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Gods & Monsters #2
Mythbreaker
Louie “Fitz” Fitzsimmons is getting out of the drugs business. It was never what you might call a career, anyway; he’s got problems – strange, violent, vivid hallucinations that have plagued him since he was a kid – and what with one thing and another, this is where he’s ended up. So he’s been cooking Hollywood gangster Blake Kaplan’s books, and putting a little aside for a rainy day – fifteen million, give or take – and he figures it’s time to cut and run. Until a vision hits at the worst possible moment, and now he’s in hospital and looking at a stretch in County on a possession charge.
Then a Lithuanian goddess of the hunt murders her way into the hospital, and Fitz ends up on the run from a pissed-off angel, and there’s new gods – gods of business and the internet – hunting him down, and what started as a bad day gets a whole lot worse. Because Fitz is a Chronicler, a prophet – a modern Moses or Hesiod – with the power to make, or break, the gods themselves...
Then a Lithuanian goddess of the hunt murders her way into the hospital, and Fitz ends up on the run from a pissed-off angel, and there’s new gods – gods of business and the internet – hunting him down, and what started as a bad day gets a whole lot worse. Because Fitz is a Chronicler, a prophet – a modern Moses or Hesiod – with the power to make, or break, the gods themselves...
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2014
47 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Blackmoore
27 books798 followersStephen Blackmoore is the author of the noir / urban fantasy Eric Carter series (DEAD THINGS, BROKEN SOULS, HUNGRY GHOSTS, and FIRE SEASON), about a necromancer in modern-day Los Angeles.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
You can find him online at stephenblackmoore.com, or follow him on Twitter at @sblackmoore.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 27, 2014
http://koeur.wordpress.com/2014/10/27...
Publisher: Rebellion
Publishing Date: December 2014
ISBN: 9781781082553
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.8/5
Publisher Description: Growing up an orphan, Louie had conversations with “invisible friends,” could see patterns in the world that no one else could see. In other times he would have been a prophet – someone to make people believe in the gods. But he grew out of the visions, and then into crime as a drug runner. Now thirty-five and burnt out, he’s had enough. With access to the mob’s money, he plans to go out in a big way. Only he can’t. A broken down car, a missed flight; it’s bad enough being hunted by the mob, but the gods – kicked out of the Heavens, stuck on Earth without worshippers – need someone who can tell their stories, and they aren’t letting him go.
Review: I don’t know who this “Louie” person is in the publisher description but the main character was always referred to as “Fitz”. The cover, combined with the description, lends the main character a sense of anti-hero/reluctant hero mien with a sense of direction. What we really have is an embezzling coward junkie that does everything he can to avoid interacting with the Gods. The only reason that he persists in the story line is that all the Gods are hunting him.
This was a whole lotta fun to read. The novel is packed with humor and sarcastic wit, even in the face of death and destruction. Amanda, Fitz’s companion, is deus x machina in this novel. Just when you think Fitz is totally screwed, Amanda of the Internet is there to save or whisk him away to a safe house. This would usually tend to annoy me but it works as the places are woven into the overall plot. The Gods represented are at once scary and hypnotically funny. The characters are well built around an interesting story line with incredible movement. Get this and have fun.
Publisher: Rebellion
Publishing Date: December 2014
ISBN: 9781781082553
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3.8/5
Publisher Description: Growing up an orphan, Louie had conversations with “invisible friends,” could see patterns in the world that no one else could see. In other times he would have been a prophet – someone to make people believe in the gods. But he grew out of the visions, and then into crime as a drug runner. Now thirty-five and burnt out, he’s had enough. With access to the mob’s money, he plans to go out in a big way. Only he can’t. A broken down car, a missed flight; it’s bad enough being hunted by the mob, but the gods – kicked out of the Heavens, stuck on Earth without worshippers – need someone who can tell their stories, and they aren’t letting him go.
Review: I don’t know who this “Louie” person is in the publisher description but the main character was always referred to as “Fitz”. The cover, combined with the description, lends the main character a sense of anti-hero/reluctant hero mien with a sense of direction. What we really have is an embezzling coward junkie that does everything he can to avoid interacting with the Gods. The only reason that he persists in the story line is that all the Gods are hunting him.
This was a whole lotta fun to read. The novel is packed with humor and sarcastic wit, even in the face of death and destruction. Amanda, Fitz’s companion, is deus x machina in this novel. Just when you think Fitz is totally screwed, Amanda of the Internet is there to save or whisk him away to a safe house. This would usually tend to annoy me but it works as the places are woven into the overall plot. The Gods represented are at once scary and hypnotically funny. The characters are well built around an interesting story line with incredible movement. Get this and have fun.
