What do you think?
Rate this book
Black Ocean: Mercy for Hire #11
Magic's Little Helper: Mission 11
Leaving an apprentice unsupervised has never been a good idea.
With Esper neglecting her duties as magical teacher, Tiffany takes her education into her own hands. Struggling with self-esteem and credibility with the universe, she resorts to trying a magical performance-enhancing drug.
Of course, Esper has problems of her own. Unbeknownst to her, a crack squad of assassins is hot on her trail, and this time they're bringing twice the number of wizard-hunters along. It would be a great time for a fully-trained and capable apprentice to have her back.
Wouldn't it?
Magic's Little Helper is the eleventh mission of Black Mercy for Hire . It follows the exploits of a pair of do-gooder bounty hunters who care more about saving the day than getting a payday. Mercy for Hire builds on the rich Black Ocean universe 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.
With Esper neglecting her duties as magical teacher, Tiffany takes her education into her own hands. Struggling with self-esteem and credibility with the universe, she resorts to trying a magical performance-enhancing drug.
Of course, Esper has problems of her own. Unbeknownst to her, a crack squad of assassins is hot on her trail, and this time they're bringing twice the number of wizard-hunters along. It would be a great time for a fully-trained and capable apprentice to have her back.
Wouldn't it?
Magic's Little Helper is the eleventh mission of Black Mercy for Hire . It follows the exploits of a pair of do-gooder bounty hunters who care more about saving the day than getting a payday. Mercy for Hire builds on the rich Black Ocean universe 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.
174 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2020
About the author
J.S. Morin
196 books631 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 24, 2020
This one was a bit harder to read for me. Dark Esper is a problem. The story was painful in places because things didn't have to go so sideways, but DE's modus operandi doesn't lend itself to good outcomes. All the same, looking forward to the conclusion of this arc, and as always, Kubu and Wesley are The Very Best.
May 24, 2020
Things are turning really bleak for Esper and co. This book did a good job of setting up the finale and I'm anxious to read the conclusion. Wesley Wesley continues to grow on me as a character of depth and insight all in a goofy package.
May 26, 2020
While this installment still had a central plot, it also had a more frenetic feel to it, Esper et al reacting to many small instances rather than revolving around one bigger issue.
We start right in the middle of a case, which is nice as it gives the impression that things have been happening. But then we discover that a lot has happened that we (the reader) have missed, including the addition of a couple of new crewmates--people there long enough to have formed opinions on our four main characters. It took me a while to figure out where these new members came from and why they're there, which detracted from the story for me. Of course, their presence leads to trouble for the crew of 'Errand of Mercy'.
We see Tiffany growing more frustrated by her perceived lack of magical instruction and looking for shortcuts--which leads to its own problems. We see Kubu's gentle nature despite his predatory abilities, still willing to believe the best in people and blind to Esper's slide into darkness. We see Wesley comfortable obeying Esper's orders, yet cognizant of how her actions make others uncomfortable, and willing to lend a hand should anyone feel the need to escape. And we see Dark Esper grow ever more unable (or unwilling) to curb her sociopathic tendencies and knee-jerk reactions--especially when her core crew is threatened--while her counterpart struggles to share her humanity and keep the death toll at a minimum.
However, we also see a bunch of people only peripherally important to the story, folks gone within a couple of scenes, which gives parts of this story a haphazard feel. One might argue that these scenes exist to give the characters (specifically Tiffany and Kubu) some things to think about--such as memories of past trauma or behaviour--but I just found these brief encounters with people I thought might have greater importance a little disconcerting when those characters then disappeared.
The ending surprised me, and I can see an interesting confrontation emerging soon in the series.
We start right in the middle of a case, which is nice as it gives the impression that things have been happening. But then we discover that a lot has happened that we (the reader) have missed, including the addition of a couple of new crewmates--people there long enough to have formed opinions on our four main characters. It took me a while to figure out where these new members came from and why they're there, which detracted from the story for me. Of course, their presence leads to trouble for the crew of 'Errand of Mercy'.
We see Tiffany growing more frustrated by her perceived lack of magical instruction and looking for shortcuts--which leads to its own problems. We see Kubu's gentle nature despite his predatory abilities, still willing to believe the best in people and blind to Esper's slide into darkness. We see Wesley comfortable obeying Esper's orders, yet cognizant of how her actions make others uncomfortable, and willing to lend a hand should anyone feel the need to escape. And we see Dark Esper grow ever more unable (or unwilling) to curb her sociopathic tendencies and knee-jerk reactions--especially when her core crew is threatened--while her counterpart struggles to share her humanity and keep the death toll at a minimum.
However, we also see a bunch of people only peripherally important to the story, folks gone within a couple of scenes, which gives parts of this story a haphazard feel. One might argue that these scenes exist to give the characters (specifically Tiffany and Kubu) some things to think about--such as memories of past trauma or behaviour--but I just found these brief encounters with people I thought might have greater importance a little disconcerting when those characters then disappeared.
The ending surprised me, and I can see an interesting confrontation emerging soon in the series.
April 1, 2021
The impatience of a teenager will always find its way. Tantrums? Those usually won't work with a Wizard Mom. Complaining to your friends? Not when your best friend is a megalodog that is the size of a house and whose sole concern seems to be getting enough food to fill his insatiable appetite.
All that Tiffany really wanted was to keep getting better at her magic so that she wouldn't feel that she was such a liability on MFH missions. But, something was going on with the only one who could train her - yeah, she knew that Esper's GF had run away, but, was that any excuse for NOT letting her in to Esperville for more training? So what was there left to do? Complaining wasn't working. And Tantrums were a non-starter - Wizard Mom!!! So that didn't leave anything else but...Drugs??? And not just ANY drugs...WIZARD DRUGS!!! And...with a suitably enhanced, drug induced state, things can only get better? Right?
And so, the 11th mission of the MFH crew proves that...more than anything...these are stories about family and the trials that all families go through. Sure they're in a stolen Navy Frigate/Cult Flagship... bouncing around the BLACK OCEAN... helping those who can't help themselves... but it is still all about family and author Jeff Morin has proven time and time again through 39 books and over a dozen short interludes, that he knows how to write about family. Not the picture perfect Ozzie and Harriet/Father Knows Best kind of families. Nope. He writes about the families that we live with everyday. The addicted Aunt. The con man Dad. Teen aged angst. The struggling Mom who wants to be better for her family. All that and putting food - and Fuel - on the table. Jeff captures and portrays all the many family ups and downs that we all go through. And most of all...he shows that, regardless, family is always there for you when you need them the most.
All that Tiffany really wanted was to keep getting better at her magic so that she wouldn't feel that she was such a liability on MFH missions. But, something was going on with the only one who could train her - yeah, she knew that Esper's GF had run away, but, was that any excuse for NOT letting her in to Esperville for more training? So what was there left to do? Complaining wasn't working. And Tantrums were a non-starter - Wizard Mom!!! So that didn't leave anything else but...Drugs??? And not just ANY drugs...WIZARD DRUGS!!! And...with a suitably enhanced, drug induced state, things can only get better? Right?
And so, the 11th mission of the MFH crew proves that...more than anything...these are stories about family and the trials that all families go through. Sure they're in a stolen Navy Frigate/Cult Flagship... bouncing around the BLACK OCEAN... helping those who can't help themselves... but it is still all about family and author Jeff Morin has proven time and time again through 39 books and over a dozen short interludes, that he knows how to write about family. Not the picture perfect Ozzie and Harriet/Father Knows Best kind of families. Nope. He writes about the families that we live with everyday. The addicted Aunt. The con man Dad. Teen aged angst. The struggling Mom who wants to be better for her family. All that and putting food - and Fuel - on the table. Jeff captures and portrays all the many family ups and downs that we all go through. And most of all...he shows that, regardless, family is always there for you when you need them the most.
July 22, 2020
In this episode of the continuing story, things get more complicated for Dark Esper, as she tries to deal with an increasing number of problems, not all of which can sensibly be dealt with by violence. We see hardly any of the original Esper, trapped in her inner dreamworld, because the story concentrates on Tiffany, her apprentice. Tiffany is struggling to deal with Esper’s aggressive and seemingly uncaring attitude, and in an attempt to show what she can do, she stoops to using some magic performance-enhancing drugs. The outcome is not what she had hoped.
