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Max Abaddon #2.5
Max Abaddon and The Ghost and the Grave: A Max Abaddon Short Story
Book 2.5. this story takes place between The Purity Law and The Gate to Everwhere.
Here we find Max settling in with the realities of the world around him, becoming more relaxed with the Magical and Ethereal communities. The Balance has occurred, and the regular world is now aware that everything that goes bump in the night, for the most part, is real. In this short story, Max, well . . . Max is about to learn a valuable lesson about making bets at the bar with a stranger.
Fate has handed Max something that will affect not only his, but the lives of his friends. Only time will tell.
We also meet two new characters that have a rather sorted future in the series. Anyone like pirates and ghosts? There may be a cameo. The Fallen Angel has several ways in from multiple Planes, but only one way out.
★★★★★ “Justin is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the UF market.” Hunter Blain-Okayest Selling Author of the Preturnatural Chronicals.
★★★★★ “1 part Dresdin, 1 part Verus, and 3 parts Max. Phil is going to call this drink the Urban Freaker.” P.Wilson
★★★★★ “My favorite new Urban Fantasy Author!” T. Johnson
★★★★★ “Just Wow. More thought out than most other UF offerings out there.” James
★★★★★ “Good Story.” Bigfoot
Fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Jim Butcher, Ilona Andrews, Benedict Jacka, Kevin Hearne, Richard Kadrey, Shayne Silvers, Patricia Briggs, and BR Kingsolver will not want to miss this latest addition to the urban fantasy scene!
Here we find Max settling in with the realities of the world around him, becoming more relaxed with the Magical and Ethereal communities. The Balance has occurred, and the regular world is now aware that everything that goes bump in the night, for the most part, is real. In this short story, Max, well . . . Max is about to learn a valuable lesson about making bets at the bar with a stranger.
Fate has handed Max something that will affect not only his, but the lives of his friends. Only time will tell.
We also meet two new characters that have a rather sorted future in the series. Anyone like pirates and ghosts? There may be a cameo. The Fallen Angel has several ways in from multiple Planes, but only one way out.
★★★★★ “Justin is quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the UF market.” Hunter Blain-Okayest Selling Author of the Preturnatural Chronicals.
★★★★★ “1 part Dresdin, 1 part Verus, and 3 parts Max. Phil is going to call this drink the Urban Freaker.” P.Wilson
★★★★★ “My favorite new Urban Fantasy Author!” T. Johnson
★★★★★ “Just Wow. More thought out than most other UF offerings out there.” James
★★★★★ “Good Story.” Bigfoot
Fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Jim Butcher, Ilona Andrews, Benedict Jacka, Kevin Hearne, Richard Kadrey, Shayne Silvers, Patricia Briggs, and BR Kingsolver will not want to miss this latest addition to the urban fantasy scene!
- GenresFantasy
44 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 15, 2021
11 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 2, 2021
Max is hanging out at the Fallen Angel, a bar that can be accessed from almost anywhere. He’s bored when he meets a stranger who challenges him to a game. They place a bet and begin a game of Chess… something Max isn’t good at and he loses. He is tasked with obtaining an item. Not one to back out on a deal, he sets out to retrieve the item.
It turns out many have tried and none have succeeded. Oh, what fun this short was from the Slurpee loving observer to the ghostly graveyard and its tricks. Max has a knack for finding trouble, or maybe it finds him?
Max, of course, learns a valuable lesson as Leslie introduces us to two new characters in the series. It was a clever way to do it and I hope we get more of these short-side stories. The tale offers some laughs, chills and was signature Leslie. It was the perfect escape on a cold, rainy night.
Luke Daniels narrated and is a favorite here at Caffeinated. The over the top voices for the different creatures and characters, along with the way he captures the tone and moments within the story, are brilliant.
Fans of Jim Butcher will appreciate the characters and stories of Max Abaddon. As with most urban fantasy series, this is best listened to in the order of its release. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
It turns out many have tried and none have succeeded. Oh, what fun this short was from the Slurpee loving observer to the ghostly graveyard and its tricks. Max has a knack for finding trouble, or maybe it finds him?
Max, of course, learns a valuable lesson as Leslie introduces us to two new characters in the series. It was a clever way to do it and I hope we get more of these short-side stories. The tale offers some laughs, chills and was signature Leslie. It was the perfect escape on a cold, rainy night.
Luke Daniels narrated and is a favorite here at Caffeinated. The over the top voices for the different creatures and characters, along with the way he captures the tone and moments within the story, are brilliant.
Fans of Jim Butcher will appreciate the characters and stories of Max Abaddon. As with most urban fantasy series, this is best listened to in the order of its release. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
November 5, 2025
The story is okay, the action well written. I just cannot get past Max being an utter and complete brain dead moron, in order to provide the story line.
He gets a gold coin for fetching a hellhound for Davros. He tries to spend it. [spoiler for next book its a key to a gate in the atherneum so why would Davros toss it round casually without saying anything and why would max try and spend it] . Trish and a total strangers reaction is that it is something more than a gold coin. The mysterious and total stranger whom even Trish is wary of offers to gamble for it. WTF. The wager is even stupider. The gold coin for a silver coin. In every book I have ever read 100 silvers equals one gold. Yet the idiot agrees. The game is then Chess, Max doesnt even know how to set up the pieces. He is given the option to get out but no. He wagers a gold coin plus an promised unspecified favour, something everyone has hammered home never ever ever do, against a single silver coin. He then proceeds because suddenly everyone in the bar wants to avidly watch 2 people play chess! He loses, which was obvious, also without knowing how he lost and tries double or nothing! This is so stupid and against everything the first 2 books hammered home that it is too irritating to get past.
It is a set up for a plot for the next book. But even the execution is clunky. Break down all the parts, Max's actions, the protagonists, inspect them. None make much sense. Luck alone really. Plus why would they be there at that time? How would they know Max was coming? The mysterious stranger does not work for or with the protagonist as explained in book 8.
This is an integrating story if you can get past the above.
He gets a gold coin for fetching a hellhound for Davros. He tries to spend it. [spoiler for next book its a key to a gate in the atherneum so why would Davros toss it round casually without saying anything and why would max try and spend it] . Trish and a total strangers reaction is that it is something more than a gold coin. The mysterious and total stranger whom even Trish is wary of offers to gamble for it. WTF. The wager is even stupider. The gold coin for a silver coin. In every book I have ever read 100 silvers equals one gold. Yet the idiot agrees. The game is then Chess, Max doesnt even know how to set up the pieces. He is given the option to get out but no. He wagers a gold coin plus an promised unspecified favour, something everyone has hammered home never ever ever do, against a single silver coin. He then proceeds because suddenly everyone in the bar wants to avidly watch 2 people play chess! He loses, which was obvious, also without knowing how he lost and tries double or nothing! This is so stupid and against everything the first 2 books hammered home that it is too irritating to get past.
It is a set up for a plot for the next book. But even the execution is clunky. Break down all the parts, Max's actions, the protagonists, inspect them. None make much sense. Luck alone really. Plus why would they be there at that time? How would they know Max was coming? The mysterious stranger does not work for or with the protagonist as explained in book 8.
This is an integrating story if you can get past the above.
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August 19, 2023I bought this on an audible sale and did not realize this was in the middle of a series. so... i spent a large portion confused about the realities of the world. but what i could sus out sounded pretty good and now i have to go back and read or listen to the first book in the series. becuase i really have to know why Max was chasing down hell hounds and huntng for special coind and getting attacked by pirates, and, and, and...
April 23, 2022
A fun short story filling in some gaps missing from #3 in the series. Wonderfully narrated by Luke Daniels as always
January 9, 2024
I had this new to me author in my Kindle so I thought I'd read it. It's a short one but it was interesting. It's magic, ghosts and more. I need to start with the first book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews