War Demons

by Russell S. Newquist

When he came home, so did they...

Driven by vengeance, Michael Alexander enlisted in the Army the day after 9/11. Five years later, disillusioned and broken by the horrors he witnessed in Afghanistan, Michael returns home to Georgia seeking to begin a new life. But he didn't come alone. Something evil followed him, and it's leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

The police are powerless. The Army has written Michael off. Left to face down a malevolent creature first encountered in the mountains of Afghanistan, he’ll rely on his training, a homeless prophet, and estranged family members from a love lost…

But none of them expected the dragon.

Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden collides with Larry Correia's Monster Hunter International in this supernatural thriller that goes straight to Hell!

Genres: Horror, Urban Fantasy

314 pages, Paperback

First published September 16, 2017

About the author

Russell graduated from the University of Alabama in Huntsville in 2000 with a BA in Philosophy. Naturally, he began a career as a computer programmer. Later, he went on to earn a MS in Computer Science. Somewhere along the way he earned a black belt, and then added a few stripes to it and opened his own dojo. Thinking that he didn't have enough hats to wear, he started publishing company Silver Empire and has written some stories and might write some more.

He lives in north Alabama with his wife, three kids and three dogs in a house that still manages to have more computing devices than living beings where he attends a Roman Catholic church, continues to run his dojo, and works for a small software company.

Reviews

[Adam Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had planned to preorder this book anyway because of the awesome premise, but was provided an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I genuinely enjoyed this story. Action went fast and was almost continuous, very little downtime. The main character struggles with PTSD and this comes through in a very genuine way. He's never presented as reckless or monstrous for it, and it's handled with compassion and a solid grasp of the condition. This is a story of good versus evil, which I enjoyed; I'm not about shades of gray and moral relativism. There is clear right and wrong here.

Action scenes were really cool. Explosions and gunfire and swords, this book has it all.

Two points to consider: character reactions and specific religious content.

Character reactions felt a little too easy sometimes, with some characters immediately accepting some supernatural events, the abruptness of which left me as the reader a little jarred. Particularly a phone call early on with an unexpected voice. I struggled to figure out how the character was so certain about it, but had to just accept it for the sake of the story. Characters and how they feel about each other also seems a little sped up for the sake of the story. I didn't feel drawn into most of the relationships between people, except for the main character and his pseudo-adoptive father, which was well done. Most of the relationships felt a little shallow to me, but I think it's more that there wasn't enough screen time for side stories with the intense action going nonstop.

Think of this book more like an 80s film: you're not going to get intense conversations about backstories and emotional realizations to the degree that maybe a lot of modern novel-gazing works have made us expect. The author made a clear choice to focus more on the action, and it shows with a heart-pounding ride that won't let you put the book down. Subtext is key in figuring these people out, so don't expect to be overtly told emotional pieces. I could have used a little more overt detailing, but I still enjoyed myself. And, full disclosure, I'm hugely into relationships in books, so it's possible I'm not the perfect audience for this, and most people may not notice it at all.

The second point is not worth removing a star because it's not a problem with author skill, but it should be noted: The characters here are the most Catholic Catholics who've ever Catholic'd. I come from a family with mostly ex-Catholic members, and at one point I studied to enter the Catholic Church myself. This was the only way I was able to follow some of the concepts and (seeming) logic leaps made in the book. If you're a Catholic, you'll probably say, "These things make perfect sense!" If you're a Protestant, it might seem a little dizzying but you'll get through. If you're not Christian, you might feel lost.

The book was fun to read, and I'd definitely recommend it, primarily to Catholic fans of urban fantasy and supernatural hunting. Sets up nicely for a sequel, hopefully starring my favorite character...

[Dennis Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely griping

Could not stop reading . The story and characters just pop off the page. Anyone that like a good urban fantasy thriller would enjoy.

[Kevin Potter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an unfortunate case of an amazing narrator taking on a mediocre (at best) book.

I've said it before, the simple fact is Scott Allen is easily one of the best narrators out there. Despite being relatively new to the game, he is easily as skilled a narrator as RC Bray, Michael Kramer, Simon Vance, or Scott Brick.

The book...

Let me be clear, the concept is AWESOME. The development on the main character is good (nothing amazing, nothing unique or particularly memorable, but good), and the opening of the story is a gripping hook.

Unfortunately, it quickly deteriorates into a mindless, B-rate action story.

And then it tries to turn itself into epic fantasy in a contemporary setting but fails miserably.

My personal opinion is the story is trying to be too many things and ends up a muddy mess.

I sincerely hope that in the future the author either takes the time to properly develop a complete, immersive story, or limits his stories to a single, cohesive theme.

On a final note, I would like to congratulate the author for the martial arts snippets. It really comes through that he is a practicing martial artist himself. The martial arts focused scenes are the best written scenes in the book.

[Jeff Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid read with plenty of action.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

he has had his fair share of danger and after 911 he joins the army. he faces many dangers until it breaks him. he is sent home but what they do not know is that he has been followed by an evil. he needs help to defeat it. what is it? why is it there? follow him as he tries to defeat it

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Michael Alexander lost his fiance in the twin towers, he enlisted in the Army the day after 9/11. Five years later, he returns to try to live a normal life, but the things he saw and experienced in Afghanistan have changed him forever and he is barely living. But something seems to have followed him home and he must rely on his training, a homeless prophet and the sister of his fiance to fight it.

This started out really strong and then kind of lost traction again till the end. The plot was good if a little predictable at times. There were a few surprising twists near the end that I didn't see coming though, and that's why this is 3 star instead of a 2 star read. I loved the supernatural element, but thought the reactions of some of the characters were too easy and quick to believe. Speaking of characters, Michael was the only one I really liked. He was well written and developed and the author handled his PTSD really well. My heart broke for him!

In all, this was a good read. It held my attention till the end and for the most part I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will have to check out more from this author.

This is the first time I've listened to Scott Allen and I think he did a good job with the performance. He was clear and easy to listen to, but his tones and voices were a little too similar for certain characters. I also thought he needed to add more inflections to really bring the atmosphere to life. I do think that with a little experience, he could be one of the best!!

[CSatt · Rating 1 out of 5]

A mix of Butcher’s Dresden series and Correla’s Monster Hunters international? This is exactly what this book isn’t.

Fast paced and well written?

Yes, fast paced because so much is lacking in between. No, on the well written part.

1. How can the lights go out in the house during a thunderstorm, and the start of the next chapter has people inside the house seeing what’s going on because of moonlight? One of those rare thunderstorm moons?

2. Sam has his arm ripped off? Poor Sam. Wait. I don’t care about Sam because he’s never mentioned again. Heck he was barely mentioned before.

3. Chainsaw as a weapon? Cool. Oh wait, let’s have the entire party hold conversations over the sound of a running chain saw inside a house while it’s biting into pseudo zombies and vampires.

4. Two guys from a secret society from across the pond with a sacred sword ? Oh hell let’s have them join in the fraternity undead massacre because...? You can add whatever you want here because any explanation would better than none.

5. An entire four pages for Peter to discover he’s the real hero of the Archangel, and for him to meet the soul of dead Katie? Now that is fast paced. (I read that chapter twice just so I felt better about why Peter was the ‘chosen’ - and by the way, it wasn’t explained either time I read those four pages)

Save your money readers because I could go on.

Buy another Butcher or Correla book. Even if those series are getting redundant for you, at least you will be entertained with a story that is entertaining.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, I think author Russell Newquist brought his own unique personality to Post Traumatic Stress. The selection of characters is unusual and spans many genres, so there's something for every kind of reader to appreciate. I can't recall another story where I've seen quite as much diversity of character and story telling style combined, and it's something that I value about Mr. Newquist's books. Though readers who appreciate sci-fi, romance novels, mysteries, or comedies could easily appreciate this novel, those who like martial arts, war stories, and action adventures should find Post Traumatic Stress to be most satisfying. Post Traumatic Stress will reach out to it's readers on a personal level in keeping with the style of Russell Newquist's other books - that is to say - in a very real (and somewhat religious, but not preachy) way, while still incorporating fiction. A healthy dose of levity keeps everything nicely balanced.

[Julie Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the basic premise pretty well but about halfway into the book the story began concentrating on one long battle scene after another, which is not my favorite sort of writing.

[Emmanuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more.

After a somewhat confusing Prologue, at least for me, I was enthralled by the subtlety and presentation of the First Chapter. I wanted to know the main cast and see where the plot would lead, especially if the promised dragon were a literal or metaphorical force. But the following chapters shattered my illusion. I was seeking some character depth or theme I could latch on to, but I couldn't connect to the characters and the exploration of PTSD dies before the real action kicks in. Michael, the protagonist, starts a bit unlikeable and there's not sufficient development to make him memorable. I found the rest of the cast to be quite shallow, except for Jim Covington. In my opinion, the human antagonist is by far the worst part of the book, in every sense. But I like where the protagonist ended.

