[Mock up art from the Advanced Readers Copy]
A dream lives on while a will is strong, but a significant inheritance from a recently-deceased father sure helps too.
When Wyn throws away his easy life to open the galaxy’s first bounty hunter organization and become a bounty hunter himself, he soon learns that a strong support system will be needed. A support system like an unwise mentor, her giant lizard ex-girlfriend, a woman trapped within her armor, a suspicious cyborg, a possible war criminal, several thousand beetles, and a ten-year-old insectoid with a pet.
Money is never endless, however, and Wyn will need to lead his new friends down a dangerous path to prove Bounty Inc.’s worth and keep his dream alive.
Bounty Inc. by Adam Holcombe is a cosy-dark sci-fi with humour, murder, found family, and plenty of adventure.
The setup pulled me in right away: a kid raised in a luxury cage finally gets access to his inheritance, and instead of following the expected path and becoming a ruthless business tycoon, he runs off to start a bounty hunting company. It’s the kind of chaotic idea that shouldn’t work, but does, and it gives the book a strong “start from scratch and build your own thing” vibe I really liked.
Of course, bounty hunters aren’t exactly team players, so finding people willing to join his dream is harder than expected. But eventually we end up with a ragtag crew of very different characters who somehow make it work. The friendships, group dynamics, and general chaos of learning to trust each other are definitely one of the book’s strongest points. The banter feels natural, and watching the team slowly become something more than just coworkers was really satisfying.
There is a bit of a romance subplot, but it never takes over the story. I actually didn’t mind it, which says a lot, since I’m usually the first to roll my eyes when a romance pops up. It was sweet, it made sense for the characters, and most importantly, it stayed in the background while the story focused on everything else.
Tone-wise, this book balances light and dark really well. It’s fun and easy to read, with plenty of jokes, found family moments, and space adventure, but it also doesn’t shy away from darker or more emotional scenes. The life of a bounty hunter isn’t exactly peaceful, and there are a few traumatic backstories and heavier moments mixed in. So while I’d still call it a comfort read, it’s one with teeth. If you’re very sensitive to certain topics, it might be worth checking for content warnings just in case.
I also really liked the variety of species and characters in this world. There’s a good mix of tech-enhanced cyborgs, hive-mind insect types, shapeshifters, and people with different kinds of magical “talents.” It adds texture without overwhelming the story. You get the sense that the universe is big and diverse, but you’re not hit with endless pages of lore, just enough to keep things interesting.
Oh, and not to forget the illustrations, they add the little extra!
All in all, Bounty Inc. is a fun, surprisingly heartfelt but sharp space adventure about building something of your own, finding your people, and figuring things out along the way.
Expect banter, bounty hunting, found family, and a touch of heartache, but in the best way.
Release planned for October 15th, find out more here.
