Monster Hunter Vendetta (Monster Hunters International Book 2)

I was hooked with Monster Hunter International, and Vendetta did not disappoint me. The supernatural has really become popular in today's movies and books, but Correia really takes a different approach with this outstanding storyline.
I loved it!

After finishing MHI (book 1) I was sitting on pins and needles waiting for this one to arrive. A few days later than I expected but so very worth wait.

Funny, exciting, likeable characters, the occasional earth-shattering Kaboom!...What's not to love!

Monster Hunter Vendetta is the perfect compliment to the first Monster Hunter book. It is funny, gruesome fun! Larry is amazing . . . he takes the the monsters of traditional lore and puts a spin on them that is fresh and imaginative. Very entertaining! I can't wait for the next installment!

Not as good as its predecessor, but entertaining none the less. However the "end of the world" threat that as been in the first two books and that is hinted will be in the third is getting tired. You don't have to threaten the end of the world in every book to make them suspenseful.

I did not write this review to place a crown of laurels upon Larry Correia's head (however well deserved it may be) other reviewers have done this far more ably. No, I write now to express my true feelings of scorn and pustulaminous hatred for the store's vomit inducingly bad service. I had pre-ordered this tome in the vain hope (O, what a fool I was!) that the store would deliver it into my hands on the day it was released unto the world. I was wrong. In vain, I waited many days checking hourly to see if this wondrous tale of exciting musket-fire had shipped, but no! O, how I was wroth! Finally on the fifth day (This being the first day of October) I received the momentous news. It had been delivered unto the hands of the Postmen! Surely it would be forthcoming in mere moments! However it was in vain I waited for a FURTHER five days (though, as one of these days was the Lord's day, it is understandable that our most faithful and much-put-upon postal employees did not work). On the tenth day of my ordeal I opened my post-box to discover that it had arrived! O, Joy! Explosions! Action! Terrible Forces of Darkness clashing with the Soldiers of The Light! At the closing a Heroic Sacrifice! Therefor sirs, I beg you to buy this tale, but do not buy it from the store as their conduct has been execrable in this transaction.

A true sequel should expand on the vision of the original while adding depth to the concepts and characters of its predecessor. This can be a difficult feat to accomplish, especially when the first book is a mind blowing success. A lot of sequels coast off the momentum of the first book without ever really establishing a name on their own. Larry Correia could have easily sat back and written Monster Hunter International 2, with all the fans he has attracted he could have easily sold a book without any improvement on the original formula. Instead Larry wrote Monster Hunter Vendetta, and I'm sure glad he did.

Anyone who has read Monster Hunter International knows what to expect. Tough guys, big guns, and scary monsters. This novel features the return of our beloved mercenary monster hunters faced with a new unholy evil. A random passerby may see the front cover of this book (an awesome holographic illustration might I mention) and assume that it is a shallow violence ridden urban fantasy book. That, however, is so far from the case. What sets MHV apart from standard urban fantasy is Larry's knowledge of B-movie monsters and his personal experience with firearms. There's no supernatural problem a fully automatic twelve-gauge shotgun with an underslung grenade launcher can't handle. The action in this book is top notch, one of the fights continues on for pages but never gets boring. With some action-heavy books I tend to scan over what should be the most exciting parts. This is not so with MHV. Larry has a real talent for writing fight scenes and while you might be exhausted after reading it you will never be bored.

The most surprising thing about MHV is by far the amount of depth added to the characters. The first book displayed some unique and fun characters to follow. Owen Z. Pitt, combat accountant, makes for an excellent main character. He isn't handsome or unbelievably smart, but he is a great shot and a good fighter. While the first book introduced a wide and diverse cast MHV delves into story behind some of the more important players. Owen's family also makes an appearance in this book. Owen's relationship with his father gives a whole extra dimension to his character. Then of course there is Special Agent Franks. I didn't much care for Franks in the first book and I didn't expect to like him in MHV. Somehow by the end of the novel he had become my favorite character of all. Franks is one of the toughest characters I've read about in years and I can't wait for his solo novel Monster Hunter Nemesis.

I pre-ordered a signed copy of MHV for my personal library. Instead of waiting for the package to reach my house I went out and bought another copy as soon as it hit store shelves. I then proceeded to spend my weekend reading it. If you haven't read MHI I highly suggest going and buying it now, but buy MHV too. That way you won't have to run back out to the store to get the sequel after having your mind blown.

In June of 1938, Detective Comics Inc (which later became DC Comics) published Action Comics #1, the first chapter of which was devoted to Superman. His story was simple enough, an infant alien from a world where everyone has super powers is sent to Earth for his own safety and who grows up and discovers that he can hurdle 20-story buildings, out-run a trains, bench press buses, and who's very skin could cause all but the largest of artillery rounds to bounce off harmlessly. He decided to use his powers (both super natural and the power of his pen as a reporter) to combat evil and would stand as a champion of the oppressed. A year later, in 1939, Superman the comic appeared, and with it a cultural icon was born.

Through out the 1940's Superman's popularity as a crime fighting super hero grew, and it kept growing, and growing, and growing. As his popularity grew, so did his powers. He developed the ability to fly, shoot heat rays from his eyes, x-ray vision, super hearing, invulnerability, and perfect recall. This allowed the authors and artists of Superman to throw more and more difficult situations at him, with eviler and more vile villains seeking his destruction. Which lead to a feedback loop. The more powerful his enemies became, the more powerful he had to become to defeat them, and so he was continually granted more and more power, until he became quite boring to read. What would be the point of picking up one of his comics, given you already knew how it would end. Superman would always win, and those close to him would never be harmed. In 1986, John Byrne's on Infinite Earths recognized and sought to address this issue by reducing Superman's abilities to a more limited set. That exists outside the scope of this review however, which is oddly enough about Larry Correia's "Monster Hunter Vendetta" and not Superman.

Author's today are increasingly running into the Superman effect, and Larry Correia's Owen Z is an example of that. He's in good company, Nimue Alban/Merlin Athrawes of Safehold (David Weber), Anita Blake Vampire Hunter (Laurell K. Hamilton), Harry Potter (J. K. Rowling) and Wesley Crusher (Gene Roddenberry), are all modern examples of others who share this Superman complex. They are also characters, who unlike Owen Z, have run with it to, its bitter, bitter end and conclusion. They are no longer fun characters to read or hear about. They no longer hold the readers interest at best (Merlin Athrawes), or fill the reader with unfathomable loathing (Wesley Crusher) at worst.

Owen Z, while he became exponentially more powerful in Vendetta hasn't quite reached that tipping point. He's still someone you care about, sort of, he's still someone you feel could be defeated, maybe, but he's become someone that doesn't grow or change with what happens around him. I think thats what bothers me the most. With everything that happened to him (such as going from Monster Slayer to Death bringer of Cultists) he never really changed. He was the same old Z, unphased, unflappable, and never out of ammunition. He didn't have to stretch himself to survive, he didn't have to undergo a change, or question anything, he just had to plod along, grit through it, and keep pulling that trigger. Tenacity is an admirable trait, just not a very interesting one.

For all that Vendetta is a fun book, and an enjoyable read. The author has a quick way with words that caused me to laugh out loud several times, (sometimes at the most inappropriate times even), and I liked the book. I just hope that the series ends with three, and the author has the wit and wisdom to end the series before Z is reviled to be the son of Zeus and Gefion, and is only vulnerable on the second Tuesday of April when it falls on the 15th day of the month right before the post offices close.

This isn't to say that Mr. Correia should stop writing, because he shouldn't. What he should do is stop writing about Owen, before Owen becomes a parody. If I want to read some fluffy, fun, and rompy stories about killing monsters, I'll pick up a copy of whatever is most current in the Anita Blake world, because she's at least hot, if a bit skanky. From MHI (and Mr. Correia) I would hope to get more.

Monster Hunter Vendetta picks up Owen Pitt's saga a few months after the events of the first book, Monster Hunter International. This time Owen is the hunted as much as he is hunter. The Dread Overlord (a sort of top-of-the-heap Cthulu monster) has put the word out to his minions on Earth that he wants Owen Pitt delivered to him in his dimension for torture and death. He blames Owen for what the Feds did to him during the last battle described in the first novel (something involving a tactical nuke), when Owen literally saved the world.

This book fills in a lot of the back-story of the MHI fictional universe without getting in the way of the non-stop action. For a new writer Larry Correia has great story-telling skills as he pulls the reader from one chapter to the next. Don't start this book on a night when you need to get some sleep. One could easily start this on a Friday night and finish it by Sunday.

We learn more of the family history of the Shackleford's, four generations of which have owned and operated MHI. Some really big secrets of some agents of Monster Control Bureau (MCB) get spilled here. It does nothing to alleviate MCB's image as an evil-twin version of Men In Black. Even worse its top agent is a bloody-minded egomaniac who doesn't care if MHI is wiped out as long as he accomplishes his mission.

The author does a great job of building up the powers of the villain, a British necromancer, to the point where you doubt that anything to stop him. The key is to make it believable when our hero does beat him and comes home in one-piece to marry the girl he loves - another monster hunter who shoots a rifle better than Owen. Good looks, brave and a great shot. That is my idea of a 21st century heroine/love-interest.

This is a fun book with an adult view of good vs. evil, in stark contrast to the action movies of today that have stories at the level of comic books, even when they are not based on comic books. I'm glad to report that the evil villains are truly evil and not mis-guided or victims of a troubled childhood. The author's deft touch shows in the depiction of some of the "good guys" who cut corners while trying to save the world. We still don't like the guys from MCB, but some of them are more understandable after this book.

It's a successful second book in the series because new readers can enjoy it before reading the first book but it still moves the saga forward for people who have already "discovered" MHI. That's why I give it Five Stars.

Urban fantasy is in good hands with this sharpshooting writer from Utah.

What I would have liked to know before I bought this book. (no spoilers)

1. What type of book is it: adventure, action, drama, etc? This volume is a supernatural military action book with some drama.

2. What is the story about, in general? The story continues to center around Owen, as he tries to keep himself and those he loves alive from the assassins of a necromantic cult bent on obeying their Old One masters.

3. What/Who is the target audience? Young adults and teenage males for sure.

4. How is the proofreading? Better than the 1st book. Almost no errors.

5. Is there character development? Actually, yes. The main character finally shows his flaws in a manner that affects the story, making him more than a two-dimensional character. He also shows more emotion and personality beyond the `I'm a Hunter, ogga-booga. All I do is be a hunter' role. Simply put, many characters evolve from rote personalities to something a little more dynamic. I was pleasantly surprised.

6. Are the characters likable? Owen continues to be mostly likable, with some huge moments of total `a-hole'. Not in a funny way, just `a-hole'. The rest of the characters are generally fun. Even Frank is a likable character.

7. Does the story keep its pacing? Well, almost every single individual that I thought was involved in something ... was involved in something. I was able to guess most of their roles too. Kind of made it a little predictable for me. One questionable scene in the book even involves `monologing'. Yes, one of the bad guys does it. At least, it is a classic sort of scene.

The story lurches at times. The presentation in some scenes feels rushed, lacking a touch of severity or of drama. In others, it feels stalled, like hitting a batch of molasses at full speed: aka going very fast and then hitting the brakes.

Having said that, there are plenty of scenes that are excellent. There are plenty of secrets to keep the reader guessing. There is plenty of suspense and there is plenty of hot combat action.

8. Do you have to suspend disbelief? I have to admit that ... yes. This volume jumps over the `humor hill' from the enjoyably funny, to the ridiculously silly. I felt like I was watching some of the dumbest Kenzi conversations in a `Lost Girl' episode. If it was a joke story, than I wouldn't care.

There is a discontinuity in the abilities of some of the recurring `bad guys' that struck me as odd because it occurs at a critical moment.

9. Is the book worth the asking price? I purchased it as part of the 3 volume bundle. It's a good price.

In conclusion: Just like the first book, this story is a mixed bag. It has a few terribly bad scenes and a lot of powerfully good ones. Character evolution was much better in this installment, and necessarily focused on fewer characters. The main protagonist finally evolves past two-dimensionality. The story has a lot of predictability in its general form, but a lot of unpredictability in its particulars. I hardly saw any spelling errors. The price is cheap and good in bundle form. This is a fun book with flaws but with a lot of great merits as well. One thing is certain; almost no one will be bored reading this book.

3.7 Stars

The Monster Hunter International stories are quickly becoming one of my favorite reads. I wish that I had gotten into them earlier so that they were easier to find, because I feel like I am cheating reading the eBook versions.

This is the second book in the series, and picks up just a couple months after the end of the first book. The story escalates along similar try-fail cycles as the first MHI book, with the monsters getting larger and coming in more numbers until you get to the amazing climax where you can almost hear all the gunfire and choppers. I am not going to claim it as deep thought reading, and I like it just the way that it is.

Correia history as a gun show salesman carries over into his writing. I found myself googling some of the guns because I wanted to make sure that I had them pictured correctly in my mind. I found his comedic timing in this book to spot on. I laughed so hard through the scene of Julie meeting the Pitts that I had to re-read it just to make sure that I didn't miss anything.

I would recommend these to any other Second Amendment enthusiasts, inspiring comedians, and anyone else that was scared of all the monsters under their bed.

When last we left Owen Zastava Pitt, he was blasting away with the forces of Monster Hunter International to defeat Lord Machada and stop his nefarious plot to bring the Old Ones to Earth. In MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA, the warriors are back to save us all again. The Old Ones still seek to enter our reality, but they have a new leader: a necromancer named Shadow Man who does some very interesting things with zombies.

Like elephant zombies.

It would be bad enough if Owen merely had to deal with the undead, necromancers and other fiendish beasties. That, however, is never the case. Juggling all of that while dealing with a fiancée, family dynamics, bosses, government interlopers and teammates is enough to drive anyone insane. Top this all off with the fact that the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition is intent on making Owen their sacrificial offering, and you have one well-armed warrior who is not having a good day.

Owen and his team of Monster Hunters don't really need to hunt very often. You see, Owen is monster bait. With the Church and Shadow Man seeking to get their hands/claws/tentacles on him, the US government assigns Agent Franks to protect Owen. As if he needed protection.

That he has to deal with all of these things and yet still save the world serves to create some very inventive and entertaining asides for Owen. Much like with the previous novel, MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL, there is no limit to the bizarre circumstances or inevitable laughs they produce. Or the explosions.

Author Larry Correia has once again crafted a novel that has no intentions of being a pretentious award-winning dry read that wins him guest spots on afternoon TV talk shows. He has designed a world-class thrill ride. Like Space Mountain. With zombies. And things that explode on a regular basis.

And yet, despite all the bluster and gung-ho machismo, he also successfully lays out some fantastic characters, carrying them over from MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL. More important than anything, these characters actually grow and develop. It would be easy to have cookie-cutter, wafer- thin souls peopling the crash-bang-boom world of Monster Hunting, but instead the real gem is finding characters like Owen, Julie and Earl and realizing that they are solid creations with stories worth telling.

You don't have to have read the previous book in order to pick up the new one and find yourself entertained. Each novel certainly has its very own core plot, and each is resolved within its own work. By reading INTERNATIONAL, you can have a better understanding of the characters and the overall character arc as you read VENDETTA. It will better fill in some of the relationships and references, but should you just want to dig in, you will not find yourself lost.

VENDETTA is steeped in B-movie pandemonium, much like its predecessor. It's a winning formula, so why change it? The book is fast, fun and full of magic, monsters and mayhem --- a relentless, breathtaking ride. If you're looking to just enjoy the act of reading and have a good time, choose MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA.

Did I mention the zombie bears?

--- Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard

*SPOILER WARNING*

I loved the first book and I loved this one too! I've given it four stars instead of five for one reason. The relationship between Owen and Julie. Now I realize that this series is aimed mostly at male readers and I know that anything which hints at "romance" has many (not all) men running for the hills (some women too of course) but I just felt something was missing. In the first book their relationship is new so he might feel reserved but in the second they are engaged and committed to each other. So what bugged me is that Owen is a 25 year old male, full to the brim with testosterone and engaged to a gorgeous woman he is crazy about and yet - and we are in his head the whole time - he doesnt have ONE sexual thought about her the whole time. I dont mean I need or want porn - I just wanted proof that Owen was a normal red-blooded male! For example the author could have said:

"Julie stood still for a moment after her fight with the whyte catching her breath. It was a tough fight and it showed - mud and creature ooze covered her arms and chest . She wiped her limp, sweat drenched hair back with one hand leaving a smear of red across her forehead. God I wanted to rip her clothes off with my teeth right there in the woods and the look she gave me as she slung her rifle over one shoulder suggested she was thinking pretty much the same thing. Not wanting to put on a show for Trip and the other hunters - I suppressed this overwhelming urge as best as I could, gritting my teeth. Julie and I made it back to the compound in record time."

The author even manages to squeeze almost every drop of romance from the wedding- going from a grand affair with coloured table napkins - to a 5 minute "ceremony" involving an almost zombie groom, a distraught bride and non human language speaking celebrant. I'm not sure if he was afraid he was going to have to describe a wedding dress and the thought was too terrifying or something but it was sure over fast lol.

I love the action, the chase, the gore, as much as anyone but I love the characters too and I want them to be as well rounded and complete as possible. Don't be afraid to let Owen enjoy having a beautiful and devoted wife Larry - that's just as important as saving the world.

I am not gonna lie: I was afraid about the new Monster Hunter book. I enjoyed Monster Hunter International (MHI) so much that I was hesitant about its successor. Was Larry Correia able to get a book as equal in action and fun as the first? He did not. Monster Hunter Vendetta (MHV) is a great book and fun book on its own eight tentacles. You will stop comparing books about 50 pages in and just enjoy this new eccentric ride.

Gun Geek Alert: MHI's narrative is a brand new cool weapon. It has the awe and lust of the new out of the box handgun and you spend time learning it, taking it apart, lubricating, and taking it to the range to show it off to your buddies for the Drool Factor. MHV's narrative is the same gun after the 500 to 800 rounds break in period: all rough spots gone, it cycles beautifully, sends the bullet where you want it and melds with your hand with the familiarity of your loved one.

Two things that caught me by surprise with this book: Humor and I mean laughing out loud- neighbors demanding silence- all out laughter and Larry's totally outlandish imagination for new monsters and monster behaviors. In a couple of notable passages, both intertwine so well that one must wonder what kind of gun solvent fumes inspired these visions and where can I get a jar of that product.

Both Monster Hunter International and Monster Hunter Vendetta cannot be pigeon-holed into any specific literary movement. Fantasy? Not quite. Yes, both have a serious dose of that, but that's too easy. Fiction? Yes but it is also very well grounded on those physical things we know and depend upon. Sci-Fi? You got your interplanetary, trans-dimensional beings but we are spared of UFOs...so far. Magic Realism then? Nope, Larry ain't a starchy or pretentious author plus I was forced to read some of that crap and bore myself to tears in my younger years while the books keep me awake and racing.

If the books have a "location", it would be next to that shadow we caught in the corner of our eye on a weird day. That shadow that we cannot see if we try to look at it and it gives us a chill down our spine if we turn our backs to it. Larry does not make us suspend disbelief with his books, he just lets us have flexible minds. and in the monster hunting business, that is 50% of the game.

This is the second book in the Monster Hunter International (MHI) series by Correia. It was a great book and, like the first book, is kind of like three books all in one. I listened to it on audiobook and the audiobook was extremely well done. If you like audiobooks I highly recommend listening to this on audiobook. I did listen to it at 1.5x because the narrator read a bit slower than I liked.

Owen Pitt is enjoying a bit of down time and enjoying hanging out with his fellow monster hunter and fiance' Julie. Of course that is when things go bad. Owen is attacked by a Shadowman and then the Feds get involved. The Feds want to use Owen as bait to draw out a cult of Old One worshippers call the Condition. The Old One wants Owen dead and he's sent his whole cult after Owen to ensure it happens. In between dodging evil monsters only known as Violence and Force, and trying to root out a MHI traitor, Owen may just have to save the whole world...again.

Like the first book this book was kind of like three books smooshed together. The first part of the book mainly deals with Owen hunting down Violence and Force and destroying them. In this part his brother, and rockstar, Mosh (yes Mosh Pitt) gets involved. The second part goes through them rooting out the traitor in MHI. The third part is where they hunt down the leader of the Condition. The three main stories are woven together well, no part is really separate from the rest and the book isn't actually broken into parts.

Like the first book the action is non-stop, there are tons of guns, lots of gallows humor, and tons of kick-butt fight scenes. Don't worry, it's not all action. There is an epic storyline here involving Owen and his involvement with the Old Ones. The storyline gets expanded even more as we meet Owen's dad and find out some of reasoning behind Owen's brutal upbringing. Owen and Julie are both drawn even deeper into the struggle between our world and the Other world.

It was great to get so much more background on Owen. We meet his family and find out more about Owen's upbringing. We also get a lot of background on the Shackleford's (Julie and her father, mother, and grandfather). There is a lot of history that was hinted at in the first book that really clicks into place in this novel.

There is less gun-speak in this book than in the first book. Whether that is good or bad depends on the reader. Although I love my weapons and guns, I found the first book to be a bit overwhelming with all the gun-talk in there. There are still a ton of weapons and descriptions of weapons in this story, but it was at a good level. It was interesting, but didn't take over the story. This is a book for adults; there is a lot of swearing and a lot of gore and violence (no sex though).

Overall I absolutely loved this book. The world and story are broadened a lot, we learn a ton more about our characters background too. The action is non-stop and the monsters kick-butt (as do the Hunters). I love how Correia wraps things up nicely but then also introduces some mysterious elements that seriously broaden the story. The story is creative, well thought out, and just absolutely a fun and engaging read. I highly recommend for urban fantasy fans who like high octane action in their book. I can't wait to read the next book,Monster Hunter Alpha.

The MHI series is currently my favorite! I can do without the romance but it is a very small percentage so that I can deal with it. I love how much action and gore there is. The zombies are unqiue, I mean how many books have armor plated elephant or bear zombies? And all the different types of bad guys keeps it fresh and leaving you wondering what creature Owen will encounter next. The best bad guy is the doppelganger and the troll was hilarious! I highly recommend this book and series!!

Larry Correia is the man. Let's get that out there, first thing. He's the busiest guy in speculative fiction, and that's for a good and justifiable reason. His books are way too much fun. When reading this book and its precursor, Monster Hunter International, I found myself constantly moving between a chuckle and an outright guffaw. I actually, for the first time ever, slapped my knee I laughed so hard at one point.

Now, we expect, given the title, that these books are going to make deep philosophical statements about the nature of humankind, and we're not disappointed in this regard. At one point, a character named Earl Harbinger says something to this effect: "Everything's immortal until someone kills it." These, and other gems will be yours upon reading these stories.

Are the MHI books masterpieces of poetic, heart-wrenching beauty? No. They're high-octane thrill rides that never miss a chance for gunplay, fist fighting, and supernatural craziness. Monster Hunter Vendetta plows mostly the same field as its predecessor, but it's a darned good field to plow. It follows the maxim: "Nothing kills like overkill." It's a good time book, and will shoot by before you know it.

In addition, if you have the opportunity to meet Larry, he is just as fun and self-effacing as you might guess from his main character, Owen Z. Pitt. Owen's a lot like Larry, just with all the knobs turned to "11".

If you're ready to have a great time, pick up "Vendetta", clear your schedule, put on some high volatage rock and roll, and you'll be set for the evening. I promise.

From page one I found myself laughing and wanting to jump in the pages to earn my smile monster patch. Yes I am talking about the long awaited second book to Monster hunter International, Monster Hunter Vendetta. Larry Corriea is not only a gun nut, (not that there is anything wrong with that) but he has taken some of the greatest monsters we all love and folded them into a world full of Lovecraft. Each page brings us wanting more and more to grab our guns and go kick some MONSTER ASS. The soft but hard characters are not some super humans but men and women you would find next door, Larry has a way of wanting you to cheer for the good guys but you also find yourself wanting to cheer for more monsters to see what new way MHI can kick some butt. His humor, accurate use of weapons and ammo, the description of tactical fighting almost makes you feel Larry was a combat trainer for the Marines. His books also find a way to mix magic and modern day war far into redneck Elves, g banging gnomes and internet spam hacking Trolls. Not only do you fall in love with the main characters also want more of the supporting ones. MHV takes you into a world where your boss is a werewolf, and the government has the men in black Frankenstein.
The more pages I turned the more I wanted it to not end, but I could not put it down. Larry has a gift for monsters, and if you are even slightly into them this book is for you. This New York best seller is a most for anyone who loves laughing, guns, and reading about Zombies getting their heads blown off. I give Monster Hunter Vendetta 20 stars out of 10 for not only drawing you in, but for the use of the name Mr. Trash bags (trust me once you read it you will understand)
Tom Carr
Author of Talking to Yourself in The Dark (How To Guide to The Paranormal)
Founder of Wasatch Paranormal Investigators

Monster Hunter Vendetta is the second book in Larry Correia's New York Times Bestselling series (Currently #27 in Mass-Market), which started with Monster Hunter International.

Like I've mentioned before, there's always the expectation for a sequel to be at best, on parr with the first book in a series. With this being the first sequel that Larry's written, I was looking forward to finding out just how well Monster Hunter Vendetta would turn out. Too often authors will hit the big one with their first novel, then turn around, write the second book in the series without really caring, and being unfare to the reader. This is not true for Larry. He's a damn good story teller who knows how to weave every essential elemnt of storytelling together, without sacrificing one thing for another. As I cracked open my copy, I was blown away. Needless to say, there's no dissapointment on my face.

Picking up several months after the events in Monster Hunter International, Monster Hunter Vendetta continues the story of Owen Z. Pitt and his life as an accountant-turned-monster-hunter. After having made The Dread Overlord mad for something Owen didn't due (thanks largely in part to the Feds and a big nuke), Owen is then faced with a bounty on his head, put there by the The Dread Overlord (seriously, how could you ever be happy with a title like that?). Enter the the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition, I cult spearheaded by a British necromancer who simply goes by the name of the Shadow Man, and wants nothing more than to gain the favor of The Dread Overlord.

Like with most things, the government always has to have it's hands in everything, that's why the MCB (Monster Control Bureau) sends Agent Franks to fill in as Owen's personal bodygaurd. And that's were the story begins.

I love learning about the history of things, and in general, world building, and Correia definitely doesn't dissapoint in that regard.Throughout the book Larry delves further into the backhistory of the rich, vast, complicated and bone numbingly scary world that he's created within the pages of Monster Hunter Vendetta. Along the way we're introduced to gansta gnomes, Owen's rockstar brother, giant Japanese demons, giant zombie elephants, and MHI's newest toy, Leviathan, as well as the answer to one of the biggest mysteries shrouding MHI's history. Needless to say, there isn't single dull moment within the pages of this book. And, finally, one of the biggest jaw dropping surprises that I would have never seen coming in a million years.

Monster Hunter Vendetta was by far more than I could have ever expected, and then some. That's why I'm giving it 9 TARDIS's out of 10. So, if you like zombies, vampires, werewolves, necromancers and scary death cults, and are tired of the same run of the mill cliched tropes that seem to mercilessly litter the shelves of Urban Fantasy section these days, then pick up Monster Hunter Vendetta, and while your at it, why not start from the beginning, and double the fun? Go ahead and grab Monster Hunter International and start from there.

~Rodney

[...]

This is a great series. There's definitely some language in this book (though, it seemed less than the first one).

Pitt and MHI find themselves facing the past in order to save the future. Pitt goes through hell and back again to save the world from the old ones again. We learn more about some of the other characters in the cast in this book, and it makes us want to spend even more time with them.

I caught myself laughing quite a bit with this one. I loved the "Troll" character, and how he spoke. I listened to the audible version, and that probably helped. The jokes were awesome.

All in all, a great book if you like supernatural (the show) type scenes/banter. Great stuff!

Larry honored me by giving me an advanced copy of Monster Hunter Vendetta at Libertycon. I just realized that I had neglected to post a review, a failure I will remedy now.

MHV demonstrates that Larry's first book, Monster Hunter International, was not a lucky fluke. Larry has an amazing ability to take what he openly admits are classic B-movie characters and plots and convert them into Grade A product. His characters are fully realized and not simply cardboard cutouts used to advance the plot, and the plots themselves are intricate and well-reasoned. He is also the person to beat for accuracy in terms of weapons and tactics. You won't find any of the foolishness that less well-informed (or less thorough) authors do, such as having characters manipulate the non-existent hammer on a Glock.

In short, if you want a book that keeps you involved and entertained, gives you characters that you can care about (and occasionally mourn), and which has a very high degree of technical accuracy, Larry Correia should be your first choice. I am proud to call Larry a friend but that friendship plays no role in my being an avid fan. There are few authors whose books I will buy based simply because of who the author is. Larry is at the top of the list.

Posting my review as it appears at my column "Reading Realms" on The Outhouse:

Monster Hunter Vendetta is the follow-up to Monster Hunter International. Although you can get by reading this one as a stand alone, I would recommend reading International first. Both have their own stand alone plots, but seeds are planted for Vendetta in the first novel and character stories continue from one to the next even if the main story plots are wrapped up.

Monster Hunter international is the name (not only of the first novel, but) of the company Owen works for. In Owen's world, monsters are very real and the government works hard to keep a lid on that fact. MHI is essentially a mercenary group that gets contracts and bounties to hunt down various creepy crawlies throughout the world. Larry Correia's books, as many urban fantasies, take all the traditional fantasy, horror and fairy tale creatures and put a new spin on them as they intertwine them into their story. I find this works well in Urban Fantasy and really enjoy what he does with his versions of these creatures. How someone could not love white trash elves from the enchanted forest trailer park, ghetto garden gnomes and internet trolls that are actually trolls, I just don't know.

Vendetta continues the story of our main character Owen "Z" Pitt a year after defeating Lord Machada and stopping his plot to bring the "Old Ones" to Earth. The "Old Ones" still attempting to come to our reality is the plot element that continues into this story as a new villain works to hunt down Owen to appease his masters. It is also one element that is not a traditional fantasy creature. Think more of the squid thing from Alan Moore's Watchmen graphic novel, but nastier. The new villain himself is a necromancer that makes pretty smart use of zombies: from being clever enough to put helmets on them, to creating bear and elephant zombies to his own more interesting zombie creations of patchwork monsters.

One issue a reader might have would be the power level of the characters in this story. Some readers enjoy more down to earth characters and obstacles, even in fantasy. In the Monster Hunter series though, you are dealing with characters that can do some very amazing things with magic and other powers. Sometimes even twisting time, visiting other dimensions, cheating death, etc. Personally I don't mind this, I think it's just tricky for a writer to walk that line and still sell the story. In my opinion I think Larry Correia does a good job of walking that line and creating a great story.

Strong characters are the biggest asset to this book. The main character Owen (whose perspective the story is told from) is a great voice to live the story through. And the drama surrounding him with his family, fiance, bosses, teammates and various level of antagonists (main bad guys, pain-in-the-asses, government types, etc) works to keep the story moving as much as the action does.

Bottom Line:

If you like other Urban Fantasy like Butcher's Dresden Files and wouldn't mind that with a shot of "The Expendables" then I would definitely check out Larry Correia's Monster Hunter series. They are fast paced with good characters in an interesting world.

1) Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

2) Genre: Fantasy

3) Synopsis: Owen, the accountant turned Monster Hunter, holds the fate of the world in his hand again. The only thing stopping him is a Shadow Man, his entire cult, monsters, and a god from another dimension.

4) Feelings: I love the Monster Hunter books. This is the second in the series and I would on the next book if they were available on the kindle (I have no idea why it isn't. Seems weird). This book is filled with action. Imagine Rambo and Supernatural.

5) Final recommendation: Great great book. If you want an action packed book filled with scary monsters this is the book for you.

Ryan James Burt
Husband, Father, and Writer
[...]

We recently reviewed MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA at Elitist Book Reviews. Head on over there to read more reviews, and also catch an interview with MHV author, Larry Correia.

***THE REVIEW***

We like our books with thought put into them. Characters in shades of gray. Plots that are epic, yet deeply personal. We like novels where the author challenges our minds, and makes us ponder humanity.

And after we have read all that, we LOVE to read books that involve explosions. And zombies. And exploding zombies. And zombie elephants. Did we already mention explosions? How about heavy gunfire?

Thank you, Larry Correia, for giving us another novel full of exploding monsters, and incredibly detailed gun-play: MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA.

You readers DO remember Larry Correia, right? It would be in your best interests to nod your head in agreement regardless of your actual answer. Larry has lots of guns. And he knows how to use them all. Apart from that, he is a good friend of ours, and a terrific storyteller. His first published novel, MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL (MHI), was completely awesome (we reviewed it as well). More importantly, it was FUN. Larry is the kind of writer that if his novel doesn't make you smile with giddiness while reading, he isn't satisfied with his work.

With Larry's latest novel, MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA (MHV), we are happy to report that it is indeed full of win. Now, no one will ever say that Larry has written the Great American Novel. Why the heck would he want to? Guns and monsters are WAAAAAAY more better. (Yes, that bad grammar was intentional. Deal with it.) What Larry provides is lots of action, lots of guns, lots of explosions, and lots of fantastic characters. And we get it all at a lightening pace.

In other words: WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!111!!!

MHV is essentially the consequences of the events in MHI. You know, when our stud of a PoV, Owen Pitt, thwarted a Cthulhu-esque God. An evil death cult, known as the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition, took exception to that whole thing, and they want the Old Ones to come back and take over. Owen seems like the ideal sacrifice.

Queue destruction and mayhem.

Look, we can go on about how fun MHV is for days. It really is completely awesome. But what people don't seem to think of when you read a book "like this" is that there will actually be some great character development. MHV's characters are much deeper than than they appear on the cliché surface. Really, seeing the growth these characters have forced upon them, and the heart-wrenching steps they willingly take is where the book's true pillars are found. From Owen, to Julie, to Earl...they all are distinct characters. You readers may think that Larry Correia is just blowing $%^* up, but that's just to hide that he is actually very, very good at crafting characters.

Are there flaws? Duh. But they are all so minor, that it would annoy us more to have to even write them down. Look, Larry cheats when he writes. He refers to it in the novel. If Larry isn't cheating, he isn't trying hard enough. If Larry wants something to happen, he will make it happen. If he is told, "Dude, you CAN'T put Deus Ex Machina into a novel!!" he will purposely put it into the novel just to spite you. Twice. And he will make it work. He is that awesome.

It still shocks us how BIG these novels are. MHV clocks in at over 600 pages of pure adrenaline. Instead of giving adrenaline injections to patients, doctors should just beat them with MHV. It would have the same effect, and is significantly cheaper.

MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA, like MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL before it, is worth every monster-gore-soaked penny of its cover price. Larry has again brought extreme fun back to reading.

And if you don't like MHV, Larry will just shoot you. So there.

Recommended Age: 16 and up.
Language: Heck yeahs.
Violence: Seriously? There is literally a character NAMED Violence in the novel. What do you think?
Sex: None.

I loved the first book five stars. The big guns, cool people, neat monsters etc. in this book are cool too, but a few things are getting annoying.

1. I'm kind of sick of the main character. He's just too obvious, and doesn't have any flaws except that he's slow.

2. The visions/prophetic stuff is annoying. I'd rather have it more in the back-seat. Force is cool, meta-clorians, no.

3. (this is kind of a good point) I like the side characters more than I do the MC. They seem to have way more interesting backgrounds.

I don't know, I love the battle sequences (especially from book 1), but needless escalation is lame and annoying. It seems like the badguy is untouchable until the good guys get the "secret move" right. It marginalizes a lot of the action, because there's really no struggle. It feels like I'm reading an entire book for the "all in" moment and the rest is just filler.

Too many uber-powerful monsters who could kill the hero if they wanted, but don't, is kind of annoying too. It's annoying that he's super powerful, but a wimp at the same time.

I'm read the third book, but I don't know if this series can pull it back together.

Monster Hunter Vendetta is another excellent read from Larry Correia. Vendetta, like Correia's first book in the series, is chock-full of fast-paced action, accurate gunplay and intriguing characters.

Where other action books pretend sophistication, Vendetta embraced the campy nature of its genre and contained plenty of well-timed humor. Fans of old horror movies and fantasy novels will especially enjoy Correia's unique twist on orcs, gnomes and the rest of the monsters we've come to expect in fiction.

Vendetta is also more polished than Correia's first work. It's clear that, with more practice, Correia's worked out some of the minor kinks that appeared in his debut novel.

I was given the 2nd book in the MHI series by my bother and couldn't put it down, so I bough 1 and 3 and read them and am going to order more of Larry Correia's books. I loved the action, the monsters, the accuracy with the fire arms descriptions and more. The only thing that bothered me a bit was that Correia always seems to want to drop in what by most are considered very politically charged kips that have no real bearing on the story, and only seem to ruin it some. With comments about using TelePrompter's, birther comments and more,and more comments that can just ruin the whole moment in the story.

I dont side politically nor like many am I happy with any political sides in the government we have today, and I am a gun owner and love to use them. I like fiction and a good story and I personally think he would gain a much larger audience if he would just refrain from dropping the one liners of hard core political comments that really have nothing to do with the story, but current day political circus.

I like to read stories like this for entertainment and to get away from the radical politics this series would be great, if Larry Correia would just leave out the current political one liners unless they actually have bearing on the storyline, the reader wouldn't be ripped from a great fantasy, and the stories would be almost timeless. Besides that, its a great series.

overall, MHI is an entertaining book, an an excellent example of modern fantasy.
the action is descriptive and engaging, the characters are interesting and compelling. I can see why the author has cult following. As a former Marine, I can really get into his writing, as a moderate social democrat I can ignor the blatent anti-federal polictics that the author clearly feel has. (the only reason its not a perfect score)

This is definitely one of the most entertaining books I've read in a while. It's one of those books that's difficult not finish in one sitting. While Vendetta isn't as good as the first book, it's not far behind. Correia delivers the goods with more supernatural mayhem and gunslinging than you can shake a stick at. This time, the stakes are higher for our monster-hunting heroes, and we learn more about the inner circle of Monster Hunter International and even the mysterious Agent Franks.

It's not high literature, but it's a great, fun read! I can see Micheal Bay turning this into a movie. I will be looking forward to Larry Correia's future works with great anticipation.

This book is awesome when it should not be. So many elements that if someone told me about them I would think oh man that is corny as hell and avoid the book like the plague. But the author does more than pull them off he celebrates them in a way that just rocks. It puts a broadside fully into the world of sensitive namby pamby twighlight crap and rips it asunder. For me to rave on about a book like this is a big thing as I normally avoid fiction like the plague but this book is just straight out "bad" but bad in the good way. So kit up turn the page and prepare to get covered in gore, filth and blood, hold tight the ride is about to start.

I didnt want to like these books. they seem on the face to be mindless testosterone filled rubbish. so after picking the 1st book up & putting it down several times i finally gave it a shot & was instantly addicted. all of correia's books are compulsively readable. his love of sci-fi/monster movies is evident creating a pure geek mash up thats 100% fun. the characters are endearing clever & engaging. whenever a new book by correia drops i have to grab it. i also then have to read it immediately leading to a couple sleepless nights. an addiction of brilliant exciting fun worth falling into.

I always get a bit nervous upon reading a sequel to any novel that I really enjoyed. I fear that I shall be disappointed as the follow up will not match the first. No worries here. This follow up to Monster Hunter International book is excellent. The action is insane, the plotting is great, but my favorite part is that the character development is exceptionally well done. These are truly becoming characters that I like and want to get to know better. On to book 3!

This book is physically defective. After a chapter ends on page 87, page 88 is the beginning of a new chapter of a different book "Lady Boss" by Jackie Collins. That starts with page 88, the next page is another page 87, followed by pages 88 through 118 of the Jackie Collins book. Two pages are missing and then a new chapter of Monster Hunter Vendetta starts on page 121 continuing to the end of the book without any more Jackie Collins.

The story itself is AWESOME! Larry Correia wrote an amazing book.
But I didn't read enough of the Jackie Collins story to review that.

Monster Hunter Vendetta (2010) is the second Fantasy novel in the MHI series, following Monster Hunter International. In the previous volume, something evil came out of the DeSoya Caverns. Time reverted back five minutes. A small nuke went through the rift and hit the Dread Overlord.

In this novel, Owen Zastava Pitt is a man of mixed blood and cultures. He had been a CPA, but now is a monster hunter. His father was a former Special Forces snake-eater who has his children call him Sargeant. His mother is mostly Czech and loves to stuff her family with good food. Owen is now engaged to Julie.

Earl Harbinger is a monster hunter for MHI and a werewolf. He made the initial recruiting spiel to Owen. Earl's real name is Ray Shackleford II and he doesn't like agents in the Federal Monster Control Bureau.

Julie Shackleford is a monster hunter for MHI and is too brave for her own good. Her mother Susan is a Master Vampire and her father -- Ray Shackleford III -- was recently turned by his wife.

Holly Newcastle is also a monster hunter for MHI. She had been in the same trainee team as Owen.

Grant Jefferson had been a monster hunter for MHI. He had also been engaged to Julie, but Owen replaced him. Then Grant left MHI for a career in Hollywood.

Dwayne Meyers is a senior agent in the Monster Control Bureau. He had worked for MHI before he became a Fed.

Franks is an agent in the Monster Control Bureau who works for Meyers. He seems indestructible.

In this story, Owen is hunting chupacabras in Mexico. The local resort town has hired MHI to exterminate the vermin, who have been killing tourists. Holly had attracted the little monsters and kept their attention until the rest of the team opened fire.

After the hunt is successfully completed, his MHI team celebrates at the local resort. Owen reports the success of their hunt to Earl and then settles down to enjoy the free liquor and scenery. Then an unwanted guest arrives and tries to capture him for delivery to the Overlord.

The minion of evil is a rather small man in the light, but a giant in the shadows. He is also immaterial in the shadows and Owen's weapons cannot touch him. In the light, these weapons cause wounds that quickly heal.

Owen finally dives off his balcony into the swimming pool to avoid the creature. But the minion is prepared and zombies are released into the pool area. Anyone bitten by these zombies is infected and rises from the dead.

Owen is busily debraining these zombies when the federales appear. Owen gets buttstroked by a federale. Awakening, he finds himself in a nearby prison. The federales seem incapable of understanding that MHI is hunting with a permit from the Mexican government. Someone is again trying to suppress news of the monsters.

They put Owen is Section Six, where he meets some fellow prisoners. Then Susan and Ray batter their way into the prison. Susan has an offer for Owen.

It seems that they have a common enemy. The man who tried to kill Owen and released the zombies is powerful necromancer. Susan and Ray are not uneffected by his power and want him dead. Owen isn't adverse to terminating the necromancer, but he doesn't yet know how.

Later Owen discovers that Grant has been rehired. He believes the Grant is a mole within MHI until he has a face to face talk with him. Grant convinces Owen that he has returned because he couldn't ignore the deaths caused by these monsters.

This tale has MHI becoming allies of sorts with the Feds against the necromancer. But the enemy also has allies -- or slaves -- of his own. Then Owen's family is threatened by necromancer.

This series reminds one somewhat of the Mike Hammer tales. Owen is continually healing from bruises and wounds. But you should see the other guys.

Oven rises to the occasion, but cannot kill all the monsters. The next installment in this series will further increase his powers. Read and enjoy!

Recommended for Correia fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of hidden monsters, armed conflict, and strange powers.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Owen Pitt is back in this explosive sequel to Monster Hunter International. I wondered how Larry could top the menace of Lord Machado, and this book's Big Bad poses a truly world-shaking threat. Some parts did feel a bit raw and rushed, but I had a good time.

I missed the involvement of some of the team who was more prominent in the 1st book BUT I still really enjoyed getting to know Z's family a little bit more. It should be noted that you would be pretty lost if you haven't read/listened to Monster Hunter International. Entertaining, exciting... I'm going to keep plowing through this series. Oh, also, I'm really glad they stuck with the same narrator! He really lends to the story and each character has a definitive, recognizable voice.

Larry Correia has delivered another awesome volume, in this the second book in the Monster Hunter saga. Guns, gangsta rap loving, gun toting gnomes; pretty girls, guns, awesome action, monster hunter backstories, a cthulu entity overlord and did I mention guns? What's not to like? The answer to that question is there's NOTHING that isn't enjoyable about this book. accept now that it's finished I have to wait for the next one.
On the other hand though..I buy books not just for the enjoyment ONCE, but for their re-readability. I have books that are 20yrs old or more and I keep them..because they're just as enjoyable today as they were 20yrs ago. The MHI novels are in that category. The add to cart button is at the top of this page. If you haven't yet, I'd suggest you go click it. if you haven't read the first book Monster Hunter International, I'd suggest you go put that one in your cart as well..then click proceed to checkout and order them both forthwith. Well? what are you waiting for? go forth and buy these awesome books.

Well let's see. Monsters? Check. Giant tree thing that is going to destroy the world? Check. Badass Monster Hunter? Check. Seriously folks. If you have not read this book or it's prequel what the hell is wrong with you? What is to dislike about it? Nothing! It has everything a growing boy needs. Monsters, heroes, heroines, orcs that listen to metal and fly helicopters. What more could you ask for in a book?

If you have not read this book yet, you should be ashamed of yourself. As penance you must buy two copies and give a friend one.

Larry has outdone himself on this followup to Monster Hunter International. He goes to great lengths to increase the backstory of most of the key players from MHI, as well as a few new ones. He goes on to show some interesting character growth for Owen, Julie and others of MHI. There are even a few choice tidbits dropped throughout the story about a certain Federal Agent's past and possible future that are sure to intrigue the reader.

The action sequences that are a key part of this book and the storyline as a whole are well written and believable. Some authors will stick an action sequence into a storyline to move a plot along or try to liven things up. None of that here and in some cases just downright laugh out loud fun to read.

I wont really go into the plot or give generic descriptions of the storyline, thats what book jackets and snippets are for. Just believe that this is a great follow on to MHI and leads well into the rest of the planned books.

Expect a fun, exiting burn through in a weekend kind of read.

There are electronic versions in just about every reasonable format imaginable for sale over at the publishers website. Its quite simple if you own a kindle to buy it there then email to yourself through the store and have it converted then wirelessly downloaded.

Well, wasn't what I was expecting but it definitely adds a new story arc to branch into. Correia definitely knows his weapon, and that is my main focus. NOT ONCE have I read any inaccurate information about the weapons used in these books, and I applaud the author immensely for this. Only one reference to a "clip", and that was a legitimate En Bloc clip.

Great character development, did a little recap from the 1st book and did a great job of continuing on the Monster Hunting series. This book I knocked out in a week. Did I say, I hate fiction.....I rarely read fiction, so in order for me to read these kind of books I have to truly like them. It's got everything a former Jarhead (Former Marine) enjoys, Gun Porn!!!! Bombs, explosions, Guns, etc....

If you like to read about the supernatural, then this series of books will not disappoint you. I loved the first book, so I couldn't wait to get this one. Finished this one, couldn't wait so I bought book 3... halfway through it... cant wait to buy 4. Good series... have to keep reading to see what happens next

This was an amazing book. Enthralled by the first book not too long ago I had to find the second. Mr. Correia brought his A game again in Monster Hunter Vendetta. His creative writing voice is so easy to relate to making his characters amazingly strong. This time Owen takes on a new enemy lurking in the shadows and throughout the journey learns a lot about himself and MHI itself. While reading I also noticed that if you don't feel like reading the first book, Monster Hunter International, then you could absolutely start with this one. There are several things that will take more time to understand if you haven't read the first one but you will love this action-packed story. I can't wait to continue reading the Monster Hunter series!

This book delivers the goods for fantasy/horror/action fans. It's got vampires, werewolves, interdimensional baddies, witches, zombies, more guns than all the Die Hard and Dirty Harry movies put together, magic, rock and roll, car chases, and enough humor to make you chuckle at times. I wish I had more friends that loved reading this genre blend as I do, because I'd love to talk to them about this book. I eagerly look forward to Correia's next effort.

A superb continuation of this storyline, I literally couldn't stop reading it, stayed up until 4 in the morning. It's hard to go wrong with up armored zombie elephants and the final battle scene seemed tailor made to my interests. Although I would have preferred it if the vampires had just cut their losses and run and I would have liked to have seen a B1 bombing run.

I gave this series another try after reading the first book (Monster Hunter International) and having a mixed opinion. My opinion hasn't changed. First, the good. Correia writes superb action sequences. Gripping, fast moving, superb "visuals," - real page turning stuff. It's certainly the strongest element of this and the previous book. Next, the not-so-good. The characters are formulaic and rather one-dimensional, and seem to me rooted in adolescent male fantasy. The main character is very big and strong, but fat and ugly, yet somehow bumbles his way to getting the super-hot gun-toting chick to fall in love with him over the smart, pedigreed pretty boy. Every main character is "the best" at something and countless cliches are trotted out. Attempts to be contrarian are ham-fisted (is it SO edgy to make orcs good guys and elves evil slobs?) and some of the non-action sequences are groan-worthy. The "gun porn" of the first book continues, with an obsession over weapons that becomes distracting at times.

Still, I'm giving it three stars because the action sequences ARE that good, and the prose style is easy and fast-moving. Not sure if I'm going to give the rest of the series a go, because I felt this one went the wrong direction i.e. even cheesier than the first.

I finished the first book very quick, tons of action and lots of laughs. I thought it couldn't get better, but I was wrong!!! Round two starts off with a bang, twist, another bang, and lots of guns and monsters falling by the way side.

Character development is very good and I am now hooked on the MHI team, Owen is still my favorite, but Harbinger is the ORIGINAL BAD ASS. Please make these into movies!!!! Agent Franks....who knew? Makes sense though.

Looking forward to the third MHI, Alpha coming out soon. Get it, buy it, buy it again, and enjoy the blood, guts, fur, and teeth flying on every page.

Monsters and villains everywhere should run and hide from the great Owen Z Pitt and friends. They will blow you up or shoot you no questions asked. Loooooove this series. So much fun. The books are like 600 pages long and theirs never a dull moment. Lots of blood and guts and gore. Lots of humor and friendship and sacrifice. Awesome!

Another great entry to the Monster Hunter International (MHI) series. Builds on the first. I couldn't put it down and read it every chance I got. I really like Larry's writing and characters. I just finished the 3d book (Alpha) and will start the 4th soon. Larry is now on my list of must-read authors. Kind of a bummer, because there were already a lot of guys on there. Just have to make room.

This is not great literature, but it is a great read.

Couldn't recommend this series enough... Guns, gods, vampires, werewolves, and all kinds of nasties that go bump in the night... And the mean mf'rs that keep em somewhat contained!! Add snark, nerdery and more then a pinch of lovecraft and you have something that goes by quick and leaves you wanting more!!

A super heavy adventure book, full of monsters, mayhem, big guns, fighting, shooting, blood, gore, ... all the things you just love in this kind of book. Don't know if there is a writer out there as good (I hope so. Because this author can only write so fast.)

Even better than the first book. We finally learn about Agent Frank and Pitt's mysterious abilities. Bigger and badder fights, more orks and a family reunion. Lots of fun.

Also the author knows the best kukris come from HI in Nepal. Awesome!

As much as I really enjoyed the first book, this one may be even better. Gripping action and plot starting on the first few pages and carrying you throughout to the end, with stunning character backgrounds. The characters are awesome, the action scenes flow well and are believable, and the story line leaves you wanting more. A most excellent book and series.

Rarely do we find a book that pulls you in from the first scene & does not loosen its grip. The Monster series is a fun, exciting & memorable ride. It's so well written it plays out like a movie in your mind. Highly recommend it!

I enjoyed this book (and the previous) and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good escape. The character development is outstanding and how Mr. Correa tells a story is original and entertaining. He kept my attention and made it very hard to put down. Nice work. Get, read, enjoy!

If you love monsters, B movies, guns, or all of the above, you will love Larry Corriea's Monster Hunter series.
Larry blends his quick humor with his vast background knowledge of firearms and movie monsters into a fast paced ripping action/horror adventure.
Just remember, vampires only sparkle when you set them on fire with napalm.

I can't say enough good about this book I really enjoyed continuing the saga of Owen Pitt and the MHI crew and just when I thought I had something figured out Larry threw me a curve ball. Great book I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. As cliche as it sounds I laughed and I cried loved the gnomes!!