When a series of vampire attacks target the very centre of the Catholic faith, the Vatican contacts the British government. Their request: the best vampire hunter in the country.
Unfortunately, he's an atheist.
Jack Henderson returns as Pagan, the Ministry's top hunter. He's on a mission he's not sure about. He's in a country he doesn't know. He's working for a government he doesn't trust. And he's looking for an artefact he doesn't believe exists.
Should be a piece of cake.
Unfortunately, he's an atheist.
Jack Henderson returns as Pagan, the Ministry's top hunter. He's on a mission he's not sure about. He's in a country he doesn't know. He's working for a government he doesn't trust. And he's looking for an artefact he doesn't believe exists.
Should be a piece of cake.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Crusader is the follow up novel for Andrew Chapman’s Pagan. Both Witchofthemist and myself reviewed Pagan only a short while ago and it was awarded a very respectable 4.5 stars from both of us, so I was looking forward to reading Crusader.
This story sees Pagan and his crew of Vampire Hunters taking their war to mainland Europe as they come to the aid of the Vatican. With the aid of the Swiss Guard they take on an ancient group of vampires who plan to resurrect an ancient evil. As with the first book this story is filled with the inter-hunter banter that made the Pagan so readable as well the tongue in cheek humour. The relationship between Marie and Pagan is also fleshed out, giving us a greater insight into both their characters. It goes without saying that there is plenty of “gun porn”.
The storyline intrigued me but sadly I think it ended up taking a back seat to the relationship issues and felt a little rushed. The story could have been twice as long as it was, with many of the set pieces needing greater depth. In the end the vampire plot felt a little flat with no great danger. We didn’t even really get to meet the plotters. There was no sense of an adversary. Saying that, it was an enjoyable read and a good way to spend a few hours. As with the first novel this is a boys own story. The world that Chapman has created still excites and thrills. The setting has the feel of the real world but with vamps and werewolves. I just felt that there was far more potential in the storyline. The first two books have now built the characters so hopefully the next in the series will build a greater story for them to grow in.
I give Crusader a respectable 4 stars and I still look forward to the next instalment.
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