When the Man Comes Around

by Xero Reynolds

(revəˈlāSH(ə)n)
noun


1. The divine or supernatural disclosure to humans of something relating to human existence or the world as it truly is.


2. The reason Malcom Coddaire is about to have a very bad week.


Mal really enjoys the life he's made for himself in Houston. He runs a flower shop, plays guitar in a local band, and has a great appreciation for the city's night life; night life that includes creatures of the supernatural realm. It's hardly surprising. He's a Demon, after all. Try not to hold that against him.


It's a real pity for Mal though, as an old friend, a dogged police investigation, and even Death himself pop in to completely upend his happy lifestyle. The week that follows will prove to be a clash of Heaven, Hell, and Heavy Metal as the city of Houston begins groaning under the weight of something terrible approaching, and Mal is given only two


Fix the problem, or have his last trip to Earth cut fatally short.

ebook

Published May 8, 2017

About the author

Xero Reynolds was born in 1980, during the Great Dayglow Apocalypse. He survived mostly intact, but with an unhealthy obsession with pop culture and Saturday Morning Cartoons. As he was a military brat, he’s lived all over the continental US, and attended more schools than he likes to keep an accurate count of, thus saddling him with “perpetual New Kid syndrome”, and a need to entertain.

When not working on the next novel, he indulges in illustration, sculpture, woodworking, and game design for tabletop roleplaying games. The last bit relates to the company he co-owns with his wife Katy, Haunted Mountain Tabletop. He has also been involved with voice-over work (ADV Films, Sentai) and has produced a number of albums of electronic music.

In his off hours, Xero enjoys gaming, hiking, and period recreational fencing, which he does as a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism. He currently lives on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.

For the astrologically minded, he’s a Libra, and born in the year of the monkey. You’ve been fairly warned by the management. No flash photography, please.

He has a cat named Cider. Cider demands he work more in order to afford more treats for her. He dare not refuse.

Reviews

[Suzi Vega · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story that pulls you along. "When the Man Comes Around" has a good central character with a lot of sass. Throw in some shady otherworldly characters and you get a nice romp with some inventive plot twists.
I don't think it is planned as a series, but I could see Mal becoming a favorite paranormal butt kicker.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one hell of an adventure.

Xero Reynolds has a gift for description. He really makes you feel like you're there int he scene with poor Mal while he's being used as the universe's pawn. He also brings you plenty of snark and top notch banter, for those of you looking for a battle of wits as much as supernatural powers.

The only complaints I have, and this is likely a personal preference, is that perhaps there is too much of a good thing in places. A few metaphors run on a bit and lose impact, or the banter goes on too long.

So far as story goes- without spoiling anything for you since I hope you're going to pick this up- this may be the first book I've read where the character is relentlessly beaten down by foes, friends, and existence at large where it's actually made any sense to me. so often an author subscribes to the idea that in order to make the plot interesting the main character needs to have no allies or catch any breaks, or- often- stop for three damned seconds to think their way out of a situation. It's tedious at best and not fun to read. Mal, on the other hand, spends enough of his energy trying to think his way through the problems he comes up against that when he's forced to be simply reactive it's a pleasure to watch- er. Read. And the constant drumbeat of horrible problems that fall onto his head makes sense within the plot and serve to hook you deeper into the story rather than feeling purely punitive at the hands of a thoughtless author.

It took me a few days to organize my thoughts here, since I am not yet in the habit of reviewing books, but I can honestly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy. It's a hot, muggy, ride through Houston at the side of a brutally harassed demon, just trying to make it through his life. Lots of luck, Mal. I have the feeling that you're going to need it.