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Shadow Detective #1
Cursed City
My name is Mike Raven, and the weird and supernatural are my life. Monsters murdered my parents when I was eight. Turns out my folks were paranormal investigators and Hell always settles its debts. Naturally I decided to join the family business.
For two decades I've studied the occult and traveled the world hunting nightmares. Vampires. Shifters. Demons. Wraiths. I've faced them all. But my greatest challenge still lay ahead...
From the moment Celeste stepped into my office, I knew she was in trouble. Black magic trouble. Her father had promised her soul to a powerful demon on the day she was born. Now, twenty-one years later, the forces of darkness were gathering to collect their long-awaited prize.
Guess who's about to pick a fight with the Devil himself?
For two decades I've studied the occult and traveled the world hunting nightmares. Vampires. Shifters. Demons. Wraiths. I've faced them all. But my greatest challenge still lay ahead...
From the moment Celeste stepped into my office, I knew she was in trouble. Black magic trouble. Her father had promised her soul to a powerful demon on the day she was born. Now, twenty-one years later, the forces of darkness were gathering to collect their long-awaited prize.
Guess who's about to pick a fight with the Devil himself?
200 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 11, 2016
908 people are currently reading
913 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
June 24, 2019
If you want to read about badasses who kill lovely pets nasty things deadly dead for a living, and have some of the mostest coolest weapons in UF the business, don't read this book. Read Monster Hunter International. QED and stuff.
February 26, 2018
This turn out to be a pleasant surprise!
I remember reading similar -- Harbinger series by Adam Wright and I devoured all 3 in the series in a week or so...
This reminds me of same - paranormal investigator hunting down supernatural creatures with troubled past - sign me up!
I enjoy paranormal written by male author which doesn't emphasize on romance at all and I really like not knowing any female's eye color mentioned 100 times. Absolutely fine by me...If you are looking for action packed paranormal adventure, I would definitely recommend this!
The story starts with Mike Raven hunting down a witch in dark jungle. As soon as that finishes, he is pulled into the job which also deals with his personal tragedy which made him lose his parents 20 years ago....to a daemon
Like I said, I was impressed and will be continuing with this series. This dives right into action without too much details with enough creepiness to compensate - this has potential of becoming new favorite series....
I remember reading similar -- Harbinger series by Adam Wright and I devoured all 3 in the series in a week or so...
This reminds me of same - paranormal investigator hunting down supernatural creatures with troubled past - sign me up!
I enjoy paranormal written by male author which doesn't emphasize on romance at all and I really like not knowing any female's eye color mentioned 100 times. Absolutely fine by me...If you are looking for action packed paranormal adventure, I would definitely recommend this!
The story starts with Mike Raven hunting down a witch in dark jungle. As soon as that finishes, he is pulled into the job which also deals with his personal tragedy which made him lose his parents 20 years ago....to a daemon
Like I said, I was impressed and will be continuing with this series. This dives right into action without too much details with enough creepiness to compensate - this has potential of becoming new favorite series....
June 15, 2017
Cursed City may surprise you. It is not what at first seems to be. It starts okay enough.
It gives you a lot of familiar things (if you like Supernatural, you know what I'm talking about), introduces you to decent protagonists, introduces them to some annoying ones, goes back into the past a bit to explain certain things, sets the stage of a world that is getting closer to Hell (that's literally, by the way). It's a fun read.
The first three chapters are a long introduction to the main character Raven. He is a hunter. As I said, if you've seen Supernatural, no need to explain more.
The thing that makes Cursed City even better is the twist I honestly didn't expect. No, I'm not going to write about it. Let's just say that it makes sense after reading the book. I really liked it.
There should be a prequel. I want to read about that doomsday cult that tried to open a gateway to Hell. Raven and his partner prevented the end of the world, but the cult wasn't completely unsuccessful.
It gives you a lot of familiar things (if you like Supernatural, you know what I'm talking about), introduces you to decent protagonists, introduces them to some annoying ones, goes back into the past a bit to explain certain things, sets the stage of a world that is getting closer to Hell (that's literally, by the way). It's a fun read.
The first three chapters are a long introduction to the main character Raven. He is a hunter. As I said, if you've seen Supernatural, no need to explain more.
The thing that makes Cursed City even better is the twist I honestly didn't expect. No, I'm not going to write about it. Let's just say that it makes sense after reading the book. I really liked it.
There should be a prequel. I want to read about that doomsday cult that tried to open a gateway to Hell. Raven and his partner prevented the end of the world, but the cult wasn't completely unsuccessful.
Read
December 18, 2025Rating: minus 8 on a scale of minus 15 to plus 5.
I am doing a revision of another weird science fiction adjacent book which is searching for a story.
Before continuing, I will make a visit to the YouTube. This was brought to you by Doctor Who/Be Kind, Eva Schubert, NCMI, LuckyBlackCat, Candlelit Tales, RevolutionarythOt, Cindy's Villa, Not Just Another Fat Girl, Bean Thinking, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Welcome to Ukraine, Animalogic,
Tom Nicholas, Lily Simpson, Dr Fatima, Aid Thompsin, Yoyomi, Sailing Melody, Keffals, Jess Owens, Books and Lala, LIbrary Ladder, Fun Size Reader, Reads with Rachel, Fit 2B Read, The Closet Historian, FAFO, A Lil Bit Mads, NanyaCim, Wayward Winchester, The Cosy Creative, Think that Through, The Brothers Gwynne, Outlaw Bookseller, Ms Modeller, Eugenia from Ukraine,
The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Ukraine Matters, Aditu Laudis, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, TriAngulum, Guard the Leaf, Kirkpattiecake, No Justice, Mynameismarines, Sabine Hossenfelder, The Great War, Shannon Makes, CreatedIAm, Mercado Media, Shar Henley, Authentic Observer, Hailey Hughes, Anna Cramling, Jake Broe, Mia Loiacono, BardCore, Chem Thug, ExtinctZoo,
Raw News and Politics, Gresham College, Red Viburnam Song, Morgan Donner, Break N Make, Grace McGuire, Daisy Viktoria, Silicon Curtain, Authentic Observer, Ro Ramdin, Gingers are Black, HBomberGuy, Kris Atomic, JohnTheDuncan, No Justice MTG, Reese Waters, HBomberGuy, Three Arrows, Cambrian Chronicles, SK Media, Female Warriors - Teresatessa, ScaredKetchup, Depressed Russian, Veritas et Caritas,
Baltic Empire, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Brigitte Empire, Angela Collier, Anark, Belle of the Ranch, Diary of a Ditch Witch, Emma Thorne, Warthog Defence, Dr Becky, Boat Time, Oliver Lugg, Narrowboat Pirate, KernowDamo, JuLingo, May, The British Museum, Verilybitchie, Gracey D, Book Furnace, OrangeRiver, Parkrose Permaculture, Shapelessflame, Gary's Economics, Jean's Thoughts, What Vivi Did Next, NS Miniverse, MedievalCore, AllShorts.
I recently saw that a member of the Village Idiot Party who whilst insulting an essayist I enjoy, complain to her that I list trans creators. I am no longer surprised by the Snowflake (coarse, lacking self-awareness and poorly socialised US man-baby). A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include lumber yard worker, paleontologist, queer, Scottish, WOC, bi, autist, economist, redhaired, anarchist, asexual, military historian, married, mathematician, trans, archaeologist, socialist, Swedish, lesbian, anthropologist, marine biologist, miniatures painter, intersex, theoretical physicist, cosplayer, cis, Kenyan, musician, pensioner, writer and other creators known as Women.
Almost as dangerous are the booktuber, other BIPOC, Estonian, mythologist, wood worker, miniatures builder, zoologist, other neurodivergent, philosopher, tailor, boater, Canadian, other LGBTQI+, communist, culture critic, boat restorer, military boardgamer, astrophysicist, van lifestyle, reenactor, fashion historian, boardgame historian, communist, chemist and other creators known (outside the US) as Human Beings.
Should the voices persist, seek emergency pastoral counselling or the nearest Mahayana temple or develop a new skill such as reading.
My feelings towards those madmen and women is similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island, when Russians demanded their surrender. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more, Unto the book, dear friend. The background is generic urban fantasy. That is the entirety of world building. This book was not written as a standalone but as the pilot for a not very substantial follow-up.
The characters are setting appropriate, which is the minimum to be expected of any fiction. That is an expectation not often met in low effort US science fiction adjacent titles, which describes perhaps 90% or better of Amazon's recommendations. The characters lack any pretence of depth, since they are Hollywood action figures.
The writer has created a bland cross of Hollywood Noire and Comic Book supernatural thriller. The book is not grounded in any way. The story consists of a description of the lifestyle of the main character, his butler/henchman/partner and their mysteriously clever daily routine.
As usual for low effort fiction, the characters no matter how weak are meant to shoulder the entire burden of background creation. Here as usual, the characters are dragged into the void which should have been a story structure.
The main character is described as a "Constantine" clone. His servant/partner is described as any other in a Hollywood movie. The almost personality of the main character is vehicle for mood and tone delivery.
Neither the detective nor the servant/partner seem to have an identifiable income. This despite sharing a fashionably furnished, extensively renovated ex-industrial building with three auto garage.
The duo do not report theft of an expensive vehicle to police, despite suspecting the improbable theft was performed by an arch-villain. The policewoman seems the generic inside contact. The book is a mashup of Batman and Constantine. It is all style, little substance and could pass for novelization of a typical Hollywood screenplay.
It might be enjoyable if the reader simply wishes a fast moving action film in print.
I feel that I have earned a break. This next was made possible by YouTube channels - Doctor Who/Where I Fall, Perun, Lily Simpson, Anark, Lynn Saga, Lena Down Under, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Leeja Miller, Bookslike Whoa, Roomies Digest, Amie's Literary Empire, Fran Blanche, Belle of the Ranch, Dark Brandon, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Springtime for Elon,
Knowing Better, Sailing Melody, Anna from Ukraine, The Shades of Orange, Naughty Nana DUZ, Andrewism, Kozak Siromaha, BlondiHacks, ConeOfArc, History with Kayleigh, Books and Things, Planarwalker, Geo Girl, LydLoves, Sabby Sabs, Weirdo Book Club, Tibees, Celtic HIstory Decoded, Abney Park, Tanya Fiona,
Norse Magic and Beliefs, Lurie Daniels Favor, The RItual Kitchen with Laura May, Living Anachronism, Planet D, Keffals, IL Neige, ILona Millinery, Yarmak, Prime of Midlife, Leena Norms, Shannon Makes, Engineering Knits, Ukraine News TV. Historical Fashion, Ship Happens, Bobbing Along, Julie Nolke, Matriarchetype, Paleo Analysis, DW News, Karolina Zebrowska, Crecganford, Yoyomi, Ana Fern,
Art Deco, Miniminuteman, StatsPanda, Mythic Concepts, Ukraine Matters, Shitty Book Club, Jess Owens, Book Leo, Sanctioned Ivan, Mia Asano, Munecat, Hardigan, Arvin Ash, Popcorn in Bed, Dominic Noble, Books and Lala, Nini Music, Ksenia Turkova, Chris and Shell, Mythology and Fiction Explained, Ukraine Matters, Times Radio, Tod Maffin,
Interesting Times, Fundie Fridays, Dark Seas, Dark Skies, Central Crossing, Katie Halper, Munecat, NerdForge, Creative Autistic, Chris Thompson, Reporting from Ukraine, Juna Sepita, CBC News, Sarah C M Paine, Savy Writes Books, Ultimate Public Entertainment, C8thaGr8, RFU News, Hawk's Podcasts, Brittany Page, Celtic Source, Russian Media Monitor, The Indigo Life, Yanis Varoufakis, US Agenda Channel,
ATP Geopolitics, Professor Tim Wilson, Karen Puzzles, Belle Terese, Cheri Jacobus, Northern Narrowboaters, Nariwboat Pirate, Jewel Staite, Rob's Roman Britain, Petticoats and Prose, Books N Cats, Raw News and Politics, Anka Daily News, Oceanliner Designs, Maggie Mae Fish, Eilidh Brown, Emilie's Literary Corner, Suchomimus, JammiDodger, kgb detected, aidan knight, Mom on the Spectrum.
The quality of bulk US science fiction and other genre titles has seriously degraded. I admit that for the first time I am watching most of my fiction. The streaming services and YouTube short film channels (DUST, Omeleto and others) offer better stories generally and they are always more entertaining.
Consider treating this site as hostile. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist. As example, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as Libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency, vocal advocate of the return of chattel slavery (popular US stance with prison labour now to be supplemented by desperate Van, RV and homeless detainees in newly built forced labour prisons with generational slavery on the cards), admirer of Putin's Russia (unsurprisingly popular stance as fascists are generally drawn to fascism).
The book was a poor imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" on the moon, though originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic. The story is that of a rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of the US government in order that he not pay taxes. It or something like is very common and popular in Unlimited selections.
My communist outlook judged that book and the others like it to be dangerous, unhealthy and now prophetic.
Travis and six fellow patriots were outraged. There was no mention of the book's merits during the following year-long comment stream demanding a response. I was given the correct thinking as regards, slavery, the creation of history being the gift of white males, the narcissism exhibited by my lack of engagement, my lack of intelligence and more.
My gratitude for such generous instruction can hardly be measured. I had hoped also to receive information about plans for replacement of the ISS as it approaches end of service life but it was not to be.
Sad!y I am not a fan of irony and they do not recognise it.
I received a final comment from Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse, Jr who seems to no longer identify as Nazi. After referencing the contents of the last exchange with Goodreads friend, he grandly declared that They had "won" (?).
I eventually discovered that They apparently had launched a year long flood of every YouTube channel which I mention with vile sexual, racist and similar comments.
The crafter, fashion historian, science educator, model builder and other female creators were not impressed.
Despite that failure, They did deliver quite the accurate self-portrait of the snowflake ( the vicious, woman-despising, twisted US man-child) to a multinational audience and certainly increased the world's overabundance of ugliness which must count as Victory.
Goodreads discourse is somewhat different to expectations at the outset.
I need a stepaway before I continue. This next is courtesy of Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, Some More News, May, Sailing Melody, Eileen, Modelling Misadventures, Rogue Hobbies, Ms Modeller, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Eugenia from Ukraine, Poland Daily Live, AllShorts, Ukraine News TV, Mandy,
The Chloe Connection, NanyaCim, Belinda Strnad, Cold War, Media Death Cult, Knowing Better, The British Museum, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Xiran Jay Zhao, Gingers are Black, Jess Owens, Amanda the Jedi, The Dadvocate, Foster on the Spectrum, Evie Lupine, Victory -Ukraine, Queen Penguin,
Lex Reads, The Kavernacle, Professor Gerdes Explains, Global Princess, UATV English, Lex aka NewlyNova, TVP news, The Gaze, Natasha's Adventures, Science Asylum, Unlearning Economics, Jake Broe, Tale Foundry, IMY2,
Red Viburnam Song, Red Glasgow, Keffals, Northern Narrowboaters, Horses, Cruising Alba, NFKRZ, Girls Rock Asia, Yarmak, Biz, Cruising Crafts, Hoots, Phintasmo, Ministry of Miniatures, Alizee, Munecat, Creative Autistic, Tale Foundry, Delamer, JohnTheDuncan.
Ominous music begins. 🙂 I have no interest in trashing US reader or Amazon employee. They manage that quite well with a talent, consistency and passion which I could not match.
The comment gangs do not limit themselves to nasty comments but also enjoy the doxxing, stalking, threatening and hacking attempt. Amazon have not to my knowledge ever acknowledged incidents, disciplined unhinged members, punished writers involved with them or dismissed employees who enable either.
My limited Goodreads message history was given over to these madlads, which resulted in a request through Pine Gap Centre to Australian Security Services to interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt failed but left two outraged customers.
Only after we began sharing the incident did Amazon become concerned. They did not acknowledge the crime but did return my page format and options to normal, mask all comments, disappeared all Lurkers whom I had not previously been Permitted to remove and even messaged me that Kindle will no longer support Goodreads and removed the icon (which oddly assured me not at all). 😊
The "Reads with Rachel" creator wrote a review which criticised a book's ableist and misogynistic portrayals (if I remember correctly). Goodreads removed it as "hate speech" and threatened to close her Goodreads membership. She wrote a video critique in its stead. She also received a typical Goodreads comment on her channel that she "should die". She is an engaging BookTuber, well worth supporting.
A more stunning example of Amazon practice, is the ordeal suffered by the "Fit Danielle Reads" channel creator. I do not revisit the BookTuber who gushes over Kindle or Goodreads. A mention in a review is a significant part of their job but according any significance to Goodreads beyond a flawed popularity index puts me off.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for the harassment of a couple whose small ecommerce channel was deemed unkind to EBay. The couple were awarded several millions and that ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. With the increased protection awarded US data firms, I expect corporate behaviour to further devolve.
A US reader may find the above normal. I have suggestions for safety on the site. Remove all personal information from profile and avoid messaging. Remove lurkers, those friends who never post. They are likely monitors for gangs or employee dummies, not admirers.
With the Goodreads penchant for Alteration of customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. These should suffice.
Kindle are more serious. Do Not use Kindle Files, Contacts, Calendar or Email. I confirmed that Amazon employees read customer emails, without permission or notice.
Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" Kindle e-books, as you do not own them and even the device may be cut off from internet access at Amazon's whim. There are BooKTubers to direct the reader to alternative ebook and tablet vendors or alternatives to ebook purchase.
Kindle did expose me to a number of stellar Indie authors but few and far between. I ended my Unlimited sub after the Powers ordeal began but not before the mistake of purchasing Amazon e-books.
Silk searches should obviously be, innocuous and non-critical.
To implement my suggestions will cost nothing, to not might well do. Maniacal employees and members lack any recognisable morality or healthy socialization but are the legendary US patriot. Ominous music ends. 🙂
Be well, be safe. May we all find Good Reading. 😊
Some of my favourite channels.
NCMI, AllShorts, Avalon Universe, Crow Caller, Bobbing Along, Mrs Betty Bowers, Olly Richards, Climate Town, Biz, Turn Left, World Anvil Worldbuilding, Munecat, Mark R Largent, Lily Simpson, Brittany Page, Up and Atom, Mia Mulder, Alizee, Philosophy Tube, Tara Mooknee, Malinda, Cruising Alba,
Ode to Joy Flashmob, Eckharts Ladder, Oliviareadsalatte, Tom Nicholas, Amie's Literary Empire, AuroraTrek, SciFi Scavenger, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, It's Black Friday, Owen Jones, NerdForge, Lady of the LIbrary, Viva La Dirt League, Renegade Cut, May, Ship Happens, Sunny Book Nook, The Book Leo,
Katie Makes Stuff, 2Cellos, Break N Remake, Dr Mayim Bialik, Dr Octavia Cox, TVP World, Dark Docs, Dark Seas, Amie's Literary Empire, ATP Geopolitics Joe Blogs, Perimeter Institute, PonySmasher, Alt Shift X, Travelling K, Hildegard von Blingin', Verilybitchie, United24, DW News, Cold Fusion, KernowDamo, Dungeon Dad,
Roisin's Reading, Abney Park, Just Write, Hello Future Me, History with Kayleigh, Planarwalker, History with Hilbert, Gutsick Gibbon, No Justice, WokeGardener, Nikki Hawkes, It ain't half hot mum, Artur Rehi, Rowan Ellis, Answer in Progress, Jay Exci, The Cosy Creative, Star Wreck, Broken Peach, Veritas et Caritas, Tale Tinkerer, ThePrimeChronus, Ben G Thomas, Engineering Knits, The Gaze,
Natasha's Adventures, Chris Norlund, Indigo Life, The League of STEAM, The How and Why of Mathematics, Shaun, Rebecca Watson, Lore Saga AI, Mallen Baker Patrick(H)Willem, Sabine Hossenfelder, Alysotherlife, Geo Girl, Paleo Analysis, Kathy's Flog in France, Hannah Lee Kidder, Morgan Donner, Heather Dale, Stanzi, Leena Norms, The Cold War, What Vivi did next,
Books with Emily Fox, The Guardian, Physics Girl, The Juice Media, Tom Nicholas, Extinction Rebellion UK, Library Ladder, Skip Intro, Science Insanity, RFU News, Double Down News, Lindsay Sterling, Alice Cappelle, MSI- Songs Sped Up, Jessie Gender, Three Arrows, Patrick is a Navajo, Sideprojects, Ro Ramdin, TIKHistory, Jessica Kellgren Fozard, Riverboat Jack, Chris Animations,
Strange Aeons, Steve Shives, Engineering with Rosie, Grumpy Old Crone, Lily Alexandre, Knowing Better, Octopus Lady, Wizards and Warriors, Elizabeth Filips, Jack Edwards, Miranda Mills, Hej Sokoly, Verilybitchie, Mody Speaks, Democratic Penguin Republic, Made U Book, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Dark Side of Russia, Elvira Bary, Hardy's Book, Squire, CBC News, Slaggy Book Club, MechWest Show.
I wish you a sunny morning, a pleasant afternoon, a cosy evening, a fantastic night and may we all continue learning.
Censorship is a crime, Self-Censorship a tragedy.
My favourite sister
I am doing a revision of another weird science fiction adjacent book which is searching for a story.
Before continuing, I will make a visit to the YouTube. This was brought to you by Doctor Who/Be Kind, Eva Schubert, NCMI, LuckyBlackCat, Candlelit Tales, RevolutionarythOt, Cindy's Villa, Not Just Another Fat Girl, Bean Thinking, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, The New Enlightenment with Ashley, Welcome to Ukraine, Animalogic,
Tom Nicholas, Lily Simpson, Dr Fatima, Aid Thompsin, Yoyomi, Sailing Melody, Keffals, Jess Owens, Books and Lala, LIbrary Ladder, Fun Size Reader, Reads with Rachel, Fit 2B Read, The Closet Historian, FAFO, A Lil Bit Mads, NanyaCim, Wayward Winchester, The Cosy Creative, Think that Through, The Brothers Gwynne, Outlaw Bookseller, Ms Modeller, Eugenia from Ukraine,
The Bands of HM Royal Marines, Ukraine Matters, Aditu Laudis, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, TriAngulum, Guard the Leaf, Kirkpattiecake, No Justice, Mynameismarines, Sabine Hossenfelder, The Great War, Shannon Makes, CreatedIAm, Mercado Media, Shar Henley, Authentic Observer, Hailey Hughes, Anna Cramling, Jake Broe, Mia Loiacono, BardCore, Chem Thug, ExtinctZoo,
Raw News and Politics, Gresham College, Red Viburnam Song, Morgan Donner, Break N Make, Grace McGuire, Daisy Viktoria, Silicon Curtain, Authentic Observer, Ro Ramdin, Gingers are Black, HBomberGuy, Kris Atomic, JohnTheDuncan, No Justice MTG, Reese Waters, HBomberGuy, Three Arrows, Cambrian Chronicles, SK Media, Female Warriors - Teresatessa, ScaredKetchup, Depressed Russian, Veritas et Caritas,
Baltic Empire, Fantasy and World Music by the Fletchers, Brigitte Empire, Angela Collier, Anark, Belle of the Ranch, Diary of a Ditch Witch, Emma Thorne, Warthog Defence, Dr Becky, Boat Time, Oliver Lugg, Narrowboat Pirate, KernowDamo, JuLingo, May, The British Museum, Verilybitchie, Gracey D, Book Furnace, OrangeRiver, Parkrose Permaculture, Shapelessflame, Gary's Economics, Jean's Thoughts, What Vivi Did Next, NS Miniverse, MedievalCore, AllShorts.
I recently saw that a member of the Village Idiot Party who whilst insulting an essayist I enjoy, complain to her that I list trans creators. I am no longer surprised by the Snowflake (coarse, lacking self-awareness and poorly socialised US man-baby). A trigger warning then.
The channels which I list include lumber yard worker, paleontologist, queer, Scottish, WOC, bi, autist, economist, redhaired, anarchist, asexual, military historian, married, mathematician, trans, archaeologist, socialist, Swedish, lesbian, anthropologist, marine biologist, miniatures painter, intersex, theoretical physicist, cosplayer, cis, Kenyan, musician, pensioner, writer and other creators known as Women.
Almost as dangerous are the booktuber, other BIPOC, Estonian, mythologist, wood worker, miniatures builder, zoologist, other neurodivergent, philosopher, tailor, boater, Canadian, other LGBTQI+, communist, culture critic, boat restorer, military boardgamer, astrophysicist, van lifestyle, reenactor, fashion historian, boardgame historian, communist, chemist and other creators known (outside the US) as Human Beings.
Should the voices persist, seek emergency pastoral counselling or the nearest Mahayana temple or develop a new skill such as reading.
My feelings towards those madmen and women is similar to that of the 13 Ukrainian marines defending Snake Island, when Russians demanded their surrender. Their response was "Russian warship, go f@ck yourself". Glory to Ukraine. Glory to the Heroes. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more, Unto the book, dear friend. The background is generic urban fantasy. That is the entirety of world building. This book was not written as a standalone but as the pilot for a not very substantial follow-up.
The characters are setting appropriate, which is the minimum to be expected of any fiction. That is an expectation not often met in low effort US science fiction adjacent titles, which describes perhaps 90% or better of Amazon's recommendations. The characters lack any pretence of depth, since they are Hollywood action figures.
The writer has created a bland cross of Hollywood Noire and Comic Book supernatural thriller. The book is not grounded in any way. The story consists of a description of the lifestyle of the main character, his butler/henchman/partner and their mysteriously clever daily routine.
As usual for low effort fiction, the characters no matter how weak are meant to shoulder the entire burden of background creation. Here as usual, the characters are dragged into the void which should have been a story structure.
The main character is described as a "Constantine" clone. His servant/partner is described as any other in a Hollywood movie. The almost personality of the main character is vehicle for mood and tone delivery.
Neither the detective nor the servant/partner seem to have an identifiable income. This despite sharing a fashionably furnished, extensively renovated ex-industrial building with three auto garage.
The duo do not report theft of an expensive vehicle to police, despite suspecting the improbable theft was performed by an arch-villain. The policewoman seems the generic inside contact. The book is a mashup of Batman and Constantine. It is all style, little substance and could pass for novelization of a typical Hollywood screenplay.
It might be enjoyable if the reader simply wishes a fast moving action film in print.
I feel that I have earned a break. This next was made possible by YouTube channels - Doctor Who/Where I Fall, Perun, Lily Simpson, Anark, Lynn Saga, Lena Down Under, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Leeja Miller, Bookslike Whoa, Roomies Digest, Amie's Literary Empire, Fran Blanche, Belle of the Ranch, Dark Brandon, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Springtime for Elon,
Knowing Better, Sailing Melody, Anna from Ukraine, The Shades of Orange, Naughty Nana DUZ, Andrewism, Kozak Siromaha, BlondiHacks, ConeOfArc, History with Kayleigh, Books and Things, Planarwalker, Geo Girl, LydLoves, Sabby Sabs, Weirdo Book Club, Tibees, Celtic HIstory Decoded, Abney Park, Tanya Fiona,
Norse Magic and Beliefs, Lurie Daniels Favor, The RItual Kitchen with Laura May, Living Anachronism, Planet D, Keffals, IL Neige, ILona Millinery, Yarmak, Prime of Midlife, Leena Norms, Shannon Makes, Engineering Knits, Ukraine News TV. Historical Fashion, Ship Happens, Bobbing Along, Julie Nolke, Matriarchetype, Paleo Analysis, DW News, Karolina Zebrowska, Crecganford, Yoyomi, Ana Fern,
Art Deco, Miniminuteman, StatsPanda, Mythic Concepts, Ukraine Matters, Shitty Book Club, Jess Owens, Book Leo, Sanctioned Ivan, Mia Asano, Munecat, Hardigan, Arvin Ash, Popcorn in Bed, Dominic Noble, Books and Lala, Nini Music, Ksenia Turkova, Chris and Shell, Mythology and Fiction Explained, Ukraine Matters, Times Radio, Tod Maffin,
Interesting Times, Fundie Fridays, Dark Seas, Dark Skies, Central Crossing, Katie Halper, Munecat, NerdForge, Creative Autistic, Chris Thompson, Reporting from Ukraine, Juna Sepita, CBC News, Sarah C M Paine, Savy Writes Books, Ultimate Public Entertainment, C8thaGr8, RFU News, Hawk's Podcasts, Brittany Page, Celtic Source, Russian Media Monitor, The Indigo Life, Yanis Varoufakis, US Agenda Channel,
ATP Geopolitics, Professor Tim Wilson, Karen Puzzles, Belle Terese, Cheri Jacobus, Northern Narrowboaters, Nariwboat Pirate, Jewel Staite, Rob's Roman Britain, Petticoats and Prose, Books N Cats, Raw News and Politics, Anka Daily News, Oceanliner Designs, Maggie Mae Fish, Eilidh Brown, Emilie's Literary Corner, Suchomimus, JammiDodger, kgb detected, aidan knight, Mom on the Spectrum.
The quality of bulk US science fiction and other genre titles has seriously degraded. I admit that for the first time I am watching most of my fiction. The streaming services and YouTube short film channels (DUST, Omeleto and others) offer better stories generally and they are always more entertaining.
Consider treating this site as hostile. 🤔
Goodreads discourse does not exist. As example, I wrote a short negative review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as Libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency, vocal advocate of the return of chattel slavery (popular US stance with prison labour now to be supplemented by desperate Van, RV and homeless detainees in newly built forced labour prisons with generational slavery on the cards), admirer of Putin's Russia (unsurprisingly popular stance as fascists are generally drawn to fascism).
The book was a poor imitation of "Atlas Shrugged" on the moon, though originally blurbed as similar to a Heinlein classic. The story is that of a rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of the US government in order that he not pay taxes. It or something like is very common and popular in Unlimited selections.
My communist outlook judged that book and the others like it to be dangerous, unhealthy and now prophetic.
Travis and six fellow patriots were outraged. There was no mention of the book's merits during the following year-long comment stream demanding a response. I was given the correct thinking as regards, slavery, the creation of history being the gift of white males, the narcissism exhibited by my lack of engagement, my lack of intelligence and more.
My gratitude for such generous instruction can hardly be measured. I had hoped also to receive information about plans for replacement of the ISS as it approaches end of service life but it was not to be.
Sad!y I am not a fan of irony and they do not recognise it.
I received a final comment from Claes Rees Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse, Jr who seems to no longer identify as Nazi. After referencing the contents of the last exchange with Goodreads friend, he grandly declared that They had "won" (?).
I eventually discovered that They apparently had launched a year long flood of every YouTube channel which I mention with vile sexual, racist and similar comments.
The crafter, fashion historian, science educator, model builder and other female creators were not impressed.
Despite that failure, They did deliver quite the accurate self-portrait of the snowflake ( the vicious, woman-despising, twisted US man-child) to a multinational audience and certainly increased the world's overabundance of ugliness which must count as Victory.
Goodreads discourse is somewhat different to expectations at the outset.
I need a stepaway before I continue. This next is courtesy of Doctor Who/Never Cruel or Cowardly, Some More News, May, Sailing Melody, Eileen, Modelling Misadventures, Rogue Hobbies, Ms Modeller, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Eugenia from Ukraine, Poland Daily Live, AllShorts, Ukraine News TV, Mandy,
The Chloe Connection, NanyaCim, Belinda Strnad, Cold War, Media Death Cult, Knowing Better, The British Museum, Don't F@ck with Ukraine, Xiran Jay Zhao, Gingers are Black, Jess Owens, Amanda the Jedi, The Dadvocate, Foster on the Spectrum, Evie Lupine, Victory -Ukraine, Queen Penguin,
Lex Reads, The Kavernacle, Professor Gerdes Explains, Global Princess, UATV English, Lex aka NewlyNova, TVP news, The Gaze, Natasha's Adventures, Science Asylum, Unlearning Economics, Jake Broe, Tale Foundry, IMY2,
Red Viburnam Song, Red Glasgow, Keffals, Northern Narrowboaters, Horses, Cruising Alba, NFKRZ, Girls Rock Asia, Yarmak, Biz, Cruising Crafts, Hoots, Phintasmo, Ministry of Miniatures, Alizee, Munecat, Creative Autistic, Tale Foundry, Delamer, JohnTheDuncan.
Ominous music begins. 🙂 I have no interest in trashing US reader or Amazon employee. They manage that quite well with a talent, consistency and passion which I could not match.
The comment gangs do not limit themselves to nasty comments but also enjoy the doxxing, stalking, threatening and hacking attempt. Amazon have not to my knowledge ever acknowledged incidents, disciplined unhinged members, punished writers involved with them or dismissed employees who enable either.
My limited Goodreads message history was given over to these madlads, which resulted in a request through Pine Gap Centre to Australian Security Services to interrogate the one friend whom I occasionally messaged. The attempt failed but left two outraged customers.
Only after we began sharing the incident did Amazon become concerned. They did not acknowledge the crime but did return my page format and options to normal, mask all comments, disappeared all Lurkers whom I had not previously been Permitted to remove and even messaged me that Kindle will no longer support Goodreads and removed the icon (which oddly assured me not at all). 😊
The "Reads with Rachel" creator wrote a review which criticised a book's ableist and misogynistic portrayals (if I remember correctly). Goodreads removed it as "hate speech" and threatened to close her Goodreads membership. She wrote a video critique in its stead. She also received a typical Goodreads comment on her channel that she "should die". She is an engaging BookTuber, well worth supporting.
A more stunning example of Amazon practice, is the ordeal suffered by the "Fit Danielle Reads" channel creator. I do not revisit the BookTuber who gushes over Kindle or Goodreads. A mention in a review is a significant part of their job but according any significance to Goodreads beyond a flawed popularity index puts me off.
Recently a seventh ex-employee of EBay was sentenced for the harassment of a couple whose small ecommerce channel was deemed unkind to EBay. The couple were awarded several millions and that ex-employee had been the EBay Chief of Global Security or some such. With the increased protection awarded US data firms, I expect corporate behaviour to further devolve.
A US reader may find the above normal. I have suggestions for safety on the site. Remove all personal information from profile and avoid messaging. Remove lurkers, those friends who never post. They are likely monitors for gangs or employee dummies, not admirers.
With the Goodreads penchant for Alteration of customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly and threatening are invaluable. These should suffice.
Kindle are more serious. Do Not use Kindle Files, Contacts, Calendar or Email. I confirmed that Amazon employees read customer emails, without permission or notice.
Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" Kindle e-books, as you do not own them and even the device may be cut off from internet access at Amazon's whim. There are BooKTubers to direct the reader to alternative ebook and tablet vendors or alternatives to ebook purchase.
Kindle did expose me to a number of stellar Indie authors but few and far between. I ended my Unlimited sub after the Powers ordeal began but not before the mistake of purchasing Amazon e-books.
Silk searches should obviously be, innocuous and non-critical.
To implement my suggestions will cost nothing, to not might well do. Maniacal employees and members lack any recognisable morality or healthy socialization but are the legendary US patriot. Ominous music ends. 🙂
Be well, be safe. May we all find Good Reading. 😊
Some of my favourite channels.
NCMI, AllShorts, Avalon Universe, Crow Caller, Bobbing Along, Mrs Betty Bowers, Olly Richards, Climate Town, Biz, Turn Left, World Anvil Worldbuilding, Munecat, Mark R Largent, Lily Simpson, Brittany Page, Up and Atom, Mia Mulder, Alizee, Philosophy Tube, Tara Mooknee, Malinda, Cruising Alba,
Ode to Joy Flashmob, Eckharts Ladder, Oliviareadsalatte, Tom Nicholas, Amie's Literary Empire, AuroraTrek, SciFi Scavenger, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, It's Black Friday, Owen Jones, NerdForge, Lady of the LIbrary, Viva La Dirt League, Renegade Cut, May, Ship Happens, Sunny Book Nook, The Book Leo,
Katie Makes Stuff, 2Cellos, Break N Remake, Dr Mayim Bialik, Dr Octavia Cox, TVP World, Dark Docs, Dark Seas, Amie's Literary Empire, ATP Geopolitics Joe Blogs, Perimeter Institute, PonySmasher, Alt Shift X, Travelling K, Hildegard von Blingin', Verilybitchie, United24, DW News, Cold Fusion, KernowDamo, Dungeon Dad,
Roisin's Reading, Abney Park, Just Write, Hello Future Me, History with Kayleigh, Planarwalker, History with Hilbert, Gutsick Gibbon, No Justice, WokeGardener, Nikki Hawkes, It ain't half hot mum, Artur Rehi, Rowan Ellis, Answer in Progress, Jay Exci, The Cosy Creative, Star Wreck, Broken Peach, Veritas et Caritas, Tale Tinkerer, ThePrimeChronus, Ben G Thomas, Engineering Knits, The Gaze,
Natasha's Adventures, Chris Norlund, Indigo Life, The League of STEAM, The How and Why of Mathematics, Shaun, Rebecca Watson, Lore Saga AI, Mallen Baker Patrick(H)Willem, Sabine Hossenfelder, Alysotherlife, Geo Girl, Paleo Analysis, Kathy's Flog in France, Hannah Lee Kidder, Morgan Donner, Heather Dale, Stanzi, Leena Norms, The Cold War, What Vivi did next,
Books with Emily Fox, The Guardian, Physics Girl, The Juice Media, Tom Nicholas, Extinction Rebellion UK, Library Ladder, Skip Intro, Science Insanity, RFU News, Double Down News, Lindsay Sterling, Alice Cappelle, MSI- Songs Sped Up, Jessie Gender, Three Arrows, Patrick is a Navajo, Sideprojects, Ro Ramdin, TIKHistory, Jessica Kellgren Fozard, Riverboat Jack, Chris Animations,
Strange Aeons, Steve Shives, Engineering with Rosie, Grumpy Old Crone, Lily Alexandre, Knowing Better, Octopus Lady, Wizards and Warriors, Elizabeth Filips, Jack Edwards, Miranda Mills, Hej Sokoly, Verilybitchie, Mody Speaks, Democratic Penguin Republic, Made U Book, Just in Time Worldbuilding, Dark Side of Russia, Elvira Bary, Hardy's Book, Squire, CBC News, Slaggy Book Club, MechWest Show.
I wish you a sunny morning, a pleasant afternoon, a cosy evening, a fantastic night and may we all continue learning.
Censorship is a crime, Self-Censorship a tragedy.
My favourite sister
February 23, 2018
Fast paced and a quick enjoyable read. Hadn't realized this was Kindle Unlimited available, read it while off subscription. I'll continue the series when I pop on KU for another month.
October 19, 2017
As I prepared to publish and market my latest novel, War Demons, I set out in search of other, similar novels. Cursed City by William Massa quickly rose quickly to the top of my list. It turns out that male leads represent an endangered species in urban fantasy novels. Many of the books sold in the genre should actually sit in the paranormal romance category. I hold nothing against that, but War Demons doesn’t fit with that crowd at all.
Neither does Cursed City. Book one of Massa’s Shadow Detective series, this book packed in the fun. It’s pulp as hell, and I mean that in the best possible way. Mike Raven, the hero, provides a welcome breath of masculinity in an estrogen dominated genre. Furthermore, he lives up to the primary duty of a protagonist: he’s interesting.
The writing is simple and straightforward. At first, that worried me. But a few chapters in it became clear that the simple writing is intentional, in the tradition of the old school pulp writers. This kind of deliberate simple writing is actually a challenge to accomplish, and it makes the book very accessible. And if I hadn’t already overcome that objection, the twists in the final act more than compensated.
A quick, thrilling read, this book started in the middle of the action and only paused for a few breaths along the way. I give it four stars out of five, and I look forward to finishing the rest of the series. I highly recommend it to fans of male led urban fantasy. It’s available right now on Amazon for only $0.99, or you can pick it up for free on Kindle Unlimited like I did.
Neither does Cursed City. Book one of Massa’s Shadow Detective series, this book packed in the fun. It’s pulp as hell, and I mean that in the best possible way. Mike Raven, the hero, provides a welcome breath of masculinity in an estrogen dominated genre. Furthermore, he lives up to the primary duty of a protagonist: he’s interesting.
The writing is simple and straightforward. At first, that worried me. But a few chapters in it became clear that the simple writing is intentional, in the tradition of the old school pulp writers. This kind of deliberate simple writing is actually a challenge to accomplish, and it makes the book very accessible. And if I hadn’t already overcome that objection, the twists in the final act more than compensated.
