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Jack #1
Hunter's Moon
Andy McNab meets Buffy the Vampire the Slayer in this razor sharp fast moving supernatural thriller from an exciting new author. "My name is unimportant, but you can call me Jack. I'm a musician by choice, a magician by profession, and a bastard by disposition. I'd been doing the magic thing for about five years when they found me. They said I had a talent, that I was smart enough and fit enough and enough of a shit that I could serve my country in a way most people never even get to hear about. And I did want to serve my country, didn't I? I didn't really want to contemplate what might happen if I said no." And so Jack found himself on the front line of a secret war that most people simply wouldn't believe was possible. Working for a secret organization tasked with defending our country from whatever supernatural threat faces it. MI5 know nothing about and would laugh if they found out. Well at first they would. Whether wiping out a group of demon summoners, infiltrating a coven determined to assassinate the PM, or rooting out a neo-nazi sect who are trying to bring back Hitler from the dead Jack is a very modern sort of magician—trained in a variety of the dark arts but also a dab hand with a Heckler and Koch, skilled in unarmed combat and electronic surveillance. David Devereux has combined the action writing of McNab and Ryan with dark supernatural thrills and produced a blistering new breed of supernatural thriller. This is Dennis Wheatley for the 21st century.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2007
6 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
David Devereux
8 books28 followersDavid Devereux has worked as a mortuary technician, a bodyguard, and a bar manager. He also writes comedy scripts and has provided voices for radio. As hobbies he enjoys cookery, real ale, art, music, messing around with aeroplanes and acts as a senior steward at events across Britain. There's been some rock'n'roll along the way, but these days David is enjoying a slightly more relaxed lifestyle having retired from Athanor Consulting in March 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 1, 2022
This is one character whose therapist I’d pity.
I originally had this book set at 3 stars. But as I started writing this review and looking at a couple of other reviews I'm settling at 2 or 2.5 stars.
As far as writing and narration styles go, it felt like Devereux wanted us to live the plot through Jack. There were two narrative styles that would be bounced between: a narration of events and a narration of Jack’s thoughts. The latter narrative style is often ridiculous.
Seems like one of these naughty boys had been entertaining her in a way her husband wouldn’t necessarily like. Bad puppy, no biscuit.
But occasionally we get gems like: “… and keep your nose clean. Clear?” / “Crystal”
Or a reluctance to “penetrate” (his words not mine) the Sisterhood.
But beyond the first 30 pages…
Not much changes. At least narration-wise. The pacing and plot of the book is good and super interesting. I think fast-paced is a great tag for this one. I’d almost say that it bordered or vague or concise for the way details and major plot developments would just spring up.
I definitely think this book tried to be racy and tried to lean to being unconventional, but I believe the publisher or editor cut out a lot of parts that could have given that book that status. There were lots of reviews raving about the sex, for instance, but overall the sex was supremely lacklustre (even though the scenes they were spelled out were some pretty raunchy stuff).
I’d also like to add that I don’t think I can get past the part where when Jack starts into a more serious vein of thinking or something more logically interesting he cuts off that thread and ends it with “and all that jazz”.
I thought we agreed to stop saying that after we turned 15.
And finally, this was the real kicker for me, I really didn’t like Jack. He was, to put it nicely, a prick. Sure he could say some racy things, thought of women as objects, and was a big macho-man that could do things himself….
Actually these are all of the things that make him a prick. He reminds me a lot of how Jake (from the Sun also rises) would be like if he had Jack’s abilities. In other words, someone with little emotional maturity and someone whose complex makes him feel better than everyone else. I think there was a big current of misogyny which had me rolling my eyes a lot. And the other thing I realized is that if this was a female with Jack’s personality she would be the ‘I’m not like other girls’ pick-me girl. Which is a dead giveaway to me that Jack is pretty shitty.
But perhaps I’m just supposed to chalk that up to the world that Jack lives in. But I’ll also add that I think I was missing a lot of world building and character background which made me dislike the character even more.
BUT I will say in Jack’s defense that there were some forgivable notions in his character. Like his lack of preference for violence. That said it still doesn’t change that he’s really misogynistic.
And a final note. For some reason, perhaps because I was distracted or the British lingo wasn't getting to me, but this book was really hard to read. Something about it was so dense, that I'd read three pages and get lost on the plot. On the whole, I really don't think I could tell you what happened in the book. And there were certain parts in the book that made no sense if I closed the book to grab a drink. I'm fairly certain it was written there, but given the concise nature/the writing style whose slang was nearly incomprehensible to me, most of the reason for certain developments went well over my head.
