Blood and Bullets Audiobook – Firestick, Book 2

It was a drizzly Portland evening when I pressed play on “Blood and Bullets,” curled up with my favorite blanket, craving a dose of something darker than the rain splattering my windows. Urban fantasy has long been one of my refuges—there’s something so thrilling about city streets crawling with monsters and magic that lurks beneath neon lights. James R. Tuck delivers exactly that gritty rush in his debut, crafting a world where the shadows are just as dangerous as you hope they’d be.

Right from the opening scene—a vampire ambush gone wrong—I could feel the pulse of Deacon Chalk’s story thumping through my headphones. He’s not your cookie-cutter monster hunter; he’s wounded, both inside and out, scarred by loss but fueled by an unbreakable moral code. As someone who has worked with teens navigating their own traumas, I found myself empathizing deeply with Deacon’s stubborn commitment to protecting those more vulnerable than himself—even when it means risking everything.

The plot is breakneck: no sooner do you think Deacon might get a moment to breathe than another supernatural threat explodes onto the scene. Tuck writes violence without flinching, which at times made me wince (this isn’t for listeners looking for cozy or comedic). The constant tension reminded me of walking alone down city blocks late at night—the thrill tinged with dread—yet it never feels gratuitous; every brawl pushes Deacon further along his path toward vengeance and healing.

I loved how vividly the city came alive in sound—the rustle of danger in back alleys, the low hum of Polecats (Deacon’s strip club), even the weathered humanity clinging to each setting. That realism grounds all the vampires-and-bullets mayhem into something believable. It felt like this could be happening right under our noses—and that sense of possibility is why urban fantasy hooks me every time.

As for character dynamics, I appreciated how Tuck introduces an inexperienced young hunter alongside Deacon; their mentor-student relationship adds warmth and nuance amid all the gunfire and gore. Sometimes their banter stumbles toward cliché tough-guy territory, but there are genuine moments that caught me off-guard emotionally—a reminder that these stories are ultimately about what we’re willing to sacrifice for others.

One caveat: While I usually comment at length on narrators’ performances (the soul of any audiobook!), I have to note here that narrator details were unavailable—even after some sleuthing around various platforms. That left me longing for context on delivery style or vocal tone; still, whatever voice brought this tale to life did justice to its grit and rawness based on production quality alone.

My only real critique? A touch more wit would have elevated certain scenes—it gets relentlessly grim at points—but perhaps that’s just my Pacific Northwest sensibility aching for some dark humor between storms.

All told, “Blood and Bullets” left me exhilarated…and ever-so-slightly haunted once it ended. If you love morally complex heroes facing impossible odds—and don’t mind getting splattered with metaphorical blood along the way—Deacon Chalk’s hunt is worth every minute in your earbuds or speakers.