| Title | : | Monster Hunter Alpha (Monster Hunter International, #3) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1439134588 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781439134580 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 552 |
| Publication | : | First published July 26, 2011 |
Earl Harbinger may be the leader of Monster Hunter International, but he’s also got a secret. Nearly a century ago, Earl was cursed to be werewolf. When Earl receives word that one of his oldest foes, a legendarily vicious werewolf that worked for the KGB, has mysteriously appeared in the remote woods of Michigan, he decides to take care of some unfinished business. But another force is working to bring about the creation of a whole new species of werewolf. When darkness falls, the final hunt begins, and the only thing standing in their way is a handful of locals, a lot of firepower, and Earl Harbinger’s stubborn refusal to roll over and play dead.
Here’s a sample of Larry Correia’s prose punch from series opener, Monster Hunter International “I didn’t wake up that morning and decide that I was going to kill my boss with my bare hands. It was much more complicated than that.”
Monster Hunter Alpha (Monster Hunter International, #3) Reviews
-
Welcome to the Werepocalypse...Lovecraftian-style.
5 easy, no-doubt-about-it stars for this smart, well-crafted and FUNbelievably entertaining popcorn-fest of gun-metal, monsters and the baddest minotaur coat-wearing, creature-killing, Alpha werewolf to ever come down the pike. This is a high-quality, well-written page-turner that is a blast to read and yet will not leave you feeling the pangs of having indulged in too much brain candy.
This is a guilt-free pleasure.
I'm going to digress a bit before I continue because I want to put my history with Correia’s work in some perspective as I have found his evolution as a writer to be pretty inspiring. At the same time, I'll also give a brief synopsis of the previous two MHI novels for anyone new to the series so hopefully my nostalgic ramblings won’t be a total waste.
LARRY CORREIA & ME: A HISTORY:
Larry Correira started off as the guiltiest of pleasures for me with his highly entertaining, but definitely raw
Monster Hunter International, which combined B-movie monsters, testosterone-soaked weapons porn and lots and lots of shit being blown up, killed or sent screaming back to the nethers from whence it came. The series is based on the premise that monsters exist and a secret government department known as the Monster Control Bureau pays big bounties to private hunters like MHI to exterminate everything from vamps, werewolves and gargoyles to more exotic fare like skunk apes, luskas and swamp sasquatches.
In the first installment, main character Owen Z. Pitt (aka Big Z) gets recruited from his accounting job into MHI after he single-handedly kills his boss- turned-werewolf, much to the amazement of everyone
Monster Hunter International was high octane, sugar-infused fun rush with enough excess testosterone to put hair on a woman’s chest.
I loved it....a lot.
Then came
Monster Hunter Vendetta and Larry started to really fill in the MHI world and we began to see a highly unique agglomeration of Cthulhu Mythos, ancient legends, secret histories and traditional theism. It’s tough to pull this kind of stew together without making it taste rancid, but Correia showed himself to be no pulpy flash in the pan as he showed real growth in his craft. He took the series up to the level of quality that had me promising to buy his stuff on sight.
Again, I loved it...again, a lot.
From there, Correia didn’t just sit on his awesome but decided, ala Monty Python, to try something completely different and produced a wonderful, hard-boiled magical alternate history called Hard Magic that became one of my goodest reads from 2011
Hard Magic review. Correia’s improvement curve was suddenly so steep as to be almost vertical and he was becoming one of my tiny pantheon of can’t miss authors. Adding to his natural skill at action and slick, addictive story-telling Correia had become adept at memorable character design, plot complexity and fresh, well layered world-building. All this without a single misstep in the pure-adrenaline fun of each page.
Yeah, I think he’s pretty darned good.
...okay back to the present.
PLOT SUMMARY:
So does the trend continue in Monster Hunter Alpha..a big fat slobbering YES. **WARNING** No spoilers for this book will be released but events and revelations from the first two installments will necessarily be discussed. Nothing that should hamper enjoyment of the first two, but still...fair warning has been issued.
