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When a series of vampire attacks target the very center of the Catholic faith, the Vatican contacts the British government. Their the best vampire hunter in the country.Unfortunately, he's an atheist.Jack Henderson returns as Pagan, the Ministry's top hunter. He's on a mission he's not sure about. He's in a country he doesn't know. He's working for a government he doesn't trust. And he's looking for an artifact he doesn't believe exists.Should be a piece of cake.Parental contains strong language, violence, and adult themes.facebook.com/chapman.andrew twitter.com/AndyOnTheWold
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 15, 2011
Awesome read but I wouldn't expect anything less from Andy.
July 6, 2017
This book goes right along with the first, over the top nonsensical vampire action, crazy villains, and Jack being Jack. There's really not much more to add other than the ending was a bit of a disappointment. I won't say much, but I felt like the author could've done so much more with the mysterious artifact and pay off. Oh well. I'm still intrigued enough to read the 3rd book, Renegade, at some point.
November 27, 2016
Crusader is the second volume in Andrew Chapman's Ministry of Paranormal Research and Defence series, which chronicles a team of British commandos who are spearheading the country's (the world's?) resistance to the newly public vampire threat. I enjoyed the first book in the series (Pagan: An MPRD Novel), which introduced the main protagonist Jack "Pagan" Henderson and his oddball team (which includes werewolves and even a vampire), and was eager to see what the group's next adventure would be.
Crusader is ostensibly about the team's recruitment by the Vatican to track down the stolen heart of Dracula before vampire cultists can resurrect the legendary villain. It's a little cheesy, sure, but the potential was definitely good for some international intrigue and all-out vampire mayhem. Sadly, Chapman seems to have treated all this as a back story to Jack's romantic involvement with Marie, the team's resident shape-shifting werewolf. Pagan's main weakness was when the story was diverted by poorly scripted romantic dialogue and sex scenes worthy of Penthouse Forum. In Crusader, they represent roughly 75% of the story. Instead of telling us about life in the vampire Earth or battles the MPRD wages, it's one ridiculous sex scene after another, with breaks only to discuss Jack's feelings, his manhood, or his general awesomeness.
I had high hopes for this book and this series, but Crusader was a major disappointment. I don't know if Chapman made a conscious decision to chase a particular demographic, or just enjoys writing romance rather than action scenes, but this is where I stop following what I had hoped would be a promising new series.
Crusader is ostensibly about the team's recruitment by the Vatican to track down the stolen heart of Dracula before vampire cultists can resurrect the legendary villain. It's a little cheesy, sure, but the potential was definitely good for some international intrigue and all-out vampire mayhem. Sadly, Chapman seems to have treated all this as a back story to Jack's romantic involvement with Marie, the team's resident shape-shifting werewolf. Pagan's main weakness was when the story was diverted by poorly scripted romantic dialogue and sex scenes worthy of Penthouse Forum. In Crusader, they represent roughly 75% of the story. Instead of telling us about life in the vampire Earth or battles the MPRD wages, it's one ridiculous sex scene after another, with breaks only to discuss Jack's feelings, his manhood, or his general awesomeness.
I had high hopes for this book and this series, but Crusader was a major disappointment. I don't know if Chapman made a conscious decision to chase a particular demographic, or just enjoys writing romance rather than action scenes, but this is where I stop following what I had hoped would be a promising new series.
March 20, 2012
This story sees Pagan and his crew of Vampire Hunters taking their war to mainland Europe as they come to the aid of the Vatican. With the aid of the Swiss Guard they take on an ancient group of vampires who plan to resurrect an ancient evil. As with the first book this story is filled with the inter-hunter banter that made the Pagan so readable as well the tongue in cheek humour. The relationship between Marie and Pagan is also fleshed out, giving us a greater insight into both their characters. It goes without saying that there is plenty of “gun porn”.
The storyline intrigued me but sadly I think it ended up taking a back seat to the relationship issues and felt a little rushed. The story could have been twice as long as it was, with many of the set pieces needing greater depth. In the end the vampire plot felt a little flat with no great danger. We didn’t even really get to meet the plotters. There was no sense of an adversary. Saying that, it was an enjoyable read and a good way to spend a few hours. As with the first novel this is a boys own story. The world that Chapman has created still excites and thrills. The setting has the feel of the real world but with vamps and werewolves. I just felt that there was far more potential in the storyline. The first two books have now built the characters so hopefully the next in the series will build a greater story for them to grow in.
The storyline intrigued me but sadly I think it ended up taking a back seat to the relationship issues and felt a little rushed. The story could have been twice as long as it was, with many of the set pieces needing greater depth. In the end the vampire plot felt a little flat with no great danger. We didn’t even really get to meet the plotters. There was no sense of an adversary. Saying that, it was an enjoyable read and a good way to spend a few hours. As with the first novel this is a boys own story. The world that Chapman has created still excites and thrills. The setting has the feel of the real world but with vamps and werewolves. I just felt that there was far more potential in the storyline. The first two books have now built the characters so hopefully the next in the series will build a greater story for them to grow in.
August 24, 2011
This story sees Pagan and his crew of Vampire Hunters taking their war to mainland Europe as they come to the aid of the Vatican. With the aid of the Swiss Guard they take on an ancient group of vampires who plan to resurrect an ancient evil. As with the first book this story is filled with the inter-hunter banter that made the Pagan so readable as well the tongue in cheek humour. The relationship between Marie and Pagan is also fleshed out, giving us a greater insight into both their characters. It goes without saying that there is plenty of “gun porn”.
The storyline intrigued me but sadly I think it ended up taking a back seat to the relationship issues and felt a little rushed. The story could have been twice as long as it was, with many of the set pieces needing greater depth. In the end the vampire plot felt a little flat with no great danger. We didn’t even really get to meet the plotters. There was no sense of an adversary. Saying that, it was an enjoyable read and a good way to spend a few hours. As with the first novel this is a boys own story. The world that Chapman has created still excites and thrills. The setting has the feel of the real world but with vamps and werewolves. I just felt that there was far more potential in the storyline. The first two books have now built the characters so hopefully the next in the series will build a greater story for them to grow in.
I give Crusader a respectable 4 stars and I still look forward to the next instalment.
The storyline intrigued me but sadly I think it ended up taking a back seat to the relationship issues and felt a little rushed. The story could have been twice as long as it was, with many of the set pieces needing greater depth. In the end the vampire plot felt a little flat with no great danger. We didn’t even really get to meet the plotters. There was no sense of an adversary. Saying that, it was an enjoyable read and a good way to spend a few hours. As with the first novel this is a boys own story. The world that Chapman has created still excites and thrills. The setting has the feel of the real world but with vamps and werewolves. I just felt that there was far more potential in the storyline. The first two books have now built the characters so hopefully the next in the series will build a greater story for them to grow in.
I give Crusader a respectable 4 stars and I still look forward to the next instalment.
August 27, 2011
Not bad. Still too many sex scenes for me but otherwise a good story with an ending that leaves you wanting for the next book in the series.
October 6, 2011
Seems like the author took out everything that was good in the first book and left everything that was really bad. Stick to the action and leave the sex and romance to somebody else.
October 3, 2012
Too much sex...not enough story. I liked the 1st book when he was alone, more action!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews