Monster Hunter Vendetta

Monster Hunter International #2

by Larry Correia, Oliver Wyman (Narrator)

Owen Pitt never met a gun he didn’t like, or a monster he couldn’t shoot. But now, the monsters are shooting back . . .

Accountant turned professional monster hunter, Owen Zastava Pitt, managed to stop the nefarious Old One’s invasion plans last year, but as a result made an enemy out of one of the most powerful beings in the universe. Now an evil death cult known as the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition wants to capture Owen in order to gain the favor of the great Old Ones.

The Condition is led by a fanatical necromancer known as the Shadow Man. The government wants to capture the Shadow Man and has assigned the enigmatic Agent Franks to be Owen’s full time bodyguard, which is a polite way of saying that Owen is monster bait.

With supernatural assassins targeting his family, a spy in their midst, and horrific beasties lurking around every corner, Owen and the staff of Monster Hunter International don’t need to go hunting, because this time the monsters are hunting them. Fortunately, this bait is armed and very dangerous . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Horror, Fiction, Audiobook, Paranormal, Supernatural

Audible Audio

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Larry Correia (born 1977) is the New York Times bestselling author of the Monster Hunter International series, the Grimnoir Chronicles, and the thriller Dead Six.

Reviews

[carol. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Correia's written another fun action adventure. Monsters International is back, only this time Owen and MHIs are on the defensive. There's a mild "who-is-it" mystery to identify the new bad guy looking to turn Owen in to the Old Ones, and a more pressing one regarding an internal traitor. While no one will claim this is literature at it's best, its a fun action story that leaves many thrillers faltering by comparison.

I only have two real complaints. I felt the initial start to the book was rocky; while I understand we need to have a review for new readers, the "explain-to-new-character" device is clunky, and comes off forced since Owen is breaking state secrets to a Mexican interrogator. It would have played better with a new agent or as a case review, given that Owen was under a death threat from his own government if he spilled the big monster secret. The other complaint is the scene with the Birmingham Gnomes came dangerously close to silly for an action book. I suppose it was some sort of equivalent to elves living in the trailer park, but the elf scene didn't indulge in quite as many stereotypes or puns. Correia pulled it back, but barely. He goes there again in a scene with a (internet) troll, but since it's absolutely hysterical, I forgive it. If you've been in a forum or played a game online, you will laugh out loud.

One thing I enjoy about the MHI series is that Owen is a very likeable hero. While he knows himself well, he isn't always insightful as to other people's motivations or feelings, but his developing "powers" are helping him develop insight. His main character flaw is giving in to impulsiveness when his emotions are involved, but it's one that is easy to empathize with. Frankly, after so many anti-heroes, it's a welcome change to have someone plain ol' likeable.

The gun/weapon angle is mentioned by many enthusiasts as an area where Correia shines. While I can't speak to the expertise, I can say that I didn't find the weapon lore overly intrusive or baffling.

Fun lines: "He smiled, and in the dark I wasn't sure if the government man or Susan had been more intimidating, but for totally different reasons. One because it represented a soulless entity with the power to suck the very blood from the innocent, and the other because it was a vampire."

"Dad, don't shoot that last guy anymore. The cops want to question him."

"And just like that, I was a married man. I couldn't kiss the bride, because I was infected by a zombie, but other than that, it was actually a pretty happy moment."


** Stars removed 5/14 due to author shenanigans with the Hugo Awards, and general hate-speech towards women, liberals, children, polar bears, etc. Too bad he lacks the confidence to let his work (at least the first couple of books) stand on its own and has to pal around with Vox Day and the Sad Puppies. monsterhunternation.com (link provided through donotlink to avoid giving his blog upticks).

6/15 update

If you are an anonymous poster who joined goodreads this month (whatever month that may be), have no personal details, or no reviews on this site, you can take your opinions and put them in an appropriate place--your own review. In other words, move along. I will delete your nonsense.

BTW,
I also down-rated all his other books I read. For your trolling convenience:
#1: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hard Magic: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be glad and rejoice, my Comely Decapods, for I am about to do the Cut the Bloody Shrimping Crap and Just Make a Bloody Fishing List Thing (CtBSCaJMaBFLT™)! Ergo, we won’t be here all day! Maybe.



Yeah yeah yeah, I’ve used that gif thousands a few times already, but I’m kinda sorta on strike today, so deal with it and stuff.

So. Here goes and stuff. You need to read this book because:

① It’s even more boisterously fun and gleefully entertaining than the first instalment in the series. It’s all non-stop action, Testosterone-Packed Blood and Gore-Adorned BOOM BOOM BOOM You’re Dead Then Again Maybe Not Stuff (TPBaGABBBYDTAMNS™), and mindless merriment all the time, and therefore a blessing for my two overactive grey cells. The poor things are ever-decaying, you see, and always welcome the chance to not have to overthink what they’re reading and stay brain-dead rest for a little while. Such a welcome respite and stuff.

② You won’t find out what/who Agent Franks is if you don’t. Okay, so you probably don’t give a fish about this if you haven’t read book 1, but believe me, you should. Because what/who he is so scrumptiously awesome and stupendously surprising and most beautifully unexpected, not to mention a first in Urban Fantasy (methinks), that it makes reading this instalment a must and stuff.

③ Hahahahaha. Haha. Ha. Hahaha. Need I say more? Didn’t think so.



How is this gif relevant, you ask? No idea. You tell me.

④ The coolest Surly Gang of Gangsta Garden Gnomes on Steroids (SGoGGGoS™) ever. I want to adopt them all. They’re obnoxious, they’re offensive, they’re vindictive as fish. They’re armed to the teeth (some of them have a fetish for sawed-off, double-barrelled shotguns, too) and are covered in tattoos. They bench-press like maniacs, booze their little heads off and smoke like overactive industrial chimneys. Also, they have little kids’ furniture in super festive colors. And listen to gangsta rap. These psychotic guys from the Rice Krispies friendly little guys really are perfect adoption material, if you ask me.

⑤ Deliciously Villainous Villainous Villain (DV³™). And I’ll leave it at that because spoiler spoiler spoiler. Okay, I’m feeling uncharacteristically generous today so I’ll tell you this: a guy whose boss is a giant space mollusc who wants to enslave humanity can’t be entirely bad, if you ask me.

⑥ The Greatest Show Freak Circus on Earth: Armored zombie bears! And armored zombie elephants! Zombie trolls! Zombie raptor-human thingies! Zombie everything! Chupacabras with brains the size of tangerines! Ogre hitmen! Heavy metal band-worshipping orcs! Doppelgangers galore! Cute (if a little diabolical) crazy-fanatic chicks! Goat-dog things! Internet trolls who really are trolls! And don’t eat people! And need good dental plans! Doughy asexual humanoid blobs! Awesome in-laws who eat, um, Mexican for dinner! Friendly foes who look like piles of trash! And, the scariest, most terrifying creatures of them all: cuddle bunnies!



My thoughts exactly.

Oopsy shrimpsy, I just realized I hadn’t yet told you anything about the story. Okay, let’s make this Super Extra Quick (SEQ™) and stuff: Owen (our gun-happy hero of the terminal smartassitude) kinda sorta pissed off some ancient god at the end of the previous instalment. The ancient god was apparently none too delightfully happy about that (I wonder why). And decided it was payback time and stuff. To make things worse much more fun, a bunch of lovely cultist people decided this was the perfect time for humanity to go poof. A teensy little bit of mayhem ensued. The end.

➽ And the moral of this I Am Now Considering a Career in Human Spare Parts Trafficking Because Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler And Stuff Crappy Non Review (IANCaCiHSPTBSSSaSCNR™) is: thou shalt should never let a misplaced kidney get in the way of thine homicidal professional activities. No, thou shalt not.

• Book 1: Monster Hunter International ★★★★
• Book 3: Monster Hunter Alpha ★★★
• Book 3.5 (short story): A Halloween Public Service Announcement from MHI ★★★★
• Book 4: Monster Hunter Legion - to be read.
• Book 1: Monster Hunter International ★★★★
• Book 2: Monster Hunter Vendetta ★★★★
• Book 3: Monster Hunter Alpha ★★★
• Book 3.5 (short story): A Halloween Public Service Announcement from MHI ★★★★
• Book 4: Monster Hunter Legion ★★★★
• Book 4.5 (short story): Tanya: Princess of the Elves ★★★★
• Book 5: Monster Hunter Nemesis ★★★★
• Book 6: Monster Hunter Siege ★★★
• Book 7: Monster Hunter Guardian ★



[Pre-review nonsense]

I finally found out what type of weird freak sort of lovely creature Agent Franks is!! And it's bloody shrimping awesome!! I think I may have found myself a new boyfriend to kidnap!!! Let's dance and stuff!



Don't ask.

➽ Full Had I Read This Book Before Embarking Upon My Murderous Crustacean Breeding Career I Might Have Taken Up Gangsta Gnome Harvesting Instead Crappy Non Review (HIRTBBEUMMCBCIMHTUGGHICNR™) to come.

[Lo9man88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely a fun read, more action and shootings than the previous book if you can believe it, it deals with the consequences of Z messing with the Old Ones: "the nuclear missile wasn't his fault for sure, but he did oppose them so he has to face their wrath ,,,"
There were some hilarious moments in this book chief among them is Owen's reaction and interaction with those freaking gnomes: man how hard i laughed : "Damn right, punk-ass bitch, best step off my porch," ,,,
A lot of mysteries are revealed about MHI and Z , i loved how this novel complemented its precedent... Owen's power is growing, Julie is dealing with her own evolution....
All in all it was a delicious read, moving on to the next one.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The MHI series is threatening to knock LARPing out of the top spot as my new favorite guilty pleasure.



Granted, part of the reason the fact that grocery shopping in full orc-killing battle gear tends to make civilians a bit nervous and my spiked leggings keep tearing up the upholstery in my car. However, mostly it's because this is a kick-ass, steroid-enhanced thrill bag of a book and I can read it without having to look over my shoulder to see if a Thoombian Battle Mage is stealthily approaching to turn me into a newt.

The book description does an excellent job of summarizing the basic plot so I won't repeat it here other than to say that Owen Zastava Pitt (aka Big “Z”) is back and more pulpy, badtastic and trigger happy than ever. Plus, this time he is joined by AGENT FRANKS who turns out to have giant helpings of cool-as-shit oozing out of him. Now that these two seem to be teaming up, the amount of WIN that they can potentially generate in the next book is almost certain to be north of EPIC.

The story follows pretty closely the formula established in the first book, except that the gun oil marinated action has been juiced all the way up to 11
...and become a full blown mayhem-a-rama.

We also get a pretty sweet knowledge dump about Owen and his unusual “abilities” which should start playing a much more important role as the series continues. In addition, the major plot elements are much more “H.P. Lovecraftian” than the first one, which for fans like me and the Dickster is a BIG PLUS.


Overall, I thought this hugely entertaining and a ton of fun. While certainly mindless brain candy and not something that's going to be filed under "reading it done made me more smarter", it does make a nice change of pace from when you need a break from quality time with your young son and the newest version of Grand Theft Auto.

The writing is crisp, the plot is exciting, the characters are memorable and there is an absolute “all star cast” of interesting monsters, many familiar but some very unique. Some of my personal favorites of the unique ones were:

*** The mechanized zombies with my favorite being the “armored zombie bear” and the “leviathan zombie elephant.”

*** The gnomes who were portrayed as hip hop gangsta thugs complete with an east coast/west coast rivalry that I thought was hilarious. Some may just find this dripping with an abundance of cheese but I guess I was in the right mood for it and I loved it.

*** Force and Violence (these two baddies I will let you discover on your own but they were a very fun part of the book).

*** “Mystery Monster: there is one other that is my absolute favorite but to mention it would be a spoiler, but it should be obvious by the end of the book and should make a nice surprise.


Finally, here are a couple of quotes from the book that hopefully give a decent idea of the tone and the story’s sense of humor:

Although MHI had a lot of vehicles, none of them apparently had a quarter-million-horsepower engine forged in the fires of Mordor like this thing apparently did.
----Owen commenting on Agent Franks’ car (I just liked the Tolkien reference).

Julie was still talking. ‘No… No, sir… Do not, I repeat, do not approach them. Why?’ She rolled her eyes as if the person on the other end of the line asked something incredibly stupid. ‘Because they will eat you…Yes… Eat You.’ She paused to cover the phone’s receiver and said to me, ‘What is it with these people who want to reason with monsters? Morons.’ ‘I blame it on Twilight.’ In real life, vampires only sparkle when they’re on fire.
----Julie taking a call from a customer with a “monster” problem.

It certainly kept a smile on my face throughout. I had a good time with this book and would definitely call it a “mood enhancer” though I would certainly start with the first book if you have not read it yet.

4.5 to 5.0 stars. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book as evidenced by the four star rating...but it's not quite as good as the first in the series.

So, you ask, "why have you rated it the same as the first book in the series?" (since I wrote this...I went back and changed Monster Hunter International's rating to 5. Seemed the thing to do) "Well", I reply, "we are again the victim of the 5 star system. Not having half stars or a 10 star system I'm forced to compromise. The first book in the series I enjoyed greatly...but I didn't feel it was quite up to five star standards.(obviously I changed my mind on that) This book, I liked, not so well as the first, but while it's not as good (in my opinion of course) as Monster Hunter International it's still better than a 3 star read (by far). Thus another compromise. Unfortunately both compromises leave me with 4 stars (well, not anymore...I was conflicted about this). So the first is at the top edge of the 4 star continuum (now 5)while this one is center."

***(Actually since I wrote this in 2010 I've gone back and upped the rating of Monster Hunter International to 5 stars...so not that applicable anymore I suppose.)***

Clear as mud? Good. Now, let's move on.

This is grade A, hand pulled, double chocolate dipped brain candy. It's literary junk food of the first order. This is to literature what a Burger King Whopper is to cuisine. Enjoy it. Don't come here for deep meanings or literary subtlety. This book is a fast moving, action packed, violent adventure.

Why do I say it's not quite as good (at least in my view) as the first? The book has some humor in it as the first did, but this one treads a little closer to the absurd and it moves a little too close for my taste. Still it resumes the action and I enjoyed it for what it is... fun and adventure.

These books have I suppose, a couple of niche audiences. First Urban Fantasy fanciers. This one takes up it's place in the pantheon of modern day fantasies beside Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, Rob Thurman's Leandros Series, Simon Green's Secret Histories and others. It will also appeal to enthusiasts of Action reads. Action adventure, thrillers and so on you get a double barrel, shoulder mounted, belt-fed, dose of it all here. Also gun enthusiasts, shooters and so on will like the detail and accuracy in that area. The writer being a shooter himself, he makes sure to get it right. But, maybe if you just like a good story, you'll enjoy these books to.

So yes, I enjoyed the book, I recommend the book, I already have the next in the series. So, four (4) stars for some great literary junk food, enjoy.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monster Hunter Vendetta
by Larry Correia
More demon action, zombie, suspense, loads of fight scenes, and magic. Things I like in a thriller fantasy action book. I think this is the best one in the series, so far. All of the books are great.

[UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!!!!

The world this author has created is such an amazing place to visit. I can't put into words how exciting, fast paced, and totally captivating it is. What I can say is that if you're looking for something refreshingly unique in the fantasy/pnr genre, look no further than Larry Correia's Monster Hunters International series.

[Tim The Enchanter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Monster Cowboys are back with a 4 Star Effort

Your favorite monster hunting cowboys are back and it takes but a few pages before your mind's eye is covered in monster gore. Zombified humans, zombified bears, zombified trolls, zombified elephants, werewolves, vampires, gnomes, trolls and one nasty necromancer some of the enemies faced in the second installment of this exciting series. Larry Correia continues to take an interesting twist on the well travelled path of the fantasy monsters. Again, he manages to take preconceived notions of mythical creatures and turn them into original and entertaining characters. For example, we learn that the gnomes are not the simple and kindly garden decoration variety. We are introduced to "g-nome", the leader of a particularly violent and grouchy gang of gnomes. This of course is tongue in cheek and hilarity, black eyes and gnome fist sized bruises ensue.

Plot summary

Having personally affronted the 10,000 foot crustacean in the sky, the evil overlord of the "old ones" places a bounty on the head of our favorite hunter, Owen Z. Pitt. The hunter becomes the hunted when a evil, cult leading, maniacal necromancer takes up the hunt. Will Owen Pitt be capture and delivered to the hands (or maybe claws or tentacles) of the old ones? The chase takes us through Mexico, a Mexican prison, a heavy metal concert, the United States, another dimension and ultimately, New Zealand (could be Australia, I can't seem to remember....). All the while, monster are destroyed without mercy.

The Good

The characters continue to be very well developed and very colorful. Despite the fact that MHI is filled with a bunch of modern day cowboys, the all have a reasonably well developed back story and motivation. In this installment, we learn more about the FBI counterparts and are get to know Agent Franks more intimately which provides for lots of entertainment.

Larry Correia continues to build an original and entertaining mythology that does not rely heavily on magic. While he does use many of the old standards, he also casts other in different light (orcs can be friendly and helpful and lovers of heavy metals, elves as trailer trash and gnomes and tiny punk gang members). The series continues to entertain without taking itself too serious.

Seriously, someone needs to make these books into movies. I will be the first in line for tickets.

The Bad

Being the second in the series, Monster Hunter Vendetta falls into the trap of many second efforts. The first quarter of the book is a rehashing of the previous book and the remainder of the book reuses many of the plot elements that made the first book so successful. As a result, the book feels less original. I don't mind this in a second book but I will expect the third book to add some new elements to the story.

While the series is creating it own entertaining and somewhat satirical mythology, it also fails to explain and detail large parts of its own mythology. Often time the answer to the how and where of monsters and their powers is "I don't know". While this fits to the "shoot first, ask questions later" of these "monster westerns", it leaves the geeky reader (I am referring to myself) feeling a bit out of the loop.


Overall, the book is winner and the series continues to be one of the most fun and entertaining series I have read in a very long time.


Audiobook Notes

Again, the narration is top notch. Unlike the first book, it didn't notice a lack of contractions which interfered with my listening pleasure. This may simply be a small change in the writing style or that I unconsciously came to terms with issue. Regardless, the narration is 5 stars.

Content Advisories

It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.

Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest

Sex - 1.5

There are few comments directed toward a former stripper but none of the them are explicit or "adult only". There is one scene in which a woman is being spied on in the shower but the scene is not explicit and there is no description "scenery". Aside from this, there minor love story underlying the book but there is little more than chaste physical contact and a stolen kiss here and there.

Language - 3

My impression in this book was that there was a significant reduction in the use of adult language. While the majority of characters are unafraid to swear as they are blowing the head off the monster there is a marked reduction in the f-word which was a welcome change. Overall, the use of all adult language was moderate.

Violence - 4

While the story continues to focus on the killing of monsters, there was a reduction in the number of monster and human deaths. The death by gun, explosion, impaling etc, continues to be high, it is less gory and less frequent in the second book. The intensity in the story comes from a higher concentration of horror elements of the story.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has become my favorite urban fantasy series.

A funny action filled dark Lovecraftian urban fantasy without all the angst usually associated with the genre. Highly recommended.

[[Name Redacted] · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an odd duck, and a very odd sequel.

Unlike the previous volume, I actively disliked the opening of this one. Whereas the first one began with a little bit of normalcy, then rushed immediately into action and followed it with more normalcy (establishing a rhythm and letting the reader breathe as the characters, setting & plot developed), "Monster Hunter Vendetta" rushed right into the action and never really slowed down. I was about 1/3 of the way through the book before the Orcs came on the scene and made it enjoyable again, and that's disappointing to me. It improved from that point on, but I still can't forget how much I disliked the opening.

Like the previous volume there was a plot twist I found immediately obvious from the novel's opening, as well as two revelations about characters, and there seemed to be far less in the way of subversion of (and far more in the way of cleaving to) the cliched tropes of the genres. I'm also not sure whether the author actually intended one of the revelations which tied into the previous volumes, or just pulled it out of...thin air...to explain some things.

The introduction of the gangsta' gnomes helped improve the tone, as well as the scene in which torture is shown as a potentially valuable tool but most of the characters are too squeamish/moral to go about it. The past-reading flashes were an interesting development, as was the revelation of what the tattooed man's mark will do to Julie. There was also a death I absolutely did not expect, which is something I had long since thought impossible in fiction! Mr. Trashbags was a delightful surprise, the final 1/3 was excellent, and the creature "Feeder"...*shudder*.

As I said, this is a very odd sequel. I have all these nits to pick, but I also remember really enjoying the book after the rough first 1/3. I'll definitely read the following volume, but I'm a little warier now.

[Eon Windrunner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Owen Z. Pitt saved the world, but in the process managed to piss off a god who has now basically put a bounty on Pitt's head. Also, the baddies are once again stroking their white, fluffy kitties, planning a world ending event. Cue mayhem.

Apart from the MC being the Chosen One (*sighs) and having to save the world again, this book was a rollicking adventure of a story with zombies of every kind ( ! armored zombie bears ! :D ), orcs, werewolves, vampires, shoggoths, shadow-lords, doppelgangers and many more disposable hench-things. Honorable mention to the gangsta gnomes.

If you are looking for the next pulitzer prize winner, you might be in the wrong section. But, if you want a fun, ass-kicking read, then take off those shoes, kick back on the couch and let the good times roll.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh yeah baby, it's on like Donkey Kong... Yes, I just said that. Sorry, I've been playing Nintendo all afternoon, it seeps into my skin. But the book, I should probably talk about the book now.

Loved it. Love love loved it. I realized something while I was reading this... I'm not usually a huge Urban Fantasy fan, I'm more of an Epic Fantasy gal. But this series? I love it. And I think the reason is that while the story line is definitely Urban.. It's pretty damn Epic at the same time. It's Epic Urban Fantasy. Holy wow. I just invented a new genre! Or rather, Mr. Correia did. Actually he probably didn't, I'm sure the term has been thrown around before. But it's new to me, so damn it, I'm allowed to be excited!

Seriously though. It's Urban action, on an Epic scale, and it rocks. This book doesn't suffer at all from the second-in-a-series-curse, it's just as good as the first, maybe even better in some ways. You get to learn more about the characters, some of their mysterious histories are revealed, it's pretty awesome non-stop action.. And it's fucking funny. I'm allowed to say "fucking" in this review because "fuck" was used often and well in the book... Just saying. Wait... What was I saying? I got distracted. Oh yeah, it's fucking funny.

Honestly.. I don't have any complaints. Five stars all the way. I can't wait to start Monster Hunter Alpha!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book as much as the first one, but felt bad for the brother. Raw deal. Finally got the G-man joke with Agent Franks' name. I can be a bit dense at times. If you like over-powered and gunned heroes that have to fight even bigger bad guys, but written well and researched up the wazoo when it comes to the guns and tactics used, then this is the series for you! Some serious love here. 5 stars and starting the next today!

[Arnis · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202...

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Monster Hunter Vendetta is a fantastic sequel, building on the foundation of the first book, offering more monster fueled mayhem and broadening the scope of the series.

In the process of saving the world, Owen Z. Pitt has made some enemies, namely the Old Ones, creatures from another reality entirely alien to Earth interested in nothing more than conquering or killing every world they encounter. And Owen has managed to make them mad, which leads to a death cult seeking to kidnap him so they can present him as an offering to the Old Ones.

This book hits the ground running, with the action starting early and never letting up. Just like the first book, the action was fun and varied. We got to see some new monsters here, some of which were a lot of fun. Gnomes. That’s all I’ll say. The orcs from the first book are back, and steal every scene they are in. One sequence with them at a concert is an absolute blast. We get to know Agent Franks a lot better as well. This book is the point in the series where he becomes one of the most interesting characters.

Despite the frenetic pace of the action, there are also plenty of moments where things slow down, allowing room for conversations and character interactions. We get to know Owen’s family, and there are also a few quick sections that are from the POV of someone other than Owen for the first time, giving a glimpse at a few other characters which I enjoyed.

I liked the first one a touch better, mainly because the storyline this time didn’t allow for quite as much of the character interaction I enjoyed from the first book, but Vendetta is a great follow up to Monster Hunter International and another incredibly entertaining book.

[Beanbag Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second installment of the Monster Hunter series (there are only three out) and I enjoyed as much as the first. It's non-stop action and suspense and it's a crazy, world-upside-down urban fantasy that really satisfies.

This time Owen Z. Pitt is being pursued by a nasty necromancing cult leader after said cult leader's god -- the most evil being in the known and unknown universe(s) -- demands vengeance ... for something Owen didn't even do! Sheesh! Some guys can't catch a break.

Favorite and not-so-favorite characters return and we get to know more about some of them. There are some surprises and a lot of laughs. Correia has a way of keeping the suspense and/or horror ramped up while still including a wry observation that will make you smile in spite of your stress.

And stressful it is. As with the first installment, this is all about action. There are so many battle sequences that are over-the-top and evocative that you almost have PTSD at the end. He's good with the wrap-ups, though, so you have a nice glide to the last page.

The epilogue sets up the next book and it's already aggravating my ulcer wondering what's going to happen and hoping some things foreshadowed won't. The third book is already out but I'm sticking to the rules and putting it off until I've read a few other things first. I don't know if I could take reading these books back to back. Too much adrenaline. But I do really enjoy them and I'm probably going to be on board for the entire series ride.

[Jonathan Koan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so fun! This series really is the Dresden Files but instead of detectives its Monster Hunters.

The book has a mix of light and dark moments, and the themes and tropes were really interesting. I think the book is a little long in the middle and could have been cut about 100 pages.

I loved the story of Owen and the "Hunt" for him and his family members. And the whole Shakleford clan is just delightful.

The "Troll" and "Gnome" moments had me laughing out loud.

Overall, an entertaining and fun read. Very refreshing compared with my typical fare. 8 out of 10.

[Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. As much as I enjoyed Larry’s previous novel, Monster Hunter International, I enjoyed this one even more. Mr. Correia started off with a bang and then never took his foot off the gas pedal. I was unable to find one place in this novel where the action wasn’t breathing down my neck. These books are just a ton of fun to read. Monster Hunter Vendetta picks up shortly after the events detailed in Monster Hunter International. As in the previous book, Owen Zastava Pitt owns the eyes through which we watch this tale unfold. The style of first person perspective just works well with this kind of story. Owen has just about as much knowledge of this shadowy underworld he has entered as his audience does and so he never really leaves us feeling in the dark. At least not more so than he is himself.

Monster Hunter Vendetta takes what was so fantastic about its predecessor and continues with that recipe while spicing it up with a little more mystery, suspense and character development than was on hand before. Characters who you thought you understood and ended up hating may actually become a little more sympathetic this time around. And maybe, just maybe, you might even learn to love at least one of those whom you despised in Monster Hunter International. That’s right. Character development abounds in this installment. We get to meet some new hunters, we get a few new glimpses of the in-laws, we learn more about Owen’s family and we’re introduced to a whole new assortment of monsters (both enemies AND allies) with which our main cast interacts.

Be warned, this book is short. And its pace is incredibly fast. This is one which could easily be finished in a day or two. But don’t let that disappoint you. Think of it as a gift from the author by not loading his novel down with excessive B.S. that only ends up choking the life out of the story being told. This one is a testosterone fueled roller coaster. Twists, turns and loop-d-loops abound. Just when you think you have it all figured out, look out. Larry’s still got some surprises up his sleeve.

As with the previous novel, the writing is still merely average. But it’s refreshing to read an action novel which doesn’t take itself too seriously and only focuses on telling a fun story. The Monster Hunter series is only about one thing: entertaining your socks off from the first page to the last. The pacing is just right. Nothing is wasted. Each paragraph serves only to advance the plot and get you closer to the ultimate payoff. And the building crescendo throughout the novel is done so well and with such power, that I couldn’t help but get swept away by it.

Now for the paragraph where I list my complaints and caveats about the story, the writing or the over-all feel of the novel: . . . . . . Yeah, I got nothin’.

If you liked the X-Files but always thought it was a little too feminine or not quite grisly enough for your tastes, read this series. If you have a secret love for large bore firearms and ragged, gaping exit wounds in the carcasses of the minions of evil, read this series. If you think lawn gnomes are a ridiculous addition to your neighbor’s hideous menagerie of yard adornment, read this series. If you liked David Morrell’s First Blood, but always kinda’ thought John Rambo was just too much of a whiny sissy-pants, read this series. You won’t be disappointed.

I can’t believe I’m awarding this book 5 stars . . . that was not expected before I started reading. But I ended up loving it THAT much. Do yourself a favor and get on the Larry Correia band wagon immediately. Sure, he may not offer much insightful reflection on the state of affairs which currently affect our daily lives . . . but who cares? He writes a damn good story full of big f-ing guns, angry, brain munching villains and hearing-loss inducing, crater diggin’ ‘splosions. What more could anyone ask for?

[Kat Hooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at FanLit:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

“When monsters have nightmares, they’re dreaming about us.” — MHI handbook

Monster Hunter Vendetta is the second installment of Larry Correia’s MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL series. In the first book, Monster Hunter International, we met Owen Zastava Pitt who used to be an accountant and gun hobbyist until his boss turned into a werewolf and Owen had to kill him. Now Owen is one of the best agents MHI has ever had.

It’s lucky that he’s so good at his job because Owen made a very dangerous enemy when he recently thwarted the Old Ones’ attempt to break into our dimension (read about this in the first book, Monster Hunter International). Now Owen is being hunted by the minions of the Old Ones, including a necromancer named The Shadow Man and the members of a death cult called the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition. Because they’re evil, they’ll stop at nothing to get their way, including killing innocent people and targeting Owen’s family to get at him.

This time Owen and the gang are fighting — along with all the usual werewolves, vampires and zombie hordes — doppelgängers, undead elephants, zombie bears, a shoggoth, giant walking trees, gangsta gnomes (so funny!), a brain worm that eats memories, and Julie’s mother. It sounds like too much — everything but the kitchen sink, you know (though I wouldn’t be surprised to find MHI shooting animated kitchen sinks in a future installment) — but it works.

As usual, the government can’t stop themselves from meddling with MHI. They want in on the action and they know Owen is the target, so Agent Franks, one of Owen’s human nemeses, is assigned as Owen’s bodyguard. If you didn’t love Agent Franks already (and you probably didn’t), you will by the end of Monster Hunter Vendetta.

It doesn’t happen very often that the second book in a series is better than the first, but it’s true in this case. Monster Hunter Vendetta is a wild ride — to say that it’s exciting, frightening, creative, violent, bloody and funny would be too much of an understatement. It’s eye-popping, heart-pounding, and totally unputdownable. I was engrossed (and grossed out) from the first page to the last. As I mentioned in my review of the previous book, it’s too gory for me to say that I really love it — a few too many disemboweled bodies and heads bitten off for me — but I can say that I really really admire it and I almost love it. Those who go for this sort of thing are likely to consider MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL a perfect specimen of testosterone-filled dude lit. (This sounds sexist, I know, but Larry Correia could have made this series more appealing to female readers by increasing the romantic tension.)

One thing I particularly liked about Monster Hunter Vendetta is that it’s very funny. Not the wacky slapstick Three Stooges kind of funny — there’s none of that. Correia uses a delightfully morbid dry humor which works especially well with Oliver Wyman’s narration of the audio version. Though Wyman’s narration is lively, he deadpans the humorous lines perfectly. (If you’re reading MHI and haven’t tried the audio version, you’re missing out.) There are also occasional SFF allusions that made me smile.

I’m impressed with how well plotted this series has been so far. Larry Correia set up the background for Monster Hunter Vendetta back in the first book when we learn about Owen’s family, Julie’s parents, and the history of MHI. I already felt like I knew Owen’s mother, a Serbian woman who demonstrates her love by cooking for people, his father who brought up his boys to be tough survivalists, and his brother who became a heavy metal rock star. When we meet Owen’s family in Monster Hunter Vendetta we (and Owen himself) start to comprehend that his destiny has been in place since before he was even born. This plot is way bigger than we realized back in book one. I can’t wait to read on….

[Albert Riehle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is crap. No. I'm sorry, I insult crap when I compare this book to it. I'm so tired of this kind of book! How do these things ever get published? Don't the publishers actually read these things before printing them? Who is Larry Correia blowing to get his stuff in print?

Correia thinks he's being really clever when he takes a shot at Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series by having his main character mention that real vampires aren't sparkly. I thought that was the best part of the book because of the irony of it all. Owen Z. Pitt, Correia's protagonist, is to fat, prematurely balding, dim witted gun nuts what Bella Swan was to frumpy, plain girls who don't get asked to the prom. As a rule, I think it should be against a publisher's policy to print a book that is basically no more than the writer's masturbatory fantasies committed to paper. Sure, Pitt is a lard ass, he's ugly, he's slow, but he's also the greatest ass-kicker since Buffy the Vampire Slayer? He's more Neanderthal than man but EVERY pretty girl wants him! Please!

Yes, Stephanie Meyer is a hack, but don't make fun of her unless you're less of a hack than she is and Mr. Correia, sir, you do not qualify.

At least in the first book in this series the plot was somewhat decent. This time it's unoriginal. It's the same bad guys with a new henchman. This time they are the ones doing the hunting. Great. Wake me up when it's over. This is supposed to be an urban fantasy and I understand that stretching reality is part of the game, but there isn't a single shred of truth to any of the characters the author writes. There is no humility. There is no depth to a single character written.

By all means, if you suffer from insomnia, read this book as a sure-fire cure. If you too are overweight, balding, have never had a date, a gun lover and an accountant, you may enjoy it because you may have at least something that can connect you to the otherwise shallow protagonist. Everyone else should skip this book because it truly sucks and the people who published it should be ashamed.

[The Reformed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crazy, action-packed fun!

This was a step up from book 1. This high-octane story was a lot of fun. I love the underlying and overarching plot while our focus is directed towards these more episodic sub-stories. This reads A LOT like Dresden Files, but honestly, I think that Larry Correia is doing a better job of getting the plot moving. I think he is planning to wrap this story up in under 20 books, so he is definitely cutting out the unnecessary fluff in order to maintain a quick pace.

NOW.....

As a fair warning, there's quite a bit of adult content in here, so if you liked Dresden Files, you'll like this. If you had to DNF Dresden, I do NOT recommend picking this up. Personally, I'm loving it. It's like watching an excellent TV series about monster hunters, and can definitely see how this could be adapted with each book being a season.

Again, this won't be the series for everyone, but im really digging it. I'll be jumping into book 3 soon.

[Michelle]

Adding my physical copy to Goodreads.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is quality and unique fantasy! Correia writes great action scenes with monster hunters being overwhelmed by zombies of all sorts.. (bear zombies??? elephant zombies?) or shadow creatures. Mix in Trailer Park (think ultra hillbilly elves) Punk Rock loving Orcs, Ghetto influenced gnomes, and an assortment of evil crustaceons, werewolves, vampires, and you've got such a delightful mixture of good and evil.

This time-- it's personal. The old ones want Owen Pitt (they blame him for the nuke that agent Myers let fly through the interdimensional portal in the first book) and they are going after him and his family. At times, the book seems endless. but around almost every corner (plot twist) is a new revelation about a character or another, or a secret about the Monster Hunter's organization and its sordid past, etc.

Correia gets the firearms data dead on. He knows the difference between a revolver and a semi-auto, he understands grenade launchers, bayonets, knives, and hand to hand combat. Because of his comprehension of guns, the reader overlooks the fact that his heroes seem nearly super human (okay, so some of them are a bit amped up-- as we learn through the book) and sits back and enjoys the ride. Along the way, we learn that trolls love the internet (can you say Nigerian email scam...) and regenerate quickly, while living on pizza and red bull. We learn that just about all of the monster hunters have some secret in their past, and sometimes their family does as well.

The book works to a satisfying conclusion\shootout\climactic battle.. then offers a teaser in the epilogue that there may be a third in the series (now I have to start looking to see it is so... )

If you are looking for something more fun that the Anita Blake or Dresden series.. this seems to offer a "lighter" look at a modern fantasy world while showing how easy it is to become corrupted by some of the seamier sides. Lots of action, plenty of laughs.. but a great balance is acheived between the humor and the darkness...

[Niels Bugge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok fun, some good action
But the plot is more or less the same: Same Lovecraftian horrors, same helpers, same approach to problem solving:
Step 1: Gunporn, shoot the monsters full of bullets, grenades, flamethrowers, rpg's, harpoons (even though this never work)
Step 2: Hand to hand combat and bladeporn (even though the hero isn't stong enough)
(Occasionally: Hero dies and have old Jewish guy tell him to get his shit together, use *strange dark power* and get back in the fight)
Step 3: Badass helper kill the monster by being badass

No character development:
A bit more background on some of the characters, new ones get introduced and forgettable ones get killed (were they only introduced in the first book, or is it just because they don't have any emotional interest?)
Daddy-issues are background-info'ed away without any emotional impact
No development in relationship with girlfriend
Hero unexplicably feel pangs of guilt over people dying "because of him", despite the fact that evil entities are evil, would do it anyways, and only are out for him because he is cursed with *strange dark power* and are in the way/a necessary tool for the usual project "destroy the world".

It's really sad that author doesn't use the setup for more, because there is some interesting world-building going on (now with orcs, gangster gnomes and trolls). But the bad guys are basically cliché and after the first book, you had hoped not to hear from the Lovecraftian horrors for another 500 years, but the postscript indicate that yes, they will indeed be back in the third book for more repeated plotlines.

The series started out promising in the first book, but I'm dropping it now.

[Seth Skorkowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first MHI book the same way one enjoys a good 80's Action Flick. Just turn your brain off and ride the ride. It was a lot of fun. Monster Hunter Vendetta starts out exactly the same way. Owen Pitt and the rest of the MHI team are killing baddies and making bank. Some of it is over the top cheesy (Internet Trolls and Gangsta Gnomes) and some of it is wicked-cool (Oni. Mother of God, the Oni are awesome).

Then the Old Ones walk in and the book takes a surprising turn. Correia's imagination had already Impressed me with the Grimnoir Series, and it struck again here. This book gets spectacularly dark and weird. What started as a book I could listen to while driving became a book I couldn't stop listening to.

It's a great ride.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's easy mind candy. Lots of action, betrayal, power discovery, and unlikely friends. Two of the best parts is discovering who Franks really is and the villain Marty.
The pacing was good and the story was fun. I especially enjoyed it when they took on the old god. :)

[Иван Величков · Rating 5 out of 5]

Няма такъв висок скок в качеството, както между тази и предишната книга. Лари Корея е дръпнал много, ама много напред. Вече съжалявамм, че отлагах прочитането на тази толкова време.
Тук вече имаме напълно изградена история, без излишни разливания; систематично изчистване на грешките от предишната книга; нулево претрупване; и много по-съсредоточен и увличащ стил на разказване.
След голямата битка от предишната част Ловците от MHI би трябвало да заслужат известна почивка. Обаче голямата лудост те първа започва. Отделът се оказва под многостепенна атака на некромански култ, чийто водач познава прекалено добре структурата и оправлението на наемническата фирма за изтребване на чудовища. Оуен, естествено, е в среадта на конфликта и, загубил своя ментор, изобщо не е на ясно за какво става въпрос. А залогът, много ясно, е целият свят.
По време на тривиална задача в Мексико (избиване на глутница чупакабри), нашият герой и екипът му се оказват в средата на зомби нашествие. Успяват да го овладеят, но Оуен попада в мексикански затвор, където му се разкриват няколко доста притеснителни тайни. Водач на мистериозен култ с некромански сили е взел на мушка цялата фирма, която му пречи да доведе на зземята един от Древните. ФБР и основно бившият наемник агент Майерс все така дишат във врата на MHI и дебнат за най-малката грешка. Следват преателства, измами, заплахи и много пуцане, докато въпросите поставени от предишната книга, един по един намират своите отговори, а напрежението градира през всичките четиристотин и кусур страници, до финалната грандиозна битка.
А, и зомбита, много зомбита.
Хуморът е леко тъпашки, но е в умерени количества. Мислех, че нищо не може да бие живеещата в каравана, наливаща се с домашна ракия, стоипетдесет килограмова кралица на елфите от предишната книга, но Мелвин – интернет трол, който се оказа истински такъв, Джи-ном – градиското двудже хардкор гангстер и Г-н Торби боклук – домашният шогот на Джули ме накараха да се смея с глас.
Героите, корави и калени в битки с изроди наемници, наистина успяват да израстат по време на повествованието, а сюжетът много логично следва този от предишната част. Чак ми се прииска да вдигна оценката на първата книга. Все още съм скиптичен към цялото замесване на лъвкрафтовата митология, някак леко несериозно седи в стила на писане на Корея, но пък му се е получило, не мога да си кривя душата.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larry Correia is the man. Let's get that out there, first thing. He's the busiest guy in speculative fiction, and that's for a good and justifiable reason. His books are way too much fun. When reading this book and its precursor, Monster Hunter International, I found myself constantly moving between a chuckle and an outright guffaw. I actually, for the first time ever, slapped my knee I laughed so hard at one point.

Now, we expect, given the title, that these books are going to make deep philosophical statements about the nature of humankind, and we're not disappointed in this regard. At one point, a character named Earl Harbinger says something to this effect: "Everything's immortal until someone kills it." These, and other gems will be yours upon reading these stories.

Are the MHI books masterpieces of poetic, heart-wrenching beauty? No. They're high-octane thrill rides that never miss a chance for gunplay, fist fighting, and supernatural craziness. Monster Hunter Vendetta plows mostly the same field as its predecessor, but it's a darned good field to plow. It follows the maxim: "Nothing kills like overkill." It's a good time book, and will shoot by before you know it.

In addition, if you have the opportunity to meet Larry, he is just as fun and self-effacing as you might guess from his main character, Owen Z. Pitt. Owen's a lot like Larry, just with all the knobs turned to "11".

If you're ready to have a great time, pick up "Vendetta", clear your schedule, put on some high volatage rock and roll, and you'll be set for the evening. I promise.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot properly express how much I enjoy this series. Literally non-stop action page after page. The writing is so clever, the scenarios Owen (his friends call him "Z") and the MHI gang find themselves just get wilder and wilder. I love Owen, he is hilarious. He's a big brute that's happy to admit he's the brawn not the brains. He settles problems with guns and fists (and in that order). All the characters of MHI are awesome in their own way. And we can't forget the enigmatic Agent Franks, aptly named (gotta read the book to find out why). Honestly there's not a one I don't want to see more of. I swear, I pick up this book and in just a few paragraphs my eyes are bugging out at all the friggin crazy goings-on. At one point Owen is fighting a group of pissed-off gnomes...that's right, those really tiny guys in pointy hats, usually seen tucked away in the flowerbeds by the front porch. And that's barely the beginning of the craziness. Seriously I read this book and my eyes get wider and wider, I forget to blink, forget I have stuff to do, forget I have a kid to take care of until he's climbing into my lap to yank the book away. This is the most fun series sitting on my shelf right now, and I can't wait for the next one.

[Phil Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larry Correia has done it again. This page turner ruined my weekend. Well, my Friday into Saturday anyway. Once I really got rolling with it, I could not put the book down.

(Just in case you are wondering, Yes, the electronic ARC version is already available @ WebScription.net for $15)

This story kept the same pace and had the same overall quality as Monster Hunter International, and did not disappoint. I was also pleased not to have to read too much recap filler.

The main character Z is once again called upon to save the world. Can he make it? Does he have what it takes this time around? There are so many twists and turns in this story that it will keep you guessing right up until the end.

I would recommend reading MHI first in case you are new to the series, and keep the next few days open.