A Macho Sandwich with Double Cheesiness

The "Monster Hunter" series is something that your sane voice is telling you to hate, but the sheer ridiculousness of the story coupled with the over-the-top machismo and cheesiness somehow overrides that voice. In the end, you find yourself thoroughly enjoying the ride and groaning as required.

This book is like a comic book sans art work. What is fun is how the author has liberally pulled upon other references (think H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker, etc.) and brought them along for the ride. The second book in the series, it did a good job of continuing the story from the first book. Although this book could stand on it's own, you'll be much better situated if you start with book one.

In summary. if you have a good sense of humour and can tolerate ridiculous situations and dialogue, you will enjoy this book. If this isn't your cup of tea, then avoid this series. I'm just crazy enough to have found it very enjoyable.

27 people found this helpful

If you liked the first book 📚 you’ll LOVE THIS ONE

The author doesn’t mess around in this one, before second chapter he goes straight into the action of the plot. Setting a heavy precedent.

Absolutely loved it

8 people found this helpful

Exciting story, well told, with a great villain

If you could sum up Monster Hunter Vendetta in three words, what would they be?

World's best villain.

What did you like best about this story?

The villain in this story is great. He's cunning and powerful and, most importantly, understandable. He's a fantastic example of a man driven to evil, rather than being evil for evil's sake. His motives are clear and his means are ruthless, he was a fantastic character.

Have you listened to any of Oliver Wyman???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This one continues the excellent quality of the first Monster Hunter book, with Oliver bringing Owen to life.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Sometimes, the end justifies the means... but an automatic shotgun always means the end to something.

Any additional comments?

This is a great sequel to a fun first book. I look forward to the next book in the series.

37 people found this helpful

Action, death, destruction

What did you like best about Monster Hunter Vendetta? What did you like least?

The main characters were quite engaging and it was nice to meet more family members (this is book 2 after all) but every time a real problem occurred more improbable powers appeared and it just got silly.

Would you ever listen to anything by Larry Correia again?

2 books have been fun, mostly, but enough is enough.

Any additional comments?

This is such a boys annual for adults book. Lots of shooting, slashing, car crashes and a hero who is totally indestructible to the point where he survives what no human being before him has survived. Oh, and he is the only hope for the future of the human race. I usually don't have too much trouble suspending belief in fantasy novels but this tested me. However, if you love pure action and impossible heroes, you'll love this book.

21 people found this helpful

not on the same level as the Hard Magic series

ok series so far. not in the same universe as the hard magic series as far as quality. I can hardly believe the same guy writes both series.

4 people found this helpful

Second Curse, Same as the First

This book was just like its predecessor. On the plus side you get an adventure loaded with action, monsters, and guns (and guns). If you're a sucker for action (and guns), Vendetta might have enough to hold your interest.

Unfortunately, the story is almost a repeat of the first book. I feel like I could have just read Monster Hunter International twice.

There was really no deepening of the very superficial characters. His use of stereotypes makes me wonder whether he's ever really met another human. His main character is even less human than the other "humans" in the book. Owen Pitt thinks in taglines and catchphrases. He is a narcissist who knows even better than the reader that the story is about him. He feels guilt for getting his friends into trouble because the bad guys are after him, but he doesn't act on this guilt other than to just "feel" it momentarily every time someone off to his left or right gets killed. The only other emotion he has room for in his ammo pouch is anger and all its synonyms. I forgave this after the first book, but by the end of the sequel, it needs some character development.

Correia started his series with a "world in the balance" climax so he had nowhere to go except to give us another similar ending. I can't speak for the rest of the series, but I feel a lot of similarities in narrative and main character to Goodkind's, "Wizard's First Rule" series. Ruggedly independent man with powers no one can explain faces unavoidable, world-ending conundrum that he defeats with the timely assistance of a Deus ex Machina all with libertarian undertones. With Goodkind it got old slowly (his characters had personalities), not so with Correia. I think I am done after this.

The reader, Wyman, stepped up his game in this edition. He went a little bolder with some of the characterizations to good effect. I am not blown away, but I am well satisfied.

9 people found this helpful

Monster Hunter Redux

The first Monster Hunter book was quite a tour de force, a highly original-feeling story chock full of humor, insane action sequences, and epicness. The sequel gives you more of the same - which may satisfy those craving more of such, but for me it's starting to get a bit repetitive.

The plot picks up where the first left off, which is something I wasn't too keen on. Correia tries to up the stakes in every possible way, when I thought he had reached too far in the first volume. This results in what feels like a kitchen-sink mentality, where he tries to tie everything together (feeling like ret-conning at times), creating ridiculous situations for the heroes to try and escape from. The result is long, frustrating sequences that seem to be drawn-out for the intent purpose of creating more tension and upping the stakes. Then Correia has no choice but to resort to lots of deus ex machina moments in order to bail the heroes out of said situations.

Perhaps with this book the initial plotline is over, although it sounds like he's going to continue it, with lots of foreshadowing and prophecies yet to be fulfilled. Although there are elements I like to the story and his writing, I'm not sure if I want to continue any further if we are to follow the same (now old-feeling) plot line.

12 people found this helpful

Owen and the MHI gang still going strong

I love this series. The second book is just as good as the first. The story and the characters have captured my imagination. Sure it is ridiculous - that is part of why it is so good. Owen is a great lead character. Sure he is over the top - that is part of why it is so good. We meet his family and they are interesting characters. Through them we learn more about why Owen is wired the way he is. The tantalizing love story about Owen is ongoing. The wonderful Orks are more fleshed out. The antagonist in this book is a cult leader and he is a formidable foe. As in the last book, Owen takes quite a beating, several times. Owen is persistent and brave. The final battle is epic.

The narrator is excellent. He brings excitement into the book and does a great job with the various characters' voices, Each character has a very distinctive voice and it is easy to know who is talking even if the book does not tell you who is speaking. I am truly hooked and have read every book in this series. I also loved Correia's other series, particularly the Grimnoir Chronicles, which begins with Hard Magic. Correia is one of my favorite modern day writers - probably in the top five.

3 people found this helpful

I don't really like Owen

What made the experience of listening to Monster Hunter Vendetta the most enjoyable?

Larry has great ideas and makes action fun to listen to.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Just to much time is wasted with Owen being petty and argumentative. There were times I just had to stop listening, it was so painful. The arguing doesn't seem to do anything for the story, it slows down the narrative and it's just irritating to listen to.

What about Oliver Wyman’s performance did you like?

He makes the book sound like it's peopled by a multitude of different, distinct voices.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I think I laughed a couple of times.

Any additional comments?

I would have loved the book so much more without the silly school yard bull poo.

9 people found this helpful

Monster Hunter Vendetta

I enjoyed every minute of listening to this book. The writer is sometimes violent yet funny. Like Harry Dresden of the Dresden files, the character is sarcastic, flawed and definitely an anti-hero. The narrator Oliver Wyman is amazing, really. His voice intonations and characters are funny, dramatic and truly believable. He really actuates the book. The first book is a warm up to this one. I say, go for it. If you like vampires, werewolves and other demons, you'll enjoy this true action adventure.

22 people found this helpful