Spells, Salt, & Steel (Spells, Salt, & Steel, #1)

Spells, Salt, & Steel #1

by Gail Z. Martin, Larry N. Martin

When all else fails, the ass end of a carp makes a damn fine weapon.

No, that didn't come from the lips of Bubba the Monster Hunter, but it sure could have! That sentence right there kinda encapsulates the life of Mark Wojcik, Monster Hunter. A blue-collar mechanic from the wilds of PA, Mark likes his beer cold, his poker games private, and his monsters…well, he doesn’t like them at all. So when he finds himself dueling a Japanese mythical monster in the Linesville Spillway in the wee hours of the night, he has to use every available weapon to survive and vanquish the ningen.

Even if it means beating the damn thing to death with a carp.

If interloping Japanese fish-monsters weren’t bad enough, there’s a Nazi ghost terrorizing the community. Somebody needs to gank the ghostie, and Mark is the man for the job.

He hopes.

They are the first line of defense against the things that go bump in the night.
They are the keepers of a centuries-old legacy of The Church defending the world against the forces of darkness.
They are a bunch of highly armed rednecks, internet video celebrities, soccer moms, and assorted broken nutjobs.
They are the new Templars, and things are about to get weird.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Fantasy, Shapeshifters, Monsters, Audiobook, Action

108 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

Gail Z. Martin discovered her passion for science fiction, fantasy and ghost stories in elementary school. The first story she wroteat age fivewas about a vampire. Her favorite TV show as a preschooler was Dark Shadows. At age 14, she decided to become a writer.

She enjoys attending science fiction/fantasy conventions, Renaissance fairs and living history sites. She is married and has three children, a Maltese and a golden retriever.

Gail Z. Martin is also Morgan Brice, which is her pen name for urban fantasy MM paranormal romance.

In addition to the online sites listed below, you can find me on
Facebook.com/Groups/MartinShadowAlliance
Facebook.com/Groups/WorldsOfMorganBrice
Twitter: @GailZMartin and @MorganBriceAuthor
YouTube: YouTube.com/c/GailZMartinAuthor
IG: @MorganBriceAuthorGail & Larry newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj
Morgan Brice newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dy_8oL
BookBub for Morgan: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/morga...
Bookbub for Gail: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gail-...
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Morgan-Brice/e...?
Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Z-Martin/...
Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail) www.Pinterest.com/Gzmartin

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Suzanne Bourgeois]

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.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Amber Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.


I absolutely loved SPELLS, SALT & STEEL. It was a fun book that had me giggling and rooting for Mark to save the day. The husband & 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 & STEEL, you can find the answer to what that final monster is.

SPELLS, SALT & 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.

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 & STEEL and get ready to go monster hunting with the new templars. Just remember that carps make great weapons against a Ningen!

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Dolorianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!!

[Tiffany Ehrob · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!!!

[Nancy D Miz-Firefly aka Sparky · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 as he is describing the action. This is my favorite writing style, and I have seldom seen it done better.

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 & Steel, Open Season, Deep Trouble and Close Encounters, feels like what could have happened if Supernatural had a prequel. 'The Adventures of Bobby Singer'.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
Mosquitoes now those suckers are evil incarnate.

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.

Please note: I received a digital copy for review. #spellssalt&steelnetgalley

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always excited to read any titles by Gail Z. Martin and Larry Martin. Their creative imaginations are wide-ranging and their writing is gifted. SPELLS, SALT, AND STEEL (isn't the title itself intriguing?) is one entry in a new series called "NEW TEMPLARS." Mark Wojcik lost most of his family to a Wendigo; now he owns his own mechanic's business and hunts the paranormal and supernatural entities that trouble and endanger humankind. He's not really a feckless hero, but he does have his comic moments, which lighten the burden for the reader if not for Mark himself, and the authors have the real scares locked down for us. I love their imaginations, as they come up with entities and dangers that try men's souls (and sometimes plan to eat souls). A fast-paced, always intriguing collection, SPELLS, SALT, AND STEEL SEASON ONE contains the first four novellas.

[Myriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author makes it no secret that she is a fan of Supernatural. This is basically Supernatural gen fic written by a pro. It's pretty much Dean Winchester doing the Family Business without the family. I enjoyed it and will probably read more when I don't have anything else do read and want some quick entertainment.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest I rarely read anything that doesn't have a least a little romance in it but I read this author's work under their other name and really enjoyed it. So I jumped in and got a story with a lot aspects from Supernatural and yet not so similar that I felt like it was copied. I enjoyed this short book and the fact that it had several short cases that rolled into one book. Interesting secondary characters and an MC that cracked me up a bit. I'll definitely continue this series.

[Melinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spells,Salt and Steel

Mark Wojcik just became one of my favorite monster hunters! His humor and interaction with Gus had me chuckling. A quick read that has me hooked and ready for the next book.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of you may have noticed that I’m moving right along with the books in this crazy world created by Gail Z. Martin (AKA – Morgan Brice) and Larry N. Martin. You also may have noticed that I’m not exactly reading them in order. If you’ve read more than a couple of my reviews, you have probably noticed that’s not anything new. I have a little bit more back tracking to do because I’ve only scratched the surface – so stay tuned. 😉

That reading order thing? Yeah, this particular book in the Spells, Salt, & Steel series came out before the previous books I’ve read (Badlands, Witchbane, Sons of Darkness & Dark Rivers.) Which only means that I feel like I already knew Mark before I started, even though pretty much all of his interactions with the other books were by phone. It didn’t take me long to totally fall in love with Mark Wojcik. ❤

He shares a lot in common with his fellow hunters, mainly, most of them fell into this business by loosing someone they cared about to the monsters that most people don’t even know exist. One thing that I’ve noticed already is that these authors are great at writing monsters – in all their gory detail. *shivers* And for the record – I love every minute of it. This story, just like the others, has some really great supporting characters from all walks of life. What I really loved about Mark so far, was his sense of humor. There were some pretty gruesome moments in Spells, Salt, & Steel that were made a lot lighter by Mark’s quips and inner dialogue.

Basically, this was a great beginning and I can’t wait to continue. 😉

I received Spells, Salt, & Steel as part of Spells, Salt, & Steel-Season One in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

When all else fails, the ass end of a carp makes a damn fine weapon.
No, that didn't come from the lips of Bubba the Monster Hunter, but it sure could have! That sentence right there kinda encapsulates the life of Mark Wojcik, Monster Hunter. A blue-collar mechanic from the wilds of PA, Mark likes his beer cold, his poker games private, and his monsters…well, he doesn’t like them at all. So when he finds himself dueling a Japanese mythical monster in the Linesville Spillway in the wee hours of the night, he has to use every available weapon to survive and vanquish the ningen.
Even if it means beating the damn thing to death with a carp.
If interloping Japanese fish-monsters weren’t bad enough, there’s a Nazi ghost terrorizing the community. Somebody needs to gank the ghostie, and Mark is the man for the job.
He hopes.
They are the first line of defense against the things that go bump in the night.
They are the keepers of a centuries-old legacy of The Church defending the world against the forces of darkness.
They are a bunch of highly armed rednecks, internet video celebrities, soccer moms, and assorted broken nutjobs.
They are the new Templars, and things are about to get weird.

Heather's Notes
This story was actually several short episodes of Mark killing various monsters. I did enjoy it, but there was absolutely no romance and I would have liked Mark to have someone or the potential of someone, although there is the innkeeper. I may continue this series, but I am not sure.

[Amber DuBois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in return for my honest opinion.

I can't say there was anything intrinsically bad about this collection--the author has a knack for dialog and the characters each have unique voices. There was plenty of action and fast paced and a lot going on in each story, but none of them really ever grabbed me and made me anxious to get back to reading when I had to put the book down. It took me FOREVER to finish this book!

I'm still giving this four stars, though. It was well written, and I think the problems I had with the collection rest soley with my interests and not with the stories or the author. Definitely a good read for people who are into Supernatural the TV show, or who are into monsters in a modern-day world.

[Miki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh i loved this one, i started with the most recent ones and loved it so now i'm starting the series at the beginning and fully enjoying it. In this story we meet " Mark", monster hunter and we discover how he "met" Gus it was funny, and we see even we only heard about later in the series so it's informative as well.

I loved the variety of creatures he comes accross and i can't wait to see when he will start being more a protector than a simple hunter.

I really recommend this story and series if you love good urban fantasy with uncommon paranormal creatures, lot of action and good sosis of humour.

