Occult Assassin #1: Damnation Code

By: William Massa

Narrated by: James Foster

Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

Driven by vengeance, one soldier declares war against the forces of darkness.

After a decade spent fighting the enemy abroad and keeping his country safe, Delta Force Operator Mark Talon is ready to settle down with the love of his life. But Talon's world crumbles when his fiancée becomes the victim of a murderous cult. The military man now has a new foe in his crosshairs, and this promises to be a very different war.

The person responsible for his beloved's death is a Silicon Valley tycoon allied with the forces of darkness. Fusing cutting-edge computer technology with an ancient evil, the enemy here cannot be stopped by bullets alone. If Talon is to be victorious in his mission of vengeance, he will need to master a new method of warfare - the arcane arts! He must become the Occult Assassin.

©2015 William Massa (P)2015 William Massa

Critic reviews

"Occult Assassin moves like a bullet exploding from Talon's 9mm Glock. " (Nicholas Sansbury Smith, best-selling author of Extinction Horizon/Orbs) "The Occult Assassin series evokes the golden age of genre fiction: snappy writing and great plotting, larger than life characters, and a delicious mix of international intrigue and the occult." (Layton Green, best -selling author of The Dominic Grey series)

High octane FUN

Occult Assassin #1: Damnation Code was a fast paced thrill ride all the way from beginning to end. Fast paced and entertaining. I was drawn into the story in the first chapter. I find myself loving William Massa’s work, and can’t wait for the next book in this series. I really want to say i am now a big fan of him! 4 hrs and 32 mins is almost a bit short! The premise and the approach of capturing the essence of this hero is gut wrenching and AWESOME.
A must read to see and feel the new hero that fights the darkness in this world. Don't miss this one , is a must read. This book was right up my alley! I'm definitely going to be listening the others in this series!

James Foster is also good! He shows great voice control while the tension of the storyline builds. James Foster is really bringing Occult Assassin #1: Damnation Code to life too. Can't wait to listen to the next one. So how much do i recommend this? 5 star much! That is high! I mean what else can i say: Just get this!

was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot com

Excellent New Series

Any additional comments?

I'm a huge fan of William Massa. He's truly a talented literary artist that has tried his hand at numerous genres. A screen writer and now novelist, this author has a lot to share with readers. With that said, Occult Assassin may be his best book yet. I loved Silicon Man, but damn, Delta Force Operator Mark Talon is truly a badass.

The novel starts off with a scene that introduces us to the horror of the occult forces--forces unlike any the Operator has fought before. After a tour of duty in Afghanistan he has returned home to propose to his fiancé. I hate spoilers, so I will stop there, but just know there is a dark/supernatural conspiracy that Talon must unravel. Three dimensional heroes and villains combined with pacing that moves like a bullet from Talon's glock makes Damnation Code a thriller that horror and scifi fans will surely enjoy. Ice Shadows, the novella that can be read before or after Damnation code is a definitely worth your time, too.

I have a feeling this is going to be one hell of a new series. James Foster is really bringing it to life too. Can't wait to listen to the next one.

Massa is a Master

If you could sum up Occult Assassin #1: Damnation Code in three words, what would they be?

Fun filled ride

What did you like best about this story?

The instant connection to Mark Talon as well as the references to ancient civilizations (small part).

What does James Foster bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He gives it a nice personal touch which draws you in even deeper.

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

Better to be with Talon, than against him. :)

Any additional comments?

I just finished listening to William Massa's "Occult Assassin #1" (which I had already read but wanted to enjoy again via audible) and of course it was awesome, again! I love the mixture of tech and emotion, especially when you throw references to the Sumerians in there :) check it out if you haven't yet. It's a quick read/listen and will leave you wanting more.

Straightforward enjoyable supernatural actioner

Would you be willing to try another book from William Massa? Why or why not?

Yes, I would.

This book was fairly straightforward it it's story - specialist military soldier's girlfriend is killed, solider goes for revenge, finds out its a demonic cult (and demons are real) and vowws to destroy the cult and all things demonic - but it is well told and enjoyable.

I enjoyed Massa's style. He keeps the action moving while still allowing us to get to know the chracters.

The plot itself wasn't anything too exciting or groundbreaking other than the mixing of computer programming in with the occult. And even the ultimate deployment of the bad guy's plan reminds me somewhat of the 'Roark Industries' plan from TV series Chuck. There were no major twists or turns that I didnt see coming.

The blurb above talks about how " the enemy here cannot be stopped by bullets alone" and "he will need to master a new method of warfare - the arcane arts!" but neither of these htings are overly true. Talon learns about the occult, but he doesn't learn any acrane arts and does pretty much rely on his military training and guns. He doesn't really become an Assassin either.

I think as long as you go into this expecting something simple, fast paced and full of death then this will be enjoyable to you.

What three words best describe James Foster’s voice?

Enthusiastic, good inflection.

Foster provides the right inflection to the events, conveying what is going on very well. He provides energy during action, conveys the characters clearly and accurately emotions too.

He doesn't differentiate characters too much - no different voices for each, doesn't put on a female voice etc - but I didn't have any real difficulty telling the who was saying what during the conversations.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of audiobookblast dot com.

A fast paced urban fantasy

It is a great quick listen, with an engaging main character, a Spec Ops soldier now fighting the forces of the occult after his fiancé is killed by cultists. He uses these specialized skills to stop cultists from raising supernatural destruction and chaos. The plot is fast paced, jetting across the world, with lots of believable action. James Fosters narration is well done, bringing the story to life. Any fan of Heath Stallcup's Monster Squad books should enjoy this series. I was given this title by the author/narrator or publisher in return for an honest review through Audiobookblast dot com.

Great story that pulls you in right from the start

What made the experience of listening to Occult Assassin #1: Damnation Code the most enjoyable?

I really enjoyed the narration. He's has a pleasant voice and his tone portraits the level of excitement the story continually offers.

What did you like best about this story?

I really enjoyed how this title pulled me right into the story from the very start. Most times it takes me a little while to get pulled into the book, but this grabbed my attention from the first few seconds. It's great to have an audiobook that is exciting enough to throw you into the story, despite the normal distractions of everyday life, without having to build up to the action.

Have you listened to any of James Foster’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The opening chapter. It's dark and suspenseful and fully grabbed my attention

Any additional comments?

I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Don't judge this one by the cover!

I wasn't entirely sure what I was going into with this book. The cover reminds me of something weird and from the 80's.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a 'need to finish this book now' drive throughout. A few of the major characters are lacking depth, but the ones that have been developed are interesting. A great science fiction book to listen to! Narrator handles this one like a pro.

I was provided this audio book at no charge by the author, publisher or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review.

Evil Cyber Cult Domination

Where does Occult Assassin #1: Damnation Code rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the upper 40%

Who was your favorite character and why?

Talon. He was a hero and warrior with demons and a code of honor. He doesn't stay down no matter what terror, battles and tragedies he faces, combats and survives. He is a dedicated protector of society.

Have you listened to any of James Foster’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first one I've listened to.

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

It is bittersweet. Talon is a survivor and true hero. He loses much and has far too much personal tragedy. I really fell bad for him and all his personal sacrifices.

Any additional comments?

“I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast dot come”

The book set it's hook into me within the first couple of minutes. It has lots of action and is not at all boring. It is an exciting thriller, adventure, horror themed novel.

Mysteries to solve

Warrior facing the occult's scary evil side. Revenge is on his mind as he tries to solve the mystery of the evil group's motivation.

Occult assasin

Any additional comments?

Great fast moving story Mark Talon is a military hero that gets tossed into the world of the supernatural through a series of awful events. Talon uses what he knows with the help of a benefactor to stop the horror that is occurring. Talon has become my favorite of this authors character.