A vampire and a journalist team up to stop a witch on a rampage in the third book of this urban fantasy from the bestselling author of the Hellequin Chronicles.
Undead investigator Miles Watson has seen his share of violence, but after his last case left a trail of dead bodies in its wake—some of which had belonged to people he actually liked—he’s decided to take a break from policing the tenuous peace between vampires and humankind. Unfortunately, the powers that be aren’t keen on him going off the grid, and the new mission they bring to his door isn’t the kind that’s easily ignored.
It seems a rogue human has his hands on some powerful chaos magic, and he’s strayed right into the midst of one of the most dangerous lands in the Maine. It’s filled with deranged, hungry desolates and has become a hotbed for political squabbles between various powerful factions. The former US state is exactly where you don’t want a newly minted—and very homicidal—witch running amok.
Now Miles will have to venture into seriously dangerous territory to play babysitter to the one witch who can bring monsters to justice. Because if the menace isn’t stopped soon, the consequences for humans and vampires alike could be apocalyptic.
Pairing quick-witted dialogue and unparalleled world-building with classic noir and horror elements, The Pilgrims of the Damned is the edge-of-your-seat continuation of a series that will grab you by the throat and refuse to let go until the very last page.
Pilgrims of the Dead by Steve McHugh
Pilgrims of the Dead is the third book in The Assembly series, and while this one takes a slightly more meandering route, it is still another excellent installment in what has become one of my favourite urban fantasy series. The story takes a while to really show where it is going, and especially in the beginning it did not feel quite as strong as the first two books. But I honestly did not mind. The characters, the humour, the sarcasm, and the action are so good that they easily carry everything along, and once the plot reveals itself it delivers in spades.
The antagonists this time around are a bit over the top, but that is almost a trademark of Steve McHugh by now. Ridiculously overpowered bad guys and crazy, cinematic action sequences are part of the fun. Just take this moment, which combines violence, anger, and morality in one perfect beat:
Miles brought the machete down onto the neck of the desolate, decapitating it, before tossing the weapon at Jenny’s feet. “We don’t torture for fun.”
“They’re desolate,” Jenny said, picking up the machete. “Who gives a fuck?”
Miles turned back to Jenny, anger in his eyes. “We do nae torture for fun. We kill, we move on, we don’t linger, we don’t inflict needless suffering on those we deem lesser than us. We’re vampires, nae monsters.”
These are vampires who make choices about what kind of people they want to be, not mindless predators, and I love that mix of grit, gore, and moral conviction.
The world building also deepens in this book, and that was a real highlight for me. Every detail makes the setting feel richer, stranger, and more layered. We meet new characters and reconnect with familiar ones, and both the fresh additions and the returning faces add something valuable.
There is even a touch of romance here, which normally would make me roll my eyes. I usually have no patience for typical romance tropes and can spot them a mile off. But in this case it actually worked for me, because it felt organic. It grew naturally out of friendship and respect, without the drama, angst, or tired friction that often put me off. That is about as rare as a pink unicorn, and I truly enjoyed how it was written.
And then there is **Church**. She remains one of the absolute stars of the series, and in this book she even gets her own chapter. It was an utter delight to see the world briefly through her eyes:
She wanted them to get complacent. She wanted to see the look on their face when she grabbed them by the throat and squeezed. Dog revenge was the best revenge.
Church is a powerhouse who can rip enemies apart, but she is also funny, loyal, and full of personality. She is every bit as engaging as the human cast, if not more so.
McHugh also continues to excel at writing characters who are believable in their personalities and relationships, even if their supernatural abilities are off the charts. These people are strong, sarcastic, often violent, but they are also vulnerable. They form bonds, they admit when they struggle, and they rely on each other for help. No one has to put on the performance of being the “extra strong man.” Trauma leaves marks, and the characters acknowledge that. This honesty makes them feel three dimensional in a way that many urban fantasy books miss.
It also bears repeating: I want more urban fantasy like this, where women are not ogled, objectified, or shoved into the damsel role. That trope is still far too common, and it is such a relief to read a series that avoids it completely. Here, women are respected, capable, and treated as full characters with agency.
Of course, all of this is wrapped up in McHugh’s trademark combination of action, sarcasm, and banter. It is impressive how he can pull off over the top set pieces without losing sight of the characters at the heart of the story. Take this moment, which shows the kind of brutal, efficient action that punctuates the quieter scenes:
Miles walked back toward the unconscious werewolf, who instead of hitting the trees had missed them and smashed into what remained of the road in front of the Toyota, making quite the mess in the process. Miles killed him in the same way he had the first, tossing the werewolf’s head into a nearby bush. He was very much done with playing nice.
That blend of grit and wry humour runs through the entire book.
*Pilgrims of the Dead* might wander more than its predecessors, but it still brings everything I want from urban fantasy. Larger than life action, sarcasm and banter, compelling characters, deepening world building, and a loyal vampire-dog who steals the show. If you want action that goes big, characters who feel real, and a story that balances blood, humour, and heart, then this series deserves a place on your shelf.
