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Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire #10
No More Mr. Nice Girl: Mission 10
Even the best of us has a demon locked up deep inside. Sometimes, they get loose.
In the constant war against her darker side, Esper was forced to win a daily battle for control. One loss was all it took for the roles of warden and prisoner to switch. Now, with her friends as hostages, this new Esper relies on advice from her better half to keep up the illusion that this is still the Esper they know and love.
When their newly acquired base of operations gets hijacked, Esper has to balance between maintaining her cover and doing what she knows it's going to take to get her ship back.
No More Mr. Nice Girl is the tenth mission of Black Mercy for Hire . Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series.
In the constant war against her darker side, Esper was forced to win a daily battle for control. One loss was all it took for the roles of warden and prisoner to switch. Now, with her friends as hostages, this new Esper relies on advice from her better half to keep up the illusion that this is still the Esper they know and love.
When their newly acquired base of operations gets hijacked, Esper has to balance between maintaining her cover and doing what she knows it's going to take to get her ship back.
No More Mr. Nice Girl is the tenth mission of Black Mercy for Hire . Set in the Black Ocean Universe, it continues the saga of the galaxy's sweetest bounty hunter and her loyal sidekick (who is NOT a dog!) and introduces a colorful cast for new and returning readers alike. Fans of vigilante justice and heroes who exemplify the word will love this series.
170 pages, Paperback
Published March 10, 2020
8 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Morin
193 books616 followersI am a creator of worlds and a destroyer of words. As a fantasy writer, my works range from traditional epics to futuristic fantasy with starships. I have worked as an unpaid Little League pitcher, a cashier, a student library aide, a factory grunt, a cubicle drone, and an engineer--there is some overlap in the last two.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
Through it all, though, I was always a storyteller. Eventually I started writing books based on the stray stories in my head, and people kept telling me to write more of them. Now, that's all I do for a living.
I enjoy strategy, worldbuilding, and the fantasy author's privilege to make up words. I am a gamer, a joker, and a thinker of sideways thoughts. But I don't dance, can't sing, and my best artistic efforts fall short of your average notebook doodle. When you read my books, you are seeing me at my best.
My ultimate goal is to be both clever and right at the same time. I have it on good authority that I have yet to achieve it.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 29, 2021
All the training that Esper Richelieu received from her teacher Mordecai the Brown - known to his friends as Mort and to his enemies as "Oh, s*&t!" - didn't prepare her for what she found in a certain book, a book that had created a whole new world in her mind and, even more concerning, a whole new version of Esper that she could not...shut...UP!!! What she was NOT prepared for was the fight for control of her very soul...and body...a battle that she was unprepared for and one she seems to be losing. Now that battle has grown to encompass the rest of her MFH family - and they are not even aware that they are in a war.
Meanwhile...no good deed goes unpunished and could cost MFH their home and perhaps their lives.
The 10th chapter of the MERCY FOR HIRE series is a perfect example of author Jeff Morin's storytelling chops and his ability to keep his readers invested. He turns everything on its head and in just a few pages gives us a NEW version and a new purpose. The more things change, the more they stay the same. More importantly, he doesn't simply create a throw away situation then move on. Jeff has created foreshadowing threads that have LITERALLY been woven throughout dozens of his books that find their moments in the sun and, as a reader, you simply shake your head and say "Of COURSE that's what was going to happen. Why didn't I see that earlier?" Morin flexes his imagination that, time after time, shows why his BLACK OCEAN is one of the best ongoing - and continually growing and evolving - Science Fiction/Science Fantasy universes being published.
Meanwhile...no good deed goes unpunished and could cost MFH their home and perhaps their lives.
The 10th chapter of the MERCY FOR HIRE series is a perfect example of author Jeff Morin's storytelling chops and his ability to keep his readers invested. He turns everything on its head and in just a few pages gives us a NEW version and a new purpose. The more things change, the more they stay the same. More importantly, he doesn't simply create a throw away situation then move on. Jeff has created foreshadowing threads that have LITERALLY been woven throughout dozens of his books that find their moments in the sun and, as a reader, you simply shake your head and say "Of COURSE that's what was going to happen. Why didn't I see that earlier?" Morin flexes his imagination that, time after time, shows why his BLACK OCEAN is one of the best ongoing - and continually growing and evolving - Science Fiction/Science Fantasy universes being published.
May 26, 2020
Trapped in her own mind, Esper struggles with her new circumstances, forced to council her darker half on how to fool her friends into believing 'all is well'. Dark Esper can mask her lapses in character behind her anger that the people Esper last helped have stolen her ship, while sending her on a fool's errand.
But Dark Esper can't hide her true nature for long, and cracks begin to show which frustration alone won't explain. Kubu can smell her constant anger and worries that Esper grows more like those she rescued him from in the first place. Tiffany fears Esper will lose her humanity if she goes too far down a dark path, bearing witness to a monstrous act her mentor never meant her to see. Ilsa has to come to terms with her belief that Esper doesn't want/need/care for her, seeing a coldness she didn't expect in her lover, leading to a frightening choice. Only Wesley seems immune to Esper's change of character, willing to follow the wizard who seeks to make a positive difference in the world no matter what. But as we've come to realise, there's more to Wesley than meets the eye, and he might see more clearly than anyone else, willing to stay the course and fight for a friend.
As for those who stole Esper's ship? They don't have much chance against Dark Esper's lack of empathy, and our do-gooder heroine, who is building up her own defenses while trapped and unable to affect the world outside of Esperville, will need all her strength and fortitude to weather the storm of what Dark Esper might unleash.
