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Division X
The monster killing business isn't all it's cracked up to be. We all have a monster within... understatement of the year. For 24-year-old Randi Matheson, she quite literally does. On every full moon, it rears its hairy head. She wasn't always like this. Ever since her attack, the animal comes out to play. And on one full moon, the beast inside tries to eat her younger brother. Division X, a paramilitary group hellbent on the eradication of monsters, intervenes and saves Randi's brother from being devoured. They take Randi far away and imprison her in a place no monster can escape. Held captive, Randi is given an ultimatum. Work for Division X as a new weapon in the fight against evil or be dissected. Without a real choice, she chooses the former and experiences the dark underbelly of reality as she faces off against vampires, demons, and redneck serial killers. Promised a cure to her condition along the way, Randi does her best to stay alive.
362 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2022
5 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
August Hill
6 books16 followersAugust Hill was born outside of Toronto, Canada, and now spends his time between Vancouver and the islands of the Salish Sea. As a child he ate up his father’s extensive library in secret and by the age of eight had written an epic novel of such great heights it stirred one of the good teachers to send him off to various writing conferences. He chose larger books to sit upon so as to not seem conspicuous to the other attendees.
Hill excelled in journalism school writing solely about the things he most obsessed over in life, attaining an MBA to build businesses around those same things thereafter. Having crawled up into the mucky ranks of academia and business, he now returns full circle to the page, exposing the characters and themes of a fragile and silly world through his fiction. His comedic explorations soar in a fresh title The Sushi Prophecies, a raucous urban tale dedicated to the magic at play all around us and all the best weirdos we love to hate.
Having eaten and surfed all over the world, Hill finds himself most touched by strangers of all types, but not like that. He spends much of his time by the sea with his hilarious baby boy, wonderfully Polish wife, eleven errant chickens, and a convict dog called Quest fetched from the Australian outback.
Working at an infamous hotel in the nineties, he once delivered a toothbrush to Barry Manilow, who was ironing his underwear at midnight.
Hill excelled in journalism school writing solely about the things he most obsessed over in life, attaining an MBA to build businesses around those same things thereafter. Having crawled up into the mucky ranks of academia and business, he now returns full circle to the page, exposing the characters and themes of a fragile and silly world through his fiction. His comedic explorations soar in a fresh title The Sushi Prophecies, a raucous urban tale dedicated to the magic at play all around us and all the best weirdos we love to hate.
Having eaten and surfed all over the world, Hill finds himself most touched by strangers of all types, but not like that. He spends much of his time by the sea with his hilarious baby boy, wonderfully Polish wife, eleven errant chickens, and a convict dog called Quest fetched from the Australian outback.
Working at an infamous hotel in the nineties, he once delivered a toothbrush to Barry Manilow, who was ironing his underwear at midnight.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
January 9, 2023
Thank you to the author, Ryan August Hill, and Henry Roi PR for an advance reader copy of DIVISION X.
Being a fan of a good monster yarn, I enjoyed this book, as there are tons of monsters here. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety, as I thought at one point it would just be one kind of monster, and the book was already good. But I got vampires, werewolves, even giant disgusting bugs!🤢😍
Randi is a young girl with too much disappointment, who doesn't think it can get any worse, until the night a monster breaks through her house and kills her whole family. She chainsaws the monster's head in a head-on brawl, in which she gets beat almost to death-- and gored and chewed. She then wakes up in a hospital johnny wondering not only how she's alive, but also, where the hell is the pain? On top of a pile of things she's survived that shouldn't exist, she meets some people who shouldn't exist, and she's given a horrible choice. She takes the obvious one. The only one. And more monsters ensue!
This book exhibits a particular tone that feels familiar to me-- a little campy and a lot grisly-- it reminds me of Sam Raimi and John Carpenter, some of my other favorite directors from the 80s. Hill historically writes for comics, and I could definitely see some of that flavor and humor in this book. I really enjoyed it, some great scene work here.
Rating: 👹👹👹👹.5 / 5 wild monsters
Recommend? Definitely!
Finished: January 5 2023
Read this book if you like:
🧌 Monsters
🪚 Grisly fight scenes
🧬 Supernatural humans trope
👫 Prom vs monsters trope
🕴 Men in black trope
Being a fan of a good monster yarn, I enjoyed this book, as there are tons of monsters here. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety, as I thought at one point it would just be one kind of monster, and the book was already good. But I got vampires, werewolves, even giant disgusting bugs!🤢😍
Randi is a young girl with too much disappointment, who doesn't think it can get any worse, until the night a monster breaks through her house and kills her whole family. She chainsaws the monster's head in a head-on brawl, in which she gets beat almost to death-- and gored and chewed. She then wakes up in a hospital johnny wondering not only how she's alive, but also, where the hell is the pain? On top of a pile of things she's survived that shouldn't exist, she meets some people who shouldn't exist, and she's given a horrible choice. She takes the obvious one. The only one. And more monsters ensue!
This book exhibits a particular tone that feels familiar to me-- a little campy and a lot grisly-- it reminds me of Sam Raimi and John Carpenter, some of my other favorite directors from the 80s. Hill historically writes for comics, and I could definitely see some of that flavor and humor in this book. I really enjoyed it, some great scene work here.
Rating: 👹👹👹👹.5 / 5 wild monsters
Recommend? Definitely!
Finished: January 5 2023
Read this book if you like:
🧌 Monsters
🪚 Grisly fight scenes
🧬 Supernatural humans trope
👫 Prom vs monsters trope
🕴 Men in black trope
March 28, 2023
I really like a good horror novel with a lot of slash and dash. And Division X has a lot of it. The action scenes were scary good with a host of creepy monsters -- from vampires, body snatchers, werewolves, and more.
Though the action scenes were well played, I found the flow and the transitions to be a little rough. Which made the story somewhat disjointed. It felt as though the author was attempting to combine a lot of different stories into a cohesive unit. But execution-wise, it wasn't the smoothest. And with an open ended finale, Division X didn't quite impress me as I thought it would. Two okay stars.
I received a digital ARC from the author. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Though the action scenes were well played, I found the flow and the transitions to be a little rough. Which made the story somewhat disjointed. It felt as though the author was attempting to combine a lot of different stories into a cohesive unit. But execution-wise, it wasn't the smoothest. And with an open ended finale, Division X didn't quite impress me as I thought it would. Two okay stars.
I received a digital ARC from the author. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 5, 2022
Huge thanks to the publisher and the author for sending me a copy of this novel.
Check out the synopsis on this one. When a novel teases that not only are you going to be getting creatures galore, family drama AND a secret government type project – it gets my interest immediately but is also one that you know you need to dive into and see what craziness awaits.
From what I gather, this is the first part of a series, so do keep that in mind if you’re thinking of also diving in! What I mean with that is that you know full well not every question will be answered.
What I liked: The story starts out with a literal rampaging scene where strange deaths linked to stranger creatures has been occurring. At a family dinner, one of those creatures attacks and only two sisters survive.
From there, Hill weaves a story that bounces between what this secretive group is up to, as well as the struggles the two sisters face, both in their relationship but also in how they are going forward. It’s an interesting dynamic, and seeing how Hill keeps playing it back and forth for the reader added a great extra layer to the happenings.
As expected, we get a truly solid ending that also leaves us with a number of doors open about where the second one may go and just where the characters who survive will travel.
The creature aspects within here are really great and just a blast for readers. It also gives us a ton of rampaging carnage, which is always a blast.
What I didn’t like: I did find there was a significant amount of characters throughout. I tend to read a number of books at one time, so maybe if I was focusing purely on this one, I wouldn’t have found it to be that overwhelming, but as is, it did often take me a minute to remember who was who.
I did also find some of the early interactions between the sisters to be a bit odd. As an example, Randi, the older sister, gets taken one night after she transforms and her family member witnesses it and freaks out. She calls home and talks to her younger sister and says that she got a new job and left in the middle of the night and that’s it. Just accepted and we move on. It’s one very odd interaction that didn’t feel like a solid, realistic way to change character venues.
Why you should buy this: Do you enjoy the lycanthrope-based stories? If so, you’ll want to dive into this one and see what howling action Hill delivers. This one feels like a Hollywood blockbuster werewolf movie made just for the reader and if that doesn’t entice you, I don’t know what will.
Check out the synopsis on this one. When a novel teases that not only are you going to be getting creatures galore, family drama AND a secret government type project – it gets my interest immediately but is also one that you know you need to dive into and see what craziness awaits.
From what I gather, this is the first part of a series, so do keep that in mind if you’re thinking of also diving in! What I mean with that is that you know full well not every question will be answered.
What I liked: The story starts out with a literal rampaging scene where strange deaths linked to stranger creatures has been occurring. At a family dinner, one of those creatures attacks and only two sisters survive.
From there, Hill weaves a story that bounces between what this secretive group is up to, as well as the struggles the two sisters face, both in their relationship but also in how they are going forward. It’s an interesting dynamic, and seeing how Hill keeps playing it back and forth for the reader added a great extra layer to the happenings.
As expected, we get a truly solid ending that also leaves us with a number of doors open about where the second one may go and just where the characters who survive will travel.
The creature aspects within here are really great and just a blast for readers. It also gives us a ton of rampaging carnage, which is always a blast.
What I didn’t like: I did find there was a significant amount of characters throughout. I tend to read a number of books at one time, so maybe if I was focusing purely on this one, I wouldn’t have found it to be that overwhelming, but as is, it did often take me a minute to remember who was who.
I did also find some of the early interactions between the sisters to be a bit odd. As an example, Randi, the older sister, gets taken one night after she transforms and her family member witnesses it and freaks out. She calls home and talks to her younger sister and says that she got a new job and left in the middle of the night and that’s it. Just accepted and we move on. It’s one very odd interaction that didn’t feel like a solid, realistic way to change character venues.
Why you should buy this: Do you enjoy the lycanthrope-based stories? If so, you’ll want to dive into this one and see what howling action Hill delivers. This one feels like a Hollywood blockbuster werewolf movie made just for the reader and if that doesn’t entice you, I don’t know what will.
Read
November 25, 2022This book is my love letter to the genre and the first in the Division X series. I wanted to capture the quirky antics of my favorite movie characters and mix them in with some of my favorite horror monsters. There's plenty more to come, and the adventures will only get crazier. If you love Mikey, Randi, Briggs, Ian, Becca, and Chris as much as I do, then you should stick around. I promise I won't waste your time ;)
October 21, 2022
Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
rounded to 4
𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕏
𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥
Horror
362 Pages
Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
Division X has a lot going on. There are vampires, demons, and other monsters. The main character, Randi, finds herself changing after being bitten by a hairy creature. She ends up being forced to join a paramilitary group, where her adventures pick up speed.
Randi’s family is involved in this odd, monstery mess. The town they live in becomes a hot spot for strange occurrences.
Division X and others in the town are either trying to figure out what is happening or hunting monsters.
Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
Division X is a fun October read, as it is filled with creepy crawlies. There are lots of eerie events and characters throughout the book.
As I read Division X, I got YA vibes, although it isn’t listed that way on Amazon.
My thoughts went in this direction as it focused on younger people, and some things seemed a bit out there.
Sixth graders were fighting vampires without much fear. The kids and mom went from a vampire situation to discussing which spooky movie to watch as if nothing had happened.
At one point, a teen has to kill their parent, then continue life without being disturbed about it. These are the kind of things that made me think of YA.
I did feel like different pieces of the story weren’t well connected at times.
This made for a few confusing moments as it switched from one section of the story to another. It reminds me of when my mind keeps going from topic to topic all willy-nilly.
All in all, this is an action-packed, creepy story that is a good choice for those who like reading about monsters and don’t mind a smorgasbord of activities.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours, the author, and the publisher for providing this book for me to read and review.
~Read more reviews at Latishaslowkeylife.com
rounded to 4
𝔻𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕏
𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥
Horror
362 Pages
Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
Division X has a lot going on. There are vampires, demons, and other monsters. The main character, Randi, finds herself changing after being bitten by a hairy creature. She ends up being forced to join a paramilitary group, where her adventures pick up speed.
Randi’s family is involved in this odd, monstery mess. The town they live in becomes a hot spot for strange occurrences.
Division X and others in the town are either trying to figure out what is happening or hunting monsters.
Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
Division X is a fun October read, as it is filled with creepy crawlies. There are lots of eerie events and characters throughout the book.
As I read Division X, I got YA vibes, although it isn’t listed that way on Amazon.
My thoughts went in this direction as it focused on younger people, and some things seemed a bit out there.
Sixth graders were fighting vampires without much fear. The kids and mom went from a vampire situation to discussing which spooky movie to watch as if nothing had happened.
At one point, a teen has to kill their parent, then continue life without being disturbed about it. These are the kind of things that made me think of YA.
I did feel like different pieces of the story weren’t well connected at times.
This made for a few confusing moments as it switched from one section of the story to another. It reminds me of when my mind keeps going from topic to topic all willy-nilly.
All in all, this is an action-packed, creepy story that is a good choice for those who like reading about monsters and don’t mind a smorgasbord of activities.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours, the author, and the publisher for providing this book for me to read and review.
~Read more reviews at Latishaslowkeylife.com
October 18, 2022
Oh my gosh, this book surprised me in all the best ways! After reading that blurb, the last thing I expected was to laugh. I typically can't stand humor in my horror novels, but Division X has some of the most clever and enjoyable banter I have read. The man known ass The Boss was such a dick, he had me CACKLING with the way he spoke to his underlings. Randi, the twins, Briggs, they all were so spicy with their words - it was beautiful.
The 80's slasher style gore is perfectly gritty, those first two chapters grabbed me by the throat and never let me go. The story is fast paced and almost feels episodic as we follow Randi encountering various monsters, from vampires to murderous hillbillies. The ending leaves a lot of questions, but I assume many will be answered in book two - for which I am waiting for with bated breath!! I can't wait to continue Randi's story.
Many thanks to the author and rrbooktours for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
The 80's slasher style gore is perfectly gritty, those first two chapters grabbed me by the throat and never let me go. The story is fast paced and almost feels episodic as we follow Randi encountering various monsters, from vampires to murderous hillbillies. The ending leaves a lot of questions, but I assume many will be answered in book two - for which I am waiting for with bated breath!! I can't wait to continue Randi's story.
Many thanks to the author and rrbooktours for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
October 20, 2022
this did have a fun 80s horror style going on. It did what was promised in the description. I really had a good time reading this and getting to know the characters in this world. It had a great spooky style and I was looking for to the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 16, 2022
DIVISION X is a wildly adventurous Cosmic/Folk Horror which is nonstop extreme-horror-adrenaline-rush, splatterpunk, gore-drenched, stomach-churning. There's so many points for content warnings here. Be aware it really is extreme, and not all the villains are nonhuman.
That said, there's never a dull moment and never time to breathe, let alone relax. The framework of the Terror is quite creatively imagined, and there were vague whiffs of predecessor authors [think Lovecraft and King], but only "vague" because the author hared off on his own paths so that it was akin to trying to read a billboard at 90 mph. You know something seems familiar, but there's so much insane action we don't have time to stop and examine. There were some spots that set me off and I really had to grit my teeth and persevere, but by the end I realized how entertained I was, by the creativity and by the really skillful way in which the author sets up his characters as foils to one another, and subtly so the reader benefits without realizing.
That said, there's never a dull moment and never time to breathe, let alone relax. The framework of the Terror is quite creatively imagined, and there were vague whiffs of predecessor authors [think Lovecraft and King], but only "vague" because the author hared off on his own paths so that it was akin to trying to read a billboard at 90 mph. You know something seems familiar, but there's so much insane action we don't have time to stop and examine. There were some spots that set me off and I really had to grit my teeth and persevere, but by the end I realized how entertained I was, by the creativity and by the really skillful way in which the author sets up his characters as foils to one another, and subtly so the reader benefits without realizing.
April 11, 2023
I have always been a huge fan of creature features, so I was delighted to find that Division X is home to all kinds of monsters, from vampires and werewolves to inbred hillbilly crazy people.
There is barely any time to take a breath, as we jump from action scene to action scene with very short breaks in between, The body count is high and the scenes very well crafted.
That is not to say that the book is perfect, as I did have a couple of small issues. The writing style was much like a script, but once you got into the flow, that issue passed rather quickly. The biggest problem for me was that there were several instances of head-hopping, which did pull me out of the story a bit.
All in all, though, this was an entertaining read that left me wanting more. The good news is that Division X is going to be part of a series, so I certainly look forward to reading more adventures from this group.
There is barely any time to take a breath, as we jump from action scene to action scene with very short breaks in between, The body count is high and the scenes very well crafted.
That is not to say that the book is perfect, as I did have a couple of small issues. The writing style was much like a script, but once you got into the flow, that issue passed rather quickly. The biggest problem for me was that there were several instances of head-hopping, which did pull me out of the story a bit.
All in all, though, this was an entertaining read that left me wanting more. The good news is that Division X is going to be part of a series, so I certainly look forward to reading more adventures from this group.
October 6, 2023
“The Monster killing business is not all it’s cracked up to be”
Division X is the first of four books in a series. Full of your variety of monsters (even bugs YUCK) we meet our main character Randi. She has had a rough time as of late and when her family is murdered-she fights back. You know I love a bad ass female character! The first chapter grabbed me and did not let go! It was gory, gritty and super-fast paced!
You really get Hills comic book background in this with the campy slasher vibes reminiscent of 80s horror films which in my opinion, are some of the best. The ending is open ended and really leaves you looking forward to the next in the series! I can’t wait to see where this goes.
Division X is the first of four books in a series. Full of your variety of monsters (even bugs YUCK) we meet our main character Randi. She has had a rough time as of late and when her family is murdered-she fights back. You know I love a bad ass female character! The first chapter grabbed me and did not let go! It was gory, gritty and super-fast paced!
You really get Hills comic book background in this with the campy slasher vibes reminiscent of 80s horror films which in my opinion, are some of the best. The ending is open ended and really leaves you looking forward to the next in the series! I can’t wait to see where this goes.
January 15, 2023
Thankyou to the author and Tina PR for sending me an ARC! I really enjoyed this, whats not to love, fantasy, horror, gore and dark humour! very character driven which I love too, I can't wait for the next book! If you're a fan of the creature feature element and 80s horror I definitely recommend
March 20, 2023
A fun, fast-paced read. I absolutely loved this book and will be reading more by this author!
November 10, 2022
This book is an action adventure fantasy horror romp that I enjoyed a lot for what it was and couldn't put down. It's a fast read with not a lot of downtime between action scenes, keeping the pacing good.
I wish that there was more depth to the characters because they felt a little flat. The novel is oddly both too gory to be believable and not gory enough (the amount of casual violence is crazy, especially that the characters' trauma to the violence is only described and rarely shown except for a couple side characters, yet the description of the violence also feels oddly flat). Sometimes how the different vignettes connected or which characters I should care about and why seemed disjointed or I couldn't tell or got confused. The ending also felt very abrupt and I'm not sure if this is meant to be the start of a series? It felt very episodic like a 90s TV show.
All the same, I greatly enjoyed the silliness, the pace, and the creativity of the monster interactions. I think this would make an excellent TV show, like a less serious Supernatural. I think many of the weaknesses in the writing appear to be from this being a newer author but the core storytelling is fun. I'd read a sequel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
I wish that there was more depth to the characters because they felt a little flat. The novel is oddly both too gory to be believable and not gory enough (the amount of casual violence is crazy, especially that the characters' trauma to the violence is only described and rarely shown except for a couple side characters, yet the description of the violence also feels oddly flat). Sometimes how the different vignettes connected or which characters I should care about and why seemed disjointed or I couldn't tell or got confused. The ending also felt very abrupt and I'm not sure if this is meant to be the start of a series? It felt very episodic like a 90s TV show.
All the same, I greatly enjoyed the silliness, the pace, and the creativity of the monster interactions. I think this would make an excellent TV show, like a less serious Supernatural. I think many of the weaknesses in the writing appear to be from this being a newer author but the core storytelling is fun. I'd read a sequel.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
September 5, 2022
Wow. What a pleasant surprise Division X was. It was perfect reading for Dragon Con weekend. I enjoyed the premise of the book. August Hill does a wonderful job of introducing us to the many characters who play a role in the tales featured in this series debut. There are strong undercurrents of mystery and intrigue enveloping several of them. Hill deftly handles the scenes of carnage which is not always the case in horror books. The pacing of the book is perfect to keep you turning the pages. The best part is the ending leaves you eager to read the next book in this series. I can't wait to see how many questions are answered in the sequel. Thank you to Brother Mockingbird Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.
October 16, 2022
This is a great book to read during spooky season! You get taken into a unique world, where monsters are everywhere. There was plenty of suspense to keep you turning pages, and a few times I had chills running down my spine. That said, there were a few spots that I thought could've gone a little smoother, and I'm hoping for a book two because there were a few loose ends IMO. The pacing was pretty good overall, and I didn't feel like the story really lagged per se. Overall, highly recommend for reading on a dark, stormy night, by lantern light for maximum spookiness.
December 7, 2022
August Hill's book is fun horror romp with a little bit of X-Files, and a whole lot of wit, interesting characters, and surprises. His love for the genre shows true with this offering. The writing is direct to the point, allowing the characters to shine on their own. I can easily see this as a movie but it's got a bit of edge to it that caught me off guard at times, which I appreciated.
October 29, 2023
Thank you to Henry Roi PR for granting me a physical copy of this title. All opinions remain 100% genuine.
Once we got Randi's origins out of the way, it became a fun grumpy x sunshine, platonic enemies to friends team up to catch the bad guys. I quite enjoyed all that build up, in fleshing out our main characters and the background story. It served to make a really steady plot going forwards when they style changed a little.
I would see this book as 2 halves, the first being all about Randi and her induction into the supernatural, Secret organisations and the like and the second being a series of short interconnected stories following the missions Randi's placed on and strange happenings in her home town. It really reminded me of something but I can't think what.
Nevertheless, I thought it was such a clever way to break up the tales, yet still have them wholeheartedly connected in a bigger way.
This was a little slow at times, but whenever I picked it back up I felt like my eyes never shut and I flew through the pages.
I didn't realise how much I was really enjoying this until I was telling my friend about it yesterday and realised how excited I got explaining the story and how eager I was to get back to it. It was such a good feeling.
We have some really gory bits which I loved, some heart wrenching moments which were devastating and unease building tension throughout and they were all executed wonderfully.
I throughly enjoyed my time in the world of Division X.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
Once we got Randi's origins out of the way, it became a fun grumpy x sunshine, platonic enemies to friends team up to catch the bad guys. I quite enjoyed all that build up, in fleshing out our main characters and the background story. It served to make a really steady plot going forwards when they style changed a little.
