Spells, Salt, & Steel

Mark Wojcik...who I first met in the “Witchbane” and “Badlands" series... is a mechanic by day and monster/ghost/paranormal mystery solver by calling. He doesn’t get paid to get rid of ghosts or monsters but it’s a huge part of his life. The 4 stories are broken into pieces by monster or event but are connected overall. There are recurring characters...so if you didn’t turn the page and go into another story you could think that Mark is just chasing another monster. The story of the Sentient painting was a little creepy. Everyone has seen those paintings where the eyes seem to follow you around the room. a little difference her is that the painted characters actually turn to face out to look at you. There is some humor throughout... some situational...some in the monsters themselves. The repetitive butchering of his last name sometimes gets a little old, but is explained by the fact this is 4 books combined like a TV series into a single season. I don’t think it really matters which book or season you start with as background for Mark and what he does and has done, is well explained in each story. At the end there is a cliffhanger on the last monster hunt. Overall, it can be called intriguing and entertaining. Not quite on the true horror level... but fans of Gail Z. Martin, will add these stories to their ‘to read” list. If you, like me, are mostly a fan of her writing as Morgan Brice will find that these stories are quite a bit different than her series written under that name. Even though Mark makes some appearances in those books, the atmosphere and the characters are very different.

Fun short story about a monster hunter whose other job is as a mechanic! It's told in the first person.

oh. my. god! Supernatural and the Dresden Files had the most beautiful love child in this book! I will be reading more! I also really liked that the books was a bunch of little jobs, kind of setting up the world. also were-squonk. if she used that word one more time in that book i was going to loose it and die laughing.

Spells, Salt, & Steel was a quick read packed full of monsters and mystery. The main character Mark is kinda grumpy, but very affable. I enjoyed how fast paced this book was. There was also a wide variety of monsters, most of which were very creative and new to me! I'll definitely be reading the rest of the series as it's a quick escape into the unknown and I'm excited to see what other crazy creatures are out there.

I met Mark in the Witchbane series who has a backstory similar to Seth. Mark is funny, grumpy, snarky and has some very good friends. This short book are short stories within of various monster hunting. They are very weird and quirky. I'm not sure if the carp story or the mob witch was my favorite. I'm definitely going to be reading the next couple of books in this series.

This is the first book in this monster hunting series. This book freaked me out so much that I just couldn't put it down. Why do you ask. Because the authors drew me in on their many adventures and the mystery around which monsters I would encounter. There is a great host of supporting characters. And I love them. Although I am afraid that as I keep reading, they will eventually scare me...ok, just a little bit. Read along with me!!!

Spells,Salt & Steel is a very quick and fun read. If you like reading books about monster hunting that this is the book for you. It brought new and interesting creatures that I haven't ever read before. I enjoyed reading about Mark the mechanic who also moonlights as a monster hunter. Can't wait to read the next book!!!

I really enjoyed getting to know Mark and his friends. I love his personality and his style. I love his attitude. There were several small cases he worked on and each one had their own dark and light moments. This was a book that delivered the adventure with a nice side or humor. I'm looking forward to listening to the next one.

Mark Wojcik has battled those that go bump in the dark, the monsters under the bed or in this case in a river with the ass end of a carp as a weapon. Mark like beer, poker and all the simple things in life. What he doesn’t care for is monster hunting in the dark of night with a carp as a weapon to kill it but hey, whatever works is his motto, well if he had a motto that is. The Templars are the first line of defense against the forces of darkness. They may be rednecks and geeks, neighbors and family but when the monsters come out to play., the Templars will be there to send them back to where ever they came from. <br /><br /><br />I absolutely loved SPELLS, SALT &amp; STEEL. It was a fun book that had me giggling and rooting for Mark to save the day. The husband &amp; wife author team of Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin work like magic in this short introduction into a new e-book series that is filled with intriguing mysteries, monsters and a main character named Mark that is so much fun. I absolutely enjoyed this short novella that was filled with three different monsters Mark is dispatched to destroy. First, we see Mark go toe to toe with a Ningen (Japanese Manlike Water Monster). Then he must deal with a rampaging Nazi ghost and finally a were-squonk…. yeah that right there had me scratching my head in confusion but if you pick up SPELLS, SALT &amp; STEEL, you can find the answer to what that final monster is. <br /><br />SPELLS, SALT &amp; STEEL is a fun, fast paced story that will draw you in and keep you turning the pages quickly to see what happens next. I enjoyed meeting Mark and all the other secondary characters that pop up periodically here. The authors do a great job keeping the reader glued to the pages and when the last page is read, longing for more. I love Ms. Martin’s book and can’t wait to see where these two go in book two of the series, Open Season. <br /><br />If you enjoy a fast-paced monster tale filled with unique monsters, unusual weapons of choice and characters that fairly brim with life to step off the pages of your e-reader, then grab SPELLS, SALT &amp; STEEL and get ready to go monster hunting with the new templars. Just remember that carps make great weapons against a Ningen!<br />

This book hooked me from the first paragraph. I really enjoy the narrative. Straight-up First person, as if the character were speaking directly to you. While adding enough inner dialogue that you know exactly which thoughts are running through his head <b>as</b> he is describing the action. This is my favorite writing style, and I have seldom seen it done better. <br /><br />It's hard to categorize this book. Para cozy doesn't work. Too much swearing and shooting to satisfy people looking for a little woo-woo with their mystery. If there is such a thing as an Urban cozy that might fit the bill. This entertaining selection of short stories: Spells, Salt &amp; Steel, Open Season, Deep Trouble and Close Encounters, feels like what could have happened if Supernatural had a prequel. 'The Adventures of Bobby Singer'. <br /><br />The stories are quick, entertaining reads with explosive action and a lot of humor. They feel more like TV episodes or vignettes than an actual book. It lacked the structure of a good story arch. But once I started reading I didn't want to stop. <br /><br />Mark Wojcik (pronounced Voy Chick, not Woah Chick) is a good'ol boy from Pennsylvania. He drinks more Jack Daniels than he should. Has an in with an explosives guy. And a pushover of a Doberman named Demon. (the pound named him, not Mark) Mark was blissfully unaware of the supernatural until a Wendigo killed most of his male family members and almost ended him too. <br /><br />Now he's the guy to call when the authorities scratch their heads and wonder what the hell happened. Is something chewing up docks and cabins at your lodge? Call Mark. Have a supernatural painting wreaking havoc in your auction house? Mark has the connections and the lighter fluid to cure your ills. Need to chase off a Troll? Mark knows where to score enough C4 to chase it to kingdom come. The hard part is not getting buried by the fallout.<br /><br />The read is a little choppy. It really feels more like a TV script than a book. Inciting incident, action, resolution, cut and print. But what these stories lack in depth, they more than make up for with solid writing, and deftly applied humor. I like Mark. Next to Harry Dresden he is the only guy I know who cracks jokes while getting beat to hell by something straight out of Grimm's fairy-tales. He is snarky and brash and resilient as hell.<br /> <br />He is pretty much a one-man monster wrecking crew, so most of the time it's a whole 'lotta Mark. But sequences move quickly, are cleverly staged and funnier than they probably should be. And because Mark is a talented writer in his real life, the inside of Marks head is pretty durn entertaining.<br /><br /><i>The bloodsuckers were winning. Not vampires. Vamps I could handle. A nice sharp machete to the neck, and the head goes rolling fast as you can say, Drac's a dick.<br />Mosquitoes now those suckers are evil incarnate.</i> <br /><br />I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes zero sex and a quick adventurous read. There is not a lot of structure, but for a fast fun read it's hard to beat the adventures of Mark Wojcik. <br /><br />Please note: I received a digital copy for review. #spellssalt&amp;steelnetgalley