What do you think?
Rate this book
The Realm of False Gods #3
Early Shift: Don't Challenge the Werewolf Book 1
Don’t pick a fight with him. You won’t lose. You’ll die.
Zachary has a secret he tries to keep under wraps …
… if only people would let him. When he drifts into a remote farming community looking for work, the trouble starts before he orders breakfast.
Normally he would just avoid the trouble and move on, but there’s a girl. Not a woman. A little girl, and the men that want to dominate the village threaten her livelihood. And that just won’t do.
There’s something very rotten in this community but digging into it brings him face to face with something more powerful even than him. Something ancient and unstoppable. He has no choice other than to fight, but who will walk away?
As the false gods force their way into the realm of mortals, how many will rise to defend the Earth?
Zachary has a secret he tries to keep under wraps …
… if only people would let him. When he drifts into a remote farming community looking for work, the trouble starts before he orders breakfast.
Normally he would just avoid the trouble and move on, but there’s a girl. Not a woman. A little girl, and the men that want to dominate the village threaten her livelihood. And that just won’t do.
There’s something very rotten in this community but digging into it brings him face to face with something more powerful even than him. Something ancient and unstoppable. He has no choice other than to fight, but who will walk away?
As the false gods force their way into the realm of mortals, how many will rise to defend the Earth?
196 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2020
258 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Steve Higgs
542 books797 followersLet's start this off with an invitation to get some FREE books. No, you didn't read that wrong, we are talking about multiple free books. I love giving away free books because once people delve into the fast-paced mystery thrills I write, they go on to buy lots more.
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
May 15, 2025
2,5/5, rounded up to 3
Based on all the good reviews, I've bought the collection of the whole Realm of False Gods saga on Amazon (10 books or so) to give it a try.
And... well... I'm not sure what I'm missing here, but I'm not seeing what everyone else is seeing - to the point where I'm wondering if I'm reading the same books as all the 5-star reviews.
At least this 3rd part is slightly more original than the first two, which are telling the tale of an urban wizard whom I can't help but refer to as "knockoff Harry Dresden" in my head.
And also, I respect what the author is trying to do here: building a world out of interconnected books with a common storyline running through them, the conclusion presumably culminating in a big team-up event Avengers-style.
Unfortunately, while the writing isn't particularly bad per se, it isn't very good either in my opinion, and also badly in need of a competent editor. If I as a non-native speaker could catch plenty of grammatical errors, there must be loads more I've missed.
The author also has a few highly annoying quirks, like an occasional tendency to separate what clearly should be different sentences by commas instead of full stops, even if the focus of the narration completely changes and could maybe even use a paragraph break, which results in long, run-on sentences, and you can see an example of what I'm talking about right here, I've tried to recreate his style as best as I could.
Also, what's up with constantly shifting your POV characters back and forth? It's one thing if you'll start a new paragraph and jump to someone else in a different location, but here it also happens between two people being physically right next to each other, while they're having a chat. To me this resulted in a sort of mental whiplash effect as I was constantly trying to stay on top of whose POV it actually was.
Story-wise, there isn't that much actual substance here either. And yet parts of it still feel rushed, like the ending, in which something happens which other reviews have spoiled but I won't, then the protagonist takes off at a run, the government agency chasing him all go home, one person quits, another gets sacked, there's an investigation, and the head agent sits at his desk planning his next move. All this, which in that story must have taken days or even weeks to happen, gets covered in a page or two with barely even a paragraph break between (and no acknowledgement of time having passed).
I think I might still read the next book in the series, which should be the conclusion of knockoff Harry Dresdens storyline. I'm at least invested enough to want to know what happens to him, but I'll probably drop this series after that
Based on all the good reviews, I've bought the collection of the whole Realm of False Gods saga on Amazon (10 books or so) to give it a try.
And... well... I'm not sure what I'm missing here, but I'm not seeing what everyone else is seeing - to the point where I'm wondering if I'm reading the same books as all the 5-star reviews.
At least this 3rd part is slightly more original than the first two, which are telling the tale of an urban wizard whom I can't help but refer to as "knockoff Harry Dresden" in my head.
And also, I respect what the author is trying to do here: building a world out of interconnected books with a common storyline running through them, the conclusion presumably culminating in a big team-up event Avengers-style.
Unfortunately, while the writing isn't particularly bad per se, it isn't very good either in my opinion, and also badly in need of a competent editor. If I as a non-native speaker could catch plenty of grammatical errors, there must be loads more I've missed.
The author also has a few highly annoying quirks, like an occasional tendency to separate what clearly should be different sentences by commas instead of full stops, even if the focus of the narration completely changes and could maybe even use a paragraph break, which results in long, run-on sentences, and you can see an example of what I'm talking about right here, I've tried to recreate his style as best as I could.
Also, what's up with constantly shifting your POV characters back and forth? It's one thing if you'll start a new paragraph and jump to someone else in a different location, but here it also happens between two people being physically right next to each other, while they're having a chat. To me this resulted in a sort of mental whiplash effect as I was constantly trying to stay on top of whose POV it actually was.
Story-wise, there isn't that much actual substance here either. And yet parts of it still feel rushed, like the ending, in which something happens which other reviews have spoiled but I won't, then the protagonist takes off at a run, the government agency chasing him all go home, one person quits, another gets sacked, there's an investigation, and the head agent sits at his desk planning his next move. All this, which in that story must have taken days or even weeks to happen, gets covered in a page or two with barely even a paragraph break between (and no acknowledgement of time having passed).
I think I might still read the next book in the series, which should be the conclusion of knockoff Harry Dresdens storyline. I'm at least invested enough to want to know what happens to him, but I'll probably drop this series after that
December 30, 2025
So book 3 in the series is actually quite a departure from the first two books. First of all, it no longer follows Otto as the main character. Instead it follows Zachary Barnabus the werewolf. And there are sprinkling of erotica in this book that's pretty distinct from the first two books. I'm not complaining (yet) but I think that's one of the factor that made me not rate this book as highly as the other two.
Mild-erotica aside, the story is also different in terms of perspective change between chapters. I don't remember the first two books had many perspective change between chapters. But even if there were, it'd be changed to characters that were pretty central to both the story told in that book, and would likely contribute whether directly or indirectly further down the series. This book has way more perspective change and annoyingly, it changes it to characters which are pretty much just a cameo in this book and in all likelihood won't ever be heard from again.
I don't mind perspective change as it does build suspense, and in longer books (The Strength of the Few is just the most recent example for me) it could be a natural stopping point. But for a book that is supposed to be fast-paced, it felt like a lost in momentum and for not much reward.
That's me nitpicking though. Overall, this is still a very enjoyable book and I'd give it a 4.5 stars if I could. I just don't think that it's as good as the first two books.
One interesting note, even when the story are told from Zachary's perspective, the narration never refer to him in first-person like the way it did with Otto in the first two books. That could mean that Otto is the real main character of the story but looking at the book list, The Wizard in Bremen only has three books out of eleven. Will he still be featured in future books without being referred in the title? Only time will tell and I can't wait to find out.
Mild-erotica aside, the story is also different in terms of perspective change between chapters. I don't remember the first two books had many perspective change between chapters. But even if there were, it'd be changed to characters that were pretty central to both the story told in that book, and would likely contribute whether directly or indirectly further down the series. This book has way more perspective change and annoyingly, it changes it to characters which are pretty much just a cameo in this book and in all likelihood won't ever be heard from again.
I don't mind perspective change as it does build suspense, and in longer books (The Strength of the Few is just the most recent example for me) it could be a natural stopping point. But for a book that is supposed to be fast-paced, it felt like a lost in momentum and for not much reward.
That's me nitpicking though. Overall, this is still a very enjoyable book and I'd give it a 4.5 stars if I could. I just don't think that it's as good as the first two books.
One interesting note, even when the story are told from Zachary's perspective, the narration never refer to him in first-person like the way it did with Otto in the first two books. That could mean that Otto is the real main character of the story but looking at the book list, The Wizard in Bremen only has three books out of eleven. Will he still be featured in future books without being referred in the title? Only time will tell and I can't wait to find out.
April 11, 2020
Zachary's story is not to be missed!
Early Shift: Don't Challenge the Werewolf Book 1 is the third book in The Realm of False Gods series. This is the story of werewolf, Zachary Barnabus, after he becomes friends with Otto Schneider.
In this book, Zachary wants to be left in peace as he tries to live his life, but it seems that trouble always finds him. The Supernatural Investigation Alliance (SIA) is also after him and others of his kind. Zachary's character is developing well and he has a terrific snarkiness to him that is used to great effect in this book.
The author has given us an action-packed story with great characters, demons, danger, violence, and a werewolf who cares about people. I am loving this series and cannot wait for the next book.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Early Shift: Don't Challenge the Werewolf Book 1 is the third book in The Realm of False Gods series. This is the story of werewolf, Zachary Barnabus, after he becomes friends with Otto Schneider.
In this book, Zachary wants to be left in peace as he tries to live his life, but it seems that trouble always finds him. The Supernatural Investigation Alliance (SIA) is also after him and others of his kind. Zachary's character is developing well and he has a terrific snarkiness to him that is used to great effect in this book.
The author has given us an action-packed story with great characters, demons, danger, violence, and a werewolf who cares about people. I am loving this series and cannot wait for the next book.
I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
April 11, 2020
Zachary is still running. After the fight on the pier, he runs to a farm where once again he takes on the fights of others and then after winning the battle, he takes off and lands in a small farming community that he sees has trouble brewing. An attractive woman and a small girl and he is all in the protective mode. Magic being taught to evil men and it is a winning combination for a fight to the finish. Now Zachary is on the run again and the agency looking for him pull in bigger guns to take on finding him. When will Zachary's life settle down and become mundane? I guess I will have to wait for the next in this series in order to find out....or not. Good book, good series.
May 15, 2020
A woman Zach meets is being bullied by a family trying to steal her business and home. He arrives and takes up the side of the woman and tries to help. The family is magical and using it for selfish reasons. They want to own the town and have everyone cow-tow to them. Gitta hires Zach against their wishes. He goes with them and fights with them. He wins the first round but more confrontations happen. The family calls on a demon to give them more power to beat Zach. They kill him but he doesn't die. Rebecca arrives and interferes causing the death of the other supernatural being. Tears for this one. Really couldn't put it down. Received ARC copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
December 12, 2025
unique intriguing urban fantasy!!
The Realm of False Gods series is an amazing series with tons of surprises! Book 1 started out slow, but there were enough intriguing new ideas about the supernatural that I stayed with it, and damn am I glad I did! The book just continued to pick up and by the climax I was completely hooked! A new concept of how magic is used, yet based on the elements, as so much magic theory is. New races and a new realm, all very unique. Great dialogue, and relatable characters, hey who can't relate to a 2 and half meter tall werewolf, right?!?!? (that's 8 1/4 feet to us Americans...). Highly recommend this series!!
The Realm of False Gods series is an amazing series with tons of surprises! Book 1 started out slow, but there were enough intriguing new ideas about the supernatural that I stayed with it, and damn am I glad I did! The book just continued to pick up and by the climax I was completely hooked! A new concept of how magic is used, yet based on the elements, as so much magic theory is. New races and a new realm, all very unique. Great dialogue, and relatable characters, hey who can't relate to a 2 and half meter tall werewolf, right?!?!? (that's 8 1/4 feet to us Americans...). Highly recommend this series!!
March 7, 2025
Early Shift: Don't Challenge the Werewolf by Steve Higgs is the 3rd book in The Realm of False Gods series. Werewolf Zachary Barnabus, who we met in book 1 after his meeting up with wizard Otto Schneider, travels to a small farming village, where he mets the Koch brothers, bullies who are determined to take over the village. Zachary stays on to help Gitta, the woman who owns the bar and is being threatened by the Kochs. An entertaining book and although not usually what I like, I enjoyed it very much. Zachary is a great character and I am starting to get immersed in this series. Lots of fun.
December 20, 2020
One of the best authors out there!
Another bang on great story! I love that this author has not trapped himself in any one specific storyline. He literally has hundreds of stories stuck in his head and shares them with the world! This one is no exception: a werewolf, a bunch of tossers, throw in innocent people getting bullied by the tossers, and you've got a story that will keep you reading long after you should have gone to sleep! Fantastic read as always!
Another bang on great story! I love that this author has not trapped himself in any one specific storyline. He literally has hundreds of stories stuck in his head and shares them with the world! This one is no exception: a werewolf, a bunch of tossers, throw in innocent people getting bullied by the tossers, and you've got a story that will keep you reading long after you should have gone to sleep! Fantastic read as always!
August 13, 2021
Loved this one. Our hero is a werewolf; he's been hunting for others who can shapeshift like him. He wanders into a small town in Germany and finds the usual bad guys running things. Since he's a hero, he can't wander off again so he stays and tries to help. But it's not your usual story, because in this world, magic and supernatural beings exist. And that makes for a more involved narrative. Recommended.
April 17, 2025
Came to read these books, same as many others I have read reviews from, hoping to see a bit of the Terry Pratchett style that was promised in the ads I saw for these series. Well, I have to say, Mr. Higgs will not be allowed to come near the shadow of Terry Pratchett, let alone stand in it.
But, so far the series are quite compelling and I am sure I am going to enjoy reading more of it: fun, quick, nice characters, good storyline, love the magic.
But please: no more comparing to Terry Pratchett
But, so far the series are quite compelling and I am sure I am going to enjoy reading more of it: fun, quick, nice characters, good storyline, love the magic.
But please: no more comparing to Terry Pratchett
October 2, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
January 18, 2021
Entertaining and intriguing so it holds you captive. I will admit I’m not a big supernatural fan but this story somehow keeps you from concentrating on that! The characters are strong with defined moral compasses or evil in the other case(supernatural). Try it out this story first though I had downloaded a set and the book I chose first didn’t get me I think this way I would have though!
March 18, 2021
Werewolf like you have never imagined
Snarky- mouthed human shifts into snarky-mouthed werewolf.
Poor Zachary just wants to rescue damsels and children in distress.
Demons, immortals and the police just keep getting in the way...
Excellent writing and I eagerly await the next book in the series.
Snarky- mouthed human shifts into snarky-mouthed werewolf.
Poor Zachary just wants to rescue damsels and children in distress.
Demons, immortals and the police just keep getting in the way...
Excellent writing and I eagerly await the next book in the series.
March 27, 2025
Reading from Zachary's point of view in this one was an interesting look into the mind of the werewolf! The mid-chapter point of view shifts towards the middle/end of the story were a bit jarring to me since there was no indication that they would happen, but overall it was an interesting story that tied in some new elements with what we already knew from books 1 and 2.
October 1, 2025
A disappointment
First few books were pretty good despite a few inconsistencies and cheesy characters. But this book was a disappointment due to being written like a supernatural teen show that was cancelled after a season. The characters were written as dumb, unfunny and lacking any real depth. This is the last book I’ll read in the series.
First few books were pretty good despite a few inconsistencies and cheesy characters. But this book was a disappointment due to being written like a supernatural teen show that was cancelled after a season. The characters were written as dumb, unfunny and lacking any real depth. This is the last book I’ll read in the series.
May 29, 2021
this is just what a werewolf book should be lots of blood and fun. other magic users and the feds just make it more interesting. it has ties into the rest of the false gods stuff but a good standalone
August 17, 2022
I'm hooked!!!
Love Steve Higgs. Though this is his first series, it's the last that I started after finishing all the others. I shouldn't have held off!!!! I absolutely am hooked!!!!
Love Steve Higgs. Though this is his first series, it's the last that I started after finishing all the others. I shouldn't have held off!!!! I absolutely am hooked!!!!
May 5, 2024
What a tale
Poor Zach on the search for.others like himself, but always wanting to help others along the way .. He's a beautiful soul who never gets a break .. Get your tissues out though
Poor Zach on the search for.others like himself, but always wanting to help others along the way .. He's a beautiful soul who never gets a break .. Get your tissues out though
February 1, 2025
a little formulaic
I enjoy the werewolf follow up, but it was a little too melodramatic. The antagonist character too much like snidely whiplash. I also did not care for the ending.
I enjoy the werewolf follow up, but it was a little too melodramatic. The antagonist character too much like snidely whiplash. I also did not care for the ending.
May 2, 2025
Lots of action and a Werewolf that is determined to help his new friend, Gitta. Hard on his heels are trackers from the SIA. Barnabus knows this and he still has to deal with the Koch brothers who want Gitta’s diner. He is not wanting that to happen. How will this end?
June 28, 2020
Great Reading
This series will keep you up past your bedtime. It really is that good.
Mr. Highs can make you are the characters.
This series will keep you up past your bedtime. It really is that good.
Mr. Highs can make you are the characters.
October 19, 2020
I really enjoyed reading this book. Zac is a great character and he had me laughing out loud at some of his quips lol Looking forward to more instalments
October 27, 2020
Another excellent story.
December 5, 2020
Zac
Met Zac in the Wizard of Bremen books and liked him very much. I'm just a bit sad he has such a tragic life.
Met Zac in the Wizard of Bremen books and liked him very much. I'm just a bit sad he has such a tragic life.
January 14, 2021
Love everything this author is written
I find all the stories to be intriguing, good character development, fast-paced storylines, and overall a really good entertaining read.
I find all the stories to be intriguing, good character development, fast-paced storylines, and overall a really good entertaining read.
March 1, 2021
Excellent
Another fabulous read. Poor Zachary though! Nasty Steve! Reading this series again as it really is that good. All this authors books and series are.
Another fabulous read. Poor Zachary though! Nasty Steve! Reading this series again as it really is that good. All this authors books and series are.
December 1, 2021
Better than the wizard in bremen of the same series. Kinda cool that it's set in rural Germany
December 1, 2023
Developing Headlines: Will he or won't he?
This is Zac's story and the burning question is, will he ever join the SIA and fight for the survival of the human race? Now on to Book 4.
This is Zac's story and the burning question is, will he ever join the SIA and fight for the survival of the human race? Now on to Book 4.
Read
January 4, 2024DNF @17% stopped caring
January 8, 2024
Zachary’s book. Otto gets a break as we travel with Zachary. And I have to say I do love Zachary.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews