Blood Ghast Blues

Diving into this second book in the series without having read the first book, I wasn’t sure what to expect as it is touted as a standalone. Well, I had absolutely no problems at all with understanding, enjoying, and grasping everything going on. In point of fact, I don’t think I lost anything by not having read the first one (but I will still go back and read it because I of how much I enjoyed this world). This book was fun, action-packed, well-written, and had some very unique characters which enhanced my enjoyment of this book. I really liked the protagonist and his very unique ability to handle “dim,” a substance no one knows too much about. I think I’ve found a new author to enjoy, and I think you should try him, too, if you love urban fantasy with snarky, fun characters. I can’t wait to read more in this interesting world! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and Bell Bridge Books for the e-book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to review "Blood Ghast Blues", the second installment of Jake Bible's Black Box Inc. series. Although I did not read the first book - Black Box Inc. - that is a situation that will be quickly remedied after finishing Blood Ghast Blues. This is the first book in a long while that I finished withing a day of starting.
The Defiler of Dimensions is at it again, this time working against the DEX and The One Guy (he's the One Guy that everyone knows, as in, 'I know a guy who can...'
Thankfully, Mr. Bible fills us in at the beginning of this book as to the reason that there are now so many 'aliens' on earth - the dimensions are bleeding into our reality. In the course of the novel we meet the members of Black Box Inc., a 'shaved Yeti' (the omnisexual Lassa, Sharon, the zombie, and Harper an ex-fae assassin.
BBI are tasked with taking the One Guy to DC from Asheville - something that sounds simple, but really, really isn't. Because Chase decides to do it his way; and there are a lot of beings who don't want him to succeed.
Don't want to spoil any of the plot, but this road trip rivals the Cannonball Run. And along the way, we meet a vampire, two Headless Horsemen, and others, as well as six - count them, six - dragons, who decide the fate of Black Box Inc.
An uproarious time ensues. Recommended for fans of Jim Butcher, Ilona Andrews, Kevin J. Anderson's Zombie Detective series, and others.

The next victim of gorily destructive demons is the One Guy, a major extradimensional crime lord. If he wants to survive a fate worse than death at their hands, the One Guy will have to go to Black Box Inc. to save him. Chase and his team at Black Box Inc. - Lassa, omnisexual yeti; Harper, an ex-Fae assassin; and Sharon, a business savvy zombie—will have to get the One Guy to Washington, D. C.'s Department of Extradimensional Affairs and get him into protective custody. First they'll just have to keep ahead of the blood ghasts, dimentionalist rednecks, vengeance-seeking kobolds, and his many other enemies, including Chase himself who knows first hand that you can’t trust the One Guy as far as you can throw him.

I was so happy to be approved for the sequel to Black Box Inc. because book one is just so much fun. Luckily, Blood Ghast Blues really lived up to my expectations. Jake Bible's brand of urban fantasy is quite unique as it deals with a wide variety creatures coming into our world via portals from other dimensions. He does a fantastic job writing butt kicking action scenes, cool worldbuilding, and awesome characters and dialogue. As cool as the magic system is in Chase's Asheville, North Carolina, the characters really make this story. I love the team at Black Box Inc. Everyone plays off of each other really well, the dialogue and banter is topnotch, and, even better, each player brings something special to the team. By the way, since I've been watching the tv series Lucifer I can't help but to compare Harper to Maze - and if that alone doesn't want to make you pick up this series I don't know what will. Finally, while technically this is the second book in a series, it is also described as a standalone sequel. You don't necessarily have to have read book one before jumping in here, but it's just all the better to already be familiar with the world and characters.

Blood Ghast Blues (Black Box Inc. #2) by Jake Bible is a fantastic new installment of an epic new urban fantasy series. If you're a fan of Lucifer, The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, and The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, I have a feeling you'll want to meet Chase Lawter and his crew at Black Box Inc. Since this is a standalone installment of the series, you don't already need to be familiar with the story before jumping in here. New a fun, fast-paced new urban fantasy series, then look no further. I hope we get to see more of Chase, Lassa, Harper, and Sharon in the future.

I didn't read the first book in this series but I was able to keep up with what was happening with no problem. I am very familiar with this authors work and always enjoy it. This story keeps your attention from the first page to the last with interesting characters and a great story. Full of fun, sarcasm and wit, The Black Box Crew are a diverse group. Chase can take dim and form it into boxes to hold things for people until they need it. Kind of like safe deposit boxes for the strange. When Chase "defiler of dimensions" sends ghasts to the Dim, it gets real. I loved this book. It was a lot of fun. I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review.

Blood Ghast Blues by Jake Bible was received direct from the publisher. Jake Bible never fails to deliver. A bit of blood and guts, a bit of sarcasm and with Jake Bible writing, you know you will not get bored. This book is part of a series BUT feel free to read it as a standalone, you wont feel lost, unless you dont understand sarcasm.

I love Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. It's been four years since "Skin Game" was published. Four LOOOONG years. If you've read any of the Dresden Files, Harry Dresden has a certain je ne sais quoi that no other character manages...until now.

Snarky with a sarcastic wit, Chase Lawter is the "defiler of dimensions"; that's a lower case d. You'd think this sounds like a prodigious title, but alas, no, it's completely an insult. Chase wields "dim" to form and store boxes in between dimensions, and he's the only one that does. He has made a business, Black Box, Inc.., out of doing so. His merry bunch of misfits consists of Lassa, the handsome omnisexual shaven yeti; Sharon, zombie business manager extraordinaire; and Harper, savage, ex-fae assassin. This is actually the second book in the series, but as the title says is a standalone ass whompin'. No prior experience needed.

Set in Asheville, North Carolina, BBI is tasked with delivering the One Guy to Washington D.C's Department of Extradimensional Affairs into their custody. Fleeing blood ghasts, spectral beings that explode their victims from the inside out, the team hits the road. With double-crossing from all sides and multiple agendas, it's not as simple as it seems. They run the gauntlet with not only the blood ghasts, but unforgiving kobolds, hostile rednecks in pickup trucks, and ginormous catfish. They meet some worthy adversaries, who jump on the meat wagon (literally) and help them throw some lead, among other things, at those who come after them.

Blood Ghast Blues is an uproariously fun action-packed wild ride. Chase is the best kind of hero, in that he doesn't believe he is one. The One Guy is the guy you love to hate. Lassa is a charming horndog. Harper is deadpan and deadly. Sharon has the brains. Jake Bible writes all his characters uniquely, and with charisma. He melds all of them together in a rambunctious, rip-roaring good time. This won't be my last Jake Bible book.

If you hate sarcasm, blood and guts, and language, pass this one, but if you are like me and needing a Dresden fix, Blood Ghast Blues goes a long way to filling that niche.

If the A-Team were able to kick butt with magic as well as munitions, then they would probably look something like Chase Lawter and his team.  An omnisexual yeti, a Fae trained assassin, a zombie business manager and Chase - the only known worker of dim - make for a group as vibrant and varied as the iconic 80s commandos. It”s difficult to say whether I enjoy the action or the banter more.  Despite having the occasional squabble, Black Box Inc works as a team, and will always stand up for each other.


In Blood Ghast Blues, Chase is given an offer that he can’t refuse.  The day starts like any other. A client who hasn’t paid his bill needs Chase to open his “box”.  To facilitate things, a local crimelord, The One Guy offers to pay the bill. But this is only the first odd event. Someone has summoned blood ghasts and they are leaving blood and terror in their wake.  After calling Chase to the crime scene, The Feds reveal their purpose. They want Chase and his team to transport The One Guy to Washington. The One Guy makes the same request. The task looks straightforward, but knowing that The One Guy is always lying doesn’t make unraveling his tapestry of lies, plans and countermeasures any easier.  Chase and his team quickly find that allies are few and far between and that the Feds and the One Guy are playing for much larger stakes - and that means trouble, BIG trouble.


Blood Ghast Blues has action in abundance and an equal quantity of snarky banter.  With its fast pacing, unique characters and over the top fights, readers scarcely have a chance to take a breath.  Blood Ghast Blues is adrenalin rich fun that will appeal to fans of urban fantasy, superhero fiction ala Guardians of the Galaxy, and action.


5 / 5


I received a copy of Blood Ghast Blues from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.


-- Crittermom

What can I say ………..THIS BOOK IS BRILLIANT . I have found that most sequels don't usually live up the 1st in the series ……… but this does more than that , it exceeds it .

Charles Lawter has a special gift …… he can pull 'dim' from another dimension and shape it into boxes for clients to store anything they want to …….. and place it back into that dimension safe from all .
Along with his 'motley' crew he is tasked with transporting the 'One Guy' to Washington to keep him safe from the Blood Ghasts that have been killing the Department of Extradimensional Affairs CIs .

The trip is filled with betrayal upon betrayal ………..who can be trusted ? who will survive the Blood Ghasts ?
With the aid of new and old allies and at the whim of the Dragons our team might just survive to fight another day .

I was unsure if this type of fantasy book was my thing , but this Author's worldbuilding , multi-faceted characters and great storyline kept me enthralled from start to finish .
I look forward to future books set in this world …….. I will be first in line to buy them .

I was given an arc of this book by NetGalley and the Publisher in exchange for my honest review .