December 1, 2014
I received an early reviewer copy of the book through NetGalley.
Dark. Intense. Frenetic. That's the best way to describe Blackmoore's urban fantasy romp through a Los Angeles abounding with very needy gods. The voice reminded me of Blackmore's other series, as well as Chuck Wendig and Richard Kadrey. They are all masters of this kind of macabre, gritty, profane dark fantasy.
The "hero" is Fritz, a guy who has operated on the wrong side of the law for years. He's also medicated himself as much as possible to drown out the voices that have always lurked in my back of his mind. On this particular crappy day, the voices decide to start screaming. Then the speakers start to show up in person. It turns out the gods—all the gods of all the people of earth—have been booted out of their firmament. Fritz is supposed to be a Chronicler, the sort of rare bard who can revive a god's legacy and save them from misery and obscurity. Therefore, they all want him.
The pace is crazy. It reads like an action movie—boom, crash, bang, barely survive, escape, oh crap there's another god on the rampage. It's fun, though it's dark in a way that I'd want to be in a certain mood to get into it.
This book is part of a series; I haven't read the previous book, and I didn't find myself lost. MYTHBREAKER stands on its own without any issues.
Dark. Intense. Frenetic. That's the best way to describe Blackmoore's urban fantasy romp through a Los Angeles abounding with very needy gods. The voice reminded me of Blackmore's other series, as well as Chuck Wendig and Richard Kadrey. They are all masters of this kind of macabre, gritty, profane dark fantasy.
The "hero" is Fritz, a guy who has operated on the wrong side of the law for years. He's also medicated himself as much as possible to drown out the voices that have always lurked in my back of his mind. On this particular crappy day, the voices decide to start screaming. Then the speakers start to show up in person. It turns out the gods—all the gods of all the people of earth—have been booted out of their firmament. Fritz is supposed to be a Chronicler, the sort of rare bard who can revive a god's legacy and save them from misery and obscurity. Therefore, they all want him.
The pace is crazy. It reads like an action movie—boom, crash, bang, barely survive, escape, oh crap there's another god on the rampage. It's fun, though it's dark in a way that I'd want to be in a certain mood to get into it.
This book is part of a series; I haven't read the previous book, and I didn't find myself lost. MYTHBREAKER stands on its own without any issues.
December 4, 2014
Rounding up to 5 stars.
[Review first posted on Stellar Four - http://www.stellarfour.com/2014/12/go... ]
I admit that I've broken one of my book rules: I haven't read the first book yet. I can say that there was no problem getting into this book and now I'm looking forward to reading SPIRITS.
I really enjoy worlds that are a mash-up of the various mythologies and belief systems (American Gods, Kate Daniels, Iron Druid, Eric Carter, etc), so this world of fallen gods from every pantheon speaks to me on so many levels. It is gritty, as I expected and hoped it would be, and once again Blackmoore has shown that it really sucks to be a character in his universe. But oh, how I love to read about it.
Louie Fitzsimmons does the books for a drug dealer and tries to spend his days high as a kite and hooking up with strangers. Drugs are the only way he knows to quiet the horrible hallucinations that have plagued him his whole life. Then he finds out that the nightmares are actually transmissions from the many gods and goddesses living among us and he is a valued Chronicler, or prophet. He's someone who can tell the stories that shape belief.
One lesson I learned studying mythology is that when humans gain the notice of the gods, it never turns out well for them. Soon Fitz is on the run from a nearly forgotten forest goddess, a Greek powerhouse with a cadre of crazy stay at home moms, an angel with big plans, and a more modern deity. He might be valuable to the gods, but they aren't known for their kindness. He makes uneasy alliances as he tries to come to terms with his power and find a way to survive.
This is a fast-paced, high-flying, crude, sweary, gritty, kickass book. As I said, I really like the inclusion of all of the pantheons and the idea that we're creating new deities in our modern life. One of my favorite parts though, was that the gods might be immortal, but they are not indestructible. They have some vulnerability. The power of human belief is also explored in a different way that I won't go into because of spoilers, but it was good stuff. I'm also a fan of books where stories are especially powerful. It kind of goes with the territory when you're a book addict.
Again, Blackmoore fully tortures his characters. I had a few, "Dammit, Blackmoore!" moments. OK, maybe more than a few. This is a dangerous world they're living in, of course. It's a great cast of characters. Besides the miserable Fitz, we have Medeina (kickass!), and Amanda (more kickass!), and lots more. Amanda started off pretty cool and by the end I became her biggest fan. The villains are good too, and like the best books, most of the characters exist in a grey area where they are neither fully heroic nor evil. So much good stuff.
[received a review copy]
[Review first posted on Stellar Four - http://www.stellarfour.com/2014/12/go... ]
I admit that I've broken one of my book rules: I haven't read the first book yet. I can say that there was no problem getting into this book and now I'm looking forward to reading SPIRITS.
I really enjoy worlds that are a mash-up of the various mythologies and belief systems (American Gods, Kate Daniels, Iron Druid, Eric Carter, etc), so this world of fallen gods from every pantheon speaks to me on so many levels. It is gritty, as I expected and hoped it would be, and once again Blackmoore has shown that it really sucks to be a character in his universe. But oh, how I love to read about it.
Louie Fitzsimmons does the books for a drug dealer and tries to spend his days high as a kite and hooking up with strangers. Drugs are the only way he knows to quiet the horrible hallucinations that have plagued him his whole life. Then he finds out that the nightmares are actually transmissions from the many gods and goddesses living among us and he is a valued Chronicler, or prophet. He's someone who can tell the stories that shape belief.
One lesson I learned studying mythology is that when humans gain the notice of the gods, it never turns out well for them. Soon Fitz is on the run from a nearly forgotten forest goddess, a Greek powerhouse with a cadre of crazy stay at home moms, an angel with big plans, and a more modern deity. He might be valuable to the gods, but they aren't known for their kindness. He makes uneasy alliances as he tries to come to terms with his power and find a way to survive.
This is a fast-paced, high-flying, crude, sweary, gritty, kickass book. As I said, I really like the inclusion of all of the pantheons and the idea that we're creating new deities in our modern life. One of my favorite parts though, was that the gods might be immortal, but they are not indestructible. They have some vulnerability. The power of human belief is also explored in a different way that I won't go into because of spoilers, but it was good stuff. I'm also a fan of books where stories are especially powerful. It kind of goes with the territory when you're a book addict.
Again, Blackmoore fully tortures his characters. I had a few, "Dammit, Blackmoore!" moments. OK, maybe more than a few. This is a dangerous world they're living in, of course. It's a great cast of characters. Besides the miserable Fitz, we have Medeina (kickass!), and Amanda (more kickass!), and lots more. Amanda started off pretty cool and by the end I became her biggest fan. The villains are good too, and like the best books, most of the characters exist in a grey area where they are neither fully heroic nor evil. So much good stuff.
[received a review copy]
October 29, 2018
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Fitz has stolen money from his drug dealing boss. Fitz is also what is called a 'Chronicler', someone with the gift of hearing the voices of gods, something he's always put down to hallucinations. He learns that he the only Chronicler left and as such a hot commodity within the 'god' community. He's on the run being aided by the god of the internet in an effort to stop the ultimate bad guy gaining control of him and therefore humanity.
Urban fantasy that was a lot of fun, lots of black humour and the mythology interwoven into the plot was done well, keeping me engaged in the story in moments when the action was lighter.
Recommended.
Fitz has stolen money from his drug dealing boss. Fitz is also what is called a 'Chronicler', someone with the gift of hearing the voices of gods, something he's always put down to hallucinations. He learns that he the only Chronicler left and as such a hot commodity within the 'god' community. He's on the run being aided by the god of the internet in an effort to stop the ultimate bad guy gaining control of him and therefore humanity.
Urban fantasy that was a lot of fun, lots of black humour and the mythology interwoven into the plot was done well, keeping me engaged in the story in moments when the action was lighter.
Recommended.
December 13, 2022
This is perfect for fans of Supernatural. If you're looking for a fast-paced action, Impala filled, gory, urban fantasy with CW-humour and a large cast of gods, this is exactly for you!
I can completely see this book working as a tv series, and as mentioned above, it's very similar to Supernatural: angels and gods/demons, a character call Sam, CW-level of corny but good-eye-rolling humour, over the top dramatics from the bad guys, and an Impala.
I can completely see this book working as a tv series, and as mentioned above, it's very similar to Supernatural: angels and gods/demons, a character call Sam, CW-level of corny but good-eye-rolling humour, over the top dramatics from the bad guys, and an Impala.
December 22, 2014
Received ARC from Netgalley for review.
This book was very dark and very pacey,really enjoyed it.
This book was very dark and very pacey,really enjoyed it.
June 21, 2021
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5
I'll be honest ... what got me interested in picking up this book is the note that this book is "the follow-up to Chuck Wendig's Unclean Sprits." Now, I haven't read Wendig's Unclean Spirits, but I am a fan of Wendig's writing, so this very much caught my interest.
Being a god isn't what it used to be. Worshippers. Sacrifices. Having one's way with the mortals. But without recognition and worship the gods' abilities to be gods, begin to fade. Enter Louie "Fitz" Fitzsimmons. As an orphan child, Fitz always thought he could see and hear people who weren't really there. This only got worse as he grew older and he's turned to getting as high as he can to hopefully cancel out his strange visions. To pay for his drugs, Fitz works as a drug runner for the mob where he tries to stay clean so as not to bring down the wrath of the mob on himself.
But in the Heavens, a war has raged with a new crop of gods kicking the old gods out and to Earth and the gods, both old and new, are looking for Fitz. Fitz has the skill of being a storyteller. A useful skill to gods who want to be relevant again. Both sides want Fitz to bring them to life among men so that they might find their worshippers once again. But Fitz also has to keep his mortal bosses happy. There might be a way to make everyone happy, but he's going to have to live long enough to make it happen.
There's a fun concept here, and just as with a Chuck Wendig book, it's dark and gritty and most of these characters are not people one would want to hang around with. But author Stephen Blackmoore isn't Wendig, and we don't get that sense of character that draws us to a story because we're so enamored with someone.
There is a lot of action here, which keeps us turning the pages, and we've got a large cast of characters with all the different gods fighting amongst themselves which slows us down just a bit in order to keep the players straight.
I enjoyed this read enough to be on the lookout for other books either in the series or other books by Stephen Blackmoore, but I was never pulled completely in to this book and therefore never fully invested in the action.
Looking for a good book? Mythbreaker, the second book in the Gods & Monsters series, by Stephen Blackmoore is an adventurous tale with gods fighting among themselves and looking for human help and a fun beach read, but nothing to take too seriously.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I'll be honest ... what got me interested in picking up this book is the note that this book is "the follow-up to Chuck Wendig's Unclean Sprits." Now, I haven't read Wendig's Unclean Spirits, but I am a fan of Wendig's writing, so this very much caught my interest.
Being a god isn't what it used to be. Worshippers. Sacrifices. Having one's way with the mortals. But without recognition and worship the gods' abilities to be gods, begin to fade. Enter Louie "Fitz" Fitzsimmons. As an orphan child, Fitz always thought he could see and hear people who weren't really there. This only got worse as he grew older and he's turned to getting as high as he can to hopefully cancel out his strange visions. To pay for his drugs, Fitz works as a drug runner for the mob where he tries to stay clean so as not to bring down the wrath of the mob on himself.
But in the Heavens, a war has raged with a new crop of gods kicking the old gods out and to Earth and the gods, both old and new, are looking for Fitz. Fitz has the skill of being a storyteller. A useful skill to gods who want to be relevant again. Both sides want Fitz to bring them to life among men so that they might find their worshippers once again. But Fitz also has to keep his mortal bosses happy. There might be a way to make everyone happy, but he's going to have to live long enough to make it happen.
There's a fun concept here, and just as with a Chuck Wendig book, it's dark and gritty and most of these characters are not people one would want to hang around with. But author Stephen Blackmoore isn't Wendig, and we don't get that sense of character that draws us to a story because we're so enamored with someone.
There is a lot of action here, which keeps us turning the pages, and we've got a large cast of characters with all the different gods fighting amongst themselves which slows us down just a bit in order to keep the players straight.
I enjoyed this read enough to be on the lookout for other books either in the series or other books by Stephen Blackmoore, but I was never pulled completely in to this book and therefore never fully invested in the action.
Looking for a good book? Mythbreaker, the second book in the Gods & Monsters series, by Stephen Blackmoore is an adventurous tale with gods fighting among themselves and looking for human help and a fun beach read, but nothing to take too seriously.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2025
Read this entry in the Her Gods & Monsters Series for Reddit Fantasy's 2025 Bingo Square Down With The System. This qualifies for hard mode as the protagonist Myth Maker has concluded he doesn't like or want the status quo, and decided to do a Danerys Targaryen, which is why the title of this book is Mythbreaker.
Protagonist Louie is a very interesting character. He can "see" things but he "outgrew" the visions and has since been running drugs on behalf of the Mob, and stealing from The Mob. Clearly this guy is a morally grey character with a deficit in decision making ability, because the Mafia ALWAYS eventually finds out their money seems to be less than expected and then stuff happens.
Pretty soon Louie is on the run from his former employers, pursued by a once friend, and suddenly all these other gods are after him because of a gift he's been suppressing with vast amounts of various intoxicants, some of them products he's been peddling.
When he realizes what it is he CAN do, he understands why all the gods are after him. His ability to spin myths can create a mythology that will give the Gods worshipers and belief, that which makes them real and more powerful. Yup. He's now the shiniest new object for them to play with.
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Protagonist Louie is a very interesting character. He can "see" things but he "outgrew" the visions and has since been running drugs on behalf of the Mob, and stealing from The Mob. Clearly this guy is a morally grey character with a deficit in decision making ability, because the Mafia ALWAYS eventually finds out their money seems to be less than expected and then stuff happens.
Pretty soon Louie is on the run from his former employers, pursued by a once friend, and suddenly all these other gods are after him because of a gift he's been suppressing with vast amounts of various intoxicants, some of them products he's been peddling.
When he realizes what it is he CAN do, he understands why all the gods are after him. His ability to spin myths can create a mythology that will give the Gods worshipers and belief, that which makes them real and more powerful. Yup. He's now the shiniest new object for them to play with.
[image error]
October 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this story about Fitz, a Chronicler who can tell stories about the gods and make people believe in them. The gods didn't know he existed until recently and now they're all after him. It's a fast paced tale but still makes time to get the reader to care about Fitz and his friends. In this particular time in history, it was really cool to see The Man as the ultimate bad-guy god. And as always with Stephen Blackmoore books I enjoyed stories of gods that I'd never heard of previously.
A part of this book that really touched me was it's handling of suicide. One character, Jake, who is another Chronicler, tries to kill himself to avoid being taken by the gods. Fitz and his friends "save" him because they need him to teach Fitz how to defeat gods. It's really handled well and with a lot of sympathy for Jake, especially his feeling that people don't really care about him but they want him around because he can do things for them. It's always amazing when reading such a fantastical story to find something so relatable and human.
If you enjoy myths and legends and urban fantasy, you should give this book a try.
A part of this book that really touched me was it's handling of suicide. One character, Jake, who is another Chronicler, tries to kill himself to avoid being taken by the gods. Fitz and his friends "save" him because they need him to teach Fitz how to defeat gods. It's really handled well and with a lot of sympathy for Jake, especially his feeling that people don't really care about him but they want him around because he can do things for them. It's always amazing when reading such a fantastical story to find something so relatable and human.
If you enjoy myths and legends and urban fantasy, you should give this book a try.
June 30, 2025
This was a really fun follow-up to Unclean Spirits! I was a bit worried going into this, since I really disliked the short story tacked onto the end of the first book and I thought perhaps the each-book-has-a-different-author idea behind this series might not be for me, but this was an excellent romp, just as action-packed, violent, dark, and fun as the first book. And yes, this does still feel like a grittier American Gods (as the endorsement on the cover of this book says), but that truly is a plus for this book.
And thank the God of Books & Libraries (if there is one - there should be!) for inter-library loan. This is a sadly underrated book that was fairly hard to get a hold of, and I'm grateful for services like ILL that let me read even lesser-known (but no less worthwhile) physical books.
And thank the God of Books & Libraries (if there is one - there should be!) for inter-library loan. This is a sadly underrated book that was fairly hard to get a hold of, and I'm grateful for services like ILL that let me read even lesser-known (but no less worthwhile) physical books.
November 1, 2021
A nice follow up to the first book, but connections are mostly about the concept (although the events in the end of the first book do have an influence). None of the major characters re-appear.
I did enjoy the Prophet thing, specially the twist near the end.
I did enjoy the Prophet thing, specially the twist near the end.
October 28, 2017
Nice fast story
Nice place and keeps you engaged. Like the flow of events and interesting characters. Will look into the rest in the series to see what it is all about.
Nice place and keeps you engaged. Like the flow of events and interesting characters. Will look into the rest in the series to see what it is all about.
December 10, 2017
Loved the other one I read (Snake Eyes), but I couldn't quite get into this one. Too mythology heavy, maybe? Too many references I didn't understand.
April 30, 2022
The action escalation in this book was fierce! Going up against the Gods? Of course he can.
March 5, 2023
A fast-paced romp.
September 3, 2015
This is a story about man-made threats, gods and belief, and how they all tie into one another. The Old Gods have been kicked out of their celestial homes and are stuck wandering around on Earth, their powers waning as belief in them wanes. They're all looking for their own miracle and their own return to power.
Louie is a money man for the mob, he's been siphoning funds and he's planning to get out, but there's a bit more to Louie than just his tricky ways with finances. Louie has heard things all his life, things that he would rather ignore, and things that not even hard substance abuse can quite drown out.
Louie's luck goes from bad to worse in a series of events including a missed flight and some bad drugs that leave him even more messed up than usual. Between getting his plan and his theft found out by his mob boss, Louie is suddenly VERY aware that those things he's been hearing? They're not all in his head. He's got a higher calling and all the gods stuck wandering on Earth want a piece of Louie. He's just the miracle they're looking for.
Now, Louie finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Chased by the mob, chased on all sides by Old Gods, a rogue Angel, and someone known only as The Man, Louie has GOT to figure out how he's gonna get out of this mess, or else he's gonna find himself on the business end of some old school wrath.
This book doesn't hold back any punches, it's a thrill a page and it's one of those ones that kept me up way past my bedtime. This story is a high-octane thriller, rife with mythology and god-killing. I highly recommend this series - and especially this book - if you're looking for a new take on modern deities and their place in the world.
MYTHBREAKER is the third installment in the Gods & Monsters series put out by Abaddon Press. I'm quite in love with Abaddon Press. They put out pulpy, quick reads that deal with pretty much everything that I'm in love with (you know, magic, monsters, the undead... Judge Dredd...) and they have pretty good taste in books.
Yes, MYTHBREAKER is the third in a series of unconnected stories in a general universe You don't need to read the other two stories to understand what's going on in MYTHBREAKER. I really love that aspect because I completely forgot to read the second installment in the series, but it didn't matter. Super easily accessible as a story, and it is presented in a way that sucks you right in. There's no waiting around for things to get good, you're engrossed from the get-go. Louie is the most unlikeable bastard but he manages to find a place in your heart, he's not as bad as he could be, and he really doesn't want the position he's been given.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars, and I definitely suggest that you go grab it. It'll definitely grab you.
Louie is a money man for the mob, he's been siphoning funds and he's planning to get out, but there's a bit more to Louie than just his tricky ways with finances. Louie has heard things all his life, things that he would rather ignore, and things that not even hard substance abuse can quite drown out.
Louie's luck goes from bad to worse in a series of events including a missed flight and some bad drugs that leave him even more messed up than usual. Between getting his plan and his theft found out by his mob boss, Louie is suddenly VERY aware that those things he's been hearing? They're not all in his head. He's got a higher calling and all the gods stuck wandering on Earth want a piece of Louie. He's just the miracle they're looking for.
Now, Louie finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. Chased by the mob, chased on all sides by Old Gods, a rogue Angel, and someone known only as The Man, Louie has GOT to figure out how he's gonna get out of this mess, or else he's gonna find himself on the business end of some old school wrath.
This book doesn't hold back any punches, it's a thrill a page and it's one of those ones that kept me up way past my bedtime. This story is a high-octane thriller, rife with mythology and god-killing. I highly recommend this series - and especially this book - if you're looking for a new take on modern deities and their place in the world.
MYTHBREAKER is the third installment in the Gods & Monsters series put out by Abaddon Press. I'm quite in love with Abaddon Press. They put out pulpy, quick reads that deal with pretty much everything that I'm in love with (you know, magic, monsters, the undead... Judge Dredd...) and they have pretty good taste in books.
Yes, MYTHBREAKER is the third in a series of unconnected stories in a general universe You don't need to read the other two stories to understand what's going on in MYTHBREAKER. I really love that aspect because I completely forgot to read the second installment in the series, but it didn't matter. Super easily accessible as a story, and it is presented in a way that sucks you right in. There's no waiting around for things to get good, you're engrossed from the get-go. Louie is the most unlikeable bastard but he manages to find a place in your heart, he's not as bad as he could be, and he really doesn't want the position he's been given.
I give this book 4.5/5 stars, and I definitely suggest that you go grab it. It'll definitely grab you.
November 19, 2014
eARC provided by publisher for review.
Review available on my blog: Fantasy Findings
This was a great surprise. A Paranormal Urban Fantasy about a Chronicler (aka Prophet) named Fitz. As the only (relatively) sane Chronicler at a time when the old gods are dying due to a lack of followers, when word of him gets out, all of the gods want to use his voice to restore themselves to their former glory. Stories of gods dying as they become more obscure is hardly anything new, but I do like how he pairs it with the rise of new gods for the modern times: a trinity comprised of Money (goes by Big, changes forms the way most people change their gum), the Internet (represented by the Amandas, a series of clones that download information at will, she reminds me of Trinity from The Matrix) and of course El Jefe or The Man (who uses Agents - not unlike Agent Smith) to do his dirty deeds. I'm especially fond of the Amandas, one of the few gods to not come off as a complete dick. The other Goddess that grows on me is Medeina, a minor Goddess of the Hunt who goes from antagonist to aiding our hero. There's also some nice quieter moments between Medeina and the human Sam (a woman), one of Fitz' friends from his drug running days that also give the story some needed humanity.
The action moves quickly, story is doled out at a good pace and is just a fun book. As an Angelino, I really love how he represents Los Angeles here - from hitting Thousand Oaks (and a nice joke from Medeina who mourns it looks nothing like the name implies) to Getty Villa, to downtown and Hawaiian Gardens. It's always great to see Los Angeles as it is, and not just as we portray ourselves on television.
If I have any complaints, it's that the ending feels a bit too neat, a bit too easy, but it's so satisfying, that you're willing it slide.
All in all, I enjoyed myself way more than I thought I would, and I can easily recommend checking this out.
Note: I recommend this book for the 17+ crowd. The violence, language and drug use would easily translate as a hard R or a TV MA rating. Those of you sensitive to such things might want to give it a pass.
Review available on my blog: Fantasy Findings
This was a great surprise. A Paranormal Urban Fantasy about a Chronicler (aka Prophet) named Fitz. As the only (relatively) sane Chronicler at a time when the old gods are dying due to a lack of followers, when word of him gets out, all of the gods want to use his voice to restore themselves to their former glory. Stories of gods dying as they become more obscure is hardly anything new, but I do like how he pairs it with the rise of new gods for the modern times: a trinity comprised of Money (goes by Big, changes forms the way most people change their gum), the Internet (represented by the Amandas, a series of clones that download information at will, she reminds me of Trinity from The Matrix) and of course El Jefe or The Man (who uses Agents - not unlike Agent Smith) to do his dirty deeds. I'm especially fond of the Amandas, one of the few gods to not come off as a complete dick. The other Goddess that grows on me is Medeina, a minor Goddess of the Hunt who goes from antagonist to aiding our hero. There's also some nice quieter moments between Medeina and the human Sam (a woman), one of Fitz' friends from his drug running days that also give the story some needed humanity.
The action moves quickly, story is doled out at a good pace and is just a fun book. As an Angelino, I really love how he represents Los Angeles here - from hitting Thousand Oaks (and a nice joke from Medeina who mourns it looks nothing like the name implies) to Getty Villa, to downtown and Hawaiian Gardens. It's always great to see Los Angeles as it is, and not just as we portray ourselves on television.
If I have any complaints, it's that the ending feels a bit too neat, a bit too easy, but it's so satisfying, that you're willing it slide.
All in all, I enjoyed myself way more than I thought I would, and I can easily recommend checking this out.
Note: I recommend this book for the 17+ crowd. The violence, language and drug use would easily translate as a hard R or a TV MA rating. Those of you sensitive to such things might want to give it a pass.
December 30, 2014
Stephen Blackmoore is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and Mythbreaker is just one more example of why. My husband gave this book to me as a Christmas present. I can plow through a Blackmoore book in a day, but this time I told myself I was going to take it slow, save it, make it last. Yeah, right. I made it four chapters before doing a massive binge read. Mythbreaker is the kind of fast-paced urban fantasy that has you immediately turning from one page to the next to find out what's going to happen.
Blackmoore has peopled this book with a vivid, gritty world and a variety of well-developed characters that you really care about, from the main character Fitz to the multiple avatar Amandas to Fitz's long-time friend - and potential executioner - Sam. Even the goddess Medeina, whom you can't help growing to like even though she has a tendency to slaughter innocent bystanders.
I did knock a star off because of a couple of literary murders and because the ending felt a bit rushed and out of the blue, at least moreso than I've come to expect from Blackmoore. I'm not really sure I understand exactly what Fitz did to The Man, and I would have liked to. But those are small quibbles in an otherwise excellent read that I highly recommend. I'm already waiting impatiently for the next one.
Blackmoore has peopled this book with a vivid, gritty world and a variety of well-developed characters that you really care about, from the main character Fitz to the multiple avatar Amandas to Fitz's long-time friend - and potential executioner - Sam. Even the goddess Medeina, whom you can't help growing to like even though she has a tendency to slaughter innocent bystanders.
I did knock a star off because of a couple of literary murders and because the ending felt a bit rushed and out of the blue, at least moreso than I've come to expect from Blackmoore. I'm not really sure I understand exactly what Fitz did to The Man, and I would have liked to. But those are small quibbles in an otherwise excellent read that I highly recommend. I'm already waiting impatiently for the next one.
December 11, 2014
This a fabulous book. The description of the book makes you think "Hmm, this is American Gods." Both novels deal with the interaction of a human protagonist with the old and new gods, but there are many differences. This is a really superb book in the wild and crazy vein.
Fitz (Louis Fitzsimmons, the protagonist) is not your usual prophet. And he does not have the prophet's usual powers. In fact, think of Al Pacino acting as seedy and selfish as possible and you have an idea of what Fitz is like. A truly fascinating antihero. He does develop as a character and evolves as one of the most absorbing characters I've read about in a long time.
The rest of the crew, the gods and Fitz's friends, is just as entertaining. All of the major characters are well developed and interesting.
The plot moves quickly and there is plenty of action to be found. NO boring fluff. Every paragraph contributes to the overall story which creates a very well written and fast paced book. You will not be able to put it down! And it has a very emotionally satisfying ending.
If you want to have a fun and exciting fantasy experience, read this novel! A truly good read!
Fitz (Louis Fitzsimmons, the protagonist) is not your usual prophet. And he does not have the prophet's usual powers. In fact, think of Al Pacino acting as seedy and selfish as possible and you have an idea of what Fitz is like. A truly fascinating antihero. He does develop as a character and evolves as one of the most absorbing characters I've read about in a long time.
The rest of the crew, the gods and Fitz's friends, is just as entertaining. All of the major characters are well developed and interesting.
The plot moves quickly and there is plenty of action to be found. NO boring fluff. Every paragraph contributes to the overall story which creates a very well written and fast paced book. You will not be able to put it down! And it has a very emotionally satisfying ending.
If you want to have a fun and exciting fantasy experience, read this novel! A truly good read!
December 24, 2014
I received GODS AND MONSTERS: MYTHBREAKER as an ARC through NetGalley.com.
Mythbreaker is sort of like American Gods meets ... well ... Stephen Blackmoore. I've followed Stephen on Twitter for quite a while, but this is the first thing I've read of his that was longer than 140 characters. I found it to be interesting and entertaining, fun and intelligent, and darkly funny, much like the man himself. I recommend reading this book, and also following him on Twitter.
Mythbreaker is sort of like American Gods meets ... well ... Stephen Blackmoore. I've followed Stephen on Twitter for quite a while, but this is the first thing I've read of his that was longer than 140 characters. I found it to be interesting and entertaining, fun and intelligent, and darkly funny, much like the man himself. I recommend reading this book, and also following him on Twitter.
January 8, 2015
A fun book that carries on from the first while remaining satisfyingly independent. Very much Mr. Blackmoore's style of writing so if you like it, which I do, you'll be satisfied. The universe gets filled in a little more with an explanation of what happened to bring us to the current spiritual state as well as a continuation of how our world reacted to these events. All good fun and I'm ready for another in the series.
August 23, 2016
This story is quite the action-packed rollercoaster. The story moves swiftly from start to end with just the occasional pause before bullets start flying and blood starts spilling. The story is gritty, but with enough wit to not become heavy.
I'd say my only complaints is that the story is a bit short (272 pages) and the ending felt as if it could use just a little more pages. This is the third book by Stephen Blackmoore that I've read and so far, all his books are good.
I'd say my only complaints is that the story is a bit short (272 pages) and the ending felt as if it could use just a little more pages. This is the third book by Stephen Blackmoore that I've read and so far, all his books are good.
May 12, 2015
The second entry in the Gods and Monsters series, and the first from Stephen Blackmoore.
The gods are real, living on Earth, and they're pretty much just assholes. Old gods and new gods, they all want a piece of Fitz. But he just wants to get rid of those damn nightmares.
The gods are real, living on Earth, and they're pretty much just assholes. Old gods and new gods, they all want a piece of Fitz. But he just wants to get rid of those damn nightmares.
April 23, 2015
Well written. Interesting take on modern struggles that would have once been explained through the stories of the gods. This time it's the Freedom of information vs. the Man. Ending is a bit abrupt, but it's a good story.
January 6, 2015
Interesting, but I felt like the ending was rushed, or things in the book happened to fast without some of the steps that maybe should have come between. But enjoyable read from an author I like.
February 11, 2015
it was definitely hell of a ride.
December 1, 2014
So much fun.
April 21, 2017
Wacky stuff. Lots of action, non stop really. A modern day prophet hounded by the gods who need more believers. New gods and old and lots of drugs and guns.
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