Ok, so for those of you who know my taste in the darker stuff (the kind without sparkles), I like it when things die, when there's blood, and when things go boom. So, you know, just look at this title. Blood and Bullets by James R Tuck is two words: Bad. Ass.Whether you're tired of the female dominated Urban Fantasy world, or want a little something new, Deacon Chalk definitely hits the mark. He's rough and callous with just enough empathy to make him indispensable to the good fight--killing vampires.
Synopsis:
He lives to kill monsters. He keeps his city safe. And his silver hollow-points and back-from-the-dead abilities help him take out any kind of supernatural threat. But now an immortal evil has this bad-ass bounty hunter dead in its sights. . .First line: "Some nights are destined to go to hell."
Ever since a monster murdered his family, Deacon Chalk hunts any creature that preys on the innocent. So when a pretty vampire girl "hires" him to eliminate a fellow slayer, Deacon goes to warn him--and barely escapes a vampire ambush. Now he's got a way-inexperienced newbie hunter to protect and everything from bloodsuckers to cursed immortals on his trail. There's also a malevolent force controlling the living and the undead, hellbent on turning Deacon's greatest loss into the one weapon that could destroy him. . .
Ain't that the truth? LOL Deacon's straight forward attitude is a lot of fun and his voice matches him and his image (big, tattooed, bouncer-type dude).
Brownie Points: I think Deacon gets the props, he's just awesome and fun to read. Also, the world he exists in is super cool and a unique enough twist on the monsters to keep it fresh.
Recommendation: Anyone who loves Urban Fantasy, male readers who love any sort of fantasy or shoot-em-up stuff.
Would I represent it? You bet! I think there's a limited market for male protag Urban Fantasies, but I'd definitely be open to them. And of course, I love this type of nitty-gritty with a female protag too.
Happy Reading!
