What do you think?
Rate this book
Sol Blazers
Freelancers of Neptune
All he wanted was a simple job to make ends meet. What he got was a mysterious cat girl, a shot at a hoard of treasure, and a whole lot of trouble.
The Solar System ain’t what it used to be!
In the far distant future, Saturn’s rings are gone, Mercury is a gas giant, and Earth is remembered only as a unit of measure. Nearly godlike AIs reshaped the Solar System in eons past, but they too are now nothing more than a fading memory.
Captain Nathaniel Kade cares for none of that. He’s but a simple freelancer from the orbital ring of Neptune, struggling to make ends meet and to keep his understaffed spaceship from falling apart. All he wants is a decent, uneventful job to help put his finances back in order.
What he receives instead is Vessani S’Kaari, a mysterious and beautiful cat girl who tried—and failed—to steal a ship belonging to a band of space pirates. Vessani’s in over her head and is clearly more trouble than she’s worth, but she also has a lead on what may be the greatest treasure trove of lost technology the Solar System has ever seen.
Nathan pulls her butt out of the fire, and together they begin to assemble a team to seek out this long-lost bounty. But other interested parties have their eyes on the same prize; the Jovian Everlife has dispatched a fleet of warships with one of their elite, many-bodied agents in command, and he’d like a few words with Nathan and his new crewmember.
The Solar System ain’t what it used to be!
In the far distant future, Saturn’s rings are gone, Mercury is a gas giant, and Earth is remembered only as a unit of measure. Nearly godlike AIs reshaped the Solar System in eons past, but they too are now nothing more than a fading memory.
Captain Nathaniel Kade cares for none of that. He’s but a simple freelancer from the orbital ring of Neptune, struggling to make ends meet and to keep his understaffed spaceship from falling apart. All he wants is a decent, uneventful job to help put his finances back in order.
What he receives instead is Vessani S’Kaari, a mysterious and beautiful cat girl who tried—and failed—to steal a ship belonging to a band of space pirates. Vessani’s in over her head and is clearly more trouble than she’s worth, but she also has a lead on what may be the greatest treasure trove of lost technology the Solar System has ever seen.
Nathan pulls her butt out of the fire, and together they begin to assemble a team to seek out this long-lost bounty. But other interested parties have their eyes on the same prize; the Jovian Everlife has dispatched a fleet of warships with one of their elite, many-bodied agents in command, and he’d like a few words with Nathan and his new crewmember.
- GenresScience Fiction
368 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2024
11 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Holo
33 books58 followersJacob Holo has been a recreational geek since childhood, when he discovered Star Wars and Star Trek, and a professional geek since college, when he graduated from Youngstown State University with a degree in Electrical and Controls Engineering. He started writing when his parents bought that “new” IBM 286 desktop, and over the years, those powers combined to push him to the next level of nerddom: a sci-fi author who designs intricate worlds and tech systems...and promptly blows them up in a string of nonstop action.
He is the author of seven books, including national bestseller The Gordian Protocol (with David Weber), military sci-fi The Dragons of Jupiter, YA urban fantasy Time Reavers (a Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Book of 2014), and the mecha space opera trilogy Seraphim Revival (Bane of the Dead, Throne of the Dead, Disciple of the Dead); and YA steampunk fantasy The Wizard’s Way (with H.P. Holo).
Between novels, Jacob enjoys gaming of all sorts, whether video gaming, card gaming, miniature wargaming, or watching speed runs on YouTube. He is a former-Ohioan, former-Michigander who now lives in South Carolina with his wife/boss H.P. and his cat/boss Nova.
He is the author of seven books, including national bestseller The Gordian Protocol (with David Weber), military sci-fi The Dragons of Jupiter, YA urban fantasy Time Reavers (a Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Book of 2014), and the mecha space opera trilogy Seraphim Revival (Bane of the Dead, Throne of the Dead, Disciple of the Dead); and YA steampunk fantasy The Wizard’s Way (with H.P. Holo).
Between novels, Jacob enjoys gaming of all sorts, whether video gaming, card gaming, miniature wargaming, or watching speed runs on YouTube. He is a former-Ohioan, former-Michigander who now lives in South Carolina with his wife/boss H.P. and his cat/boss Nova.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
January 18, 2025
This is quite the fun book. I had heard at LibertyCon the book pitched as "Firefly meets Ringworld", and I can definitely see that combination. Personally, I thought the book had the fun swashbuckling adventures I enjoyed from the movie "Solo" as well as the A. C. Crispin Han Solo trilogy.
I particularly liked the way the worldbuilding worked for this book. The various aliens and settlements in the book were really fascinating to me. It felt very fleshed out, without being too over explained.
I thought the general plot was fine, although it never really wowed me. What makes the book work so well are the relatable characters of Nathan, Vessani, Joshua, Rufus, and, Aiko. I was actually really impressed with how Jacob Holo wrote Aiko here.
This type of book would work really well if you've just read something really heavy and are looking for a lighter, more fun read.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I do look forward to if Jacob gets to write any sequels. Overall, I'll give the book a 7.5 out of 10.
I particularly liked the way the worldbuilding worked for this book. The various aliens and settlements in the book were really fascinating to me. It felt very fleshed out, without being too over explained.
I thought the general plot was fine, although it never really wowed me. What makes the book work so well are the relatable characters of Nathan, Vessani, Joshua, Rufus, and, Aiko. I was actually really impressed with how Jacob Holo wrote Aiko here.
This type of book would work really well if you've just read something really heavy and are looking for a lighter, more fun read.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I do look forward to if Jacob gets to write any sequels. Overall, I'll give the book a 7.5 out of 10.
July 8, 2024
Starts great with lots of mystery and promise in a very interesting far future Solar System setting but it doesn't quite sustain that promise as there is too much of the heroes in impossible situations saved in the last minute by this or that; similarly the villains are a bit too powerfully villainous and the suspension of disbelief gets quite frayed at times. However the main storyline is more or less resolved and the book ends on a promising note so I definitely recommend it as an entertaining read with some imbalance but regaining its initial promise by the end with sequel of interest.
August 4, 2024
Freelancers of Neptune is the new space opera by Jacob Holo [expected publication October 2024]. Captain Kade and his crew travel the universe delivering cargo, transporting passengers, and performing other for hire work that they are able to take on. At the end of one such job, they decide to capture a stolen spaceship and the catgirl thief, which leads to an exciting, multifaceted adventure as Kade searches for some ancient technology.
Holo has done an excellent job of universe building, which is located in our solar system, far in the future, and is very different from ours. I am not that scientifically minded, but the science seems plausible, and is consistent. There are multiple sentient species and cultures, which Kade encounters on his journey. As in good space operas, Kade and his growing crew travel from world to world, facing and surviving dire threats, only to end up facing another. One of the reviews comments these “last minute” escapes are too unrealistic; however, I found all the solutions were based on skills or talents previously established in the story. The villains introduce an extremely dark element to the book, and will do anything to seize the ancient technology for themselves. There is a religious element to the villain’s motivations. The darkness of the villains is in contrast to the general overall tone of Kade and his crew, which is lighthearted with good natured humor.
Freelancers of Neptune is a stand alone story, with no plot lines left unresolved, but the book ends with an epilogue, which had me excited for when the next book in the series is coming out. Holo has created characters and a universe easily able to support a variety of future stories. I received an eARC of Freelancers of Neptune, in return for an honest review.
Holo has done an excellent job of universe building, which is located in our solar system, far in the future, and is very different from ours. I am not that scientifically minded, but the science seems plausible, and is consistent. There are multiple sentient species and cultures, which Kade encounters on his journey. As in good space operas, Kade and his growing crew travel from world to world, facing and surviving dire threats, only to end up facing another. One of the reviews comments these “last minute” escapes are too unrealistic; however, I found all the solutions were based on skills or talents previously established in the story. The villains introduce an extremely dark element to the book, and will do anything to seize the ancient technology for themselves. There is a religious element to the villain’s motivations. The darkness of the villains is in contrast to the general overall tone of Kade and his crew, which is lighthearted with good natured humor.
Freelancers of Neptune is a stand alone story, with no plot lines left unresolved, but the book ends with an epilogue, which had me excited for when the next book in the series is coming out. Holo has created characters and a universe easily able to support a variety of future stories. I received an eARC of Freelancers of Neptune, in return for an honest review.
October 20, 2024
This was a good one. It is the first, and only (so far), book in the Sol Blazers series. It is clearly hinted that a continuation is planned though. I guess it depends on how well it sells. As we all now the fat lazy slob has screwed over a lot of authors by sitting on his fat ass enjoying his TV-show royalties instead of finishing his series so now a lot of people wont read a series unless it is finished. These people obviously expects writers to magically get paid somehow while finishing their series.
Anyway, I digress. As can be seen from the book blurb the story of this book plays out in a mildly dystopian future with earth gone and people living in huge habitats all over the solar system.
The technology behind these habitats and a lot of things that humanity uses is not really understood and here is where the premise of this book starts. Humanity are seeking old artefacts from the age of the AIs, trying to understand them and put them to work.
Unfortunately, these artefacts are like pre-Victorian age humans finding and understanding a nuclear bomb. Things are likely to go bad. Very very bad.
The author has built a very interesting universe indeed. This is also one of these science fiction books that, although it plays out many thousands year in the future, there is no faster than light travel. At least not yet. The entire story plays out in the solar system.
The book starts off quite nice with various events introducing some main characters, the universe, a bit of torture (yes this is where the bad guy is introduced) and a bit later the main character.
The rest of the book is a swashbuckling adventure with a good dose of both action and mystery solving and relic hunting a’la Indiana Jones.
The main characters are likable and the villains are suitably unlikable. Actually the main villain is quite dark and evil making a nice balance. This is not a rosy TV-show book where the villains are just there to provide cringy dialogue and excuses for action scenes.
The beautiful cat girl part is also not devolving into the usual hero / damsel romantic entanglement which is refreshing.
The book has a slight religious element to it but this is not based on any current religion or mythology but is rather based on the limited understanding of the technology created by the god-like AIs that reshaped the solar system. Any sufficiently advanced technology will appear like magic after all. It weaves nicely into the story and actually provides some mild hints as to future advancements and story threads.
Overall I quite liked this book. It was a nice story, a pleasant read and a unique, for me at least, universe building.
Anyway, I digress. As can be seen from the book blurb the story of this book plays out in a mildly dystopian future with earth gone and people living in huge habitats all over the solar system.
The technology behind these habitats and a lot of things that humanity uses is not really understood and here is where the premise of this book starts. Humanity are seeking old artefacts from the age of the AIs, trying to understand them and put them to work.
Unfortunately, these artefacts are like pre-Victorian age humans finding and understanding a nuclear bomb. Things are likely to go bad. Very very bad.
The author has built a very interesting universe indeed. This is also one of these science fiction books that, although it plays out many thousands year in the future, there is no faster than light travel. At least not yet. The entire story plays out in the solar system.
The book starts off quite nice with various events introducing some main characters, the universe, a bit of torture (yes this is where the bad guy is introduced) and a bit later the main character.
The rest of the book is a swashbuckling adventure with a good dose of both action and mystery solving and relic hunting a’la Indiana Jones.
The main characters are likable and the villains are suitably unlikable. Actually the main villain is quite dark and evil making a nice balance. This is not a rosy TV-show book where the villains are just there to provide cringy dialogue and excuses for action scenes.
The beautiful cat girl part is also not devolving into the usual hero / damsel romantic entanglement which is refreshing.
The book has a slight religious element to it but this is not based on any current religion or mythology but is rather based on the limited understanding of the technology created by the god-like AIs that reshaped the solar system. Any sufficiently advanced technology will appear like magic after all. It weaves nicely into the story and actually provides some mild hints as to future advancements and story threads.
Overall I quite liked this book. It was a nice story, a pleasant read and a unique, for me at least, universe building.
December 1, 2024
Jacob Holo has a fun melodrama set centuries after the technological gods that had provided utopian civilization to the many habitats of the Solar System were destroyed. Nathaniel Kade and multibodied Aiko Pratti are Freelancers of Neptune (hard from Baen) using their ship, the Neptune Belle for passengers and cargo across the system. They are hired by Joshua Cotton and catwoman Vessani S’Kaari to go to her home habitat which has a relic called the black egg. It may help locate something from the age of gods. Chasing them is the multibodied Xormun with several powerful ships. He will torture and kill anyone who gets in his way to capturing the macguffin. Danger lurks at every turn and our heroes are frequently at death’s door. Lots of fun and more adventures are promised.
July 20, 2024
What a series starter!
Captain Nathaniel Kade should have known that accepting the contract from the ship-stealing cat girl would only bring trouble. Now he and his understaffed ship are up to their ears in inter-planetary intrigue chasing a treasure with some very dangerous individuals close behind.
Jacob Holo crafts a solar system of cultures and posits a new creation theory for the planets. The concept of the Pentathlon with its diverse powers brings a Greek pantheon flavor to this well-written sci-fi story. I’m excited to see what the next book will bring. I received an advance copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
Captain Nathaniel Kade should have known that accepting the contract from the ship-stealing cat girl would only bring trouble. Now he and his understaffed ship are up to their ears in inter-planetary intrigue chasing a treasure with some very dangerous individuals close behind.
Jacob Holo crafts a solar system of cultures and posits a new creation theory for the planets. The concept of the Pentathlon with its diverse powers brings a Greek pantheon flavor to this well-written sci-fi story. I’m excited to see what the next book will bring. I received an advance copy but my review is honest and voluntary.
November 25, 2024
Firefly + Mass Effect + Cute Cat Girls = Purrfection!
This work just jettisoned its way to my favorites! Fun and engaging throughout!!!
Quirky and whimsy yet without doubt leans on the strengths of its edge.
The characters are top tier - it’s like reading a Joss Whedon script back at the height of Whedon’s career.
The world building shines into every crevice of the narrative without becoming burdensome and even compliments in bringing out the emotional depths of the characters.
5/5
It feels great to have a new fun Science Fiction series that isn’t the dark heavy kind!
This work just jettisoned its way to my favorites! Fun and engaging throughout!!!
Quirky and whimsy yet without doubt leans on the strengths of its edge.
The characters are top tier - it’s like reading a Joss Whedon script back at the height of Whedon’s career.
The world building shines into every crevice of the narrative without becoming burdensome and even compliments in bringing out the emotional depths of the characters.
5/5
It feels great to have a new fun Science Fiction series that isn’t the dark heavy kind!
April 8, 2025
Its...fine? Weirdly the best part of the books are when they are not in space. Pacing slows to a crawl anytime the characters are in a static location (like a spaceship).
Otherwise, charaters range from fine to quite likable, action segments serviceable, and the world building is fun and, while not super original, is fun in a slocky space opera kind of way.
Feels a bit CW at times, but that's not to its detriment. Overall, it's a light fair but not bad. Would have like to see more world building and less linear walkthroughs of story beats!
Otherwise, charaters range from fine to quite likable, action segments serviceable, and the world building is fun and, while not super original, is fun in a slocky space opera kind of way.
Feels a bit CW at times, but that's not to its detriment. Overall, it's a light fair but not bad. Would have like to see more world building and less linear walkthroughs of story beats!
August 14, 2024
I heard about this book at a couple different conventions, so when a prerelease copy was offered I got it and enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the various outlooks from the different planetary groups. It was interesting to have it be our solar system, sort of, but so far in the future that much has changed. The gods gave me a little chuckle as well.
It says it's the first of the Sol Blazers, so I look forward to seeing others in the series.
It says it's the first of the Sol Blazers, so I look forward to seeing others in the series.
October 6, 2024
Freelancers of Neptune by Jacob Holo is the first book in his new "Sol Blazers" series. Freelancers is a fun space opera set in a very far future where our solar system has been remolded by a race of beings for the benefit of mankind. It has a cast of interesting characters including an ex-pirate cat girl. There is plenty of action and many plot twists and turns. It was a great read and I look forward to the next book in the series when it comes out.
November 6, 2024
Freelancers of Neptune is the first book in this series, and it's got everything you could want, space ships, dragons, (of a sort), pirates, dangerous tech, and of course, an adventure to tie it all together. An excellent read.
December 1, 2024
One of the best space opera novels I've read in a long time.
3000 years after something happened to the great AIs who created a paradise for humanity, leaving pockets of humanity with varying levels of access to remanet technology and knowledge,; comes a story of a independent space ship captain with a strong moral code. He falls into becoming a hero though most of humanity will never know what he did.
3000 years after something happened to the great AIs who created a paradise for humanity, leaving pockets of humanity with varying levels of access to remanet technology and knowledge,; comes a story of a independent space ship captain with a strong moral code. He falls into becoming a hero though most of humanity will never know what he did.
November 11, 2024
Really really good.
A motley crew somehow naturally finds together to save everyone.
Lots of fun, the interactions between the protagonists feels natural and includes a lot of sarcasm, which I really really like.
Also, the story might just be the first in a bigger arc, but it stands on its own, there are no cliffhangers (just a few story hooks maybe).
A motley crew somehow naturally finds together to save everyone.
Lots of fun, the interactions between the protagonists feels natural and includes a lot of sarcasm, which I really really like.
Also, the story might just be the first in a bigger arc, but it stands on its own, there are no cliffhangers (just a few story hooks maybe).
October 7, 2024
excellent
Good solid clean space opera from Mr. Holo. I enjoyed the rather breakneck pacing, and I got surprised a couple of times. That is good, and I will read if further books come out!👌
Good solid clean space opera from Mr. Holo. I enjoyed the rather breakneck pacing, and I got surprised a couple of times. That is good, and I will read if further books come out!👌
December 30, 2024
This book is pure innocent fun. What I suppose af classic 50s sci-fi would be like if it was written today.
April 14, 2025
Predictable quest novel
September 6, 2025
Fun adventure. The novel takes place in a solar system post apocalypse. The author found a fascinating way to turn a future version of our solar system into a mass of myriad and unexplored artificial habitats that were created by AI run amok in the protagonists' distant past
So far in the past that the origin of the term for of land mass measurement " earth's" is lost to time. Yet the many habitats that now exist allow the protagonists to explore strange places and alien peoples without leaving the system or worrying about FYL.
And it's a fun read.
.Don't get me wrong, the cat-humanod character is as predictable as you would expect. John Maddox Robert's cingularium and Richard Meyers Doomstar are notable versions, but there are other science fiction novels that explore the concept, the Chaos Quarter series, and even the Flandry series.
Yet Holo does a good job, and his version is interesting if not new. The best part us Holo refrains from making it distract from a really good story.
Read it.
So far in the past that the origin of the term for of land mass measurement " earth's" is lost to time. Yet the many habitats that now exist allow the protagonists to explore strange places and alien peoples without leaving the system or worrying about FYL.
And it's a fun read.
.Don't get me wrong, the cat-humanod character is as predictable as you would expect. John Maddox Robert's cingularium and Richard Meyers Doomstar are notable versions, but there are other science fiction novels that explore the concept, the Chaos Quarter series, and even the Flandry series.
Yet Holo does a good job, and his version is interesting if not new. The best part us Holo refrains from making it distract from a really good story.
Read it.
August 22, 2025
Okay...so it's tricky to write a uniqies and exciting light adventure space opera novel and keep it in system. Especially of one of your main characters is a feline human hybrid and she's depicted in a silly catwoman cat suit oknthe cover
It's been done,.... the cat woman as a character in scifi...but it requires effort...add a cat-lady and you are asking to be considered a silly flop.
John Maddox Robert's Cingularum did it best....he even made a sequel....but it did not make a third book.
Until now. Ignore the cover art, ignore Spaceways and other works that had cat woman variants.....this book is EXCELLENT.
The author tells a well spaced story where you enjoy the characters and his reformed Sol system is built so the reader never wants to leave the suste...just keep kicking around woth these characters.
This is kinda loke what Firefky wanted to hy...but couldn't cause it was a ripoff of the Traveller RPG . The character s are smart, realistic, have depth and behave rationally. If enjoyed the crew ofbthe Starship Kieko or the zeppelin Ketty Jay, then you'll love this group.
The pacing is well done and brisk, the description is excellent and the science holds up. The back story is a solar system thousands of years after AIs did some redesign with open habitat rings and O'Neil stations while Humans had access to body shaoing tech...but a cataclysm happened and much of the information was lost. Whilebits obvious there wa sa high level of nano and Pico tech involved the author did not make those items unexplainable magic tech.
Things make sense and are well thought out
But really it's the writing and the story that males it. The author is unafraid to be graphic wheb needed m, but he let's his characters be afraid, worried, funny and flawed. While the sub plot bad guys do come out of sinister sadist Central casting they are still a lot of fun.
I think thevmain character can hold his head high with Liam Hoffen, Brian Daly's Han Solo, the captains of the Kieko and Ketty Jay, and the caotians of the Cordova AND L Niel Smiths Lando Calrissian.
I really hope the author publishes a lot of books in the series. I jist hope the next cover artist makes the book look less like a Spaceways novel. The Author deserves TONS better.
It's been done,.... the cat woman as a character in scifi...but it requires effort...add a cat-lady and you are asking to be considered a silly flop.
John Maddox Robert's Cingularum did it best....he even made a sequel....but it did not make a third book.
Until now. Ignore the cover art, ignore Spaceways and other works that had cat woman variants.....this book is EXCELLENT.
The author tells a well spaced story where you enjoy the characters and his reformed Sol system is built so the reader never wants to leave the suste...just keep kicking around woth these characters.
This is kinda loke what Firefky wanted to hy...but couldn't cause it was a ripoff of the Traveller RPG . The character s are smart, realistic, have depth and behave rationally. If enjoyed the crew ofbthe Starship Kieko or the zeppelin Ketty Jay, then you'll love this group.
The pacing is well done and brisk, the description is excellent and the science holds up. The back story is a solar system thousands of years after AIs did some redesign with open habitat rings and O'Neil stations while Humans had access to body shaoing tech...but a cataclysm happened and much of the information was lost. Whilebits obvious there wa sa high level of nano and Pico tech involved the author did not make those items unexplainable magic tech.
Things make sense and are well thought out
But really it's the writing and the story that males it. The author is unafraid to be graphic wheb needed m, but he let's his characters be afraid, worried, funny and flawed. While the sub plot bad guys do come out of sinister sadist Central casting they are still a lot of fun.
I think thevmain character can hold his head high with Liam Hoffen, Brian Daly's Han Solo, the captains of the Kieko and Ketty Jay, and the caotians of the Cordova AND L Niel Smiths Lando Calrissian.
I really hope the author publishes a lot of books in the series. I jist hope the next cover artist makes the book look less like a Spaceways novel. The Author deserves TONS better.
January 14, 2026
An awesome space opera, with some big ideas, mystery and intrigue, cool settings, fun characters and spaceships. This book was just plain fun to read from cover to cover. It's one of those books that reminds me of the fact that reading is supposed to be fun in the first place. I'm going to check out more books by this author and I would absolutely love a sequel.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews