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Hydra's Wake
When dirigible pilot Rogue Whip crashes in the Deep Forest Province of Shell, he takes refuge in an old, abandoned mining camp. However, he quickly discovers the camp is the territory of the four-headed hydra—a rare but vicious creature that mercilessly hunts and kills its victims using its “wake,” an airborne toxin that causes hallucinations.
However, the hydra isn’t the only monster out for Rogue’s blood. The sadistic Lord Albert Richtoff has hired a mercenary to take out Rogue, confusing him with a spy by the same name. As his enemies fall under the influence of the hydra’s wake, Rogue rescues a beautiful but mute woman whom Lord Albert abused and left for dead. To rescue her and survive, the hunted now becomes the hunter. But can Rogue kill both the hydra and Albert, or will they destroy him first?
However, the hydra isn’t the only monster out for Rogue’s blood. The sadistic Lord Albert Richtoff has hired a mercenary to take out Rogue, confusing him with a spy by the same name. As his enemies fall under the influence of the hydra’s wake, Rogue rescues a beautiful but mute woman whom Lord Albert abused and left for dead. To rescue her and survive, the hunted now becomes the hunter. But can Rogue kill both the hydra and Albert, or will they destroy him first?
- GenresFantasy
325 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2022
35 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Jones
3 books40 followersDaniel Jones is a Creature Feature author who puts the focus of his stories on a variety of legendary and mythical animals.
He was born in California US, growing up in a military family, he lived in several places all around the world; including Japan, Germany, New Mexico, and England. Daniel is an Eagle Scout; an accomplishment he takes great pride in, as well as the oldest of three brothers, and a total child of the 90's.
He has a passion for nature and animals and can often be found wandering local parks, zoos, or aquariums in his spare time.
Some fun trivia about him is that his favorite colors are dark green and teal, his favorite animals are Leopards and Rhinos, favorite movies are Tremors, Aliens, and Predator.
"If I had to say anything to new authors, it would be don't give up. There is a network of amazing people who can help you with anything writing related, and there's no timer on accomplishing any goal. Take it one word at a time until you reach "The End," because that's a feeling that is worth experiencing."
He was born in California US, growing up in a military family, he lived in several places all around the world; including Japan, Germany, New Mexico, and England. Daniel is an Eagle Scout; an accomplishment he takes great pride in, as well as the oldest of three brothers, and a total child of the 90's.
He has a passion for nature and animals and can often be found wandering local parks, zoos, or aquariums in his spare time.
Some fun trivia about him is that his favorite colors are dark green and teal, his favorite animals are Leopards and Rhinos, favorite movies are Tremors, Aliens, and Predator.
"If I had to say anything to new authors, it would be don't give up. There is a network of amazing people who can help you with anything writing related, and there's no timer on accomplishing any goal. Take it one word at a time until you reach "The End," because that's a feeling that is worth experiencing."
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April 13, 2024Slight spoilers ahead, but I need to rant about this. I hated this mostly for one reason. The plot was fine…but this book really threw me off with two things.
1: the main character finds a woman. She’s beat up, naked, and tied with ropes. And he checks her out, has a ‘oh, I should help her’ moment, AND THEN IT SAYS HE HAS TO RESIST HIS INITIAL PERVERTED THOUGHTS. LIKE WHAT? You’re telling me you found someone who needs help and the first thing you think about is sex?
And then later they make a deal and her side is that she doesn’t want to have sex with him…and he’s like ‘of course. At least…not at first. But maybe when we’re close friends’
So yeah. I closed the book. Then I skimmed the rest and now I’m writing this. I just hate everything about that and think it’s very disgusting.
1: the main character finds a woman. She’s beat up, naked, and tied with ropes. And he checks her out, has a ‘oh, I should help her’ moment, AND THEN IT SAYS HE HAS TO RESIST HIS INITIAL PERVERTED THOUGHTS. LIKE WHAT? You’re telling me you found someone who needs help and the first thing you think about is sex?
And then later they make a deal and her side is that she doesn’t want to have sex with him…and he’s like ‘of course. At least…not at first. But maybe when we’re close friends’
So yeah. I closed the book. Then I skimmed the rest and now I’m writing this. I just hate everything about that and think it’s very disgusting.
September 14, 2022
A wonderfully engaging, eventful romp through the sci-fi/adventure genre, blending many tropes, scenarios and archetypes readers know and love in a unique and exciting configuration. Somewhere between Tremors, Critters, Independence Day, Sergio Leone movies, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Porco Rosso, Legion, Goldfinger, Silence of the Lambs, with a dash of Body Snatchers and Predator, there is much to love and relish, be surprised and unnerved by in Hydra's Wake. Glorious pastiche with big, likable heroes and vile, memorable villains, a charming quite original heroine, plus monsters so iconic you won’t soon forget them. Jolly good fun in the tradition of Flash Gordon or modern day intergalactic operatic Western equivalents such as Space Cowboy or Altered Carbon . If you feel like escapist thrills, a much needed vacation from the ordinary, this could be just the ticket!
November 3, 2022
Adventure Plus
An intriguing book with well-developed characters and dialogue! This isn’t my typical go to genre. But, overall, with some minor hiccups, it is well worth the read.
An intriguing book with well-developed characters and dialogue! This isn’t my typical go to genre. But, overall, with some minor hiccups, it is well worth the read.
December 30, 2022
Full of adventure from start to finish, great characters and creatures.
Loved the ending.
Highly recommend.
Loved the ending.
Highly recommend.
February 21, 2023
Hydra's Wake is a cleverly written fantasy adventure, that takes the reader on an intense, exciting and breath taking ride. The hydra's wake in the title, refers to a devastating toxin released by a fearsome beast, the dreaded three headed hydra, which, as well causing its victims to hallucinate, alters reality around them, making them doubt their own sanity.
The story is well-written and fast paced as it follows the struggles of the ruggedly handsome Rogue Whip when, through a case of mistaken identity, he is shot down in hostile territory and has to use every resource available to him not only stay one step ahead a sadistic enemy hellbent on killing him, but also avoid falling victim to the hydra's wake.
I found author's style of writing to be quite interesting and quite clever, by employing the art of misdirection, which makes the reader question their own sanity! Not to give it away, but there is a scene early in the book that made me believe I missed something, forcing me to back and re-read the previous pages. Eventually, I had a "Ah! Of course!" when eventually came up on a scene which explained my confusion.
Full of well-drawn out characters, set in a well-crafted fantasy world, this is book has everything, thrills, spills, intrigue and adventure, mixed in with a touch of horror, suspense and... zombies! Oh, did I also mention a three headed hydra? This book has everything a kaiju loving, fantasy adventure seeking reader would want.
This is the first book in a series and I believe the next book, Hydra's Tower is coming soon. If that is true, then reserve me a spot on the next thrill ride!
Oh, just in case I forget, this book contains a three-headed hydra....
The story is well-written and fast paced as it follows the struggles of the ruggedly handsome Rogue Whip when, through a case of mistaken identity, he is shot down in hostile territory and has to use every resource available to him not only stay one step ahead a sadistic enemy hellbent on killing him, but also avoid falling victim to the hydra's wake.
I found author's style of writing to be quite interesting and quite clever, by employing the art of misdirection, which makes the reader question their own sanity! Not to give it away, but there is a scene early in the book that made me believe I missed something, forcing me to back and re-read the previous pages. Eventually, I had a "Ah! Of course!" when eventually came up on a scene which explained my confusion.
Full of well-drawn out characters, set in a well-crafted fantasy world, this is book has everything, thrills, spills, intrigue and adventure, mixed in with a touch of horror, suspense and... zombies! Oh, did I also mention a three headed hydra? This book has everything a kaiju loving, fantasy adventure seeking reader would want.
This is the first book in a series and I believe the next book, Hydra's Tower is coming soon. If that is true, then reserve me a spot on the next thrill ride!
Oh, just in case I forget, this book contains a three-headed hydra....
October 6, 2023
There is zero explanation of what is actually going on in this book. I can't tell if people are on another planet or just a different part. Hydras seem to be known to exist but no one has any clue what's going on with them. Then alien AI shows up randomly. The main character has the same name, a stupid one at that - Rogue Whip, and the bad guys just can't figure it out. He goes from attempting not to take liberties with an injured, unconscious woman but he also tricks some of the bad guys by claiming he's just a hallucination.
The one good thing to say about this book is that the cover is pretty cool. Final Grade - F
The one good thing to say about this book is that the cover is pretty cool. Final Grade - F
May 18, 2022
Although there are elements of a good story here the writing needs work. The phrase "show don't tell" kept coming to mind. It is written in a very stiff manner. "He did this. He looked at this. He wondered about this." Everything just feels very awkward and unwieldy. That said, the concept is a fun one and I appreciate the use of the hydra, as it is a fearsome creature that isn't often utilized. Perhaps it will work better for others, but in my opinion this is a draft rather than a finished novel.
December 24, 2022
Excellent use of an Underused Concept
In a world where vampires, werewolves, zombies, and superheroes have been trotted out over and over, why no one has made good use of Hydra is beyond me. Daniel Jones does that here. The use of the Hydra's Wake adds an element that keeps things interesting. The main character is easy to sympathize with. The ending wraps up all the loose ends. There are spelling and grammatical errors. I would expect that in a self-published book. They are not overly distracting. A good first novel. Looking forward to more.
In a world where vampires, werewolves, zombies, and superheroes have been trotted out over and over, why no one has made good use of Hydra is beyond me. Daniel Jones does that here. The use of the Hydra's Wake adds an element that keeps things interesting. The main character is easy to sympathize with. The ending wraps up all the loose ends. There are spelling and grammatical errors. I would expect that in a self-published book. They are not overly distracting. A good first novel. Looking forward to more.
July 10, 2022
Exciting Ride Of Interesting Sci-fi
This is an intelligently written thriller that has a lot of great setup and executes well on its premise. I know that sounds vague but I just don't want to accidentally give anything away. Definitely worth checking out!
This is an intelligently written thriller that has a lot of great setup and executes well on its premise. I know that sounds vague but I just don't want to accidentally give anything away. Definitely worth checking out!
January 11, 2024
Hydra’s Wake
Pros
Being a child of the sixties and seventies, the cover grabbed my attention. It took me back to the days of $1.00 Saturday, monster move extravaganzas. Nothing better than seeing Godzilla, Mothra, Smog Monster, Hydra and a host of others fill up the screen. Thus, I thought I would relive yesteryear in this read. It is also advertised as a steampunk thriller. I’ve read of a few of Mann’s and they left me flat. Thought I’d give this a go.
The action starts out with a bang in the prologue. Rogue Whip is preparing to undertake a normal shipment of goods to planet Heart in a dirigible That is the steampunk association The prologue jumped right into the story line, and then…
Whip regains his consciousness, realizing his ship has crashed. He doesn’t know what happened. His injuries are minor and heads off to the closest mining town forty miles away. Now comes the wild part. He didn’t crash because of mechanical failure, he was shot down by one Lord Albert who is one mean and nasty character. He thrives on torturing people with great zeal. He would have been a perfect character as a camp commandant or guard in a German concentration camp.
He also become acquainted with the local resident, The Hydra. This creature emits a plume that alters any and all reality to the point no one knows if what they are seeing is real or a hallucination. I did enjoy that aspect as more characters enter the fray and no one ever sees the same thing. The scenes involving the creature and their visions was well though out and executed.
Cons
Chapter three reminded me of a tennis match. Too many breaks I the action when the actual scene didn’t change enough to warrant them.
I came across forty-seven unique issues that need to be addressed. Couple of examples: Page 7 “mining camps are in.” del are. Page 10 “be able to surviving being, think it should be survive. Same page it is not possible sans death..” Sans doesn’t appear to be the correct word. Page 36 Before her is the first real bite of food she can eat in longer than she is able to remember.” This needs to be rephrased. Also, there are places where the author injects commentary on how the characters are talking when it is not necessary. Readers will get to know the characters and how they will speak and react to different situations if they are properly developed. Which, in this case, all of them were. EX page 86 asks in bewilderment, Page 88 Rogue elaborates. These interjections are not required. Here’s one more to think Theabout Page 149 After walks to a chamber. That should be Albert.
The ending was at best anti-climatic. This was disappointing as the survivors were taking on the Hyrdra in one big show down. For me, it was glossed over.
And then there’s the love story between whip and Crystal. See Lord Albert thinks Crystal is Whip’s daughter. That is true to a sense, but it’s the wrong Rogue Whip. When Albert realizes his mistake, doesn’t bother him at all. Since he enjoys punishing people, all the more the merrier.
The scene where Patell and Thebes and Walker find themselves in the mines came across as a repeat from all the others that went before them. For me, it didn’t move the story forward.
Overall, it’s not a bad read and it is full of action. I just think it needs another good fleshing out to be a great story.
Three stars.
Pros
Being a child of the sixties and seventies, the cover grabbed my attention. It took me back to the days of $1.00 Saturday, monster move extravaganzas. Nothing better than seeing Godzilla, Mothra, Smog Monster, Hydra and a host of others fill up the screen. Thus, I thought I would relive yesteryear in this read. It is also advertised as a steampunk thriller. I’ve read of a few of Mann’s and they left me flat. Thought I’d give this a go.
The action starts out with a bang in the prologue. Rogue Whip is preparing to undertake a normal shipment of goods to planet Heart in a dirigible That is the steampunk association The prologue jumped right into the story line, and then…
Whip regains his consciousness, realizing his ship has crashed. He doesn’t know what happened. His injuries are minor and heads off to the closest mining town forty miles away. Now comes the wild part. He didn’t crash because of mechanical failure, he was shot down by one Lord Albert who is one mean and nasty character. He thrives on torturing people with great zeal. He would have been a perfect character as a camp commandant or guard in a German concentration camp.
He also become acquainted with the local resident, The Hydra. This creature emits a plume that alters any and all reality to the point no one knows if what they are seeing is real or a hallucination. I did enjoy that aspect as more characters enter the fray and no one ever sees the same thing. The scenes involving the creature and their visions was well though out and executed.
Cons
Chapter three reminded me of a tennis match. Too many breaks I the action when the actual scene didn’t change enough to warrant them.
I came across forty-seven unique issues that need to be addressed. Couple of examples: Page 7 “mining camps are in.” del are. Page 10 “be able to surviving being, think it should be survive. Same page it is not possible sans death..” Sans doesn’t appear to be the correct word. Page 36 Before her is the first real bite of food she can eat in longer than she is able to remember.” This needs to be rephrased. Also, there are places where the author injects commentary on how the characters are talking when it is not necessary. Readers will get to know the characters and how they will speak and react to different situations if they are properly developed. Which, in this case, all of them were. EX page 86 asks in bewilderment, Page 88 Rogue elaborates. These interjections are not required. Here’s one more to think Theabout Page 149 After walks to a chamber. That should be Albert.
The ending was at best anti-climatic. This was disappointing as the survivors were taking on the Hyrdra in one big show down. For me, it was glossed over.
And then there’s the love story between whip and Crystal. See Lord Albert thinks Crystal is Whip’s daughter. That is true to a sense, but it’s the wrong Rogue Whip. When Albert realizes his mistake, doesn’t bother him at all. Since he enjoys punishing people, all the more the merrier.
The scene where Patell and Thebes and Walker find themselves in the mines came across as a repeat from all the others that went before them. For me, it didn’t move the story forward.
Overall, it’s not a bad read and it is full of action. I just think it needs another good fleshing out to be a great story.
Three stars.
May 5, 2025
This book is very interesting. I will preface my review with a note that this is not in my normal reading genre. I'm generally into fantasy novels, not sci-fi or suspense/thrillers. However, this is not a terrible read if you're seeking a sci-fi / big monster thriller with minimal build-up plot and world building before the action begins.
I've read through several reviews and was surprised that there's a 1-star review with a video. I can understand not appreciating the book or liking the style/story or even arguing against some of the plot, however, giving it a 1 star because you lost interest or failed to follow the plot seemed unnecessary to me. There are definitely far worse books out there. With that said, I'm sure I could argue the book down to a 4 star and possible a 3 star if I reeeeally tried, but if I stack the pros and cons the book is really not bad at all and for a debut book deserves a bit more recognition than that. So, I've chosen to be generously honest and go with 5 stars with a fair review.
Heads up - this is an indie book and it clearly has some editing but there are still a few typos and grammatical flaws. With that said they are fairly minimal and most of them can be read through without affecting the suspension of reality.
Also, if you're looking for a medium-slow burn buildup on the world building and character development before the action, this isn't the book for you. It jumps into the action fairly quickly, filling in back story through dialogue through the course of book. This isn't the worst approach to world building but I can see some readers disapproving of this method if they're used to a slower burn or more scenes that reflect peaceful times between the action.
Rogue Whip is an interesting MC. I honestly didn't feel a tight connection to him but the author isn't afraid to kill off characters so it kind of came natural for me to keep him a bit emotionally distant on purpose. There was also very little build up to grow an attachment to him, so although I wanted him to succeed it wasn't going to surprise me if something terrible happened to him and I don't think I would have shed any tears. In the end, he is fairly likeable and I think his style makes for an interesting MC in the book's universe.
Potential Pros *spoilers*
- The concept of the double planetary system is enjoyable and unique. The trickle of historical references were fun to see unveiled as the book progressed. By the end of the book I appreciated the world building a bit more as I had an idea of what the trade winds were and thought the eclipses and things related to this unique feature made for a fun prose for the author to explore and gave the world a bit of unique aspect that felt almost sci-fi.
- Big Monsters. If you're a fan of Godzilla or King Kong this will probably grab you a bit. I won't spoil too much but the main monster feels almost undefeatable. I'm still not certain I understand the multi-dimensional aspects of the creature, or its strange otherworldly helper, but I assume this was left for future books to explore.
- Action comes fast and hardly stops.
- Quick read. I found myself flying through the book relatively easy. I don't know if it's due to the smaller font or what but I was able to knock out 5-10% on average while reading the book. This helped me reach the end of the book and I like the fact that I was. Unlike the 1 star review I didn't feel any overwhelming confusion while reading the book. If I were completely uninterested I imagine I would have struggled but the scenes were fairly well written and the detail was clear enough to
- Cheap read. The book I bought was on sale for .99 at the time. Definitely a fair buy for that price. Even when not on sale I believe the ebook is cheap enough to justify buying if this is your genre and style.
- Paranormal/zombies. If you're into zombie books or the paranormal this book has an element of those things. This could possibly be a con but now you what you're getting into, so it's a pro.
Potential Cons
- The action pacing could exhaust some readers. If you're a slow-burner or like those normal scenes to explore character development you might feel exhausted reading this book and possibly lose interest. The action in this book tends to come first. This could also be a pro if that's the style of books you read.
- Gore. The book has scenes and references that I'd consider PG if not 18+. There isn't any spice (romance) in the book but the violence does get a bit descriptive, which I feel could be a con for sensitive readers or those who tend to like their violence a bit less gory. For those seeking a hint of those elements this could also be a pro.
- A few scenes did get a bit extended and I lost the visual image mentally, especially in the mines. This could possibly remove some readers from their suspension of reality and affect readability, though this is somewhat minor. Most of the time I could visualize the scenes well and didn't really struggle too much. I will say, when the hallucinations kick in and there are multiple people seeing multiple things and some things can be affected physically while others can't there can be a little bit of confusion in the mix. I think some of this is to keep reader's on their toes as to the power of the hydra, however, the mechanics behind it never fully clicked and I think there's a chance readers are expecting more of a payoff in this area at some point. It may come in a future book but I admit I did want a little more of a payoff somewhere in the end.
Overall
The book is high action, intense, descriptive and features some unique and creative world building and creatures. The hero is a bit undeveloped when you first begin his journey but for the style of the book this feels acceptable. As the debut book I'm willing to forgive the occasionally rougher prose and grammatical flaw as the book itself is quality enough to enjoy for most readers. If you're into monsters (especially big ones), high action, sci-fi and a bit of blood and gore with violence this book will probably check enough boxes for you. The human bad guys (especially Albert) have a bit of a mafia vibe, heartless and power/money-driven. They're also a tad underdeveloped but they add the proper element to the story to fit the style and bring plenty of payoffs through the story. The mix makes for an interesting dynamic much like many movies that reflect a similar approach by placing action above the plot. It's definitely an interesting read for sci-fi monster lovers and will likely fit in line with books of a similar approach fairly well. If you like what you're hearing about the book in this review you'll probably enjoy the book.
I've read through several reviews and was surprised that there's a 1-star review with a video. I can understand not appreciating the book or liking the style/story or even arguing against some of the plot, however, giving it a 1 star because you lost interest or failed to follow the plot seemed unnecessary to me. There are definitely far worse books out there. With that said, I'm sure I could argue the book down to a 4 star and possible a 3 star if I reeeeally tried, but if I stack the pros and cons the book is really not bad at all and for a debut book deserves a bit more recognition than that. So, I've chosen to be generously honest and go with 5 stars with a fair review.
Heads up - this is an indie book and it clearly has some editing but there are still a few typos and grammatical flaws. With that said they are fairly minimal and most of them can be read through without affecting the suspension of reality.
Also, if you're looking for a medium-slow burn buildup on the world building and character development before the action, this isn't the book for you. It jumps into the action fairly quickly, filling in back story through dialogue through the course of book. This isn't the worst approach to world building but I can see some readers disapproving of this method if they're used to a slower burn or more scenes that reflect peaceful times between the action.
Rogue Whip is an interesting MC. I honestly didn't feel a tight connection to him but the author isn't afraid to kill off characters so it kind of came natural for me to keep him a bit emotionally distant on purpose. There was also very little build up to grow an attachment to him, so although I wanted him to succeed it wasn't going to surprise me if something terrible happened to him and I don't think I would have shed any tears. In the end, he is fairly likeable and I think his style makes for an interesting MC in the book's universe.
Potential Pros *spoilers*
- The concept of the double planetary system is enjoyable and unique. The trickle of historical references were fun to see unveiled as the book progressed. By the end of the book I appreciated the world building a bit more as I had an idea of what the trade winds were and thought the eclipses and things related to this unique feature made for a fun prose for the author to explore and gave the world a bit of unique aspect that felt almost sci-fi.
- Big Monsters. If you're a fan of Godzilla or King Kong this will probably grab you a bit. I won't spoil too much but the main monster feels almost undefeatable. I'm still not certain I understand the multi-dimensional aspects of the creature, or its strange otherworldly helper, but I assume this was left for future books to explore.
- Action comes fast and hardly stops.
- Quick read. I found myself flying through the book relatively easy. I don't know if it's due to the smaller font or what but I was able to knock out 5-10% on average while reading the book. This helped me reach the end of the book and I like the fact that I was. Unlike the 1 star review I didn't feel any overwhelming confusion while reading the book. If I were completely uninterested I imagine I would have struggled but the scenes were fairly well written and the detail was clear enough to
- Cheap read. The book I bought was on sale for .99 at the time. Definitely a fair buy for that price. Even when not on sale I believe the ebook is cheap enough to justify buying if this is your genre and style.
- Paranormal/zombies. If you're into zombie books or the paranormal this book has an element of those things. This could possibly be a con but now you what you're getting into, so it's a pro.
Potential Cons
- The action pacing could exhaust some readers. If you're a slow-burner or like those normal scenes to explore character development you might feel exhausted reading this book and possibly lose interest. The action in this book tends to come first. This could also be a pro if that's the style of books you read.
- Gore. The book has scenes and references that I'd consider PG if not 18+. There isn't any spice (romance) in the book but the violence does get a bit descriptive, which I feel could be a con for sensitive readers or those who tend to like their violence a bit less gory. For those seeking a hint of those elements this could also be a pro.
- A few scenes did get a bit extended and I lost the visual image mentally, especially in the mines. This could possibly remove some readers from their suspension of reality and affect readability, though this is somewhat minor. Most of the time I could visualize the scenes well and didn't really struggle too much. I will say, when the hallucinations kick in and there are multiple people seeing multiple things and some things can be affected physically while others can't there can be a little bit of confusion in the mix. I think some of this is to keep reader's on their toes as to the power of the hydra, however, the mechanics behind it never fully clicked and I think there's a chance readers are expecting more of a payoff in this area at some point. It may come in a future book but I admit I did want a little more of a payoff somewhere in the end.
Overall
The book is high action, intense, descriptive and features some unique and creative world building and creatures. The hero is a bit undeveloped when you first begin his journey but for the style of the book this feels acceptable. As the debut book I'm willing to forgive the occasionally rougher prose and grammatical flaw as the book itself is quality enough to enjoy for most readers. If you're into monsters (especially big ones), high action, sci-fi and a bit of blood and gore with violence this book will probably check enough boxes for you. The human bad guys (especially Albert) have a bit of a mafia vibe, heartless and power/money-driven. They're also a tad underdeveloped but they add the proper element to the story to fit the style and bring plenty of payoffs through the story. The mix makes for an interesting dynamic much like many movies that reflect a similar approach by placing action above the plot. It's definitely an interesting read for sci-fi monster lovers and will likely fit in line with books of a similar approach fairly well. If you like what you're hearing about the book in this review you'll probably enjoy the book.
