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fratnanny's review against another edition
5.0
I don't even know where to start. I am so glad I gave this series another shot. DÄMOREN was great, but Hounacier was even greater....There goes my idea for not buying any more books because I have to order Ibenus today. Seth Skorkowski accomplished something that is hard to do, he wrote a series that is unlike anything you will ever read. I am not a professional reviewer and I was never really great at book reports, but just know that this series is worth it and you will not regret reading it. Such a fantastic take on demons and werebeasts, mixed with a bit of hoodoo and exorcism. Who can resist? I sure can't. Ibenus here I come. [a:Seth Skorkowsky|4088554|Seth Skorkowsky|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1396531539p2/4088554.jpg]
barb4ry1's review against another edition
4.0
Matt Hollis is a great and relatable character. Malcolm Romero isn’t. At least that’s what I thought after finishing Dämoren. You can’t blame me. Malcolm behaved like a huge asshole all way through.
And yet here we are following Mal’s adventure in New Orleans. His mentor and father figure was murdered. Malcolm returns to New Orleans to catch the killer but instead loses his holy machete (Hounacier) and finds himself on the run. Not only from others. He’ll have to face even more dangerous foe. I can’t say anything more not to spoil the twist.
This book is all about Malcolm and his relationships (with people, holy blade, ghosts, himself). We learn more about him. He was brought to faith by terror – in his past, he was atheist working as a journalist. While looking for a strong article topic he decided to investigate the world of voodoo. Upon witnessing exorcism his world shattered to pieces and he felt a calling that would eventually lead him to become a Valducan demon hunter.
I’m impressed with world-building and amount of research put into crafting the story. The author does a great job of describing the city giving us a deeper look at voodoo and the loa. Voodoo is a central theme in Hounacier. It feels vibrant and authentic. And it’s fascinating.
Additionally, we get new and fantastic insights into demon culture – through scenes and notes that broaden knowledge stored in Valducan archives. While our demon hunters slay demons and we can relate to them, demons pictured in Valducan series aren’t just flat incarnations of evil. They’re much more and they’re fascinating.
Hounacier isn’t Dämoren copy. It’s different in almost every possible way. It’s more low-key and more intimate. Obviously, we witness demon-slaying and good action scenes but it has a feel of a psychological thriller as well, especially after sudden twist that’ll face Malcolm with the biggest challenge of his life.
It’s dark and violent book. If you have very visual imagination you risk getting a visceral reaction to the events more than once. Some scenes were terrifyingly gruesome.
The pacing of the book in uneven. The first half of Hounacier sets the scene. After the twist, the novel becomes much faster. I can understand that for some readers the beginning will feel a bit slow but I enjoyed New Orleans descriptions. It’s one of the cities I dream to visit one day.
Overall, I’m impressed with Hounacier. It took me to really dark places but remained engrossing. If you look for dark Urban Fantasy mixed with horror Valducan is the series worth trying.
And yet here we are following Mal’s adventure in New Orleans. His mentor and father figure was murdered. Malcolm returns to New Orleans to catch the killer but instead loses his holy machete (Hounacier) and finds himself on the run. Not only from others. He’ll have to face even more dangerous foe. I can’t say anything more not to spoil the twist.
This book is all about Malcolm and his relationships (with people, holy blade, ghosts, himself). We learn more about him. He was brought to faith by terror – in his past, he was atheist working as a journalist. While looking for a strong article topic he decided to investigate the world of voodoo. Upon witnessing exorcism his world shattered to pieces and he felt a calling that would eventually lead him to become a Valducan demon hunter.
I’m impressed with world-building and amount of research put into crafting the story. The author does a great job of describing the city giving us a deeper look at voodoo and the loa. Voodoo is a central theme in Hounacier. It feels vibrant and authentic. And it’s fascinating.
Additionally, we get new and fantastic insights into demon culture – through scenes and notes that broaden knowledge stored in Valducan archives. While our demon hunters slay demons and we can relate to them, demons pictured in Valducan series aren’t just flat incarnations of evil. They’re much more and they’re fascinating.
Hounacier isn’t Dämoren copy. It’s different in almost every possible way. It’s more low-key and more intimate. Obviously, we witness demon-slaying and good action scenes but it has a feel of a psychological thriller as well, especially after sudden twist that’ll face Malcolm with the biggest challenge of his life.
It’s dark and violent book. If you have very visual imagination you risk getting a visceral reaction to the events more than once. Some scenes were terrifyingly gruesome.
The pacing of the book in uneven. The first half of Hounacier sets the scene. After the twist, the novel becomes much faster. I can understand that for some readers the beginning will feel a bit slow but I enjoyed New Orleans descriptions. It’s one of the cities I dream to visit one day.
Overall, I’m impressed with Hounacier. It took me to really dark places but remained engrossing. If you look for dark Urban Fantasy mixed with horror Valducan is the series worth trying.
evavroslin's review against another edition
5.0
As with the previous book in the Valducan series, "Damoren" (Book 1), "Hounacier" (Book 2) has action that is pulse-pounding and exciting. This is also an unputdownable book. Where we followed the protagonist Matt Hollis in "Damoren," here in "Hounacier" we follow the new protagonist, Malcolm Romero, who, if you've read Book 1, you'll remember that he and Matt often butted heads and did not get along.
When I read from the book description that this book was going to revolve largely around Haitian vodou, I was even more excited to read it because it's a subject matter that many genre fiction authors have tried to tackle, but what ends up happening is they give a very shallow or cursory representation that doesn't do the religion justice and doesn't pay it the proper respect. "Hounacier" is one of the few novels I've read where it shows that the author has done his research and has gone beyond a Cliffnotes or Hollywood-ized approach. I wasn't expecting to like and sympathize with Malcolm as much as I did, but he won me over fairly quickly on. Matt also makes a special appearance in the book and definitely enhances the plot (i.e. it isn't just a walk-on appearance that felt forced or tacked-on).
The strength of "Hounacier" lies in its vivid world-building and the diverse cast of characters--I loved the way the author chose to present the vodou "loa" or spirits, such as Baron Samedi. There was also less involvement from the Valducans and less characters to keep track of, so I felt this was an even more enjoyable reading experience compared to "Damoren."
Basically, if you're into good storytelling, fantastic characters, Haitian vodou, a vivid New Orleans setting, spirits and folklore, ancient demon-killing weapons, not to mention werewolves, you will definitely get a big kick out of "Hounacier."
When I read from the book description that this book was going to revolve largely around Haitian vodou, I was even more excited to read it because it's a subject matter that many genre fiction authors have tried to tackle, but what ends up happening is they give a very shallow or cursory representation that doesn't do the religion justice and doesn't pay it the proper respect. "Hounacier" is one of the few novels I've read where it shows that the author has done his research and has gone beyond a Cliffnotes or Hollywood-ized approach. I wasn't expecting to like and sympathize with Malcolm as much as I did, but he won me over fairly quickly on. Matt also makes a special appearance in the book and definitely enhances the plot (i.e. it isn't just a walk-on appearance that felt forced or tacked-on).
The strength of "Hounacier" lies in its vivid world-building and the diverse cast of characters--I loved the way the author chose to present the vodou "loa" or spirits, such as Baron Samedi. There was also less involvement from the Valducans and less characters to keep track of, so I felt this was an even more enjoyable reading experience compared to "Damoren."
Basically, if you're into good storytelling, fantastic characters, Haitian vodou, a vivid New Orleans setting, spirits and folklore, ancient demon-killing weapons, not to mention werewolves, you will definitely get a big kick out of "Hounacier."
bulbasaurusthe7th's review against another edition
DNF.
I loved the first book, I did. But this one is just not for me. In a world so interesting, with so many characters already there, with so many stories you can tell... I find it's a crime to waste time on plain old love stories. It's just not my thing, I find romantic relationships to be the most boring interpersonal bond you can write about and it's disappointing to me that both this and the next book are spent on that.
Also, why do people have to make it obvious people will end up together the very first moment? It's... not good. Sorry, I'm not sorry. I'm way too stressed and exhausted nowadays to read books that annoy me.
I loved the first book, I did. But this one is just not for me. In a world so interesting, with so many characters already there, with so many stories you can tell... I find it's a crime to waste time on plain old love stories. It's just not my thing, I find romantic relationships to be the most boring interpersonal bond you can write about and it's disappointing to me that both this and the next book are spent on that.
Also, why do people have to make it obvious people will end up together the very first moment? It's... not good. Sorry, I'm not sorry. I'm way too stressed and exhausted nowadays to read books that annoy me.
veronica87's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I didn't like this book as much as the first one and there are a few reasons for that.
1. Change in main character: I liked Matt Hollis in the first book and wanted more of his story. This book however switches to Malcolm Romero, a senior Valducan Knight who was a bit of an ass to Matt in the first book. I didn't feel any pressing need to know more about Malcolm and, after spending an entire book with him, that hasn't changed. He goes through some pretty nasty crap in the back third of this book and I felt badly for him but overall, I just don't find him to be lead character material.
2. Downsizing: The first book was a wild ride that spanned cities and countries and had more of a focus on the Valducan Knights as an organization. I liked that and wanted to get deeper into its history and present day functions. Instead this book presents the solitary mission of Malcolm on a personal, non-Valducan mission to find the murderer of his mentor, Ulysses, a character we only meet briefly in the Prologue. Since readers never get to know Ulysses or experience his relationship with Malcolm, it's hard to really care about him or Malcolm's mission.
3. Pacing: The first two thirds of the book is mostly about Malcolm getting re-acquainted with his old stomping grounds and with old friends, which includes his former lover, Tasha. This portion of the book felt slow to me. Now I can deal with slow IF there are interesting and charismatic characters that I can stroll through the slow parts with but I didn't find that here. Malcolm comes across like a big, uptight dud to me. The romance, while not a big part of anything in this story, was also a dud because I strongly suspect that if the house were on fire Malcolm would save his machete before he'd save Tasha. The action did pick up in the last third of the book which is good for readers but so very bad for Malcolm.
4. Creepy attachment to weapon: This one I won't hold against this book because it was present in the first book too. But given that Urukhail (not sure of the spelling here since I listened to the audiobook but Matt's weapon, basically) confirmed that the entities that inhabit the holy weapons think of their wielders as their children, all the comments about Malcolm being Hounacier's husband just adds to the creepiness.
It was nice to see Matt make a brief appearance in this book. We get an update on his life which just makes me more curious to re-visit him as the main POV character. However, I see the next book switches focus to Alex, yet another of the Knights we met in the first book, but at least he has more of a personality.
As usual though, RC Bray did a great job with the narration so the low rating has nothing to do with his performance and everything to do with characters, plot, and pacing.
I didn't like this book as much as the first one and there are a few reasons for that.
1. Change in main character: I liked Matt Hollis in the first book and wanted more of his story. This book however switches to Malcolm Romero, a senior Valducan Knight who was a bit of an ass to Matt in the first book. I didn't feel any pressing need to know more about Malcolm and, after spending an entire book with him, that hasn't changed. He goes through some pretty nasty crap in the back third of this book and I felt badly for him but overall, I just don't find him to be lead character material.
2. Downsizing: The first book was a wild ride that spanned cities and countries and had more of a focus on the Valducan Knights as an organization. I liked that and wanted to get deeper into its history and present day functions. Instead this book presents the solitary mission of Malcolm on a personal, non-Valducan mission to find the murderer of his mentor, Ulysses, a character we only meet briefly in the Prologue. Since readers never get to know Ulysses or experience his relationship with Malcolm, it's hard to really care about him or Malcolm's mission.
3. Pacing: The first two thirds of the book is mostly about Malcolm getting re-acquainted with his old stomping grounds and with old friends, which includes his former lover, Tasha. This portion of the book felt slow to me. Now I can deal with slow IF there are interesting and charismatic characters that I can stroll through the slow parts with but I didn't find that here. Malcolm comes across like a big, uptight dud to me. The romance, while not a big part of anything in this story, was also a dud because I strongly suspect that if the house were on fire Malcolm would save his machete before he'd save Tasha. The action did pick up in the last third of the book which is good for readers but so very bad for Malcolm.
4. Creepy attachment to weapon: This one I won't hold against this book because it was present in the first book too. But given that Urukhail (not sure of the spelling here since I listened to the audiobook but Matt's weapon, basically) confirmed that the entities that inhabit the holy weapons think of their wielders as their children, all the comments about Malcolm being Hounacier's husband just adds to the creepiness.
It was nice to see Matt make a brief appearance in this book. We get an update on his life which just makes me more curious to re-visit him as the main POV character. However, I see the next book switches focus to Alex, yet another of the Knights we met in the first book, but at least he has more of a personality.
As usual though, RC Bray did a great job with the narration so the low rating has nothing to do with his performance and everything to do with characters, plot, and pacing.
artemisblack's review
5.0
Hounancier is my favorite of the books so far (Damoren, Hounancier and Ibenus). The book takes place in New Orleans and follows Hounancier's current protector, Malcolm. Malcom is called home after his mentor is found murdered, and he returns to catch the killer while facing down the demons that live in the city.
I loved getting to learn about the Voodoo culture in New Orleans and Skorkowsky did an excellent job of weaving it into Malcom's story as both a Houngan and a Valducan knight. Hounacier's story isn't perfectly black and white which added a lot of depth and grit to the story, and to me, made it more interesting than the story of Damoren. Since a lot of the world building was completed in the first book, Hounacier can get deep, and it gets deep and dark quick.
This book was provided by Ragnarok Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I loved getting to learn about the Voodoo culture in New Orleans and Skorkowsky did an excellent job of weaving it into Malcom's story as both a Houngan and a Valducan knight. Hounacier's story isn't perfectly black and white which added a lot of depth and grit to the story, and to me, made it more interesting than the story of Damoren. Since a lot of the world building was completed in the first book, Hounacier can get deep, and it gets deep and dark quick.
This book was provided by Ragnarok Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
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