Angela Verdenius, Soul of a Hunter

Soul of a Hunter

Angela Verdenius

Wings ePress, Feb 2004, 355 pp.

ISBN: 1590887948

No one with any sense would attack a Daamen trading vessel. Yet space pirates assualt the ship carrying young Sabra and her parents. They kill everyone on board except the child but they show her the decapitated head of her dad and kill her mother in front of her. Sabra might be better off dead as the pirates take her as booty, abusing until she finally escapes from her captives with a vow of venagance against all pirates, but especially those who murdered her parents.

Almost a decade later, Sabra, now known as the legendary bounty hunter Cormac, cheers the public hanging of pirates. Daamen trader Cam and his crew go to look at the enthusiac gallows voice but are stunned when they see her. She seems so familiar to several of them especially Darvyk, who is her cousin. As Darvyk tries to persuade Sabra to come home, Cam attempts to convince her that she may have the SOUL OF A HUNTER, but has the heart of the woman he loves. Still there remains several pirates out there that need her personal attention; her heart be damned.

Romantic speculative fiction fans who have not read the works of Angela Verdenius is missing some of the best world building tales in the galaxy (see HEART OF AN OUTLAW). Her fifth tale contains a superb story line that never decelerates until the final scene. The various species seem like living races that readers know exist, but the heart of this novel is the lead female protgonsist. Sabra's dilemma between love and family vs. vengance makes for a fabulous space adventure that fans will come aboard to follow.

Harriet Klausner