Mikkel and Szandor kill monsters. They're not government funded, they're not from a time-honored lineage of hunters, nor are they rich kids with lots of toys. They're two twenty-something brothers from the poor side of town who have taken it on themselves to rid the streets and underground of creatures who would prey on the innocent. Donning gas masks and using makeshift weaponry, they delve into the labyrinthine sewer system of New Avalon to grapple with snarling zombies, flesh-eating ghouls, insectoid hive creatures, and more. It's a dirty job and it rarely pays, but someone has to do it.
Hired by a woman from the rich side of town who believes she's being stalked by monsters, the two brothers think they've finally gotten an easy job that will pay well. But as they follow the clues, things are not adding up. Kidnappings, jackbooted commandos, and mysterious emails are just the beginning. Soon they find themselves involved in something bigger than monsters. It's anybody's guess whether they'll come through it alive, much less get paid.
I Kill Monsters is an exciting punk rock urban fantasy for those who enjoy their protagonists with a mouth on them and a weapon in their hands.
I received this book for free from Author Gifted in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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I was doing so well and then life came up and bitch slapped me. With what is going on in my personal life, it is fitting this book came up for review. It is about family love, and the tie that binds brothers and I think that some families may lose this in the day to day grind of life.
I Kill Monsters is the story of two brothers trying to scratch a living in the poorest section of New Avalon. The Nowak brothers are two very young adults who find themselves hunting and killing monsters. Do they do it for glory? Not really. Do they do it for the girls? Maybe a little. Do they do it because they feel they have to after what happened to their mother? Yes. Mikkel and Szandor are in their twenties, they have crappy jobs, and they kill monsters. Or at least they try to without injury. OH, and they will do it pro bono if you need help in the community they are from. Yeah, it sucks because that means they are using tools and supplies without getting money for them, but they believe helping those who helped them is more important in the long run.
When hired by a woman who does not live on their side of the tracks, in fact, lives in the very wealthy section of town, they think they hit a gold mine, but oh how looks are deceiving. What started as a simple “make sure she doesn’t get killed and eaten” has turned into a fight for their life. Life is hard enough when there isn’t enough money to go around, but when you start having zombies breaking down the door of your shitty apartment it becomes almost impossible. When their hand is forced by a shadow government agency, the brothers must pick a side. They hope they pick the right one.
I Kill Monsters is not just a story about two brothers who kill monsters. This is a story about socio-economic differences. It is about how the poorest may be the richest in many ways. The story is how the rich will take advantage of the poor if able. Not just about financial wealth, but of love, of family, and of a community. I think this book touches on many aspects that people don’t want to look at. The dirty side of invention and of exploration. Not to discount the overall nastiness of greed and power. With all of that in one book, it is worth reading. I personally think that it is worth reading twice, because you miss so much the first time.
So take a chance and get this book. It will be worth it, and maybe give you nightmares.
About Dennis Liggio
Dennis Liggio is the author of eleven books, including the Damned Lies series, The Lost and the Damned, the novella Cthulhu, Private Investigator, and I Kill Monsters. He is a veteran of the game industry, enjoys long walks on the beach while thumbing through tomes of unspeakable evil, and rumor has it that if you say his name three times in front of a mirror at midnight he will appear and give you Hostess Fruit Pies. He writes primarily in the genres of geeky absurdist humor, horror, and urban fantasy. He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and two furry monsters.
