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American Paladin
American Paladin
One Man to Step Into the Darkness
Mike Spears is a drifter, a vigilante, an expert in taking down the evil in our world one monstrous incursion at a time. He’s anonymous and low profile because he needs to be. A man with a name only whispered in legend and only spoken aloud in desperate straits.
Welcome to the dark places of the modern American west—a west where mythic worlds roam the landscape like so many weather fronts. And when those fronts collide, horror often spills out. Blood-soaked ground. Vanished neighbors. Towns gutted by monstrous horrors no one dares name. The so-called authorities won’t touch this stuff. Most won’t even admit it’s real.
But when the last shred of hope is nearly spent, there’s one man who will step into that darkness—and deal with it.
Now a true-crime podcaster is closing in on the truth about Spears and the strange world he navigates. Too close. She’s drawn something demonic through the door between worlds—a kill team from another deeply twisted reality. And, if Spears is right, these techno-Aztec operators are only the tip of an apocalyptic invasion set to bathe our land in blood.
But first they’ll have to get past Spears.
Mike Spears is a drifter, a vigilante, an expert in taking down the evil in our world one monstrous incursion at a time. He’s anonymous and low profile because he needs to be. A man with a name only whispered in legend and only spoken aloud in desperate straits.
Welcome to the dark places of the modern American west—a west where mythic worlds roam the landscape like so many weather fronts. And when those fronts collide, horror often spills out. Blood-soaked ground. Vanished neighbors. Towns gutted by monstrous horrors no one dares name. The so-called authorities won’t touch this stuff. Most won’t even admit it’s real.
But when the last shred of hope is nearly spent, there’s one man who will step into that darkness—and deal with it.
Now a true-crime podcaster is closing in on the truth about Spears and the strange world he navigates. Too close. She’s drawn something demonic through the door between worlds—a kill team from another deeply twisted reality. And, if Spears is right, these techno-Aztec operators are only the tip of an apocalyptic invasion set to bathe our land in blood.
But first they’ll have to get past Spears.
290 pages, Hardcover
Published June 23, 2026
About the author
Larry Correia
120 books4,481 followersLarry Correia (born 1977) is the New York Times bestselling author of the Monster Hunter International series, the Grimnoir Chronicles, and the thriller Dead Six.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 2, 2026
Libertarians Wet Dream (a better title?). One the one hand, this book was more of what I enjoy about Correia's writing. Good monsters, world building, and plenty of action. On the other hand, this was the first time I really felt the author's political beliefs seep into the story in a blatant way. Its less than endearing to have your protagonist think of almost every other person as weak, compliant, and/or worthless. Also, for a book published in half way through 2026, it really felt the author set the events in 2022 just to take jabs at Joe Biden.
I've read all the MHI, Hard Magic, and The Forgotten Warrior books by Correia. I never felt his personal politics come through in any of those books and so it was disappointing that it was so prominent here.
I've read all the MHI, Hard Magic, and The Forgotten Warrior books by Correia. I never felt his personal politics come through in any of those books and so it was disappointing that it was so prominent here.
June 28, 2026
Loved it. So much fun. A little John Wick+modern western+vigilante/revenge story+creepy ass monsters/cults= one of my favorite books of the year.
July 11, 2026
Nothing turns me off faster than an author pushing their politics in their novels. This author appears to either hate or have contempt for a large portion of humanity. No thanks.
July 9, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - 5 Stars
Larry Correia is one of my all time favorite authors, and he strikes gold again with American Paladin. This is a vigilante story with a guy fighting blood thirsty Aztecs from another dimension, and it has one of the best protogoinst introduction chapter I have read in a long time. The pacing is incredible for a fantasy novel.
If I had to pin down the theme, it would be justice and retribution. That quote says it all: “Evil thrives because good people don't want to serve time.” That is the heart of the book. Most modern books have made a mockery of justice, the villian is forgiven because he felt bad or he was victim somehow or his grandpa's grandpa was enslaved. I don't like that, it makes for shi**y stories and terrible morality within the novels. I like justice and retribution being the theme here, actual justice and retribution.
I got hooked on Mike Spears’ POV right away. Larry does a very good job of showing why Paladin does what he does. The action is awesome, the villains are truly evil, and Middle America feels authentic. I want more books from this world. Mike Spears is a very active, straight forward character. A lot of modern fantasy protagonists have become silly sallys and nagging nancys, and we could all use more Mike Spears in our reading.
Some people may think this is like Larry's other series Monster Hunter International, but it is not. This is darker, more visceral, and more grounded, and it is not about monster hunting. Highly recommended.
Larry Correia is one of my all time favorite authors, and he strikes gold again with American Paladin. This is a vigilante story with a guy fighting blood thirsty Aztecs from another dimension, and it has one of the best protogoinst introduction chapter I have read in a long time. The pacing is incredible for a fantasy novel.
If I had to pin down the theme, it would be justice and retribution. That quote says it all: “Evil thrives because good people don't want to serve time.” That is the heart of the book. Most modern books have made a mockery of justice, the villian is forgiven because he felt bad or he was victim somehow or his grandpa's grandpa was enslaved. I don't like that, it makes for shi**y stories and terrible morality within the novels. I like justice and retribution being the theme here, actual justice and retribution.
I got hooked on Mike Spears’ POV right away. Larry does a very good job of showing why Paladin does what he does. The action is awesome, the villains are truly evil, and Middle America feels authentic. I want more books from this world. Mike Spears is a very active, straight forward character. A lot of modern fantasy protagonists have become silly sallys and nagging nancys, and we could all use more Mike Spears in our reading.
Some people may think this is like Larry's other series Monster Hunter International, but it is not. This is darker, more visceral, and more grounded, and it is not about monster hunting. Highly recommended.
July 16, 2026
I recently rewatched The Shield, and it got me thinking that I should try to read some books by conservative authors, get out of my bubble a little bit. Well, now I've read one, and I'm mixed on the experience. It was funny, because this book felt like the conservative answer to Stephen King, who loves shoehorning in annoying talking points that are so woke that even my liberal ass starts eyerolling him, like his most recent novel about how we should still be wearing our COVID masks fifty years after the fact. Meanwhile, this book's talking points are just as dorky, with references to Hunter Biden's laptop and lines about how "the feds don't arrest real criminals anymore, they're just looking to bust old grannies who happened to be too close to the Capitol on a certain day in January." The one part where the conservative angle gave this book an edge was that the characters were proper badasses instead of whiny little pussies. There's no wishywashy crap about how if you start killing bad guys, you might turn bad as well. No, some people just need killing and there's no point acting all emo about it after the fact. I look forward to them killing a whole lot more people in the next book, and hopefully finally tracking down Hunter Biden's laptop.
June 25, 2026
8.5/10 Just some good gruesome fast paced fun! Looking forward to future entries in this setting.
July 5, 2026
Great pacing, exciting book. It is violent, so if you are sensitive to that be warned.
Review of advance copy
This is a 3.5 star review which is a fair appraisal of my experience with the book. But Goodreads doesn't allow 3.5 stars. So why did I go with 3?? I acquired the book via the author's Kickstarter campaign.
Here we go. The book is centered around Mike Spears. As a teen, he went to "the other side" or "the other world". A world populated by people who would make the Aztecs and their murderous religious practices seem almost peaceful. Normal people are kept as slaves there. Used for labor, food, and/or religious sacrifices based on the whims of the "gods" and those who worship them.
There are other creatures there as well. Equally dangerous and perhaps a bit more so.
Mike randomly made it back to our world and lost his family, lost his girlfriend, and lost pretty much every human/family connection in the process. He now lives and trains for the day when he encounters the monsters from the other world again.
We pick up with Mike after he has spent years training, wandering from place to place, and killing the human monsters from our world who our justice system sees fit to release back out into the world to victimize others once again. Mike has a code. So far, he hasn't killed anyone who was innocent.
Then he runs across someone being hunted by the monsters from the other side. The story is about hunting those monsters and saving the girl. If you can shut off certain critiques, then this is a fine book. Give it a try. It might scratch a certain literary itch for you.
If you are a fan of Larry's Monster Hunter novels, then I suspect that this book might be for you. I've not read those books for reasons that I think this book confirms. Alternatively, if you like Alistair MacClean novels, then this might be up your alley. It's not quite as good as Mr. MacClean's books but it's close enough.
I have read his Saga of the Forgotten Warrior Series and the first book of Servants of War series. I heartily recommend both as being outstanding on their own merit and vastly superior to this book.
I also want to point out that I have followed the author's career and controversies within the genre. His perspective is generally pointed in the right direction in most cases, IMO.
So why the round down to 3 stars??
- Gun porn. The author has a penchant for describing guns and ammo in loving detail. I'm familiar enough with weapons to know what he is describing, but it's really just wasted detail, in my opinion.
- Putting the subtext ahead of the text. Almost every author includes some sort of underlying theme or moral value in their story. But that subtext is covered by the text; the story narrative. Early on, the author discards the text of the story in favor of trashing Joe Biden, leftist judges, and the leftist modern politics. Again, I think his personal perspective is generally correct, but in 15-20 years, no one will know or care about those specific issues. He could have been a bit more generic and still served the interests of the narrative.
- Modern cultural references. One or two major references are probably fine. Anything more than that and the book will not stand the test of time. I have a hard time believing that all of our modern cultural references will survive the next 50 years.
- Too much showing, not enough telling. We learn about Spears' history and development via a series of brief vignettes at the start of each chapter. We are told that he has done a ton of training. We are told he experienced horrors. We are rarely shown either of them.
- Over competent character. Spears is a one-man wrecking crew. He can pick locks, shoot accurately with every weapon he encounters, is an expert grappler, and knows how to make bodies disappear. The only challenges he experience are when facing multiple humans or something from "the other side". He is The Terminator. He pursues relentlessly.
- Which leads to the lack of character development. There is no hero's journey. We are dropped into a crisis where the main character's major challenge is how to use the skills and resources he has already developed.
I was disappointed. I am a sometime Hugo nominator and I was hoping this book would make the cut. I know he doesn't want one. That doesn't mean that his superior writing (when it occurs) shouldn't be recognized. This one didn't measure up.
Here we go. The book is centered around Mike Spears. As a teen, he went to "the other side" or "the other world". A world populated by people who would make the Aztecs and their murderous religious practices seem almost peaceful. Normal people are kept as slaves there. Used for labor, food, and/or religious sacrifices based on the whims of the "gods" and those who worship them.
There are other creatures there as well. Equally dangerous and perhaps a bit more so.
Mike randomly made it back to our world and lost his family, lost his girlfriend, and lost pretty much every human/family connection in the process. He now lives and trains for the day when he encounters the monsters from the other world again.
We pick up with Mike after he has spent years training, wandering from place to place, and killing the human monsters from our world who our justice system sees fit to release back out into the world to victimize others once again. Mike has a code. So far, he hasn't killed anyone who was innocent.
Then he runs across someone being hunted by the monsters from the other side. The story is about hunting those monsters and saving the girl. If you can shut off certain critiques, then this is a fine book. Give it a try. It might scratch a certain literary itch for you.
If you are a fan of Larry's Monster Hunter novels, then I suspect that this book might be for you. I've not read those books for reasons that I think this book confirms. Alternatively, if you like Alistair MacClean novels, then this might be up your alley. It's not quite as good as Mr. MacClean's books but it's close enough.
I have read his Saga of the Forgotten Warrior Series and the first book of Servants of War series. I heartily recommend both as being outstanding on their own merit and vastly superior to this book.
I also want to point out that I have followed the author's career and controversies within the genre. His perspective is generally pointed in the right direction in most cases, IMO.
So why the round down to 3 stars??
- Gun porn. The author has a penchant for describing guns and ammo in loving detail. I'm familiar enough with weapons to know what he is describing, but it's really just wasted detail, in my opinion.
- Putting the subtext ahead of the text. Almost every author includes some sort of underlying theme or moral value in their story. But that subtext is covered by the text; the story narrative. Early on, the author discards the text of the story in favor of trashing Joe Biden, leftist judges, and the leftist modern politics. Again, I think his personal perspective is generally correct, but in 15-20 years, no one will know or care about those specific issues. He could have been a bit more generic and still served the interests of the narrative.
- Modern cultural references. One or two major references are probably fine. Anything more than that and the book will not stand the test of time. I have a hard time believing that all of our modern cultural references will survive the next 50 years.
- Too much showing, not enough telling. We learn about Spears' history and development via a series of brief vignettes at the start of each chapter. We are told that he has done a ton of training. We are told he experienced horrors. We are rarely shown either of them.
- Over competent character. Spears is a one-man wrecking crew. He can pick locks, shoot accurately with every weapon he encounters, is an expert grappler, and knows how to make bodies disappear. The only challenges he experience are when facing multiple humans or something from "the other side". He is The Terminator. He pursues relentlessly.
- Which leads to the lack of character development. There is no hero's journey. We are dropped into a crisis where the main character's major challenge is how to use the skills and resources he has already developed.
I was disappointed. I am a sometime Hugo nominator and I was hoping this book would make the cut. I know he doesn't want one. That doesn't mean that his superior writing (when it occurs) shouldn't be recognized. This one didn't measure up.
July 9, 2026
4.25 Stars
This was a new book that I discovered because I fell in love (and I do mean IN LOVE) with another one of this author's fantasy series (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior). I hadn't even read the summary of the new series before hitting the "Buy" button - talk about faith.
Anyway, this new series could NOT be more different than the prior one above. This is more of an Urban Fantasy series where we meet new MMC Mike Spears. He lost his family when he was a teenager and the circumstances were not ones that anyone ever believed. They were camping in the mountains (his father, mother, 2 siblings and his girlfriend) when they inadvertently crossed over some line or door or barrier into another world. What they found was NOT Narnia or anything pleasant, in fact they began being hunted by things that were so horrifying and frightening that the mind could not even compute what was happening. They were separated and he was the only one to survive - though not without many, many scars.
After the loss of his family, he ended up finding himself waiting and searching. Deciding that he was going to find the way back to that place and this time, he would be ready -he was not a kid. That required training, lots and lots of training, and skills. Somehow, he then ended up in the middle of some circumstances during a violent crime that demanded he take a side, and he did. He then began to hunt the vile human creatures that were on this side of the line and earned the name "Paladin" with his vigilante justice. He did not hurt innocents, EVER, but he DID take out the trash - those who were guilty of unspeakable crimes.
This story unfolds when he realizes that a true crime type of website has completed an investigation and put together many of his "vigilante crimes". They produced and published a very detailed story about the vigilante named Paladin putting together things that no one ever had before. Spears became determined to discover exactly how much they discovered, and he sets up a meeting time with the woman in charge of the True Crime website.
It just so happens that the woman he is going to meet with has a friend who had just accidentally involved her in something that she had no clue about. (The friend sent her a UPS package with EVERYTHING regarding her new discovery). This friend had found a "door to the other side" and there are those from that "other side" whose only job is to put an end to anyone who discovers this type of information. The friend was brutally killed and now the bad guys are after the True Crime woman to see how much she knows. After a series of events, she ends up with a sort of tracking device on her and the creatures after her.
That is how Mike finds himself involved in a situation with the very people he has been searching for his entire life. He cannot just save the woman because what she has on her arm is a beacon to everything evil. The two of them end up on the run trying to find someone who might be able to help get rid of the tracker.
This story is filled with non stop action, very gory drama, and lots of killing, but it is interesting. No one knows much about the goings on across the barrier and that ends up being the most challenging thing.
While I really did enjoy the story, I did have a bit of an issue with the narrator. This was performed by Nick Searcy who was a "new to me" narrator and might actually be a new narrator as well. He tended to maintain a fairly flat and uneven voice no matter the events on page and that sometimes took away from being able to FEEL the intense events occurring on page. To be completely fair though, the Saga of the Forgotten Warrior series was narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds (yes, THAT TGR) and he is almost the golden standard for narrators. To compare the two just does not seem fair. Hopefully, as the series continues, Mr. Searcy will get a better feel for what is needed and also get more experience under his belt. Everyone has to start somewhere.
This was a new book that I discovered because I fell in love (and I do mean IN LOVE) with another one of this author's fantasy series (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior). I hadn't even read the summary of the new series before hitting the "Buy" button - talk about faith.
Anyway, this new series could NOT be more different than the prior one above. This is more of an Urban Fantasy series where we meet new MMC Mike Spears. He lost his family when he was a teenager and the circumstances were not ones that anyone ever believed. They were camping in the mountains (his father, mother, 2 siblings and his girlfriend) when they inadvertently crossed over some line or door or barrier into another world. What they found was NOT Narnia or anything pleasant, in fact they began being hunted by things that were so horrifying and frightening that the mind could not even compute what was happening. They were separated and he was the only one to survive - though not without many, many scars.
After the loss of his family, he ended up finding himself waiting and searching. Deciding that he was going to find the way back to that place and this time, he would be ready -he was not a kid. That required training, lots and lots of training, and skills. Somehow, he then ended up in the middle of some circumstances during a violent crime that demanded he take a side, and he did. He then began to hunt the vile human creatures that were on this side of the line and earned the name "Paladin" with his vigilante justice. He did not hurt innocents, EVER, but he DID take out the trash - those who were guilty of unspeakable crimes.
This story unfolds when he realizes that a true crime type of website has completed an investigation and put together many of his "vigilante crimes". They produced and published a very detailed story about the vigilante named Paladin putting together things that no one ever had before. Spears became determined to discover exactly how much they discovered, and he sets up a meeting time with the woman in charge of the True Crime website.
It just so happens that the woman he is going to meet with has a friend who had just accidentally involved her in something that she had no clue about. (The friend sent her a UPS package with EVERYTHING regarding her new discovery). This friend had found a "door to the other side" and there are those from that "other side" whose only job is to put an end to anyone who discovers this type of information. The friend was brutally killed and now the bad guys are after the True Crime woman to see how much she knows. After a series of events, she ends up with a sort of tracking device on her and the creatures after her.
That is how Mike finds himself involved in a situation with the very people he has been searching for his entire life. He cannot just save the woman because what she has on her arm is a beacon to everything evil. The two of them end up on the run trying to find someone who might be able to help get rid of the tracker.
This story is filled with non stop action, very gory drama, and lots of killing, but it is interesting. No one knows much about the goings on across the barrier and that ends up being the most challenging thing.
While I really did enjoy the story, I did have a bit of an issue with the narrator. This was performed by Nick Searcy who was a "new to me" narrator and might actually be a new narrator as well. He tended to maintain a fairly flat and uneven voice no matter the events on page and that sometimes took away from being able to FEEL the intense events occurring on page. To be completely fair though, the Saga of the Forgotten Warrior series was narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds (yes, THAT TGR) and he is almost the golden standard for narrators. To compare the two just does not seem fair. Hopefully, as the series continues, Mr. Searcy will get a better feel for what is needed and also get more experience under his belt. Everyone has to start somewhere.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"A wise man once told me that the main reason evil men prosper is because decent folks don't want to serve time."
I'm not usually someone who harps on "prose" when writing a review, because when people talk about the prose it's usually because that's the best part of the story. However, "American Paladin" draws you in so quickly and the writing is so smooth and professional that you'll feel like you've been reading this series for years. Correia hooks you effortlessly, and the story whisks you away on a nearly non-stop adventure through an America that's equal parts "I'm glad this stuff isn't real" and "wow I need to go out and see all these sights."
The characterization in this is fantastic. Unlike your typical book where an angsty teenager or snarky woman learns how to do everything in the span of weeks, we're presented with a protagonist, Mike Spears, who's spent his entire life training to hunt down and take revenge on the supernatural terrors that once kidnapped him and slaughtered his entire family. He's a well-rounded hero, proficient if not expert in many different forms of combat, and yet believably so. He's put in the years, he's suffered the losses, and he's honed the instincts he'll need to survive ever encountering the forces that harmed him again. And despite all the training and ability, he remains an everyday guy with a compassion that he keeps tightly under wraps but uses to fuel his moral code.
More than that, even the antagonists are not just nameless jobbers thrown in to get shot or have their necks broken or whatever else. They, too, are a team of warriors who've spent their lives training for the opposite reasons as Mike Spears, and we get to see a good deal of the action and plot buildup through their eyes. They're not stupid, they're well trained, and they have the benefit of an entire stable of monsters that are on "their side" to help.
The action scenes are excellent, highlighted by Correia's knowledge of weaponry, mixed martial arts, and close-quarters combat that allows him to present high-stress, high-octane fights that remain grounded and real. Wounds hurt. Explosions knock people senseless. Actions have consequences. How much and how far can a man push and be pushed and still function? Well, consider Lone Survivor and now superimpose that on an American vigilante hunting down predators, whether human or supernatural.
This promises to be a long and creative series, and as much as you see packed into American Paladin, it barely scratches the surface of what's out there. If something akin to a cross of Supernatural, The Terminal List, and Lone Survivor sounds like it would interest you, grab this and have a blast.
I received an advanced copy of this through the Kickstarter campaign.
I'm not usually someone who harps on "prose" when writing a review, because when people talk about the prose it's usually because that's the best part of the story. However, "American Paladin" draws you in so quickly and the writing is so smooth and professional that you'll feel like you've been reading this series for years. Correia hooks you effortlessly, and the story whisks you away on a nearly non-stop adventure through an America that's equal parts "I'm glad this stuff isn't real" and "wow I need to go out and see all these sights."
The characterization in this is fantastic. Unlike your typical book where an angsty teenager or snarky woman learns how to do everything in the span of weeks, we're presented with a protagonist, Mike Spears, who's spent his entire life training to hunt down and take revenge on the supernatural terrors that once kidnapped him and slaughtered his entire family. He's a well-rounded hero, proficient if not expert in many different forms of combat, and yet believably so. He's put in the years, he's suffered the losses, and he's honed the instincts he'll need to survive ever encountering the forces that harmed him again. And despite all the training and ability, he remains an everyday guy with a compassion that he keeps tightly under wraps but uses to fuel his moral code.
More than that, even the antagonists are not just nameless jobbers thrown in to get shot or have their necks broken or whatever else. They, too, are a team of warriors who've spent their lives training for the opposite reasons as Mike Spears, and we get to see a good deal of the action and plot buildup through their eyes. They're not stupid, they're well trained, and they have the benefit of an entire stable of monsters that are on "their side" to help.
The action scenes are excellent, highlighted by Correia's knowledge of weaponry, mixed martial arts, and close-quarters combat that allows him to present high-stress, high-octane fights that remain grounded and real. Wounds hurt. Explosions knock people senseless. Actions have consequences. How much and how far can a man push and be pushed and still function? Well, consider Lone Survivor and now superimpose that on an American vigilante hunting down predators, whether human or supernatural.
This promises to be a long and creative series, and as much as you see packed into American Paladin, it barely scratches the surface of what's out there. If something akin to a cross of Supernatural, The Terminal List, and Lone Survivor sounds like it would interest you, grab this and have a blast.
I received an advanced copy of this through the Kickstarter campaign.
July 4, 2026
While this is certainly the best constructed story of his so far—he keeps the cast small and avoids having a large cast of forgettable stereotypes compared to MHI—the ones we’re left are still not awfully defined besides our main character.
Thankfully, he makes up for this by keeping the novel shorter and delivers on the action scenes like you'd expect. The only caveat I'd give is that these action sequences for the most part, deal with conventional goons with guns. But the action ratio of the book just might about 35% of the novel itself? Which isn't bad, but I could do for a bit more. Fundamentally, this works well enough for an entertaining read if you want a solid action novel, but I was expecting a little more from him going and essientially self-publishing it through kickstarter. I thought he'd really go out there given the supposed freedom.
The biggest misstep with the novel is the main character's hobby of being the right-winged liberatarian punisher and killing criminals on the side had far less impact on the actual plot of the story once the main character becomes entangled with the cult. The heroine of the story, is a conspiracy podcaster, but there is no greater conspiracy of this death cult working with authorities or rich people or politicians. It feels like a missed opportunity. As it is, him killing criminals is just a past-time for him to train his skills. There should be more relation between these too.
Another misstep is the politics of the story. My problem is not that I disagree with them, but that they're rather half-baked and have this odd implication that the corrupt authorities he says would squash him given the chance, would be less of an issue under Trump. The government now still wants a monopoly on power, and pedophiliic elites are still protected by the government too.
Lastly, the true villain themselves are quite weak as a presence. This is highlighted by the latter half of the story continuing to show their viewpoint more. They're quite analogous to old holywood's depiction of native american tribes. I don't find this offensive, it's just lacking in creativity. I'd almost enjoy the villains had they instead represented the author's ideas of the radical left and let the political comments the author made before have more relevance to the story.
Hopefully, these are issues that can be fixed if the author chooses--he plans to make this a full series, after all. Even if all does is escalate the scope of the action scenes, I think I'd still read more of these. There are few authors, let alone ones still working today, who can actually write action scenes in books that are fun to read. I suppose I just wish he'd finally put out a story that combined his skill for writing action with a narrative that was worth reading in between the exciting set-pieces.
Thankfully, he makes up for this by keeping the novel shorter and delivers on the action scenes like you'd expect. The only caveat I'd give is that these action sequences for the most part, deal with conventional goons with guns. But the action ratio of the book just might about 35% of the novel itself? Which isn't bad, but I could do for a bit more. Fundamentally, this works well enough for an entertaining read if you want a solid action novel, but I was expecting a little more from him going and essientially self-publishing it through kickstarter. I thought he'd really go out there given the supposed freedom.
The biggest misstep with the novel is the main character's hobby of being the right-winged liberatarian punisher and killing criminals on the side had far less impact on the actual plot of the story once the main character becomes entangled with the cult. The heroine of the story, is a conspiracy podcaster, but there is no greater conspiracy of this death cult working with authorities or rich people or politicians. It feels like a missed opportunity. As it is, him killing criminals is just a past-time for him to train his skills. There should be more relation between these too.
Another misstep is the politics of the story. My problem is not that I disagree with them, but that they're rather half-baked and have this odd implication that the corrupt authorities he says would squash him given the chance, would be less of an issue under Trump. The government now still wants a monopoly on power, and pedophiliic elites are still protected by the government too.
Lastly, the true villain themselves are quite weak as a presence. This is highlighted by the latter half of the story continuing to show their viewpoint more. They're quite analogous to old holywood's depiction of native american tribes. I don't find this offensive, it's just lacking in creativity. I'd almost enjoy the villains had they instead represented the author's ideas of the radical left and let the political comments the author made before have more relevance to the story.
Hopefully, these are issues that can be fixed if the author chooses--he plans to make this a full series, after all. Even if all does is escalate the scope of the action scenes, I think I'd still read more of these. There are few authors, let alone ones still working today, who can actually write action scenes in books that are fun to read. I suppose I just wish he'd finally put out a story that combined his skill for writing action with a narrative that was worth reading in between the exciting set-pieces.
Review of advance copy
Mike Spears is the kind of good guy that has a freshly, permanently neutered pedophile in his flatbed and still keeps both hands on the steering wheel when the cops pull him over.
Perfect is a hard label to slap on a piece of entertainment. Your perfection might not mirror mine, and mine might be your definition of utter schlock. But as far as real-life narratives that blend the supernatural for some high-impact horror and mystery thrills, it’s hard to beat American Paladin…
There’s enough of the real there to keep it grounded, much of it stemming from Correia’s great use of down to earth dialogue and mannerisms – as well as his extensive knowledge of guns and grappling. This solid base allows for plenty of weird shit to be lathered in ever-thickening layers on top without dilluting the us versus them feeling. Humanity versus the demons. Guy with gun versus Nigel Gorman and his dark tower’s worth of alleged sins.
This juicy cake of bullets, badassdom, and berserk fury from another dimension is not served in slices. Rather it piles itself into your drooling, gaping mouth wholesale, that you may choke on the multitude of flavours and textures while your strained jaw is struggling to form the words “Please, sir, may I have another?”.
The bottom line is, Correia’s done it again. After so many years in the business and so many genres tackled, it’s a wonder he can keep reinventing himself at every corner and deliver something that is at once recognisable but also fresh enough, especially for longtime fans. He’s the Chris Jericho of the writing world.
Full thoughts: https://gunghogeeksblog.wordpress.com...
Perfect is a hard label to slap on a piece of entertainment. Your perfection might not mirror mine, and mine might be your definition of utter schlock. But as far as real-life narratives that blend the supernatural for some high-impact horror and mystery thrills, it’s hard to beat American Paladin…
There’s enough of the real there to keep it grounded, much of it stemming from Correia’s great use of down to earth dialogue and mannerisms – as well as his extensive knowledge of guns and grappling. This solid base allows for plenty of weird shit to be lathered in ever-thickening layers on top without dilluting the us versus them feeling. Humanity versus the demons. Guy with gun versus Nigel Gorman and his dark tower’s worth of alleged sins.
This juicy cake of bullets, badassdom, and berserk fury from another dimension is not served in slices. Rather it piles itself into your drooling, gaping mouth wholesale, that you may choke on the multitude of flavours and textures while your strained jaw is struggling to form the words “Please, sir, may I have another?”.
The bottom line is, Correia’s done it again. After so many years in the business and so many genres tackled, it’s a wonder he can keep reinventing himself at every corner and deliver something that is at once recognisable but also fresh enough, especially for longtime fans. He’s the Chris Jericho of the writing world.
Full thoughts: https://gunghogeeksblog.wordpress.com...
July 11, 2026
Well, American Paladin was mostly a fun, easy read. It didn't tax the mind much, lots of implausible action sequences and contrived dialogue. Having followed Larry on social media for a while, it sort of read in places like his Twitter or Facebook feed with a story placed on top of it. References to Biden, references to the "Strong men create good times, etc." meme, even a pretty obvious character meant to be Neil Gaiman (Nigel Gorman=Neil Gaiman)
The main character Mike Spears is a combo vigilante and supernatural monster fighter. He kills bad people that the law can't touch while searching for the monsters that killed his family. Sort of like Owen Zastava Pitt from the Monster Hunter universe Spears is a highly trained killing machine who can kill you with guns or his bare hands.
The other characters are completely forgettable. Kate, the true crime Youtuber obligatory female sidekick/girl in distress, gives him someone to rescue. The other characters just serve as plot devices to move the story along.
Then again I have read most of Larry's books and I don't read them for the scintillating dialogue but because they are fun, sort of like the Jack Reacher series. If you like action and you like guns and you aren't a simpering wannabe Bolshevik that is perpetually triggered, you will probably enjoy American Paladin.
The main character Mike Spears is a combo vigilante and supernatural monster fighter. He kills bad people that the law can't touch while searching for the monsters that killed his family. Sort of like Owen Zastava Pitt from the Monster Hunter universe Spears is a highly trained killing machine who can kill you with guns or his bare hands.
The other characters are completely forgettable. Kate, the true crime Youtuber obligatory female sidekick/girl in distress, gives him someone to rescue. The other characters just serve as plot devices to move the story along.
Then again I have read most of Larry's books and I don't read them for the scintillating dialogue but because they are fun, sort of like the Jack Reacher series. If you like action and you like guns and you aren't a simpering wannabe Bolshevik that is perpetually triggered, you will probably enjoy American Paladin.
Review of advance copy
American Paladin by Larry Correia- 3.5/5
I was *very* worried about this book. For one, I had heard Baen passed on it due to quality and feeling it was an inferior Monster Hunter International. Two, Larry is a very mixed author for me. Luckily, some early political cringe lines aside, this book is mostly very good. The main character actually reminded a bit of Oathbreaker, in a good way. He’s a man in over his head with quick thinking skills who can take a punch and has just enough little extra magic to be helpful. He even fails to identify the make and model of a firearm at a certain point, which for Larry is downright progress.
This book has a few elements I really like but can’t talk about without spoilers. One thing I can is I love how the characters from our world view things as tech and ones from the fantasy world view things as magic. I also think, right at the end, Larry introduces a few elements I hope to see explored in future books that add some surprising depth and subtlety to the whole “evil magic Aztecs from a fantasy dimension fight modern gunslingers” thing. Sons of the Black Sword ended really great, hopefully Larry can pull off the same thing with American Paladin as we go forward.
I was *very* worried about this book. For one, I had heard Baen passed on it due to quality and feeling it was an inferior Monster Hunter International. Two, Larry is a very mixed author for me. Luckily, some early political cringe lines aside, this book is mostly very good. The main character actually reminded a bit of Oathbreaker, in a good way. He’s a man in over his head with quick thinking skills who can take a punch and has just enough little extra magic to be helpful. He even fails to identify the make and model of a firearm at a certain point, which for Larry is downright progress.
This book has a few elements I really like but can’t talk about without spoilers. One thing I can is I love how the characters from our world view things as tech and ones from the fantasy world view things as magic. I also think, right at the end, Larry introduces a few elements I hope to see explored in future books that add some surprising depth and subtlety to the whole “evil magic Aztecs from a fantasy dimension fight modern gunslingers” thing. Sons of the Black Sword ended really great, hopefully Larry can pull off the same thing with American Paladin as we go forward.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
9/10
John Wick vs. Monsters (human and otherwise)
This book is terrifying, brutal, epic, and awesome. This new series has a tonal shift and is quite distinct from all of his other books. It certainly has some elements of Monster Hunter, but this book takes itself more seriously. Monster Hunter is a bit more light-hearted, pulpy, and fun. This book, on the other hand, is dark, gritty, and brutal.
I won't get too far into it to avoid spoilers, but, in my opinion, this is my favorite of Larry's books thus far. I think this is where Larry's strengths really shine.
Speaking objectively, I loved practically everything about it, but did have a couple of minor nit-picks. There were 2 instances where Larry was critical of our former president, and while I may agree with him, it felt a bit unnecessary and pulled me out of the story for a moment, but then I was right back in.
Overall, excellent story that has left an unlimited amount of opportunities for the future. Really looking forward to the next one!
John Wick vs. Monsters (human and otherwise)
This book is terrifying, brutal, epic, and awesome. This new series has a tonal shift and is quite distinct from all of his other books. It certainly has some elements of Monster Hunter, but this book takes itself more seriously. Monster Hunter is a bit more light-hearted, pulpy, and fun. This book, on the other hand, is dark, gritty, and brutal.
I won't get too far into it to avoid spoilers, but, in my opinion, this is my favorite of Larry's books thus far. I think this is where Larry's strengths really shine.
Speaking objectively, I loved practically everything about it, but did have a couple of minor nit-picks. There were 2 instances where Larry was critical of our former president, and while I may agree with him, it felt a bit unnecessary and pulled me out of the story for a moment, but then I was right back in.
Overall, excellent story that has left an unlimited amount of opportunities for the future. Really looking forward to the next one!
Review of advance copy
Got the book as a Kickstarter backer.
It is an interesting read. The concept that there is another dimension that connects to ours with sometime places. The other side can find and use those doors. Our side has not a clue unless we stumble upone them. This has been going on for 100s if not 1000s of years. That is until a teenager and his family go through, but only the teenager gets back. Of course no one believes him, so he spends his life trying to find out what happened and preparing to fight them when he finds them on this side. Eventually they are over here and the encounter between him and the Kultec happen
I really enjoyed how the mystery and the Kultec were tied into Mexico and Navtive American culture.
So that is the jist of the the story. It is very well written and is compelling enough to keep me reading to find out how it will end. I was a bit disappointed by the end, it just seemsd a bit rushed to me. The final fights seemed rather quick compared to the overall story. But all in all very good read.
It is an interesting read. The concept that there is another dimension that connects to ours with sometime places. The other side can find and use those doors. Our side has not a clue unless we stumble upone them. This has been going on for 100s if not 1000s of years. That is until a teenager and his family go through, but only the teenager gets back. Of course no one believes him, so he spends his life trying to find out what happened and preparing to fight them when he finds them on this side. Eventually they are over here and the encounter between him and the Kultec happen
I really enjoyed how the mystery and the Kultec were tied into Mexico and Navtive American culture.
So that is the jist of the the story. It is very well written and is compelling enough to keep me reading to find out how it will end. I was a bit disappointed by the end, it just seemsd a bit rushed to me. The final fights seemed rather quick compared to the overall story. But all in all very good read.
June 27, 2026
I've read Correia's fantasy series, but this is my first exposure of his work in that "Urban Fantasy/Horror" genre and I absolutely loved it.
This story follows a character who hunts monsters, both supernatural and of our world. He knows of the existence of an ancient magical cult, that honestly ruined his life. Finally, after so many years, those cultists resurface, and the main character finds himself smack dab in the middle of their criminal activity.
That being said there are some disturbing moments and concepts in this book. If you have a week stomach, I wouldn't recommend it to you. But if you love a badass who is willing to put others wellbeing before his own, this is great for you. A tale about a guy with oldschool heroic qualities.
Correia is phenomenal when it comes to writing action that feels "realistic," or at the very least, can be visualized in an action movie. He balances simplistic detail and disturbing imagery masterfully. This is a great start to a new series and I'll definitely read more books as they come out.
This story follows a character who hunts monsters, both supernatural and of our world. He knows of the existence of an ancient magical cult, that honestly ruined his life. Finally, after so many years, those cultists resurface, and the main character finds himself smack dab in the middle of their criminal activity.
That being said there are some disturbing moments and concepts in this book. If you have a week stomach, I wouldn't recommend it to you. But if you love a badass who is willing to put others wellbeing before his own, this is great for you. A tale about a guy with oldschool heroic qualities.
Correia is phenomenal when it comes to writing action that feels "realistic," or at the very least, can be visualized in an action movie. He balances simplistic detail and disturbing imagery masterfully. This is a great start to a new series and I'll definitely read more books as they come out.
July 15, 2026
4 stars
This book was really fun. The premise was very intriguing, American badass vs old folk tail horrors, and an Aztec empire from another dimension.
If you like the idea of Jason Bourne battling monsters, this is for you, it's very entertaining and action packed.
I think it lacked a bit of realism, in the main characters whole lone wolf persona, but I guess that's a very modern American style of hero. This would make a great action-horror movie
I think there was a bit of a missed opportunity with the monsters, they didn't feel very mysterious, and other than one scene, the terror was only present in an action packed kind of way. Would have been good if he had leaned in more to the folk monsters, and built a sense of eeriness and dread.
The interdimensional Aztec empire was really cool!
All in all I thought it was a great first book, and fun intro to this series! Definitely check it out!
This book was really fun. The premise was very intriguing, American badass vs old folk tail horrors, and an Aztec empire from another dimension.
If you like the idea of Jason Bourne battling monsters, this is for you, it's very entertaining and action packed.
I think it lacked a bit of realism, in the main characters whole lone wolf persona, but I guess that's a very modern American style of hero. This would make a great action-horror movie
I think there was a bit of a missed opportunity with the monsters, they didn't feel very mysterious, and other than one scene, the terror was only present in an action packed kind of way. Would have been good if he had leaned in more to the folk monsters, and built a sense of eeriness and dread.
The interdimensional Aztec empire was really cool!
All in all I thought it was a great first book, and fun intro to this series! Definitely check it out!
Review of advance copy
Excellent book, another great start to a new series by Larry Correia. Not Monster Hunter, not like other series by the author. Quite different from his other books as this was more of an action thriller with some supernatural thrown in. Luckily, I also love these types of books. Fans of other urban fantasy will enjoy this book. Having had his parents and the rest of his family killed by otherworlders when he was younger, Mike Spears works hard to make him better for the revenge he seeks. A friend sends him a link to social media that tends to point to him. A woman is in danger, and it appears the otherworlders are after her. Now he's got a chance for that revenge and now he's got a chance.
I was a Kickstarter supporter. That's the source of this book. I paid for it. It was not provided to me without charge. And yes, I read a real book. This was not an audiobook.
I was a Kickstarter supporter. That's the source of this book. I paid for it. It was not provided to me without charge. And yes, I read a real book. This was not an audiobook.
July 13, 2026
Excellent!! Couldn't put this down. When's a sequel coming out?
This book was packed with tense action, suspense, and a WHOLE LOT of gratification & glorious vengeance written by a guy who does that better than just about anyone else! I can't think of what else to say without spoilers, but look for a hilarious, and very satisfying not-so-subtle (because it doesn't need to be), analogy of a certain real life rich, narcissistic pervert in the current-day writing and publishing business. I gave this 5 stars because the review page wouldn't let me give it 6. Perhaps I'll write a sternly worded e-mail to Amazon about this technical oversight.
This book was packed with tense action, suspense, and a WHOLE LOT of gratification & glorious vengeance written by a guy who does that better than just about anyone else! I can't think of what else to say without spoilers, but look for a hilarious, and very satisfying not-so-subtle (because it doesn't need to be), analogy of a certain real life rich, narcissistic pervert in the current-day writing and publishing business. I gave this 5 stars because the review page wouldn't let me give it 6. Perhaps I'll write a sternly worded e-mail to Amazon about this technical oversight.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a RIDE!
Correia set a high bar for this one, and delivered in full. I took part in the kickstarter campaign, and feel I got my investment back many times over.
Rural Horror-Fantasy usually makes me cringe, because authors rely heavily on stereotypes for their characters and scenes.
Not in this one.
I could picture the people in the town. Heck, I think I may have met a few of them.
And the action does not stop. It slows, but then revs back to full tilt.
Bigfoot? Skinwalkers? Bloodthirsty Aztec gods?
Heck, yeah!
Cannot WAIT for the sequel.
Correia set a high bar for this one, and delivered in full. I took part in the kickstarter campaign, and feel I got my investment back many times over.
Rural Horror-Fantasy usually makes me cringe, because authors rely heavily on stereotypes for their characters and scenes.
Not in this one.
I could picture the people in the town. Heck, I think I may have met a few of them.
And the action does not stop. It slows, but then revs back to full tilt.
Bigfoot? Skinwalkers? Bloodthirsty Aztec gods?
Heck, yeah!
Cannot WAIT for the sequel.
June 23, 2026
Excellent monster-hunting vigilante debut novel.
Larry Correia's American Paladin starts the story of Mike Spears, who roams Great Plains and Mountain West looking for monsters. Literal monsters, although there's plenty of human ones that likewise need removing. This book is unapologetically about killing bad things (and people), and is packed with action from the start. The supernatural elements are likewise excellent, with an interesting mythology and genuine menace. Well worth your time.
(Note: I received an early copy of this book via Kickstarter.)
Larry Correia's American Paladin starts the story of Mike Spears, who roams Great Plains and Mountain West looking for monsters. Literal monsters, although there's plenty of human ones that likewise need removing. This book is unapologetically about killing bad things (and people), and is packed with action from the start. The supernatural elements are likewise excellent, with an interesting mythology and genuine menace. Well worth your time.
(Note: I received an early copy of this book via Kickstarter.)
June 26, 2026
Oh my GOODNESS!
What a great protagonist! I stormed through this in TWO DAYS. Now I am left longing for more. One could be forgiven for thinking this story was 'ripped from the headlines'. Living in the PNW, disappearances happen too frequently for comfort. This story fills in some of the blanks left by those disappearances, with a realistic Hero, who is not perfect, but is certainly dedicated to stamping out Evil, no matter where it originates. A lively, entertaining and engrossing read. Highly recommended!!
What a great protagonist! I stormed through this in TWO DAYS. Now I am left longing for more. One could be forgiven for thinking this story was 'ripped from the headlines'. Living in the PNW, disappearances happen too frequently for comfort. This story fills in some of the blanks left by those disappearances, with a realistic Hero, who is not perfect, but is certainly dedicated to stamping out Evil, no matter where it originates. A lively, entertaining and engrossing read. Highly recommended!!
June 30, 2026
Another Masterpiece!
Once again, Larry Correia has created a world that draws you in and refuses to be forgotten. Anyone who has ever witnessed injustice and the burn of being helpless against it will resonate with this one... conspiracies, cults, Otherworldly beings, magic, lost gods bloodthirsty and ruthless...there is mystery, horror, vengeance, and justice. Spears is the embodiment of the Everyman that wants to make wrongdoers pay in a system that rewards evil. The final horror I'll spoil: We still have to wait for the next book! (There better be one too, Correia!).
Once again, Larry Correia has created a world that draws you in and refuses to be forgotten. Anyone who has ever witnessed injustice and the burn of being helpless against it will resonate with this one... conspiracies, cults, Otherworldly beings, magic, lost gods bloodthirsty and ruthless...there is mystery, horror, vengeance, and justice. Spears is the embodiment of the Everyman that wants to make wrongdoers pay in a system that rewards evil. The final horror I'll spoil: We still have to wait for the next book! (There better be one too, Correia!).
June 26, 2026
I love Larry's writing, and really enjoyed the narration of the Monster Hunter series, so I was shocked by how badly the audible narrator read (I won't call it a performance) the story. I can overlook stuttering, awkward pauses, and mispronounced words, but the loud, audible breaths at the end of sentences fully de-immersed me repeatedly throughout my listen. I recommend this book, but would strongly encourage you to pass on the audio book.
June 28, 2026
Dirty Harry meets Bone Tomahawk + monsters! What a terrific, fast moving book! Loved it. Small, strong cast, interesting world building, gun fights, testosterone, and a pulls no punches "good" guy who is as unlikely to monologue during a fight as he is to provide pity when he has the bad guy dead to rights. A breezy, compelling intro to a new series of which I cannot wait to read more. Highly recommended.
August 2, 2026
A real page-turner. If you like Correia's other works, like the Monster Hunter International series, you'll find a lot to like here. American Paladin is quite different from MHI, more somber in tone, more grounded, and connected more to New World mythology than European. But a lot of the flavor and tone resembles the earlier MHI works before the lore got complicated. I found it impossible to put down and read it in one long day, loved it, and can't wait for more.
August 3, 2026
Imagine if those weird conspiracy theories and urban legends out west were true?
You know the ones, the missing people, strange deaths and odd things only game wardens and cowboys have seen!
Paladin ( named after the TV show) has been there, done that and knows what's ''over there''. He's going to deal with those monsters and if he runs into actual human monsters on the way, he'll deal with them too.
You know the ones, the missing people, strange deaths and odd things only game wardens and cowboys have seen!
Paladin ( named after the TV show) has been there, done that and knows what's ''over there''. He's going to deal with those monsters and if he runs into actual human monsters on the way, he'll deal with them too.
June 25, 2026
Home run by Correia!
A new urban fantasy/paranormal series launched by Monster Hunter author Larry Correia does for fantasy what Vince Flynn did for thrillers. American Paladin is a high speed, violent, thrill-packed read, everything one would expect from Correia. Highly recommended.
A new urban fantasy/paranormal series launched by Monster Hunter author Larry Correia does for fantasy what Vince Flynn did for thrillers. American Paladin is a high speed, violent, thrill-packed read, everything one would expect from Correia. Highly recommended.
June 25, 2026
Another Fantastic Read from A Fantastic Author
I loved this book and read it in practically one sitting. The details, the pacing, the dry humor. It was awesome. I adore the Monster Hunters International series (MORE please), I am now looking forward to the next in this American Paladin series as well. Gleefully addicting!
I loved this book and read it in practically one sitting. The details, the pacing, the dry humor. It was awesome. I adore the Monster Hunters International series (MORE please), I am now looking forward to the next in this American Paladin series as well. Gleefully addicting!
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