Reviews

The Damned Busters by Matthew Hughes

patchworkbunny's review

3.0

The story starts off when Chesney accidentally summons a demon; it could happen to anyone. But Chesney doesn't want to sell his soul to the devil and his choice has disastrous consequences. What follows are a lot of negotiations, a preacher with a far-out theory on the meaning of life and an agreement with the devil which shapes the rest of the novel.

The book got off to a good start, I was chuckling in places and then suddenly a deal was made. Without giving too much away, the deal was the turning point and it felt a bit like a different book from there on. Whilst I enjoyed the writing and the general concept, Chesney came across as a bit of a two-dimensional character and I didn't really warm to him.

I think this would appeal to fans of Robert Rankin and superheroes (that's fans of superheroes, not the caped crusaders themselves...not that they wouldn't enjoy it). Actuaries will probably be happy with their representation too; I bet they don't get featured in many novels.

jrlee27's review

4.0

Contains some brilliant commentary about God and the nature of reality--very pleased to have read it. Otherwise, entertaining read from a favorite author although the texture seemed to thin out near the end, perhaps because it was near the end.

areyoubibliokay's review

4.0

A quick witty read that has a really wonderful autism representation woven in without it being too in your face. The concept is perfect, because these days I feel like it'd be really possible to accidentally summon a demon y'know? It's fast paced, and a book that I've now read twice. I'm looking forward to finishing off the series.

csdaley's review against another edition

4.0

Superheroes, demons, hell on strike, damsels in distress, nefarious deeds, and poker. What's not to like?

jenc5309's review against another edition

2.0

I wanted to like this, I liked the premise, but it just didn't get me. It felt flat. Nothing truly wrong with it, but I just never cared about the characters.

terracottageek's review against another edition

2.0

I listened to the audiobook. It felt uneven and kept kicking me out of the story. The story felt like a chore to get through.

stupidpiscesguy's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ashtheaudiomancer's review against another edition

3.0

This book drew me in just from the cover. Well, that, and Angry Robot Books consistently puts out really unique and engaging stories. Essentially, this is about a man who cuts a deal with nefarious beings to become a superhero, somebody stronger, faster, better--except his attempts to save the day keep going more and more wrong. At the end, he finds a way to help the people he cares about by using the talents he already has. The characters are mostly exaggerated caricatures, and I know this is only the first book in a series, but the way this one wrapped up was more inspiring than I expected.

thenajo's review against another edition

4.0

The first 100 pages set up a lot of supernatural plot then seems to shift suddenly. But the elements do start to come together by the end of this first book, and are clearly meant to come together over the course of the series.

While some of the gender dynamics are a little rough, what I was not expecting was such a realistic portrayal of someone with autism. The main character is self-aware he is neuro-atypical, he does not limit himself or his desires. Nor do the majority of characters treat him less-than. For that especially, I give it 4-stars.

adunnells's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0