Edit: I was reading a couple of other reviews. And I have to say, things are making a lot of sense and a lot more red flags are starting to hit me. He’s a sociopath - or a bastard as he likes to say. Except we get that reference once and then it disappears. (Which makes me think that Devereux wanted to write a story from the perspective of an asshole but didn’t want to face the backlash, so he’s a ‘bastard’. And what he did was pretty much rape. I’d also add that (and I didn’t pick up on this because I thought I missed something) he checked into curses and got a toxicology report (after having sex with a drugged Annie) so he could get away with being blameless of having sex with her.
I originally had this book set at 3 stars. But as I started writing this review and looking at a couple of other reviews I'm settling at 2 or 2.5 stars.
As far as writing and narration styles go, it felt like Devereux wanted us to live the plot through Jack. There were two narrative styles that would be bounced between: a narration of events and a narration of Jack’s thoughts. The latter narrative style is often ridiculous.
Seems like one of these naughty boys had been entertaining her in a way her husband wouldn’t necessarily like. Bad puppy, no biscuit.
But occasionally we get gems like: “… and keep your nose clean. Clear?” / “Crystal”
Or a reluctance to “penetrate” (his words not mine) the Sisterhood.
But beyond the first 30 pages…
Not much changes. At least narration-wise. The pacing and plot of the book is good and super interesting. I think fast-paced is a great tag for this one. I’d almost say that it bordered or vague or concise for the way details and major plot developments would just spring up.
I definitely think this book tried to be racy and tried to lean to being unconventional, but I believe the publisher or editor cut out a lot of parts that could have given that book that status. There were lots of reviews raving about the sex, for instance, but overall the sex was supremely lacklustre (even though the scenes they were spelled out were some pretty raunchy stuff).
I’d also like to add that I don’t think I can get past the part where when Jack starts into a more serious vein of thinking or something more logically interesting he cuts off that thread and ends it with “and all that jazz”.
I thought we agreed to stop saying that after we turned 15.
And finally, this was the real kicker for me, I really didn’t like Jack. He was, to put it nicely, a prick. Sure he could say some racy things, thought of women as objects, and was a big macho-man that could do things himself….
Actually these are all of the things that make him a prick. He reminds me a lot of how Jake (from the Sun also rises) would be like if he had Jack’s abilities. In other words, someone with little emotional maturity and someone whose complex makes him feel better than everyone else. I think there was a big current of misogyny which had me rolling my eyes a lot. And the other thing I realized is that if this was a female with Jack’s personality she would be the ‘I’m not like other girls’ pick-me girl. Which is a dead giveaway to me that Jack is pretty shitty.
But perhaps I’m just supposed to chalk that up to the world that Jack lives in. But I’ll also add that I think I was missing a lot of world building and character background which made me dislike the character even more.
BUT I will say in Jack’s defense that there were some forgivable notions in his character. Like his lack of preference for violence. That said it still doesn’t change that he’s really misogynistic.
And a final note. For some reason, perhaps because I was distracted or the British lingo wasn't getting to me, but this book was really hard to read. Something about it was so dense, that I'd read three pages and get lost on the plot. On the whole, I really don't think I could tell you what happened in the book. And there were certain parts in the book that made no sense if I closed the book to grab a drink. I'm fairly certain it was written there, but given the concise nature/the writing style whose slang was nearly incomprehensible to me, most of the reason for certain developments went well over my head.
Edit: I was reading a couple of other reviews. And I have to say, things are making a lot of sense and a lot more red flags are starting to hit me. He’s a sociopath - or a bastard as he likes to say. Except we get that reference once and then it disappears. (Which makes me think that Devereux wanted to write a story from the perspective of an asshole but didn’t want to face the backlash, so he’s a ‘bastard’. And what he did was pretty much rape. I’d also add that (and I didn’t pick up on this because I thought I missed something) he checked into curses and got a toxicology report (after having sex with a drugged Annie) so he could get away with being blameless of having sex with her.
December 14, 2008
The character Jack is sort of a Harry Dresden meets Michael McGill slowly blended together. If these three guys were to meet they could all sit together in a pub to share stories over beer. And I think I'd like to be sitting near by eavesdropping.
I stumbled upon this book during a book store visit a week ago. In truth, the cover and the slightly different size (british mass market format?) got my attention when I was scanning the shelves. I admit to falling victim to book formats / appearances that fall outside the norm. I read the back and decided to flip it open to a random page, read a paragraph, flipped to the first page and began reading. It was immediately placed onto the stack I was carrying and it now resides on my shelves. I will be looking to see if there are more stories with this character. It was a fast and fun read...very entertaining. It worked especially well for the morning and evening commute on the bus.
I stumbled upon this book during a book store visit a week ago. In truth, the cover and the slightly different size (british mass market format?) got my attention when I was scanning the shelves. I admit to falling victim to book formats / appearances that fall outside the norm. I read the back and decided to flip it open to a random page, read a paragraph, flipped to the first page and began reading. It was immediately placed onto the stack I was carrying and it now resides on my shelves. I will be looking to see if there are more stories with this character. It was a fast and fun read...very entertaining. It worked especially well for the morning and evening commute on the bus.
November 12, 2008
For the life of mine, I couldn't finish this one. It was more of a Jason Bourne with magic than Harry Dresden kind of book which wouldn't be bad per se but the way it was told, from the 1st person POV, everything was described not felt, it seemed to me like I was reading a dry report: I went, I did, I saw... No feelings at all. I think that it might have been what the author was aiming for but unfortunately, it wasn't my cup of tea.
November 17, 2020
Hunter's Moon by David Devereux is the first book in the "Jack" series. Warning: This book is extremely graphic in terms of sexuality and violence and combinations of the two. The "Hero", known only as Jack, is not a nice guy. He will kill someone if it is too inconvenient to capture them. He uses black magic to fight black magic and he considers women as sex objects to be used for his mission or his pleasure. That all being said he is still not as bad as the people he has been sent to fight. He is ruthless and will do pretty much anything to get the job done. He does have moments where his conscience bothers him, but he manages to overcome it for his mission. If this type of character does not bother you this book will be an entertaining read. It is a very dark Urban Fantasy. It has much action and many plot twists and turns. This book is a UK edition and it is written in British English so some of the terms might be unfamiliar to American readers. I for one plan to read more of this series.
January 7, 2013
I picked up this book when it first came out, but stopped reading at the point at which the main character essentially becomes a rapist by sleeping with a female ally whom he knows is under the influence of kink-inducing magic and subsequently incapable of informed consent. Also, big flashing warning lights re the linking of female sexuality and BDSM culture with devilry and black magic, on account of how. Um. About that.
August 4, 2011
Loved this book, hard to put down- anti-hero is sort of a James Bond 007 type working for secret British agency- with magic elements. Our "hero" is described as "bastard by disposition" and his work consists of mostly disabling and/or killing threats to Queen and country. Told in lst person. Full of sex (including sexual manipulation and torture) and violence.
March 23, 2009
I love bad good guys ^.^ Especially ones that not only fight and use guns and knives and hunt terrorists, but are also magician's! And that's what Jack is. A bad-ass magician working for the good guys. Fast paced, exciting and much enjoyment of Jack's sarcastic and cynical sense of humor. Good fun!
January 20, 2018
I am conflicted about this book. In some ways it was a fun read, and it was a pleasant change to read a urban fantasy / thriller set in the UK. The author has obviously done his homework and either has experience of or done a lot of research on army training techniques, interrogating, brain washing / psychiatry, occult magic(k optional), and the fetish scene.
There is a lot of sex and a lot of violence (and a lot of violent sex), but it's mostly not dwelt on or used too vicariously. As other people have said, the writing is a little like reading a report rather than a novel, but it works in context as a story being told by a functioning sociopath who has been trained to kill without compunction by his own government...
The protagonist also describes himself as a bastard which, along with the sociopathic tendencies, explains much of his actions and his response to people and events. However, despite how well many of the other elements, including the kink, are treated (and the protagonist seems not to harbour any homophobia given his reaction to one particular event), there is an undercurrent of misogyny in the whole book, which I found distasteful.
I appreciate that the protagonist is not meant to be a nice person, but he seems to have a fairly good moral code even if it is a bit unorthodox, and the misogyny feels out of place compared to his other reactions.
It is worst in the first chapter and I nearly didn't continue with the book because of it, which would have been a shame. Thereafter, it becomes more of an undertone, which seems to gradually fade as the book progresses. Possibly in an early draft it was a plot point, which has been written out, but has left a few traces of itself behind?
I was also slightly uncomfortable with the scene where he has sex with the other undercover operative, which was, for lack of a better word, a bit rapey. He is well aware that she is under the influence of drugs or magic, and has sex with her anyway. And then doesn't deal with it the next day when she realises what has happened.
He sort of gives himself a bit of an out, thinking that a drug she has been given might have passed on to him, but then that comes to nothing when the tox screen comes back clear, but then that plot point is just dropped and never mentioned again.
There's also a short sub-plot where he thinks he has been cursed, but he's told he's not been and goes off to investigate a particular sect, and then nothing comes of it. That research is never mentioned again and it just feels sort of forgotten.
I appreciate how hard it is to write a novel and to tie up all of the loose ends, but the issues above make me wonder if another edit would have made for a better end product?
Overall, only read this if you have a strong stomach and you are willing to overlook the issues mentioned above. If you are, you will find an interesting thriller, with a novel plot, that could have been something really special, but doesn't quite get there.
I will be reading the next one, and hope to enjoy another good thriller which hopefully has dealt with some of the issues above.
There is a lot of sex and a lot of violence (and a lot of violent sex), but it's mostly not dwelt on or used too vicariously. As other people have said, the writing is a little like reading a report rather than a novel, but it works in context as a story being told by a functioning sociopath who has been trained to kill without compunction by his own government...
The protagonist also describes himself as a bastard which, along with the sociopathic tendencies, explains much of his actions and his response to people and events. However, despite how well many of the other elements, including the kink, are treated (and the protagonist seems not to harbour any homophobia given his reaction to one particular event), there is an undercurrent of misogyny in the whole book, which I found distasteful.
I appreciate that the protagonist is not meant to be a nice person, but he seems to have a fairly good moral code even if it is a bit unorthodox, and the misogyny feels out of place compared to his other reactions.
It is worst in the first chapter and I nearly didn't continue with the book because of it, which would have been a shame. Thereafter, it becomes more of an undertone, which seems to gradually fade as the book progresses. Possibly in an early draft it was a plot point, which has been written out, but has left a few traces of itself behind?
I was also slightly uncomfortable with the scene where he has sex with the other undercover operative, which was, for lack of a better word, a bit rapey. He is well aware that she is under the influence of drugs or magic, and has sex with her anyway. And then doesn't deal with it the next day when she realises what has happened.
He sort of gives himself a bit of an out, thinking that a drug she has been given might have passed on to him, but then that comes to nothing when the tox screen comes back clear, but then that plot point is just dropped and never mentioned again.
There's also a short sub-plot where he thinks he has been cursed, but he's told he's not been and goes off to investigate a particular sect, and then nothing comes of it. That research is never mentioned again and it just feels sort of forgotten.
I appreciate how hard it is to write a novel and to tie up all of the loose ends, but the issues above make me wonder if another edit would have made for a better end product?
Overall, only read this if you have a strong stomach and you are willing to overlook the issues mentioned above. If you are, you will find an interesting thriller, with a novel plot, that could have been something really special, but doesn't quite get there.
I will be reading the next one, and hope to enjoy another good thriller which hopefully has dealt with some of the issues above.
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December 21, 2022Urban fantasy-style magician bloke with Army Special Forces training chasing Lesbian Terrorist Witches. And there is Hunter’s Moon in a nut shelf.
I’m a big fan of this brand of Urban Fantasy that includes Felix Castor by Mike Carey, Harry Dresden by Jim Butcher and Eddie Drood by Simon R. Green. Well Jack, he asks us to call him Jack at least, by David Devereux has just joined them.
I guess that if you put them on a scale of gentle to violent we’d have Felix Castor on one side and Jack way over the other. Not Felix Castor is soft and gentle but Jack brings a whole new level of Bastard into the mix.
Told in the first person Hunter’s Moon sees Jack being assigned the mission of finding what The Enlightened Sisterhood are up to and then if necessary closing them down, which is a bit of a euphemism for killing them all.
It’s all very cloak and dagger. With safe houses. White Vans. And above the law actions.
Being a bit of a gentle soul. I wasn’t quite prepared for the brutal and graphic nature of the sex and violence that is liberally sprinkled throughout. I guess if you’re going to carve your own place in a crowded niche market it’s certainly one way of doing it.
I am labouring the point not because it’s out of place in the story or that it’s offensive in anyway but it is unusual in stories of this nature so I’d just preparing you just in case it’s not your thing.
Anyway, back to the Lesbian Witches. As Jack isn’t a woman it’s hard for him to infiltrate the coven so he needs someone on the inside to liaise with and that’s Annie (again not her real name). Annie’s introduction means that the usual lone-wolf Jack has someone to babysit.
Now at this point something starts not feeling right with the hardness of Jack and the superman magician persona that we meet in opening chapter. Actually it goes back to first interaction with The Boss, the mission giving M if you like.
It’s partly down to Devereux’s dialogue which is almost comedic but not in a funny way. It seems unnatural for even Jack. There is a tinge of of unnaturalness to most of Jacks interactions – it’s not jarring but it is noticeable.
This is definitely a male book. I doubt the depiction of the acts performed by the Inner Circle of The Sisters of Enlightenment is going to endear Deveruex to many female readers.
One irritant is the levels of magicks performed – you have demons being called, souls being shredded as mind being read but nothing can seem to stop Jack repeatedly getting aroused or able to perform any magic tricks to get him out of the traps he’s in at the time for all his knowledge.
All that isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy it. I did. It’s action packed and constantly on the go. But like Jack it’s very superficial. An entertaining read but nothing that’s going to get you thinking too much. And certainly something that’s going to give you the wrong impression of a Coven of Witches.
And here is the next one – I’m curious to see what he’s going to do next…
I’m a big fan of this brand of Urban Fantasy that includes Felix Castor by Mike Carey, Harry Dresden by Jim Butcher and Eddie Drood by Simon R. Green. Well Jack, he asks us to call him Jack at least, by David Devereux has just joined them.
I guess that if you put them on a scale of gentle to violent we’d have Felix Castor on one side and Jack way over the other. Not Felix Castor is soft and gentle but Jack brings a whole new level of Bastard into the mix.
Told in the first person Hunter’s Moon sees Jack being assigned the mission of finding what The Enlightened Sisterhood are up to and then if necessary closing them down, which is a bit of a euphemism for killing them all.
It’s all very cloak and dagger. With safe houses. White Vans. And above the law actions.
Being a bit of a gentle soul. I wasn’t quite prepared for the brutal and graphic nature of the sex and violence that is liberally sprinkled throughout. I guess if you’re going to carve your own place in a crowded niche market it’s certainly one way of doing it.
I am labouring the point not because it’s out of place in the story or that it’s offensive in anyway but it is unusual in stories of this nature so I’d just preparing you just in case it’s not your thing.
Anyway, back to the Lesbian Witches. As Jack isn’t a woman it’s hard for him to infiltrate the coven so he needs someone on the inside to liaise with and that’s Annie (again not her real name). Annie’s introduction means that the usual lone-wolf Jack has someone to babysit.
Now at this point something starts not feeling right with the hardness of Jack and the superman magician persona that we meet in opening chapter. Actually it goes back to first interaction with The Boss, the mission giving M if you like.
It’s partly down to Devereux’s dialogue which is almost comedic but not in a funny way. It seems unnatural for even Jack. There is a tinge of of unnaturalness to most of Jacks interactions – it’s not jarring but it is noticeable.
This is definitely a male book. I doubt the depiction of the acts performed by the Inner Circle of The Sisters of Enlightenment is going to endear Deveruex to many female readers.
One irritant is the levels of magicks performed – you have demons being called, souls being shredded as mind being read but nothing can seem to stop Jack repeatedly getting aroused or able to perform any magic tricks to get him out of the traps he’s in at the time for all his knowledge.
All that isn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy it. I did. It’s action packed and constantly on the go. But like Jack it’s very superficial. An entertaining read but nothing that’s going to get you thinking too much. And certainly something that’s going to give you the wrong impression of a Coven of Witches.
And here is the next one – I’m curious to see what he’s going to do next…
December 17, 2017
Before I begin this review, I will point out ahead of time that this book features a coven of lesbian bondage witches planning to kill the Prime Minister of Britain, with only a badass military special ops guy who also happens to be a trained wizard standing in their way. It is possible that this information will have you instantly clicking to Amazon to order the book or rapidly clicking onto another topic in fear, meaning I don't have to write the rest of the review. For the three of you who do require more information, I will however carry on.
Rewinding a bit, Hunter's Moon opens with a James Bond-esque mission which introduces our 'hero' (used in the loosest possible sense of the word), Jack. It has nothing to do with the rest of the book, and is meant to show how our protagonist operates when a mission goes well. The main storyline kicks in when Jack is assigned to assist a rookie agent, Annie, who has infiltrated a coven of witches who seem to be up to no good. He arranges the death of one of their senior members and Annie manages to replace her. However, things start going a bit pear-shaped and as Jack investigates further, it turns out the witches' plans are more ambitious than he first thought and their resources considerably greater.
Hunter's Moon is many things, but a subtle examination of the human condition it isn't. Jack is a self-admitted amoral bastard, but also has a (slight) soft spot for his rookie colleague and a lingering sense of patriotism that occasionally threatens to make him likable. He has tremendous resources - you'll probably be shocked to hear that he works for a secret government organisation so secret even MI5 don't know they exist, as well as a network of independent informants and friends - and, if in doubt, kills first and asks questions later. The cliches come thick and fast, but there's a wryness to the writing and the author is clearing slipping the reader a nod and wink about the ludicrousness of throwing together a novel that combines SAS 'manly man' fiction featuring guns and dominatrix villainesses with the contents of a year's subscription to the Fortean Times. The magic system used in the book is also interesting and seems to open up a number of some interesting possibilities for future stories.
Hunter's Moon (***½) comes across as the demented love-child born of an unholy union between Laurel K. Hamilton (when she was decent) and Andy McNab, and is fast-paced, entertaining and quite funny. However, it also has a fair bit of (usually eye-watering) sex and violence, meaning it isn't for the squeamish or faint of heart. It is available in the UK from Gollancz and is available in the USA via Amazon.
Rewinding a bit, Hunter's Moon opens with a James Bond-esque mission which introduces our 'hero' (used in the loosest possible sense of the word), Jack. It has nothing to do with the rest of the book, and is meant to show how our protagonist operates when a mission goes well. The main storyline kicks in when Jack is assigned to assist a rookie agent, Annie, who has infiltrated a coven of witches who seem to be up to no good. He arranges the death of one of their senior members and Annie manages to replace her. However, things start going a bit pear-shaped and as Jack investigates further, it turns out the witches' plans are more ambitious than he first thought and their resources considerably greater.
Hunter's Moon is many things, but a subtle examination of the human condition it isn't. Jack is a self-admitted amoral bastard, but also has a (slight) soft spot for his rookie colleague and a lingering sense of patriotism that occasionally threatens to make him likable. He has tremendous resources - you'll probably be shocked to hear that he works for a secret government organisation so secret even MI5 don't know they exist, as well as a network of independent informants and friends - and, if in doubt, kills first and asks questions later. The cliches come thick and fast, but there's a wryness to the writing and the author is clearing slipping the reader a nod and wink about the ludicrousness of throwing together a novel that combines SAS 'manly man' fiction featuring guns and dominatrix villainesses with the contents of a year's subscription to the Fortean Times. The magic system used in the book is also interesting and seems to open up a number of some interesting possibilities for future stories.
Hunter's Moon (***½) comes across as the demented love-child born of an unholy union between Laurel K. Hamilton (when she was decent) and Andy McNab, and is fast-paced, entertaining and quite funny. However, it also has a fair bit of (usually eye-watering) sex and violence, meaning it isn't for the squeamish or faint of heart. It is available in the UK from Gollancz and is available in the USA via Amazon.
September 28, 2025
Started and finished date – 24.09.25 to 26.09.25.
My rating – Three Stars.
This book was okay, but I didn't love it, and I think people who like a sense of danger by Jennifer Estep or declare by Tim Powers. The writing was okay but not great, but it took some time to get used to also the ending was okay. The world building was okay, and the atmosphere was fine, but it was bit bland. I think author do a pretty good job at describing army training techniques and interrogating but feel at then was an undercurrent of misogyny in the whole book which made is book hard to read. The paced of plot was well structured and steady paced. The characters were okay, but I think they need to flash out bit more.
My rating – Three Stars.
This book was okay, but I didn't love it, and I think people who like a sense of danger by Jennifer Estep or declare by Tim Powers. The writing was okay but not great, but it took some time to get used to also the ending was okay. The world building was okay, and the atmosphere was fine, but it was bit bland. I think author do a pretty good job at describing army training techniques and interrogating but feel at then was an undercurrent of misogyny in the whole book which made is book hard to read. The paced of plot was well structured and steady paced. The characters were okay, but I think they need to flash out bit more.
June 18, 2018
enjoyed the action but not sure I enjoyed the whole story. main character was difficult to connect with, but in story he had similar characteristics
April 28, 2023
Not an amazing read, but not bad either. Some adult content in terms of sex and violence.
October 27, 2011
Surprising what can hide innocently on an airport bookshelf! You'd think a book as graphically mixing violence and sex would be kept on a controlled shelf. But nothing of the sort, there it sat innocently halfway between the Barkers and the Ludlums. Hunter's Moon is a thriller mixed with black magic, psychological conditioning and a good, very good dollop of sex -some violent- and of murder and mayhem. Jack, the narrator and protagonist is a member of a British secret service so secret even MI5 and 6 don't know about it. They just get told to bug off when they come too xlose. This service fights the battle to protect the realm at the supernatural edge and it fights it with any means even the dirtiest black magic. Jack is a real piece of work. You wonder how you come to like (?) him since he rather enjoys some of the gorier bits of his job it seems and his best friends are dead people in a cemetery. The living certainly better keep out of his way or they risk a sticky end.
I enjoyed the newness, for me, of the concept and the outrageousness of some of the action (those who do not like graphic violence Do NOT TOUCH!). The writing is fast paced and the suspense well sustained. And it works, in the end you start sympathising with with Jack who has proven himself precisely what he calls himself at the opening of the book - a bastard by disposition.
I enjoyed the newness, for me, of the concept and the outrageousness of some of the action (those who do not like graphic violence Do NOT TOUCH!). The writing is fast paced and the suspense well sustained. And it works, in the end you start sympathising with with Jack who has proven himself precisely what he calls himself at the opening of the book - a bastard by disposition.
November 2, 2009
This one left me reeling. It's the story of Jack, well that's the name he's using when he introduces himself. He also says that he's "a musician by choice, a magician by profession and a bastard by disposition." and if that puts you off you should stop now. He was "encouraged" to join in the fight against evil magic and evil generally and does it with no qualm of conscience. He has accepted his job and is going to do it.
This time he's investigating a women's group, there have been some disappearances associated with it and this group seems to be getting their fingers in magic as well. He's authorised to use lethal force, and he does. As well as torture and all sorts of unpleasant things. But somehow he does all this calmly, in a very Dexter way, and the magic is a tool, something that he uses rather like the knife he's fond of.
There are some pretty intense scenes of torture and some sex involved so this one is definitely not for younger people, but he's a compelling character, no matter how unpleasant.
This time he's investigating a women's group, there have been some disappearances associated with it and this group seems to be getting their fingers in magic as well. He's authorised to use lethal force, and he does. As well as torture and all sorts of unpleasant things. But somehow he does all this calmly, in a very Dexter way, and the magic is a tool, something that he uses rather like the knife he's fond of.
There are some pretty intense scenes of torture and some sex involved so this one is definitely not for younger people, but he's a compelling character, no matter how unpleasant.
August 2, 2010
Jack is a magician who is a government assassin. This time he is back-up to a female agent who has gone undercover in a coven that has terrorist links and is planning to kill the Prime Minister. Jack dislikes not being the one in command so when the agent starts to show signs of brainwashing, he is slow to react and the whole coven disappears along with the compromised agent. Now Jack gets to track the coven and kill them one by one in an attempt to rescue his partner...
This was a different book from my usual UF books-more of an SAS meets magic kind of read-but I liked it. It has a good mix of action, violence and magic though if you are prudish about sex you better avoid this one! The story moves at pace, going from location to location and it was definitely worth picking up in the library. Gritty, tough, uncompromising book and character and a very enjoyable read. Would look for others by this author.
2.5 out of 5
This was a different book from my usual UF books-more of an SAS meets magic kind of read-but I liked it. It has a good mix of action, violence and magic though if you are prudish about sex you better avoid this one! The story moves at pace, going from location to location and it was definitely worth picking up in the library. Gritty, tough, uncompromising book and character and a very enjoyable read. Would look for others by this author.
2.5 out of 5
March 31, 2013
alright, i admit it that i am a sucker to spy stories. the synopysis was so intriguing that i just had to buy this book though the rating is average. i give this book 3 stars for the character (as mentioned, i totally dig spies). i would say he is more of a sorceror spy rather than a magician since he dabbles in the occult in order to fight her majesty's enemy.
however, the story would have been better if there is more spy work involved. jack is not really doing the main spy job since he is not female. so, the enemy should have been a cabal of sorcerors... i think that will make the story more interesting.
however, the story would have been better if there is more spy work involved. jack is not really doing the main spy job since he is not female. so, the enemy should have been a cabal of sorcerors... i think that will make the story more interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2014
Ok this was a book I have had my eye on for a while now and finally stumbled across a copy so yes I could not resist diving right in. The book is quite different from the recent reads, in both its style and storyline and I think that is what I enjoyed most- the storyline was pretty straight forward although the main character, his methods and approach to his work were really the real stars of the show. There were a few times when either his actions or his attitude seemed a little extreme but in the context of who he was and what he was doing I guess it could be reasoned if not excused. The tagline on the book cover is very apt all things considered.
June 3, 2012
A bit short, a bit dry, a bit brutish. Very much in the Bourne-but-with-Magic, but the magic is simply used as a tool. Someone said its like reading a report. Sort of - I swear it starts off cold and without character or conscience, then warms up throughout. There's no mythology here, no grand scheme. Don't get me wrong, I recommend you give it a try, just to see if it's your speed. Decently written, but I prefer a bit more...grandeur, call it. I like Urban Fantasy, everything from Dresden to Matthew Swift, but this was too... Workmanlike.
December 29, 2012
Having very much enjoyed his first book, a biography entitled 'Memoirs of an Exorcist', I was intrigued when I found out the author, David Deveraux has written two fictional novels. Written in his matter-of-fact laid-back style, this is a story about Jack, a magician who uses his talents to quietly silence the New Age folk causing trouble in the neighbourhood. Very raw, very explicit, this book is a thrilling journey into the deep dark underground, filled with aspects taken from the author's own experiences in the field.
February 17, 2016
I liked this story. I picked it up because of my interest in paranormal reads, and when I saw a previous review say it was a combination of 24 and Torchwood... well, I HAD to try it. Yes, it is very violent, but it doesn't dwell on the violence. In fact the violence and sex were very matter of fact, and didn't bother me because it fit with the story (although, I confess, some final scenes made me a little uncomfortable). The British isms didn't jar me out of the story. There weren't many, and they were easy to figure out. Overall, a very interesting read.
January 1, 2015
Badass version of Harry Dresden, sarcasm fans enjoy
If you like the Dresden Files but prefer your characters to be a little more suave spy than part-time investigator, this may well be for you, the wit and sarcastic humour is there to see, plenty of action also, this reads much like some of the spy stories of Mcnab and Cussler, but with supernatural elements (Supernatural the TV series being another comparison), excellent fun and a quick read also, one to fill in a short weekend.
If you like the Dresden Files but prefer your characters to be a little more suave spy than part-time investigator, this may well be for you, the wit and sarcastic humour is there to see, plenty of action also, this reads much like some of the spy stories of Mcnab and Cussler, but with supernatural elements (Supernatural the TV series being another comparison), excellent fun and a quick read also, one to fill in a short weekend.
November 19, 2009
If you like Hellboy and Dexter, you'll love this book. "Jack" is on the front line of a secret war (a coven of witches is out to assassinate the P.M.), and he needs all his skill as a magician to survive and clinch victory. Another testament to the fact that the best person to take out the bad guys is a bad guy himself. One of the most fun books we've ever read.
June 15, 2010
Brutal and deadly, this is an exciting occult thriller unlike any I've seen before. Protagonist Jack is like Jason Bourne crossed with Aleister Crowley. Author Devereux packs a gritty punch and keeps his readers on the edge of their seats. Compellingly gruesome reading.
February 24, 2013
Bizarre James Bondish supernatural with kink sex fetish mind control power exchange magic featured prominently ... but then Devereux must have ... I dunno ... stumbled over his own safe word, because the sequel was pure vanilla ...
February 27, 2016
A somewhat gruesome in places thriller with added magic. This time Jack is investigating a coven with designs on the prime minister. A lot of sex magic and mind control, but still an interesting story that moves quickly.
September 24, 2012
I didn't like this as much as I expected. I can't work out why.
October 8, 2013
I can't explain why I enjoyed this so much. Just write another one please!!
April 7, 2017
I finished this because it was portable, and the story was moving forward, but I didn't really like any of the sexual politics, in both senses. The combination of magic and real life was kind of interesting, but I won't rush to read other books by this author again.
February 5, 2018
Screaming to be made into a b grade action flick. Easy page turner with plenty of sex and violence but nothing groundbreaking.
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