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SPECTR #3

Reaper of Souls

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Previous cover edition for ISBN 9780988564152
For alternate cover edition see here

When an incubus murders the powerful ally of an anti-paranormal senator, it’s up to hotshot Federal exorcist John Starkweather to catch the demon before it can kill again. Fortunately, he has backup, in the form of his boyfriend Caleb, a telekinetic possessed by the vampire spirit Gray.

As the political pressure mounts and bodies pile up, John discovers an old enemy protecting the incubus: the Fist of God, a group that believes all paranormals are evil. But why would the Fist work with a demon? And why would they let it kill one of their own allies?

John and Caleb need to find out fast. Because the incubus lurks at the intersection of love and longing, and it’s willing to turn their deepest desires against them.

131 pages, ebook

First published June 30, 2013

14 people are currently reading
319 people want to read

About the author

Jordan L. Hawk

84 books2,638 followers
Jordan L. Hawk is a trans author from North Carolina. Childhood tales of mountain ghosts and mysterious creatures gave him a life-long love of things that go bump in the night. When he isn’t writing, he brews his own beer and tries to keep the cats from destroying the house. His best-selling Whyborne & Griffin series (beginning with Widdershins) can be found in print, ebook, and audiobook.

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5 stars
508 (32%)
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738 (47%)
3 stars
262 (16%)
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27 (1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
Profile Image for Drusilla.
1,069 reviews430 followers
October 1, 2025
So, that was pretty good, the most exciting book so far, and I really love how everything is developing.
The only thing I didn't like so much was the additional political element to the plot, but that's just me—I don't like politics in general. Still, even that was really well done.
Well, then there's John-Caleb-Gray... wow, that's heading in an interesting direction.

Gray tipped his head back for a moment, as if communing with the storm, and Goddess, he was beautiful. Beautiful and powerful and so damned dangerous.
Then he looked right at John with eyes black as night, a flicker of lightning in their depths, which wasn’t just a reflection from the real storm. And for a mad instant, John wanted to run to him, to throw his arms around Gray and kiss him deep.
♥️♥️♥️
Profile Image for Ingie.
1,481 reviews167 followers
December 29, 2016
Written October 12, 2014

3 1/2 Stars - Nice to meet them all again but *Jeez* it is scary, creepy, spooky — and sweet steaming hot.

Book #3


Reaper of Souls, a 3:50 hrs audiobook in the SPECTR series. Contemporary PRN novellas written by a favorite author, Jordan L. Hawk (the creator of the sweet lovebirds Whyborne & Griffin, the MC's in some spooky adventures in the 1890:s).
Add to that: — These audios are narrated by the simply fantastic voice from Brad Langer (a la Nick Nowak / Boystown).



I listened to the first two as well. ~ #1 - Hunter of Demons (3.5 stars) and #2 - Master of Ghouls (3.8 stars). ~ It felt like a fresh new take on the paranormal genre. It isn't always that easy to find good M/M's with paranormal topics but these were both a great start to a creepy and spooky novella series.

The raiting? - The novella injustice...
This time felt this novella format too short and "truncated". I barely had time to start and the fun was over. I still swinging between giving 3 or 4 GR-stars. Changing back and forth. — Three feels unfair and greedy. Four seems too generous compared to this lady's other great books, for example.

**********************************************

John Starkweather is our handsome federal agent at SPECTR. Also the Agency / Department's best demon-exorcist. Caleb Jansen was a unregistered paranormal young man with very small 'gifts' (like moving coffee cups), in all other ways an ordinary art-guy. —...and our third part:Gray, an old wandering spirit. A former, still hunting, bloodsucking drakul.

Gray, the drakul, is summoned to hunt and destroy demons by drinking their blood. When this story starts (#1) happens what never happened before, Gray's dead-body-hunt goes horribly wrong. For the first time in his existence Gray is trapped in a living, human body. In Caleb's body. And Caleb is still in it as well.
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Two souls in the same body. — Two souls which can talk, and argue and fight, with each other. — Two souls which have to keep their secret. — Two souls which are very attracted to, and have strong 'needy' feelings for, the same man. To John, their savior and now also dearest friend and lover.

***********************************************

The crime plot in this third book are about an well-known rich man who's murdered and an (conservative) politician who after that starts a angry campaign against people with paranormal abilities. These humans are said to be easier possessed by evil demons and perform horrible deeds. Our demon-hunting SPECTR agents take up the chase, and soon they hunt an very dangerous Incubus.
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‘An Incubus is a demon in male form who, according to mythological and legendary traditions, lies upon sleepers, especially women, in order to engage in sexual activity with them. (...) Religious tradition holds that repeated sexual activity with an incubus or succubus (female) may result in the deterioration of health, or even death.’ (From Wikepedia)

“..may result in...” — Really?!
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It's fun and exciting to follow these three characters. There have only been a few weeks since they first met and now they all share the house. It's hot, intense and even 'turbid' raw, when also Grey are there in the middle with them in their glorious new love-game.

Can't wait for the next part #3 - Eater of Lives on an audio version. May it not be a too long wait.

I LIKE - ...but I wanted more


******
The Spectr series:
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,226 reviews2,340 followers
May 4, 2019
Reaper of Souls by Jordan L Hawk and narrated by Brad Langer continues this series of supernatural entities, paranormal abilities, and corrupt politicians trying to shut down the task force that has paranormal gifts. Love the characters, even the vampire that is possessing one of the main characters!
Narration is pretty good too!
Profile Image for Rhys Ford.
Author 79 books1,890 followers
June 16, 2013
I was fortunate enough to read an ARC of this book and damn.... I'm going back for seconds.

Gray is definitely still there and he's learning and changing as he interacts further with his "host", Caleb. John, SPECTR's agent, still is unable to wrest Gray from Caleb but really does anyone really want that to happen?

God knows I don't. *grins*

Jordan once more delivers a tightly written book filled with intrigue and hot men. The sexiness of her writing is simply out of this world and I can't say enough good about how she crafts her environments. Really, a stellar writer with a sublime imagination.

Grab this whole series and hunker down someplace with a plate of cookies to keep you company. It's an enjoyable ride.
Profile Image for Annika.
1,374 reviews94 followers
February 3, 2020
Audiobook review

The 40 day deadline of exorcizing Gray is fast approaching and people at SPECTR get more and more nervous each time John fails at exorcising Gray from Caleb’s body. While they search for options that might work our duo – or are they a trio – or both? Anyway, they are called in to investigate a suspicious murder of a high profile politician. They soon realise the murder was the work of an incubus, and the hunt is on to stop the creature before it killed again.

I love how with each book more of this world is revealed. I get the feeling that we still have only scratched the surface – and barely even that. Just like always the world we’ve entered is impossibly intricate. There are so many possibilities for this series to go, and if past experience is anything to go by, Jordan L. Hawk has something spectacular in mind for the future books.

John and Caleb – and Gray’s relationship is moving at lightning’s pace. Considering they’ve only known each other for a couple of weeks and still moving in with each other things could get dicey. Still it doesn’t feel like insta-love. Yes they move fast, but they also recognise they do have some things to work out – the figurative elephant in the room notwithstanding. I do love them together and see why they all would work in the long run, and it will be fun to see how they’ll get there.

Brad Langer did it again. He gave (more) life to this book and characters. He made you see them, made you experience everything with them. I especially liked how he handled Caleb and Gray’s interactions. Two souls inhabiting the same body, both conscious and able to interact with each other in their minds. One a century old vampire and one human. It makes for some interesting conversations. Langer really conveys Gray’s bewilderment for human niceties and customs, but also his curiosity for it all.

Reaper of Souls was another great addition to the series and I can’t wait to experience more.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

Profile Image for Ben Howard.
1,494 reviews255 followers
June 23, 2020
Absolutely loving this series!

The novella format is great. The stories manage to pack a punch in such a short amount of pages. I'm glad I get to read them one after another :)

I enjoy John and Caleb's relationship, however I feel as if it's moved pretty fast. I wish they would have withheld exchanging 'I Love You's' for a bit of extra angst.

Grey is becoming much more prominant and I cant wait to see where the relationship is going. Can it be called a thruple if two of the people inhabit the same body?
Profile Image for Macky.
2,054 reviews230 followers
July 6, 2013
This excellent paranormal seres is just getting better and better. The characters are now getting well established, not just in their relationships together but in a sense of familiarity within the books themselves and that includes all the supporting characters as well.

The complex connection between Caleb, John and Gray is heating up. John and Caleb are now an item and their love is growing but living inside Caleb, Gray is also starting to have feelings that as an impersonal Drakul he's never felt before and of course this means there could be far more reaching consequences for the three of them and their future together and also their positions with SPECTRE. Gray is definitely one of those fascinating characters who you can't help but grow to love as the story progresses and I'm on pins now to see what happens next as this particular story ends on a bit more of an emotional cliffhanger this time.

In this story the protagonist is an incubus and whilst trying to hunt it down our guys get caught up with a shady politician who is hiding secrets of his own. For me the best one yet and I'm now dying for book four which is due out in September. Loving it and this one gets the full five stars.

Profile Image for Eugenia.
1,908 reviews319 followers
July 13, 2018
Time for a re-listen....how I love my sexy Grey!

••••This has to be the third time I’ve listened to this amazing series (I’m still waiting for Spectr 2 to come out in audiobook)!•••

Funny enough, I’ve never reviewed the novellas. Shame on me! I suppose I was too enthralled listening to the next one to stop to review the one before.

In book 3, Caleb moves in with John. Grey starts digging the sex. John starts falling for Grey, but fears telling Caleb and jeopardizing their nascent relationship. Grey wants to hunt, and he gets his wish at the end.

Definitely not a stand-alone, but a fantastic piece of urban fantasy/paranormal fiction. Oh, and super HOT sex!
Profile Image for Tully Vincent.
Author 3 books84 followers
July 17, 2015
Series keeps getting better so far... this is my favorite thus far.
Definitely want more Gray/John.
Profile Image for Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~.
1,896 reviews139 followers
November 11, 2017
The Fist is back, and they're not the only ones causing trouble for SPECTR and other paranormals at large. A political fervor is getting stirred up, and while that whole thing and its outcome were mostly predictable, it still amped up the tension and the stakes - but not actual wooden stakes. ;) No stakes near this vampire, who once again proves that real vampires do NOT sparkle.

The situation with John/Caleb(/Gray) is getting more complicated too, but in a way I found interesting and compelling. It's still way too rushed, but since the time factor sort of dictates that, I can roll with it. I am bemused at John's continued PDAs while at work where anyone can walk in on them at the wrong time while simultaneously worrying about people finding out. Um... then stop calling Caleb "babe" where anyone could hear you! And stop sneaking kisses. And how are the empaths not picking up on any of this anyway, for that matter? Or maybe they are. Dun dun DUN! :P
Profile Image for Roxana Chirilă.
1,261 reviews178 followers
December 30, 2025
2025 update: I liked it more on reread.

I have a basic problem with Spectr: while I like the premise and the characters, the novellas in the series are too short and I feel like they barely get started by the time they're done. You'd think that the ability to read them quickly one after the other would help (and it does), but it feels odd to get short explanations to remind me of what's going on every few hours or so.

So... I like Spectr, but it doesn't click with me as much as it might have.

Anyway, just like in the previous two volumes, the couple in this one is actually a trio: the "paranormal cop", John, who loves sticking to the rules and the law; the vaguely telekinetic paranormally-abled Caleb, who has an Attitude and dislikes authority; and Gray, the "I'm-not-a-demon" non-human entity who is currently riding in Caleb's body although he never intended to possess him or anything. And this relationship is quite awesome.

"Reaper of Souls" has a plot centered on prejudice, tightening legislation based on hatred which will harm people just trying to make a living, and a politician with a secret to hide. It isn't precisely new, and it didn't surprise me as much as it might have, but it was a fun read.
Profile Image for Don Bradshaw.
2,427 reviews105 followers
July 19, 2013
Ahhh no, I have to wait until September for the next book. This strong series is character driven and Ms Hawk has given us an excellent cast. John and Caleb/Gray are terrific as a team and lovers. I still wanted to see Tiffany crash and burn for being so narrow minded. I felt sorry for Senator Olney's son being used as a political pawn by his hate filled father. It was nice to finally see Caleb embrace his gift now that Gray has enhanced it. The way that Caleb and Gray are meshing makes me wonder if Gray will truly ever possess Caleb. Highly recommended series by an author worth watching.
Profile Image for Skye Blue ☆*~゚ლ(´ڡ`ლ)~*☆.
2,799 reviews28 followers
January 19, 2016
This series just keeps getting better. It's so action packed, and quick, that it feels like you were watching a tv series.

I'm glad to see John recognizing that he is attracted to Grey, and might even have feelings for him.
I can't wait to see how that unfolds.

Profile Image for Kathleen in Oslo.
612 reviews156 followers
April 1, 2024
Trans Rights Readathon and TBR rescue project!

Really happy to be back in this series, even though I had to do a little back-read to remind myself of who was who and what's going on. Great worldbuilding with a hint of menace emanating more from human politics than paranormal activity, and super-likable MCs whose characterization has settled a bit from the whiplash of the first two books. Excited to see how the John-Gray dynamic will play out. A fun, effective installment that whooshed by. Heading straight into the next one!

Read as part of the Trans Rights Readathon to spotlight books by authors who are trans, nonbinary, genderqueer, gender-nonconforming, and 2Spirit.
Profile Image for Chris, the Dalek King.
1,168 reviews154 followers
November 5, 2017
Politics are not for the pure of heart.

Caleb, Gray, and John are getting used to the idea of life as it is currently falling. Caleb’s moved in, Gray hasn’t inopportunely snacked on any demons (much to Gray’s annoyance), and John might just be getting closer to an answer to the de-possession of his lover. Then a senator goes and gets himself offed by an incubus, and their semi-stable house of cards starts to tremble.

Not only is a paranormal-hating senator using his friend’s death as evidence that ‘mals’ should be more closely watched, but the incubus seemed to have teamed up with the Fist of God. And that, the trio has to admit, is just plain odd. With political and social pressure being laid on SPECTR, a surprising offer being laid before John, and a body count that has some very high connections, this case is going to be trickier than any before.

And that isn’t even counting the fact that John is falling in love with a possessed man…and the drakul that’s tagging along for the ride.

Book three in the SPECTR series does not disappoint. Mysterious incubi, political intrigue, and a love triangle that could get everyone involved thrown so far into the penal system that they’ll probably never see the light of day. It was nice to see John, and his rather inconvenient attraction to Gray, get a nice little boost near the end of this story. I was totally digging the slow creep up to this in the two previous books, so I was glad to see that the real consequences of falling for someone that he will probably have to end up destroying, start to really come home to John. I can’t wait to see what decisions he makes. And what Gray and Caleb have to say about them.

The political aspect of this book was probably my least favorite storyline, but that has mostly to due with the fact that I pretty much despise politics…and care even less for politicians. I loved the story, but good ol’ Senator Olney made me want to lock him a room full of pissed-off NHEs. Not very practical, but the ass deserves it. It will be interesting to see where all the threads tipped off in this story go as the series progresses. Will the bill pass? Will the public settle back down? Will Caleb ever get his corset?

And something is brewing still in SPECTR headquarters…and that something might just draw in John, Caleb, and Gray. I don’t think Forsyth is the type of man to take no for an answer. Especially when Caleb and Gray look like a rather tempting answer to many a problem. Hoping he doesn’t turn out to be a baddie, but I’m kinda with Caleb on the whole don’t trust SPECTR issue. Even if SPECTR has John. Especially because SPECTR has John.

Another great addition and I have to admit I am getting a little antsy since I only have one more book to go till I’m all caught up on the series. Then I guess I’ll have to sit around and wait with everyone else. I don’t know what Jordan Hawk has for us next, but I pretty sure it will be one hell of a ride. (And I, for one, am seriously hoping for a little more Gray participation in the ‘sexual intercourse’ arena. It’s about time he stopped playing spectator and moved up to playing with John and Caleb. But that is just this one girl’s opinion.)

4 stars


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
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Profile Image for Alex (HEABookNerd).
2,444 reviews
April 14, 2024
I'm loving this series so much and REAPER OF SOULS was a great addition with some very interesting character development. We see Caleb start to grow up a bit and realize his casual disregard is actually hurtful as he begins to emphasize with his fellow paranormally-abled people. We also see Gray understanding more and more what it means to be human and his protectiveness toward Caleb and John is growing. And the big one, John is starting to acknowledge his attraction to Gray and that exorcizing Gray would also mean killing him.

The relationship between Caleb and John is moving fast but their chemistry and connection is so clearly written. I've been wondering how things would progress, especially with Gray, and I'm curious to see if (most likely when) this develops into a three way relationship.

On to the next book right away!

Content Warning: brief mention of past suicide attempt
Profile Image for Lisazj1.
2,072 reviews194 followers
August 26, 2015
It's interesting to see the way Caleb's feelings about Gray are changing. Sometimes their inner back and forths are hilarious, until Caleb remembers that he should be afraid of Gray, since Gray is in fact possessing him. As the story progresses more, Caleb seems to accept Gray as fact, and he agrees and works with him to a common goal more & more, which should scare Caleb even worse but really doesn't so much anymore.

Just as interesting is the way John's feelings about Gray are evolving, no matter how he tells himself it's wrong.

Jordan Hawk is doing an amazing job balancing the paranormal aspects of the story with the human emotions involved and twisting them all up together. I'm loving this series *since I have all of them to read back to back*!
Profile Image for DaisyGirl.
1,206 reviews67 followers
March 17, 2017
4.0 Anxious Stars

Another wonderful story in this enthralling series. Caleb/Gray and John battle a sneaky incubus with ties to political powerhouses and the radical Fist of God. The showdown is scintillating and opens the door to the question of the growing attraction? affection? John has for Gray. Is it okay? Or disloyal?

Bottom line: I'm anxious as I start Eater of Lives!
Profile Image for La*La.
1,912 reviews42 followers
February 26, 2016
4.5 stars.

First read on July 6, 2015.
Re-read on February 25, 2016.


Can't wait for the Gray & John storyline to begin! They would be combustible together! *_*
Profile Image for Claudia.
3,024 reviews109 followers
January 20, 2020
I enjoyed the first two books but this is the best in the series so far. Maybe because Caleb seems to grow as a character.
The mystery was good as well and the timing was for me a better fit.
Really liked the insight on Grey ... and John's take on that matter.
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews

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