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Skinners #1

by Marcus Pelegrimas

Vítejte v nejhorší noční můře.

Existuje svět, o kterém lidé nemají potuchy. Svět obydlený divokými
bestiemi, které žijí jen proto, aby šířily děs a smrt. Žijí přímo
mezi lidmi, kteří je nevidí. Kdyby se totiž dozvěděli o jejich
existenci - tak blízké a smrtící - zešíleli by.

Už po staletí však existuje společenství strážců, kteří chrání
křehké hranice lidského světa před všemi monstry a bestiemi. Tito
strážci si říkají SKINEŘI.

Ale pozor! Je jich čím dál méně.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Werewolves

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Marcus Pelegrimas is the son of Sicilian immigrants who rose to power in the criminal underworld of the 1950’s. No wait…that was Michael Corleone.



Marcus Pelegrimas lives and works in Nebraska . Yes, he eats corn. No, he doesn’t live on a farm.



He graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and currently lives in Omaha , Nebraska where he has worked in several different genres of fiction including western, mystery, horror and fantasy. Nowadays, he plays too many video games and spends too much time watching crappy movies when he should be hard at work on his next novel. Good thing his beautiful and very patient wife Megan is there to knock him off the couch when the deadlines creep in.

Reviews

[carol. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. For me, it read like the plot to an action movie where our naive and inexperienced hero comes face to face with things that go 'bump' in the night and is given a choice. It is very action oriented, and feels very masculine; I felt a little like I was watching "Blade III," actually. Slightly different take on vampires and werewolves. Actually, it took me a while to figure out the shapeshifting mythology of the story, as his teacher is prone to the typical 'I'll tell you what you need to know... two minutes before you need to know it." I could have passed on Pelegrimas' effort to give us multiple points of view, and thankfully, it didn't happen too often. For the most part, it interrupted the flow of the story more than building tension or providing explanation. Did it really matter how the shifter was corrupted? Not really, unless you wanted to humanize him; an odd choice given that so much of the story has very clean lines against 'good' and 'evil.' While this vampire and shifter world is normally hidden, is seems to be taking a turn of events at the end. I might pick up the next installment just to see where the storyline goes.

[Michael Selden · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay story. I finished it, at least. Had some interesting parts and a fair amount of lazy writing

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my "take along" book so I've been "reading on it" for a while. it's the book that went with me to waiting rooms or when i had to wait in the car for something...

Anyway, pretty good book. I considered for a while before settling on the 4 star rating. It was close, 3 to 4 but I finally decided that the book tipped the scale into 4 star territory.

Here (again) we meet a young man who's about to find that world is NOT what he's always assumed it to be...far from it of actually. Cole is a slightly burned out game designer. Some of his games have been wildly successful but he's sort of up against things stress-wise and so on so...he decides to take a long delayed vacation. He's going to get away from "first person shooters, rambling zombies, blood sucking monsters...and he's got a deal that just happens to come at the right time! He's going on a hunting trip to Canada.

The people he meets on the way...well their a bit stereotypical. There are the idiotic college kids, the "gun nut", the experienced outdoorsman, the hot blonde...you get the idea.

Since I used to hunt (though I haven't for a while I have no problem with law abiding hunters. I don't see how anyone who eats meat, uses leather etc. can get bent out of shape at hunters or hunting.) and I've always enjoyed shooting the picture of the "gun nut" was a bit much...but there you go.

Anyway things do not go quite as planned...especially when a large hairy creature makes an appearance and....on wait...that would be a spoiler. Sorry, well suffice it to say Cole's life will never be the same.

The book moves along at a pretty good clip. The plot is sort of (and this is a phrase I'm guilty of over using) a mixed bag. While a lot of it is standard UF/Monster Hunter stuff there is an added twist that takes it off in a more unusual and interesting direction.

Sadly it does this about the time we're wrapping thigs up and setting up the "tune in next volume" ending.

So, as noted pretty good. the protagonist (Cole) is annoying and you'll probably want to slap him a few times. If you're like me the incessant flirting with his "Monster Hunter Mentor".... I mean the guy goes on and on about her and she's often dressed in things like s sports bra. I don't know, seems like that may be up there with a chainmail bikini when it comes to monster hunting attire. But then I'm not a professional monster hunter so what do I know? Maybe it's what all the top monster hunters are wearing????

Oh well...also Cole tends to swing from, "yes I want to learn to hunt monsters" to "whine, whine, why did i get into this...

But as I said all that aside...on the whole....when you boil it all down...it's a pretty good book.

Recommended, enjoy.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been my "take along" book so I've been "reading on it" for a while. it's the book that went with me to waiting rooms or when i had to wait in the car for something...

Anyway, pretty good book. I considered for a while before settling on the 4 star rating. It was close, 3 to 4 but I finally decided that the book tipped the scale into 4 star territory.

Here (again) we meet a young man who's about to find that world is NOT what he's always assumed it to be...far from it of actually. Cole is a slightly burned out game designer. Some of his games have been wildly successful but he's sort of up against things stress-wise and so on so...he decides to take a long delayed vacation. He's going to get away from "first person shooters, rambling zombies, blood sucking monsters...and he's got a deal that just happens to come at the right time! He's going on a hunting trip to Canada.

The people he meets on the way...well their a bit stereotypical. There are the idiotic college kids, the "gun nut", the experienced outdoorsman, the hot blonde...you get the idea.

Since I used to hunt (though I haven't for a while I have no problem with law abiding hunters. I don't see how anyone who eats meat, uses leather etc. can get bent out of shape at hunters or hunting.) and I've always enjoyed shooting the picture of the "gun nut" was a bit much...but there you go.

Anyway things do not go quite as planned...especially when a large hairy creature makes an appearance and....on wait...that would be a spoiler. Sorry, well suffice it to say Cole's life will never be the same.

The book moves along at a pretty good clip. The plot is sort of (and this is a phrase I'm guilty of over using) a mixed bag. While a lot of it is standard UF/Monster Hunter stuff there is an added twist that takes it off in a more unusual and interesting direction.

Sadly it does this about the time we're wrapping thigs up and setting up the "tune in next volume" ending.

So, as noted pretty good. the protagonist (Cole) is annoying and you'll probably want to slap him a few times. If you're like me the incessant flirting with his "Monster Hunter Mentor".... I mean the guy goes on and on about her and she's often dressed in things like s sports bra. I don't know, seems like that may be up there with a chainmail bikini when it comes to monster hunting attire. But then I'm not a professional monster hunter so what do I know? Maybe it's what all the top monster hunters are wearing????

Oh well...also Cole tends to swing from, "yes I want to learn to hunt monsters" to "whine, whine, why did i get into this...

But as I said all that aside...on the whole....when you boil it all down...it's a pretty good book.

Recommended, enjoy.

[Jodotha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a few more pages than usual to get into this novel - though I imagine, had I been male, this would not be the case. You see, the pace of this book didn't seem to really pick up for me until after the first hundred pages or so. It wasn't dull or anything - there were some very good action sequences, and more than enough mystery thrown in right away. No, the reason it took those hundred pages for me to really get into this novel was the simple fact that it took the story that long to introduce the character with whom the protagonist would feel romantic tension.
There - proof I'm female.
What started as a read like any other ended in a fascinating look at how men and women approach stories so differently. This author gets my kudos for managing to write something that, I think, appeals to both genders.
There's plenty of action and fast paced movement for the guys, and just enough sexual and romantic tension to keep things interesting for the girls.
If it weren't for this delicate balance, I'd say this book is rather like the dozens of other paranormal hunter-type books out there. Nothing particularly original, although the descriptions and names for such recognized creatures as werewolves and vampires are changed and mixed up a bit. But the characters are multi-taskers - keeping both sides of the audience appeased, and that is something I definitely appreciate.
So when the sequel comes out, I'll probably pick it up. As entertainment goes, this book satisfied.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great romping supernatural adventure. I loved that this fellow is a full grown man, with a job and life and he gets thown into the darkside.

A skinner, much like a modern supernatural version of a 1800's trapper is all that is between normals and massacre. Coles journey to Skinner-hood is a wisecracking, yet humble adventure I am glad I took.

There are unique, yet familar supernatural beings from pole dancing Nymphs, to venom dripping vamps, and uniquely powerful and grusome weres.

The part of the story that brought it, for me, from a good story to a great story with lots of possibilties for future excitement was threefold. First, Cole's unique intellectual skills from his day job, game developer, saved him from unavoidable doom with the badguy Vamp, Misonyk. This combined with the skinner tools and techniques, and thirdly the Warriior spirit and its inherent power combined to create a unique and exciting story. I expect in future books, to enjoy the evolution of Cole as a skinner as these skills will somehow combine with the skinner powers and the warrior spirit that made him a candidate for a Skinner. That aspect of the story is what to me brings extremely exciting possibilites to this book and future ones. Sign me up as a fan. Oh, and there is a little romtantic action too.

[Michael Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot-5 Stars. The plot has a great twist on the traditional hunter type of the supernatural. The Skinners weapons (transforming weapons Awesome!), journals (passed down to new skinners), the different items used from the supernatural are all exciting. It makes you want to see what else he can come up with in the story and what other surprises await. Between the twist on monsters, the flow of the story, and the unique world of skinners, I would say for me this is the start of a hit series.
Characters-3.5 Stars. While I did enjoy Cole and Paige as characters, I really did not get into them until really the second half of the book. I felt like while they were good characters, they did not seem like main characters to me.
Twist on Monsters-5 Stars. For me personally, I just about enjoyed everything about this book. It was refreshing to see vampires,werewolves and shapeshifters with a twist. The same old vampire who sucks blood was taken and transformed into something much more in this series. Add the Full Bloods, Half-bloods, cross breeds and you have a whole new take on Vampire and Werewolves.
I will for sure check out the next in the series. If for nothing else, the monster's and their world are enough for me.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marcus Pelegrimas has created a darker, more bloody world of vampires and werewolves, and the people who try to keep them from preying on humanity. The actual supernatural creatures were handled with originality and creativity; he added some new elements to the vampire and werewolf mythology, taking stock creatures and making then seem new. Also interesting was the addition of bits of humor, through Cole's interactions with the MEG operator, Stu, and his flirtation with Paige.

While I liked the action of the story, Cole and Paige seemed very one dimensional up until almost the very end. Also, sometimes the actual craft of the story, the nuts and bolts sentence construction and grammar usage, pulled me out of the narrative; I'd see a strangely constructed sentence, or dialogue that was sort of stilted, and it would pull me out of the world that Pelegrimas was trying to construct. Overall not a bad start to a new supernatural series, but I hope there are fewer jarring elements in the second installment.

[Speciesamused · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Leave some alive" "the crazy man whispered.
I am a long time reader on this earth. I started out with King and Koontz and
have broadened my horizons with not so main stream as I find them much more of
delightful change.
We have some really great authors coming out lately and Mr Pelegrimas is one
of them. This book is certainly not getting the praise it deserves.
Blood Blade is packed with constant action and you will not want to put it down.
It is not like anything else I have read. Unique in its excellence.
There are creatures from other worlds thru out the story that live all around us.. But we cannot see them. But they see and abuse us. There is a small group of people called Skinners and they can see all these creatures and have different relationships some friend, some foe. The Skinners are on a mission to keep this worlds people safe. They are few and the other world beings are many.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

People rate this book as average but I liked it a lot. I freely admit that the beginning of the book was more action-driven and creepier than its second half but it was nonetheless really cool. Pelegrimas has a great talent for description - the beasties were really scary, I mean really. The beginning read more like a horror than urban fantasy. Also, I really liked Cole. He was such a cool character, scared but determined to do the right thing, refusing to run and hide, a real unbreakable spirit. I'll be definitely buying the second book in the Skinners series!

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new series I stumbled upon. I enjoyed the read once the characters were developed enough. The last half of the book definitely flows better than the first half. I am looking forward to trying out the next book in the series due out anytime.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and unexpected. I like how this author writes.

[Airyie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one wasn't the best urban fantasy book I've ever read, but it felt wrong to leave it with just 1 star.
It is readable, action packed, but kind of lacking in some areas.

The characters are a little stiff, and when characterization is given, it feels a little wasteful. One example, is in the beginning of the book we are introduced to one of Cole's coworkers Jason, and Cole's girlfriend Nora. A few chapters later they are never mentioned or thought about in any meaningful way later.

The plot could have been significantly tightened up by not including these interactions or alternatively, used this established baseline for normal to emphasize how drastically Cole's life has changed after his Canadian adventure. None of that really happens, and from an audience perspective, it feels like the main character Cole, just roles into situations, one after the other after the other. His agency as a main character isn't really there, instead he just accepts his new normal and proceeds on in the direction the plot pushes.

I felt Gerald had the potential to be one of the better characters, but he died about two chapters after his introduction. There were hints that Gerald had some special circumstances in how he chose to operate in Chicago, and that would have been nice to see. Misonyk also seemed fairly interesting, if given more room to expand on his history.

Overall, the story is pretty basic, and once you sort of begin to see the pattern, it can get a little boring. Readable, but boring.

Additional note for the ladies: there is a lot of male gaze happening in this book. Every woman in it gets some mention of their hips' curvatures. There is also some more juvenile leaning romance fantasies happening as a sub-sub-plot. I was pretty much able to ignore most of it, until, how Cole catches Misonyk off guard in the finale is meant to come off as strong and winning, but mostly just comes off as outdated and kindof cruel.

Was not my cup of tea. But overall, still wasn't a one star.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more realistic and less action movie take on the Urban Fantasy genre. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the action movie vampire and werewolf stories, but I do like a little variety too. Blood Blade is not light on action, but it does approach it in a more subtle and, I felt, a more realistic way. The story is a bit slow moving, but I was never bored. I liked the build-up, and felt like book 1 did a good job of introducing me to this new world while still trying up the opening story arc. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[G. Edweird Cheese · Rating 2 out of 5]

a pretty basic story... normal dude gets dragged into a secret group that fights vampires and werewolves, ect ect ect. of course he falls for his sexy mentor and hooks up with her... if pelegrimas sticks to the formula, she probably dies in one of the other books in the series, or possibly becomes infected by a vamp or other monster and the hero has to make a choice... one of those kill her or let her live as a monster type things.
other than the specifics of the vamps and wolves themselves, there was nothing new in this story that wasn't already done before. think blade trinity.

[Melinda Stinchfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be only a slightly more creative take on the usual reluctant paranormal monster hunter story. I liked the weapon concept, but this was clearly written by a man, from the male gaze, and he still objectified and sexualized the women of the story, even though he probably thought he was making them see awesome and bad ass. I will not be picking up any of the rest of the series and I advise you to skip it for a woman written book.

[Natty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haven't read a good vampire/supernatural hunter novel in a while. A good fun read.

[Gemma Cayce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Interest throughout no dull moments, great description, great character development. I will be reading the next in the series soon.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole is a video game developer who’s bored with his life and decides the best way to rejuvenate is to go to Canada and kill something. Fortunately for Bambi, but unfortunately for Cole and the others on the trip, things don’t go as planned and the group is attacked by a huge creature that Cole can’t even begin to identify. One of the men who’d tried to stop what he called a Full Blood, but is obviously dying, asks Cole to take some kind of a knife and a message to a woman named Paige. Feeling he owes the dying man for saving his life, Cole agrees and is thrust into a world that he never dreamed existed.

Once he finds Paige, who is a Skinner, someone who hunts down and kills monsters, Cole learns that, even if he goes back to his normal life, the Full Blood can, and most likely will, track him down and kill him. Also, Cole feels a responsibility to try and stop the murders that are usually deemed wild animal killings. They find that there’s more going on than just the normal occasional killing of humans and Skinners. Paige and Cole, along with the help of a man who calls himself Prophet, attempt to stop the killings before they start an all out war between supernatural beings and humans, who are blissfully unaware of what’s going on around them.

I liked this book quite a bit. Cole was really freaked out at first and then slightly freaked out when something new and/or weird happened. Paige tried to get Cole up to speed and mentor him without forcing him to do something he didn't want to do; she gave Cole the option of leaving at any time without laying a guilt trip on him. They were both pretty normal people who happened to be thrust into less than normal situations but, unlike most people, they did what needed to be done in order to protect the rest of the unaware world. There was a good amount of action and I liked Cole’s personality and sense of humor. I look forward to reading Howling Legion.

[Tarl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I read a LOT in the paranormal genre. It's hard to surprise me with something new when it comes to werewolves and vampires especially. Then along comes Marcus, and WHAM! he does it. The vampires in this book impress me in how they work, and I love, LOVE the concept. The werewolves as well, and it's a breath of fresh air in a genre that relies on far too many tropes.

This book was a fun read. I would have rated it higher except for the brief times where the center of attention focused from one character to the next, which is disorientating when it is third person tight perspective and jumping from one person to the next. Beyond that, and a slow build up in the opening of the novel, this story is really well done. Oh, yeah, the weapon the main character uses...for some reason it's shape sort of eludes me. Sounds like a sort of pitchfork with two prongs...but not entirely sure on that one. Yet that being said, the Skinner's weapons are something amazing and well thought out, and most importantly, NEW!

All in all, no matter how many books I was reading, I kept coming back to this one out of sheer need to find out what happens. The flirting between the main two characters is believable and even more so, hot! (reminds me of how flirting really feels when both parties are interested in each other and they both suddenly realize that they are flirting) It's realistic, it's honest, and it's sexy. Always good. The main character feels human, nerdy, and though a Skinner, he's mortal, with no real powers other than the will to fight back.

A nice refreshing view in a genre packed with Mary Sues...

Get this, read this, and sit back for a fun ride.

[Darin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the explanations of what makes a vampire creative and interesting. I also like the ideas of how Skinners have adapted to produce weapons that give them some chance against supernatural creatures. What I didn't like was the hokey fight scenes. It seems to be the norm in urban fantasy that while supernatural creatures have superhuman strength and speed, it doesn't seem to give them much of an advantage when fighting hand-to-hand with the hero of the story. The same was true in this book, but I found the fight descriptions to be even less realistic than is typical.

[chucklesthescot · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cole is a bored computer game designer who decides to go on an adventure hunting holiday. He is not expecting to be a lucky survivor of an attack on the group by a supernatural beast. He is able to get help from a specialist agency who want to train him as a 'Skinner' to help fight the monsters.

I liked the darkness in this book, the action scenes were well written and the monsters were certainly new and interesting. The opening attack at the cabin was an excellent start, it was gripping and tension filled and I was enjoying the book at that stage. The vampires and werewolves were also well written and menacing and there was a nice dark humour running through the plot.

However there were a few down sides as well. Cole isn't the most exciting guy in the world and I did not like Paige. She was cold, one dimensional and not very interesting. The so called sexual chemistry between her and Cole was not convincing and was poorly written. One aspect of the plot which bugged me is that a special agency surely would not send an untrained civilian out to fight these monsters without months of intense training. You really get the feeling that Cole only said yes to joining up because he fancied Paige.

Decent read but I won't be looking at the rest of the series unless it turns up in a charity shop so I can buy it cheap.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the first of this new urban fantasy series, Pelgrimas presents yet another original spin on the popular vampire/werewolf tale. Cole Warnecki is a mild mannered video game producer out for a little adventure in the wilderness. But when he signed up for an extreme vacation in Canada, werewolf attack was not on the agenda. Cole survives the attack and promises a dying man that he will contact a woman named Paige and tell his tale. Paige immediately flies Cole to her location where she reveals to him that she, and the man that Cole spoke with, are part of a small group of people called Skinners, people who hunt vamps, werewolves, and shapeshifters that pose a threat to the public. Cole is given the chance to return to his normal everyday life, or train to become a Skinner himself. From there, he is catapulted into a dark underworld that he never imagined existed. It always amazes me how many different stories you can get out of a common theme. Pelegrimas’s series has so many different elements that it really does stand out from the rest. I hope the MEG (ghost hunters) guys play more of a part in subsequent books, though.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a textbook case of Our Monsters Are Different. Vampires are hosts to parasitic fungi, werewolves are either a completely different species or a sufferers of a retroviral infection from one of the members of the aforementioned species. Oh, yeah, the full-blooded werewolves don't leave a whole lot of survivors. How a skeleton crew of monster hunters can keep a lid on an army of multiple monsters is a mystery. It's hinted that a conspiracy between the hunters and the vampires who are happy to maintain a status quo for the right to feed, non-fatally, on willing "donors" are keeping the more monstrous creatures out of the more populated areas.

The first book is full of action, but won't be winning any awards for originality or prose. In short it's an attempt to cash in on the urban fantasy craze that seems to be in full bloom right now. There's really nothing too bad about it, and it can be fun, but there might be other books you want to read before you get to this one...go ahead, this one will wait.

[David Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Video game programmer Cole Warnecki while on vacation has an encounter with a large werewolf. He is saved by two members of the Skinners which is a group of people dedicated to protecting humans from supernatural creatures. After the battle, Cole is entrusted with a sword that has to be taken to the Skinner’s headquarters. When Cole reaches his destination, he learns that humans are not on top of the food chain and a war between werewolves and vampires is looming. It’s up to the Skinners to stop it.

I really enjoyed this book, it’s the first book in a series of novels and is a good combination of horror and action. I loved the way they described the mythology of the skinners and how they face their enemies. I also liked how the different locations of the book are described. I’ve already bought the second book in the series and look forward to reading it.

[Mordie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Let's start with the world. Way too dark for me. Humans are not on the top of the food-chain anymore. If anything they seemed to be kinda in the middle.

It was good at the beginning, but when started to explain the monsters and fighting against them it just seemed to go worse. I couldn't just believe it anymore. Skinners weren't some secret government project, which I would have believed. They were independent section who worked with MEG, who were ghost nerds. Yes, I can still believe that would work..

.. but when it came to the police, it just didn't. Right, police would just blink and forget all the weirdness? There wouldn't be a lot of publicity about it all? Sorry. It was just too unbelievable for me. Two stars and not picking next book.

[S.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a computer nerd who accidentally stumbles into a world of supernatural creatures. It's the usual stuff - blood, gore, steady stream of action. I like the nerd character - totally useless in fighting, but brave to the point of being stupid sometimes. But as like all main characters, he's pretty lucky so he stays alive. I was stuck to the book for the first few chapters, because I did not know what beastie was attacking the people, but once I realise what's in store, the excitement is not as great. The action sequences are really vivid though. There is romance, but don't expect too much cos we have a male author here.

[Jessica Bair-Epps · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Marcus Pelegrimas spin on werewolves and vampires. It was refreshing to have a world where the supernatural are not all beautiful and peaceful creatures of the night waiting to seduce us humans.

The main character Cole, a video game designer, gets a crash coarse on being a Skinner after taking an extreme vacation. The world Cole creates for gamers like himself actually exist and he has to come to terms with going back to his comfortable life knowing humans are being killed or becoming a Skinner and doing something about it.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very up & down interest-wise for me. Started off well, then got bogged down, interesting, slow, then pretty good at the end. The author also seemed to switch between long periods of showing & telling, instead of having a balance of both. There are areas that are way too descriptive while other things that seem important are glossed over. The series premise has promise, so I might read book 2 at some point - but from the library. Gave this a try since it was an uber sale e-book. Worth the dollar.

[Louis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read for those who like this type of supernatural "beach read". The mythos was well-thought out, and the action scenes were intense and scary. I liked the theory of the Nymar and the werewolves. The idea of an underground network of Skinners fits nicely into conspiracy theory, although I was a little surprised by the lack of U.S. government involvement. The characters were interesting enough that future sequels would warrant a read.