Book Review: "Age of Blood" by Weston Ochse

- by Steve Garcia, 2 November 2013

Trash Mutant, I have a confession to make. I know it may come as a shock, as I constantly write about movies, things happening about movies, and the occasional comic book history lesson, but there are things I dare not go near… And novels are at the top of that list. Nothing against them, because hey, you like what you like, but it’s very hard for me to sit down, take a breather, and crack open a 300 page book loaded up with words and no pretty pictures. But I scaled the mountain, and I’m here to tell you about this thing I’ve been reading for a little bit that absolutely transformed my opinion on the subject. Sit down, and listen up, kiddies! Let me tell you why Weston Ochse’s "Age of Blood" isn’t only great, but how it changed my outlook on hardcore book-reading.

"When a Senator’s daughter is kidnapped by a mysterious group with ties to the supernatural... it’s clearly a job for SEAL TEAM 666. As Triple Six gets involved, they discover links to the Zeta Cartel, a newly discovered temple beneath Mexico City, and a group known as Followers of the Flayed One. International politics, cross-border narco-terrorism, and an insidious force operating inside the team soon threaten to derail the mission. Forced to partner with several militant ex-patriots and a former Zeta hitman-turned-skinwalker, Triple Six is the world's only hope to stop the return of the Age of Blood." 

Perhaps the most intriguing and special thing about this read was the genre. Never before have I come across a movie, comic, book, etc. whose main focus was military horror. Because military is often associated with other genres such as drama, romance, and even the occasional comedy, horror is such a fantastic “why haven’t I ever thought of that before” sort of mix that was an instant hook to the story’s premise. It had everything from werewolves, chupacabras, crazy cults, and so much more that only a team like this could handle. That, plus the vast knowledge of military expertise possessed by the author, made this book feel so real, which in turn, made the book so very hard to put down.

Another thing that impressed me to no end (and a reason why this book turned me) was that not only was every character in this story likable, but that Ochse was able to give this huge cast all the background and balance necessary to keep the ball rolling. An ensemble cast that isn’t only likable, but is also able contribute everything necessary to keep the story interesting, is a rare treat that only very few people have been able to pull off. The story was so well-paced, never once was I lost in the sea of characters, and every time the story made a jump from one scene to the next, I looked forward to the next great exchange between characters. Each character had a unique voice that kept you invested the entire time. True, while not every character was a good guy, the bad guys were arguably even more intriguing, and that’s how you know these were good villains. 

While this book is a sequel, I would have never guessed it because it was so accessible to new readers to this series. I absolutely recommend this read, as it has a little something for everyone, including the hardcore comic book nerd like myself. The genre is unique, the cast is likable, it’s excellently-paced, and I promise you’ll never want to put it down. Age of Blood was great, and that’s all there is to it. Go out there and get it!


"Age of Blood" is out NOW on St. Martins Press. Follow Weston Ochse on Twitter, and check out his official site. Have you picked up "Age of Blood" yet? What were your thoughts? Leave us a comment below!

Tagged: books, Reviews.

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