I commend the author for the fighting choreography, the Catholic elements and the fidelity to the faith (see the lore bits about the "phurba"). However, for the same reason, the excess of swearing and a few discomforting scenes and obscenities left a sour taste in my mouth. I would like to see a more chaste and elevated tone from a Catholic author, even if it doesn't match the character of the cast — it's about what we show or not as authors, and we don't have to be explicit about everything. It's a subtle art, but it pays off on behalf of God's cause.

About the action, that is the main part of the book. I think a fictional fight can be appealing in three ways: for the spectacle, for the stakes and for the themes. The best kind of fight combines all three: imagine a hyped confrontation between the main protagonist and the villain which will define the destiny of a loved one or an entire country, and also the triumph of one of two conflicting ideologies, for example, in "The Return of the Jedi", honoured mercy against desperate hatred. Of course, not every fight has to be that perfect — it is impossible. However, as I had no attachment to the cast, I was bored in most of the fights, for it was only a spectacle without stakes. Also, English is not my first language, so I was constantly alienated by the technical jargon.

At the end of the day, no book is for everyone. I think "War Demons" would really entertain my parents or my late grandpa (RIP) if it were a TV series, and may appeal more to an American audience and to those who are willing to shut down their brain and just enjoy a fun action-packed ride. I hope others can read and enjoy more than I did. Maybe, it's just not for me.

I wish my review was charitative and constructive enough. I think there's room for the author to improve his craft and eventually create something special. That's why I intend to read the sequel and write a review, for I heard there will be another protagonist, maybe the most likeable character of the first novel. I know publication is hard and congratulate the author for the achievement.

God bless!

[Benjamin Espen · Rating 4 out of 5]

War Demons is the veteran’s take on supernatural horror. Sometimes we casually refer to the men who come back from war suffering from PTSD and survivor’s guilt as demon-haunted; but for Michael Alexander it is anything but a metaphor.

We now come to the third book covering similar territory I have read recently. I don’t often end up reading lots of similar books together in succession, so I can compare and contrast these. War Demons is perhaps in some ways inbetween Fade and Hell Spawn in mood. Like Fade, the emphasis is on punching the devil in the face, but like Hell Spawn, humans have nearly no ability to resist the powers of evil absent prayer. But that doesn’t stop Michael from trying.

Fortunately for Michael, he has a lot of friends who are willing to stick with him. Which is good, since he is in way over his head and cannot do it alone. This applies to his personal life just as much as the supernatural conspiracy that he trips into. Like many veterans of the global war on terror, Michael comes home to find that he doesn’t have much in common with other young men and women of his age.

Michael is only a few years older than most of his classmates, but war changed him in ways that tend to pull him away from others. Like many soldiers, Michael picked up a heavy drinking habit composed of equal parts boredom and a need to escape his memories, even if just for a little while. Survivor’s guilt is common in veterans too, but Michael has a double dose, haunted not only by his friends who never came home, but also the death of his fiance in the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Michael’s support network pulls him through. His not-quite-father-in-law Jim, his friend Peter at the dojo, a couple of nerds George and Denzel, all of them stick by him even when stuff starts getting weird. The camaraderie was the best part of the book for me. When everything is crazy, you need something to cling to, and for Michael, that is the strength of his friendships.

If you are in the market for a Catholic action horror novel, give War Demons a try. It has its own flavor that you might enjoy.

I received this book from the publisher for free.

[Bonnie Dale Keck · Rating 3 out of 5]

kindle unlimited, didn't get the dresden files vibe much at all, no idea what this genre/s actially ended up being, just couldn't get in to it much, and unlike amazon 'okay' meaning 'negative' review, mean it like the rest of the world means the word 'okay', it was okay, not horrible, not bad, not good, not great, just okay {and it could also use some spell checking etc work, noticed it the few times glanced down while my tablet was reading it audibly}, and for me any story with any kind of dragon in any way that still makes it where don't like the story any better, well....

Driven by vengeance, Michael Alexander enlisted in the Army the day after 9/11. Five years later, disillusioned and broken by the horrors he witnessed in Afghanistan, Michael returns home to Georgia seeking to begin a new life. But he didn't come alone. Something evil followed him, and it's leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

The police are powerless. The Army has written Michael off. Left to face down a malevolent creature first encountered in the mountains of Afghanistan, he'll rely on his training, a homeless prophet, and estranged family members from a love lost...

But none of them expected the dragon.Driven by vengeance, Michael Alexander enlisted in the Army the day after 9/11. Five years later, disillusioned and broken by the horrors he witnessed in Afghanistan, Michael returns home to Georgia seeking to begin a new life. But he didn't come alone. Something evil followed him, and it's leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

The police are powerless. The Army has written Michael off. Left to face down a malevolent creature first encountered in the mountains of Afghanistan, he'll rely on his training, a homeless prophet, and estranged family members from a love lost...

But none of them expected the dragon.

[Paul Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my first time reading this author and I'm impressed. I read the book in two readings. Had I started earlier in the day, it would have been in one reading. I found the book easy to read. I found a good balance of action and non-action scenes. I also found a balance of plot twists and predictable plot devices. It's refreshing to see these things as too many established writers do a bad job in these areas. I do my best to avoid spoilers since some readers won't read a book if somebody gives spoilers. I found myself looking for answers that weren't provided, but expect those questions will be answered in the series. For example, what did a certain phrase mean? I won't say what phrase as it could apply to a number of things said in the book and some of them were answered.

On a side note, some of what I thought was predictable turned out to be a plot twist and some of what I thought was a plot twist may or may not have been a plot twist.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Travis Poole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was very interesting. I love war stories and horror so it's a perfect combination. The author obviously has a very good grasp of military technology and terminology which tends to be rare in war stories for some reason. This is the story of a soldier, Michael, in Afghanistan who barely escapes a creature that attacked him and killed his friend in a cave in Afghanistan. Michael is medically discharged from the Army and returrns to the states. Michael is trying to adjust to being a civilian and attempts to go to college. Michael starts to think his buddy that died is haunting him. Students at the school start disappearing and Michael thinks the ghost of his friend is some how taking people. Michael must stay alive and find out what is happening. Michael is struggling with nightmares and considers suicide at one point so if you can't handle that then stay away. This is an adult book with adult situations. There is some gore but not a lot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ARC I received for an honest review.

This wants to be a movie, a SCIFI/SYFY channel, made for TV movie at the very least. It started out really well, with a strong action scene and a well written main character but once it moved along the story moved into mediocre writing. I wanted so much to rave about this like a Dresden Files' Harry Dresden mash-up with a PTSD suffering Gulf/Iraq/Afghanistan war veteran but it just didn't happen. The writing became over simplified and I just wasn't buying into the characters bonding with each other to take on demons/warlocks/witches/zombies and seriously? "not-vampires." That was just too distracting every time it was referenced. It also leaves an opening for a continuing series so I was left with feeling unfulfilled.

I want to believe with some serious editing the could be a fun, fast-paced novelette so I will definitely keep Mr. Newquist on my radar as a writer to keep my eye out for.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.

Sometimes the demons of war come home with you. For Michael Alexander PTSD followed him wherever he went. But there were always his nightmares, and his reality. The beast in the cave. He thought he had left it behind in Pakistan but it didn’t stay there. The beast came home with him and wanted more death and destruction.

Michael is faced with incredible terror and must bring it to an end. Together with his friends, both civilians and military they devise and plan of action. The plan goes into spins and turns that have to be reassessed more than once. The action is exciting, frightening and devastating. The beast is deadly, horrifying and seemingly immortal.

Newquist’s characters are well created, believable and likeable – except the beast! I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced book, full of unexpected twists and plenty of action. Michael Alexander has just returned home from his tour of duty in Afghanistan. He suffers from PTSD, not from the expected sources but from something much more horrific. He also feels responsible for his fiance Katie's death at the Twin Towers.

He soon finds himself facing supernatural creatures, including golems, dragons, vampires and demons. "Vampires and zombies? That just isn't right." Add in a couple of nerdy college students, a Fed that seems to be following Michael, virginal sacrifice and a secretive group tasked with getting rid of the demons and you have a great book.

If you are looking for something different with lots of unexpected events, give this one a try. I'm glad that I read it and I hope that the author continues the story in future books.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Lively · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received a cpy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to cheer for this book -- I really did. It started off so strong. The main character was complex, his issues well-written and thought out. The depictions of the battle scenes were exciting and the detail of the militaria was spot-on.

However, everything else seemed phoned in. Lazy, cliched, and in some cases, sterotyped (the only black character in a book chock full of Southerners as well as an Irishman, a German, and a Texan is the only the speaks in dialect? Dawg!). Frankly, as more and more monsters were added, my rolled so hard I thought I could see the synapses misfire.

But I kept reading. Because even for all of that, it wasn't too bad. I sincerely hope other books in this series won't have those types of issues.

[Bikram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer.
I had requested and received audible version of this book for free from the author, in exchange for an unbiased review.

What I liked about the book -
Base plot of this book is quite unique. I haven't read any such story involving war, supernatural, good vs evil in recent times. The character development is strong and the pacing is good. It held my attention throughout and I felt satisfied at the end.

What I disliked about the book -
It did feel like the book was trying too hard to be multi-genre. That attempt to do too many stuff made it a little jarring here n there.

Narration -
Narration by Scott Allen was mostly good. Different characters had their own distinct voices. The delivery engaged me in the story and kept me wanting to listen non stop.

[Mary Getz · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC . BRAVO ! 😍 A GREAT CAPTIVATING INTRIGUING READ

AN ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL THRILL-SEEKING INTRIGUING CAPTIVATING STORY by first time reading from this author . Russell Newquist. He writes a fast-paced thrilling compelling action-packed structure storyline and well developed characters and supporting characters brilliant exquisitely well written story . The story is drama rom-com adventure provocative captivating sizzling chemistry strength of character grief guilt tragedies twist turns obstacles hurdles mystery suspense intense and captivating from start to finish 💋 💖 . I love and recommend this book to everyone 😆 😙 . I can't wait for the next book . I voluntarily ARC for honest review from Booksprout . ABSOLUTELY 5 STARS RATING !

[Mary Margaret Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the demons you are fighting are real, what does an ex-soldier do? In the case of Michael Alexander it means fighting for his life and the lives of others. I don't want to say anything more because it would ruin the fun of reading this amazing book. I loved the characters, the settings, the action, the magic and the interactions between the characters. This is an incredible start to a new series. It was a thrill a minute roller coaster ride of actions and emotions. There was humour and wit and lots of fight scenes. I can't say enough good things about this book. I loved every minute of reading this. If you like Declan Finn then you will love this book as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tony Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has everything, vampires, zombies, demons, warlocks,a dragon, a war hero with PTSD, great primary and secondary characters and an excellent plot containing several very clever twists. It kept me guessing right up to the end and I found it very difficult to put down. Every time when it seemed that the 'good guys' had worked their way out of a tricky, probably deadly situation, something else was thrown in their path which was even more difficult to get out of alive! Great reading, all helped along with a dollop of humour, well recommended. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael came back to Georgia allegedly to finish the college degree he had started before his fiancée Katie disappeared when Tower II went down on September 11th.

In fact, he really wanted to get face to face with a leading professor of mythology, and ask him about the living roots of mythology- anything that might help him understand what he fought and lost to in Afghanistan.

Sometimes your worst nightmares come to life. This book is the embodiment of the beginning of the battles that followed.

Intense and emotionally packed action saga.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[mark earls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Russell Newquist by accident and I could not be happier. Since I am a huge fan of Jim Butcher's Dresden Files, I really wanted to like this book as it was being compared to them. I was not disappointed! Although it does not quite reach the level of sadism or snark as Dresden, it reach to heights of its own merit. I loved the main character and am hoping to see more stories involving Michael Alexander and more of his facing his own demons and real ones. A truly fun read - highly recommended

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, the premise of this story was very interesting to me and although I’m not a huge fan of stories with a heavy militaristic feel to it, (or overly pro army) for this book it obviously plays a big role. I did like the elements of folklore and myths, and the totally different take on the supernatural world. The characters were good. The only sort of drawback for me was that the writing style took a while for me to get used to but overall, I enjoyed reading it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Russell Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a great read. The story is fast paced and draws you in. The characters are compelling and the sometimes funny antics and comments lighten the mood from time to time just when it is needed. I most definitely did not see that that person was the villain. The are funny moments, nostalgic moments, terrifying moments, surprising moments and sad moments so this story will run you through the full emotional spectrum. I recommend this book to fantasy fans everywhere.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced action novel with a bunch of supernatural creatures fighting against our hero, his friends and the American military and other authorities.
The story had elements of Buffy the Vampire slayer mixed in with Indiana Jones. I enjoyed this very much. It was a great deal of fun. I look forward to reading other novels featuring our hero.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fast paced, enjoyable read that I completely recommend! Believable, well developed characters and story that will keep your attention from beginning to end. Multi layered, but easy to follow, full of action and adventure and will keep you up reading past your bedtime! Interesting, unique, and engaging! I'm looking forward to more in this storyline! You won't be sorry you gave this book a try!

[Nina DuBois · Rating 4 out of 5]

War Demon was such a mind trip. The story is very interesting and a little creepy as it deals with demons. There are lots of characters that I really enjoyed and the action is descriptive and exciting. The main character Michael was very likable. The author handled his PTSD and grief very well. He was a very rational character that handled himself well when it called for action. The action was very good and easy enough to follow along with. This was a really enjoyable read.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

War Demons by Russell Newquist is an awesome story and an awesome start to a brand new series. This is book number one in this awesome series that I have loved reading and I can not wait to read the next book in this series. I highly recommend this story to everyone who loves reading about fantasy, horror and thrillers in your stories as much as I do.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.