Fresh from the events of Monster Hunter Vendetta, Alpha switches focus to finally tell the story of MHI’s chief, Earl Harbinger. As was previously divulged, Harbinger is a werewolf and one of the few “monsters” granted immunity from the government because of his singular service in dispatching other bump in the night baddies. As a result of the memory-drain Earl received at the hands of the Lovecraftian elder god underling in the previous book, he decides to journalize his life history for posterity. Thus, one thread of the plot is a series of flashbacks in which we are schooled on Harbinger’s fascinating history, from his turning in 1900, through his experiences in WWI, WWII and Vietnam up to the present day. For fans of Big Z who might be disappointed that he is not a part of this story, I think you will find Earl just as intriguing (maybe even more so).
The other half of the plot involves a good old fashion werewolf apocalypse as a mysterious entity is threatening to unleash furry fanged FUBAR all over the world with the help of a powerful amulet and a secret dating back to the origin of the lycanthrope. These present events also tie in nicely to events from Harbinger’s past and it all comes together in a massive explosion of YUM. I don’t want to say more about the plot because it is really fun to watch the pieces fall into place and come together into a coherent whole.
Just read it and you'll see.
THOUGHTS:
I loved it..a lot. I think this is the best installment of the first 3 MHI tales. While I was itching to learn more about Agent Franks (my personal favorite) and I missed Big Z, Corriea’s already impressive talents have evolved to the point where his name on the cover is pretty close to a satisfaction guaranteed stamp. I like that Correia doesn't laurel rest either. This book is a considerable departure from the first two MHI novels. In addition to the main character switcheroo, Correia noticeably eases up on the gun oil drenched weapon-a-looza of the previous books in favor of more focus on personality profiles and character growth. Don't mistake that for suggesting a lack of excitement. There's still plenty of action and body parts a-flying, just not quite the detailed drooling over who has the biggest calibers present in the previous novels.
I think this is a positive and that Correia's stories are becoming more balanced without losing any of his trademark thrills.
For me, the real magic of Correia's stories starts and ends with the characters for which he has a real knack. As good as his world-building and action scenes are, and as expansive and his list of monsters (which I love) it’s the characters that endear the stories to you.
With that in mind, Earl Harbinger wearing a Minotaur-skin trench coat (the history of this item is one of my favorite parts of the novel) and sporting double .45 caliber hand guns and/or .45 caliber were-claws is the quintessence of cool and his battitude would make Clint Eastwood a proud papa indeed. However, Earl is so much more than a card-board asskicker. That would be boring. Harbinger is loyal, fierce, intelligent, scarred, lonely, determined and a consummate leader or men.
So, what’s the bottom-line.
This isn’t Cormac McCarthy or Dostoevsky and you aren’t going to have much to contemplate when you close the book. That’s why we have those books to read when we are feeling cerebral. However, in the realm of popcorn, mood-enhancing entertainment, this is as good as it gets and I will take Earl, Big Z and the gang at MHI over all of the likes of Harry Dresden and his ilk any day.
5.0 stars. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION. -
I've procrastinated on this review because, frankly, I disliked the book. It alternatively bored and annoyed me, but at the time I read it, a number of my friends were Correia fans, and I didn't want to rain down on their parade. Boring, trite; lifted from any number of action movies, it was a snoozer.
Plus, Correia is kind of a hater. I hate to give his blog traffic, but the latest post was mocking both the efforts to raise awareness about the abducted Nigerian schoolgirls, and the men working on the anti-pedophile campaign. Plus there's the whole effort to destroy the Hugos by "getting underrepresented white minority conservative writers" 'represented.'
BTW,
I also down-rated all his other books I read. For your trolling convenience:
#1:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hard Magic:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... -
Actual rating: 3.21458638 stars
Time to do the Super Extra Short List Thingie (SESLT™) and stuff! Because puny humans to tyrannize, countries to overthrow and all that.
So.
① Not very terribly inspired or inspiring change in POV.
Not that Earl Harbinger the Ruthlessly Fearless and Fearlessly Ruthless Hardass Werewolf Leader (RFaFRHWL™)—that is an official title, yes—of Monster Hunter International is an uninteresting guy, but he’s kinda sorta, um, you know, not fantastically fascinating, either. I mean, we learn lots of stuff about him here, which adds depth and complexity to his character, but it felt a little slightly like back story overloadmostsometimes, and wasn’t always quite thoroughly relevant to the story .
Yeah, pretty much
② Because of ① there is a most revolting Owen Pitt Shortage (OPS™) in this book.
Which is most revolting, if you ask me. Granted, Owen Zastava Pitt is not exactly the most fantastically written character ever, and you could even say he’s a teensy little bit cartoonish , but I like his moderately OTT ways. Besides, the guy makes me hahahaha like a barnacle on crack. Also, he’s a homicidal, trigger-happy accountant. What more can a girl ask for, I wonder? Not much, methinks. Not bloody shrimping much. So QED and stuff.
③ Sorry, I forgot what this fascinating point was supposed to be about.
④ There is such a thing as TMC™ (Too Much Carnage).
No, my account was not hacked by my evil, fluffy bunny-loving twin and yes, this is really my little slaughterous self saying that Mr Correia got somewhat considerably a little too enthusiastically generous when it comes to bloodshedding and butchering and slaughtering in this instalment. Granted, some of the extermination techniques displayed in the book are delightfully creative and wonderfully efficient (not to mention quite inspirational), but it doesn’t change the fact that too much gore + little else = boredom = goredom. And that is a scientifically proven fact.
⑤ The Evil Russian™-based plot that should have been titillating but wasn’t.
You’d think that any story involving Evil Russians™ would be Instantly Very Cool (IVC™), right? Because, you know, Evil Russians™ ?
Wrong. Yes, it is very sad but it is very true, not even Stalin’s favorite werewolf managed to make this plot scrumptiously scrumptious. And, if I am to be disgustingly honest, the story dragged on and on and on , and ended up being a little *whispers* dull ← I never wrote that and you never read it. Go home, my Comely Decapods, you’re obviously very drunk.
Don’t ask.
➽ Nefarious Last Words (NLW™): as you superiorly clever barnacles might have guessed, this is definitely not the best book in this series so far. BUT: 1) it introduces a couple of great characters who—my nefariously sentient crystal ball tells me—will be part of the cast from now on and 2) I’m pretty fairly certainly sure your Monster Hunting Pilgrimage (MUP™) won’t suffer dramatically if you decide to be bold and audacious and skip this instalment to jump right into book 4. You are quite welcome .
• Book 1:
Monster Hunter International ★★★★
• Book 2:
Monster Hunter Vendetta ★★★★
• Book 3.5 (short story):
A Halloween Public Service Announcement from MHI ★★★★
• Book 4:
Monster Hunter Legion ★★★★
• Book 4.5 (short story):
Tanya: Princess of the Elves ★★★★
• Book 5:
Monster Hunter Nemesis ★★★★
• Book 6:
Monster Hunter Siege ★★★
• Book 7:
Monster Hunter Guardian ★
[ Pre-review nonsense]
This book in a nutshell:
I have been breeding bloodthirsty crustaceans for decades⁶ and you could therefore say I am quite the bloodbath fan, but this was a bit too much, even for my nefarious, sanguinary little self. Besides, carnage and slaughter kinda sorta getreallyold after a while. Also, Earl Harbinger makes an okay MC, but he sure ain't no Owen Pitt. So you better bring the homicidal accountant back, Mr Correia, or I'll show you what a pincer-induced bloodbath is. But hey,
no pressure and stuff.
➽ Full review to come and stuff. -
My first reaction was RAGE : Where tha Faq is Z at ? You think being in the same predicament again and again "when your favorite character is absent" would lessen the blow but no: you'll almost end up trowing your e-reader,, mistaking it for a good old fashioned enduring book... but no matter after seriously considering "DNFing" it , i powered through and surprise of surprises the book was actually cool and fun , the bloodiest so far, but ultimately very satisfying : and we also find ourselves with one bad-ass character:
“Who do I think I am?” the Hunter snapped as he yanked the Glock away. He held two hundred and fifty pounds of Stark several inches off the ground without so much as a muscle tremor. “I’ve been kicking monster ass longer than you’ve been alive. I’ve eaten men that would make you look like a pussy on your best day. I’m Earl Harbinger, motherfucker.”
We learn"via flashback" of Earl's bloody history: how and when he got turned and how he dominated his beast , the incidents take place in an isolated town , where Harbinger with the help of the inhabitants "whats left of them" try to prevent a werewolf apocalypse, cut off from the rest of the world by magic "hood's daughter" ,Earl finds himself without the support of MHI so improvisation is the name of the game....
“You know, I’ve been doing this kind of thing a long time.…” Earl pulled out a cigarette and lit up. Thankfully, at least it wasn’t red. “I’ve got to say that this is the single nastiest thing I’ve ever seen. And trust me, brother, I’ve seen some crazy shit in my day. Smoke?”
but it all worked out in the end :
“So, this is what saving the day feels like, eh?” “Something like that. Welcome to the exciting world of professional monster hunting. Usually not quite so…messy. Well, it’s always messy, but we’ve reached a whole ’nother level on this one.” -
This book was a bit of a departure for the series.
The first two books are written in first person, and they follow the same main character, Owen.
This book leaves that character behind and changes to third person perspective.
I can see why it had to be that way. This story didn't have anything to do with Owen. It was all about Earl.
That said, the shift was pretty jarring for me. Losing the main character I'd been following for two books was difficult. And the loss of the first-person perspective was odd too, given what I was used to.
That said, it's a good story. It works. So if you're really into this series because of the world and the action, that's still in this book. But if you're like me and one of the reasons you're following the series is because you've come to enjoy Owen's character and voice... it's going to be a bit of a bumpy ride. -
Oh, my gosh! This installment of the series is amazing! Honestly, this is a MUST read series if you love fantasy and paranormal together. There's romance, but it's light. The MHI's ongoing battle against evil monsters is the meat and bones of these books and, even though I'm a hardcore romance fan, I wouldn't want it any other way! We get up close and personal with many of the characters who don't 'feel' like characters in a book at all. They are so real, so human (even the ones that aren't), so you-and-me... I adore them and am invested in the lives of each and every one.
I'm thrilled to have the next book loaded on my kindle and ready to read - THANK YOU BEAN!!!!!
Maybe that amulet granted immortality, and then again, maybe nobody had ever bothered to shoot the son of bitch wearing it with an 84mm high-explosive round from a recoilless rifle before. Immortality was a relative term in this business. -
A Howling Good Adventure - 5 Stars
Random Ramblings
When reading a series of novels, I believe the third novel is the most important in the series. A pattern is often recognizable after the third repetition. Often times, the second novel repeats the plot elements that made the first one successful. If the third novel repeats those elements, a pattern has been created and I begin to lose interest. If the author creates new storylines, characters and plot elements in the third novel, my interest is all the more piqued.
Monster Hunter Alpha is a shining example of how to write a novel that is batting clean-up. This is of course a personal opinion as some readers may find this to be the least interesting of the books to date. Decide for yourself by reading this series. Seriously. What the heck are you waiting for?
Plot summary
Monster Hunter Alpha takes us off the reservation so to speak. Unlike the first two in the series, this installment tells the story from the perspective of Earl Harbinger, MHI's own "king of the werewolves". The story is told as two different storyline. The first being the present time while the second is from the journal of Earl Harbinger. The present time plotline brings us to the frozen netherland that is Northern Michigan. After the events of the second novel, Earl is approached by his former CO while serving on "Project Unicorn". There is information that an old nemesis will be there seeking some power artifact. Chaos and mayhem ensues and ancient magic and a fight for power brings forth "werepocalypse" and the ultimate showdown to prove who really is the king of the werewolves.
The second plotline explores Earl's background and history. We are provided with an in-depth portrait of this character as we learn about the events that shaped him and helped him become the man and hunter that he is.
The Good
The decision to focus on Earl was an excellent decision by the author. It provide an interlude in the series wherein the reader can learn the background of one the series most fascinating characters. The interweaving of the journal entries and the present storyline was seamless and provided for an enjoyable reading experience.
Several new characters were introduced. Each of the characters is, in one way or another, tied to one of the recurring characters from the first book and at least 3 or 4 of the characters are dealt with in such a way that they can be integrated in future storyline. As the first two books dealt with "the old ones" in some manner, I was hoping the author would introduce some alternate antagonists to keep future plotlines fresh. At the end of the novel we are introduced to characters that Earl feels are the worst monsters of all. It could lead to some interesting future plotlines.
The Bad
In the eyes of some readers, this entry should be consider #2.5 in the Monster Hunter International Series. I would agree that it does feel like a side story within the overall series but I am not personally bothered by it. As it introduces characters that I have to assume will appear in later books, the reader cannot likely skip over this entry.
Overall, it was a very enjoyable story. Personally, I hope the author writes stories from the perspective of some of the other characters. It breaks up the series quite nicely and allows you to explore the MHI world from a different viewpoint. If you think that this is not a recipe for successful novels, I invite you to read books by may favorite author
Tana French who writes each of the books in her series from the perspective of a different character.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 1.5
As in the other novels, the are no sex scene. In this installment there are several instances where sex is discussed in a non graphic manner. There are also several instances where characters have found themselves naked after changing back from a werewolf. There are several instances where there are animalistic urges to mate and some rather chaste kissing.
Language - 3.5
The author has toned down the language after the first novel. While there are still multiple uses of the f-word, the use of adult language is less overall. This is probably in part due to the fact that Earl sees himself as an old southern gentleman. Regardless, it does keep him from occasionally calling an ancient evil being a damn mother f-er.
Violence - 4
As is usual in the MHI world. Violence plays a central role in the story. Don't let the 4 fool you. Earl and crew find many exciting and novel ways to kill monsters. Let's just say that a scene involving a snow cutter is rather bloody and memorable. I gave this a 4 for violence as there violence is not as pervasive as the previous novels and there are lengthy sections of introspection and remembrance. As the story deals almost exclusively with the werewolf and some variants of the werewolf, the descriptions are far more detailed and there are more horror elements than are present in the previous books. -
This is the third in the "Monster Hunter International series" and frankly...it's great.
Well, if you're a card carrying member of the high-brow, elite, avant-garde, literary snob society then maybe not. You my friends are far too good for this and all the other "stuff" read by all we action loving readers of brain candy.
You poor things, I feel for you.
That said, this book will appeal to so many people. Urban fantasy readers, action readers, horror readers...it's all here. The book is a thrill ride that doesn't slow down from start to finish. It has fun and pathos, there are laugh out loud moments and moments so melancholy as to bring tears.
I really liked the first in this series, I liked the second though not so much...this one is at least neck in neck with the first.
We got to know Earl (and his furry little problem) throughout the series, but here it's Earl in the spotlight. We get the tale of his background how he got where he is and the consequences of his actions (and the actions of others). We also get more of the background and history of the world we are functioning in.
You'll not only come away from this one knowing more about Earl, more about the world, and more about MHI...you'll also come away highly impatient for the next installment. Oh and possibly a big cleaning bill...the blood spatter is abitcmess, yeah that's it a mess.
Great read, highly recommended. -
Hands down the best Monster Hunter International book. The best complement I can give the book is that it was one of those books that I just couldn't put down. I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish it. In terms of the other MHI titles, I liked the focus on Earl Harbinger rather than Owen. I thought he was a more interesting character. The story also felt more 'real' to me than the other MHI books. Really awesome book. Lots of fun. Highly recommend.
Downgraded to four stars after some reflection. Fun, but not five star-caliber. -
Just finished it and I'm still hyped. As with the other Monster Hunter International series installments, this story is action packed with lots of humor and well-drawn characters.
I don't like to read anything about these books before I read them so I went in not knowing about the POV switch. I got used to it quickly and, while I did miss the old gang, the new characters were engaging enough to keep the story alive and flowing. I do hope we see more of MHI in the next book, though -- along with some of the folks we met this time. I do, however, think it's a smart move for Correia to change POVs so early in the series, opening up infinite possibilities for further stories.
This installment is dark and suspenseful. I always get stressed out when I read these books, but it's only because Correia makes me care so much about the characters. He creates situations that seem insurmountable, but he always manages to solve problems organically and in a way that's always true to the characters and the world building.
Major gore in this one. At one point even Earl Harbinger says a recent battle contained one of the grossest things he's ever seen. Now that's bad. Still, even though I'm not the biggest fan of gross-out battles, it fits with the whole premise of the series and anything less graphic would feel whitewashed and false.
Correia's writing has improved from book to book. Not that it was bad to begin with, it's just that the first book of the series -- Monster Hunter International -- had a "new writer" feel to it that the following books have shed. Of course, that could just be due to the world being introduced and now its flowing smoothly for the reader.
When I read these books I become fully immersed. It's surround-sound VR in book form for me so I waited for a long weekend to crack it. Can't have real life duties intrude on one of my favorite UF action fixes.
The only problem is that it's the last one available so far in the series so now I have to wait.
Published by Baen so it's not agency priced. The e-books are not sold through Amazon, but can be purchased from the Baen website very reasonably. -
3.5 Stars
Personally, I think Werewolves are the most boring monsters out there. This being a book entirely about werewolves was a bit of a turn off for me.
First thing I noticed was the switch to 3rd person limited. Not sure that it was a good change but this story did need the extra viewpoints.
The plot was entertaining and there were some fun twists, etc and a few really great lines that were MHI to the max. I laughed a few times too and the ending was quite climactic. Yet, it’s definitely the weakest of the MH books so far. I am a big fan of the series, I already picked up the rest of the books and I’m really looking forward to what’s to come. Just, please Larry, lay off the werewolves! I want more shoggoths and diggers and tentacles! -
If you have ever read a MHI book and found yourself thinking, "Thanks for specifying the exact grain count of every type of ammunition used by every character in the entire book, but what I'd really more detail about is that Earl Harbinger guy." than this is the book for you.
-
https://poseidons99.wordpress.com/202... -
I am ambivalent with this entry in the Monster Hunter Nation. I have grown to care for the main cast of characters and when I heard that Alpha would only follow Harbinger I was put off. But, as a big fan of Correia's action packed writing style I bit down that sour lump of dread and began reading. I almost instantly picked up on the subtle differences in the narratives; I don't mean that this is told in the third person. Alpha has a much darker tone to it, which I suppose is only natural given that Harbinger is a much darker character than Owen. These differences turned that sour lump of dread into a savage grin as I continued to read, eating up the pages.
We are introduced to a handful of new characters, the real draw to all three books in the Monster Hunter Nation, each of these characters is well crafted and each of them has their own merits and flaws. Although you really have no choice but to dislike some characters, you'll find the others growing on you in their own ways and with that growth the pages can't seem to go by quick enough. But as some new development arises in a characters story line you're promptly taken away and shoved into another character's perspective. This is the crux of my ambivalence. In previous installments you didn't have to deal with the constant switching of perspectives, this switching of perspectives is a technique used a lot in other books to ratchet up the tension a couple more notches and while I know that that isn't the ONLY purpose of the switching it is a tad bit obnoxious when you're coming directly off of the previous books as you aren't really used to the switching and I only grew accustomed to the switching midway through when each of the characters had found their own places in my heart. At the beginning of each chapter you read a journal entry penned by Harbinger detailing his past and this sub-story is so great that it almost rivals the main tale. Most fascinating of all, however, is the slow revealing of the "society" of Werewolves as this world knows them and Correia's take on the beginning of the Werewolves is fresh and genuine. There is much to love here, but there is also much to get used to if you're coming directly from the MH:V.
Like all Monster Hunter Nation books this isn't going to be a highly intellectual read, but I don't like to make the all-too-common reference that this is like a B-Movie of the Urban Fantasy genre, because it just ISN'T. There is depth to these characters and their stories and the plot of this and the previous novels that really goes beyond most Urban Fantasy novels. But the growth doesn't lie within the characters, the story, and the world Correia's created alone. No, Correia's style and ability as a writer has grown as well, so much so that you can FEEL it. No, this book and this series is definitely grade A and I cannot wait for the next book. -
These books are really fun palette cleansers between heavier/longer books. I enjoyed getting the backstory and some of the world building here with Earl, but basically I missed the rest of the usual MHI crew. Also this story is werewolf dominant and that's not my favorite. Still a lot of fun though.
-
![[Name Redacted]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1347082397i/287915._UY200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
This was definitely the most brutal entry in the series, with some of the most visceral and vicious content. I suppose that's to be expected, given that it's primarily about werewolves and werewolves, unlike Lovecraftian extra-dimensional god-crustaceans or shadow-controlling dark priests, are savage, visceral beings. I appreciated that change; it somehow increased the intimacy of the narrative, which is good because it also had the most confusing format in the series. The first two novels were personal accounts of the live of Owen Pitt and were told in first-person from his perspective, with occasional departures into the first-person lives of others which Owen was experiencing; this one however was primarily third-person, shifting among at least a half-dozen protagonists, with occasional first-person excerpts from the diary of Earl Harbinger.
It picks up where the previous novel left off (which explains, in part, why Earl is keeping a diary), but Earl is the only character from the previous two to feature here. Everything and everyone else is new (with two "cameo" exceptions), and we learn slowly how the events of this novel fit into the continuing adventures of M.H.I.
I don't have a lot to say about this book. I liked it once I got used to the abrupt change of format, but it seems almost... inconsequential ...next to the other two volumes. It feels like what's known as a "breather" episode in the parlance of tv critics -- an episode that doesn't advance the plot but allows for character development and hi-jinks.
Now, given the way it ends, it's entirely possible that somehow the events of this novel will lead into the next and there'll be a return to the usual format of the series. But there's no real indication of that. I'm conflicted! Guess we'll have to see how I like the next entry. -
4.5 Stars
Earl Harbinger, head of Monster Hunter International and werewolf, is headed north to a small town in Michigan after a tip that one of his old enemies from the KGB is there. It doesn’t take long for Earl to realize there is more going on than a showdown with an old enemy.
Monster Hunter Alpha switches things up, changing both the tone and setting of the story from the first 2 books. Instead of following around Owen Pitt, we tag along with Earl as he heads north to fight an old enemy. Vendetta started to show some scenes from other POVs and Alpha continued that trend, hopping around multiple times in each chapter to tell the story from the perspective of different characters. We also get a number of “journal entries” showing events from Earl’s past.
The tone of this one is very different as well. While Alpha retains the fast pacing and frequent bursts of action, this book has much stronger horror movie overtones.
I was initially a bit hesitant about the shift in formula. I loved the first two books, and horror isn’t my favorite genre. My worry was unfounded though, as it all worked brilliantly. The setting was atmospheric, the action was great, and all the various POV threads wove together nicely. I enjoyed learning more about Earl’s backstory as well. The only real downside for me is due to the setting and plot circumstances, most of the regular characters from the first two books are entirely absent. Still, Alpha was another great read and allowed the author to show off his skill in crafting a different type of story in the third entry in his awesome series. -
Adding my physical copy to Goodreads.
-
Well damn. That was a close one. For about the first third (maybe even the entire first half) of this book I was worried. I wasn't really getting into it, it wasn't having even close to the same effect on me as the first two in the series had. I mean don't get me wrong.. I still liked it. But I Loved the first two. Hell, if this were the first in the series I probably would have Loved it from the get go as well, and then I would have exploded with glee upon reading the others. But it's not the first, it's the third, and it had a big reputation to live up to. But thank goodness, at some point it won me over. I didn't even realize I had been won over at first, it slowly crept up on me and wrapped it's tentacles (yes, the book has tentacles, weird, I know) around me and I was lost before I even knew what hit me.
Part of what threw me off at first was the obvious lack of the usual players. Owen and company aren't leading the charge in this one, it's from a whole new point of view. And that wasn't necessarily a problem for me.. To be honest, I never really loved Owen to begin with. I was more drawn to the supporting characters, and their interactions with him. So while it wasn't a big deal that he wasn't the main focus of the story, this one did have a different feel, which took me some time to acclimate myself to. The easy sarcastic banter wasn't there, because this was a one man show, and it's kind of hard to banter with yourself. And while there was a whole slew of new characters, it took me some time to wrap my mind around them and for them to become real to me. But it did happen... And when it did, it was pure magic.
It's hard to review a third book in a series without spoilers, so I'm just going to leave this off here. Great book, four stars rather than five because of my bumpy start with it. I absolutely can not WAIT for the next in the series. Highly recommended! -
Monster Hunter Alpha
By: Larry Correia
Narrated by: Oliver Wyman
This book had a monster, monster hunter hunting a monster! Werewolves was the monster flavor for this book!😉 I like these books, they have plenty of creatures, twists related to the monsters, lots of action, monsters are not all monsters and humans can be the bigger monster! This one was great! Werewolves, magic, a witch, and a new secret society that uses weres for weapons! Enjoyed it!
Good narration!
Love the cover too! -
DNF.
I loved the first two MHI books. I'm not really much of an urban fantasy fan. But Larry Correia blends the genre with a touch of high fantasy giving the genre a new spin. But this one...yeah. Something was missing for me. I found it to be a very generic urban fantasy that at times reminded me of paranormal romance. Not that there was romance...but the general vibe was in there. Like a paranormal romance sans romance. Makes sense. Just go with it.
When I saw that fu..ing (you get the idea) Earl Harbinger was the lead in this one I thought it would be fu..ing (come on it's Harbinger, what other word can do him justice) awesome. He was definitely a favorite from the previous two. A cool mystery man who can turn into a fu..ing (just one more time, promise) werewolf. I guess it's true. Sometimes less is more. Sometimes the mystery is ruined when you know too much. (((Boba Fett))) Harbinger just wasn't cool enough. IMO.
Okay. Generally speaking I don't like contemporary paranormal fantasy. And I'm not crazy about werewolves. I tried to finish it anyway but I kept getting distracted by boredom. Characters started to blend. And a whole chapter was missing from my copy. If that ain't a sign I don't know what is.
I feel kinda bad not liking it. Maybe I'll try again at another time. With a copy with no missing pages. -
First of all: Best us of industrial snow-clearing equipment in a book. Ever.
Excellent backstory for one of Larry's finest characters, Earl Harbinger. And Larry's characters are all very fine. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the man has an eye for character. His people (and monsters) are all very real. His dialogue is breezy and fun, as well. And he does a bang up job of creating worlds, mythology, magic systems.
So why not five stars?
TOO DAMN MUCH ACTION. I had to keep putting the book down because the relentlessness of the killing and stabbing and shooting and maiming made me need to take some air from time to time to time! Now, other readers may not have this problem. And it's not really a "problem" problem, if you get me. But I just needed a little rest, okay?
Also, the next book better have Holly Newcastle in it. -
Not quite as good as the first two, but delightfully ups the ante and we get too learn more about Harbinger and the bigger fight that is to come. More even shadowier and infuriating government groups, more jerk government agents, more not killing the chick who is openly aiding and abetting evil (that's annoying. She's evil and trying to kill innocent people. Just pop a cap in her. G-nome would have done it!), more powerful monsters, both good and bad.
Good, but kind of missing something. I hope Heather doesn't come back twisted. Shadowy sketchy government agency is not to be trusted... Sigh. On to the next!
4, fun, don't need to think too hard to enjoy, stars. -
I kinda expected to have more of Owen since this novel was the third in the series, but after some initial misgivings I got into the story quite nicely. Great action sequences, good personal histories, and great developments. I cheated a little before giving this review by already getting through half of the next book in the series, so I know that it is still a direct line of plot. Earl is pretty damn neat, and as always, these novels are great mind candy.
-
Nothing wrong with the writing. I think I just prefer the storylines with Owen, even though I respect Earl's strong moral character.
-
This story is full of action and "manly" stuff, like guns, lots of guns. I enjoyed this a lot and look forward to continuing the series.
-
This one was my favorite book so far in the MHI series. I love werewolves, but I like other creatures more. With that being said, you can trust me this book is amazing.
-
Bavilo mě to trochu méně než předchozí díly, i když Harbingera miluju. Nevím, čím to je. Jako bylo to dobré, čtivé, ale do čtení jsem se musela trochu nutit. Asi si dám teď od Lovců trochu voraz.