Meanwhile, everyone in the universe seems to have the knives out for Esper. Two teams of wizards converge on her, there is a mutiny in the ranks, and everything is getting a bit much to handle. Luckily we still have the delightful Kubu and, running a close second as my favourite character in this series, Wesley to rely on. There’s lots of action in this one, which really highlights the level of danger, and by the end there’s a setup for even more challenges in the next one.
The first few books in the series were a bit slower paced, but now the episodic, cliffhanger-driven format really keeps me wanting to read the next one.
Meanwhile, everyone in the universe seems to have the knives out for Esper. Two teams of wizards converge on her, there is a mutiny in the ranks, and everything is getting a bit much to handle. Luckily we still have the delightful Kubu and, running a close second as my favourite character in this series, Wesley to rely on. There’s lots of action in this one, which really highlights the level of danger, and by the end there’s a setup for even more challenges in the next one.
The first few books in the series were a bit slower paced, but now the episodic, cliffhanger-driven format really keeps me wanting to read the next one.
August 20, 2020
Esper is still trapped in her own mind and Dark Esper is running the show, which doesn’t always work out well for her, especially with assassins out to take her down. Tiffany senses a change in Esper and has doubts in her own abilities, since her education has been neglected her magical teacher. Leaving her to her own devices leads Tiffany to inadvisable actions, causing unexpected and tragic consequences. Meanwhile Kubu is his loveable, clueless self, Wesley Wesley is taking action that he feels is necessary, and the new crew members are plotting. This just can’t end well, but I have hopes that things will work out at some point in the next book, I'm always rooting for Esper, as well as Tiffany. With Dark Esper in charge, the storyline has turned pretty bleak, so here’s hoping for something nice to happen soon to these characters I love so much.
July 24, 2020
Family always knows.
Dark Esper can fake the big things. But it's the little things that matter most. Especially when one is mothering -- I meant 'mentoring' -- a teenager.
In this episode, Esper and Tiffany bring out the worst in each other, and it's the rest of the galaxy that suffers! Things really go downhill for the Mercy-For-Hire gang. How long before they all realize that they've tied their fates to a madwoman? Will they figure out that original Esper is still there, trapped inside?
Dark Esper can fake the big things. But it's the little things that matter most. Especially when one is mothering -- I meant 'mentoring' -- a teenager.
In this episode, Esper and Tiffany bring out the worst in each other, and it's the rest of the galaxy that suffers! Things really go downhill for the Mercy-For-Hire gang. How long before they all realize that they've tied their fates to a madwoman? Will they figure out that original Esper is still there, trapped inside?
September 23, 2020
The worst Morin Book I have read so far. Dark Esper is one sided and it felt like she was just a comic book idea of what a dark version of a character should be. Just because she is evil by definition does not mean she is stupid. The best villains are intelligent and almost unrecognisable until they decide to unveil themselves. Dark Esper here is practically doing everything she can to flag the other characters to her existence. She is incredibly one sides, as is Tiffany. Personally I miss the Mobius more than ever.
June 23, 2020
Certainly a turn up for me in this last mission set. I enjoyed the new characters and challenges. Tiffany really grew here and faced some things.. Which was much needed. I also am seeing some interesting things brewing for the rest of the story I am now looking forward to.
Warnings - sexual references and language are prevalent.
Warnings - sexual references and language are prevalent.
September 3, 2020
Not my favorite book in the series. Came close to getting one star, but Wesley once again saved the book.
March 6, 2021
Just one more book to go in this spinoff series. Looking forward to seeing how Morin wraps these up.
December 31, 2021
Dark esper is driving everyone away. Assassin Wizards are hot on her tail and the crew is totally onto her. Esper kills a lot of people. Tiffany runs away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2024
This one was more of an afternoon special, featuring the dangers of drug abuse and was just a bit shorter than most. It is however, building towards the inevitable series ending climax.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews