Day Soldiers

Day Soldiers #1

by Brandon Hale

For ten years now, humanity has been at war with the creatures of darkness. The war has changed the world. The day now belongs to humanity and the night belongs to things once thought to exist only in myths and legends... but there is hope.

This new enemy has united humanity and an army has stepped forward to protect the light from the darkness. An army of heroes.

The Day Soldiers.

Eighteen year old Lily Baxter always knew the Day Soldiers would be a major part of her life. She had been preparing for it since she was eight. She was ready to go to war.

The one thing she wasn't prepared for was the day the war came to her.

Genres: Vampires, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Werewolves

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2012

About the author

Brandon Hale grew up in a small Virginia town. It was in that town that he met his first love: Horror books and movies. He wrote his first full length novel when he was 17. In the decades since, he has written nonstop, producing multiple novels and short stories.

Brandon's first published novel was The Gods and the Builders. Shortly after that, his second novel - Day Soldiers - was released. Brandon is currently finishing up the second book in the Day Soldiers trilogy (which should be released in late June). The third Day Soldiers book is expected to be released by late August.

Brandon still lives in Virginia with his wife Laura.

To follow the most up-to-date information about Brandon's books (and to just have some fun with him), be sure to check out his Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Books-F...

Reviews

[Olethros · Rating 3 out of 5]

-Acción juvenil sobrenatural.-

Género. Narrativa fantástica.

Lo que nos cuenta. En el año 2017, a raíz de los descubrimientos del Dr. Jackson Bates pero por razones de fondo más complejas, vampiros y hombres lobo declaran la guerra a la humanidad. Diez años después, la joven Lily Baxter quiere poner su granito de arena en la lucha y, junto a su amigo Leo, consigue un gran éxito. Cuando la investigadora Beverly Clifton acude al pueblo a revisar lo sucedido, porque el lugar está lejos de los frentes de batalla, descubre con angustia que lo logrado por Lily y Leo puede provocar la destrucción de todo el pueblo. Primer libro de la serie Day Soldiers.

¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:

http://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com/...

[Kel (Faerie-bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was amazing. I could so picture it as a movie and would definitely go see it. I loved the adventure and action and suspense. I'm so glad Hale was willing to share this book for reviews and that I didn't miss out. Action packed right from the start with great characters, I had to force myself to put it down just to go to bed and then it took me awhile to fall asleep because I was still thinking about it. As soon as I got up I had to finish it, I had to know what was going to happen. I knew to an extent what the ending was going to be, I was somewhat wrong but not disappointed. If you love UF then you will love this book.

[E.B. Boggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Hale has a talent for keeping the reader involved in the story. An action packed page-turner. Hordes of undead, that's all I'm saying . . .

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Book reviewed for ARR #19 in the We ♥ YA Books! group.)

When I asked if I could read & review "Day Soldiers", I did so because the pitched elicited some interest in me. The prospect of a war between humans and the creatures of darkness looked like something that would provide me with mild fun and a pleasant quick read. To be honest, I didn't expect a lot from this novel—just that: being a fun and easy read.

And then I got hooked.

The prologue itself, in the form of a declaration of war, immediately grabbed me. The first chapters then pulled me into the action, as Lily and Leo, 18-year-old, decide to take on the vampires who've been threatening their small town, because the adults aren't acting fast enough. As they come back victorious, little do they know that their single action is going to trigger a chain-reaction culminating into events they wouldn't have suspected. And the both of them are going to pay a heavy price. We then get to see the two friends through their joining and training within the Day Soldiers, a corps specifically aimed at fighting vampires and werewolves. After what happened to them, is there any other path they could follow? Not really.

I thoroughly liked Lily and Leo. Lily's got a strong personality, and a definite ability to fall back on her feet. Even though she gets discouraged at times, she doesn't let this stop her, and she doesn't give in to throwing pity-parties for herself, not for more than a couple of minutes, which is always pleasant to see, in my opinion, in a character. She also has special skills, but I was glad to see that the author didn't make them *that* special in the end. She doesn't get to save the day all by herself, and she's far from being the only one with such abilities; this makes that plot point more believable. As for Leo, at first, I feared for his role in the story, wondering if he'd just be some uninteresting sidekick—because the kid *is* skilled, for sure, and he can pack a handful just as well as Lily can. I also feared what was in store for him. Until that moment, I hoped he'd get to find a way out. When I realized there wasn't any, I must admit I shed a tear for him. Be awed. This seldom happens.

The other characters were also enjoyable. Abbie does come off as unpleasant at first, but it's clear that she is a good person, too, and that she doesn't hesitate to act. The B-Team (no, really, this *is* a play on words on the A-Team, isn't it? I can't shake that feeling off!) is made of awesome, and I liked their take on events, how they always did their best to do what felt right to them. Their boldness and inventiveness roped me in (the way they tackle the rescue operation in Sneaker City was just so great!), and I could easily feel their sense of camaraderie, the strong bonds they managed to form among them, the instinct they had to stick to each other now matter the circumstances.

And what about the story itself? I quickly was drawn into its pace: not too slow, packed with action, but not too fast either. Events fold into each other in a logical way; we get to see that every action has its consequences, and that the characters have to deal with those, make their decisions, and then live up to those decisions in the end. I don't know if there will be a sequel to this novel: the ending could very well stand for itself the way it is, or open up towards a second book. What's sure is that if there is one, I will definitely pick it.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Day Soldiers! It was a fantastic story. Some vampire stories can be a little overplayed, but this one starts with action immediately. Lily and Leo lure 3 vampires into a trap because the vampires are targeting their town. They inadvertently kill a high ranking werewolf, which sets a chain of events in motion that will alter their lives forever. Trust me; what happens next is something I’ve never seen in a Vampire book. It’s well worth the read!!!!

Lily is an 18 year old girl with a serious fighting skills and a smart mouth on her, just how I like my heroines. She is perfect in this book. After the tragedy and life-altering even that she and Leo went through they are both recruited to be part of the Day Soldiers, an organized group of soldiers committed to taking down the vampires and werewolves that have taken over the world. Leo, with his excellent marksmanship abilities is assigned to the sniper group, while Lily is assigned to the “Sneakers”. They are a covert group that infiltrate high-level enemy groups and carry out assassinations. Her group consists of 3 other people: Ellie the scout, Scott the Intel guru (who happens to have a very awesome secret that you’ll have to read to find out what it is….) and Grung the weapons/fighting expert, that leaves 18 year old Lily as their leader. Does she have the confidence in herself to lead them to victory, or will she fall prey to her own insecurities and fears? They spend 8 weeks in a city block where they train, But when the training is over can they really hold their own?

This was far superior to many of the vampire books I’ve read out there. Lily has the same characteristics of Kate Daniels, Allie Beckstrom, and Merit from the Chicagoland vampires; she can hold her own in a fight and she has a great sarcastic wit about her. Hale threw in some great original ideas in this book. For example, the trainer of the sneakers is Sister Abbie, who was a nun in Ireland. She challenges Lily, but Lily doesn’t realize that she’s challenging Abbie’s long held beliefs as well. Abbie is a a “channeler” meaning no vampire can touch her. She doesn’t need the traditional “power objects" like crosses to harm vampires. Her belief and her soul is so pure that she is a walking death for any vampire. Are there any other “channelers” in the Day Soldiers? The other unique feature in this book is “posers” werewolves that can blend in seamlessly without exhibiting any of the traditional werewolf features. These unique aspects change the tone of the book and take what could have been a typical vampire book into one that rises above the pack.

Brandon Hale has done an excellent job of creating a wonderful world that readers won’t want to leave. The characters are so realistic, and Lily is so sassy that I couldn’t help but be hooked from the first 3 pages. I truly think if Hale continues to develop these characters and keep Lily's smartass comments coming that this could stand with Chicagoland Vampires and some of the other best-selling vampires series out there. It's a unique concept that is captivating.

I can hardly wait until the next book comes out!! Hurry Brandon!

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the author, so I admit it was with some trepidation that I first opened 'Day Soldiers', because I fully intended to review it honestly. Fortunately, I was hooked from the beginning and became a fan of the story and characters. The people, places and dialogue are very natural and realistic, which helps ground the distinctly supernatural events of the novel. After all, in a near future where vampires and werewolves are waging war against the human race, you need that believability, and this book delivers. I'm not going to go into the details of the story, so there are no spoilers ahead, but I will say that in this day and age, when the old monsters have become the new romantic icons, it is refreshing to once again read about a world where vampires and werewolves are genuinely threatening. These are not brooding, morose Byronic figures, but clever and enthusiastic killers who see themselves as the top of the food chain and have no inner debates about destroying us if we stand in their way. There are enough plot twists and revelations to keep things interesting, but not so many as to become confusing and convoluted. This is a quick, satisfying read, as the author intended, suitable for most ages (a few adult words, not many) and, as this is the first in a trilogy, the story wraps up the loose threads while still leaving a lot to be resolved in future volumes. I for one have read this book several times and, after writing this, I think I'll go through it again!

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank We ❤ YA Books and Brandon Hale for the opportunity to read and review this fabulous book!

From Goodreads:

For ten years now, humanity has been at war with the creatures of darkness. The war has changed the world. The day now belongs to humanity and the night belongs to things once thought to exist only in myths and legends... but there is hope.
This new enemy has united humanity and an army has stepped forward to protect the light from the darkness. An army of heroes.
The Day Soldiers.
Eighteen year old Lily Baxter always knew the Day Soldiers would be a major part of her life. She had been preparing for it since she was eight. She was ready to go to war.
The one thing she wasn't prepared for was the day the war came to her.

So, do you want to read a book with a kick ass heroine? Do you want to read a book full of action? Do you want to read a book that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next? Then this is the book for you.

I wasn't actually sure I would like this book. I read the description and I was torn as to whether or not I wanted to take a chance with it. I am SO glad I did

This book is an interesting mix between a paranormal and a dystopian. I have never read something like this before.
Lily is a 18 year old girl who lives with her family, in fear of the monsters that plague her world: vampires and werewolves. But she is determined to eradicate these monsters and make the world safe. When her town is destroyed by these monsters, she vows to help in any way she can. She does this by becoming a day soldier. And let me tell you something about Lily, she is a no holds barred, don't take nothing from anyone kind of girl. She fights like there is no tomorrow and is willing to go down to save her friends from certain destruction. She has a smart mouth and a quick whit. There is no teenage angst with this girl. And her best friend Leo, is just the same. You see that he cares greatly for Lily and is willing to risk his life so that she will be safe.

And her teammates are just as determined, and cocky, if you will. Ellie is the girl who can sneak around and get into places no one else could fit. Grung is the excellent marksman, with great fighting skills. And Scott is the information specialist who certainly seems to have much more information than any day soldier should have. Together, they work to fight evil. They know what they can do, they know how good they are at doing it, and they will stop at nothing to reach their goal. If this means destruction, then so be it. If this means risking their lives, then so be it. And the banter between the team drips of sarcasm. I was surprised to be smiling, giggling, even laughing during while reading! My favorite thing about the team is that they do things they believe to be right, even if it goes against orders.

Abbie is the team instructor. She is the ultimate "sneaker". And to top it all off, she's a nun! What an original character! And Wallace is the commanding officer, who just happens to have a very special secret about him! He likes Lily from day one and knows there is something special about her. He knows she is Day Soldier material.

Hale paints a picture of a world taken over by monsters. A world where we are at war with the very things we dream of that scare us to death. It's a world that has been desolated and destroyed in areas where civilization once blossomed. It's world where humanity is being destroyed. And the monsters help paint the picture of how humans have destroyed what they were so generously given without a second thought. It's original for sure!

The monsters are not just blood sucking, killing machines, they are ruthless and clever. They believe they should be the ones who run the world. We watch werewolves and vampires, usually mortal enemies, work side by side to destroy anything that gets in the way of them taking over the world.
My only issue with this book, the reason I did not give it 5 stars, is because the characters never loose. With the exception of losing one person, none of the characters is injured beyond repair or dies. I can't imagine this to be true, no matter how good the team is at their job. But this really didn't distract me from the story. As a matter of fact, it made me want to read on because I knew in the long wrong, the characters were going to win.

This story has twists and turns. I was grabbed from the very beginning during the prologue which was the declaration of war from the vampires and werewolves. The story has a great pace: not too slow and just fast enough to keep you interested and wanting to know the next move this team will make. And Hale shows us the character's flaws and how this affects their judgement and the consequences of their actions.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who wants something packed with action. 4 out of 5 stars from me!

This review is posted at the following sites:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/day-s...
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com/

[Chris Philbrook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The premise sounded very interesting, but as the story developed, I couldn't get over some of the leaps in logic required for the plot to advance.

I don't want to spoil the book, or sound too negative about it, so Brandon if you read this, please understand I'm trying to be constructive.

The heroes Lily and Leo are teenagers who have their town destroyed by vempires, partially due to actions of their own. Immediately, with no training, they are suddenly able to destroy thousands of the undead, apparently with no injury. Hard to swallow, even after much later finding out a possible reason why that could've been.

They are inducted into the Day Soldiers, the army that fights against the Legion, aka the army of vamps and werewolves. They go into basic training.

For snipers or 'dotters' as the book calls them, they get 4 weeks of training. Scouts, or 'sneakers' get 8 weeks of training. In the worst environment imaginable, soldiers get far far more training than that. Snipers and scouts are some of the military elite, and require insanely large skill sets to operate properly, and to think that they somehow absorbed enough knowledge in that short amount of time is unthinkable.

Lily is bipolar. I'm fairly sure of it. Her inability to follow instructions followed by her mood swings, and all the while everyone in power tells her that her 'instincts and wisdom' are why she was hired... It's infuriating.

And let it be said that any new recruit that blatantly disregards the safety of her unit, and ignores direct commands would be disciplined, or even court martialed. Her bad choices and disresepect is ignored. As a military writer, it was like... sigh.

The villains are cooler than the heroes. That's a tough one to get over. When you first meet Dennis, he's funny, and scary, and badass, and the heroes are never his equal. And when more villains show up, they're sexy, and mean, and cruel, and kickass too. I found myself rooting for them more than Lily, which says something.

On premise, this book has TONS of potential... As a YA book. It read like young adult to me, was idealistic like YA to me, had almost no profanity or gore, and frankly, had it been advertised as YA, most of my complaints would be heavily mitigated, and I could leave a better review, but as a book targeted for adults, with the word soldiers in the title, I can't possibly think this was a serious attempt at writing a book about military people fighting back against anything.

Wish I could be nicer about this, but man was I frustrated as I read it.

[Val. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't let the cover fool you..this is a really good book and a start to a great series!

Werewolves were "outed" 10 years ago and the start of a war begun. Werewolf and vampires vs. humans. For 10 years the Day Soldiers have been in place to "Protect The Night" and 18 year old Lily wants to be one of them. Lily is such a badass! You know from the first chapter that this girl means business! She also suffers the most loss in the book. I really liked her! I know if there is ever a vampire/werewolf war I want to be like her..but I'm sure I would be one of the first people to get turned or end up being wolf food..that is a whole other story....The characters are great, they each have a story and the all click. I loved the relationship they shared. It's believable, which I like.

The story is just good. There is plenty of twist and turns and "OMG" moments and it does leave you wanting more.

Give this book a chance. It's a great take on a story we have heard over and over again.

[Chloe (Girl In The Woods Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finished reading DAY SOLDIERS I loved it. Yeah, I didn't know how it would end but I actually felt giddy and rapidly excited when I continued reading this book. I especially loved the main protagonist, Lily and Leo plus Scott. They were fierce, knowledgeable and different characters that made this book as it is now. A kick-butt novel, DAY SOLDIERS was deeply interesting and fascinating from vampires, werewolves and humans alike, I enjoyed this book :)

[Ked · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story grabs you from page one and doesn't let go till the cover is closed. I could see this story being adapted to film it read so vividly in my mind. I love the old time monster feel with the modern twists. Great book!

[Anna McIntyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

While vampires, werewolves and apocalypse tales are typically not my thing – Day Soldiers drew me in immediately. Well written and original, it’s more than a horror and adventure story. Its characters are well developed and the dialogue entertaining and often humorous, in spite of the dark and heavy topic. As I read the story, I often wondered if the protagonist was on the right side – and if she might come to question that herself. I loved the characters, and I cared what happened to them, which made this a tense read, considering the obstacles they faced. The book didn’t just entertain; it made me think.

[Sharon Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite a 'keep to re-read' for me so it didn't make the 5 stars, but close.

I like urban fantasy/apocalyptic theme but am not all that fond of most of the vampires and werewolves in most cases. This handled the werewolves very well and the vampires were well written, with an interesting twist also.

Good characterization, fast pace, entertaining read.

[Christine Fonseca · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous read! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the writing and a fresh take on a familiar plot. OUTSTANDING!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. I found myself not wanting to put it down.

[John Podlaski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has been in my Kindle library since 2014 and was continuously passed over until now. I don't usually read fantasy but for some reason, I thought I'd give it a try. I was hooked by the end of the first chapter and on board until the end.

Since the big war ten years ago, when Vampires and Werewolves made themselves known to the world, cities were taken, boundaries established, and defenses put in place. Humans have been on the defense as hordes of monsters continue to attack the populace and capturing prisoners - both as slaves and for feeding the masses.

The monsters are ruled by a group of 18 werewolves and a single vampire. They blame humans for the earth's demise and depict themselves as the saviors of humanity. The human populace is protected by "Day soldiers" who are trained fighters against the monsters. However, their ranks are few in comparison to the monster hordes.

The story begins when 18-yr-old Lily Baker and her friend survive an attack on their town that eventually kills her family and almost a thousand others. The head werewolf, Dennis, and the conquering horde allow the two of them to live if they survive the night against their former townsfolk who have all been turned into vampires. Unbeknownst to Dennis, Lily has a special power which helps the two of them win the contest. They are later rescued by Day Soldiers and taken into their ranks.

Readers follow Lily through her training as a "sneaker" and Leo through his sniper training. After graduation, Leo is sent on his first mission and is captured by the monsters. From that point on in the story, the Day soldiers go on the offensive. Lily and her team appear unstoppable and continue to win despite overwhelming odds. What is her strange power and how can it be used to better humans? She learns that she is not alone with this special gift there are more gifted Day soldiers and it's time to put them to work.

The final chapters leave readers with mouths agape as the tide begins to turn. Day soldiers are no longer able to hide and must do whatever is possible to take their world back. I've already downloaded the next book in the series and look forward to seeing what happens next.

[David L · Rating 3 out of 5]

The field of Urban Fantasy is overgrown with Vampire/Werewolf/Human novels. Most are badly written and an appalling number are variations on old fashioned romances, but worse.

There are even a large number of Vampire/Werewolf/Human post apocalyptic novels, most again badly written.

It is so nice to actually have a Vampire/Werewolf/Human post-apocalyptic novel that is well written and fun to read. The plot has holes in you could drive a full-up articulated lorry, sideways, but it doesn't matter. What you have here is an Action/Adventure novel with a broad canvas, that is a very enjoyable read. It only just fails to make four stars (something to do with those plot holes). It has a few genuine new wrinkles, which by themselves pull this above the usual bland repetitive fair.

So settle down for a pleasant few hours, with characters, even the baddies, that you can relate to. Look for dead bodies, and especially dead undead bodies, by the thousands. Action sequences, cliffhangers, cast the movie that will never be made in your head, and revel in it.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read : November 14, 2021
Rating :4 Stars

This was something very different than the "norm" of vampy books and I enjoyed it a lot.

With the way the dialogue flows it's almost a type of parody of most vampy campy stuff and also somehow of itself since it feels like it doesn't take itself too serious.

If that's something you're not into then it might not be as much as a fun story for you but I think it's definitely worth a read.

Lily is spunky with a heck of a lot of oh well, might as well kick ass attitude and I love it.

Saw the surprise coming from miles away but that wasn't bad perse, I still liked it and the way it was done.

On to book 2!

[tiffany griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic and deserving of awards in my opinion! I'm not a typical reader of stories about werewolves and vampires but WOW! From page one you are sucked into the story to the point of distraction (so it would be great for plane rides, vacation or a lazy day)! The characters have true depth and plots are ever changing to keep you on the edge of your seat. Amazing read and totally unexpected! Twilight has nothing in this authors take! READ NOW!

[E.W. Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a favorite for a reason!! The main characters are everything you wish you were in a world they have very little control in.

Just the right amount of humor, heartbreak, and heroism..along with SOME hero-worship that may be thrown in. There are surprises and it will make you smile just as much as you sniffle!!

[Cristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book in ages

Don’t let a summary of vampires and werewolves make you think of Twilight and skip this amazing book. This book is surprising, hardcore, and thrilling. Every time I thought I knew were it was headed, I was totally wrong, and always in the best way.

[Ann Keithley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read

Interesting characters who need a greater depth of characterization. A simplistic plot that sometimes requires a stretch for believability-main character easily continues on after losing her entire family.

[Tom Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampires and Werewolves are our common enemy

Well didn’t see this one coming. Vampires and Werewolves United against Humanity! Very well constructed. Didn’t think of Buffy until just now. You will definitely enjoy this series.

[Travis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. I especially find it turning some of the myths about vampires and werewolves on their heads to be very nice story points. Very well done. Looking forward to more in the series.

[Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn good fun. A humorous, action-packed read with a heroine who just won't quit. She is, arguably, a little bit of a special snowflake but you know what? It works.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Day Soldiers fight to reclaim the world from a werewolf/vampire alliance

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Day Soldiers (#1)
By Brandon Hale
Reviewed by Melanie Copeland

What do you do when the whole world that you have known has been turned upside down? You fight back, and that is exactly what Hale does in the first book in this series. Ten years into the future, humanity has discovered that we are no longer alone. The creatures that we have envisioned as just being some scary things that we dress up like during Halloween and in fact very real. And, they are so real that they are going to wipe out the human race, or are they?

When a young girl, Lily Baxter, finds out that she has been offered a gift, a gift that could help her, and others like her to save humanity from the on slaughter of vampires and werewolves, well, just what is a girl to do? She has taken it upon herself, as a strong willed and determined female character to change the future, and save everyone. She is such a strong willed character that there are even times as a reader that you just want to tell her, “That is not the right / or smart thing to do.” But, you just keep reading, hoping above all hope that she is tough enough to keep going. Even if her choices don’t make any sense at the time! Lily is someone that you have to learn to love to hate. The options and scenarios that she is forced to endure, can almost bring a reader to tears, and then five pages later have you cheering over the choices that she made.

All of the characters in this novel and strong, well-written, and intoxicating to discover! The characterizations are so strong that you can actually feel connected at some points with their choices and reactions, because they are just like you and me. Although they are fighting for survive, there is a human empathy that Hale plays upon that keep you not only hoping for the best, but praying that you never have to face a situation like that.

But, let’s not leave out the best parts of this book, the monsters. Vampires and Werewolves alike are offered up in quite a different manner. They have morals, integrity, and survival skills themselves. They are also faced with several different dilemmas, where they can live, what can they do without man and for the vampires especially, how can they survive without human blood. In an attempt to over throw humans, have they essentially doomed themselves to death?
Hale hits on some large themes in this book that take this book almost out of the fiction realm. We are not only facing the idea that man could be extinct, but we are also facing the idea of why man should be allowed to survive. Topics like, destruction of the planet, wars, famine, hatred, all come into play in this book. Sure, there are some hot topics like politics that also play a major role, but what it comes back to time and time again is…does man deserve a chance to live on this planet? While not coming right out with a yes or no, Lily does attempt to figure out what she is really trying to save here, and what is really trying to save her. A quite compelling and powerful story line that bridges over an imaginative and fun war story is just the beginning of this set.
Being part of an Army of Hero’s is just the beginning. There are a multitude of powerful characters spread all throughout this book that keep the reader at the edge of the page the whole time. Packed with twists, turns, death, and destruction, you will not be left in the dark. But, you will want to run right out and grab the next installment.

[Doug Lamoreux · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Nov 2017 the minions of darkness, vampires and werewolves, declared war on mankind. Ten years later, that war rages. That's the situation on page 1 of Brandon Hale's Day Soldiers. When I first got hold of it, I wanted to like Day Soldiers very badly. I hated it when I first started reading. And I wound up in love with it. Day Soldiers is a wonderful bit of original horror.

I wanted to like it because of the author, Brandon Hale. I don't know him personally. I've seen his pictures on the internet, had a short story posted by him during a month-long Halloween tribute (Thank you, Mr. Hale), and I often read his blog. That's why I wanted to read and like Day Soldiers. Brandon Hale makes me laugh. (His movie reviews in particular, which rarely have anything to do with the movie, are hilarious.) I think humor is vital to good horror.

Then I started reading Day Soldiers. I thought the first two pages were dreadful. After reading the word vampire twenty or more times, I put the book down and really had to decide if I wanted to read any more. But, as I said, Mr. Hale is an entertaining fellow and I decided he deserved a few more minutes of my time. Really, who the hell did I think I was? I returned to Day Soldiers and started over. I'm glad I did. The writing settled down, the author found his voice, and I found myself in the midst of an engaging tale of terror and not a little real drama. Yeah, I found I cared about the characters.

I loved Day Soldiers. That's why I won't tell you anything about it. If you like horror, you need to read it. It isn't the strongest novel I've ever read. The dialogue doesn't always scream with intense realism. But, like vampirism, the story of Lily Baxter and her friend Leo Rosenburg earning their place among an elite group of homeland warriors, the Day Soldiers, to fight the legions of evil for control of the world is infectious. It's gory and funny and entertaining - and once you're into it, damned exciting. It is also the first of a series and I'm certain that Mr. Hale's writing grows stronger with each installment; meaning Day Soldiers Book Two: Purging Fires and the newly released Day Soldiers Book Three: Topia are on my to-read list for this year.

[Angel Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Contains a mild spoiler**

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time! And to top it off, it was a free download on my kindle, which is why all authors should have book 1 of a series as free in this day and age. It's not something I would have bought, I doubt it's even something that I would have looked at if it weren't for the fact that I was idly browsing free books. The plot sounds weak and aimed entirely at teenage girls; teenage girl finds herself fighting vampires and werewolves, not particularly inspired, especially in the days after twilight, everything is vampires and werewolves and not a lot of it is any good any more. Still, I got it on the off chance, I had a coach trip planned and never again will I travel that far without at least three books to read, so I loaded up.

Didn't read this on my coach trip, I actually picked it up when insomnia threatened hoping for something to put me to sleep. BAD MOVE!!! Seriously, I was hooked! It was nothing like I expected! Even this teenage girl who's just like you and me, but will save the world, is actually amazingly well written! I was caught up in the epic struggle between humanity and viscous, sadistic supernatural creatures which may be gorgeous but will rip your heart out of your chest if they're feeling generous. I laughed and gasped my way through the story, crying when I realized that Leo was dead, his body just needed time to catch up, I think I damn near threw the kindle across the room when Lily shot Scott, it came as such a surprise, hoping that somehow she'd managed to concoct a way for him to survive that we just weren't privy to, and laughing maniacally when that dead hope was confirmed.

These werewolves and vampires are the kind we grew up with, the kind we fell in love with, cruel, bloody and just a little uncomfortably relatable. But just when you think they might have a point, they rip a mans hand off his wrist with their teeth! The humour and wit is beautifully written and I'm cutting this review short because I've just bought the next two books in the series and I want to start reading!

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little confused. I just don't understand how vampire/werewolf stories like Twilight and Vampire Academy are so popular and have such a following when Day Soldiers is relatively unknown but by far a better book. I never heard of it before I picked it up as a kindle freebie and even then it sat in my library untouched for months. I just had no idea I was putting off something so good. This story was incredible!! I often say a book was so good I couldn't put it down, but in reality I do put it down to eat or sleep. Well, it's currently 5 in the morning - I've been reading this since last night when I started it. I can't say it's the best vampire story out there only for the fact that I haven't read or watched them all. I will say that this is one of the best I have come across.

It all begins when a man discovers a werewolf, a beast of legend (so humanity thought). They were content all these years to live as a myth allowing humanity to destroy the Earth bit by bit just for the relative peace they could exist in. Once they were discovered, there would be no peace so they decided to take back the planet from those who were destroying it. They joined forces with the vampires and waged war against humanity. This is the story of that war.

For most of the book we follow Lily. She is an 18 year old girl who lives in a small town with her parents and about nine hundred other humans. Unlike them, Lily doesn't believe in hiding to keep the peace. She wants to fight. To become a Day Soldier and take the world back. She and her best friend Leo decide to kill a few vampires that she knows have been lurking in the woods beside her little town. She knows it's dangerous but she's a 'get them before they get us' kind of girl. This starts off a chain of events that leads to her losing almost everyone she has ever known, becoming a Day Soldier, and becoming the warrior she was destined to be. I'll say no more - you really have to read this yourself. You won't be disappointed!!