[Erin Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful beginning novella to a new series in the Bubbaverse, Spell, Salt & Steel by Gail Z. Martin. Felt like a splash of home in the woods of PA; the language, food, people, and monsters were right on target.

Read like an early Bubba serial (without the red-neck humor), with each battle being a standalone, introducing new characters and monsters, and solutions for taking out the monsters. Such as the back end of a carp makes a mighty fine weapon.

It is everything I expect from the skilled Gail Z. Martin and a New Templars Novella.

(Kindle unlimited borrow)

[Melody Hillier · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you are a fan of the winchester brothers, or harry dresden, this series is for you, Mark is a mechanic by day and a monster hunter by night. salt, iron, fire, holy water and a few other items are his tools, he is friends with the local priest, the owner of the hardware store and her wife, the local cop and a few other cooky characters who help him in his quest to rid his area of nasty beasties.
this was a fun read that i enjoyed very much!
I received an arc of this story that i happily reviewed

[Debbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are times when you feel like an author has perused the best series and characters of a particular genre and said "If I can incorporate everything that makes THOSE series great, I'll have a best seller" then the author attempts to shove it all into one huge mess. That is how I perceived this book. The MC fully annoyed me before I hit the ten percent mark, and I just could not finish. I normally attempt to give a book to at least 25 to 30 percent before I give up, but I just did not have it in me.

[Tamye Whitener · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of short stories following one overall arc. Mark the monster hunter, his friends and colleagues work to keep everyone safe from the things that go bump in the night.

The narrator does an outstanding job and the story itself is compelling. I think it would make a great TV series. Each story could be an episode.

I recommend this book to everyone who likes lots of action, monsters, and the good guys winning. Maybe by the skin of their teeth. But they still win. Mostly.

[Melanie Brocklehurst · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a drunk werewolf passed out on his porch, a monster mistaken for a mammoth stalking the nearby woods, zombies at an abandoned sanitarium, and his niece has been kidnapped by a haunted hotel that makes the Overlook resemble the Waldorf Astoria. For Mark Wojcik, it's just another week in the wild backwoods of Pennsylvania. This was fun and there was some great writing but it reminded me less of a novel and more of a montage of comics sewn together, which is why I marked it down. That said, I think it would go down really well with any teenage boy who is into sci-fi!

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

With every story I read, I love Gail’s writing more and more. I was already in love with Cassidy and her friends from Deadly Curiosities and knew I needed to read about Mark. I love how there are now so many characters crossing over here. Go look up Morgan Brice although I need to warn you those have more adult content than this one and Deadly Curiosities. Still awesome books and characters. I highly recommend anything written by Gail and Larry Martin.

[Ruth · Rating 1 out of 5]

11 It is evident that this is a number of short stories combined to make this book. As such, I did not have too much of an issue with the action driving the plot. There is an attempt at building characters but, apart from the ‘hero’ they are just people for the hero to speak to. I still had an overall feeling of being let down by the Nivens this time around. Nice sense of place though with much of the action taking place in Pennsylvania

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I throughly enjoyed the stories in Spell, Salt & Steel! Mark ,you have an unusual name, Wojcik is a very interesting character. He takes ingenuity to a new level in using ghosts to help him solve his problem. Father Leo , Blair, Chaira are very interesting characters who help solve his ways to eliminate the unusual creatures or even bad ghosts! I look forward to the next book in the series!

[Melissa Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another page turner

So far I have read a few books of Gails, and I am not disappointed inn this one either. I love her books and how she brings her characters up life. This is another series I know I will be purchasing. Thumbs up and 5 stars from me. Cannot wait for the next adventure!

[Debbie Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Wojcik became a monster hunter after a wendigo kills his family on a hunting trip. This first book is action packed as Mark hunts four different monsters. One of them with the help of a priest and a stregone who was a real bad case. Mark is quite resourceful which is good with interesting things he encounters when hunting. I look forward to the next book and more of Mark's story.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Entertaining and Humorous Story

I have been reading to many serious Fantasy and SiFi books lately and needed a well written amusing fun book. This book was fun and Interesting and I highly recommend this story. Main Character is a exceptionally interesting person with a sad hunting event that got him into this line of work.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, quick read that felt like a very enjoyable episode of "Supernatural." There was just enough creepy with a dash of humor here and there. I liked the lore, and the great cast of characters. I look forward to reading more of this series, especially since it takes place not too far from where I call home.