterly compulsive reading. The genre-bending wonder of this series draws from classic Westerns, cosmic horror, and action sci-fi- it is Louis L'Amour and Firefly in a blender with At the Mountains of Madness
July 4, 2024
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair reivew.
An exhilarating finale to a fantastic trilogy, Ninth Life is as bold and unflinching as its main character.
What’s really cool about the novel is how it’s told. We have a researcher convinced Gabi is still alive recounting the clues they found, Havemercy’s story of when they rescued Gabi and which is written in second person (directed at Gabi, not the reader) wherein there are long sections where Gabi recounts her stories to Hav, and some ads and news clippings here and there. It was very immersive in a found-text sort of way that didn't go that far.
When it comes to second person, it's really hard to pull but Holborn nails it. You understand why it’s told this way (it's kind of like a confession) and it makes sense for the plot. In a way, the format leaves Gabi as lofty and interesting a character as she’s always been, because so much of her story is how others see her. Gabi has always been my favourite character in the series, so this book based on her was such a joy to read. She’s a consummate badass too.
Havemercy is an interesting character as well, because they’re conflicted and we aren’t entirely sure why they make the choices they do - until the end. There’s a big if not “ah ha” moment but definitely an “oooh, I see.” The other characters are fun, though we only get the see the G'hals from Factus for a little bit. One thing I thought was great was how this book reverses the tired sci-fi trope of there being one or two women and everyone else is a dude. This book is like 95% women with a few dudes and non-binary folk sprinkled here and there. It’s also very queer-positive, but unlike a lot of queer novels that tend towards the cozy, this book is rough and raw and violent.
The action scenes in this novel are as exciting as those of the other two books. There’s even a boat chase scene, which I was not expecting and loved. Gabi is put through the wringer both physically and mentally, yet her fortitude and strength never waver.
The novel also touches on the power of sharing stories, on listening to other people, and listening to women. Gabi, in telling her stories, tends ot convince people to take her side. Of course, the powers than be are telling everyone not to let her speak, which is clearly because she tells truth to power, in a way, and does not sugarcoating things or deny her own choices often got others hurt.
This novel also explains more fully what the “ifs” are and how they work. I’d love to go back to re-read Ten Low now that I understand that more.
The novel also, despite spreading to different planets and places than Factus, still retains its gritty, isolated, Western feel. It’s different from Ten Low but not disparate - it simply expands on the worldbuilding.
If you’ve read both Ten low and Hel’s Eight, yes, this book is just as great as those two. This is a series that should be getting way more attention!
An exhilarating finale to a fantastic trilogy, Ninth Life is as bold and unflinching as its main character.
What’s really cool about the novel is how it’s told. We have a researcher convinced Gabi is still alive recounting the clues they found, Havemercy’s story of when they rescued Gabi and which is written in second person (directed at Gabi, not the reader) wherein there are long sections where Gabi recounts her stories to Hav, and some ads and news clippings here and there. It was very immersive in a found-text sort of way that didn't go that far.
When it comes to second person, it's really hard to pull but Holborn nails it. You understand why it’s told this way (it's kind of like a confession) and it makes sense for the plot. In a way, the format leaves Gabi as lofty and interesting a character as she’s always been, because so much of her story is how others see her. Gabi has always been my favourite character in the series, so this book based on her was such a joy to read. She’s a consummate badass too.
Havemercy is an interesting character as well, because they’re conflicted and we aren’t entirely sure why they make the choices they do - until the end. There’s a big if not “ah ha” moment but definitely an “oooh, I see.” The other characters are fun, though we only get the see the G'hals from Factus for a little bit. One thing I thought was great was how this book reverses the tired sci-fi trope of there being one or two women and everyone else is a dude. This book is like 95% women with a few dudes and non-binary folk sprinkled here and there. It’s also very queer-positive, but unlike a lot of queer novels that tend towards the cozy, this book is rough and raw and violent.
The action scenes in this novel are as exciting as those of the other two books. There’s even a boat chase scene, which I was not expecting and loved. Gabi is put through the wringer both physically and mentally, yet her fortitude and strength never waver.
The novel also touches on the power of sharing stories, on listening to other people, and listening to women. Gabi, in telling her stories, tends ot convince people to take her side. Of course, the powers than be are telling everyone not to let her speak, which is clearly because she tells truth to power, in a way, and does not sugarcoating things or deny her own choices often got others hurt.
This novel also explains more fully what the “ifs” are and how they work. I’d love to go back to re-read Ten Low now that I understand that more.
The novel also, despite spreading to different planets and places than Factus, still retains its gritty, isolated, Western feel. It’s different from Ten Low but not disparate - it simply expands on the worldbuilding.
If you’ve read both Ten low and Hel’s Eight, yes, this book is just as great as those two. This is a series that should be getting way more attention!
August 9, 2024
Ninth Life is a return to the universe of Ten Low and of Hel's Eight - a future dominated by the militaristic Accord, which ruthlessly exploits its colony planets for raw materials, assisted by various warlords, gangster capitalist federations and oligarchs. Opposition has arisen on the mysterious but especially harsh world of Factus with its spirits, the probability-bending Ifs, who are able - sometimes - to turn likelihood on its head. Also featuring are the Seekers, with their semi-religious trade in organs and blood.
Ninth Life follows the career of ex General Gabriella Ortiz, originally a child soldier and a former hero of the Accord. Gabi featured in the earlier books, and her arrival, dragged from the wreck of a crashed spacecraft, nods to that. Here, though, her story is given in full - although it's contradictory to say that because as the narrator of Ninth Life makes clear, he has limited, uncertain sources and somebody is trying to erase his work.
Military Proctor Idrisi Blake himself is as much a character here as Gabi. We see his understanding of, and sympathy with, the former general turned pirate and rebel develop as his researches proceed. The framing is complex, with at least two different timelines for Gabi and numerous witnesses and accounts used to substantiate her career, but it's made more so by a fourth wall breaking effect where she seems at times to be directly addressing Blake. Failing to heed the often repeated instruction not to listen to her, Blake falls more and more under Gabi's spell, as do most of those she encounters and as, I am sure, will most readers.
Yet Gabi remains something of a mystery. Through a series of battles, fights, escapes, downfalls, injuries and betrayals we learn a lot about her origins, motivation and fears - but less about her intentions. Hers has been a life with loss (you'll know that if you've read the previous books) and she's suffered both betrayal and failure, but even so, everywhere she goes, everything she does, seems to align with some unstated purpose. It's less than clear how far she knows and understands this herself (the asides to Blake suggest that she does) and how far she is is actively cooperating with it or how much she is being drawn along. The best I can put it is, the Ifs, who are an important part of this story, will offer their help but only on their own terms, and there is a cost. Gabi is clearly paying that price, but we don't know - and I don't think she does - how far she is being given fair weight in exchange for her coin.
All in all a heart-pounding and exciting story with a core of steel. As ever Stark Holborn is superlative in bringing alive these actively hostile, dead-end-of-the-galaxy locations, places which make each day's survival a heroic act and every character, therefore, a hero. They're like the desert environs of the typical Western raised to the power 100. That will be familiar from the earlier books, but the story has now expanded beyond that Western-in-Space metaphor to a whole new level of weird, anarchic, punkiness that is just a glory to read.
I'm not sure if there will be more in this series - the ending is I think deliberately unclear - but if there are I will be delighted. Holborn's books provide something - a spice, a feistiness - which, while impossible to pin down, is I think unique in current SF and which I just can't get enough of.
Ninth Life follows the career of ex General Gabriella Ortiz, originally a child soldier and a former hero of the Accord. Gabi featured in the earlier books, and her arrival, dragged from the wreck of a crashed spacecraft, nods to that. Here, though, her story is given in full - although it's contradictory to say that because as the narrator of Ninth Life makes clear, he has limited, uncertain sources and somebody is trying to erase his work.
Military Proctor Idrisi Blake himself is as much a character here as Gabi. We see his understanding of, and sympathy with, the former general turned pirate and rebel develop as his researches proceed. The framing is complex, with at least two different timelines for Gabi and numerous witnesses and accounts used to substantiate her career, but it's made more so by a fourth wall breaking effect where she seems at times to be directly addressing Blake. Failing to heed the often repeated instruction not to listen to her, Blake falls more and more under Gabi's spell, as do most of those she encounters and as, I am sure, will most readers.
Yet Gabi remains something of a mystery. Through a series of battles, fights, escapes, downfalls, injuries and betrayals we learn a lot about her origins, motivation and fears - but less about her intentions. Hers has been a life with loss (you'll know that if you've read the previous books) and she's suffered both betrayal and failure, but even so, everywhere she goes, everything she does, seems to align with some unstated purpose. It's less than clear how far she knows and understands this herself (the asides to Blake suggest that she does) and how far she is is actively cooperating with it or how much she is being drawn along. The best I can put it is, the Ifs, who are an important part of this story, will offer their help but only on their own terms, and there is a cost. Gabi is clearly paying that price, but we don't know - and I don't think she does - how far she is being given fair weight in exchange for her coin.
All in all a heart-pounding and exciting story with a core of steel. As ever Stark Holborn is superlative in bringing alive these actively hostile, dead-end-of-the-galaxy locations, places which make each day's survival a heroic act and every character, therefore, a hero. They're like the desert environs of the typical Western raised to the power 100. That will be familiar from the earlier books, but the story has now expanded beyond that Western-in-Space metaphor to a whole new level of weird, anarchic, punkiness that is just a glory to read.
I'm not sure if there will be more in this series - the ending is I think deliberately unclear - but if there are I will be delighted. Holborn's books provide something - a spice, a feistiness - which, while impossible to pin down, is I think unique in current SF and which I just can't get enough of.
June 25, 2024
When an accounting is made of the stories we tell in this era, no matter the genre, I want to see the Factus Sequence near the top. It deserves the word masterpiece as a whole. And individually, NINTH LIFE secured that title.
I finished this book and felt as though sand might pour from my mouth, and that the corners of my eyes might flash from a glint of metal and chance—which we dare not mention here.
Myths and stories have sustained us for millennia, and this book by Stark Holborn stands as evidence for why such tales persist. That survival is more than scraping out a living while on the run, beset by war and tragedy, hurling at the edge of what is known and unknown. It is more than just existing. This book series feels timeless because it taps into that essential, unknowable presence at the edge of our consciousness; because it blends action and emotion and extraordinary world building. We can smell and taste and anguish in these worlds, and on Factus in particular.
You don’t need to have seen or read anything else before these books to enjoy them. While they recall Westerns, Mad Max (particularly Fury Road, but really all the wasteland stories), The Thing, and every ghost story ever told, you will find something unique here to enjoy.
NINTH LIFE succeeds as the final entry in the trilogy because it enriches everything before it (and TEN LOW and HEL’S EIGHT are excellent) and elevates the entire series.
This book does more than stick the landing. It may have just opened an entirely new sub-genre of speculative fiction. Anything that follows will look to this series for inspiration.
Thank you to Stark Holborn for writing this stunning series and to Titan Books for the advance reader copy.
I finished this book and felt as though sand might pour from my mouth, and that the corners of my eyes might flash from a glint of metal and chance—which we dare not mention here.
Myths and stories have sustained us for millennia, and this book by Stark Holborn stands as evidence for why such tales persist. That survival is more than scraping out a living while on the run, beset by war and tragedy, hurling at the edge of what is known and unknown. It is more than just existing. This book series feels timeless because it taps into that essential, unknowable presence at the edge of our consciousness; because it blends action and emotion and extraordinary world building. We can smell and taste and anguish in these worlds, and on Factus in particular.
You don’t need to have seen or read anything else before these books to enjoy them. While they recall Westerns, Mad Max (particularly Fury Road, but really all the wasteland stories), The Thing, and every ghost story ever told, you will find something unique here to enjoy.
NINTH LIFE succeeds as the final entry in the trilogy because it enriches everything before it (and TEN LOW and HEL’S EIGHT are excellent) and elevates the entire series.
This book does more than stick the landing. It may have just opened an entirely new sub-genre of speculative fiction. Anything that follows will look to this series for inspiration.
Thank you to Stark Holborn for writing this stunning series and to Titan Books for the advance reader copy.
December 12, 2025
*10+ stars*. Wow, just wow. I did not realize that this series of books could get any better…..but it DID. This book was set in the same world as the first two but made it off of Factus and into space. This story is ambitious, wild, lyrical, risky and emotional. The book focuses on Nine Lives, General Ortiz and what she has been doing for 40 years since crash landing on Factus. I loved the way her backstory was told-thru a series of stories about all of her lives. Every single character was layered and full of depth and endlessly fascinating. The world building is amazing and the dual timelines were done perfectly. And that ending…..it could not have been anything else. Absolutely FANTASTIC book-this trilogy has been a joy to read! Top, top, top read and FAVORITE of the year!!!!!!
“After forty years of wreaking havoc across the galaxy, the outlaw Nine Lives – AKA Former General Gabriella Ortiz – has finally run out of lives. Shot down into a backwater at the system’s edge, she is rescued by Deputy Air Marshall Havemercy Grey.
Hav is a true soul, trying to uphold what is right in the heedless wastes. Hav is determined to see justice done. And Hav could sure use that 20-million bounty…
But escorting the most dangerous fugitive in the system across the stars is no easy task, especially when decades of fire and destruction are catching up with her, and every gutspill with a pistol wants that payday. So when Ortiz offers a deal – to keep them both alive, as long as Hav listens to the stories of her lives – Hav can’t refuse.
There’s just one catch: everywhere they go, during every brawl and gunfight and explosive escape, people say the same thing – don’t let her talk…”. (From the book blurb)
“After forty years of wreaking havoc across the galaxy, the outlaw Nine Lives – AKA Former General Gabriella Ortiz – has finally run out of lives. Shot down into a backwater at the system’s edge, she is rescued by Deputy Air Marshall Havemercy Grey.
Hav is a true soul, trying to uphold what is right in the heedless wastes. Hav is determined to see justice done. And Hav could sure use that 20-million bounty…
But escorting the most dangerous fugitive in the system across the stars is no easy task, especially when decades of fire and destruction are catching up with her, and every gutspill with a pistol wants that payday. So when Ortiz offers a deal – to keep them both alive, as long as Hav listens to the stories of her lives – Hav can’t refuse.
There’s just one catch: everywhere they go, during every brawl and gunfight and explosive escape, people say the same thing – don’t let her talk…”. (From the book blurb)
August 30, 2024
I enjoyed Ninth Life!
It's about the outlaw Nine Lives, aka Gabriella Ortiz who, after years of wreaking havoc across the galaxy, has finally run out of lives. Shot down, she is rescued by Havemercy, who could sure use that 20-million bounty...
But escorting Ortiz to justice is no easy task, so when Ortiz offers a deal to keep them both alive, as long as Hav listens to the stories of her lives, Hav can’t refuse.
There's just one catch. Everywhere they go, people say the same thing. Don’t let her talk…
This was the last book in The Factus Sequence, which really was a phenomenal series! Each book in the series, including this one, can all be read as standalones. I highly recommend reading them in order, though, as while they would definitely be highly enjoyable on their own, but together, they were just so much better and had a much bigger impact!
This book and series are so well written with amazing worldbuilding and characters that I love, and the book even made me cry.
The Ifs are still my favourite part, though, as the supernatural beings were still so fascinating and, in the end, still a mystery, which I really loved.
Ninth Life, while not my favourite in the series (my fave was Hel's Eight!), was really good! It was also the most unique in the series as it was written as a dossier put together by an archivist.
In the end, I'm definitely highly recommending Ninth Life, but even more so, I highly recommend the whole series!
It's a sci-fi western with horror and supernatural elements, and it's one that will stick with me for a long time, and I'm so happy and thhanful that i had the chance to read it!
It's about the outlaw Nine Lives, aka Gabriella Ortiz who, after years of wreaking havoc across the galaxy, has finally run out of lives. Shot down, she is rescued by Havemercy, who could sure use that 20-million bounty...
But escorting Ortiz to justice is no easy task, so when Ortiz offers a deal to keep them both alive, as long as Hav listens to the stories of her lives, Hav can’t refuse.
There's just one catch. Everywhere they go, people say the same thing. Don’t let her talk…
This was the last book in The Factus Sequence, which really was a phenomenal series! Each book in the series, including this one, can all be read as standalones. I highly recommend reading them in order, though, as while they would definitely be highly enjoyable on their own, but together, they were just so much better and had a much bigger impact!
This book and series are so well written with amazing worldbuilding and characters that I love, and the book even made me cry.
The Ifs are still my favourite part, though, as the supernatural beings were still so fascinating and, in the end, still a mystery, which I really loved.
Ninth Life, while not my favourite in the series (my fave was Hel's Eight!), was really good! It was also the most unique in the series as it was written as a dossier put together by an archivist.
In the end, I'm definitely highly recommending Ninth Life, but even more so, I highly recommend the whole series!
It's a sci-fi western with horror and supernatural elements, and it's one that will stick with me for a long time, and I'm so happy and thhanful that i had the chance to read it!
July 2, 2024
Having read both Ten Low & Hel’s Eight & having fallen in love with anything Factus related, Ninth Life has been eagerly anticipated. We have not been disappointed! It is ostensibly the story of General Gabriella Ortiz’s life. Do not be fooled. It is much, much more than that….
Throughout the tale of Gabi’s ‘lives & deaths’ we are treated to a finely structured narrative that combines the perspectives of not just Gabi, but also that of two new players, Deputy Air Marshall Havemercy Grey & Proctor Idrisi Blake. The way in which these are pulled together is staggering and adds new layers to an already great story. A truly fantastic achievement.
The earlier books were so different from the majority of today’s sf genre, I feel they probably created some kind of genre ‘Edge’ of their own, spilling out across the landscape of fiction with no regard for where they might be thought to belong. Both were sensational books in their own right and Ninth Life builds on this from the off, complimenting what has gone before, but running with its own, oh-so-strong, story.
The non-stop action, helter-skelter chase through Accorded Space & beyond is full of characters you already know and love & new ones you’d love to know more about. This is a history of a myth in the making & a worthy addition to the Factus family. Stark, thank you so much for one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I doff my (cowboy) hat & raise a glass of fine Mucopoly wine to you…
Throughout the tale of Gabi’s ‘lives & deaths’ we are treated to a finely structured narrative that combines the perspectives of not just Gabi, but also that of two new players, Deputy Air Marshall Havemercy Grey & Proctor Idrisi Blake. The way in which these are pulled together is staggering and adds new layers to an already great story. A truly fantastic achievement.
The earlier books were so different from the majority of today’s sf genre, I feel they probably created some kind of genre ‘Edge’ of their own, spilling out across the landscape of fiction with no regard for where they might be thought to belong. Both were sensational books in their own right and Ninth Life builds on this from the off, complimenting what has gone before, but running with its own, oh-so-strong, story.
The non-stop action, helter-skelter chase through Accorded Space & beyond is full of characters you already know and love & new ones you’d love to know more about. This is a history of a myth in the making & a worthy addition to the Factus family. Stark, thank you so much for one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I doff my (cowboy) hat & raise a glass of fine Mucopoly wine to you…
August 12, 2024
4.5 stars. This absolutely ruled. It took the elements I enjoyed from the previous installments (casual queerness, a bevy of complex female and nonbinary characters from all walks of life, space western world building and immaculate vibes, blistering critiques of capitalism as well as the military industrial complex, and brutal fast-paced action) while minimizing the less interesting parts (namely the main character and her whinging inner dialogue that reads as a psychological hair shirt).
It added to all that by centering itself around one of the coolest characters in recent science fiction if not all science fiction, General Gabriella Ortiz, the former child soldier turned gang lieutenant turned rebel general turned gun runner turned pit fighter turned pirate turned… you get the deal. She’s the coolest. Oh and she definitely reads as aro/ace. Add that to a cast of new characters, the return of old favorites, and the daring decision to write the novel using diary entries, radio transcripts, prison condition reports, and other in universe documentation? All that adds up to a winner in my book.
It added to all that by centering itself around one of the coolest characters in recent science fiction if not all science fiction, General Gabriella Ortiz, the former child soldier turned gang lieutenant turned rebel general turned gun runner turned pit fighter turned pirate turned… you get the deal. She’s the coolest. Oh and she definitely reads as aro/ace. Add that to a cast of new characters, the return of old favorites, and the daring decision to write the novel using diary entries, radio transcripts, prison condition reports, and other in universe documentation? All that adds up to a winner in my book.
May 14, 2024
It never ceases to amaze me how easily lost I get in the world of Factus and the characters that bring it to life. I'm the type of person who reads books and sees the movie play out in my head and Stark Holborn has an absolute gift of creating a world that I an completely immerse myself in. There are scenes in these books that I imagine in slow motion like clip of a Zack Snyder film.
This book is told from the point of view of Gabrielle Ortiz whom we first meet when rescued by Ten in the first book, "Ten Low". You get a front row seat to how she earned her nickname Nine Lives and lived to tell the tale. She tells her story to Havemercy Grey, a low level Accord agent who finds Gabi and wants to take her in for the huge reward to help her family. There are also interspersed chapters told by Military Proctor Idrisi Blake who has been tasked to research and find all evidence of Gabrielle Ortiz's history.
I absolutely loved going back to Factus and truly believe you'll love the journey as well.
This book is told from the point of view of Gabrielle Ortiz whom we first meet when rescued by Ten in the first book, "Ten Low". You get a front row seat to how she earned her nickname Nine Lives and lived to tell the tale. She tells her story to Havemercy Grey, a low level Accord agent who finds Gabi and wants to take her in for the huge reward to help her family. There are also interspersed chapters told by Military Proctor Idrisi Blake who has been tasked to research and find all evidence of Gabrielle Ortiz's history.
I absolutely loved going back to Factus and truly believe you'll love the journey as well.
August 23, 2024
Ninth Life a standalone sci-fi novel in The Factus Series. I had not read this author's books before, and I wasn't sure how I would enjoy them due to my limited experience reading sci-fi novels. However, I found it to be extremely engaging, and the writing style (epistolary-esque) was easy to absorb. The writing was very atmospheric, and I could practically feel the heat radiating from the desert sand.
I particularly enjoyed the segments where the author used the second person perspective. I don't see this used often enough, and it felt like it really put me into the story and the bodies of the characters.
The world building was exquisite, and I loved how Holborn played with every aspect of the universe that they created. The rules were constantly changing and kept the reader on their toes. I felt as though I couldn't read this book fast enough, and that hasn't happened to me in quite some time. I look forward to reading the other books in the series and staying in this world for as long as I can!
I particularly enjoyed the segments where the author used the second person perspective. I don't see this used often enough, and it felt like it really put me into the story and the bodies of the characters.
The world building was exquisite, and I loved how Holborn played with every aspect of the universe that they created. The rules were constantly changing and kept the reader on their toes. I felt as though I couldn't read this book fast enough, and that hasn't happened to me in quite some time. I look forward to reading the other books in the series and staying in this world for as long as I can!
July 24, 2024
I hate to say it, because I love Ten so much, but Gabi “Nine Lives” Ortiz has stolen the show with this final instalment of the Factus Sequence. It is my favourite of the 3, the way the story was present just totally clicked for me. The testimony of Havemercy “Hav” Grey gives a direct insight into the events which led to all of Gabi’s deaths which fit perfectly between the efforts of Proctor Idrisi Blake, for whom Gabi is perpetually just out of reach, and Sixofus (who was always read with the voice of D.J. from the Warriors) who’s catchy updates always brought a smile.
It is a completely rounded out story which pulls in elements of Ten Low and Hel’s Eight, and is immensely satisfying for it. Whilst all the books could be read as standalones, the pulling together of all the threads was a great payoff for having read them all. The scope of the story made the reading of this so captivating, so many different places that Gabi had travelled to, giving the opportunity to step outside the barrenness of Factus to places like the lush, but cloying prison camp of Molscher Nord and the gruesome viscera of the fighting pits of Prodor. Stark Holborn continues to write amazing action that gets me completely swept up with the battle of Artastra being a particular gem as it flips battle with emotion so expertly. All of these are reasons for Hav to not let her talk but these are Gabi’s legacy and one that i am glad that i got to be part of. Thank you to Stark and Titan books for the review copy
It is a completely rounded out story which pulls in elements of Ten Low and Hel’s Eight, and is immensely satisfying for it. Whilst all the books could be read as standalones, the pulling together of all the threads was a great payoff for having read them all. The scope of the story made the reading of this so captivating, so many different places that Gabi had travelled to, giving the opportunity to step outside the barrenness of Factus to places like the lush, but cloying prison camp of Molscher Nord and the gruesome viscera of the fighting pits of Prodor. Stark Holborn continues to write amazing action that gets me completely swept up with the battle of Artastra being a particular gem as it flips battle with emotion so expertly. All of these are reasons for Hav to not let her talk but these are Gabi’s legacy and one that i am glad that i got to be part of. Thank you to Stark and Titan books for the review copy
August 1, 2024
I loved the first two books in Stark Holborn's Factus Sequence and this third story I enjoyed even more. The brilliant world building and characterizations in the first two books pays dividends in this latest story focusing on Garbriella Ortiz. The child soldier, rescued by ten low in the first book becomes the focus in this fast paced action driven narrative.
The compelling characters are rivaled by an equally fascinating world. The moon of Factus is a savage wasteland ruled by possibility. While its inhabitants hold no respect for the Accord, all know to fear the chaotic power present there. Little is understood about this divine force or reality splitting phenomenon. Stark Holborn expands the worldbuilding in Ninth Life, revealing more about the mysterious power on Factus and the other worlds in this universe.
Stark Holborn writes an extraordinary tale. Ninth Life is an explosion of action and imagination. I am desperately hoping this isn't the last we see of these intriguing worlds and characters but it would also be a satisfying resolution to this story.
The compelling characters are rivaled by an equally fascinating world. The moon of Factus is a savage wasteland ruled by possibility. While its inhabitants hold no respect for the Accord, all know to fear the chaotic power present there. Little is understood about this divine force or reality splitting phenomenon. Stark Holborn expands the worldbuilding in Ninth Life, revealing more about the mysterious power on Factus and the other worlds in this universe.
Stark Holborn writes an extraordinary tale. Ninth Life is an explosion of action and imagination. I am desperately hoping this isn't the last we see of these intriguing worlds and characters but it would also be a satisfying resolution to this story.
August 1, 2024
Fabulous final instalment of the Factus trilogy, following Gabi, the former General, and Factan faction leader. We read of Gabi's, now known as Nine Lives, deaths from before she crashed on Factus (see Hel's Eight) to her final adventure with Hel, originally Ten 'Doc' Low (see Ten Low), as told by Hav and a future archivist, Idrisi Blake, who has been tasked with chronicling the life of Gabrielle Ortiz.
A riveting adventure through space, full of action and tension. The narrative moves between Blake's increasingly disordered search for information and Hav's recollections of their adventures with Gabi and the tale Gabi told Hav, supplemented by information Blake manages to retrieve from Accord sources to include in his report, such as interview transcripts and newspaper reports.
A riveting adventure through space, full of action and tension. The narrative moves between Blake's increasingly disordered search for information and Hav's recollections of their adventures with Gabi and the tale Gabi told Hav, supplemented by information Blake manages to retrieve from Accord sources to include in his report, such as interview transcripts and newspaper reports.
March 23, 2025
If you've read the two previous books in The Factus Sequence this tale of Gabi's rises and falls and lives and deaths will be fascinating and at some level deeply satisfying. If you haven't read the previous books you may find this story confusing and disconnected.
August 9, 2024
This is a standalone book but also the third book in The Factus Sequence series. It's different in style from the other two books. It's a dossier on Gabriella Ortiz filled with the accounts of Havemercy 'Hav' Grey, whom Ortiz told her story to, but also with interview transcripts and other mixed media.
I liked the dossier-style of the novel. It's easy to follow, has great pacing and I was looking forward to finding out more about Ortiz and Hav. The style allowed for the two timelines to flow seamlessly alongside each other - the timeline of Ortiz's backstory and the timeline of Hav trying to cash in the bounty on Ortiz's head.
I don't normally like space westerns but this one really worked for me.
I liked the dossier-style of the novel. It's easy to follow, has great pacing and I was looking forward to finding out more about Ortiz and Hav. The style allowed for the two timelines to flow seamlessly alongside each other - the timeline of Ortiz's backstory and the timeline of Hav trying to cash in the bounty on Ortiz's head.
I don't normally like space westerns but this one really worked for me.
August 27, 2024
This centers on another character Gabriella from The Factus Sequence series and jumps back and forth in time telling the story of her lives after Factus #2.
This is still a hard boiled western science fiction, but this time we visit other moons and planets in a romp around the universe.
The sympathy lies very much on the little self reliant woman battling against an overwhelming force of corporate greed.
The supernatural element of parallel realities are very well incorporated in the world and story and here plays a very big role.
Another good one from Stark Holborn who seem to have the modern western with a twist genre cornered.
This is still a hard boiled western science fiction, but this time we visit other moons and planets in a romp around the universe.
The sympathy lies very much on the little self reliant woman battling against an overwhelming force of corporate greed.
The supernatural element of parallel realities are very well incorporated in the world and story and here plays a very big role.
Another good one from Stark Holborn who seem to have the modern western with a twist genre cornered.
August 23, 2024
Is this the conclusion, or is it just another story in the same universe? That's difficult to say as this didn't feel as cohesive as the previous 2 books. There's a sprinkling of the same characters, but I wasn't as invested in the outcome, especially as the story bounced forward and backward. That jerkiness erased the flow I liked in the previous books and I just didn't get as involved. The book wasn't bad, it just wasn't at the same level.....
If you liked the previous 2 books, there's the same universe and a some of the old characters, so worth a read.
If you liked the previous 2 books, there's the same universe and a some of the old characters, so worth a read.
August 23, 2024
Ninth Life was a great addition to the Factus Sequence series! It was really interesting to see certain events from the first two books from Gabi’s perspective and to see how much she has changed and grown from when we first meet her in Ten Low.
The world building in this one was just as good as in the others and paced really well. It was wonderful to see characters we had met before as well as new characters that played an integral role in the story of the outlaw Nine Lives. And I really felt that the ending was absolutely perfect for this incredible character and her story.
Holborn’s writing is wonderfully descriptive and immersive and really brings life to her characters and their world. And it’s that style of writing that really gets the reader hooked and coming back for more.
The world building in this one was just as good as in the others and paced really well. It was wonderful to see characters we had met before as well as new characters that played an integral role in the story of the outlaw Nine Lives. And I really felt that the ending was absolutely perfect for this incredible character and her story.
Holborn’s writing is wonderfully descriptive and immersive and really brings life to her characters and their world. And it’s that style of writing that really gets the reader hooked and coming back for more.
September 12, 2024
Stark Holborn finished her trilogy with "Ninth Life." Stark modified her style for this last book offering the reader different perspectives on the general story and exploring new perspectives on Gabriel Ortiz. I enjoyed some of the various perspectives and explorations of multiple locations. The politics and the different characters in the frontier were great. I am interested to see new stories from Stark Holborn and can't wait to enjoy her contributions to the video game Nivalis.
June 1, 2024
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this upcoming release. I thoroughly enjoyed renewing my acquaintance with General Gabi Ortiz in this fast paced, beautifully written and structurally innovative tale.
My full review will come out on the fantasy-hive website on 22nd July (the day before launch day) but this definitely a book to pre-order.
My full review will come out on the fantasy-hive website on 22nd July (the day before launch day) but this definitely a book to pre-order.
September 11, 2024
This was an amazing, outstanding finale to the trilogy! It kept up with the same fast paced action but was written differently than the first two. It was like reading a documentary and was kind of fragmented, but the story still flowed fluently. It was also like a story within a story. It was unique and imaginative! I enjoyed all the books in this series!
September 19, 2024
I was not expecting this book to be THIS good. Ten Low was hard to follow, and Hel's Eight did a good job but didn't quite meet the same bar. Ninth Life clears that bar by the end of the first chapter. It is such a good book, with beautiful language, sharp wit, and an unmatchable pace. This book will stick with me for a long time. I'd give it 6/5 stars if I could.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews