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geekwayne's review
4.0
Poor Deacon Chalk. He can't even enjoy a dinner out. When the restaurant he is in explodes, Deacon and his dinner guests are left to fend for themselves when they are attacked by three witches. He is then forced to ally with a shadowy government agent when it turns out the people closest to him might be the ones betraying him.
It's a crazy whirlwind of a book, with most of the action taking place over the course of a few hours. Deacon has a habit of not only fighting monsters, but also befriending and protecting them. He is forced to make some tough choices with the team (or not so tough depending on how you look at it), and he needs all the extra help he can find.
Let's be clear, this isn't your typical Urban Fantasy genre novel. Deacon Chalk is all action hero with the weapons to match. The books are frenetic in pace, full of gore and our hero does take his beatings along the way (can you say demon possessed were-gorilla?), but he gives back as good as he gets. If you are looking for deep, meaningful dialogue, this is not for you, but if you want a pulse-pounding read that's quite a bit of fun, check this out.
It's a crazy whirlwind of a book, with most of the action taking place over the course of a few hours. Deacon has a habit of not only fighting monsters, but also befriending and protecting them. He is forced to make some tough choices with the team (or not so tough depending on how you look at it), and he needs all the extra help he can find.
Let's be clear, this isn't your typical Urban Fantasy genre novel. Deacon Chalk is all action hero with the weapons to match. The books are frenetic in pace, full of gore and our hero does take his beatings along the way (can you say demon possessed were-gorilla?), but he gives back as good as he gets. If you are looking for deep, meaningful dialogue, this is not for you, but if you want a pulse-pounding read that's quite a bit of fun, check this out.
vikingwolf's review
5.0
Deacon has always known that Sophia's cubs are different and have special magic-having a were-lion dad and were-dog mother, but he hoped that was a secret that would be kept from the wider supernatural community. When reckless actions of a friend bring the kids blood to the attention of three deadly witches, Deacon is going to have the fight of his life just trying to keep his people alive. And finding out that an occult government agency know all about him is making him even more nervous...
ARRGGHH! This plot was just wild and brilliant and horrible all at the same time! There are few urban fantasy series that can be so fast paced and kickass yet have you loving the characters and the real world issues that are going on between battles. The fight scenes as always really are brilliant, and at times you just fear that everyone is going to die. It makes it a bit of a nerve jangling read. It's not slow to get right into the story either which I love. It really does start with a bang. (sorry, sorry!) Having Deacon forced to work with an Agent was a nice addition to the plot as the author resisted the usual temptation to have total angst between them. I liked the addition of Agent Heck and I hope we see more of him. In fact he was the one who exposed the betrayal that Deacon has to deal with.
Deacon is feeling the guilt over Tiff's injuries from the previous battle but she shows her tough side and battles through it. I love the relationship between her and Deacon. Having a big tough guy calling her 'little girl' should feel totally creepy but between the two of them it just feels sweet! George cannot get his head together after losing Lucy and is becoming an alcoholic were-gorilla. Poor Sophia is about to pay the price AGAIN for having slept with the wrong guy. Now that she has finally found love with Kenny, the life of her children are in danger. Ronnie is starting to turn into a creepy spider lady which is freaking me out a bit and I think they need to give Charlotte a call. Josh is also trying to face up to his fears as boyfriend Boothe gets involved in the war. Father Mulcahy is also having to face that he is getting too old to recover from these constants fights and Deacon fears losing him.
The original group from the first book are having their problems too. Deacon is furious when he finds out that Larson has put them all in danger with his refusal to accept his own circumstances. His selfish actions, and the fact that he said he was just doing it for Kat made me want to thump him. I get that he doesn't want to be in a wheelchair but what he did was wrong on so many levels and as usual, he points the finger of blame everywhere else. The consequences of his actions are far reaching and when things turn bad for him, Larson just blames Deacon. I hate the guy so much I wanted to see him die by a were something or other. Hey, what about a were-wendigo! I felt just as betrayed by Kat's actions and had little sympathy for her.
As for the witches, well they were scary on a whole new level. Having Deacon facing a whole new type of battle was interesting as he can't just shoot his way out of trouble. It doesn't help that the witches can raise zombies and control vampires to use against him. Add in that one of the witches is also demon possessed and it goes to a whole different place. There is lots of magic as well as smack 'em down fights and I like that each book in this series does something a bit different. Deacon is also concerned that the public battles are endangering human lives and his anger rises with the body count. It is time to find out what the witches are planning and find a way to stop them before his people die...
The series is keeping up the standard and I really want to know when the next book is coming out!
ARRGGHH! This plot was just wild and brilliant and horrible all at the same time! There are few urban fantasy series that can be so fast paced and kickass yet have you loving the characters and the real world issues that are going on between battles. The fight scenes as always really are brilliant, and at times you just fear that everyone is going to die. It makes it a bit of a nerve jangling read. It's not slow to get right into the story either which I love. It really does start with a bang. (sorry, sorry!) Having Deacon forced to work with an Agent was a nice addition to the plot as the author resisted the usual temptation to have total angst between them. I liked the addition of Agent Heck and I hope we see more of him. In fact he was the one who exposed the betrayal that Deacon has to deal with.
Deacon is feeling the guilt over Tiff's injuries from the previous battle but she shows her tough side and battles through it. I love the relationship between her and Deacon. Having a big tough guy calling her 'little girl' should feel totally creepy but between the two of them it just feels sweet! George cannot get his head together after losing Lucy and is becoming an alcoholic were-gorilla. Poor Sophia is about to pay the price AGAIN for having slept with the wrong guy. Now that she has finally found love with Kenny, the life of her children are in danger. Ronnie is starting to turn into a creepy spider lady which is freaking me out a bit and I think they need to give Charlotte a call. Josh is also trying to face up to his fears as boyfriend Boothe gets involved in the war. Father Mulcahy is also having to face that he is getting too old to recover from these constants fights and Deacon fears losing him.
The original group from the first book are having their problems too. Deacon is furious when he finds out that Larson has put them all in danger with his refusal to accept his own circumstances. His selfish actions, and the fact that he said he was just doing it for Kat made me want to thump him. I get that he doesn't want to be in a wheelchair but what he did was wrong on so many levels and as usual, he points the finger of blame everywhere else. The consequences of his actions are far reaching and when things turn bad for him, Larson just blames Deacon. I hate the guy so much I wanted to see him die by a were something or other. Hey, what about a were-wendigo! I felt just as betrayed by Kat's actions and had little sympathy for her.
As for the witches, well they were scary on a whole new level. Having Deacon facing a whole new type of battle was interesting as he can't just shoot his way out of trouble. It doesn't help that the witches can raise zombies and control vampires to use against him. Add in that one of the witches is also demon possessed and it goes to a whole different place. There is lots of magic as well as smack 'em down fights and I like that each book in this series does something a bit different. Deacon is also concerned that the public battles are endangering human lives and his anger rises with the body count. It is time to find out what the witches are planning and find a way to stop them before his people die...
The series is keeping up the standard and I really want to know when the next book is coming out!
blissbubbley's review
5.0
I have reviewed the previous Deacon Chalk books before and they are one of my favourite series. Whilst I love that there are so many female characters being focused on in books these days, it is also great to see a really good male character.
This next book is much dark than previous books but it still brings all of the elements that I loved before, it's really action packed and I really like the other characters that he has around him.
This book picks up from the previous book with no delay. The first couple of chapters are all on action as Deacon and his crew have some witches and wizards after them. Throughout the rest of the book it doesn't get much better as more creatures come out to attack them. There is so much more too and without giving spoilers away, it is those extra stories that make these books so much more than 'just a action story'.
The best thing about the book is also there is so much stuff to still learn about their worlds and I am really excited about what could happen in the next book!
Start at the beginning and you'll end up hooked on this series, like I am!
Reviewed on Larissa's Life
This next book is much dark than previous books but it still brings all of the elements that I loved before, it's really action packed and I really like the other characters that he has around him.
This book picks up from the previous book with no delay. The first couple of chapters are all on action as Deacon and his crew have some witches and wizards after them. Throughout the rest of the book it doesn't get much better as more creatures come out to attack them. There is so much more too and without giving spoilers away, it is those extra stories that make these books so much more than 'just a action story'.
The best thing about the book is also there is so much stuff to still learn about their worlds and I am really excited about what could happen in the next book!
Start at the beginning and you'll end up hooked on this series, like I am!
Reviewed on Larissa's Life
shai3d's review
3.0
It seems as though lately all the protagonists in the urban fantasy genre are women. Now don't get me wrong, I do enjoy seeing women taking names and kicking butts but I also enjoy seeing/reading about men doing the same. This is what attracted me to Deacon Chalk. He is big tattooed man with a shaven head and a heart of gold for anyone being terrorized by monsters. And there is a woman taking names in BLOOD AND MAGICK who just happens to be Deacon's lady Tiff.
This book really starts out with a bang or more correctly an explosion and goes from there. BLOOD AND MAGICK is very fast paced with a strong storyline interspersed with just enough downtime to give the reader a chance to catch a breath. This is a book that I just didn't want to set aside as I couldn't wait to read what happens next.
I did have a couple issues with the book such as Deacon calling the older pagan gods demons and few editing errors that slipped through. These are not enough however to keep me from hunting up the back issues so that I will be all caught up before the first book.
I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the urban fantasy genre. I do have to issue a warning however about the language, violence and strong christian bias that is present in the book.
I rate this book a 3.4.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
This book really starts out with a bang or more correctly an explosion and goes from there. BLOOD AND MAGICK is very fast paced with a strong storyline interspersed with just enough downtime to give the reader a chance to catch a breath. This is a book that I just didn't want to set aside as I couldn't wait to read what happens next.
I did have a couple issues with the book such as Deacon calling the older pagan gods demons and few editing errors that slipped through. These are not enough however to keep me from hunting up the back issues so that I will be all caught up before the first book.
I do recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the urban fantasy genre. I do have to issue a warning however about the language, violence and strong christian bias that is present in the book.
I rate this book a 3.4.
*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.
rclz's review
4.0
Deacon is brutal he's blunt and he doesn't brook much b.s. That said his world is as brutal as he is so there isn't much else he can do and stay alive. He's got a scared over heart where his dead family resides and slowly he's finding his way through some of the pain.
This is nowhere near my normal fair but I like the characters enough to stick with them.
In this book he's moving Deacon in a bit of a different direction towards the end.
He keeps losing so much but keeps moving.
Jim Beaver is so perfect for the narration of Deacon and he does a wonderful job.
This is nowhere near my normal fair but I like the characters enough to stick with them.
In this book he's moving Deacon in a bit of a different direction towards the end.
He keeps losing so much but keeps moving.
Jim Beaver is so perfect for the narration of Deacon and he does a wonderful job.
shelleyrae's review
4.0
"What can I say? I like guns. I'm a gun guy. Go with it, it's okay."
In Blood and Magick, the third book in James R. Tuck's series, Deacon Chalk is enjoying a quiet dinner with his lover, Tiff and friends, Kat and Larson, when the world goes to hell. The Wrath of Baphomet is in search of the Blood of the Trinity and the three witches will let nothing stand in their way.
This was my first introduction to Deacon Chalk, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. Starting mid way in a series isn't ideal (and I really need to stop being seduced by Netgalley titles without checking things like that first) but I learnt enough to be satisfied with this title as a stand alone.
Chalk began hunting monsters when his wife and children were murdered by a demon. The occult world is unknown by most humans, were's of a mind boggling variety, witches, warlocks, vampires, demons and worse lurk in the shadows while magick corrupts those who try to wield it. Chalk has made it his mission to kill the monsters financed by the strip club he owns, collecting allies and enemies along the way. A transfusion of Angel blood, given when he was dying, ensures Chalk has a bit of an edge - he is a little stronger, a little faster and heals a little quicker than humans. He is also quick on the draw, packing silver and lead bullets in custom pistols.
There is no shortage violence in Blood and Magick, evil has no regard for innocents and bodies start piling up from the first few pages. Deaths are usually gruesome and bloody and even Deacon's team is not immune. The battle between good and evil rages not only between Deacon and the monsters but also amongst his group as Larson attempts to twist magick to his own ends.
Despite the fast paced action and plethora of snappy one liners there is some genuine emotion from the characters including guilt, rage and love. Deacon and Tiff provide a touch of romance and steam (especially in the shower) while
Blood and Magick is a wild ride at breakneck speed through monsters, mayhem and murder. I thought it was a lot of fun and Tuck has earned himself a new fan.
As Deacon Chalk says:
Hells to the yeah.
Time to rock and roll.
enchantressofbooks's review
4.0
GUEST REVIEWER:
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Paul's Review:
Picture this: you get on a roller coaster thinking it is going to be awesome but that it is only going to last for a little bit, and then it will be over. Only problem is, you are wrong on both counts…
Blood and Magick by James R. Tuck is the roller coaster ride that grabs you from minute one, pulls you along at blistering speeds, twists you in all kinds of directions, surprises you whenever you think you aren't in for a surprise, and lasts (in a very good way) for a good long time. So this roller coaster ride is not just awesome, but really awesome.
Some authors have the gift of making you instantly dig the main character or characters, and James R. Tuck is definitely one of them. The main character, Deacon Chalk, has a lot going for him: he is a very cool man’s man, he is loyal and loving to his lady, he is a badass, he is into some very classic firepower (we are talking twin, chrome-plated 1911 Colt .45’s here, people), he likes his coffee with cream and sugar (the only way to go), possesses and uses magick, and he is capable of handling anything - the likes of devil-witches, demons, werewolves (and many other were-creatures for that matter), and evil spawn in general. Perhaps some authors would end up sounding corny talking about were-creatures other than werewolves, but James R. Tuck pulls it off well.
This is the third book in James R. Tuck’s Deacon Chalk series, but Tuck makes you feel instantly accustomed to his world and somehow not at all at a loss as to who Deacon Chalk is, what he does, and the hell in which he lives and with which he has to deal. You see, Deacon Chalk lost his wife and children to a vicious were-polar bear and is absolutely driven to rid the world of evil were-creatures and evil in general. And he does a bang-up job, too. Literally. The good guys in Blood and Magick are all tragic hero types: Deacon Chalk is living with the loss of his family and trying, almost hour by hour, not to allow himself to be consumed by rage and release his inner dragon. Tiff, Deacon’s evil-fighting partner and lover, lost one of her eyes in a battle and lives her life with both the physical and emotional scars. Father Mulcahy, Deacon’s mentor, is a hard-smoking, hard-drinking but devout Catholic priest who had a very hard life before he became a priest; he is only human with no special powers, like Tiff, but his inner and physical strength and his conviction to stay the evil-fighting course make him a very powerful friend and ally.
I really enjoy the way the author describes everything in his book and his use of his considerable vocabulary – everything from the way people look, the scenes, the action, the sensations, and even the smells. You really feel like you are witnessing all the action of this book, and it makes you want to read Tuck’s previous books and his novellas, too. I, for one, will read them all, and I hope you do, too.
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Paul's Review:
Picture this: you get on a roller coaster thinking it is going to be awesome but that it is only going to last for a little bit, and then it will be over. Only problem is, you are wrong on both counts…
Blood and Magick by James R. Tuck is the roller coaster ride that grabs you from minute one, pulls you along at blistering speeds, twists you in all kinds of directions, surprises you whenever you think you aren't in for a surprise, and lasts (in a very good way) for a good long time. So this roller coaster ride is not just awesome, but really awesome.
Some authors have the gift of making you instantly dig the main character or characters, and James R. Tuck is definitely one of them. The main character, Deacon Chalk, has a lot going for him: he is a very cool man’s man, he is loyal and loving to his lady, he is a badass, he is into some very classic firepower (we are talking twin, chrome-plated 1911 Colt .45’s here, people), he likes his coffee with cream and sugar (the only way to go), possesses and uses magick, and he is capable of handling anything - the likes of devil-witches, demons, werewolves (and many other were-creatures for that matter), and evil spawn in general. Perhaps some authors would end up sounding corny talking about were-creatures other than werewolves, but James R. Tuck pulls it off well.
This is the third book in James R. Tuck’s Deacon Chalk series, but Tuck makes you feel instantly accustomed to his world and somehow not at all at a loss as to who Deacon Chalk is, what he does, and the hell in which he lives and with which he has to deal. You see, Deacon Chalk lost his wife and children to a vicious were-polar bear and is absolutely driven to rid the world of evil were-creatures and evil in general. And he does a bang-up job, too. Literally. The good guys in Blood and Magick are all tragic hero types: Deacon Chalk is living with the loss of his family and trying, almost hour by hour, not to allow himself to be consumed by rage and release his inner dragon. Tiff, Deacon’s evil-fighting partner and lover, lost one of her eyes in a battle and lives her life with both the physical and emotional scars. Father Mulcahy, Deacon’s mentor, is a hard-smoking, hard-drinking but devout Catholic priest who had a very hard life before he became a priest; he is only human with no special powers, like Tiff, but his inner and physical strength and his conviction to stay the evil-fighting course make him a very powerful friend and ally.
I really enjoy the way the author describes everything in his book and his use of his considerable vocabulary – everything from the way people look, the scenes, the action, the sensations, and even the smells. You really feel like you are witnessing all the action of this book, and it makes you want to read Tuck’s previous books and his novellas, too. I, for one, will read them all, and I hope you do, too.
This and other reviews available at Viviana, Enchantress of Books
mzzmia's review
5.0
This is the best one yet. Deacon hit the ground running and never let up. There were a couple of unexpected twists and where the next books will go is anyone's guess. I can't wait.
gailygirl527's review
4.0
Deacon wins again! I'm not sure if this was my favorite so far, because of some of the tragedy involved, but it definitely kept me captivated. Having vampires, an Anita Blake reference, Satanic Witches, and Occult Weapons sanctioned by the Vatican is a lot to put in one book, and I loved every word. I seriously can't wait for the next one.
avoraciousreader68's review
5.0
4.5
Book source ~ Many thanks to Kensington for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Deacon Chalk is an Occult Bounty Hunter taking care of the monsters so they don’t eat people. When a trio of witches comes to town and wants the Blood of the Trinity, the special blood belonging to mixed shapeshifter triplets, all hell breaks loose. The triplets should never have been born with a werelion for a dad and a weredog for a mom, but there they are, weirder than all get out and apparently badly wanted by the Wrath of Baphomet, no doubt for nepharious purposes that will be very horrific for humans. It’s up to Deacon and his crew to stop them, but he never suspects the evil selfishness hidden amongst those he trusts.
Once again James R. Tuck starts a book off by burning rubber off the starting line roaring at high speeds down the stretch and around the curves until crossing the finishing line tires squealing and smoke billowing up as the car does a 360 in a fancy flourishing end. In other words, don’t blink or you might miss some action.
Deacon gets some help from an unexpected quarter in the form of a government agent. Whether it will prove to be a continuous positive help remains to be seen in future books. Personally, I like Agent Heck and hope he sticks around. There is also loss and betrayal in this book. I think Deacon made a mistake when dealing with Larson and I have a feeling that is going to come back and bite him in the ass big time.
One thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me is Deacon himself. He is dead set against magic, calling it all bad yet he doesn’t hesitate to use the magic in himself when the situation calls for it. Everything isn’t always black and white and I’d like to see Deacon realize that or risk being a hypocrite. He admits that not all shapeshifters are bad, so he needs to take that extra step with magic.
The other thing that kept this from being a 5 star is the repetition. It’s easy to see that James R. Tuck is a fan of the Anita Blake series, but I would hate to see Deacon become a one-dimensional character like Anita, have pages and pages of filler about what everyone looks like or what they are wearing, rehash ad nauseum every detail that happened in previous books or have the wheels fall off the plot in the middle of the story. I’m begging Tuck not to fall into the pattern that LKH has fallen into because I already love Deacon. I’m heart-broken over the crappy writing LKH has churned out recently and I certainly don’t want to see the same from Tuck. So far, so good though. I’m still 100% with Deacon and looking forward to seeing what happens next.
Book source ~ Many thanks to Kensington for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Deacon Chalk is an Occult Bounty Hunter taking care of the monsters so they don’t eat people. When a trio of witches comes to town and wants the Blood of the Trinity, the special blood belonging to mixed shapeshifter triplets, all hell breaks loose. The triplets should never have been born with a werelion for a dad and a weredog for a mom, but there they are, weirder than all get out and apparently badly wanted by the Wrath of Baphomet, no doubt for nepharious purposes that will be very horrific for humans. It’s up to Deacon and his crew to stop them, but he never suspects the evil selfishness hidden amongst those he trusts.
Once again James R. Tuck starts a book off by burning rubber off the starting line roaring at high speeds down the stretch and around the curves until crossing the finishing line tires squealing and smoke billowing up as the car does a 360 in a fancy flourishing end. In other words, don’t blink or you might miss some action.
Deacon gets some help from an unexpected quarter in the form of a government agent. Whether it will prove to be a continuous positive help remains to be seen in future books. Personally, I like Agent Heck and hope he sticks around. There is also loss and betrayal in this book. I think Deacon made a mistake when dealing with Larson and I have a feeling that is going to come back and bite him in the ass big time.
One thing that kept this from being a 5 star for me is Deacon himself. He is dead set against magic, calling it all bad yet he doesn’t hesitate to use the magic in himself when the situation calls for it. Everything isn’t always black and white and I’d like to see Deacon realize that or risk being a hypocrite. He admits that not all shapeshifters are bad, so he needs to take that extra step with magic.
The other thing that kept this from being a 5 star is the repetition. It’s easy to see that James R. Tuck is a fan of the Anita Blake series, but I would hate to see Deacon become a one-dimensional character like Anita, have pages and pages of filler about what everyone looks like or what they are wearing, rehash ad nauseum every detail that happened in previous books or have the wheels fall off the plot in the middle of the story. I’m begging Tuck not to fall into the pattern that LKH has fallen into because I already love Deacon. I’m heart-broken over the crappy writing LKH has churned out recently and I certainly don’t want to see the same from Tuck. So far, so good though. I’m still 100% with Deacon and looking forward to seeing what happens next.
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