Hel’s Eight hits the ground running and never lets up, delivering a wild, high-octane clash of law and lawlessness in the far reaches of the galaxy. Ten Low is back, grittier and more battle-worn than ever, riding the desert wastes of Factus and walking the razor’s edge between justice and chaos. Holborn once again proves their mastery of the space western, blending whip-smart action with an undercurrent of existential weight.

Ten “Doc” Low is a medic haunted by her cursed connection to otherworldly forces. For the sake of her safety, and that of others, she keeps herself isolated. But when she foresees a cataclysmic conflict that threatens the lives of her former comrades, she’s forced to reenter a world of shifting alliances and simmering rebellion. With the Accord’s grip on the Outer Moons slipping and a ruthless tycoon snatching up planets for his own sinister agenda, Ten faces her greatest challenge yet.

Holborn’s signature world-building shines brighter than ever. The desert moon Factus is vividly rendered, a desolate yet strangely magnetic backdrop for this gripping tale of survival and sacrifice. From shadowy saloons to roaring wasteland skirmishes, every scene brims with life and tension.

Ten’s journey is one of both action and introspection, as she gathers unlikely allies and confronts the ghosts of her past. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and Holborn doesn’t pull any punches. With rebellion brewing and sinister corporate machinations at play, every choice Ten makes carries weight and often a devastating cost.

Key moments explode off the page: a visceral ambush in a shantytown; a desperate high-speed chase across the dunes; and a climactic showdown that pits Ten and her ragtag crew against impossible odds. The pacing is relentless, yet Holborn still finds time to weave in moments of quiet humanity and biting humour.

Thematically, Hel’s Eight wrestles with control: of power, of land, of the future itself. It’s a story of rebellion and resilience, of standing tall against forces that seek to crush individuality and freedom.

(4 - A scorching, adrenaline-packed triumph!) 

 

And now Ninth Life 

If Ten Low is the grit, and Hel's Eight the expanse, Ninth Life is the strange and spectral shadow that creeps up behind them. Holborn switches gears but doesn’t lose a fraction of intensity, delivering a tale that blends noir, existential dread, and relentless action into a headlong romp across the stars. After forty years of terrorizing the galaxy, Gabriella Ortiz is back, once a decorated general, now the infamous outlaw known as Nine Lives and it looks like she has finally run out of chances. 

Shot down in a backwater at the system’s edge, she is reluctantly rescued by the naive Deputy Marshal Havemercy Grey. Hav is a straight-shooter in every sense, determined to bring Ortiz to justice and claim the 20-million bounty on her head. But escorting the galaxy’s most dangerous fugitive is no easy feat, especially when every outlaw with a pistol is gunning for their prize. Ortiz offers Hav a deal: she’ll keep them alive, as long as Hav listens to the stories of her nine lives. But there’s a catch: everywhere they go, during every brawl, gunfight, and explosive escape, one warning echoes—don’t let her talk. Holborn’s mastery of character and dialogue shines as Ortiz’s tales unfold, blending lawlessness and heartbreak with sharp wit. 

Hav’s relentless moral code plays beautifully against Ortiz’s chaotic brilliance, creating a dynamic that crackles with tension and unexpected humour. Key moments include a deadly brawl in a crowded spaceport, an ambush under a cascade of starlight, and an unholy alliance with a crew of bounty hunters in a zero-gravity skirmish. The stakes are personal and galactic, but it’s Ortiz’s haunting charisma that steals the show, leaving you questioning every truth she tells. 

Thematically, Ninth Life delves into the weight of memory, the nature of redemption, and the cost of survival. It’s a rollicking, high-stakes ride with an undercurrent of existential dread that lingers long after the final page. 

Out of a potential 5, you have to go with a Darkmatters:

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(5 - Excellently unhinged and exciting space western masterpiece