But Dark Esper can't hide her true nature for long, and cracks begin to show which frustration alone won't explain. Kubu can smell her constant anger and worries that Esper grows more like those she rescued him from in the first place. Tiffany fears Esper will lose her humanity if she goes too far down a dark path, bearing witness to a monstrous act her mentor never meant her to see. Ilsa has to come to terms with her belief that Esper doesn't want/need/care for her, seeing a coldness she didn't expect in her lover, leading to a frightening choice. Only Wesley seems immune to Esper's change of character, willing to follow the wizard who seeks to make a positive difference in the world no matter what. But as we've come to realise, there's more to Wesley than meets the eye, and he might see more clearly than anyone else, willing to stay the course and fight for a friend.
As for those who stole Esper's ship? They don't have much chance against Dark Esper's lack of empathy, and our do-gooder heroine, who is building up her own defenses while trapped and unable to affect the world outside of Esperville, will need all her strength and fortitude to weather the storm of what Dark Esper might unleash.
July 22, 2020
Things seemed to be going so well in the previous book - Esper and the team had got themselves a big and capable (if untidy and smelly) ship and had successfully completed a complex mission to rescue some quarantined plague victims, but now it all takes a turn for the worse. The powerful but selfish and uncaring “Dark Esper” is in charge and everything we thought we knew at the end of the previous book is called into question.
Unflappable surgeon Oolie becomes a permanent member of the crew, and once again the team is split up on separate missions. We get some of the fun banter and Kubu is as delightful as always, but this time the stakes are much higher with deceit and violence everywhere, and by the end of the book the Errand of Mercy and its people will never be the same again.
The books in this series seem to fall into one of two groups. They are either a relatively light-hearted, bantery, adventure tale, or take a turn into something darker dealing with deeper and more unpleasant topics. I found “House of the Orion Sun” (which dealt with abduction, slavery, brainwashing and prostitution) hard to deal with at times, and there are some bits of this one which verge on torture and sexual abuse. If these are a turn-off for you, be careful.
Unflappable surgeon Oolie becomes a permanent member of the crew, and once again the team is split up on separate missions. We get some of the fun banter and Kubu is as delightful as always, but this time the stakes are much higher with deceit and violence everywhere, and by the end of the book the Errand of Mercy and its people will never be the same again.
The books in this series seem to fall into one of two groups. They are either a relatively light-hearted, bantery, adventure tale, or take a turn into something darker dealing with deeper and more unpleasant topics. I found “House of the Orion Sun” (which dealt with abduction, slavery, brainwashing and prostitution) hard to deal with at times, and there are some bits of this one which verge on torture and sexual abuse. If these are a turn-off for you, be careful.
June 23, 2020
I'm having a hard time with this storyline. I feel that the characters.. Without giving too much away are in a hard spot and being forced to be something they are not just to create drama… granted that is what a story is. .but for me this just feels like an episode of a series that I am gonna wanna forget and still love the series as a whole. Not saying the story itself was bad. .but it certainly didn't hold my interest throughout.
Warnings - same sex relationships and language are prevalent.
Warnings - same sex relationships and language are prevalent.
July 24, 2020
When a wizard talks to herself, don't interrupt.
Everything goes wrong for our band of would-be heroes -- everything -- while Esper's dark side is in control.
Morin doesn't pull any punches here. For a comedic sci-fi series, things get pretty dire, and our favourite characters suffer. Laughs and grit. Like sweet and sour barbecue, the perfect balance of flavours keeps us coming back for bite after bite of tasty fiction.
Recommended for fans of Jessica Jones, furries, and rogues in charge of starships.
Everything goes wrong for our band of would-be heroes -- everything -- while Esper's dark side is in control.
Morin doesn't pull any punches here. For a comedic sci-fi series, things get pretty dire, and our favourite characters suffer. Laughs and grit. Like sweet and sour barbecue, the perfect balance of flavours keeps us coming back for bite after bite of tasty fiction.
Recommended for fans of Jessica Jones, furries, and rogues in charge of starships.
August 12, 2020
Dark Esper has taken over, leaving Esper trapped in her own mind and powerless. The rest of the crew is a little nonplussed by some of the actions and language coming from Dark Esper, but they go along with her plan to rescue a young Azrin girl, until things go terribly awry and then they’re not sure what to think. Dark Esper is certainly more ruthless and to the point than Esper, and if Esper ever gets out of her own head, she’s going to have some explaining to do. I miss Esper and her goodness, and hope she figures out how to get back to normal soon.
May 24, 2020
This installment sure set up a lot of trouble. For one thing, it's strange having a story starring Esper without her being the moral compass for everyone around her. That being said, the other characters, particularly Wesley Wesley and Kubu, are awesome, and I'm counting on them to make sure everything is going to come out alright. Still, I enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to the last two stories!
April 26, 2024
Oh no! Evil Kirk has taken over the Enterprise! Not very original and I found this one a bit drawn out, which is unusual considering that all of these missions are under 200 pages long, but after 9 missions, it's a bit late to cut and run now. Hopefully, this one was just a bit of a dry spell and they'll pick up again.
May 24, 2020
Dark Esper is certainly not my favorite character. I'm rooting for her to be taken care of sooner rather than alter. I am enjoying the growth in the rest of the crew and Wesley Wesely is still leading the list as my new favorite character.
May 20, 2020
I'm really enjoying this story arc - Dark Esper turns out to be a formidable antagonist!
September 1, 2020
Wesley Wesley saved this book.
December 22, 2020
An interesting turn in this one.
April 8, 2021
Better than the previous book. Still nothing all that new. I want to tread new ground..
December 30, 2021
Esper's dark side has taken over. While fighting to get their ship back Dark Esper has trouble controlling herself and the crew is starting to catch on.
April 20, 2023
Oh dear... that's a turn
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews