An excellent amalgamation of witty humor and despicable violence, this first book in a series is addictive and intelligent. If you tossed Dogma and Donnie Darko into a cement mixer, you might come close. masterfully narrated by Noah Michael Levine (one of my personal favorites) there's plenty of action, tears, affrontery,and seriously awesome imagery, it's impossible not to love this series, no matter what your genre preferences are! ( )

Armageddon Bound is the first book in the Demon Squad series featuring Frank “Triggaltheron” Trigg and his demonic and angelic cohorts where the fate of the world is at stake. Frank Trigg is a prototypical anti-hero, the nephew of Lucifer. Frank spurned his uncle’s offer to became the anti-Christ and now spends his time battling demons and stemming Armageddon. In Armageddon Bound, the demon Asmoday makes an alliance with the angel Gabriel. Frank works for DRAC (think Homeland Security battling supernatural forces) with his cohorts of angels, wizards and psychics.

Frank is invariably less powerful than the foes he has to battle and takes a hellacious beating whenever he tangles with them. The good thing is that Frank can take a solid butt whoopin’ with the best of them. He also has a libido that goes into overdrive twenty-four-seven. As if things aren’t bad enough for Frank, his ex-wife, a succubus, has hired assassins to take him out . Our beloved anti-hero has to literally go to hell and back in order to fight the forces of evil and save the Earth. What I especially liked about this novel is the voice that Marquitz has captured. It becomes very easy to picture Frank and the other characters. Marquitz also has done an exceptional job of creating life-life memorable characters. The book takes place at a frenetic pace and the action never lets up. The climactic ending delivers where victory seems impossible for Frank Trigg and DRAC. Armageddon Bound is a must read and I can’t wait to read the other books in the series.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity ( )

Dark urban fantasy is a subgenre I've grown a taste for in recent years. Life in a packed city environment seems tailor made for stories mixing dark urges, tension, suspense, action, and the right amount of humor. Simon R. Green and Jim Butcher have both successfully mined this territory in their respective series (The Nightside series and the Dresden Files). Now Tim Marquitz has done the same, unleashing a fast, furious, and compelling story in the opening volume of his Demon Squad series.

I enjoyed the worldbuilding on display throughout, positing a world in which God and the Devil have both abandoned the Earth, leaving angels and demons and humanity to get on as best they can. Naturally, this results in scheming and plotting that brings the world to the brink of armageddon (hey, there's a reason the book isn't called "Puppies and Ice Cream Bound"...). It falls to Frank Trigg and his occult-wise, heavily-armed allies to somehow figure out how to derail it.

There is a lot of action in this book, and Marquitz does a very good job at keeping it clear and focused without lots of 'telling.' I also enjoyed the personality of Frank Trigg, who, while hardly an angel (part-demon, actually, and at times all-libido), has his limits, and knows when it's time to take a stand against impossible odds. I expect I'll very much enjoy the following books in the series. ( )

There are rumors there is another demon planning to rise to be the next Lucifer and to bring about Armageddon. Baalth is the demon this new power needs to overcome first and Frank, the DRAC, and Frank's Angel cousin Scarlett need to protect Baalth and stop this new threat to the world. The catch, Scarlett has been after Baalth for some time to stop his bad doings. Baalth isn't cooperating as willingly with Frank, without some deals. Oh, and Franks succubus ex-wife has returned to town sending assassins after him.

Frank Triggaltheron, or Trigg, starts the story on his kester bleeding, and visits this position often through out the book. But he keeps fighting. Trigg is a man of all men. And a pig from time to time as well. But that is what makes this character memorable. I don't mind the thoughts he has about women, or even the smart remarks to the one delivering the punches (actually many of the quick remarks are funny). But some people might. I do have to mention the only thing about Trigg that gave me the willies were his thoughts about his voluptuous cousin. They just weren't right, but Trigg is the person he is... and I don't think he was made to be loved so dearly. I think this book is what many male readers would enjoy. It's fast moving and full of action and fights. There are loads of blows exchanged and a story that works wonderfully with it.

I liked the story telling style. This book is told by Frank. We get the story as it's happening, then there are interjections by Trigg of his inner opinions and thoughts, the ones he keeps to himself although just as smart as the ones he says. This technique of inner thoughts gives me the feel of the old style mystery gumshoe movies where the detective gives an inner thought or meaning to things as the story goes. I really liked that feel. It seemed to me the book is very story driven, and we get a very good story here.

The characters. Goodness! There is a large cast of characters. Well, maybe not that big. But it felt like many when I was reading the book. They are not hard to keep straight, which is the surprise to me with as many there are.

The world is our world with a few extras which people don't really know about. But the difference here is God and Lucifer have come to a truce and left, letting humanity play out as they are and grown to do. I like this twist a lot. I like how there are two views to this through out the book. That God didn't want Armageddon or he would have exterminated the race and started over. OR. That Armageddon needs to come about to bring God and Lucifer back. This seems to be the arguing views in a nut shell. People don't know their gods are no longer around, only the Angels and Demons are aware, and seem slightly lost with their leaders gone. Neat take here.

I went into the book aware there where some editing errors, which there are. But knowing that I was prepared for them. But I do want to let you know this to as well, in case you go purchase the book, they are there. I hate to see editing slow down a good book.

I think more men might enjoy this book than women, but I'm not saying don't read it if it sounds like something you might enjoy. Please go at it. ( )

...Armageddon Bound is an entertaining but somewhat light read. The concept of God and Lucifer raises some interesting questions that could have given the novel a bit more depth. How does the knowledge that nobody is listening to your prayers any more influence religious communities for instance? We see angels and devils trying to bring about Armageddon but no ordinary humans seem to have any role in the conflict. It seems to me there is material for some interesting social developments and perhaps a cult or two here. That being said, as the fast-paced, action-packed novel it aims to be, Armageddon Bound works very well indeed.

Full Random Comments review ( )