Dog Blood

Dog Blood by David Moody is the second book in his "Hater" series. It has been a year since the world collapsed under the weight of the "Haters." What is left of the "Unchanged" has been forced into overcrowded and unprepared refugee areas in the city centers. Life for the "Unchanged" has become almost intolerable in these centers but the risk of the Haters prowling the outskirts is a deterrent for them.

This novel is still told from the viewpoint of our favorite anti-hero Danny McCoyne. It is some kind of a miracle worthy of a visit from the Commission of Miracles, Danny s not the biggest arsehole in this book. Apparently becoming a Hater instantly turns a person into a giant murderous douche. Danny is actually one of the sensitive ones. Most of the novel is a run through and around England with Danny looking for his daughter Ellis. In the process we find out that apparently Haters come in different flavors. On one end of the spectrum there are people like Danny who have the ability to "hold the hate" and can control themselves and infiltrate the unchanged. On the other end are the "Brutes", mindless killing creatures that murder mindlessly. In their killing rage they will kill hater and unchanged alike. Did I mention they do it mindlessly?

I did enjoy this book but it seemed to suffer a bit from the "middle-book-in-a-series" syndrome. Mr. Moody did provide a bit more information about "The Hate" but for the most part it was just a lot of running around killing and hiding in moldy buildings. Still with the explosive (Yes for those who have already read it, pun was intended) ending of the second book, I think I'm in for a treat with book three Them or Us.