"Hate Machine" opens more or less where the previous one closed - with Eric being forced to go to Las Vegas because something he did 30 years ago is about to finally come back and bite him. It does not help that someone is holding Garbiela's soul as hostage (Eric may still be pissed off because of the whole getting him back from the dead thing but he still cares about her... a lot). As it turns out, someone is trying to play with time - not just with the future but with the past as well and that can lead to a lot of... interesting moments. Not that Eric cares much about the world at this point (his moral compass is anything but straight forward) but he really does not like having his chain yanked by something he made.

Moving the novel from LA to Vegas allows the novel to explore chance and time magic (which we had not seen much of) and to tie some old threads from earlier novels back in. By the end of it Eric is back to LA although the world may be slightly different from what one remembers - as usual, the consequences of some choices are not what one expects... ( )

Hate Machine is the 8th book in the Eric Carter series and it does not disappoint. Well-written fantasy series! I had not read the previous seven books but enjoyed the book regardless. Highly recommend. ( )

Hate Machine
By Stephen Blackmoore
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this terrific book! I love the Eric Carter books but I think Blackmoore outdid himself this time! Wow! This book is amazing! Just when I thought he couldn't possibly get Eric in deeper trouble, or more impossible situations, Blackmoore writes this! Action packed with crazy, insane gods, ghosts, and more! Eric has to save his friend's soul and he may also have to save the world!
I love these colorful characters, twisted plot, unexpected situations, against the odds trials for Eric, and so much more. Even though there is blood and gore, there is humor and wit sprinkled generously about!
If you haven't started the Eric Carter books, what are you waiting for? Do yourself a favor! Get started! Cheer on the retired assassin and lets fight some bad gods (some you may never have known existed) and bad guys (some may not be human)! It is never, ever boring! ( )