Dead Planet — Steven Montano

Rike is back.

The Coren Armada waits at the edge of known space, ready to strike at the heart of the Auran Galaxy. It falls on Rike -- last of the fabled Bloodthorn Acolytes -- to eliminate the mysterious Oracle and halt an invasion that will cost millions of lives.

Unfortunately, the Oracle is somewhere on the dead planet Vesaad, base of the crime lord called Maga. In order to kill the Oracle Rike will have to contend with Vesaad's blasted cold deserts, zombie viruses, barbaric criminals and deadly monsters, and that's assuming he even reaches the planet in the first place.

Crossing paths with animalistic invaders, corrupt weaponsmiths, fanatic holy warriors and a bevy of attractive aliens who can't seem to keep their hands off of him, Rike will need every last ounce of cunning and skill at his disposal if he's going to survive his showdown with Maga and her brutal lieutenants.

Some days it just doesn't pay to be a hero.