Hounds of Orion

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

NOW POSTING BOOK 2!!

If you want to see gods, they're not up above... they're on the battlefield.

The year is 2848, and wars aren't fought by armies,they're fought by companies. A.R.M.S. Pilots: men and women who sacrifice their citizenship to chase fame, fortune, and glory in the territories of Free Spacestride through the battlefield as gods among mortals, commanding towering mechs with weapons to rival the heroes of the old world. For some, it's a life of adventure and riches beyond imagination. For Cameron Pellyn, the exiled prince of Ketris, it's his only shot at redemption. Caught in the political crossfire, betrayed, and stripped of his birthright, Cameron's thrown headfirst into a mercenary's brutal life. He's got a new name, Cam Ket,a new purpose, and a mentor who refuses to let him quit. Logan, freelance mercenary, and one time Guard Captain of Ketris, sees Cameron as more than just a prince; he sees a warrior in the making. But to survive, Cameron must adapt...fast.

Training under Logan's relentless guidance, piloting outdated A.R.M.S units, and battling more experienced enemies, Cameron's forced to find his own path to power. He's no hero, but when an old enemy threatens his home world, Cameron will have to lead the charge. The enemies of Ketris are closing in, and only by embracing his new role as a pilot can he hope to protect the people he loves.

What to expect:- Mechs! Towering war machines with the power to change the fate of planets.- Weak to strong MC: Watch Cameron grow from a reluctant exile to a formidable A.R.M.S. Pilot.- Sci-Fi/Space Opera adventure with progression and light LitRPG mechanics.- A slow burn progression system that will become more apparent and utilized beginning in chapter 24.- Intense political intrigue with real consequences.- A protagonist who faces hard choices and makes morally complex decisions.- A lovable, ragtag group of mercenaries,each with their own secrets and motivations.The Hounds of Orion are just getting started, and Cameron is ready to make his mark. Will he rise to the challenge, or be left behind in the dust of Free Space? Strap in,it's time to find out... Did I mention mechs?

What people are saying:"The best mecha story I have ever read" - Fiddlesoup"Best depiction of big metal things beating the snot out of each other since Real Steel. Hugh Jackman eat your heart out." - Erebus Espirit"Do yourself a favor and read this!" - EmbrysAmbrosius"Best new mech story in a long time!" - Salem Flamel

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: N.P. Knight

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.6/ 5.0
Followers: 919
Views: 56,083

Reviews

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Community Reviews(10)

ButtopiaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Do you want to read about Mechs? Are you looking for a Gundam feel in a world of intrigue? Do you just want to read about giant robots punching each other?
Full disclosure, I consider Rook a friend, but that doesn't mean I don't genuinely enjoy this book.
The characters all feel alive, and the amount of effort the writer spends to allow for this easily shines through in the quality of the writing.
The story flows incredibly well from tension to aftermath and back again. The style of writing matches each moment nearly perfectly. The mental crises feel as real as physical ones.
Grammar-wise wise I see no real issues, nothing stood out to me remotely, which speaks to how much the writer strives there.
This is an epic sci-fi tale (even if mecha become less and less sci-fi each day), draped in a drama of interpersonal relationships, and how they play off each other and the events at large. The Characters matter. The events matter. Their feelings, actions, and thoughts all matter, and they blend together for an amazing tale.
This is a book any fan of fighting robots should be reading. Scratch that, anyone who enjoys well-written drama should be reading this book.
Dominick RRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Lots of intriguing threads to pick at. Wide cast of colorful characters, action is brutal and fast. Politics and inter world plots. Writing is clean, punctuation is there, misspellings non existant. High quality writing. MC is interesting, not some sullen murder hobo introvert, but rather an actual person who can't interact with people. Excited to see more mech action
FiddlesoupRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Full disclosure: I beta-read for DM Rook. I've been a huge fan of his work for several months now, and I am beyond ecstatic that it's out on RR for others to read the full story. Hounds of Orion is the best science fiction story on this site Full Stop. I am waiting with bated breath for the book to be released on Amazon so I can experience it once again.
Style: This story oozes and oozes style. The writing is beyond good. It is so easy and clean to read, and the descriptions and prose are so smooth and pleasing to to the brain to read. This is the kind of work that feels like a professional author writing for years took his crack at writing a web novel. The action is fast, sharp and unique. And the dialogue is some of the best I have ever read. I don't know how he does it but every character is unique and feels real with their own voice.
Characters: Cameron is seen by his father as the drunk embodiment of wasted potential. Logan is the father's best friend turned mentor ready to reshape him into the Prince he is meant to be. The villains feel evil and real and I really really want to seem one of them die a horrible bloody death. Spoilers for the end of the book
By the end of the story, The villain is alive and has seemingly won. Its the kinda sequel hook that demands the book release now!!
The princess is a great foil to Cameron and a well written character that could have been a one-off plot point but isn't. My goodness they all feel like real people with their own motivations. I've gotten really attached to the characters and want to see them succeed.
Story: Political intrigue. Giant Mechs. Progression. What more could you ever want in a story? There is honestly so much to say, but a lot of it is spoilers wrapped and undercover. Having read the entire story it is a satisfying book with one hell of a sequel hook. I am bugging Rook every day to send me new chapters.
Grammar: If the extremely few mistakes in this story bother you, I would recommend you start readin
L.R. Monroe (Emrys)Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Hounds of Orion has everything you could want in a space adventure epic fantasy. Political intrigue? Check. Giant mechs? Check. Some writers have a way of pulling you into the world they craft on the page. They have a gift for dialogue and character crafting that transports you to another world.
When I finished reading, I almost didn't realize it. I just kept clicking next until it dawned that I had reached the end.
Each character feels unique, from Miranda, to Logan, to the MC Cam, all of them feel distinct from one another.
Some authors make you feel like they have spent a lot of time crafting their worlds and planning their story, and you get that here.
Descriptions are on point, especially with the characters. It doesn't feel like the author is just using fancy words, it feels natural. Poignant.
Writers are liars. They have to make readers feel at all the right moments. Hate who they want you to hate, and love who they want you to love.
Rook is doing that well.
I want to make sure to mention the dialogue here, because man is it good. Some dialogue feels forced, unnatural, or just plain bland.
That doesn't happen with this story. It feels natural, smooth, and each character has their own voice.
I've already said the plot pulls you in, and I meant that. This is one of those stories that when finished, is going to keep you turning the pages well into the night.
It's just that good at holding your attention.
Start this story. Read it.
Just do it.
Thank me later.
LadyneaRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
An absolute must read for any fans of fantasy, fiction, and over all captivating story telling. Within the first few chapters it’s an easy hook, line, and sinker. One thing I look for when reading is if I am able to get the character out of the page, the way these characters are written it’s like they’re turning the pages for me. Bravo to the author and absolutely looking forward to the rest of their career.
Littledude14647Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
At the time of writing, there's about what I'd say only like 3 chapters after the prologue section, which in all honesty gives me a whole bunch of Battletech vibes which I love. The characters are solid, and the POV changes enough to both tell more of the story without being too confusing. Can't wait for more chapter and to see our boy Cam turn into a true A.R.M.S. pilot. (the only negative I'd say at this point was just how long the prologue section is, which I'd say happens when the Prince is Exiled and starts working for Logan).
cosmic_lonewolfRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
A great story that I really enjoyed reading. I tore through the first book in just a handful of days.
Style Score: 9/10
I love the author's voice a lot. The descriptions do a great job of painting the story in my mind and flows nicely. They are simple and easy to read but they are also not the most unique thing in the world and the atmosphere building could be better. So I will have to deduct some points here.
Story Score: 10/10
The cliffhangers and plot twists are all superb. The world-building is well done. Mysteries are nicely built and leave me wanting for more. (I may also have a small... big bias for stories that have themes of space opera. Since it covers two of my fav genre adventure and sci-fi.)
Grammar Score: 4.5/5
This is probably the story's weakest suit, with a couple of grammatical errors here and there but nothing major or broke my immersion. But if you have a science background, there may be somethings that are wrong/weird. Like most sci-fi.
Character Score: 5/5
This is the author's strong suit and it shows. Great dialogues, unique personalities, great interpersonal relationships. The characters grow and evolve throughout the story.
In short, just give it a shot already.
drandreasRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Those who like action, drama, and mechs will love this. A veteran mech soldier comes back to teach a stuck up noble how to use mechs. Turns out the kid just needed a positive outlet and the right motivation. Very well written. Lots of surprise. Well paced. I can’t praise it enough. I read it straight through until the end. Cheers!
readmemoreRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I love mechs. Ever since I watched my first Gundam anime I've been hooked, and man does this scratch the itch.
There could certainly be a little bit of proofreading done and the prose isn't perfect, but the detail and the obvious love for mechs from the author makes the story shine.
This easily might be the best mech story I've ever read, please don't stop writing it.
RMCollinwoodRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I've been following Hounds of Orion since first seeing the cover art and announcement by D.M. Rook. Though I write trad fantasy myself (currently), I am a sucker for giant mechs. From early days watching Gundam, to more modern takes on the genre (which is itself as varied as Sci-Fi in general). D.M. Rook delivers a fast-paced tale filled with awesome character, action and strong writing to back it up.
STYLE: There is an ease to D.M. Rook's writing style that makes it surprising this is their first foray into writing (or at least publishing on RR). I wouldn't be surprised either if the author had a military background. The writing is very believable and easy to read, which is my preference as opposed to something a little more flowery. 5/5.
STORY: The story makes a strong first impression and D.M. Rook keeps a steady pressure on the gas pedal as we follow our hero, Logan, an A.R.M.S. pilot who is pulled back into the intrigue of his past when he receives an unexpected note from an old friend he hasn't heard from in fifteen years. The story then abruptly shifts and we are introduced to our true hero, Cameron. Yes, I should have read the blurb more closely but it didn't matter as the story seamlessly handled the shift in POVs. Rook does a fantastic job laying the groundwork for the setting, character relations to Cameron, and letting the story marinate. By the time Cameron and Logan meet, the story had its hooks in me. I could not shake the thoughts of Gundam while reading - political intrigue and ongoings beyond the scope of our characters' inner lives, personal tension, MECHS - everything I enjoy in those stories. Yet, Rook does a good job bringing in elements that are conveyed more clearly. This isn't a mech story, or a Sci-Fi . . . it's an EPIC, and everyone should be interested in checking it out and following Cameron's journey. 4.75/5.
GRAMMAR: No noticeable mistakes or examples of poor grammar. 5/5.
CHARACTER: The characters are well-written and interact with ea