A quick, thrilling read, this book started in the middle of the action and only paused for a few breaths along the way. I give it four stars out of five, and I look forward to finishing the rest of the series. I highly recommend it to fans of male led urban fantasy. It’s available right now on Amazon for only $0.99, or you can pick it up for free on Kindle Unlimited like I did.
May 30, 2018
Oooooook.... Well, this turned out to be a really short one. I mean, I knew it wasn't two hundred pages long, but somehow I didn't think I'd finish it the same day XD. I may have been reading books around three hundred pages as of late, and maybe that gave me the impression of Cursed City being even shorter. I also think a great part of its short length is the fact that the author dosn't lose himself in descriptions; as a reader you get the minimum to create your mental picture and that's it, and looking at the lengths of the other books in the series I'll go on a limp and say that's going to hold true in all of them.
All in all a good book, short by comparison, yeah, so you don't get much insight into the MC even though the narration it's in first person, and there is a stupid moment from Mike's part, but, well I can understand where he was coming from (it was an expected reaction, really), but a good book nonetheless. I liked the twists in the story, they lasted until the very end hehehe.
All in all a good book, short by comparison, yeah, so you don't get much insight into the MC even though the narration it's in first person, and there is a stupid moment from Mike's part, but, well I can understand where he was coming from (it was an expected reaction, really), but a good book nonetheless. I liked the twists in the story, they lasted until the very end hehehe.
April 7, 2018
3.5 stars
This book is recommended to me on Amazon because I read Adam J. Wright's Harbinger P.I. series. It has same 'element' ... a private investigator that deals with supernatural cases.
This novella goes straight into heart of the action and never really stops moving forward; while throwing straight-to-the-point tragedy in the past about our hero, Mike Raven. There's a nice twist about the main case as well; the victim's plan and how the case is solved.
I noticed a discrepancy in the timeline of Raven's murdered parents at one point though. He keeps saying that it happened 21 years previously. But one flashback chapter that is about that event is written 16 years earlier. So maybe need a better editing?
That inconsistency aside, I think it has potential to be another series I follow...
This book is recommended to me on Amazon because I read Adam J. Wright's Harbinger P.I. series. It has same 'element' ... a private investigator that deals with supernatural cases.
This novella goes straight into heart of the action and never really stops moving forward; while throwing straight-to-the-point tragedy in the past about our hero, Mike Raven. There's a nice twist about the main case as well; the victim's plan and how the case is solved.
I noticed a discrepancy in the timeline of Raven's murdered parents at one point though. He keeps saying that it happened 21 years previously. But one flashback chapter that is about that event is written 16 years earlier. So maybe need a better editing?
That inconsistency aside, I think it has potential to be another series I follow...
February 8, 2017
I can't describe it, but the style of writing is different. Interesting to see a character who deals with the supernatural forces actually acknowledge fear rather than annoyance or anger all the time. Had some twists and turns in there I didn't expect, too. An interesting read overall.
April 24, 2018
Cursed City is a very well written book by Willilam Massa. This is the first book I have read by this author and it most definitely will not be my last. The author developed a captivating story with a great plot that made it difficult to put this book down! There were a couple twists hidden that I didn't see coming which were placed beautifully in the story. The pace was spot on and I never felt like the author was rushing me through the story nor did I ever feel like the story was dragging out. This book ave me a little bit of a feel of "John Sinclair" a series I grew up reading back in Austria.
Mike Raven is your typical strong male character and sure does not seem to have it easy in this one. He does have a great friend and support with Skulick, who together are a great team, even with the handicap his partner has.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this author and the concept of this series. I will most definitely read more of them and also check out his other series that he has. This author will probably be added to the list of my favorite authors quickly if the others are as entertaining as this one is.
Mike Raven is your typical strong male character and sure does not seem to have it easy in this one. He does have a great friend and support with Skulick, who together are a great team, even with the handicap his partner has.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this author and the concept of this series. I will most definitely read more of them and also check out his other series that he has. This author will probably be added to the list of my favorite authors quickly if the others are as entertaining as this one is.
December 21, 2017
Bland and uninteresting lead character. no personality and no style. I forced myself ttoo finish it but it just reads like a Supernatural fan fiction... without the humor or personality.
September 18, 2018
A ghost / demon hunter, and a well written and interesting / intriquing concept and story. Nice twist towards the end too.
My only issues being it was written in the first person, and the idea could have been taken a little deeper - it was quite short. But a nice set up for an ongoing series which I'm definitely going to explore.
My only issues being it was written in the first person, and the idea could have been taken a little deeper - it was quite short. But a nice set up for an ongoing series which I'm definitely going to explore.
April 9, 2018
A good entry novel. The main character's back story is interesting and leaves you wanting more.
December 20, 2018
I forgot about this book. Maybe because I didn't like it. Sorry...
February 1, 2017
Supernatural mystery
This is a quick read, good for the afternoon with all the supernatural you want and the mystery twists to keep it interesting.
This is a quick read, good for the afternoon with all the supernatural you want and the mystery twists to keep it interesting.
December 13, 2020
Damn good, story and overall a good plot I will definitely be checking out book 2!
February 19, 2017
Interesting read
This seems like a twist on the Dresden files and Constantine, it is a dark urban fantasy and does keep you guessing with the plot twists. Demons, occult and death keep coming, Good character development along with a good storyline keeps you reading, I will continue reading the series.
This seems like a twist on the Dresden files and Constantine, it is a dark urban fantasy and does keep you guessing with the plot twists. Demons, occult and death keep coming, Good character development along with a good storyline keeps you reading, I will continue reading the series.
January 30, 2019
So I actually read this one a while ago and posted the review on Amazon, but instead of just rehashing everything from that review, I thought I'd stretch my writing chops and see how many ways I can tear this mediocre piece of dross a new arsehole.
The independent publishing market is something a mixed bag most of the time. Given that anyone can just throw out stuff onto Amazon for 99 cents and get a gaggle of readers who will swallow it up, I've had to adjust my standards a little. Most of the time, I will try to give independent writers a little bit of slack given they are operating on their own editorial control. But then there are people like John Hodgson, Shayne Silvers and today's writer William Massa.
Massa comes from a line of writers whom I consider are the Independent Market's equivalent to Simon R Green. I.e. writers who pump out quick simple books for the work, not for love of the art. And Massa's no stranger to this style of output. His writing credits include the forgotten movie sequel to the remake of House on Haunted Hill, a lovely little turd of a film that relied on outdated 3D graphics and some quick out-of-character lesbian snogging to sell it. And the Shadow Detective series is nothing if not that level of mediocrity turned up to 11.
Everything about this series feels like a scripted attempt at the most bland cliched setting imaginable. Our resident grumpy detective is Mike RAVEN, a man whose name is so DARK AND EDGY, you'd cut yourself every time he introduces himself. He's a SHADOW DETECTIVE in an unnamed city where Satan shagged the laws of reality and turned the city upside down. A CURSED CITY if you will. Mike HAWK is your standard growly man with a beard, a magical gun called HELLSEEKER and at one point comes across a dagger called.....
You ready for this?
THE SOUL DAGGER!!! Truly such creative writing has never been rivalled!
The plot of the story is thus: Mike EEEEAGLE has a new client, a teenage girl whose soul is in dire need of saving from the forces of Hell. Along the way he realises that the demon - Morzan....Morfran.....Morgan Freeman? - is involved and so becomes dedicated to VENGEANCE and JUSTICE!!!
Massa's work highlights I think the worst elements of writers who pump out books on a monthly basis. They are so creatively void that you may as well be reading a newspaper, or a clinical blog about someone's hemorrhoids. It's not offensively bad or unreadable, it's just so mediocre and lackluster that I couldn't really give a shit (and in the case of the blog, they couldn't give a shit either). So much of the world is fleshed out in lazy infodumps that demonstrate a clear lack of care about the story or characters or world that there's little reason to care about what's going on. Characters are fleshed out through backdrop dumps.
- Jane Archer is the cop who Mike KESTREL had a one-night stand with and somehow also loves.
- Schulick is the grizzled ex-cop Mike FALCON PUNCH works with and is confined to a wheelchair.
- The Demon Mike BARN OWL is against is the same one that killed his parents and eats babies like they were finger food.
It also doesn't help that the dialogue between characters is so goofy and of B-Grade quality that it's no surprise that Massa's movie script career consists of B-Grade movies.
The constant infodumps also mean that any tension of attempt to grab the reader by the wiggly bits is completely absent. Mike TIRED JOKE tells us how the demon killed his parents only to later cut to a backstory chapter that lays out exactly what we already know! Can you spell lazy? It's spelt M-A-S-S-A.
So is there anything noteworthy? Well....the idea of a cursed city is solid. If Massa actually took the time to flesh out the world beyond the bare bones of what's there, pepper it with some distinct character and flavour, then it could be a decent read, if cliched. The ending did actually catch me by surprise the first time around, along with an early twist that caught my attention enough to make me want to continue. It shows that when Massa actually puts some time in, there is some creativity there. He's just too busy pumping these books out like a Baby-Tronic 5000.
Books like this are popcorn reads at their core. There's nothing horribly bad about them, but they're so mundane and cliched it's little wonder that some writers never take off. Turn your brain off, buy this for cheap or rent it and pitch it when its done. I doubt you'll come away from this with much to remember for it. And I doubt you'll end up thinking of Mike DEAD HORSE as some sort of true successor to Harry Dresden or John Constantine.
The independent publishing market is something a mixed bag most of the time. Given that anyone can just throw out stuff onto Amazon for 99 cents and get a gaggle of readers who will swallow it up, I've had to adjust my standards a little. Most of the time, I will try to give independent writers a little bit of slack given they are operating on their own editorial control. But then there are people like John Hodgson, Shayne Silvers and today's writer William Massa.
Massa comes from a line of writers whom I consider are the Independent Market's equivalent to Simon R Green. I.e. writers who pump out quick simple books for the work, not for love of the art. And Massa's no stranger to this style of output. His writing credits include the forgotten movie sequel to the remake of House on Haunted Hill, a lovely little turd of a film that relied on outdated 3D graphics and some quick out-of-character lesbian snogging to sell it. And the Shadow Detective series is nothing if not that level of mediocrity turned up to 11.
Everything about this series feels like a scripted attempt at the most bland cliched setting imaginable. Our resident grumpy detective is Mike RAVEN, a man whose name is so DARK AND EDGY, you'd cut yourself every time he introduces himself. He's a SHADOW DETECTIVE in an unnamed city where Satan shagged the laws of reality and turned the city upside down. A CURSED CITY if you will. Mike HAWK is your standard growly man with a beard, a magical gun called HELLSEEKER and at one point comes across a dagger called.....
You ready for this?
THE SOUL DAGGER!!! Truly such creative writing has never been rivalled!
The plot of the story is thus: Mike EEEEAGLE has a new client, a teenage girl whose soul is in dire need of saving from the forces of Hell. Along the way he realises that the demon - Morzan....Morfran.....Morgan Freeman? - is involved and so becomes dedicated to VENGEANCE and JUSTICE!!!
Massa's work highlights I think the worst elements of writers who pump out books on a monthly basis. They are so creatively void that you may as well be reading a newspaper, or a clinical blog about someone's hemorrhoids. It's not offensively bad or unreadable, it's just so mediocre and lackluster that I couldn't really give a shit (and in the case of the blog, they couldn't give a shit either). So much of the world is fleshed out in lazy infodumps that demonstrate a clear lack of care about the story or characters or world that there's little reason to care about what's going on. Characters are fleshed out through backdrop dumps.
- Jane Archer is the cop who Mike KESTREL had a one-night stand with and somehow also loves.
- Schulick is the grizzled ex-cop Mike FALCON PUNCH works with and is confined to a wheelchair.
- The Demon Mike BARN OWL is against is the same one that killed his parents and eats babies like they were finger food.
It also doesn't help that the dialogue between characters is so goofy and of B-Grade quality that it's no surprise that Massa's movie script career consists of B-Grade movies.
The constant infodumps also mean that any tension of attempt to grab the reader by the wiggly bits is completely absent. Mike TIRED JOKE tells us how the demon killed his parents only to later cut to a backstory chapter that lays out exactly what we already know! Can you spell lazy? It's spelt M-A-S-S-A.
So is there anything noteworthy? Well....the idea of a cursed city is solid. If Massa actually took the time to flesh out the world beyond the bare bones of what's there, pepper it with some distinct character and flavour, then it could be a decent read, if cliched. The ending did actually catch me by surprise the first time around, along with an early twist that caught my attention enough to make me want to continue. It shows that when Massa actually puts some time in, there is some creativity there. He's just too busy pumping these books out like a Baby-Tronic 5000.
Books like this are popcorn reads at their core. There's nothing horribly bad about them, but they're so mundane and cliched it's little wonder that some writers never take off. Turn your brain off, buy this for cheap or rent it and pitch it when its done. I doubt you'll come away from this with much to remember for it. And I doubt you'll end up thinking of Mike DEAD HORSE as some sort of true successor to Harry Dresden or John Constantine.
February 26, 2018
"Cursed City" is a good start on a possibly great new
series about a demon hunter that is trying to save a
city that is being overwhelmed with evil.
FIVE STARS * * * * * RECOMMENDED
series about a demon hunter that is trying to save a
city that is being overwhelmed with evil.
FIVE STARS * * * * * RECOMMENDED
February 23, 2018
Fantastic book! Fast paced with a lot of sharp turns! Definitely a must for fans of Supernatural.
November 20, 2017
Great read. Engaging characters and setting. Nice plot swings that I really didn't see coming. Definitely a character and series worth following.
October 17, 2017
Another good one by William Massa.
February 23, 2017
Well done
A well written and well thought out first book in this series. Looking forward to the release of the second book soon. This is a series I can really get into.
A well written and well thought out first book in this series. Looking forward to the release of the second book soon. This is a series I can really get into.
March 6, 2018
An interesting take on paranormal detectives.
A well written book with a plot that isn't transparent or telegraphed, which is a refreshing change in this genre. Also happy to note there is no love interest side kick that would normally be included in books like this.
Characters are well developed, and easy to connect to.
A well written book with a plot that isn't transparent or telegraphed, which is a refreshing change in this genre. Also happy to note there is no love interest side kick that would normally be included in books like this.
Characters are well developed, and easy to connect to.
August 14, 2017
Do you ever get into reading slumps? You know, those periods when you search and search for something to read (even though you have tons of books already on your bookshelf just waiting for your attention) but nothing ever really sparks your interest? When you read sample after sample and give up before you get to the end? When you force yourself to finish the book you took a chance on even though it doesn’t fully capture you and demand you keep turning the pages? Well, this is where I have been for the last few weeks. I have started several books but haven’t finished one, and I’ve spent way more hours scrolling through my options on Amazon than is good for me. At last, I opted for Cursed City and I read it from start to finish in one day. While I feel terribly accomplished in that I actually met my reading goal for the week (to read just one book), I’m not enthusing about the book itself.
Cursed City is the first book in William Massa’s Shadow Detective series. The main protagonist is Mike Raven, who hunts the things that go bump in the night. Here are some things you may want to know about Raven—he’s 29 years old and was orphaned at the age of 8 when his parents were murdered by a demon; he works with his mentor, Skulick, who was his father’s partner in demon-hunting before he died; he has two magical artifacts that keep him relatively safe in his demon hunting—a gun that will kill just about any demon (for my Supernatural friends, the Colt should come to mind) and a ring that he wears on his pinky finger; he has a scar on his chest that was made by the very same demon that killed his parents (for my Harry Potter fans, think about that scar on Harry’s forehead) and it pulses with pain when he is in the presence of the supernatural. Raven drives an Equus Bass 770—and for someone who isn’t into cars, this meant nothing to me until I actually looked it up on the net because, well, the author makes of point of having Raven identify the car by Equus Bass, Bass 770, or Equus Bass 770 every time he needs to refer to his ride. Personally, I prefer the way Harry Dresden refers to his Blue Beetle, but I’m not judging. As I said, Raven is a demon hunter, and as such he gets called upon the local police when they need his assistance, and when he’s not assisting them, he’s working on cases for clients that Skulick has lined up for them. Raven is a serviceable protagonist, not too bland but also not especially memorable. Not interesting enough for me to want him to be my next book BFF, but not so dull that I would avoid him at a cocktail party.
Since this is the first book in a series, there’s the supporting cast to consider. Thus far, there appear to be two characters that seem to have a good chance of recurring in future books in the series. The first is Skulick, who plays the role of mentor (again, if you’re into Supernatural, think Bobby Singer). Due to an accident, Skulick broke his back and is now bound to a wheelchair. While he can’t go out in the field with Raven and hunt the bad guys, he is the world's foremost authority on demonology. He raised Raven after his parents were killed, and they share the common bond of wanting to find and destroy the demon that ended his parents’ lives. The second is Jane Archer, who is a detective on the police force. Archer is aware of the curious things happening in the Cursed City, but she’s not fully in-the-know. She is also the love interest, and while Raven would like to build a relationship with her, he’s afraid of the potential danger that being with him could bring to her doorstep, and so he keeps her at a distance. These two characters are there to prevent Raven from being a complete loner and isolated from the society in which he lives.
Massa shrouds the true nature of the Cursed City in vague, broad brushstrokes. What we seem to understand at this point is that two years ago, an act by the Crimson Circle pierced a hole in reality, and as a result, the instances of supernatural activity within the Cursed City has skyrocketed. This bleeding of the supernatural into the normal world are like tremors spreading out from an epicenter. The City is at the center and experiences the greatest activity, but in every widening and lengthening circles that activity is branching out to the countryside. There is a moment in the narrative where Raven indicates that he conceals the name of the city on purpose, and perhaps this is intended to allow the reader to imagine that it could be happening in any large, metropolitan American city. It seems to stand to reason that in the books that follow the incident that created this new normal in the Cursed City will be revealed in greater detail, but it also gives Massa plenty of fodder for future cases to have Raven and Skulick investigate. The possibilities are endless.
Because this is a first-in-series book, the question I always ask is this: Am I invested enough in the characters and the world to want to read a second book? Hard to say. I can see myself giving the next book in the series a chance to wow me and pull me all the way in and never let me go. I can also see myself taking a pass on the rest of the series. The book staved off boredom for a while and didn’t do anything to make me want to put it down, but when it ended I didn’t have that crazy energy I get at the end of books I love where I just can’t stop thinking about it. I will say that there is one thing that did really bother me—the timeline is repeatedly confused. At some points, the murder of Raven’s parents happened 16 years ago, and other times, it happened 21 years ago. Since Raven is 29 years old, and since the age of the client that sets the main plot into action is significant (she’s two days away from her 21st birthday), it’s clear that 21 years is the correct amount of time. If this is something that will drive you crazy, steer clear, because it does come up more than once. Otherwise, if you like reading about demon hunters a la the Winchesters, give Cursed City a try.
Cursed City is the first book in William Massa’s Shadow Detective series. The main protagonist is Mike Raven, who hunts the things that go bump in the night. Here are some things you may want to know about Raven—he’s 29 years old and was orphaned at the age of 8 when his parents were murdered by a demon; he works with his mentor, Skulick, who was his father’s partner in demon-hunting before he died; he has two magical artifacts that keep him relatively safe in his demon hunting—a gun that will kill just about any demon (for my Supernatural friends, the Colt should come to mind) and a ring that he wears on his pinky finger; he has a scar on his chest that was made by the very same demon that killed his parents (for my Harry Potter fans, think about that scar on Harry’s forehead) and it pulses with pain when he is in the presence of the supernatural. Raven drives an Equus Bass 770—and for someone who isn’t into cars, this meant nothing to me until I actually looked it up on the net because, well, the author makes of point of having Raven identify the car by Equus Bass, Bass 770, or Equus Bass 770 every time he needs to refer to his ride. Personally, I prefer the way Harry Dresden refers to his Blue Beetle, but I’m not judging. As I said, Raven is a demon hunter, and as such he gets called upon the local police when they need his assistance, and when he’s not assisting them, he’s working on cases for clients that Skulick has lined up for them. Raven is a serviceable protagonist, not too bland but also not especially memorable. Not interesting enough for me to want him to be my next book BFF, but not so dull that I would avoid him at a cocktail party.
Since this is the first book in a series, there’s the supporting cast to consider. Thus far, there appear to be two characters that seem to have a good chance of recurring in future books in the series. The first is Skulick, who plays the role of mentor (again, if you’re into Supernatural, think Bobby Singer). Due to an accident, Skulick broke his back and is now bound to a wheelchair. While he can’t go out in the field with Raven and hunt the bad guys, he is the world's foremost authority on demonology. He raised Raven after his parents were killed, and they share the common bond of wanting to find and destroy the demon that ended his parents’ lives. The second is Jane Archer, who is a detective on the police force. Archer is aware of the curious things happening in the Cursed City, but she’s not fully in-the-know. She is also the love interest, and while Raven would like to build a relationship with her, he’s afraid of the potential danger that being with him could bring to her doorstep, and so he keeps her at a distance. These two characters are there to prevent Raven from being a complete loner and isolated from the society in which he lives.
Massa shrouds the true nature of the Cursed City in vague, broad brushstrokes. What we seem to understand at this point is that two years ago, an act by the Crimson Circle pierced a hole in reality, and as a result, the instances of supernatural activity within the Cursed City has skyrocketed. This bleeding of the supernatural into the normal world are like tremors spreading out from an epicenter. The City is at the center and experiences the greatest activity, but in every widening and lengthening circles that activity is branching out to the countryside. There is a moment in the narrative where Raven indicates that he conceals the name of the city on purpose, and perhaps this is intended to allow the reader to imagine that it could be happening in any large, metropolitan American city. It seems to stand to reason that in the books that follow the incident that created this new normal in the Cursed City will be revealed in greater detail, but it also gives Massa plenty of fodder for future cases to have Raven and Skulick investigate. The possibilities are endless.
Because this is a first-in-series book, the question I always ask is this: Am I invested enough in the characters and the world to want to read a second book? Hard to say. I can see myself giving the next book in the series a chance to wow me and pull me all the way in and never let me go. I can also see myself taking a pass on the rest of the series. The book staved off boredom for a while and didn’t do anything to make me want to put it down, but when it ended I didn’t have that crazy energy I get at the end of books I love where I just can’t stop thinking about it. I will say that there is one thing that did really bother me—the timeline is repeatedly confused. At some points, the murder of Raven’s parents happened 16 years ago, and other times, it happened 21 years ago. Since Raven is 29 years old, and since the age of the client that sets the main plot into action is significant (she’s two days away from her 21st birthday), it’s clear that 21 years is the correct amount of time. If this is something that will drive you crazy, steer clear, because it does come up more than once. Otherwise, if you like reading about demon hunters a la the Winchesters, give Cursed City a try.
August 18, 2017
I can't believe that I"m reading an urban fantasy novel (long story...). I loved the author's writing style, it's totally perfect for me: clean and straightforward with just enough details to not slow down the pace. Also the length of the book is dead on my sweet spot. So style-wise and structure-wise everything is perfect, but how is the story you might ask. Perfect! The adventure is fast-paced, the world-building is on-the-fly and the characters are fun and well define. To sum things up, this is a crisp read done expertly by a talented author. This will be the first (and possibly only) urban fantasy series that I will continue reading.
February 21, 2017
This is a gritty fast paced action packed book and I loved it. It reminded me of a "Blade" type action book with twists and turns galore to keep the avid reader like me thoroughly engaged right until the end. Really enjoyed this non-girly plot & character driven book and can't wait to read the next one! Bring it on!....
March 14, 2017
I loved this book
I made the mistake of reading book 2 first. Thankfully, it didn't mess me up. Raven is such a cool person. While searching for the demon who killed his parents when he was 10, he also takes care of all the supernatural problems that is happening in the cursed city. I'm waiting for the next one to come out!!
I made the mistake of reading book 2 first. Thankfully, it didn't mess me up. Raven is such a cool person. While searching for the demon who killed his parents when he was 10, he also takes care of all the supernatural problems that is happening in the cursed city. I'm waiting for the next one to come out!!
September 12, 2017
Increadibly easy read, no world building and no character development. The entire book's story line takes place in just under 48 hours, so perhaps not a lot of time to build or develop anything ... but without it the story fell flat and didn't make me care about the main character at all.
**read during Hurricane Irma recovery and only the facts that I had no tv or internet kept me reading.
**read during Hurricane Irma recovery and only the facts that I had no tv or internet kept me reading.
January 4, 2017
Excellent! I loved the book, it was much fun to read. It had suspense and excitement. I loved the twists in the story.
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