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Bulletproof Witch #2
Curse Of The Daemon Beast
Magic bullets, talking horses, and daemons—what more could a girl ask for?
Temperance Whiteoak is the last surviving heir to her grandfather’s legacy. Gunslinger. Daemon-hunter. Witch. Able to call forth powerful magicks with the pull of a trigger, she travels the continent of Korvana seeking after the creature that destroyed her town along with everyone she ever knew and loved.
Hot on the trail of the daemon Belial, Temperance finds herself in a remote mountain town. Far from the nearest road and not marked on any map, Shady Hollow has a daemon problem of its own that needs solving. The job is simple—defeat the monster, save the town.
However, Shady Hollow is hiding its own secrets, ones the townsfolk would prefer stay hidden and buried. Each attack draws Temperance closer to the truth, but that truth may find her on the wrong side of the dirt, if she isn't careful.
Curse of the Daemon Beast is the second installment in a planned eight-part series. The book includes six illustrations by artist Jin A Lee.
Temperance Whiteoak is the last surviving heir to her grandfather’s legacy. Gunslinger. Daemon-hunter. Witch. Able to call forth powerful magicks with the pull of a trigger, she travels the continent of Korvana seeking after the creature that destroyed her town along with everyone she ever knew and loved.
Hot on the trail of the daemon Belial, Temperance finds herself in a remote mountain town. Far from the nearest road and not marked on any map, Shady Hollow has a daemon problem of its own that needs solving. The job is simple—defeat the monster, save the town.
However, Shady Hollow is hiding its own secrets, ones the townsfolk would prefer stay hidden and buried. Each attack draws Temperance closer to the truth, but that truth may find her on the wrong side of the dirt, if she isn't careful.
Curse of the Daemon Beast is the second installment in a planned eight-part series. The book includes six illustrations by artist Jin A Lee.
339 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 17, 2019
59 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Francis James Blair
14 books15 followersJames is an accountant living in Eastern Washington. He started writing in 2015 after a dream left a story in his head that he couldn’t make go away. He’s been typing at the keyboard furiously ever since, and probably won’t stop until sometime around noon on the day of his funeral.
His current published works include the Bulletproof Witch Series, the Books of the Ascendant, as well as a short story titled ‘For Want of a Sword’ in the Roll of the Dice III anthology.
His current published works include the Bulletproof Witch Series, the Books of the Ascendant, as well as a short story titled ‘For Want of a Sword’ in the Roll of the Dice III anthology.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 6, 2020
Practically the only issue I had with Bulletproof Witch #1 was that it was too damn short, a mere whispered snap of a novel. I see it now as a great primer to the world, and an effective introduction of our heroine and just what in the hell might be going on. If it whet your whistle enough to want to know more - as it did me - then I insist - at rusty gunpoint - that you go on to read this one.
Where The Delivery of Flesh was giving you a window into some Weird goings on, teasing you before cutting short and leaving you high and dry at the top of a canyon with no way of getting down, this book gives you the horses, food and water to make it out alive before the vultures get you.
Oh, and it's no longer hot. It's cold, the kind of cold where your breath rolls like gunsmoke and you hear daemons gnawing in the dark - this is a Weird Winter Western, folks.
So yes, it's more substantial, more fleshed out, and while I did miss more cross-country action so I could see more of the world, this being set in a single place it allows for a closer more focused narrative and character detail. The plot is stronger, the characterisation stronger, the worldbuilding tighter, in fact all aspects speak of an author who has grown more confident, and is just beginning to flex his muscles and don his cowboy hat. We get more hexbullet variety (I was eager to see) and interesting, well-told and much-needed backstory, to boot.
I don't reckon I can think of anything meaningfully bad to say about this book (okay I was a bit glum at the ending, which didn't go how I wanted it to - but then what does in this devil's world?). I guess, like before, I still just want to see that bit more. Now, if you don't mind, I've a horse to find and some godforsaken daemons to kill...
"The lip of the cliff appeared without warning, bulging out of the night. One moment Temperance was scrambling over a lichen-covered ledge, the next she lay on flat ground, the plateau stretching off towards the rest of the mountain range. There wasn’t much for cover up here, or even to break the chill wind, just patches of moss that caught and held the dimming moonslight."
P.S. I enjoyed the Deleted Scenes at the end of the book. Can't say I've ever seen an author do that before, but they sure were amusing - especially the CANNONBALL (you'll see).
Where The Delivery of Flesh was giving you a window into some Weird goings on, teasing you before cutting short and leaving you high and dry at the top of a canyon with no way of getting down, this book gives you the horses, food and water to make it out alive before the vultures get you.
Oh, and it's no longer hot. It's cold, the kind of cold where your breath rolls like gunsmoke and you hear daemons gnawing in the dark - this is a Weird Winter Western, folks.
So yes, it's more substantial, more fleshed out, and while I did miss more cross-country action so I could see more of the world, this being set in a single place it allows for a closer more focused narrative and character detail. The plot is stronger, the characterisation stronger, the worldbuilding tighter, in fact all aspects speak of an author who has grown more confident, and is just beginning to flex his muscles and don his cowboy hat. We get more hexbullet variety (I was eager to see) and interesting, well-told and much-needed backstory, to boot.
I don't reckon I can think of anything meaningfully bad to say about this book (okay I was a bit glum at the ending, which didn't go how I wanted it to - but then what does in this devil's world?). I guess, like before, I still just want to see that bit more. Now, if you don't mind, I've a horse to find and some godforsaken daemons to kill...
"The lip of the cliff appeared without warning, bulging out of the night. One moment Temperance was scrambling over a lichen-covered ledge, the next she lay on flat ground, the plateau stretching off towards the rest of the mountain range. There wasn’t much for cover up here, or even to break the chill wind, just patches of moss that caught and held the dimming moonslight."
P.S. I enjoyed the Deleted Scenes at the end of the book. Can't say I've ever seen an author do that before, but they sure were amusing - especially the CANNONBALL (you'll see).
June 4, 2019
Excellent story with polished writing and a fun, creative world
The Curse of the Daemon Beast is another fast-paced adventure following Temperance Whiteoak, Pistol Witch. Episode 2 is significantly longer and more fleshed out than Episode 1, though it is still a self-contained episode. We get to see Temperance play a little more of the detective in this one, as well as getting some glimpses of her past. The additional characterization really aids in bringing the world to life a bit more, and helps give her motivations context in a way we were missing in the first installment. We’re still missing a lot of history for the world at large, but it never makes the reader feel lost, just stokes curiosity. By the end, the episode’s plot is well concluded and there are again signs of larger plots on the horizon. And of course, there is more fabulous artwork by Jin Lee, bringing scenes to life in such wonderful style.
Episode 2 takes place as a direct sequel to Episode 1, as Temperance and Astor head off to find and recapture the daemon Belial, and get caught up in a small town’s mystery. Between “current-day” chapters, we get occasional sections that show us the events of her home town on the fateful day she lost everything, and the few days following. It adds context and heart to her past, which previously we only knew was tragic.
If you liked Episode 1, I’d certainly recommend continuing the adventure with this installment. If you like weird westerns with magic-slinging pistols, talking horses, daemons, and a bit of whodunnit thrown in, this book is right up your alley.
The Curse of the Daemon Beast is another fast-paced adventure following Temperance Whiteoak, Pistol Witch. Episode 2 is significantly longer and more fleshed out than Episode 1, though it is still a self-contained episode. We get to see Temperance play a little more of the detective in this one, as well as getting some glimpses of her past. The additional characterization really aids in bringing the world to life a bit more, and helps give her motivations context in a way we were missing in the first installment. We’re still missing a lot of history for the world at large, but it never makes the reader feel lost, just stokes curiosity. By the end, the episode’s plot is well concluded and there are again signs of larger plots on the horizon. And of course, there is more fabulous artwork by Jin Lee, bringing scenes to life in such wonderful style.
Episode 2 takes place as a direct sequel to Episode 1, as Temperance and Astor head off to find and recapture the daemon Belial, and get caught up in a small town’s mystery. Between “current-day” chapters, we get occasional sections that show us the events of her home town on the fateful day she lost everything, and the few days following. It adds context and heart to her past, which previously we only knew was tragic.
If you liked Episode 1, I’d certainly recommend continuing the adventure with this installment. If you like weird westerns with magic-slinging pistols, talking horses, daemons, and a bit of whodunnit thrown in, this book is right up your alley.
June 12, 2021
Temperance heads to a outlaw squatter town in the middle of nowhere while hunting the demon Belial. However, the place has daemon problems of its own and she's doing her best to deal with it despite everyone in the town trying to deceive or manipulate her. Lots of secrets will be revealed and numerous tricks and twists will happen before the end. I think it was an improvement over the old one even though I really enjoyed that.
June 8, 2019
I’m glad I stumbled onto this series. It’s fun and well-written with likable characters. In this second installment, Temperance runs into a little diversion on her way to track down the daemon, Belial. She ends up playing detective in a small town filled with some shady characters.
This book is a good bit longer than the first story. We get to learn a lot about Temperance’s family and her past. If you enjoyed the first story, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.
This book is a good bit longer than the first story. We get to learn a lot about Temperance’s family and her past. If you enjoyed the first story, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up.
June 15, 2020
Strong Plot
A strong, well developed plot. This was better than the first book in the series, using the premise to a much better advantage. Witches/ Warlocks in the wild west on another world. A good mystery you would be hard pressed to figure out before the end. Glad I decided to read further into this series!
A strong, well developed plot. This was better than the first book in the series, using the premise to a much better advantage. Witches/ Warlocks in the wild west on another world. A good mystery you would be hard pressed to figure out before the end. Glad I decided to read further into this series!
May 24, 2021
This was a good sequel, novel length compared to first book which was a novella.
I liked the mystery and how it was revealed at the end. But I wish there were more supporting characters I could like. There was one in this book, but not enough screen time.
I'd definitely recommend the book for those who like weird western tropes.
I liked the mystery and how it was revealed at the end. But I wish there were more supporting characters I could like. There was one in this book, but not enough screen time.
I'd definitely recommend the book for those who like weird western tropes.
March 19, 2025
Not enough worldbuilding. we did read about Temprance's childhood, but most of the book read like a western....walk into town, spend 80% of the book solving a problem, leave town to continue the original task. It's fine storytelling, I just didn't find the town nor the story all that intriguing.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews