Resurrection

Demon Squad #2

by Tim Marquitz, Jessica Lucero (Illustrator), Kim Richards (Editor)

Book 2 in the Demon Squad series.

Armageddon averted, the world returns to business as usual. Unfortunately for Frank "Triggaltheron" Trigg, business as usual sucks.

His night out interrupted by a horde of kidnapping zombies, what could possibly be worse? The resurrection of the Anti-Christ, that's what. Caught in the middle of a supernatural pissing match between the Devil's wife, a legion of undead, and an overachieving necromancer, Frank must survive long enough to stop Hell from being unleashed upon humanity; Again.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror, Demons, Angels, Paranormal, Supernatural

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2011

About the author

Tim Marquitz is the author of the Demon Squad series, The Enemy of My Enemy series (Kurtherian Gambit) along with Michael Anderle, the Blood War Trilogy, co-author of the Dead West series, as well as several standalone books, and numerous anthology appearances alongside the biggest names in fantasy and horror. Tim also collaborated on Memoirs of a MACHINE, the story of MMA pioneer John Machine Lober.

"Horror becomes art when it flows from the pen of Tim Marquitz." ~ Bobby D. Whitney - BookWenches

"Witty, sarcastic and hilarious." Michelle - Publishers Weekly

Reviews

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars


Tim Marquitz writes his novels while keeping in mind the most important things…Sex, drugs, humor, and major ass kicking. Frank “Trigg” is definitely a hero with many vices which is suiting seeing as he is the nephew of Lucifer himself, and a former number one pick to be the “Anti-Christ”. Man, I love biblical horror/ urban fantasy… Throw God, Angels, and Demons into any story line, and watch me be sucked right in. The Demon Squad series plays along many of the lines that Kadrey’s Sandman Slim series while at the same time each spin the same major players in many different directions.


Book two of the Demon Squad series is actually better than book one, a book that I also loved and gave full marks. Without going into details of book one, this one picks up right where that left off. Frank continues to push his luck with his friends, his employers, his enemies, and of course with the women of his life. Frank can really take a great punch which is awesome when everyone that you know always wants to punch you or worse. The world is in jeopardy again in this one first by the onslaught of everyone’s favorite, Zombies. Later we learn the truth behind them and find that a resurrection is the real worry of this book…Great stuff!


I love the adult oriented satire and humor that Marquitz fills these pages with:


A conversation with a hooker:


““We both understood it was a business transaction. We weren’t looking for love. I was just renting a good time from a woman who wouldn’t bat an eyelid when I broke out the vat of Jell-o and a snorkel. She didn’t care about my broken heart or want to hear how my day went. She wasn’t looking to be the next Mrs. Trigg. All she cared about was the big, hard bulge pressed tight against her sweaty little hand.
My wallet.”


An interesting sequence of events and takw with his exwife and also his …


“She turned to go, then stopped cold. She cast a glance back at me over her shoulder. “Are we all right?” Her voice sounded quiet, shaky almost.
I met her gaze. “No.” Her chin drooped, her eyes drifting down. A twinge of times past rattled my heart, no doubt spurred on by my dick. “Maybe we will be… someday.” I swear the little guy is a ventriloquist.”





And then Frank found a new friend… What a cool addition to the cast!


“Taking advantage of that, I dug at the dirt just outside the hole I’d made and shoveled it in underneath me and behind, always mindful of the air hole. I had Chatterbox—my pet zombie head—bite down on my shirt, near my shoulders so he could ride out with me, but I wouldn’t have to worry about him being buried. After he was situated, I tucked my gun into the back of my waistband and made my move.”


…Frank later even comments that Chatterbox is the best head that he ever received! HA!


This is a super-fast page turner that will leave you wanting more…Thank god there are more. The ending although neat and tidy is also a cliff hanger …


The urban fantasy elements are all done with a light touch, and that works just fine by me. Like the Dresden series, every type of monster, creature, and deity that you would find in any main stream urban fantasy are also here but they are treated with Marquitz’s, dark and witty humor and vulgarity. This means that I actually like a vampire…Katon kicks ass!!


I love this genre and wish that there was more for me. Thankfully I have only read the first two books and thanks to the ease of my Kindle will be going on to book three immediately. Highly recommended series to Urban Fantasy lovers that can handle vulgarity, dark humor, and a whole lot of ass kicking!!!

[seak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may have mentioned I'm a huge fan of Tim Marquitz. Ever since I read his amazingly hilarious Armageddon Bound, it's been my goal to get more people to read his work by any means possible. Yup, nothing is too far when it comes to Frank Trigg.

When Tim sent me a copy of the sequel to one of my favorite books of 2009, I was overjoyed. You may then ask yourself why it took me this long to finally read it. I can promise that it's not for lack of quality, only for lack of time.

Demon Squad: Resurrection, Book 2 in the Demon Squad series, follows almost directly after Armageddon Bound. Frank Trigg "don't call him Triggaltheron" finds himself in the middle of yet another end of the world disaster. I guess that's what you have to expect when you're the nephew of Lucifer, also once slated to be the next Antichrist.

"Armageddon averted, the world returns to business as usual. Unfortunately for Frank "Triggaltheron" Trigg, business as usual sucks. His night out interrupted by a horde of kidnapping zombies, what could possibly be worse? The resurrection of the Anti-Christ, that's what. Caught in the middle of a supernatural pissing match between the Devil's wife, a legion of undead, and an overachieving necromancer, Frank must survive long enough to stop Hell from being unleashed upon humanity; Again."

Still working with DRAC (Demon Resistance and Containment), an organization of wizards, psychics, and telepaths, Trigg is a witness to a zombie massacre at his favorite seedy nightclub, well, it works for him at least. These zombies seem to be popping up all over the place as favors are called in and Frank must do what he can to stay alive.

Frank Trigg is still as hilarious as ever in this sequel and that's one of the main reasons that will always have me coming back to this series over and over again. His observations have me dying laughing, even out loud sometimes and only Kurt Vonnegut has ever made me do that before. There did seem to be an overabundance of pants tightening in this one though, but I guess that's just how Frank rolls.

Going right along with the humor, Tim Marquitz bashes you over the head with awesomeness through his action scenes. I end up reeling by the end and I'm just a casual reader, come on man, give me a break. But seriously, Resurrection is action-packed and tons of fun.

Inevitably, I end up comparing this series to the Dresden Files and it really does make sense. Both are first person, both have a down-on-his-luck protagonist who's always the worse for wear in pretty much any situation and both tend to be humorous. But, for my money, the Demon Squad series beats the Dresden Files any day.

Let me also just say that the way things ended up had me very happy especially with the possibilities to come. The sequels cannot be available quick enough.

Why Read Demon Squad: Resurrection?

I was extremely happy to find out that Resurrection continues the high standard set forth in Armageddon Bound. The Demon Squad series is full of action, full of hilarity, and mostly full of heart...well, bloody ones pumping out their last ounce.

If you like fun, laughs, and any type of happiness, and don't mind some irreverance along the way, you should really give this series a go. Highly recommended!

4 out of 5 Stars


My initial thoughts upon finishing:

Some spoilerish things I want to address before I forget...


First, I love the new Trigg at the end. I'm glad Tim didn't pull a Matrix, just made him a little more bad-a.

Second, I am loving the idea of a talking head zombie sidekick. That just blew my mind when I realized this could actually happen midway through, then not toward the end, and then it was back on at the very end. :)



I'm really looking forward to the next one, it looks like it's gonna be a doozy.

[Bastard · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://bastardbooks.blogspot.com/2011...

Resurrection is the second book in the Demon Squad series, sequel to Armageddon Bound which happened to be the author's debut novel.

Armageddon Bound introduced us to Frank Triggaltheron, nephew of Lucifer, living in a world at the edge of the Apocalypse. You see, God and Lucifer have made peace with each other and proceeded to abandon all creation together, and no one knows where they are. With their disappearance; power voids have come to the surface, demons are out of control with no one to answer to, and angels are as lost as ever. The world is out of balance, and in comes Frank our unlikely hero, who also was a candidate to be the Anti-Christ, with his awesome sense of humor in one of the worst days of his life trying to safe day, or simply just survive to see the next one. The threat of another war between Heaven and Hell is in place, but the lines are more blurred than ever and it's not easy to tell friend from foe.

Resurrection deals then with much of the aftermath of what occurred in the first novel, we got a demon with a vast amount of power, which brings the possibility of the Apocalypse one step closer to coming true. We also find much of the protectors of Earth against supernatural occurrences at the verge of decimation and plenty of trust issues going around after all the betrayals. Not only that, zombies have been showing up, a necromancer is in town, and rumors of resurrecting one of the most powerful demons in history are going about. Once again we find Frank put in the middle the crisis taking the mantle of unlikely hero once again because what other choice does he have? As if threats to his life weren't enough, he has to deal with his constant sexual frustrations that may just be what finally kills him. If his tombstone reads "Died because of a horny penis," it will be of no surprise. So what better way to avert a future Apocalypse than by partnering up with a traitorous succubus, an enemy wizard, and a speech disabled zombie metal-head.

Resurrection is just a fun book through and through. Frank to me is the funniest character I've read so far. Nothing is being held back here, no pulling punches, with plenty of dirty and dark humor. With the humor aside, this book has non-stop action and plenty of twists. Not that the twists are of any surprise since even Frank knows he's getting played, he just doesn't know how he's getting played. That's where the fun is.

My biggest compliment for the novel is that the writing level has improved since the first book and so did the presentation of the novel itself. The editing was better, the paragraphs better focused and structured, which in all made for a better reading experience than the first in the series. Considering that Resurrection was written in 2009, not long after finishing Armageddon Bound, and now witnessing these improvements makes me quite anxious to see what comes next from Tim Marquitz; particularly now that he's a much more experienced author and editor, and surely has been receiving feedback on how to improve his trade.

Despite my high regards for the books so far, they're far from perfect and there's a lot of room for improvement, which makes the wait for the next book in the series even more exciting. He's simply hitting all the right notes for me so far.

We need more books like this one, bringing a fresh voice to the urban fantasy genre that even with the abundance of new authors, much of the content is becoming a bit repetitive. While angels and demons are nothing new, the narrative voice and energy is indeed one that stands out.

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one possibly more than the first one with the pesky having to get to know the characters out the way. I really like the way the mythology in these books is progressing and without spoilers you'll have to read them to get exactly what I mean, however I do like it when a book or TV series really starts to develop its on take on mythology and makes it, it's own and I think this really starts in this book and is what makes it such a great read.

The central character Frank is his usual depraved self so obviously we're rooting for him all the way and the sorty picks up nicely from where the last one ended with nice development for most of the other main characters Baalth in particular takes a few interesting turns - one for future installments perchance.

[Carl Alves · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second entry in the Demon Squad series, Frank Triggaltheron is back at it again doing what he does best. In his usual stylish and snarky self, Frank is the middle of a major grab for power with the fate of humanity at stake. Maximus Longinus, the anti-Christ, is at the center of this power grab. A necromancer and the demon he is working with are trying to resurrect him from his long slumber after having been put to pasture by Lucifer. The devil’s wife and a super powerful white knight have their own designs for Longinus.

What Frank seems to do best is take one ridiculous beating after another against far more powerful foes. Although that might deter some with a little less heart and fortitude, it never seems to stop Frank from getting in the middle of the fray. The writing style perfectly matches Frank’s character. It’s fast paced, witty, and sarcastic. I enjoyed Frank’s jokes and sense of humor, although on occasion, it was a bit over the top. I also enjoyed the fight scenes, which this novel is chocked full of. There was a good intrigue. Things weren’t always as they seem, and the plot unfolded to the reader in the same way that it unfolded to Frank. The ending was fiery, and the conclusion left for multiple sequels in the series as there was still much that needed to be resolved. I look forward to reading more and I most certainly recommend this novel for your reading pleasure.

Carl Alves – author of Battle of the Soul

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Armageddon Bound was a fun little novel, giving us a new urban fantasy series with a Judeo-Christian mythology theme. God and the Devil have made peace, leaving the universe to humanity and their former servitors high and dry. The chosen candidate for the Anti-Christ, Frank "Triggaltheron" Trigg, is happy about this change and has devoted himself to the human monster-hunting organization DRAC in protect the world from the unnecessary Armageddon.

The premise is Frank, after a disastrous attempt to hire a prostitute ends with him fighting zombies (possibly the best sentence ever to intrigue someone into reading a book), investigates a number of bodies disappearing from the local cemetery. This ties into a larger plot by an unknown third party to resurrect Longinus the Roman soldier who killed Christ.

In this world, Longinus was the first of several Anti-Christs, who serve as Hell's chief enforcers. Given the peace between angels and demons is barely holding as is, Frank is less than pleased at the possibility of a new major player on the board. The issue is further complicated by the return of an old girlfriend of Frank's who he still has strong feelings for. Can he sort out all these problems or will things get worse before they never get better? Oh and what does a barely intelligible beat-boxing zombie have to do with it? I'm kidding about the beat-boxing.

Or am I?

Resurrection is a step-down in stakes after the apocalyptic adventures of Armageddon Bound. This isn't a bad thing as you can't do that every week without diluting some of the effectiveness. The addition of Longinus, however, prevents it from being too much of a change. Frank's teeth-clenched teamwork with evil wizard McConnel from the first book is quite entertaining and I would have been interested in seeing those two bicker for much of the story.

The addition of the character Karra seemed a trifle unnecessary, though. She's yet another half-demon action girl who Frank has a prior relationship with. Given Veronica, Frank's ex-wife who fits those same criteria, is in the book then I think it might have been better just to use her instead. Still, the law of character conservation aside, I liked the character and can never complain too much about additional butt-kicking women in fiction.

Tim Marquitz deserves credit for continuing to flesh-out the complicated romantic, familial, and personal ties existing between Heaven and Hell. You get a real feeling these people all know each other intimately, enemies or not, and everyone has a lengthy history between them. It adds a personal touch to things and makes every encounter where someone dies forever to be all that much more shocking to these largely-static beings.

I feel the character of Lilith was underused this book but also have to give props Tim for going in an unexpected direction with her. I also liked how he illustrated Baalth's power at one point, showing what sort of devastation the demon lord was capable of and why he wasn't actually a decent person underneath his polite facade.

Frank, as always, is hilarious and I see no likelihood of that changing anytime soon. I like the twists and turns in this story as it has anything but a straight-forward narrative. Frank would like to stop the resurrection of Longinus but he doesn't really care enough about his employers to go all out for it. He's also willing to be bribed in order to let it happen and re-bribed in order to stop it. It's rare we see a character ambivalent about his job and very much not-so about his payment. It makes the way things finally go down genuinely surprising as Frank knows everyone is scum but someone has to win (so it might as well be him).

Most of the mistakes from the earlier volume are absent here and I have no doubt they will continue to get less and less as the series progresses. You can feel Tim Marquitz's style evolving and improving, which isn't a bad thing since he begins pretty damn good.

8.5/10

[Mihir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tim Marquitz’s debut novel, Armageddon Bound, introduced the world to Frank Trigg—the ex-Antichrist, Satan’s Nephew, and all-round snarkophile. I read the book with almost no expectations and was rewarded with a darkly humorous and action-packed story, which ended up being one of my favorite debuts in 2009. So when I got the chance to read the sequel, I was very excited. Of course, this time around, my expectations were much higher as I wanted to see more of the world created by Tim Marquitz and how life was treating Frank Trigg.

Tim Marquitz opens Resurrection with a zingy quote, which is one of the most hilarious ones I have ever read. The book itself is set roughly two months after the events of Armageddon Bound and finds Frank interrupted by a group of zombies just as he’s getting all cozy with a lady friend. After the zombie debacle, Frank meets with Katon—the vampiric DRAC enforcer—to try and figure out where the zombies came from. Before the night is over, Frank also receives a visit from Veronica—a succubus and his ex-wife—with a message from Balaath. Balaath wants Frank to repay his debt by killing a masked figure who’s already defeated Marcus D’anatello and Alexander Poe—Balaath’s top enforcers. Faced with no other option, Frank agrees to take care of it, but not before being saddled with a companion who’s more adversarial than required. Frank’s troubles are compounded by surreptitiously revealed enemies, unknown agendas, and unanswered questions including the masked figure who is trying to resurrect the Antichrist Longinus; Satan’s ex-wife/companion who wants something from Frank; Balaath with his own dark game; and the mystery of Frank’s origins, his mother’s death, and Frank’s sire...