January 4, 2025
A fantasy debut by Californian author Daniel Jones, Hydra's Wake follows Rogue Whip's dash with death when he is shot down in a case of mistaken identity. Finding what he thinks is a safe place among abandoned mines to fix his plane to get home, he, unfortunately, comes under the influence of the Hydra's Wake. The hydra is a clever monster on a mission and when under the influence of its 'wake' or hallucinatory gas, the victim has to try to work out which reality is real to survive. The man who shot Rogue down also lands at the long abandoned mines and not only comes under the influence of the wake but finds out that there are other evils out there besides him. What are these other evils? Will any of them make it out alive? Or will Hydra's Wake confuse them all? To find out, you will have to read the book.
August 5, 2025
Rouge pilots dirigables on the twin planet of Yerputs. Something caused his latest job to go horribly wrong. Now, he is stranded on a part of the planet full of monsters. One with a unique ability the Hydra likes to play with its victims, making it hard to know what's real and what's not. Monster horrific visions and other dangers await at every turn. Can Rouge escape? Creature filled action-packed edge of your seat thriller.
January 6, 2023
The story has great potential but I was torn by wanting to know what was going to happen next and being very annoyed by the verbs in present tense and lack of bridges between 'scenes'. This book is written like a movie script or a comic book. Too clinical, too descriptive at times and too much clichés.
A story grabs you when you can make an emotionally connection with the characters. This story does not have that.
The book needs a good editor and a writer that will educate himself in the art of storytelling.
The raw talent is there, Daniel Jones. It just needs more polishing.
A story grabs you when you can make an emotionally connection with the characters. This story does not have that.
The book needs a good editor and a writer that will educate himself in the art of storytelling.
The raw talent is there, Daniel Jones. It just needs more polishing.
August 17, 2025
I saw this one mulling about on twitter and figured I would give it a go. They say don't judge a book by it's cover, but I couldn't resist because... well, look at it.
From the cover I knew it wasn't going to be sticking to the realms of natural reality, so the poor reviews I found that complain about dirigibles and planetary gravity, I really could pass off as a non-issue. In reality this is more-or-less a sharknado/piranha's movie-like book that takes itself seriously, I could easily see this getting picked up as a B-grade movie you would watch at 1 AM with a bunch of tired friends.
The book gets to the action right away, it's literally "welcome", and then crash, monsters and survival. There wasn't much wasted space here, as each page is filled with enough action and motion that the book never really slows down at any point. It's not terribly long so that makes for a rather quick read. Those are the good things I can say about this book.
The unfortunate reality is that I found this book to be on the verge of unreadable. I fully admit this is partially due to the nature of the 1st person present narrative. 1st person is difficult enough to write well, 1st PP is even harder and unfortunately I felt the author does not have the skills yet to tackle such a work. Because of the way it's told the entire book feels like an exercise in telling rather than showing, I really struggled enjoying the unique creatures and world-building because the narration kept getting in the way.
The Hydra concept is unique with the hallucinogenic properties and all, but this led to a really confusing state. We have people linked to the Hydra that have to remain close or else they die because they have become connected. Others have been turned into zombies, others are ghosts, some things are real, some things aren't, sometimes bullets work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes a chair will hold you up other times you fall through it, but if it get's thrown at you it hurts. I really had a hard time getting grounded in a reality that was inherently unreliable. I get that this was part of the plot, but that simply seems to mean that the ungrounded nature of the plot wasn't an accident.
The idea of hunted becoming the hunter and the attempts to kill a beast that can't be killed is all well and good, but I really couldn't enjoy the story due to the inherent flaws in the way it was told.
From the cover I knew it wasn't going to be sticking to the realms of natural reality, so the poor reviews I found that complain about dirigibles and planetary gravity, I really could pass off as a non-issue. In reality this is more-or-less a sharknado/piranha's movie-like book that takes itself seriously, I could easily see this getting picked up as a B-grade movie you would watch at 1 AM with a bunch of tired friends.
The book gets to the action right away, it's literally "welcome", and then crash, monsters and survival. There wasn't much wasted space here, as each page is filled with enough action and motion that the book never really slows down at any point. It's not terribly long so that makes for a rather quick read. Those are the good things I can say about this book.
The unfortunate reality is that I found this book to be on the verge of unreadable. I fully admit this is partially due to the nature of the 1st person present narrative. 1st person is difficult enough to write well, 1st PP is even harder and unfortunately I felt the author does not have the skills yet to tackle such a work. Because of the way it's told the entire book feels like an exercise in telling rather than showing, I really struggled enjoying the unique creatures and world-building because the narration kept getting in the way.
The Hydra concept is unique with the hallucinogenic properties and all, but this led to a really confusing state. We have people linked to the Hydra that have to remain close or else they die because they have become connected. Others have been turned into zombies, others are ghosts, some things are real, some things aren't, sometimes bullets work, sometimes they don't. Sometimes a chair will hold you up other times you fall through it, but if it get's thrown at you it hurts. I really had a hard time getting grounded in a reality that was inherently unreliable. I get that this was part of the plot, but that simply seems to mean that the ungrounded nature of the plot wasn't an accident.
The idea of hunted becoming the hunter and the attempts to kill a beast that can't be killed is all well and good, but I really couldn't enjoy the story due to the inherent flaws in the way it was told.
April 4, 2023
Hydra’s Wake is a steampunk novel. Taking place on the planet of Shell, the story follows Rogue Whip after he crashes his dirigible. During his attempts to survive, he comes across a mining camp and learns of the dangerous wildlife on the planet, including the hydra. Massive in size and with multiple heads that regenerate twice if decapitated, the hydra also emits a gas called the hydra’s wake, which is believed to cause sever hallucinations. He soon learns that the is being hunted by Lord Albert Richtoff, who believes that Rogue has stolen something from him. Rogue must now avoid Richtoff and his mercenaries while also trying not to get eaten by the hydra.
Hydra’s Wake is a fun and entertaining story. The world of Shell is presented very well as a dangerous place. Rogue is a kind man who just wants to survive and get home, but will also help others. Albert Richtoff is a sadistic monster who enjoys torturing and murdering those he believes have wronged him. All the other characters involved, including Albert’s mercenaries, are well developed with distinct personalities and motivations. The hydra is presented as a force of nature and the sense of dread it instills when it is nearby is excellently portrayed.
Overall, Hydra’s Wake is a fun and engaging story. Steampunk fans will enjoy the descriptions of the vehicles and technology. Fans of kaiju stories will love the way the hydra is presented. Both will be looking forward to any possible follow ups.
Hydra’s Wake is a fun and entertaining story. The world of Shell is presented very well as a dangerous place. Rogue is a kind man who just wants to survive and get home, but will also help others. Albert Richtoff is a sadistic monster who enjoys torturing and murdering those he believes have wronged him. All the other characters involved, including Albert’s mercenaries, are well developed with distinct personalities and motivations. The hydra is presented as a force of nature and the sense of dread it instills when it is nearby is excellently portrayed.
Overall, Hydra’s Wake is a fun and engaging story. Steampunk fans will enjoy the descriptions of the vehicles and technology. Fans of kaiju stories will love the way the hydra is presented. Both will be looking forward to any possible follow ups.
August 5, 2025
“Hydra’s Wake” isn’t the kind of book I typically reach for, but its gripping premise drew me in. Rogue Whip makes for a compelling protagonist, though he’s surrounded by a brutal cast of unsavory characters, each more dangerous than the last.
The story begins with a case of mistaken identity that sends Rogue’s dirigible crashing into the foreboding Deep Forest of Shell. Seeking shelter in an abandoned mining base, he soon discovers the lurking presence of a four-headed Hydra, and the real nightmare begins. What unfolds is a masterfully disorienting blend of sci-fi and horror, where reality itself becomes fluid. The Hydra’s hallucinogenic toxin warps perception, plunging both characters and readers into a terrifying uncertainty: What is real, and what is a waking nightmare?
The pacing is relentless, hurling you from one harrowing scenario to the next with barely a moment to breathe. By the time the survivors make it back to civilization, I felt as drained and relieved as they must have.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes, but with reservations. Jones’s ability to seamlessly warp reality is impressive, and fans of visceral, nightmarish horror will find plenty to love here. If you thrive on vivid, unflinching violence and psychological dread, “Hydra’s Wake” won’t disappoint. Just be prepared: this isn’t a story that lets go easily.
The story begins with a case of mistaken identity that sends Rogue’s dirigible crashing into the foreboding Deep Forest of Shell. Seeking shelter in an abandoned mining base, he soon discovers the lurking presence of a four-headed Hydra, and the real nightmare begins. What unfolds is a masterfully disorienting blend of sci-fi and horror, where reality itself becomes fluid. The Hydra’s hallucinogenic toxin warps perception, plunging both characters and readers into a terrifying uncertainty: What is real, and what is a waking nightmare?
The pacing is relentless, hurling you from one harrowing scenario to the next with barely a moment to breathe. By the time the survivors make it back to civilization, I felt as drained and relieved as they must have.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes, but with reservations. Jones’s ability to seamlessly warp reality is impressive, and fans of visceral, nightmarish horror will find plenty to love here. If you thrive on vivid, unflinching violence and psychological dread, “Hydra’s Wake” won’t disappoint. Just be prepared: this isn’t a story that lets go easily.
December 27, 2023
Urgh I really wanted to like this book but I can't. It's in serious need of editing. There are many typos, but let's keep that aside for now and ignore it. Because I really wanted to enjoy it...
But so many things don't add up!!! The concept of the twin planets is good and I liked it, but it doesn't work. Gravity doesn't work that way and there are no elements to support how those two planets could stay close enough to have a shared atmosphere and not crash into one another.
One planet is developed while the other one is not. You have a ship to fly between the two planets but no radio on board. You're flying with a paper map and a marker?? You have a particle shifter but are amazed that they have working pipes and running water? What kind of planet is this??
They're on another planet but they're humans? So many things don't add up, it's impossible to stay focused on the story.
And now that I've read about the tied up woman, I don't even want to continue. This is DNF for me...
But so many things don't add up!!! The concept of the twin planets is good and I liked it, but it doesn't work. Gravity doesn't work that way and there are no elements to support how those two planets could stay close enough to have a shared atmosphere and not crash into one another.
One planet is developed while the other one is not. You have a ship to fly between the two planets but no radio on board. You're flying with a paper map and a marker?? You have a particle shifter but are amazed that they have working pipes and running water? What kind of planet is this??
They're on another planet but they're humans? So many things don't add up, it's impossible to stay focused on the story.
And now that I've read about the tied up woman, I don't even want to continue. This is DNF for me...
July 6, 2022
There sure is a lot going on in this book. I have a hard time believing all of it happened within the span of just a couple of days.
The setting is cool, as is the concept behind the Hydra. But there is just too much. It needed a tighter focus on developing the core elements rather than introducing even more characters and obstacles. Did we really need zombies AND a mysterious AI? Maybe those should have been left for the sequel. (I do hope there is one, by the way. I liked the world and I hope to see more stories in it.)
I would cal this a good first novel, but it needed a few more passes through an editor.
The setting is cool, as is the concept behind the Hydra. But there is just too much. It needed a tighter focus on developing the core elements rather than introducing even more characters and obstacles. Did we really need zombies AND a mysterious AI? Maybe those should have been left for the sequel. (I do hope there is one, by the way. I liked the world and I hope to see more stories in it.)
I would cal this a good first novel, but it needed a few more passes through an editor.
October 29, 2025
Read this a while ago (2nd edition) but forgot to review it.
Overall, I enjoyed this despite it not being my usual type of book, but did find it confusing at times and the villain to be a bit of a man-child. I could put aside the confusion, however, as that appears to be intentional. As the Hydra's wake is a hallucinatory toxin, I would expect a certain amount of confusion although I would prefer if it stayed with the characters, not the reader.
Mostly enjoyed it, but not sure if I would read the next in the series. Maybe, maybe not.
Overall, I enjoyed this despite it not being my usual type of book, but did find it confusing at times and the villain to be a bit of a man-child. I could put aside the confusion, however, as that appears to be intentional. As the Hydra's wake is a hallucinatory toxin, I would expect a certain amount of confusion although I would prefer if it stayed with the characters, not the reader.
Mostly enjoyed it, but not sure if I would read the next in the series. Maybe, maybe not.
May 25, 2022
“Hydra’s Wake” is no ordinary adventure novel; in fact it is an eclectic journey through author’s well built fictional world. With elements of sci-fi, AI and monster creatures even fans of zombies will find something interesting. The main plot is very engaging and lets the author explore human nature. The movie-like style of writing help a reader to enjoy the crazy fantasy.
April 29, 2023
This was a fun read, with lots of interesting concepts and unique ways to twist a mythical creature into something special for this story. I've never read anything like this before. Slightly lower rating as there were some very gory parts of the story that made me a little uncomfortable, but in the context of monsters, plots and death, it all makes sense.
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April 28, 2024 I really enjoyed this book. It has a sci-fi/ fantasy feel to it that draws you in to the story. The Hydra is very imaginative and well done. The characters are interesting, and some are downright evil. The idea of how the 'wake' works has elements of horror at times that I was surprised by but also enjoyed. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure.
May 23, 2024
I liked this book! It was a great adventure with many huge man-eating creatures, which were cleverly described.
A very good debut novel from Daniel.
It was a thrilling roller coaster ride from start to finish, with a lot of action and strong characters.
Also I would like to say that the cover art is absolutely gorgeous!
A very good debut novel from Daniel.
It was a thrilling roller coaster ride from start to finish, with a lot of action and strong characters.
Also I would like to say that the cover art is absolutely gorgeous!
July 30, 2023
Note: review based on the Kickstarter ebook.
This book had potential. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to have an editor so there was numerous grammatical errors and lacked coherence. While the story itself was enjoyable enough, these elements made it a rougher ride than it could have been.
This book had potential. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to have an editor so there was numerous grammatical errors and lacked coherence. While the story itself was enjoyable enough, these elements made it a rougher ride than it could have been.
May 17, 2025
A Fun Action Story
The author creates a unique world and intense characters. Woven into the plot are some very trippy inter dimensional crossovers, spirit beings, zombies and kaijus. Did I mention Kaijus?
The author creates a unique world and intense characters. Woven into the plot are some very trippy inter dimensional crossovers, spirit beings, zombies and kaijus. Did I mention Kaijus?
June 29, 2025
Very entertaining
I really enjoyed the characters as well as the intriguing blend of science fiction, science, paranormal experiments with myths and monster mixed in.
My only complaint is that whoever did the proofreading did a truly deplorable job.
I really enjoyed the characters as well as the intriguing blend of science fiction, science, paranormal experiments with myths and monster mixed in.
My only complaint is that whoever did the proofreading did a truly deplorable job.
July 6, 2025
Interesting story with some cool world-building.
I loved the alien creatures, fast-paced narration and the resourcefulness exhibited by the protagonist. The style of presentation took some getting used to, but it overall worked out pretty well.
I loved the alien creatures, fast-paced narration and the resourcefulness exhibited by the protagonist. The style of presentation took some getting used to, but it overall worked out pretty well.
February 14, 2023
What a fantastic thrill ride! The story was great, and I love the characters! Highly recommend!
September 23, 2023
A fantastical romp of an adventure
Excitement abounds in this creature feature. Highly recommended novel that is action packed, intriguing and with great dialogue. Beware the hydra.
Excitement abounds in this creature feature. Highly recommended novel that is action packed, intriguing and with great dialogue. Beware the hydra.
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