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Valducan #2
Hounacier
Eleven years ago, atheist MALCOLM ROMERO met a god. Now he’s a demon-hunting voodoo priest armed with a holy machete named Hounacier.
After the murder of his mentor, he returns to New Orleans to catch the killer. But more is at stake when Malcolm finds himself betrayed, and his holy blade stolen. Now Malcolm’s only hope to save his soul and to recover HOUNACIER, is the Valducan knight sent to kill him, MATT HOLLIS, the wielder of the holy revolver DÄMOREN.
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Hounacier is book two of Seth Skorkowsky's urban fantasy series, Valducan, from Ragnarok Publications.
After the murder of his mentor, he returns to New Orleans to catch the killer. But more is at stake when Malcolm finds himself betrayed, and his holy blade stolen. Now Malcolm’s only hope to save his soul and to recover HOUNACIER, is the Valducan knight sent to kill him, MATT HOLLIS, the wielder of the holy revolver DÄMOREN.
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Hounacier is book two of Seth Skorkowsky's urban fantasy series, Valducan, from Ragnarok Publications.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2015
About the author
Seth Skorkowsky
17 books366 followersRaised in the swamps and pine forests of East Texas, Seth Skorkowsky always gravitated to the darker sides of fantasy, preferring horror and pulp heroes over knights in shining armor.
His debut novel, Dämoren, was published in 2014. He has now released four urban fantasy novels and two sword-and-sorcery short story collections. Seth's latest novel, Ashes of Onyx, released in 2020.
When not writing, Seth enjoys cheesy movies, tabletop role-playing games, making YouTube videos, and traveling the world with his wife.
His debut novel, Dämoren, was published in 2014. He has now released four urban fantasy novels and two sword-and-sorcery short story collections. Seth's latest novel, Ashes of Onyx, released in 2020.
When not writing, Seth enjoys cheesy movies, tabletop role-playing games, making YouTube videos, and traveling the world with his wife.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 23, 2017
Wow!!! And I thought Dämoren was good! Skorkowsky just shot his way up on my "Favorite Author" list.
EDIT: this review is now up at booksprens here.
One thing I really love about this series is that each book is essentially a stand-alone, so you can really start anywhere. While they're stand-alones, they do build upon one another. So you will miss out on some context for past missions and info on past characters, but you'll still find enjoyment even if you start here.
Hounacier, like Damoren, is a blessed holy weapon and is wielded by Senior Valducan Knight Malcolm Romero. I found this interesting because Malcolm was a character that I didn't really like much in Damoren (gotta read and find out why). That piqued my interest all by itself. We get a really cool intro explaining how Malcolm came to meet Hounacier and, at the same time, got a great set-up for the setting and feel of the book. While Damoren took us to quite a few locations and cities/countries, Hounacier takes places exclusively in New Orleans. Now, I'm not really all that interested in New Orleans or voodoo (which is the chosen religion/magic system for this book), but Skorkowsky did an amazing job at getting me interested in both of those things. Our monsters were also a bit less varied than in Damoren, but that didn't take away from the story at all. While Damoren felt like a hodgepodge of monsters (I don't mean that in a negative way) Hounacier focused mainly on ghouls, asanbosam, werewolves, and a succubus.
Hounacier is, essentially, a murder mystery. And a love story of sorts (but not exactly how you're thinking). Malcolm has just completed one mission when he checks his email, for once, and finds a couple emails from his mentor, Ulises, and one from one of his old friends stating that Ulises has been murdered. He goes back home, to New Orleans, to find out what has happened so he can revenge his mentor. In the midst of his investigation he finds himself betrayed and has his holy blade, Hounacier, stolen from him. Here's where reading Damoren pays off. His only hope to saving his soul and getting back his beloved holy weapon is to rely on someone he doesn't really like: Matt aka the wielder of Damoren. Matt has actually been sent to kill Malcolm, for reasons I can't say, which is quite the conundrum for Malcolm because he wasn't exactly very welcoming to Matt when he showed up as their new recruit, back in the events of Damoren.
One of the things I loved most about this book, is it gives us a look into someone who was quite the douche to Matt in Damoren. I actually really disliked Malcolm in the first book but came to love him quite quickly in Hounacier. I love getting into the head of characters I dislike. That's one of my favorite parts of reading; I think it's a great teacher of empathy. Malcolm actually gets some really great development here. Which is nice for a character who was pretty hard-headed in the previous book.
The pacing was, yet again, so great!! It was fast when it needed to be, but also slowed down, when we needed it to. Skorkowsky excels at writing suspenseful scenes. Due to the body count in Damoren and a certain event, about halfway through this book, no one really feels safe. There were times that I just breezed through this book due to the suspense. It's a fairly easy read, as evident by being able to finish this the same day that I started it. I just couldn't put it down! This book also challenges just about everything the Valducan thought they knew about monsters and their victims. Which was a very nice touch.
This one may appeal to some fantasy fans a bit more due to the main character wielding a machete instead of a gun. I know a lot of people find guns in fantasy lame (don't personally know why as I love when guns are incorporated well; which Damoren is definitely incorporated very well), so this may be a huge bonus for many people.
All-in-all, I can't recommend this series highly enough or do it the justice it deserves with a measly review. This has just about everything that I think makes a story a great story: wonderful magic system, great characters, fast paced plot, amazing lore, and a fun setting.
EDIT: this review is now up at booksprens here.
One thing I really love about this series is that each book is essentially a stand-alone, so you can really start anywhere. While they're stand-alones, they do build upon one another. So you will miss out on some context for past missions and info on past characters, but you'll still find enjoyment even if you start here.
Hounacier, like Damoren, is a blessed holy weapon and is wielded by Senior Valducan Knight Malcolm Romero. I found this interesting because Malcolm was a character that I didn't really like much in Damoren (gotta read and find out why). That piqued my interest all by itself. We get a really cool intro explaining how Malcolm came to meet Hounacier and, at the same time, got a great set-up for the setting and feel of the book. While Damoren took us to quite a few locations and cities/countries, Hounacier takes places exclusively in New Orleans. Now, I'm not really all that interested in New Orleans or voodoo (which is the chosen religion/magic system for this book), but Skorkowsky did an amazing job at getting me interested in both of those things. Our monsters were also a bit less varied than in Damoren, but that didn't take away from the story at all. While Damoren felt like a hodgepodge of monsters (I don't mean that in a negative way) Hounacier focused mainly on ghouls, asanbosam, werewolves, and a succubus.
Hounacier is, essentially, a murder mystery. And a love story of sorts (but not exactly how you're thinking). Malcolm has just completed one mission when he checks his email, for once, and finds a couple emails from his mentor, Ulises, and one from one of his old friends stating that Ulises has been murdered. He goes back home, to New Orleans, to find out what has happened so he can revenge his mentor. In the midst of his investigation he finds himself betrayed and has his holy blade, Hounacier, stolen from him. Here's where reading Damoren pays off. His only hope to saving his soul and getting back his beloved holy weapon is to rely on someone he doesn't really like: Matt aka the wielder of Damoren. Matt has actually been sent to kill Malcolm, for reasons I can't say, which is quite the conundrum for Malcolm because he wasn't exactly very welcoming to Matt when he showed up as their new recruit, back in the events of Damoren.
One of the things I loved most about this book, is it gives us a look into someone who was quite the douche to Matt in Damoren. I actually really disliked Malcolm in the first book but came to love him quite quickly in Hounacier. I love getting into the head of characters I dislike. That's one of my favorite parts of reading; I think it's a great teacher of empathy. Malcolm actually gets some really great development here. Which is nice for a character who was pretty hard-headed in the previous book.
The pacing was, yet again, so great!! It was fast when it needed to be, but also slowed down, when we needed it to. Skorkowsky excels at writing suspenseful scenes. Due to the body count in Damoren and a certain event, about halfway through this book, no one really feels safe. There were times that I just breezed through this book due to the suspense. It's a fairly easy read, as evident by being able to finish this the same day that I started it. I just couldn't put it down! This book also challenges just about everything the Valducan thought they knew about monsters and their victims. Which was a very nice touch.
This one may appeal to some fantasy fans a bit more due to the main character wielding a machete instead of a gun. I know a lot of people find guns in fantasy lame (don't personally know why as I love when guns are incorporated well; which Damoren is definitely incorporated very well), so this may be a huge bonus for many people.
All-in-all, I can't recommend this series highly enough or do it the justice it deserves with a measly review. This has just about everything that I think makes a story a great story: wonderful magic system, great characters, fast paced plot, amazing lore, and a fun setting.
March 16, 2015
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/04/03/b...
Last year I discovered the awesome world of magic, demons, and sentient spirit-imbued weapons in Seth Skorkowsky’s Dämoren, so when I was offered a chance to read the sequel, I didn’t hesitate.
Hounacier builds on the first book, which introduced us to an order of modern-day knights called the Valducan. All the monsters or the world are actually human beings possessed by demon, and the type of demon in turn determines the type of monster and the transformation into werewolf, ghoul, lamia, wendigo, etc. A Valducan knight makes it his or her life’s work hunting and killing these demons, with the help of a holy weapon which the knight is bonded to with their whole heart and soul.
Book two expands upon these themes, but the story is also very different. For one thing, we have a change in protagonist. While Dämoren follows the life of a rogue demon hunter named Matt Hollis, Hounacier instead features another Valducan knight named Malcolm Romero. Dämoren was a jet-setting action/adventure thriller that took us on an ass-kicking demon hunt across the globe, while Hounacier takes place mostly in New Orleans and the story reads more like a mystery. The pacing is thus slower, but this is a good thing because it also sets the book up nicely for a heavier and more macabre horror vibe.
This dark fantasy series just got even darker, which is how I like it! Eleven years after he faced his first demon and became apprenticed to a Voodoo priest, Malcolm receives news about the grisly murder of his mentor. Now he returns to New Orleans to in order to catch the killer, armed with his holy weapon, a machete named Hounacier. As the investigation deepens and the details surrounding it becomes more disturbing, Malcolm finds himself betrayed. With his soul violated and his holy blade stolen from him, Malcolm is plunged into a nightmarish existence of violence and terrible dark magic. Seth Skorkowsky kept me on my toes the whole time, and it’s such an intense and brutal tale that I couldn’t even begin to guess how everything would turn out.
In many ways, the scope of Hounacier is smaller than that of its predecessor; we’re mainly in a single setting, there aren’t as many characters, and we also don’t see a big variety of demons in this book. Still, the narrower focus serves an advantage here, because it immerses us deeply into the culture and traditions of Voodoo magic. The author has clearly done a lot of research in order to make his portrayal of it as authentic and accurate as possible.
We also get to know the protagonist a lot better. Malcolm was a side character in Dämoren, one of the lead knights who gave Matt Hollis a hard time because the Valducan believed Matt was demon-touched. So in the first book, Malcolm was painted as this huge asshole and admittedly that’s how I remembered him too. Imagine my surprise then, when I read Hounacier and realized how much I liked him and sympathized with him. Malcolm is awesome – he’s interesting, deep, and conflicted, and this makes him an engaging character to follow. I think I ended up liking him even more than Matt Hollis. The powers granted to Malcolm by the mystical properties of his weapon are also unique and new. Matt Hollis may have his blood compasses, but Malcolm Romero has his magical tattoos, including one that can see through your soul to tell if you’re pure or tainted by a demon. Very cool stuff.
I would consider these Valducan books to be Urban Fantasy, but there’s also a great deal of Horror thrown into the mix. The horror element is even more prominent in Hounacier, as we follow the trail of a murderer and then come face-to-face with a werewolf demon. The werewolves here are the savage, psychotic and bloodthirsty variety, with the monster in control rather than the human. More than once, the terrifyingly gruesome scenes in here evoked a visceral reaction from me. If you like your UF dark, brutal and completely unflinching about the fact, then Valducan is the series for you.
One final thing I’m grateful to Mr. Skorkowsky for is that these books can be read as stand-alones. Hounacier has some connections to Dämoren, like Matt Hollis showing up near the end to team up with Malcolm, etc. but for the most part both novels are self-contained stories. Pick up either one (they’re both good!) and read away. Highly recommended.
Last year I discovered the awesome world of magic, demons, and sentient spirit-imbued weapons in Seth Skorkowsky’s Dämoren, so when I was offered a chance to read the sequel, I didn’t hesitate.
Hounacier builds on the first book, which introduced us to an order of modern-day knights called the Valducan. All the monsters or the world are actually human beings possessed by demon, and the type of demon in turn determines the type of monster and the transformation into werewolf, ghoul, lamia, wendigo, etc. A Valducan knight makes it his or her life’s work hunting and killing these demons, with the help of a holy weapon which the knight is bonded to with their whole heart and soul.
Book two expands upon these themes, but the story is also very different. For one thing, we have a change in protagonist. While Dämoren follows the life of a rogue demon hunter named Matt Hollis, Hounacier instead features another Valducan knight named Malcolm Romero. Dämoren was a jet-setting action/adventure thriller that took us on an ass-kicking demon hunt across the globe, while Hounacier takes place mostly in New Orleans and the story reads more like a mystery. The pacing is thus slower, but this is a good thing because it also sets the book up nicely for a heavier and more macabre horror vibe.
This dark fantasy series just got even darker, which is how I like it! Eleven years after he faced his first demon and became apprenticed to a Voodoo priest, Malcolm receives news about the grisly murder of his mentor. Now he returns to New Orleans to in order to catch the killer, armed with his holy weapon, a machete named Hounacier. As the investigation deepens and the details surrounding it becomes more disturbing, Malcolm finds himself betrayed. With his soul violated and his holy blade stolen from him, Malcolm is plunged into a nightmarish existence of violence and terrible dark magic. Seth Skorkowsky kept me on my toes the whole time, and it’s such an intense and brutal tale that I couldn’t even begin to guess how everything would turn out.
In many ways, the scope of Hounacier is smaller than that of its predecessor; we’re mainly in a single setting, there aren’t as many characters, and we also don’t see a big variety of demons in this book. Still, the narrower focus serves an advantage here, because it immerses us deeply into the culture and traditions of Voodoo magic. The author has clearly done a lot of research in order to make his portrayal of it as authentic and accurate as possible.
We also get to know the protagonist a lot better. Malcolm was a side character in Dämoren, one of the lead knights who gave Matt Hollis a hard time because the Valducan believed Matt was demon-touched. So in the first book, Malcolm was painted as this huge asshole and admittedly that’s how I remembered him too. Imagine my surprise then, when I read Hounacier and realized how much I liked him and sympathized with him. Malcolm is awesome – he’s interesting, deep, and conflicted, and this makes him an engaging character to follow. I think I ended up liking him even more than Matt Hollis. The powers granted to Malcolm by the mystical properties of his weapon are also unique and new. Matt Hollis may have his blood compasses, but Malcolm Romero has his magical tattoos, including one that can see through your soul to tell if you’re pure or tainted by a demon. Very cool stuff.
I would consider these Valducan books to be Urban Fantasy, but there’s also a great deal of Horror thrown into the mix. The horror element is even more prominent in Hounacier, as we follow the trail of a murderer and then come face-to-face with a werewolf demon. The werewolves here are the savage, psychotic and bloodthirsty variety, with the monster in control rather than the human. More than once, the terrifyingly gruesome scenes in here evoked a visceral reaction from me. If you like your UF dark, brutal and completely unflinching about the fact, then Valducan is the series for you.
One final thing I’m grateful to Mr. Skorkowsky for is that these books can be read as stand-alones. Hounacier has some connections to Dämoren, like Matt Hollis showing up near the end to team up with Malcolm, etc. but for the most part both novels are self-contained stories. Pick up either one (they’re both good!) and read away. Highly recommended.
November 16, 2018
4 Stars
A very solid second entry in the Valducan series, Hounacier changes this up and shows a different side of the incredible world the author has created.
The first book followed Matt Hollis from his journey as a solo hunter to a demon killing Valducan knight. This time we follow around Malcolm Romero, the established knight who clashed with Matt during the events of the first book, as he heads home to New Orleans to investigate the death of his mentor.
I thought it was a really interesting choice to spend the second book following around a character that came across as unlikable in the first book. I was a little hesitant, but the author pulled it off well. There was some interesting backstory to Malcolm and a cool look at the city of New Orleans and the voodoo culture there. Learning a bit more about Malcolm’s tattoos and some of his powers was awesome. The pacing again was fantastic, the book moved along without any slow parts that I noticed. Just like the first book, it balanced action and character interactions very well. The author also used some nice touches with a few POV switches that helped add some depth and broaden the story.
I compared these books to Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International books in my review of book 1, and I’m going to do that again here. And just to be clear, I’m meaning it as a compliment! Corriea switched protagonists several times in his series and did it very well, even managing to change the feel of the books from big action to a more intimate and smaller scale story. The author does the same trick here, using a new protagonist and changing the feel from book 1 (sprawling story ranging from the US to Canada to all over Europe) to a more narrowly focused story in a centralized location. The slight horror genre feel from book 1 was even stronger this time, and while I’m not a big horror fan, it was done well.
Damoren, the first book in the Valducan series, was one of the best openings to any urban fantasy series I’ve read so I jumped right in to Hounacier. While different than the first book, it was another super entertaining book that made me go out and buy book 3 as soon as I was done.
A very solid second entry in the Valducan series, Hounacier changes this up and shows a different side of the incredible world the author has created.
The first book followed Matt Hollis from his journey as a solo hunter to a demon killing Valducan knight. This time we follow around Malcolm Romero, the established knight who clashed with Matt during the events of the first book, as he heads home to New Orleans to investigate the death of his mentor.
I thought it was a really interesting choice to spend the second book following around a character that came across as unlikable in the first book. I was a little hesitant, but the author pulled it off well. There was some interesting backstory to Malcolm and a cool look at the city of New Orleans and the voodoo culture there. Learning a bit more about Malcolm’s tattoos and some of his powers was awesome. The pacing again was fantastic, the book moved along without any slow parts that I noticed. Just like the first book, it balanced action and character interactions very well. The author also used some nice touches with a few POV switches that helped add some depth and broaden the story.
I compared these books to Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter International books in my review of book 1, and I’m going to do that again here. And just to be clear, I’m meaning it as a compliment! Corriea switched protagonists several times in his series and did it very well, even managing to change the feel of the books from big action to a more intimate and smaller scale story. The author does the same trick here, using a new protagonist and changing the feel from book 1 (sprawling story ranging from the US to Canada to all over Europe) to a more narrowly focused story in a centralized location. The slight horror genre feel from book 1 was even stronger this time, and while I’m not a big horror fan, it was done well.
Damoren, the first book in the Valducan series, was one of the best openings to any urban fantasy series I’ve read so I jumped right in to Hounacier. While different than the first book, it was another super entertaining book that made me go out and buy book 3 as soon as I was done.
March 4, 2018
Matt Hollis is a great and relatable character. Malcolm Romero isn’t. At least that’s what I thought after finishing Dämoren. You can’t blame me. Malcolm behaved like a huge asshole all way through.
And yet here we are following Mal’s adventure in New Orleans. His mentor and father figure was murdered. Malcolm returns to New Orleans to catch the killer but instead loses his holy machete (Hounacier) and finds himself on the run. Not only from others. He’ll have to face even more dangerous foe. I can’t say anything more not to spoil the twist.
This book is all about Malcolm and his relationships (with people, holy blade, ghosts, himself). We learn more about him. He was brought to faith by terror – in his past, he was atheist working as a journalist. While looking for a strong article topic he decided to investigate the world of voodoo. Upon witnessing exorcism his world shattered to pieces and he felt a calling that would eventually lead him to become a Valducan demon hunter.
I’m impressed with world-building and amount of research put into crafting the story. The author does a great job of describing the city giving us a deeper look at voodoo and the loa. Voodoo is a central theme in Hounacier. It feels vibrant and authentic. And it’s fascinating.
Additionally, we get new and fantastic insights into demon culture – through scenes and notes that broaden knowledge stored in Valducan archives. While our demon hunters slay demons and we can relate to them, demons pictured in Valducan series aren’t just flat incarnations of evil. They’re much more and they’re fascinating.
Hounacier isn’t Dämoren copy. It’s different in almost every possible way. It’s more low-key and more intimate. Obviously, we witness demon-slaying and good action scenes but it has a feel of a psychological thriller as well, especially after sudden twist that’ll face Malcolm with the biggest challenge of his life.
It’s dark and violent book. If you have very visual imagination you risk getting a visceral reaction to the events more than once. Some scenes were terrifyingly gruesome.
The pacing of the book in uneven. The first half of Hounacier sets the scene. After the twist, the novel becomes much faster. I can understand that for some readers the beginning will feel a bit slow but I enjoyed New Orleans descriptions. It’s one of the cities I dream to visit one day.
Overall, I’m impressed with Hounacier. It took me to really dark places but remained engrossing. If you look for dark Urban Fantasy mixed with horror Valducan is the series worth trying.
And yet here we are following Mal’s adventure in New Orleans. His mentor and father figure was murdered. Malcolm returns to New Orleans to catch the killer but instead loses his holy machete (Hounacier) and finds himself on the run. Not only from others. He’ll have to face even more dangerous foe. I can’t say anything more not to spoil the twist.
This book is all about Malcolm and his relationships (with people, holy blade, ghosts, himself). We learn more about him. He was brought to faith by terror – in his past, he was atheist working as a journalist. While looking for a strong article topic he decided to investigate the world of voodoo. Upon witnessing exorcism his world shattered to pieces and he felt a calling that would eventually lead him to become a Valducan demon hunter.
I’m impressed with world-building and amount of research put into crafting the story. The author does a great job of describing the city giving us a deeper look at voodoo and the loa. Voodoo is a central theme in Hounacier. It feels vibrant and authentic. And it’s fascinating.
Additionally, we get new and fantastic insights into demon culture – through scenes and notes that broaden knowledge stored in Valducan archives. While our demon hunters slay demons and we can relate to them, demons pictured in Valducan series aren’t just flat incarnations of evil. They’re much more and they’re fascinating.
Hounacier isn’t Dämoren copy. It’s different in almost every possible way. It’s more low-key and more intimate. Obviously, we witness demon-slaying and good action scenes but it has a feel of a psychological thriller as well, especially after sudden twist that’ll face Malcolm with the biggest challenge of his life.
It’s dark and violent book. If you have very visual imagination you risk getting a visceral reaction to the events more than once. Some scenes were terrifyingly gruesome.
The pacing of the book in uneven. The first half of Hounacier sets the scene. After the twist, the novel becomes much faster. I can understand that for some readers the beginning will feel a bit slow but I enjoyed New Orleans descriptions. It’s one of the cities I dream to visit one day.
Overall, I’m impressed with Hounacier. It took me to really dark places but remained engrossing. If you look for dark Urban Fantasy mixed with horror Valducan is the series worth trying.
Read
September 19, 2017DNF.
I loved the first book, I did. But this one is just not for me. In a world so interesting, with so many characters already there, with so many stories you can tell... I find it's a crime to waste time on plain old love stories. It's just not my thing, I find romantic relationships to be the most boring interpersonal bond you can write about and it's disappointing to me that both this and the next book are spent on that.
Also, why do people have to make it obvious people will end up together the very first moment? It's... not good. Sorry, I'm not sorry. I'm way too stressed and exhausted nowadays to read books that annoy me.
I loved the first book, I did. But this one is just not for me. In a world so interesting, with so many characters already there, with so many stories you can tell... I find it's a crime to waste time on plain old love stories. It's just not my thing, I find romantic relationships to be the most boring interpersonal bond you can write about and it's disappointing to me that both this and the next book are spent on that.
Also, why do people have to make it obvious people will end up together the very first moment? It's... not good. Sorry, I'm not sorry. I'm way too stressed and exhausted nowadays to read books that annoy me.
September 21, 2017
2.5 stars
I didn't like this book as much as the first one and there are a few reasons for that.
1. Change in main character: I liked Matt Hollis in the first book and wanted more of his story. This book however switches to Malcolm Romero, a senior Valducan Knight who was a bit of an ass to Matt in the first book. I didn't feel any pressing need to know more about Malcolm and, after spending an entire book with him, that hasn't changed. He goes through some pretty nasty crap in the back third of this book and I felt badly for him but overall, I just don't find him to be lead character material.
2. Downsizing: The first book was a wild ride that spanned cities and countries and had more of a focus on the Valducan Knights as an organization. I liked that and wanted to get deeper into its history and present day functions. Instead this book presents the solitary mission of Malcolm on a personal, non-Valducan mission to find the murderer of his mentor, Ulysses, a character we only meet briefly in the Prologue. Since readers never get to know Ulysses or experience his relationship with Malcolm, it's hard to really care about him or Malcolm's mission.
3. Pacing: The first two thirds of the book is mostly about Malcolm getting re-acquainted with his old stomping grounds and with old friends, which includes his former lover, Tasha. This portion of the book felt slow to me. Now I can deal with slow IF there are interesting and charismatic characters that I can stroll through the slow parts with but I didn't find that here. Malcolm comes across like a big, uptight dud to me. The romance, while not a big part of anything in this story, was also a dud because I strongly suspect that if the house were on fire Malcolm would save his machete before he'd save Tasha. The action did pick up in the last third of the book which is good for readers but so very bad for Malcolm.
4. Creepy attachment to weapon: This one I won't hold against this book because it was present in the first book too. But given that Urukhail (not sure of the spelling here since I listened to the audiobook but Matt's weapon, basically) confirmed that the entities that inhabit the holy weapons think of their wielders as their children, all the comments about Malcolm being Hounacier's husband just adds to the creepiness.
It was nice to see Matt make a brief appearance in this book. We get an update on his life which just makes me more curious to re-visit him as the main POV character. However, I see the next book switches focus to Alex, yet another of the Knights we met in the first book, but at least he has more of a personality.
As usual though, RC Bray did a great job with the narration so the low rating has nothing to do with his performance and everything to do with characters, plot, and pacing.
I didn't like this book as much as the first one and there are a few reasons for that.
1. Change in main character: I liked Matt Hollis in the first book and wanted more of his story. This book however switches to Malcolm Romero, a senior Valducan Knight who was a bit of an ass to Matt in the first book. I didn't feel any pressing need to know more about Malcolm and, after spending an entire book with him, that hasn't changed. He goes through some pretty nasty crap in the back third of this book and I felt badly for him but overall, I just don't find him to be lead character material.
2. Downsizing: The first book was a wild ride that spanned cities and countries and had more of a focus on the Valducan Knights as an organization. I liked that and wanted to get deeper into its history and present day functions. Instead this book presents the solitary mission of Malcolm on a personal, non-Valducan mission to find the murderer of his mentor, Ulysses, a character we only meet briefly in the Prologue. Since readers never get to know Ulysses or experience his relationship with Malcolm, it's hard to really care about him or Malcolm's mission.
3. Pacing: The first two thirds of the book is mostly about Malcolm getting re-acquainted with his old stomping grounds and with old friends, which includes his former lover, Tasha. This portion of the book felt slow to me. Now I can deal with slow IF there are interesting and charismatic characters that I can stroll through the slow parts with but I didn't find that here. Malcolm comes across like a big, uptight dud to me. The romance, while not a big part of anything in this story, was also a dud because I strongly suspect that if the house were on fire Malcolm would save his machete before he'd save Tasha. The action did pick up in the last third of the book which is good for readers but so very bad for Malcolm.
4. Creepy attachment to weapon: This one I won't hold against this book because it was present in the first book too. But given that Urukhail (not sure of the spelling here since I listened to the audiobook but Matt's weapon, basically) confirmed that the entities that inhabit the holy weapons think of their wielders as their children, all the comments about Malcolm being Hounacier's husband just adds to the creepiness.
It was nice to see Matt make a brief appearance in this book. We get an update on his life which just makes me more curious to re-visit him as the main POV character. However, I see the next book switches focus to Alex, yet another of the Knights we met in the first book, but at least he has more of a personality.
As usual though, RC Bray did a great job with the narration so the low rating has nothing to do with his performance and everything to do with characters, plot, and pacing.
March 17, 2015
Review copy
I had more fun reading this than anything else I've read in recent memory. What I expected going in was a rehash of book one in the Valducan series. What I got was a great stand-alone novel in the Valducan world.
Author, Seth Skorkowsky has come up with a winning formula featuring the Valducan, a group of demon-hunting knights who find and keep track of all holy weapons and whose library of demon species and lore is massive.
Whereas book one dealt with the weapon Dämoren, book two focuses on Hounacier. Given there are dozens of such weapons, Skorkowsky could work in this world for some time to come. Truth be told, I'd be quite happy if that was the case.
Like it's predecessor, Hounacier, is fast-paced,filled with monsters and monster hunters, and gets to the action from the very beginning, barely allowing the reader a chance to catch a breath. Unlike the first book, there is a very big twist halfway through. Not gonna spoil it, ya gotta read it, but this turned out to be one of the things I liked most about Hounacier. In my opinion this unexpected twist leads to a much better story.
Hounacier is a wild rollercoaster of a tale which will ultimately lift your spirits.
Hounacier (Valducan Book 2) is available now for the Kindle, from Ragnarok publications, through Amazon.com.
Although I'd recommend reading book 1 first, it's really not necessary. Hounacier works well on it's own and is one that comes with my highest recommendation.
I had more fun reading this than anything else I've read in recent memory. What I expected going in was a rehash of book one in the Valducan series. What I got was a great stand-alone novel in the Valducan world.
Author, Seth Skorkowsky has come up with a winning formula featuring the Valducan, a group of demon-hunting knights who find and keep track of all holy weapons and whose library of demon species and lore is massive.
Whereas book one dealt with the weapon Dämoren, book two focuses on Hounacier. Given there are dozens of such weapons, Skorkowsky could work in this world for some time to come. Truth be told, I'd be quite happy if that was the case.
Like it's predecessor, Hounacier, is fast-paced,filled with monsters and monster hunters, and gets to the action from the very beginning, barely allowing the reader a chance to catch a breath. Unlike the first book, there is a very big twist halfway through. Not gonna spoil it, ya gotta read it, but this turned out to be one of the things I liked most about Hounacier. In my opinion this unexpected twist leads to a much better story.
Hounacier is a wild rollercoaster of a tale which will ultimately lift your spirits.
Hounacier (Valducan Book 2) is available now for the Kindle, from Ragnarok publications, through Amazon.com.
Although I'd recommend reading book 1 first, it's really not necessary. Hounacier works well on it's own and is one that comes with my highest recommendation.
March 19, 2015
The Valducan series by Seth Skorkowsky began last year with the very strong entry, Damoren. Damoren followed the adventures of Matt Hollis, mystical gunslinger and demon hunter as he joined the Valducan organization in attempting to rid the world of evil supernatural beings. During that adventure, he thwarted an attempt to wipe out all of the "holy weapons" which the organization used to destroy demons and faced down the mother of all monsters, Tiamat. It was an excellent globe-trotting adventure and darker than most urban fantasy fair with a good deal of horror. I liked it and was eager to see what would happen in the second book.
The premise is Malcolm Romero, his real name rather than an alias, is a white atheist journalist who converts to Voodoo after witnessing an exorcism by a bokkar in Haiti. Acquiring the holy weapon Hounacier, which is a mystical machete, he proceeds to become both a practicioner of Hoodo magic as well as a Valducan demon hunter. Summoned to New Orleans by the death of his mentor, he proceeds to reconnect with old associates while trying to see whether or not he still fits into his old life.
Hounacier is a great deal different from Damoren. Not content to just give us the next adventure of Matt Hollis, Seth Skorkowsky seems to be interested in switching between the various holy weapon and giving us different perspectives on the world. I had some trepidation about this because I really liked Matt Hollis and wasn't really sold on the Valducan organization. Still, I was willing to give Malcolm a try after his strong introduction in the opening chapter.
I was pleasantly surprised by the results as Malcolm is almost as interesting as Matt Hollis (if not quite) and involved in an intensely personal quest to protect his loved ones from demons. Seth Skorkowsky wisely chooses to dial back the stories from the apocalypse to more personal tales of monster hunting. Saving the world and saving a family are both, after all, things heroes will attempt to do with all of their might.
The practices of Voodoo are explored in this book, separating the religious aspects from the mystical framework. While some readers may question the fact Malcolm is a white protagonist chosen by the loa to be a demon hunter, this is subverted with a surprisingly ethnically diverse cast and the fact Malcolm isn't all that good at his job. He's not a "Mighty Whitey" character and I came to enjoy how being raised outside the faith inhibited in some places.
I was also pleased with the immense amount of research done. This isn't a book written after consulting Wikipedia for a few minutes. Voodoo is portrayed as a valid form of religion, no more alien than any other faith, which just so happens to be literally true in the setting.
One of my favorite bits from the story is Malcolm Romero having to deal with the fact he's considered a crazy religious fanatic, weirdo, and possible murderer by the greater Voodoo community. There's a nice moment where he leads to an air conditioned church running charity drives and doing community service where he's deeply uncomfortable. As a demon hunter, Malcolm must always exist on the outskirts of civilization and seeing the stereotypical depiction of Voodoo subverted was a nice change of pace.
Malcolm is a good character, stuck in a life which has alienated him from all but his fellow demon-hunters and religious extremists. He's forgotten how to relate to quote-unquote normal people and his sinister reputation comes to bite him in the ass several times. I also liked his relationship with his ex-fiance, which is a romance I felt to be both believable as well as enjoyable to read about.
If I have any complaints, it's with the fact the book promises a team-up with Matt Hollis and Malcolm on the back as well as early in the book. Matt shows up only at the very end of the book and barely has any relevance to the plot. Matt, at the end of the day, is just too awesome to incorporate into the book without wanting to see him dominate the book. I hope he'll show up as the star of future books because his usage here was just a tease.
In conclusion, Hounacier is a very different book from Damoren but not a bad one. Those looking for a continuation of Matt Hollis demon-slaying adventures will have to wait for future installments of the book. Those interested in a Voodoo-practicing demon-hunting stalking werewolves and succubi in New Orleans, however, are in for a treat.
8.5/10
The premise is Malcolm Romero, his real name rather than an alias, is a white atheist journalist who converts to Voodoo after witnessing an exorcism by a bokkar in Haiti. Acquiring the holy weapon Hounacier, which is a mystical machete, he proceeds to become both a practicioner of Hoodo magic as well as a Valducan demon hunter. Summoned to New Orleans by the death of his mentor, he proceeds to reconnect with old associates while trying to see whether or not he still fits into his old life.
Hounacier is a great deal different from Damoren. Not content to just give us the next adventure of Matt Hollis, Seth Skorkowsky seems to be interested in switching between the various holy weapon and giving us different perspectives on the world. I had some trepidation about this because I really liked Matt Hollis and wasn't really sold on the Valducan organization. Still, I was willing to give Malcolm a try after his strong introduction in the opening chapter.
I was pleasantly surprised by the results as Malcolm is almost as interesting as Matt Hollis (if not quite) and involved in an intensely personal quest to protect his loved ones from demons. Seth Skorkowsky wisely chooses to dial back the stories from the apocalypse to more personal tales of monster hunting. Saving the world and saving a family are both, after all, things heroes will attempt to do with all of their might.
The practices of Voodoo are explored in this book, separating the religious aspects from the mystical framework. While some readers may question the fact Malcolm is a white protagonist chosen by the loa to be a demon hunter, this is subverted with a surprisingly ethnically diverse cast and the fact Malcolm isn't all that good at his job. He's not a "Mighty Whitey" character and I came to enjoy how being raised outside the faith inhibited in some places.
I was also pleased with the immense amount of research done. This isn't a book written after consulting Wikipedia for a few minutes. Voodoo is portrayed as a valid form of religion, no more alien than any other faith, which just so happens to be literally true in the setting.
One of my favorite bits from the story is Malcolm Romero having to deal with the fact he's considered a crazy religious fanatic, weirdo, and possible murderer by the greater Voodoo community. There's a nice moment where he leads to an air conditioned church running charity drives and doing community service where he's deeply uncomfortable. As a demon hunter, Malcolm must always exist on the outskirts of civilization and seeing the stereotypical depiction of Voodoo subverted was a nice change of pace.
Malcolm is a good character, stuck in a life which has alienated him from all but his fellow demon-hunters and religious extremists. He's forgotten how to relate to quote-unquote normal people and his sinister reputation comes to bite him in the ass several times. I also liked his relationship with his ex-fiance, which is a romance I felt to be both believable as well as enjoyable to read about.
If I have any complaints, it's with the fact the book promises a team-up with Matt Hollis and Malcolm on the back as well as early in the book. Matt shows up only at the very end of the book and barely has any relevance to the plot. Matt, at the end of the day, is just too awesome to incorporate into the book without wanting to see him dominate the book. I hope he'll show up as the star of future books because his usage here was just a tease.
In conclusion, Hounacier is a very different book from Damoren but not a bad one. Those looking for a continuation of Matt Hollis demon-slaying adventures will have to wait for future installments of the book. Those interested in a Voodoo-practicing demon-hunting stalking werewolves and succubi in New Orleans, however, are in for a treat.
8.5/10
March 28, 2015
Wow.
That is what I thought when I put this book down. For those of you who have not read the first book Damoren, you are in for a treat because this series is bound to become the stuff of legends. A brief glimpse into this world, Demons of all kinds are real. Nothing is left behind. To combat these demons that hide in human bodies, we have been given magical weapons that have a mind of their own. These weapons seek out their wielders and give them incredible powers to stop the evils of the world. An organization that was nearly destroyed a year ago is all that stands between us and ruin. These are the tales of the Valducan Knights and their Holy Weapons.
In Hounacier, we are able to see the world through the eyes of Malcolm, a voodoo bokor that was chosen by the machete Hounacier to fight the evil demons that lurk all around us. After spending years globetrotting the world finding off demons and evil goddesses, Malcolm is brought back home to New Orleans, home of Voodoo in the States, when tragedy strikes. After learning that his mentor has been killed, Malcolm sets out to discover who killed his friend/father surrogate and bring about his own brand of justice. But wouldn't you know it, as all of this is happening, there is a psychopathic werewolf on the loose and Hounacier hungers for it.
I won't go further into it, but the story is great. The first book was this end of the world race against time with tons of Valducan Knights working together to stop a potential apocalypse. The author decided that instead of building on that, he was going to tell a more personal story. Seth Skorkowsky is a fantastic author, in my opinion. He really knows how to flesh out his characters and the amount of research done to get the Voodoo ceremonies that are shown in this book correctly and with as much respect as possible is astounding. Having done my own amount of research into it and knowing people who have experienced some aspects of it, this is a job well done. It could have easily been very overdone and cheesy, but it is taken quite seriously.
This book throws in a few good plot points that helped build a world, a world that is already huge and expansive. In these first two books, we have already seen numerous creatures and weapons with special abilities. I cannot wait to see what is coming next as this is my most anticipated series right now (Sorry Jim Butcher, I still love you, but Skorkowsky is coming for you).
As a writer myself, I am insanely jealous that he wrote these stories and I didn't. These books make me feel like I first did when I read the series that made me fall in love with fantasy all those years ago.
I purchased this on the kindle, but have been told there will be physical copies coming soon. That means Mr. Skorkowsky gets more of my money as I am proud to display this series on my shelf alongside Butcher, Green, Harrison, Hunter and others. Do yourself a favor, pick up the Valducan series and get ready for some action packed Kitchen Sink Fantasy Adventures.
That is what I thought when I put this book down. For those of you who have not read the first book Damoren, you are in for a treat because this series is bound to become the stuff of legends. A brief glimpse into this world, Demons of all kinds are real. Nothing is left behind. To combat these demons that hide in human bodies, we have been given magical weapons that have a mind of their own. These weapons seek out their wielders and give them incredible powers to stop the evils of the world. An organization that was nearly destroyed a year ago is all that stands between us and ruin. These are the tales of the Valducan Knights and their Holy Weapons.
In Hounacier, we are able to see the world through the eyes of Malcolm, a voodoo bokor that was chosen by the machete Hounacier to fight the evil demons that lurk all around us. After spending years globetrotting the world finding off demons and evil goddesses, Malcolm is brought back home to New Orleans, home of Voodoo in the States, when tragedy strikes. After learning that his mentor has been killed, Malcolm sets out to discover who killed his friend/father surrogate and bring about his own brand of justice. But wouldn't you know it, as all of this is happening, there is a psychopathic werewolf on the loose and Hounacier hungers for it.
I won't go further into it, but the story is great. The first book was this end of the world race against time with tons of Valducan Knights working together to stop a potential apocalypse. The author decided that instead of building on that, he was going to tell a more personal story. Seth Skorkowsky is a fantastic author, in my opinion. He really knows how to flesh out his characters and the amount of research done to get the Voodoo ceremonies that are shown in this book correctly and with as much respect as possible is astounding. Having done my own amount of research into it and knowing people who have experienced some aspects of it, this is a job well done. It could have easily been very overdone and cheesy, but it is taken quite seriously.
This book throws in a few good plot points that helped build a world, a world that is already huge and expansive. In these first two books, we have already seen numerous creatures and weapons with special abilities. I cannot wait to see what is coming next as this is my most anticipated series right now (Sorry Jim Butcher, I still love you, but Skorkowsky is coming for you).
As a writer myself, I am insanely jealous that he wrote these stories and I didn't. These books make me feel like I first did when I read the series that made me fall in love with fantasy all those years ago.
I purchased this on the kindle, but have been told there will be physical copies coming soon. That means Mr. Skorkowsky gets more of my money as I am proud to display this series on my shelf alongside Butcher, Green, Harrison, Hunter and others. Do yourself a favor, pick up the Valducan series and get ready for some action packed Kitchen Sink Fantasy Adventures.
March 24, 2015
Waiting for “The Adventures of Matt Hollis, pt 2?” Sorry to disappoint, but the 2nd book of the Valducan series takes a bold turn down a different (and somehow even darker) avenue. By crafting a world easily as captivating as the characters which inhabit it, Skorkowsky has made the point-of-view shift from one hunter to another not only frictionless but compelling. As with Damoren, though, the grim universe of these hunters takes centerstage.
And make no mistake, it earns the spotlight. In addition to changing character focus, Hounacier eschews the globe-trotting narrative structure of its predecessor in favor of a tighter region of story interest: the city and surrounds of New Orleans. The tale’s seamless blending of empirical Louisiana (the sights! the sounds! the…ugh…smells) with the Valducan series’ world-myths-on-mescaline sensibilities creates an immersive experience. I found myself cruising through the locales along with Malcolm Romero, accelerating with him as his detective work unfolds, and unable to hit the brakes when pursuit slipped steeply into brutality.
I feel like another shift in narrative for Hounacier was the expression of heroism. Whereas Hollis struggled against evil using the classic tools of strength, cleverness, and loyalty, Romero grinds against his adversaries until these tools become nothing more than glowing slag, melted into a singular quality – endurance. Each event pushes at Romero’s physical and mental limits, and my sympathy for his quest kept me guessing until the climax what sort of story this would ultimately be. Am I witnessing a play-by-play to victory, sacrifice, or doom?
No matter the outcome, it’s well worth plunging into this journey yourself.
And make no mistake, it earns the spotlight. In addition to changing character focus, Hounacier eschews the globe-trotting narrative structure of its predecessor in favor of a tighter region of story interest: the city and surrounds of New Orleans. The tale’s seamless blending of empirical Louisiana (the sights! the sounds! the…ugh…smells) with the Valducan series’ world-myths-on-mescaline sensibilities creates an immersive experience. I found myself cruising through the locales along with Malcolm Romero, accelerating with him as his detective work unfolds, and unable to hit the brakes when pursuit slipped steeply into brutality.
I feel like another shift in narrative for Hounacier was the expression of heroism. Whereas Hollis struggled against evil using the classic tools of strength, cleverness, and loyalty, Romero grinds against his adversaries until these tools become nothing more than glowing slag, melted into a singular quality – endurance. Each event pushes at Romero’s physical and mental limits, and my sympathy for his quest kept me guessing until the climax what sort of story this would ultimately be. Am I witnessing a play-by-play to victory, sacrifice, or doom?
No matter the outcome, it’s well worth plunging into this journey yourself.
March 16, 2017
My original Hounacier audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Hounacier is the name of the enchanted machete carried by Macolm Romero. Romero was portrayed as an unlikable character in the first novel. Here he is the main character and more than a little complicated. His academic path was interrupted when he was introduced to a Voodoo shaman and drawn to the mysterious world of demons he couldn’t deny.
The Valducan barely survived the last attack by the demons who outnumbered them. Now Romero’s adopted father has been murdered and he has to find out why. In his impetuousness, he goes it alone, trusting the wrong people. Taken over by a demon, his only hope may be death at the hand of Damoren, Matt Hollis’s enchanted revolver.
In the second novel of the series, more is revealed about the inner workings of the men called to the Valducan. We learn more about the demons they are fighting and the men who vow to protect their enchanted weapons. It is hard to compare the two novels, because the listener has much more understanding of the men and demons. It is somewhat less satisfying in that regard, fewer things are new, but still a very entertaining novel, just in a different way.
R. C. Bray is excellent as usual. His rich baritone drips with intrigue as he deftly shifts between accents and demons. He is a joy to listen to and brings the story to life.
Hounacier is book two in the Valducan series. Though there is a nod to the first novel, it stands on its own as a separate volume. Still, it would be good to read them in order to know what happened previously and understand the special weapons and why they are so important to the men who wield them. If you enjoyed book one, don’t hesitate to continue on. Recommended.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
Hounacier is the name of the enchanted machete carried by Macolm Romero. Romero was portrayed as an unlikable character in the first novel. Here he is the main character and more than a little complicated. His academic path was interrupted when he was introduced to a Voodoo shaman and drawn to the mysterious world of demons he couldn’t deny.
The Valducan barely survived the last attack by the demons who outnumbered them. Now Romero’s adopted father has been murdered and he has to find out why. In his impetuousness, he goes it alone, trusting the wrong people. Taken over by a demon, his only hope may be death at the hand of Damoren, Matt Hollis’s enchanted revolver.
In the second novel of the series, more is revealed about the inner workings of the men called to the Valducan. We learn more about the demons they are fighting and the men who vow to protect their enchanted weapons. It is hard to compare the two novels, because the listener has much more understanding of the men and demons. It is somewhat less satisfying in that regard, fewer things are new, but still a very entertaining novel, just in a different way.
R. C. Bray is excellent as usual. His rich baritone drips with intrigue as he deftly shifts between accents and demons. He is a joy to listen to and brings the story to life.
Hounacier is book two in the Valducan series. Though there is a nod to the first novel, it stands on its own as a separate volume. Still, it would be good to read them in order to know what happened previously and understand the special weapons and why they are so important to the men who wield them. If you enjoyed book one, don’t hesitate to continue on. Recommended.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
November 3, 2015
One Line Review: Flashback, shit going sideways, that voodoo hoodoo, hunting, enormous demon cock, treachery, awesome twist (that I'm not going to spoil), torture, sexy time... demon sexy time, bang, stab, the Baron, tasting own medicine, picnics.
So the second book in Seth's Valducan series focuses less on Matt Hollis and his angelic revolver Damoren, and almost entirely on Malcolm Romero and his holy machete Hounacier. After the murder of his mentor, Malcolm is drawn back to the streets he cut his teeth on in New Orleans only to find himself embroiled in a vicious scheme for vengeance that will hang his very soul on the scales.
I've gotta say Seth clearly knows his shit. He does a great job of describing the city (makes me think he may have been to New Orleans once or twice), and an even better job of giving us a deeper look at voodoo and the loa. This isn't just your Hollywood style look at the voodoo culture, but one that is clearly written by a man who has done some extensive research into the subject.
We met Malcolm in the first book and he came across as real hard-ass (rightly so when dealing with demons and your lives and souls are on the line), but in Hounacier he feels a bit more chilled out. He's still pretty badass and has all manner of sorcerous voodoo magic, but he doesn't feel quite as unyielding this time around.
There were a good few twists, including a big one... which was awesome... and I can't talk about because spoilers. And I'm a big fan of how we get a more extensive look at the demon's culture and their powers. Turns out they're not just mindless savage beasts, but have a much deeper structure that is hidden from view.
The pacing in this book is odd. The first half of Hounacier is very much setting the scene and plays out a bit like a pulp detective story. Despite the rather slow start, it pulls you along quickly. The second half the novel moves a lot faster (at least in terms of events) and yet seems to drag a little in places. It may be because certain scenes feel a little over described and that narrative hurts the rush that we should be feeling through the characters.
There is one other issue and it is this. In Damoren the fate of the world hung in the balance. The stakes could not have been higher. In Hounacier it really only every feels like Malcolm's life and soul are at stake. While this lends it a bit more personal feel as we experience the world and the story through Malcolm, it also feels a little underwhelming. This is the problem when you open a series going all in, afterwards there's nowhere else to go but down.
Overall Hounacier was a great read and a good followup to Damoren. The highest praise I can give it is that I will be reading the third book in the Valducan series, Ibenus, as soon as it becomes available.
I give Hounacier a 3.5 stars, but as always, I round up to 4. :D
So the second book in Seth's Valducan series focuses less on Matt Hollis and his angelic revolver Damoren, and almost entirely on Malcolm Romero and his holy machete Hounacier. After the murder of his mentor, Malcolm is drawn back to the streets he cut his teeth on in New Orleans only to find himself embroiled in a vicious scheme for vengeance that will hang his very soul on the scales.
I've gotta say Seth clearly knows his shit. He does a great job of describing the city (makes me think he may have been to New Orleans once or twice), and an even better job of giving us a deeper look at voodoo and the loa. This isn't just your Hollywood style look at the voodoo culture, but one that is clearly written by a man who has done some extensive research into the subject.
We met Malcolm in the first book and he came across as real hard-ass (rightly so when dealing with demons and your lives and souls are on the line), but in Hounacier he feels a bit more chilled out. He's still pretty badass and has all manner of sorcerous voodoo magic, but he doesn't feel quite as unyielding this time around.
There were a good few twists, including a big one... which was awesome... and I can't talk about because spoilers. And I'm a big fan of how we get a more extensive look at the demon's culture and their powers. Turns out they're not just mindless savage beasts, but have a much deeper structure that is hidden from view.
The pacing in this book is odd. The first half of Hounacier is very much setting the scene and plays out a bit like a pulp detective story. Despite the rather slow start, it pulls you along quickly. The second half the novel moves a lot faster (at least in terms of events) and yet seems to drag a little in places. It may be because certain scenes feel a little over described and that narrative hurts the rush that we should be feeling through the characters.
There is one other issue and it is this. In Damoren the fate of the world hung in the balance. The stakes could not have been higher. In Hounacier it really only every feels like Malcolm's life and soul are at stake. While this lends it a bit more personal feel as we experience the world and the story through Malcolm, it also feels a little underwhelming. This is the problem when you open a series going all in, afterwards there's nowhere else to go but down.
Overall Hounacier was a great read and a good followup to Damoren. The highest praise I can give it is that I will be reading the third book in the Valducan series, Ibenus, as soon as it becomes available.
I give Hounacier a 3.5 stars, but as always, I round up to 4. :D
March 18, 2015
I read on average 50 books a year, and though I usually enjoy most of them, only a few will succeed in taking my breath away. Hounacier was one of those books that made me think to myself *THIS is what I’ve been waiting for*. It’s a book that makes you want to sit on the couch with a blanket and read it straight through from start to finish, but you can’t because those trivial things like work and sleep get in your way…
This is an urban fantasy tale that has all the familiar markers that I crave, yet it is told in such an utterly unique way. There is a prickly but loveable-despite-of-himself hero, a legendary weapon (Hounacier is a blessed machete, and how cool is that?), enchanted tattoos, an age old Order of monster hunters with international reach, exotic locales (Haiti and New Orleans) and monsters with complex motivations. At one point I found myself actually sympathizing with the demon Gulmet, and I had to shake myself to remember he was the antagonist of it all. It is detailed, well researched, thoughtful, action packed, funny, well-written, and for a book about demons it is filled with a surprising humanity. There’s a very sweet love story going on amidst the chaos and death that really warmed my heart. I adored Tasha.
Voodoo is so much more than zombies, sacrifices, and grisly magic charms, and Skorkowsky represents it just beautifully. The Loa pop up in the most imaginative ways, quite literally, and Papa Ghede will have you chortling out loud. This book also reads like a love-letter to New Orleans, capturing the essence of the Big Easy in a way that makes you feel like you’re standing in Jackson Square with a beignet in hand, watching the demons and Malcolm Romero race by. We also get to see Matt Hollis again, who swaggers in like an old west gunfighter, Dämoren at the ready (be still my heart!).
There is no slow part of this book. It is action packed start to finish, and half way through I was on pins and needles wondering how the author was going to resolve this sticky quandary, certain there was going to be some major character death and dreading it…without spoiling anything, let me tell you the ending will have you standing up in your seat and cheering YEAH! TAKE THAT!
The short of it is: READ THIS BOOK! And if you haven’t read Dämoren, go read that too! And now I’m going to go start Mountain of Daggers.
This is an urban fantasy tale that has all the familiar markers that I crave, yet it is told in such an utterly unique way. There is a prickly but loveable-despite-of-himself hero, a legendary weapon (Hounacier is a blessed machete, and how cool is that?), enchanted tattoos, an age old Order of monster hunters with international reach, exotic locales (Haiti and New Orleans) and monsters with complex motivations. At one point I found myself actually sympathizing with the demon Gulmet, and I had to shake myself to remember he was the antagonist of it all. It is detailed, well researched, thoughtful, action packed, funny, well-written, and for a book about demons it is filled with a surprising humanity. There’s a very sweet love story going on amidst the chaos and death that really warmed my heart. I adored Tasha.
Voodoo is so much more than zombies, sacrifices, and grisly magic charms, and Skorkowsky represents it just beautifully. The Loa pop up in the most imaginative ways, quite literally, and Papa Ghede will have you chortling out loud. This book also reads like a love-letter to New Orleans, capturing the essence of the Big Easy in a way that makes you feel like you’re standing in Jackson Square with a beignet in hand, watching the demons and Malcolm Romero race by. We also get to see Matt Hollis again, who swaggers in like an old west gunfighter, Dämoren at the ready (be still my heart!).
There is no slow part of this book. It is action packed start to finish, and half way through I was on pins and needles wondering how the author was going to resolve this sticky quandary, certain there was going to be some major character death and dreading it…without spoiling anything, let me tell you the ending will have you standing up in your seat and cheering YEAH! TAKE THAT!
The short of it is: READ THIS BOOK! And if you haven’t read Dämoren, go read that too! And now I’m going to go start Mountain of Daggers.
June 6, 2016
Hounacier,the second book in the Valducan series and the sequel to Seth Skorkowsky's Damoren, deals with the weilder of the demon slaying machete Hounacier, Malcolm Romero. After the murder of his mentor, the previous wielder of Hounacier, Malcolm returns to New Orleans to try and find the killer. He is instead drawn into his old life, a life filled with Loa, with voodooo priests and priestesses, where magic is real, and where a plot to have revenge against the wielders of Hounacier has Malcolms life and very soul, as well as Hounacier, in jeopardy. With a fast paced plot, exotic locations, really engaging characters and a villain that has a sympathetic reason for being that way, Mr. Skorkowsky has really taken this series to new levels, especially after the excellent work in Damoren. Any fan of Urban Fantasy should get a copy. This is as good as anything written by Jim Butcher, Simon R. Green or Tim Marquitz, who are some of my favorite urban fantasy authors. As far as narration, R.C. Bray does his usual spectacular job, breathing life into an already rich book. I anxiously await the third book.
April 1, 2015
Excellent urban fantasy that works as a story on it own and servers as a worthy sequel. More personal and less apolypic story this go around. Plus there's werewolfs, voodoo and a machete. What else do you need?
April 16, 2015
Yeah, loved it.
A great sequel and very promising for the continuing series.
Can't wait for the next one.
A great sequel and very promising for the continuing series.
Can't wait for the next one.
April 12, 2018
Continuing the series with an antagonist of the previous books protagonist was a smart idea. This new character perspective lets us see more of the world and builds out from the newly reveled secret society. Getting to see how someone else started down this path is a nice bit of world building. Though in the first few chapters the author struggles to make the two characters feel different but he eventually finds his stride and this new character really starts feeling like a separate and distinct person from the original novel's protagonist. The mystery at the center of this novel allows for the expansion of the world for both characters and audience. Can't wait to read the next novel.
July 8, 2023
A demon hunter and a demon put aside their differences when they realize women are the real enemy
March 16, 2015
"...And if you join us, I can promise you that long after you're old, and grey, and I dig your grave, and take you to the other side, you'll remember what happened when Malcolm Romero came calling.."
A quote from Skorkowsky's "Hounacier (Valducan Book 2)" that is as prophetic for the reader as it is for the characters who inhabit the story.
In Hounacier we follow Valducan Knight Malcolm Romero (first introduced to us in "Damoren (Valducan Book 1)") home to New Orleans in his quest to investigate, and avenge, the murder of his mentor -- an event that sets into motion this visceral, bloody machine that is Skorkowsky's darkest delve into his demonic mythology yet.
The city of New Orleans, and the people who inhabit both its lighter and darker sides, come to life in the most genuine and tangible detail in "Hounacier." As has become distinctive in Skorkowsky's narrative style, we are taken on a full five-senses-tour through the gold and dirt of this iconic American setting. New Orleans and her people live and breathe around the reader as they walk her mysterious streets on the hunt with Malcolm Romero. In the pages of "Hounacier" you will be able to see, touch, hear, smell, and taste this city as if you were there.
Voodoo is a central theme in "Hounacier" and never have I encountered it given such a vibrant and authentic treatment in a work of urban fantasy. You can feel New Orleans' voodoo heart beating in your hands as you turn the pages. A masterful accomplishment in pairing myth and religion with the urban fantasy aesthetic.
Valducan Series fans be aware: "Hounacier" is a darker shade of black than its predecessor, "Damoren." This novel will reach up and grab you in uncomfortable places, leaving bruises, cuts, and tears. Drink it like a black red wine paired with a bloody-rare steak.
Hounacier is nothing short of a ride on a chainsaw blade through Skorkowsky's demon-infested world. A vicious treat that bites back.
A quote from Skorkowsky's "Hounacier (Valducan Book 2)" that is as prophetic for the reader as it is for the characters who inhabit the story.
In Hounacier we follow Valducan Knight Malcolm Romero (first introduced to us in "Damoren (Valducan Book 1)") home to New Orleans in his quest to investigate, and avenge, the murder of his mentor -- an event that sets into motion this visceral, bloody machine that is Skorkowsky's darkest delve into his demonic mythology yet.
The city of New Orleans, and the people who inhabit both its lighter and darker sides, come to life in the most genuine and tangible detail in "Hounacier." As has become distinctive in Skorkowsky's narrative style, we are taken on a full five-senses-tour through the gold and dirt of this iconic American setting. New Orleans and her people live and breathe around the reader as they walk her mysterious streets on the hunt with Malcolm Romero. In the pages of "Hounacier" you will be able to see, touch, hear, smell, and taste this city as if you were there.
Voodoo is a central theme in "Hounacier" and never have I encountered it given such a vibrant and authentic treatment in a work of urban fantasy. You can feel New Orleans' voodoo heart beating in your hands as you turn the pages. A masterful accomplishment in pairing myth and religion with the urban fantasy aesthetic.
Valducan Series fans be aware: "Hounacier" is a darker shade of black than its predecessor, "Damoren." This novel will reach up and grab you in uncomfortable places, leaving bruises, cuts, and tears. Drink it like a black red wine paired with a bloody-rare steak.
Hounacier is nothing short of a ride on a chainsaw blade through Skorkowsky's demon-infested world. A vicious treat that bites back.
March 16, 2015
We first meet Malcom Romero, wielder of the holy weapon Hounacier, in the first book of the series, Damoren. While Damoren follows the demon hunter Matt Hollis as he is drawn in to joining the Valducans, a holy order of Demon Hunters, in order to protect the remaining holy weapons from a plot to destroy them all, Hounacier follows Malcom and gives us a glimpse into his past, and how he came to be bonded with Hounacier.
In Hounacier, Malcom travels back to his home of New Orleans after the death of his mentor. In his quest to unearth the truth of what happened Malcom finds himself not only as the hunted enemy, but alone, unable to draw on the strength of his friends, team,or the people around him. We learn about Malcom and Hounacier, we get a glimpse into the world of Voodoo, and most importantly we learn about the events that made Malcom the man he is. As in the first book, we learn even more about the many different types of Demons, their powers, and their weaknesses while also learning that the Holy Weapons are just as unique, with complex histories of their own.
Reading this book, with it's vivid descriptions of people and locations, is akin to visiting the home town of a good friend and having that friend point out all the best places to eat, the places he lived, and even meeting all the people he grew up with. There is a sense of familiarity that comes through those descriptions, and Seth is able to tie his world of Demons and Demon Hunters to the vivid history of the city of New Orleans.
Malcom was my favorite character in the first book. I was ecstatic to find out that he was the main character in the second book. As such, my review may be a bit biased, but I think that just reinforces how well these characters are developed, and how being the hero isn't always about being on the "Good" side.
In Hounacier, Malcom travels back to his home of New Orleans after the death of his mentor. In his quest to unearth the truth of what happened Malcom finds himself not only as the hunted enemy, but alone, unable to draw on the strength of his friends, team,or the people around him. We learn about Malcom and Hounacier, we get a glimpse into the world of Voodoo, and most importantly we learn about the events that made Malcom the man he is. As in the first book, we learn even more about the many different types of Demons, their powers, and their weaknesses while also learning that the Holy Weapons are just as unique, with complex histories of their own.
Reading this book, with it's vivid descriptions of people and locations, is akin to visiting the home town of a good friend and having that friend point out all the best places to eat, the places he lived, and even meeting all the people he grew up with. There is a sense of familiarity that comes through those descriptions, and Seth is able to tie his world of Demons and Demon Hunters to the vivid history of the city of New Orleans.
Malcom was my favorite character in the first book. I was ecstatic to find out that he was the main character in the second book. As such, my review may be a bit biased, but I think that just reinforces how well these characters are developed, and how being the hero isn't always about being on the "Good" side.
March 27, 2015
As with the previous book in the Valducan series, "Damoren" (Book 1), "Hounacier" (Book 2) has action that is pulse-pounding and exciting. This is also an unputdownable book. Where we followed the protagonist Matt Hollis in "Damoren," here in "Hounacier" we follow the new protagonist, Malcolm Romero, who, if you've read Book 1, you'll remember that he and Matt often butted heads and did not get along.
When I read from the book description that this book was going to revolve largely around Haitian vodou, I was even more excited to read it because it's a subject matter that many genre fiction authors have tried to tackle, but what ends up happening is they give a very shallow or cursory representation that doesn't do the religion justice and doesn't pay it the proper respect. "Hounacier" is one of the few novels I've read where it shows that the author has done his research and has gone beyond a Cliffnotes or Hollywood-ized approach. I wasn't expecting to like and sympathize with Malcolm as much as I did, but he won me over fairly quickly on. Matt also makes a special appearance in the book and definitely enhances the plot (i.e. it isn't just a walk-on appearance that felt forced or tacked-on).
The strength of "Hounacier" lies in its vivid world-building and the diverse cast of characters--I loved the way the author chose to present the vodou "loa" or spirits, such as Baron Samedi. There was also less involvement from the Valducans and less characters to keep track of, so I felt this was an even more enjoyable reading experience compared to "Damoren."
Basically, if you're into good storytelling, fantastic characters, Haitian vodou, a vivid New Orleans setting, spirits and folklore, ancient demon-killing weapons, not to mention werewolves, you will definitely get a big kick out of "Hounacier."
When I read from the book description that this book was going to revolve largely around Haitian vodou, I was even more excited to read it because it's a subject matter that many genre fiction authors have tried to tackle, but what ends up happening is they give a very shallow or cursory representation that doesn't do the religion justice and doesn't pay it the proper respect. "Hounacier" is one of the few novels I've read where it shows that the author has done his research and has gone beyond a Cliffnotes or Hollywood-ized approach. I wasn't expecting to like and sympathize with Malcolm as much as I did, but he won me over fairly quickly on. Matt also makes a special appearance in the book and definitely enhances the plot (i.e. it isn't just a walk-on appearance that felt forced or tacked-on).
The strength of "Hounacier" lies in its vivid world-building and the diverse cast of characters--I loved the way the author chose to present the vodou "loa" or spirits, such as Baron Samedi. There was also less involvement from the Valducans and less characters to keep track of, so I felt this was an even more enjoyable reading experience compared to "Damoren."
Basically, if you're into good storytelling, fantastic characters, Haitian vodou, a vivid New Orleans setting, spirits and folklore, ancient demon-killing weapons, not to mention werewolves, you will definitely get a big kick out of "Hounacier."
September 7, 2016
Hounancier is my favorite of the books so far (Damoren, Hounancier and Ibenus). The book takes place in New Orleans and follows Hounancier's current protector, Malcolm. Malcom is called home after his mentor is found murdered, and he returns to catch the killer while facing down the demons that live in the city.
I loved getting to learn about the Voodoo culture in New Orleans and Skorkowsky did an excellent job of weaving it into Malcom's story as both a Houngan and a Valducan knight. Hounacier's story isn't perfectly black and white which added a lot of depth and grit to the story, and to me, made it more interesting than the story of Damoren. Since a lot of the world building was completed in the first book, Hounacier can get deep, and it gets deep and dark quick.
This book was provided by Ragnarok Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I loved getting to learn about the Voodoo culture in New Orleans and Skorkowsky did an excellent job of weaving it into Malcom's story as both a Houngan and a Valducan knight. Hounacier's story isn't perfectly black and white which added a lot of depth and grit to the story, and to me, made it more interesting than the story of Damoren. Since a lot of the world building was completed in the first book, Hounacier can get deep, and it gets deep and dark quick.
This book was provided by Ragnarok Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2015
Excellent follow up to Damoren, the first book in the Valducan series. Fast paced, action packed and fascinating. The first book was, necessarily, more broad, as it had to introduce and define the Valducan universe and populate it. The second book is much more personal, told from the point of view of one of the Knights and explores the nature of the holy weapons to their respective holders, as well as providing an immersing look at what possession by the demonic creatures is like. The voodoo aspects of this particular weapon, Hounacier, were fascinating and it was obvious that Mr. Skorkowsky has done thorough research into the religion and its practice in both Haiti and New Orleans. All in all, a solid, engrossing and, most importantly, fun read. Highly recommended.
March 21, 2015
After reading Damoren, book 1 in the Valducan series, I was excited for Hounacier, but nervous at the same time, fearing it wouldn't live up to the awesomeness that was and is Damoren. All too often, authors drop the ball with sequels, and use the same success formula they used for book 1, and you end up feeling like you got nothing new.
Not the case with Hounacier! Hounacier takes it to a whole new level. Gripping. Deliciously dark (and when I say dark, I mean he drags you to Hell and back)! Voodoo, sorcery, betrayal, demon-possession, Hounacier is in a class all its own. You won't be disappointed!
Not the case with Hounacier! Hounacier takes it to a whole new level. Gripping. Deliciously dark (and when I say dark, I mean he drags you to Hell and back)! Voodoo, sorcery, betrayal, demon-possession, Hounacier is in a class all its own. You won't be disappointed!
April 1, 2015
Hounacier is the the second novel in the Valducan series. Malcolm Romero is the bearer of Hounacier, a machete blade dedicated to voodoo, but she'll kill any demon that's handy. When Malcolm receives word that his mentor (and the former "groom" of Hounacier) has died, he returns to New Orleans to track down his killer. The twists and turns in this book had my blood pounding to the rhythms of the voodoo drums.
Once again, Mr. Skorkowsky has written a novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I didn't want to get to the end, but alas, the Last Page came before I wanted it to. Now, I have to wait for the next book Ibenus comes out. Which won't be tomorrow. *sigh*
Once again, Mr. Skorkowsky has written a novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I didn't want to get to the end, but alas, the Last Page came before I wanted it to. Now, I have to wait for the next book Ibenus comes out. Which won't be tomorrow. *sigh*
October 12, 2016
I really liked the first book in this series, "Damoren," so I was kind of holding on to this book for when I needed something I knew was going to be diverting and fun. I wasn't disappointed. The second follows Malcolm, another Valducan Knight and his trials in New Orleans. The voodoo was interesting and discussed more thoroughly than most authors bother to do so it really caught my interest. If you liked the first book, this one won't let you down. I'm eager to read the next vaguely unpronounceable weapon name book in the series.
March 17, 2015
This is a follow-up to Damoren, but is not a direct sequel. Instead, it is entirely its own creature -- a creature that is truly frightening on a visceral level, and demanding. Skorkowsky really impressed me with Damoren, and Hounacier took it up a notch. The world-building is exquisite, and I anticipate the pay-off in later books to be on a level with Anton Strout and Kim Harrison.
April 8, 2017
What an awesome book, everything in this universe created by Seth Skorkowsky is perfect, liked Malcom Romero a lot, love his sense of duty and all the voodoo thing were perfect.
I found myself enjoying this book even more when Matt Hollis appeared, i like him and Damoren more than Malcom and Hounacier, but either way, this was a great book and is a great series so far.
I found myself enjoying this book even more when Matt Hollis appeared, i like him and Damoren more than Malcom and Hounacier, but either way, this was a great book and is a great series so far.
May 5, 2023
Switching things up from the first novel, Hounacier is written from the point of view of Malcolm, another Valducan we met in the previous entry. Aside from the PoV switch, the whole narrative takes a different shift from the first - instead of a globetrotting adventure, it's (almost) entirely set within New Orleans. Instead of a mysterious evil cult, the thrust of the plot deals with the murder of Malcolm's former mentor and father figure, and the issues that arise as he tries to solve the crime.
These changes result in a much slower-paced book than the first. It's still engaging, and it's a bit neat to see a different formula. Haitian voodoo culture features prominently in the story, and at least from my completely inexpert opinion, it feels like respect was put into the depiction. But, overall, I found myself preferring the first book. I'm definitely hooked, though, and will continue reading the series.
There were a few negative aspects for me. There's a pretty large component of torture, mainly of a psychological nature. Also a couple of rather graphic descriptions of murdered corpses. It's not the worst I've read, and it didn't prevent me from enjoying the novel as a whole, but I could see some people being very put off by it.
These changes result in a much slower-paced book than the first. It's still engaging, and it's a bit neat to see a different formula. Haitian voodoo culture features prominently in the story, and at least from my completely inexpert opinion, it feels like respect was put into the depiction. But, overall, I found myself preferring the first book. I'm definitely hooked, though, and will continue reading the series.
There were a few negative aspects for me. There's a pretty large component of torture, mainly of a psychological nature. Also a couple of rather graphic descriptions of murdered corpses. It's not the worst I've read, and it didn't prevent me from enjoying the novel as a whole, but I could see some people being very put off by it.
August 3, 2023
While I liked this book there were a few choices which threw me.
Hounacer is the second book in this series by Seth Skorkowski who I am a big fan of. The first book, Damoren follows Matt Hollis as he fights demons in human form. During his time he joined with a group of demon hunters and that's where the first choice comes in. This book focus' not on Matt but on another character, Malcolm Romero.
Secondly, this book delves deep into voodoo, with the various loa and gris gris, ect. I freely admit that I'm not that knowledgeable of voodoo and I found that there wasn't really a lot of supporting information in this book. I often found myself lost as to what loa did what and so forth.
Other than this however, the book was very well written. Malcolm as a character is interesting and worthy of being written about, he has a whole history, goals, struggles and despite being a demon hunter is fairly relatable. The pacing of the book is good, but starts off a little slow. However, the climax is exciting and well conceived.
The only other problem I had, and this is quibbling, is that there were a lot of characters and I sometimes lost track of who was who among them. But, all in all I thought this was a good book and certainly worth reading.
Hounacer is the second book in this series by Seth Skorkowski who I am a big fan of. The first book, Damoren follows Matt Hollis as he fights demons in human form. During his time he joined with a group of demon hunters and that's where the first choice comes in. This book focus' not on Matt but on another character, Malcolm Romero.
Secondly, this book delves deep into voodoo, with the various loa and gris gris, ect. I freely admit that I'm not that knowledgeable of voodoo and I found that there wasn't really a lot of supporting information in this book. I often found myself lost as to what loa did what and so forth.
Other than this however, the book was very well written. Malcolm as a character is interesting and worthy of being written about, he has a whole history, goals, struggles and despite being a demon hunter is fairly relatable. The pacing of the book is good, but starts off a little slow. However, the climax is exciting and well conceived.
The only other problem I had, and this is quibbling, is that there were a lot of characters and I sometimes lost track of who was who among them. But, all in all I thought this was a good book and certainly worth reading.
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