Despite my high expectations, Tim Marquitz does not disappoint with his sophomore effort. Not only has the author’s writing significantly improved, but the action is non-stop and the book’s humor has been jacked up led by Frank’s sarcastic monologues and witty dialogue. At the same time, Tim Marquitz delves deeper into Frank’s mysterious background, while the cover art is much more eye-pleasing. Lastly, the author seems to have learned from one of his idols—Jim Butcher—by ending Resurrection with a compelling moment that will leave readers anxiously awaiting the third Demon Squad installment.

Negatively, the juxtaposition of the magical with the mundane remains a bit over-the-top and not always explained properly, but the author has taken some pains in Resurrection to flesh out the world and its rules. The story and characters are not that well-nuanced, but that is expected in a book where action and quick pacing take precedence.

CONCLUSION: With improved writing coupled with non-stop action and wildly witty character dialogue and zingy one-liners, Tim Marquitz proves that he’s no one-shot wonder in “Demon Squad: Resurrection”. So if you loved Armageddon Bound, you won’t be able to keep yourself from finishing Resurrection in a single sitting! For those readers who weren’t so impressed by Tim Marquitz’s debut, definitely give the sequel a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised. For myself, “Demon Squad: Resurrection” is a book that will certainly be included in my Best of 2011 list...

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Triggaltheron is back-- Lucifer's nephew, willing partaker in debauchery, conflicted demon. He remains a curiosity-- a demon with affinity to, and empathy for, human beings. Part of the attraction is that Frank is not an 'anointed one'. He is largely unremarkable, without any special, dormant power, and must rely on his own wits and resourcefulness. He is scrappy and you can't help but root for him even as you shake your head in disbelief at many of his actions and thoughts.

He fights, albeit grudgingly at times, alongside DRAC --Demonic Resistance and Containment-- to protect people largely unaware that earth has become a supernatural battleground. With the departure of both god and Lucifer, angels and demons have waged a war for control of the earth, each side further divided into opposing factions. After the events in the first book, ARMAGEDDON BOUND, DRAC is largely decimated but continues to fight the good fight as there is never a dearth of beings hellbent (or angel-bent, as the case may be) on taking over the earth.

A necromancer has raised an army of zombies terrorizing the populace. Frank and his allies --constant and interim-- are scrambling to learn the necromancer's purpose. It seems another anti-Christ seeks to be resurrected and Frank aims --or at least must-- stand in the way. it is almost enough to make him regret not accepting the job when Lucifer offered it to him before going AWOL.

RESURRECTION builds on the foundation of ARMAGEDDON BOUND, slowly creating a virtual tower of fun, wit, sarcasm, conflict, intrigue and surprises. It is extremely easy to read, fast-paced and enjoyable. It has a host of recurring and new characters --not the least of which is a severed head that belts out metal tunes!-- all contributing to the narrative, providing numerous twists and turns. Seeming allies will betray, foes will offer unlikely aid, others for whom the verdict remains uncertain.

Thus far, the Demon Squad series is refreshing urban fantasy with a protagonist that is unapologetically flawed, incessantly complains about the cards life has dealt him (and constantly being deprived of sexual gratification made more difficult by the lack of women not trying to kill him), and not a hero by conventional standards even as he grudgingly saves the world despite himself.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit, I did not love this one as much as the first one. Armageddon Bound (AB) was a surprise sucker punch to the jaw, and my expectations in the second were probably a little too high. Despite this seemingly negative statement, Resurrection delivered an evolved style of writing, better characterization, and introduced my new favorite horror character, Chatterbox -- the Iron Maiden singing severed head.

Tim's dark and very funny sense of humor is here. Tim's gruesome visuals are here too. There were zombies, and ghouls, and a hot-chick assassin with poisoned blades. For some reason that I cannot pinpoint, I did not love this one as much as AB. Honestly, this was a superbly written story compared to the first, and not just a little but by great strides. AB was such a fresh idea, it was so radical, that I think this better sequel seemed to stand in its shadow just a little bit.

Still, Resurrection earns a very solid 4-stars in my book. This is solid story telling with a witty merge of humor to soften the grotesque visage of zombies eating the poor people of Texas. I now have the 4th in series, Echoes of the Past and I cannot wait to get into this one. This series is gross and very fun.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this novel in a giveaway hosted by http://bastardbooks.blogspot.com/

This book did not begin in a good way: I knew Frank was always horny from the first book in the series, but in this one he seemed the main character of City Hunter. A lot of people love him, but I am not a fan. I was a bit annoyed.
But when the story started to pick up I forgot about it and enjoyed the adventure.

Only a couple of months after avoiding Armageddon, Franck find himself into another supernatural emergency: hordes of zombies are killing hundreds of people and taking the bodies with them.
During the investigation he even manage to make friends with the head of one of them, their scenes were my favourites, incredibly funny.

I will probably read Betrayal - A Demon Squad Story soon. It is a short from Scarlet prospective. I am very curious about what happened to her and I will be safe from Frank's horny comments.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting a second in a series is always a bit of a crap shoot, first book pulls you in and you have high expectations for the second and ...well in this case I still had an amazing amout of fun reading this novel as well as the first!
The world Tim has made is very action packed with a sharp wit and great battles, the characters grow as well as the overall situation or people are in, the addition of a few new ..err "faces" are great : for example : we have a zombie head' yes just the head who sings heavy-metal tunes and is such a different twist on the familiar' or partner to our "hero" ,, well it works so well kinda like the sum up from the hero's own mouth..
" If ever there was an advocate who could talk me out of trouble, my mouth wasn't it."
I have a new fav escape with these books and look forward to Anymore!
Books are a fast enjoyable read' some might find it a bit offensive... well too bad =) the humor is a bit on the colorful side and certian thought's are..well out there but its all just great fun'

[Gary Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some guys get all the hell. Frank 'Triggaltheron' Trigg, having barely averted armageddon two months before in the previous Demon Squad book, is back in the soup when he's beset by several near-simultaneous crises--a zombie-resurrecting necromancer, a called-in favor that means killing a being that already killed a powerful demon's top enforcers, and the rumored resurrection of the Antichrist. He's got to deal with hidden agendas, long odds, dire consequences, apocalyptic endgames, and worst of all, blue balls.

All this is delivered fast and hot, and is a hell of a lot of fun. Trigg is an entertaining, dirty-minded and snarky narrator, sort of like that uncle you never see anymore because of the restraining order. The action and the twists in this tale are well-paced and superbly delivered, running all the way to the surprise at the end that sets up book three. I enjoyed this one a lot, and am looking forward to the next.

[Nayan Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read for me and was LMAO all the time.

I have mentioned it before and will mention it again, I have found very few authors with the ability to genuinely mix in humor in a tense or action packed sequence and Tim does this quite naturally.

Unlike your standard books where the "hero" is the paragon of virtue and cannot possibly go wrong, I hardly remember any part of this series so far where Frank "gets it right". Even though, the action sequences are good and the pacing is just right. This series holds a lot of potential especially considering that the characters are quite unique. Well, where do you get to read a book where the main character is nephew of THE devil himself?

Next read: At the Gates

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marquitz is a hilarious author, and no matter how serious, gritty or intense the action got, he managed to keep me laughing. Resurrection itself has a rather surreal quality that is truly enjoyable. It’s part braincandy and part over-the-top noir that somehow works perfectly. Marquitz only seems to improve with each book released. Equal parts badass and hilariously irreverent, Marquitz always manages to scratch my literary itch.
Seriously, if you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for?

Read my full review here:

http://www.bookwormblues.net/2013/04/...

[Tyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review here.

[AH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome 4 -5 stars. Review to come...

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. Recommended, but read this series in order.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonstop action! This series is amazing.

[BadWithWords · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished Resurrection by Tim Marquitz. It is the second book in the Demon Squad series. Simply, this series is fun. Every chapter is filled with adventure, action, or pages about this demon named Frank. Frank attracts two things: violence and women.

Frank loves women. He loves them physically. If you extract all of the quips, female character descriptions, and Frank’s flat out Bukowski-like obsession with women overall, you’d prolly amass 5 solid pages. Ok, maybe not THAT much, but this book has its share of humor.

Frank is generally aloof. Like he’s always on the verge of having all the answers but can’t just add up the numbers. I suppose Frank would say it’s because of all the weight of his penis holding him back, or something similar. Marquitz takes you to some imaginative places in this wild ride. Its why I know I will return to this series with book 3, At the Gates, sometime soon.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigg is fun to read

Our hero is back to save the world once again. Trigg is a fun main character with no filter for what he thinks or says. Resurrection is a good cross between a who done it, murder mystery and roller coaster ride of action. The story does a really good job of giving the reader an insight to the politics of hell and the back stabbing which is routine.
If you enjoyed book one, Resurrection picks right up and will not disappoint. Nicely put together.

[Ryan Lawler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some people say the first book you ever write is the hardest, some say that the sequel is much harder. There are a lot of reasons for why people say the sequel is harder, from realisation that you have to start things all over again, to the unrealistic expectations you place upon yourself to better the reception you got for your first book. For me it seems like Tim Marquitz must have found the first book the hardest because my reading of Resurrection, the sequel to Armageddon Bound, was so fluid and natural that it could only have been done by someone who has found their writing groove.

I enjoyed the first book, it was charming and funny but it had a number of issues of the type that you would expect from a first time writer. In my review of Armageddon Bound I stated a few things that I thought the author needed to improve for the next book, and after reading Resurrection I can tell you that all the issues I picked up have been addressed and that a number of other areas have been fine tuned to create one of the best reading experiences for me this year. This book is funnier than the first, the sexualism is still there (Frank is obsessed with it after all) but it has been reigned in significantly so that it is not the only thing we think of when describing the story. We get some much need world building, we get to see some growth in the support characters, and we get to see how the actions of these supernatural creatures affect everything else that is still occupying the earth after the departure of God and Lucifer.

One of the biggest differences I found is the improvements to the writing. In Resurrection the writing is smooth, very smooth, making this book so much easier to read. Gone are the masses of product placement and occasional breaking of the forth wall, and instead we get some really streamlined writing with a dry wit and snappy dialogue to match. It is well paced, well balanced, and really showcases the type of writing that Marquitz is capable of. The humour has also been kicked up a notch in this book, gone is the sporadic jumping from punchline to punchline and in its place is some structured humour with Marquitz spending a lot of time setting the scene and creating plenty of tension and suspense before delivering a hilarious punchline that often had me laughing out loud.

The characters are much tighter, they act far more consistently, and we get to see far more depth in the support characters than we saw in Armageddon Bound. One of the biggest changes is with Baalth, we get to see him in a very vulnerable state, crippled by the over abundance of power he attained in the previous book.

The book is not perfect, it is not yet a game changer in the paranormal genre, and there are some slight issues that I think need a bit more work for the next book. I would have preferred a bit more world building in this book. The end of the world is happening on Frank’s turf and everybody who is anybody is there to contribute, but surely the surrounds of El Paseo are not the only place for supernatural creatures to declare the coming of Armageddon. Also, I think the consequences of some actions are not as realistic as they should be, they are still contained within the supernatural world when I think it would have been cool to see how they affect the non-supernatural entities who live in El Paseo.

The overt sexuality has been reduced in this book, but there are still some cringe worthy moments where you are just saying to yourself “Frank you really need to get your head out of the gutter, didn’t you learn from last time you thought with only your penis…” Finally, I found myself a little disappointed that Frank did not play as much of a role in the finale that I thought he should have. The climactic battle scene involved a number of beings so powerful that Frank, even with his own substantial powers, was reduced to bystander (despite getting a sizeable increase in power). I am not sure how much he learnt from this except that he is woefully underpowered amongst the big hitters of the supernatural world.

This is one of the best supernatural books that I have ever read, it is set in a world that really appeals to me and has characters that are consistently able to make me laugh. Marquitz has significantly lifted his game for this book, and I think it is a safe assumption that the next book will be even better. While it may not be the best book I have read this year, it is by far the most fun I have had reading a book this year, and it thoroughly deserves this high score. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

[Gef · Rating 4 out of 5]

In February 2010, I reviewed Tim Marquitz's Armageddon Bound, the first installment in his Demon Squad urban fantasy series. I found it to be a good example of an off-the-beaten-path gem the small presses like Damnation Books can provide that the large publishers simply don't have the want or stomach to make available for readers. It was pulpy, prurient, and a little perverse. Resurrection is no different.

Frank Trigg spent Armageddon Bound narrowly averting the end of the world. Resurrection is a rematch of sorts, but with a brand new threat: a new anti-Christ. It starts with a roving horde of zombies that shows up at the most inopportune time: right when Frank is about to get some alone time with a stripper. Frank Trigg isn't Rick Grimes though, and these zombies seem to have a bit more purpose to them, like someone is pulling the strings. Turns out the walking dead aren't the biggest threat he's got to deal with, as DRAC (Demonic Resistance and Containment) tasks him to find the source of the zombies, and an old enemy to whom he owes a favor tasks him with tracking down a masked sword slinger who has been stomping mudholes in his henchmen. Throw in allies and enemies alike with whom Frank isn't exactly cozy, including his ex-wife/succubus Veronica--not to mention his uncle Satan's ex-girlfriend Lillith--and Frank feels like he's getting played on all sides. And he's probably right.

The thing I liked most about the book is the same as what I liked about the first: Frank Trigg's sardonic and sophomoric wit. The former heir to Hell's throne is as cynical as ever, subject to his own lascivious mindset even in the most dangerous of circumstances. Half anti-hero, half asshole, Frank is simply a great character to have tell a story. As for the rest of the cast in this novel, some characters are more fleshed out then others, literally and figuratively. For instance, when Frank finally discovers the identity of the masked assassin, he discovers its someone with whom he has a long past back in Hell, and the way the relationship is thrust at the reader feels like a big info dump of backstory required to get up to speed with Frank's emotions over the reunion. Overall though, the universe Tim has created is a really engaging one that shows a helluva lot of promise leading into the third novel.

There are a few passages that feel a bit long-winded, but those usually occur when there's a lull in the action. When the bullets, swords, teeth, and magic fireballs are featured--which is often--the story races along at mach speed. Not sure how Tim is going to top himself with the third book, but I look forward to seeing him try.

[Bookwyrm Speaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of this series, and each book keeps getting better and better. Full of snark, wit, action and characters you can really get behind, especially as the bullets fly, you can't go wrong with this series! This book has it all. Zombies, Necromancers, Demons, Angels, 2 different Anti-christs and the first woman in creation! What more can you ask for? A huge conspiracy is at play, all to bring about the resurrection in the title. I wont ruin it, but you wont see the twist coming until the last second. Through it all, Frank Trigg, the Devil's favorite nephew, struggles to keep his head above water as events spiral out of control. Full of fast paced action, the story never lags, and the authors writing is as sharp as ever, with some literal burst out laughing funny moments! As I write this, i am half way through book 4, and this book is setting up the later books perfectly, building the characters and setting along the way. Any fan of urban fantasy will enjoy this book. Noah Levin is a revelation as a narrator. He really brings the characters to life! He even does something unique in my experience. At the end of each chapter, he reads off the next chapter name in the tone set by the last scene, whether frustrated, angry, happy, Drunk!, or exasperated. I have listened to lots of audio books, but he is the only narrator i have heard that does that, and it's a cool little touch. I can't wait to get back to listening!

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

...Marquitz once again delivers a fast paced novel, full of action and Trigg's self-depreciating humour. He has managed to raise the bar quite a bit, resulting in a stronger second novel, that builds on an interesting premiss. There is still quite a lot to uncover in this setting. Most of the struggle between Angels and Demons seems to be limited to one city for instance. As of yet, there is no clue why this would be the case. Fortunately Marquitz clearly intends to write a third book and judging from the final chapter of this novel, I'd say it is going to be a conflict on a scale we haven't seen before.

Full Random Comments review

[Emily (Heinlen) Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first line actually made me roll my eyes. While the story might make a good late night action flick, it didn't make the type of book that I like to read. The writing was decent, but I didn't like the storyline or characters.

[Dimitrios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the first one. And the first one was good as well@

[Giriniss · Rating 2 out of 5]

similar to the last book in the series