I would see this book as 2 halves, the first being all about Randi and her induction into the supernatural, Secret organisations and the like and the second being a series of short interconnected stories following the missions Randi's placed on and strange happenings in her home town. It really reminded me of something but I can't think what.
Nevertheless, I thought it was such a clever way to break up the tales, yet still have them wholeheartedly connected in a bigger way.
This was a little slow at times, but whenever I picked it back up I felt like my eyes never shut and I flew through the pages.
I didn't realise how much I was really enjoying this until I was telling my friend about it yesterday and realised how excited I got explaining the story and how eager I was to get back to it. It was such a good feeling.
We have some really gory bits which I loved, some heart wrenching moments which were devastating and unease building tension throughout and they were all executed wonderfully.
I throughly enjoyed my time in the world of Division X.
Pick it up, give it a go & enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén
April 21, 2023
"The shadowy figure, standing in the night, watches her back. It's eyes gleam, reflecting the light in the room, and its body heaves with a breath fogging the window. Widening her eyes at the side of it, Becca watches as it lifts a clawed finger and taps on the glass three times before scratching its nail along the window. The subsequent screech steals everyone's attention."
Division X is a wild and crazy ride that follows a woman named Randi who's living with her aunt, uncle and cousin when they are brutally attacked by a werewolf. Randi and her cousin Becca survive but Randi's life is forever changed. What follows is a decent into the world of the supernatural as Randi is recruited into a secret organization that hunts all kinds of things that go bump in the night!
I enjoyed this read so much and especially liked the the missions Randi went on with this new organization as she deals with her new reality. I will say this book is very heavy on characters and it does get to be a lot especially towards the end of the book but overall it was well written and executed. This is the first book in the series and I can not wait to read the next book to see where the story goes from here with the characters that survive by the end. I highly recommend this book if you are into creature features and supernatural elements.
May 8, 2024
I loved this book! The way that the main storyline is woven into a monster of the week type scenario is incredible! When I tell you I love 80's horror, I mean I LOVE it! The little shout outs put a big smile on my face! I felt like I was immersed in a horror movie. The ending pulls it altogether better than I ever expected. No lame cliffhanger, but enough to leave us wanting more!
January 17, 2023
Oh my days, this book was so much fun! Totally out of left-field for me, I wasn't expecting anything like what it turned out to be.
It's a horror/comedy/drama romp, taking in all manner of monsters and ghouls alongside the people who live on the fringes of society. I tore through it in just a few sittings, it's really easy to read and fast-paced. It's also very visual - I could see all the scenes playing out very clearly. I had a good grasp on what the main characters and the key settings looked like, despite not being anything other than a boringly-human British person who has never been to small-town America nor visited a super secret supernatural facility. I could definitely see this being made into a film, it had 'tucker and Dale Vs. Evil' vibes to me.
There's a lot going on throughout the book, and I did sometimes have to go back a little to remind myself of things - I guess this is a potential pitfall when writing the first of what you are expecting to be a series; there's so much you want to set out for your readers.
This is definitely worth your time to read - you'll be rewarded with gore and laughs galore
It's a horror/comedy/drama romp, taking in all manner of monsters and ghouls alongside the people who live on the fringes of society. I tore through it in just a few sittings, it's really easy to read and fast-paced. It's also very visual - I could see all the scenes playing out very clearly. I had a good grasp on what the main characters and the key settings looked like, despite not being anything other than a boringly-human British person who has never been to small-town America nor visited a super secret supernatural facility. I could definitely see this being made into a film, it had 'tucker and Dale Vs. Evil' vibes to me.
There's a lot going on throughout the book, and I did sometimes have to go back a little to remind myself of things - I guess this is a potential pitfall when writing the first of what you are expecting to be a series; there's so much you want to set out for your readers.
This is definitely worth your time to read - you'll be rewarded with gore and laughs galore
June 1, 2024
A friend’s brother is the author which is pretty cool. The writing reminds me of a detective taking notes which is an interesting touch that I kind of like with the story line. Also this is the first book that actually spooked me so I’m sleeping with the light on tonight to make sure there are no bugs on my bed 🕯️
October 22, 2022
She can’t tame the monster within so maybe she can use it to kill other monsters.
Classic horror is making a comeback and if you love monster fiction, this book is in a class all its own. With a nod to some horror legends, August Hill adds his own modern macabre flair.
Let’s talk about the characters first. Randi is a likable character and her POV drives this book. She shows the reader a view not often seen in horror, and it was a pleasure to read. Her vulnerability, especially in captivity, connected me to her. The monster hunters were a rowdy group of military-esque soldiers on a mission of eliminating the monsters roaming about by any means necessary.
The plot arcs in a few different directions, some I didn’t anticipate. The story moves at a fast pace with well-described scenes. The world-building is epic and made reading this story very enjoyable.
August Hill has written a horror story with depth. There are certain themes that are well portrayed. Sure, there are slasher elements but who doesn’t love that nowadays?
I’d recommend Division X to any horror fan. Perfect reading to get you in the spooky mood.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are all my own.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Sam
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
Classic horror is making a comeback and if you love monster fiction, this book is in a class all its own. With a nod to some horror legends, August Hill adds his own modern macabre flair.
Let’s talk about the characters first. Randi is a likable character and her POV drives this book. She shows the reader a view not often seen in horror, and it was a pleasure to read. Her vulnerability, especially in captivity, connected me to her. The monster hunters were a rowdy group of military-esque soldiers on a mission of eliminating the monsters roaming about by any means necessary.
The plot arcs in a few different directions, some I didn’t anticipate. The story moves at a fast pace with well-described scenes. The world-building is epic and made reading this story very enjoyable.
August Hill has written a horror story with depth. There are certain themes that are well portrayed. Sure, there are slasher elements but who doesn’t love that nowadays?
I’d recommend Division X to any horror fan. Perfect reading to get you in the spooky mood.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author in the hopes I'd review it. My thoughts are all my own.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Sam
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
September 28, 2022
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
February 23, 2023
Just an FYI, I was gifted this digital book by the authors team! Thank you!
In Division X we follow two storylines. One, about a girl named Randi who is turned into a werewolf, and is then taken by a supernatural hunting military group to work for them. It also follows her family back home, who’s hometown has been inhabited by creatures that look human.
Pros: The action sequences were entertaining, and in my opinion, in those scenes, the writing was the strongest. In the beginning when Randi was trying to escape capture, and towards the end when her family back home was trying to save the town in the corn field. Those scenes were fast paced and exciting.
Cons : It felt like I was reading a script, and I needed the actors to make the script come alive. The characters lacked emotions /internal dialogue. They felt one dimensional. The dialogue just felt stilted overall.
There’s a lot of “telling” and not “showing”. Instead of letting the character speak, there’s a lot of summarizing the scenes for the reader. I don’t really want my scenes summarized. I want to know what the characters are thinking and feeling in the moment.
For example:
•Recognizing them as Chris’ family, Downey assures them he’s doing just fine as he reaches for his handcuffs.
However, before she’s informed of her arrest, Becca restates the policeman’s name before saying she’s going to the dance with a Connor Downey.
And:
•The cashier is overly friendly, asking a whole ensemble of questions relating to Becca’s plans for the night. Becca gives him the bare minimum, but he doesn’t get she’s not interested in him and refuses to scan her garment.
Effectively keeping her prisoner for a minute more, the cashier runs his mouth until Mikey notices the hold up and aggressively butts into their conversation. He just wants to be home, so he snaps his fingers in front of the cashier’s face until he does his job and Becca pays him.
It makes the scenes feel so rushed, brushed over. I think the plot was interesting enough, but the execution just wasn’t the strongest.
In Division X we follow two storylines. One, about a girl named Randi who is turned into a werewolf, and is then taken by a supernatural hunting military group to work for them. It also follows her family back home, who’s hometown has been inhabited by creatures that look human.
Pros: The action sequences were entertaining, and in my opinion, in those scenes, the writing was the strongest. In the beginning when Randi was trying to escape capture, and towards the end when her family back home was trying to save the town in the corn field. Those scenes were fast paced and exciting.
Cons : It felt like I was reading a script, and I needed the actors to make the script come alive. The characters lacked emotions /internal dialogue. They felt one dimensional. The dialogue just felt stilted overall.
There’s a lot of “telling” and not “showing”. Instead of letting the character speak, there’s a lot of summarizing the scenes for the reader. I don’t really want my scenes summarized. I want to know what the characters are thinking and feeling in the moment.
For example:
•Recognizing them as Chris’ family, Downey assures them he’s doing just fine as he reaches for his handcuffs.
However, before she’s informed of her arrest, Becca restates the policeman’s name before saying she’s going to the dance with a Connor Downey.
And:
•The cashier is overly friendly, asking a whole ensemble of questions relating to Becca’s plans for the night. Becca gives him the bare minimum, but he doesn’t get she’s not interested in him and refuses to scan her garment.
Effectively keeping her prisoner for a minute more, the cashier runs his mouth until Mikey notices the hold up and aggressively butts into their conversation. He just wants to be home, so he snaps his fingers in front of the cashier’s face until he does his job and Becca pays him.
It makes the scenes feel so rushed, brushed over. I think the plot was interesting enough, but the execution just wasn’t the strongest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2022
I wasn’t sure if I would like this book after reading the first bit of it, but it ended up growing on me more than I expected.
I saw another reviewer say they did not enjoy the “monster of the week” type of thing that the book had going on, but I personally found that to be one of the books strong points. I did really enjoy how fast paced the book was, and the author definitely had me interested in how things were going to turn out. While I did like the quick pace, it would have been nice if each scenario had been fleshed about a bit more. I will say that I felt all of the action scenes (and there were a lot of them!) were well written and very vivid.
There were also some instances in the later part of the book where the author told us about conversations between characters instead having them talk it out. And that was such a shame because I liked the interactions between Randi and the younger members of her family. I especially enjoyed her two brothers, Mikey and Chris. The scenario that they and the cousin, Becca, had to face was the most intriguing in my opinion. Randi was fine as a main character, but she didn’t have quite the same oomph as Becca and the boys, and I would have rather spent more time with them over Randi. I would also love to learn more about the other members of Division X; while they weren’t around for long, I found them more compelling than Randi. I appreciated the effort to have them be a pretty diverse group in terms of age, ethnicity, and personality.
There are some lingering questions I had, but I see that this is the first book of a series, so I’m hopeful that subsequent books will be able to expand on things more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brother Mockingbird Publishing for providing me with this eARC!
I saw another reviewer say they did not enjoy the “monster of the week” type of thing that the book had going on, but I personally found that to be one of the books strong points. I did really enjoy how fast paced the book was, and the author definitely had me interested in how things were going to turn out. While I did like the quick pace, it would have been nice if each scenario had been fleshed about a bit more. I will say that I felt all of the action scenes (and there were a lot of them!) were well written and very vivid.
There were also some instances in the later part of the book where the author told us about conversations between characters instead having them talk it out. And that was such a shame because I liked the interactions between Randi and the younger members of her family. I especially enjoyed her two brothers, Mikey and Chris. The scenario that they and the cousin, Becca, had to face was the most intriguing in my opinion. Randi was fine as a main character, but she didn’t have quite the same oomph as Becca and the boys, and I would have rather spent more time with them over Randi. I would also love to learn more about the other members of Division X; while they weren’t around for long, I found them more compelling than Randi. I appreciated the effort to have them be a pretty diverse group in terms of age, ethnicity, and personality.
There are some lingering questions I had, but I see that this is the first book of a series, so I’m hopeful that subsequent books will be able to expand on things more.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brother Mockingbird Publishing for providing me with this eARC!
January 19, 2023
Life isn’t great for twenty-four-year-old, Randi Matheson, but it’s about to get a whole worse when her relatives are murdered during dinner by a supernatural beast that bites Randi. During the next full moon, Randi transforms into one of the monsters, nearly killing the remaining members of her family.
When she becomes herself again, she is in the employ of “Division X” a secret company that deals with paranormal threats. The Boss of Division X gives Randi an ultimatum; be their new weapon in the fight against the supernatural or be dissected…
Division X capably throws pretty much every element of a horror thriller into its narrative, and then some. Werewolves, vampires, ritual killing, nasty pus-filled zombie bugs, parallel reality, the list is fairly extensive and complements a gruesome, visceral plot that veers between a slightly tongue in cheek old school slasher and a cerebral offering that has militaristic and science-fictional overtones.
The novel is underpinned by family drama and dynamics. Given the near-relentless and excellently choreographed action, Hill could have easily swerved building depth into the main characters but he takes time to ensure they evolve credibly within the framework of the story and, therefore, are nicely investable for future installments, especially Mikey.
However, the book belongs to Randi and she carries it well especially when she becomes involved with Division X which sees her switch from being the subject of the novel to its object. She can be frustrating, as can cousin Becca, but contextually, it’s realistic and understandable without overstatement.
From the massacre at the family dinner to Randi’s capture by Division X, the narrative remains fairly linear. However, this changes when Randi wakes up in captivity at the company’s headquarters. The reader is given pockets of sub-plots as Division X uses her in their fight against nasties.
Some of these are more successful than others. Although the vignette involving Alan and Eddie on Halloween has important momentum for further books, it seemed the odd one out and didn’t quite sit as comfortably as the others, such as Randi‘s first outing with Division X to locate some missing teenagers which has a real sinister The Hills have Eyes-Esque feel subtly laced with small, ironic effects.
Hill’s tone and prose shift in line with the action. Overall, Division X is fast-paced, with a confident, driving tempo. However, Hill knows when to adapt this, especially toward the end during the cornfield scenes when the writing takes on a slower, screen-writerly feel which highlights the almost cinematic violence that ensues.
Some of the portrayals within the actual Division X are a touch prototypical but making these lesser characters a little one-dimensional (aside from those that drive the narrative) emphasizes the detached, emotionless nature of the company’s work and the random, odd, and damaged nature of the operatives that carry it out.
Division X is a sprawling thrill ride of a horror novel that showcases Hill’s fertile imagination and skill as a storyteller. An absolutely packed treat for fans of the genre. Highly recommended.
When she becomes herself again, she is in the employ of “Division X” a secret company that deals with paranormal threats. The Boss of Division X gives Randi an ultimatum; be their new weapon in the fight against the supernatural or be dissected…
Division X capably throws pretty much every element of a horror thriller into its narrative, and then some. Werewolves, vampires, ritual killing, nasty pus-filled zombie bugs, parallel reality, the list is fairly extensive and complements a gruesome, visceral plot that veers between a slightly tongue in cheek old school slasher and a cerebral offering that has militaristic and science-fictional overtones.
The novel is underpinned by family drama and dynamics. Given the near-relentless and excellently choreographed action, Hill could have easily swerved building depth into the main characters but he takes time to ensure they evolve credibly within the framework of the story and, therefore, are nicely investable for future installments, especially Mikey.
However, the book belongs to Randi and she carries it well especially when she becomes involved with Division X which sees her switch from being the subject of the novel to its object. She can be frustrating, as can cousin Becca, but contextually, it’s realistic and understandable without overstatement.
From the massacre at the family dinner to Randi’s capture by Division X, the narrative remains fairly linear. However, this changes when Randi wakes up in captivity at the company’s headquarters. The reader is given pockets of sub-plots as Division X uses her in their fight against nasties.
Some of these are more successful than others. Although the vignette involving Alan and Eddie on Halloween has important momentum for further books, it seemed the odd one out and didn’t quite sit as comfortably as the others, such as Randi‘s first outing with Division X to locate some missing teenagers which has a real sinister The Hills have Eyes-Esque feel subtly laced with small, ironic effects.
Hill’s tone and prose shift in line with the action. Overall, Division X is fast-paced, with a confident, driving tempo. However, Hill knows when to adapt this, especially toward the end during the cornfield scenes when the writing takes on a slower, screen-writerly feel which highlights the almost cinematic violence that ensues.
Some of the portrayals within the actual Division X are a touch prototypical but making these lesser characters a little one-dimensional (aside from those that drive the narrative) emphasizes the detached, emotionless nature of the company’s work and the random, odd, and damaged nature of the operatives that carry it out.
Division X is a sprawling thrill ride of a horror novel that showcases Hill’s fertile imagination and skill as a storyteller. An absolutely packed treat for fans of the genre. Highly recommended.
April 18, 2023
After moving in with her aunt, uncle, and cousin, Randi’s life changes forever during one family dinner. The family is attacked by an enormous creature with claws, and an appetite for human flesh. Only Randi and her cousin survive but everyone including the police, doctors, and Randi’s immediate family insist the two girls did not see a huge beast. It’s their mind trying to adjust to the gruesome trauma of seeing their family murdered. Randi agrees it’s impossible, that is until the next full moon proves otherwise. After nearly devouring her brother, Randi is captured by Division X, a company dedicated to hunting down paranormal threats. Randi, not remembering anything from the previous night, wakes up in a cell with only two options - join us or get dissected for scientific research. Now a member of Division X, Randi will join Z-team on missions with zero training as she battles her inner monster.
“Division X” was a great high action fast-paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat. At times I felt as if I was watching a movie based on how intense some
of the scenes were. I enjoyed the chapters where different side stories occurred, almost as if the book was a collection of interconnected short stories in its second half. My only drawback was that the writing style was a little too matter-of-fact rather than letting descriptor words tell the story. Moreover, the transition between characters/scenes in the same chapter was a little rough and took a few sentences to understand a p.o.v. switch occurred. All in all, If you like monster based horror or the Men in Black movies “Division X” is for you.
Thank you to Tina Hill and Ryan August Hill for an epub copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
“Division X” was a great high action fast-paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat. At times I felt as if I was watching a movie based on how intense some
of the scenes were. I enjoyed the chapters where different side stories occurred, almost as if the book was a collection of interconnected short stories in its second half. My only drawback was that the writing style was a little too matter-of-fact rather than letting descriptor words tell the story. Moreover, the transition between characters/scenes in the same chapter was a little rough and took a few sentences to understand a p.o.v. switch occurred. All in all, If you like monster based horror or the Men in Black movies “Division X” is for you.
Thank you to Tina Hill and Ryan August Hill for an epub copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
April 28, 2023
The story - described as supernatural horror filled with dark humor, adventure, and sinister creatures that leap off the page – was my first experience reading the work of Ryan August Hill.
I didn’t go in with any expectations on this one, but I ended up getting sucked in pretty quickly. There is some nice horror action gore of the lycanthropic kind right from the start that will grab you pretty quickly. Where the story focuses in on the lycanthropic storyline as well as Division X directly I’m all in.
That said, I wasn’t as taken by the mc’s second mission which pulled in vampires as well as several chapters focused on an entire supernatural event impacting Randi’s family that honestly didn’t make much of any sense to me. They seemed a tad sillier than I wanted given the dark backstories of the Division X employees that were better introduced than the rest of Randi’s family. Which by the way, what weird awkward is happening in that family? I think there could have been plenty of interesting elements to focus in on just within the walls of Division X. I believe this is supposed to be the first book in a series so my recommendation would be for the story to focus there.
Def old school buffy adventure vibes like when she met up with Riley and his military ops team.
I didn’t go in with any expectations on this one, but I ended up getting sucked in pretty quickly. There is some nice horror action gore of the lycanthropic kind right from the start that will grab you pretty quickly. Where the story focuses in on the lycanthropic storyline as well as Division X directly I’m all in.
That said, I wasn’t as taken by the mc’s second mission which pulled in vampires as well as several chapters focused on an entire supernatural event impacting Randi’s family that honestly didn’t make much of any sense to me. They seemed a tad sillier than I wanted given the dark backstories of the Division X employees that were better introduced than the rest of Randi’s family. Which by the way, what weird awkward is happening in that family? I think there could have been plenty of interesting elements to focus in on just within the walls of Division X. I believe this is supposed to be the first book in a series so my recommendation would be for the story to focus there.
Def old school buffy adventure vibes like when she met up with Riley and his military ops team.
October 4, 2022
Division X by August Hill is as suspenseful as a Stephen King novel. There is the blood, gore, and danger that comes with the territory. I can feel the dark atmosphere engulfing me as I read further into the book. The pages are full of great details. The characters pop off the pages, and I find myself transported into the fictional world August Hill has created. It's dark, edgy, and intense. There is much at stake and the risks are high. I love how an ordinary girl and her family life are ruined by a monster. One that destroys her family and normal life. Once bitten she is no longer the same girl. She clings to freedom and being free of the beast she has become. But there is no longer just herself to worry about...the novel keeps getting more interesting. The dialogue and settings were fun to follow. August Hill has a way of writing that pulls the reader into the novel. I felt like I was inside a movie and following behind the characters as events occurred. Overall, Division X is a recommended read for fans of Stephen King, R.L. Stine, and Sandra Brown.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
April 29, 2023
Division X by Ryan August Hill
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis: Randi lives with her aunt and uncle after kicked out of her own home. When a werewolf attacks them, killing her aunt and uncle, injuring her niece and biting Randi, she returns home after a long hospital stay. The next full moon, Randi turns into werewolf herself and nearly kills her brother. She is stopped by a group known as Division X. They take her back to their facility and give her an ultimatum, work with us or be dissected.
My Thoughts: I’ll start with this isn’t quite my normal genre, although I do read it from time to time. The story overall was good. It felt very much to me as written more for TV or the screen. Lots of blood and gore. At times the writing seemed to jump around and may have been easier to follow if line spacing had been put between paragraphs. The lack of spacing made the transition between locations or scenes a bit cumbersome. That said, the writing was imaginative and overall worth the time to read. Keep in mind this is part one of four and a lot of things are left open at the end of this book.
Thank you Tina Hill for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Synopsis: Randi lives with her aunt and uncle after kicked out of her own home. When a werewolf attacks them, killing her aunt and uncle, injuring her niece and biting Randi, she returns home after a long hospital stay. The next full moon, Randi turns into werewolf herself and nearly kills her brother. She is stopped by a group known as Division X. They take her back to their facility and give her an ultimatum, work with us or be dissected.
My Thoughts: I’ll start with this isn’t quite my normal genre, although I do read it from time to time. The story overall was good. It felt very much to me as written more for TV or the screen. Lots of blood and gore. At times the writing seemed to jump around and may have been easier to follow if line spacing had been put between paragraphs. The lack of spacing made the transition between locations or scenes a bit cumbersome. That said, the writing was imaginative and overall worth the time to read. Keep in mind this is part one of four and a lot of things are left open at the end of this book.
Thank you Tina Hill for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
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