Eyes to See (Jeremiah Hunt, #1)

Nov 17, 2012 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-favorites, dark-urban-fantasy, favorites, surprise-surprise, open-ending, review-copy, i-see-dead-people, horror, urban-fantasy, reviewed-in-2012

There’s nothing I love more than dark, gritty urban fantasy, and man, does Joseph Nassise know how to write it! I can’t even remember the last time I enjoyed UF quite so much.

A man’s daughter disappears right from under his nose. He spends the next few years desperately looking for her, losing his wife and his job in the process. As the years go by and his search remains without results, his methods become increasingly desperate. Left with no other options, he performs an arcane ritual which ta...more There’s nothing I love more than dark, gritty urban fantasy, and man, does Joseph Nassise know how to write it! I can’t even remember the last time I enjoyed UF quite so much.

A man’s daughter disappears right from under his nose. He spends the next few years desperately looking for her, losing his wife and his job in the process. As the years go by and his search remains without results, his methods become increasingly desperate. Left with no other options, he performs an arcane ritual which takes away his eyesight, but gives him the ability to see the spirit world. He occasionally assists the police with some particularly difficult investigations in exchange for information about his daughter’s case.

Parents experience a unique kind of fear. It is at once more visceral and more paralyzing than any other fear, a cold, clammy hand that squeezes your heart until your very blood starts to drip from between its fingers. It invades your mind like an alien presence, disrupts your thought process and ratchets your emotions right of the scale, until you can’t possibly think straight and every second is an eternity, an eternity where all you can do is think about all of the terrible things that could have happened to your precious child.

Jeremiah Hunt is a character of unusual complexity. To a reader, the pain Hunt feels over losing his daughter is far more terrifying than any ghost, fetch, witch or beserker he comes across. This is where Nassise truly impressed me. Every few chapters we’d get to jump back to those days around Elizabeth’s disappearance and see Hunt as he was then: a successful Harvard scholar with a nice house and a beautiful wife. Making the jump back to current events and Hunt as he is now was shocking every time, especially at the beginning, before the entire process was revealed. Of course, as the reader is offered more chapters about Hunt’s increasingly desperate search, his choices become more clear and understandable, but never easier to handle.

I really liked Hunt’s only two allies (if you don’t count Whisper and Scream, his ghostly assistants), Denise Clearwater and Dmitri. They are exactly the kind of people someone like Hunt needs: used to not asking a lot of questions and unwilling to answer more than strictly necessary, but more than willing to make sacrifices for a good enough cause. And if they do seem unusually loyal for relatively new acquaintances, it's because they aren't really loyal to Hunt himself, but to the Gifted community as a whole.

Readers who enjoy romance above all else might find themselves a bit disappointed, though. Hunt isn’t exactly interested in women, and although there’s some real attraction between him and Denise Clearwater, he is simply to obsessed with his search for Elizabeth to act on it, or even to give it much thought.

Eyes to See doesn’t end with a cliffhange but enough things were left open to make me eager to read the sequel, King of the Dead, as soon as I can. Luckily (and thanks to the lovely people at Tor), I have it right here. To conclude, I’ll just quote Seanan McGuire straight from the cover: “Make time for this one.”

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Nov 13, 2011 Greta is Erikasbuddy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-publisher-sent-me-to-review

Happy Halloween everyone!!

Since it's that spooky time of year I felt it was fitting to read a couple of spooktacular books.

"Eyes to See" was sent to me by the publisher for an honest review... and because we all know me... I won't hold back.

Jeremiah Hunt is a blind dude that used to be able to see and worked at Harvard and had a hot lawyer wife, a Nancy Drew reading kid, and a fabulous house in Boston. THat is until one day his little girl disappeared. But who took her? Was it a kidnapper? Did s...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Book Chick City rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Reviewed by Rebecca for www.BookChickCity.com

"Eyes to See" is an exciting supernatural mystery, with twists around every corner that are sure to keep you reading until the very end. Joseph Nassise’s novel succeeds in setting up a mystery that you feel obliged to find the answers to, with almost as much vigour as the main character himself.

The novel kicks off with a ghostly exorcism, whereby the reader is introduced to Jeremiah Hunt, the protagonist of the novel, and also introduced to his unique...more Reviewed by Rebecca for www.BookChickCity.com

"Eyes to See" is an exciting supernatural mystery, with twists around every corner that are sure to keep you reading until the very end. Joseph Nassise’s novel succeeds in setting up a mystery that you feel obliged to find the answers to, with almost as much vigour as the main character himself.

The novel kicks off with a ghostly exorcism, whereby the reader is introduced to Jeremiah Hunt, the protagonist of the novel, and also introduced to his unique supernatural gift – he can see the dead. Hunt made a Faustian bargain with the world of magick, whereby he traded his eyesight for the gift of seeing the dead. As a result, he can see perfectly in total darkness, but is blind in any kind of light.

Now you may be wondering about the reason for this Faustian bargain. His daughter has mysteriously disappeared from under his nose, seemingly without a trace. Hunt is obsessed with finding out what happened to her, and whether she is still alive. Five years later and he is still none the wiser, despite his understanding with Detective Stanton that allows him to see any leads on the case in return for consulting on certain crimes. However, there is a certain animosity between Stanton and Hunt, which is far from a healthy working relationship and could prove costly for both of them.

Jeremiah is an interesting character, with his love for his daughter being the driving force for everything he does. This leaves him isolated from everyone else, with his wife Anne having left him as a result of his obsession. He sees himself as a lone ranger, determined to discover the truth alone, with only his two ghostly companions, Scream and Whisper, for company. Whisper is the ghost of a young girl, providing Hunt with ‘ghostsight’ whenever he needs it, which allows him to see the world around him through the ghost’s eyes. Scream is a ghostly bulk of a man, who can provide Hunt with super strength whenever he needs it and put fear into any surrounding humans that are causing Hunt any problems.

However, these two ghosts are not Hunt’s only companions in his search, as he forms a trio with Russian bartender, Dmitri, and witch, Denise. Dmitri is the bartender at Hunt’s local, the kind of man who keeps out of Hunt’s business, and yet who knows the entire goings on of the city. Denise has prophetic dreams linking her to Hunt, causing her to seek him out to understand the meaning of her dreams. Both Dmitri and Denise are highly wrapped up in the supernatural world, and quick to aid Jeremiah in anything that he needs. However, it seems a little unlikely for Jeremiah to be so quick to trust them, as he has spent so long seeking answers alone, but just lets these two into all of his secrets without question.

There were certain aspects of the book I didn’t like too much, such as some of Nassise’s comparisons throughout the book. There were times where the comparisons felt natural, such as, ‘the vast majority of us go through life like sheep, thinking that it can’t happen to us’, which provides a realistic view of Hunt’s situation, and of real life. However, there were also times where the comparisons didn’t totally fit with the situation in which they were being used, which ruined my reading of the book in places, as I was focused on the bad description and not the plot.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable read, a good mystery to get into that provided lots of twists and turns, with several elements leading up to the final conclusion. There are surprises in store throughout the book, and I particularly liked the way that there are chapters strategically placed throughout the book that directly detail Hunt’s past. Where the series will progress after this first book is unclear, but there is certainly potential for further mysteries that can be solved using the dead as a witness.

VERDICT:

Personally, I found "Eyes to See" to have an interesting mystery plot, and I liked the idea that ghosts could be used to help solve police cases. However, some of the twists weren’t as exciting as I would have liked, with the supernatural becoming too entwined with the plot, as if the writer has tried to include a multitude of different supernatural beings, forgetting that not everything about the plot has to be supernatural in order for it to be exciting.(less)

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Aug 05, 2011 All Things Urban Fantasy added it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-julia

The whys and wherefores of Jeremiah Hunt's world are fascinating, a mix of grim reality and arcane practicality. As the chapters switch between the past and present, Hunt's growth from comfortable academic to iron-hard, isolated mystic unfolds page by page. While I loved all of the chapters from Hunt's perspective, I could have done without the present-tense chapters from other characters' points of view. They never reached Hunt's level of charisma and interest, and I found myself anxious to get...more

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Feb 06, 2013 Pure Textuality rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was approached by Tor Books to review Joseph Nassise’s most recent title King of the Dead, from the Jeremiah Hunt series. Since I hadn’t read the series, they were also super cool enough to send me a copy of Eyes to See.

I will admit, right out of the gate I was excited to read Eyes to See because I think that this book has a seriously bad ass cover. In my reading experience, no book full of bad writing has a cover THAT bad ass. So I got started!

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!

I went into E...more I was approached by Tor Books to review Joseph Nassise’s most recent title King of the Dead, from the Jeremiah Hunt series. Since I hadn’t read the series, they were also super cool enough to send me a copy of Eyes to See.

I will admit, right out of the gate I was excited to read Eyes to See because I think that this book has a seriously bad ass cover. In my reading experience, no book full of bad writing has a cover THAT bad ass. So I got started!

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THIS BOOK!!!!!

I went into Eyes to See not really sure what to expect. The best I can come up with for what type of book Eyes to See is would be….take urban fantasy, mix with a some classic suspense/thriller, combine with a serious dose of the supernatural/paranormal and then add just a pinch of humor and a dash of testosterone. That’s Eyes to See. As funny as this may sound, fans of the show Supernatural would TOTALLY dig this book. Also, I don’t know many guys that read urban fantasy. The genre as a whole tends to be more aimed at females. However, I strongly feel that Jeremiah Hunt would appeal to a lot of guys and I highly recommend it for men as well as women.

Jeremiah is a fun character. He’s been stricken by grief over the disappearance of his daughter and then his wife giving up hope and turns to an act borne of pure desperation. It has left him cold and cynical and jaded but still soft enough that he experiences fear. He’s not so hardened that he will go into any situation, guns a blazin’. Take all that darkness and picture it with a nice sarcastic sense of humor. Ah!! My kind of character to follow. I fell in love with this guy right away. He’s not your typical urban fantasy hero with the bulging muscles and perfect hair but he’s feels very real.

This book takes you on a wild ride, introducing you to Hunt and the rest of the supporting cast. We learn a LOT about Hunt and how he got to where he is now, who he used to be, why he does what he does. We also meet some great characters, not just Hunt.

Oh! And the Big Bad of this book – oooooh, he’s a CRUEL bastard. I love it!

A note in regards to the series as a whole – it is a good thing that I read Eyes to See before I picked up King of the Dead (Jeremiah Hunt #2). This series is most certainly NOT a series you can read as standalone novels. However, after reading Eyes to See, I can’t for the life of me figure out why anyone would want to miss out on this book anyway!

I am giving Eyes to See 5 stars! A fantastic start to a really promising series! I will definitely be following this series to the end!

TWO SIDE NOTES: Stay tuned for my review of King of the Dead (Jeremiah Hunt #2)!! Also!!! We will be interviewing the author, Joseph Nassise VERY soon on PureTextuality.com so keep an eye out for that as well!!!

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Aug 29, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-won-on-good-reads, paranormal

This book is almost the adult version of "City of Bones." In the beginning, I thought it was just going to be about a psychic that could see ghosts, but then he added witches and werewolves and the whole nine yards of paranormal fun. At first, that completely ruined the book to me, but he actually did a great job of working it all in together and only going into detail about people/things that really mattered in the story line. I actually ended up really enjoying the book. I am a little confused...more

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Jan 01, 2013 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Sammy

*Beware of Spoilers*

Review:

What caught my eye on the synopsis (pun intended) was how Hunt gave up his normal eyesight. The author does a wonderful job of describing his vision loss and how it differed from normal sight. Hunt reminded me of a mix of Harry Dresden, John Taylor, and with spells like Rachel Morgan‘s. Perfectly executed together.

I was shocked that such an educated man (Hunt) would forget about his daughter for three hours, seriously bad parenting s...more Brought to you by OBS reviewer Sammy

*Beware of Spoilers*

Review:

What caught my eye on the synopsis (pun intended) was how Hunt gave up his normal eyesight. The author does a wonderful job of describing his vision loss and how it differed from normal sight. Hunt reminded me of a mix of Harry Dresden, John Taylor, and with spells like Rachel Morgan‘s. Perfectly executed together.

I was shocked that such an educated man (Hunt) would forget about his daughter for three hours, seriously bad parenting skills. There are so many great lines in this book one of them that was chilling and put into words how it feels when you have to call the police because your child is missing. At least for me.

“Parent’s experience a unique kind of fear. It is at once more visceral and more paralyzing than any other fear, a cold clammy hand squeezes your heart……”

On a lighter side the way he writes about the stereotypes about how blind people are treated were true and humorous, how he used it to his advantage. ( I have a blind son so it tickled my funny bone).

Hunts relationships with Dmitri and Denise were interesting and the author paced them out well, they seemed real and not forced. Getting to know more about them and their powers was fun. Denise being a Hedge Witch was a fabulous addition to the story line, how she was able to help, her knowing and recognizing that she was strong and skilled, with her self confidence made her really likeable. Dmitri stayed enigmatic for a while, him being a berserker and having all the contacts for disappearing, added to the circle. The author brought all the ends together and didn’t leave a the reader hanging YAY!, yet, open for more books in this series. Which I’m very thankful for. This series will be an auto buy for me.

This story was an absolute treat! I loved, loved, loved this story. The pacing, characters and story were perfect. When I was finished with this story I immediately started the second book in this series. I highly recommend this book for a mature young adult because of the creepy/violent factors and to any adult that enjoys Jim Butcher- Dresden Files , Simon R. Green- Nightside and Kim Harrison-Rachel Morgan series, keeping in mind this story has those flavors and more!

http://openbooksociety.com/article/ey...(less)

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Nov 10, 2011 Kt from A Book Obsession.. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: received-for-review, hardcopy

I really wanted to love this book. I mean the cover is great, and the description really pulled me in. However, I just couldn't get into reading it no matter how many times I tried. I mean the concept behind it was really intriguing, but I just couldn't make a real connection with the characters, especially the narrator, Jeremiah. To be honest, I'm not even sure why I couldn't connect as I usually get very quickly attached in first person narratives. I mean my heart broke for him in the flash ba...more I really wanted to love this book. I mean the cover is great, and the description really pulled me in. However, I just couldn't get into reading it no matter how many times I tried. I mean the concept behind it was really intriguing, but I just couldn't make a real connection with the characters, especially the narrator, Jeremiah. To be honest, I'm not even sure why I couldn't connect as I usually get very quickly attached in first person narratives. I mean my heart broke for him in the flash back sections where they showed exactly what happened when she was taken, and then the direct aftermath. However, when things came back to present day, he just seemed cold and very remote. I understand that he had to do this in order to cope, but from one extreme to the other, was a bit much. Jeremiah's absolute tunnel vision made for many missed opportunities in character development and just plain and simple emotion. At one point he did seem to wake up and care more about a person in the present, but unfortunately it didn't last for long, making that person become even more standoff towards him.

The thing that kept me holding on throughout Eyes to See was the really amazing world behind it all. There is a darker side of things going on that the ordinary person cannot see. Ironically Jeremiah's eyes were only opened to all this after he lost his real eyesight. However, he does have a unique way to see things that I found to be really intriguing. What started out as seeming to be a simple ghost story quickly became so much more. Even so, I think we have only really scratched the surface of what is in store. I do have to say that I think I would enjoy future books a little more than this one as there was some progress in the emotional part of things. I think this book will be more enjoyable to readers who love a story with a really rich world but don't need a really strong emotional attachment to their characters. Unfortunately, I need both, but I will still give this series a second chance when the next installment comes out.(less)

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Nov 08, 2011 Shanshad Whelan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, series, urban-fantasy

There's a lot that's good in this, a lot of potential. But . . . I have a few issues. The main was has to do with the author's choices on how to tell this story through POV. Jeremiah Hunt's first person POV is fairly solid and interesting to follow. Out of the three rotating POVs his is the most important to the arc of the story. A few times even then, however there's a few lines where Jeremiah attributes reactions to a "we" rather than just himself. A personal gripe, but its one of those little...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/11/...

Jeremiah Hunt is a bit different from you and I. He’s blind,yet can see. However,the things he sees are probably things we’d prefer to leave to our imaginations. Ghosts and other supernatural beings are an everyday sight for Hunt,and he makes a tentative living as an exorcist of sorts. This is how we meet him at the beginning of Eyes to See,on his way to a job to get rid of an angry ghost visiting vengeance on the group of...more You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/11/...

Jeremiah Hunt is a bit different from you and I. He’s blind,yet can see. However,the things he sees are probably things we’d prefer to leave to our imaginations. Ghosts and other supernatural beings are an everyday sight for Hunt,and he makes a tentative living as an exorcist of sorts. This is how we meet him at the beginning of Eyes to See,on his way to a job to get rid of an angry ghost visiting vengeance on the group of people that watched from their windows as she was raped,beaten,and left for dead,and did nothing to help. The author really gives the reader a good feel of what Hunt can do right off the bat and as the story unfolds,we begin to realize that Hunt’s “sight” is way more extensive than hinted at in the beginning. When Hunt is called to the scene of a murder by Detective Stanton,a cop with motives that are as shadowy as the creatures Hunt sees on a daily basis. This isn’t your everyday murder though and eventually Hunt will discover he may be more intimately connected to these victims,a revelation that will turn his world upside down.

Hunt is a tortured soul,still reeling from the disappearance of his daughter five years ago,under his care,and the subsequent disintegration of his marriage as a result of his all-consuming obsession to find Elizabeth. Out of desperation,Hunt turns to the occult,using a spell from a book left by a mysterious “preacher”,giving him the ability to see things that are “unseen”. It was way more than he bargained for,but he’s determined to make the best of his ability and continue the search for his daughter. With the help of hedge witch Denise and barkeep (and so much more) Dmitri,his search will lead him through the dark heart of a killer,to a former insane asylum where secrets and pain are almost living,breathing things. Eyes to See is a quick read,not because it’s short,but because it’s so engaging. His ghostly aids,a giant of a man he’s dubbed Scream,and a young girl he calls Whisper (and who’s sight he can borrow),add a wonderfully human aspect to the story in the lengths they’ll go to in order to aid Hunt. The novel goes back and forth between the present and the time right after Elizabeth’s disappearance,and we get a heartbreaking glimpse of a father that’s lost everything,and the journey that he’s taken to find his way back to the light. Hunt’s story will touch you,especially if you’re a parent,and the mystery of who is committing these murders is tied to Hunt and Elizabeth in a most diabolical way. Great characters,a world populated by creatures that go bump,and a new hero in Jeremiah Hunt,make this a strong start to a new series. Fans of a little police procedural served up with their urban fantasy should love this one!(less)

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Oct 24, 2011 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise

Urban fantasy at it’s best, this book will make you pause the next time you hear a bump in the night.

Nassise has created a bold new protagonist in Jeremiah Hunt. Hunt is on an emotional quest which forces him to interact with Whisper and Scream. Whisper and Scream are ghosts. In addition his crusty emotional shell is attacked by Denise a witch.

Hunt’s quest is impacted by that actions of a supernatural serial killer and a time capsule of occult nature. The action is...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Gail rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

There was something special about this book. It wasn't that the main character was the most likeable, nor was the storyline unique. Men who obsess over their career or hobby is often written about. Child abduction stories are common place.
What the author did to make this story a winner in my book was create a landscape that seemed fresh and new. Magick, ghosts and other supernatural phenomena make up the darker side of this read. The police detective is rather a jerk just trying to solve severa...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First line in the book:
I gave up my eyes in order to see more clearly.
With the cover, blurb and that line, I expect you are thinking this is just a total horror fest with lots of gore. Actually you would be wrong. I mean, there is some horror (but not in a overwhelmingly keep you up at night kind), lots of ghosts, and a little gore, but really it is more about a man's obsession into what happened to his missing daughter. And what he is willing to do to get her back. It is actually at times an...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, arcs, urban, dropbox

The whys and wherefores of Jeremiah Hunt's world are fascinating, a mix of grim reality and arcane practicality. As the chapters switch between the past and present, Hunt's growth from comfortable academic to iron-hard, isolated mystic unfolds page by page. While I loved all of the chapters from Hunt's perspective, I could have done without the present-tense chapters from other characters' points of view. They never reached Hunt's level of charisma and interest, and I found myself anxious to get...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: uf

Cool idea, but the execution was lacking. I could tell the author was trying for something hardboiled and noir, but it mostly came out as clichéd.

Despite that, the plot rumbled along at a good pace and (despite myself) I enjoyed it. It would easily have cleared four stars if not for the somewhat jarring writing style and my personal peeve:

Given that Hunt used to be an academic specializing in obscure ancient languages, I would have liked to see this manifest in some other way than infodumps. H...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-or-review-copy, contemporary, dark, read-in-2011, fantasy, tor

Though Nassise is a great writer, this book, in some respects, missed its mark for me. While I loved the first portion, I found myself lamenting its loss quickly. I would have loved the whole of Eyes to See to follow in the same footsteps as the first emotionally jarring section. However, it doesn’t, and basically readers are left with a novel that reads like it’s Harry Dresden’s big brother. While I am confidant that this will appeal to a great many readers, it may leave others with a bitter ta...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Elizabeth marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: goodreads-giveaway, novels

i won this book from goodreads, YAY! i'm excited to read this novel. i've read the first chapter that seems promising. it flows pretty well and it's one of those, "i just couldn't put it down" books. however, there are a lot of cliches and possible superfluous prose that doesn't do anything for the story. but i just couldn't put it down, so i'm going to give it ago after i finish reading the final harry potter book (i know, i know. i don't know what my problem is with that. i bought as soon as i...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Cat Russell (Addicted2Heroines) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: highly-recommend

* * * 3.5 Stars * * *

The scales had been ripped from my eyes and suddenly I could see. Really, truly see. I've never been so frightened in my entire life.

Eyes to See features a unique and emotionally-gripping character who has spent the last several years of his life without his wife, his daughter, or his ability to see.

Jeremiah Hunt unintentionally sacrifices his sight, believing that his actions will help him in the search for Elizabeth, his missing child. Now he's left to deal with the conseq...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Jessica at Book Sake rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In the first few chapters I was sufficiently creeped out and it happened a few more times throughout the story. Eyes To See is an urban fantasy on the dark side, the very dark side. The story flows back and forth between the past and present showing us what led up to Hunt losing his daughter and his eye sight. Hunt finds help in unlikely characters and in a situation I’ve never read about before. The story is fresh, the details disgusting (in a good way), and it’s more than just your normal fant...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise is an urban fantasy novel about a man, Jeremiah Hunt, who is on a quest to find his missing daughter. When all roads of discovery lead to a dead end, Jeremiah gives up his eyesight so that he might see things beyond what normal people might see. His life is in shambles and everything around him falls apart. Jeremiah takes up some PI work. While helping the local police investigate a crime he stumbles across a clue that might lead him to his daughter. This new clue l...more Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise is an urban fantasy novel about a man, Jeremiah Hunt, who is on a quest to find his missing daughter. When all roads of discovery lead to a dead end, Jeremiah gives up his eyesight so that he might see things beyond what normal people might see. His life is in shambles and everything around him falls apart. Jeremiah takes up some PI work. While helping the local police investigate a crime he stumbles across a clue that might lead him to his daughter. This new clue leads Jeremiah on a chase and he starts to uncover something more sinister than just a random kidnapping.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I first picked up this novel. The concept sounded really interesting but I wasn't sure if this book was going to make me want to sleep with all the lights on. It didn't take me very long before I was invested in the story. One of the many things I like about this book is that Nassise divides the chapters into "Now" and "Then" The author gives glimpses into the past to help the reader understand what has led Jeremiah Hunt to where he is now.
I really like the range and depth of emotions the author gives Jeremiah. It seems like everyday on the news you hear about someone's missing child. It's every parents worst fear. The author really digs down and explores the tenacity of the emotions that parents must experience in these situations. How obsession and compulsion can lead you down a dangerous path. Jeremiah is a man with nothing left to lose. However his drive to find his daughter is inspiring. He's rough around the edges, stubborn but really he's just a man who would do anything to get his daughter back.
The story line in this book is really interesting. Nassise kept me intrigued chapter after chapter. The author has created a world that is full of interesting characters along with frightening creatures. This novel in a way took on a detective vibe but I like it. In my mind I was picturing Jeremiah Hunt as a bit of a film noir character. The ending of this book really pulled at my heart strings. I won't tell you any details, but it was really touching.
Overall this is a good read. I really like the story and I'll definitely continue reading this series. It has suspense, drama and things that go bump in the night. The next book in this series is King of the Dead.(less)

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Sep 13, 2012 Chad Lorion rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Did not know this was the first of a trilogy when I bought it and started reading it. If I had known that, I would not have bought it (I already have a couple of trilogies started, really don't need another one going) and I would have lost out on a good reading experience. It's an urban fantasy/horror novel with a touch of crime novel noir, done quite well. Protagonist's daughter has been missing for five years, he's blind but can see ghosts and other supernatural beings, is used by the police t...more

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Dec 03, 2012 Dark rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is absolutely my favourite urban fantasy of 2012, even though it came out in 2011. I'm a big fan of strong male leads who aren't just re-hashing what we've seen a million times before, whether it's the detective/PI who hunts supernatural things, the typical hunter of monsters, or the wise-cracking and snippy reluctant hero. Those are all well and good and I enjoy many of them, but Jeremiah Hunt is a unique lead, and an intensely vulnerable character but he doesn't come off as a whiny w...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-chick-city-reviews-2012

Reviewed for Book Chick City
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/04/...

‘Eyes to See’ is an exciting supernatural mystery, with twists around every corner that are sure to keep you reading until the very end. Joseph Nassise’s novel succeeds in setting up a mystery that you feel obliged to find the answers to, with almost as much vigour as the main character himself.

The novel kicks off with a ghostly exorcism, whereby the reader is introduced to Jeremiah Hunt, the protagonist of the novel, and also...more Reviewed for Book Chick City
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/04/...

‘Eyes to See’ is an exciting supernatural mystery, with twists around every corner that are sure to keep you reading until the very end. Joseph Nassise’s novel succeeds in setting up a mystery that you feel obliged to find the answers to, with almost as much vigour as the main character himself.

The novel kicks off with a ghostly exorcism, whereby the reader is introduced to Jeremiah Hunt, the protagonist of the novel, and also introduced to his unique supernatural gift – he can see the dead. Hunt made a Faustian bargain with the world of magick, whereby he traded his eyesight for the gift of seeing the dead. As a result, he can see perfectly in total darkness, but is blind in any kind of light.

Now you may be wondering about the reason for this Faustian bargain. His daughter has mysteriously disappeared from under his nose, seemingly without a trace. Hunt is obsessed with finding out what happened to her, and whether she is still alive. Five years later and he is still none the wiser, despite his understanding with Detective Stanton that allows him to see any leads on the case in return for consulting on certain crimes. However, there is a certain animosity between Stanton and Hunt, which is far from a healthy working relationship and could prove costly for both of them.

Jeremiah is an interesting character, with his love for his daughter being the driving force for everything he does. This leaves him isolated from everyone else, with his wife Anne having left him as a result of his obsession. He sees himself as a lone ranger, determined to discover the truth alone, with only his two ghostly companions, Scream and Whisper, for company. Whisper is the ghost of a young girl, providing Hunt with ‘ghostsight’ whenever he needs it, which allows him to see the world around him through the ghost’s eyes. Scream is a ghostly bulk of a man, who can provide Hunt with super strength whenever he needs it and put fear into any surrounding humans that are causing Hunt any problems.

However, these two ghosts are not Hunt’s only companions in his search, as he forms a trio with Russian bartender, Dmitri, and witch, Denise. Dmitri is the bartender at Hunt’s local, the kind of man who keeps out of Hunt’s business, and yet who knows the entire goings on of the city. Denise has prophetic dreams linking her to Hunt, causing her to seek him out to understand the meaning of her dreams. Both Dmitri and Denise are highly wrapped up in the supernatural world, and quick to aid Jeremiah in anything that he needs. However, it seems a little unlikely for Jeremiah to be so quick to trust them, as he has spent so long seeking answers alone, but just lets these two into all of his secrets without question.

There were certain aspects of the book I didn’t like too much, such as some of Nassise’s comparisons throughout the book. There were times where the comparisons felt natural, such as, ‘the vast majority of us go through life like sheep, thinking that it can’t happen to us’, which provides a realistic view of Hunt’s situation, and of real life. However, there were also times where the comparisons didn’t totally fit with the situation in which they were being used, which ruined my reading of the book in places, as I was focused on the bad description and not the plot.

Overall, this book was an enjoyable read, a good mystery to get into that provided lots of twists and turns, with several elements leading up to the final conclusion. There are surprises in store throughout the book, and I particularly liked the way that there are chapters strategically placed throughout the book that directly detail Hunt’s past. Where the series will progress after this first book is unclear, but there is certainly potential for further mysteries that can be solved using the dead as a witness.
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Jul 22, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A very nice cross between F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack and Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden. Fully enjoyed this one even though there was a witch (don't ask me why... but I don't like stories about witches... just seems so improbable and ridiculous... perhaps because I have met so many people who claim to be modern witches... I don't know... anyway!) The story was riveting and kept me coming back and turning the page. The hero Jeremiah Hunt is rather tragic and his story is heart rending without b...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's the first time I read something like this. It's like a paranormal CSI. I can't say it's bad, because it's not (If you're into cops, monsters, and all that). Maybe the fact that there wasn't that much dialogue dimed it a little, but the story was nice. No romance at all, at least not in this first one, but it could have in the future. I'm not sure if I would read the next book, it's not my kind of stuff. But suit yourself if you don't like dialogue and want to read something with cops, myste...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I found this through a list of what to read whilst waiting for the next Dresden Files. It was a good diversion and a decent start to the series (which I assume will continue). The author is known for his horror writing and I would have liked more in this one. I wanted to give it a 3.5 but you can't so I figured someone else will give it a 3 for that reason and we'll even it out. I'll also go find some horror from the author.

I thought a few times that *spoiler* could not possibly happen as far as...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Nick rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I really liked the storyline when I first started this book. Then I was very disappointed to see how the story unfolded. Nassise has lifted so much from Jim Butcher - an outcast with supernatural abilities, in a large city, working for the cops, instead of a skull to assist in the research the protagonist in this book has two ghosts, etc. I'm hoping the series develops its own character in the next installment. I think this series has huge potential, just need to become more creative and origina...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Dave rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, sci-fi, bios-memoirs, paranormal

Interesting enough to complete, but it's written in a way that the plot jumps around way too much, either through flashbacks or just tangents and too many sub-plots in the narrative.

I was disappointing in the second half of the story. It really didn't hold my attention and I didn't find it interesting or believable. It's fantasy/paranormal, but even though it's make-believe and impossible, I still want to feel as though it could be real and possible. Other wise, make up some other world/universe...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

To what lengths would you go to save your child?

Jeremiah Hunt gave up everything in the search for his missing daughter: his job, his wife, and his eyesight. He was so desperate for answers he performed a ritual to help him see the unseen. What he didn’t realize was the world is a darker and scarier place than he ever imagined. With his regular eyesight gone, he now has a different kind of vision - one which lets him to see ghosts and other ‘underworld’ creatures. Now he’s helping the police dis...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Book Twirps rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

College Professor Jeremiah Hunt’s world falls apart the day his daughter goes missing. Desperate to find her, Jeremiah becomes obsessed with her case, but his daughter is nowhere to be found. As the years pass, his life begins to unravel further until he loses his job and his wife because of it. With nothing left to lose, Jeremiah ends up performing a ritual that allows him to see ghosts and other supernatural beings. The only downside is that he had to sacrifice his normal sight for this abilit...more College Professor Jeremiah Hunt’s world falls apart the day his daughter goes missing. Desperate to find her, Jeremiah becomes obsessed with her case, but his daughter is nowhere to be found. As the years pass, his life begins to unravel further until he loses his job and his wife because of it. With nothing left to lose, Jeremiah ends up performing a ritual that allows him to see ghosts and other supernatural beings. The only downside is that he had to sacrifice his normal sight for this ability. He uses his new ability to help the police solve mysterious crimes — crimes that may have something to do with his daughter’s disappearance — in hopes of finding answers.

I really like urban fantasies, especially those that don’t seem to follow the standard “recipe” of the genre. In my opinion, this one definitely breaks the mold. The minute I read the synopsis, I knew I would love this book, and despite a few stumbles, I really enjoyed it.

I really liked Jeremiah. The grief of losing his daughter has almost driven him to the brink of insanity, which makes him slightly unreliable and unpredictable. I also really enjoyed the world that Mr. Nassise has created here. I never felt confused or that things didn’t add up. He constructed the world flawlessly. I wasn’t trying to tie threads together, or make sense of inconsistencies which made the reading experience very immersive.

My only real problems with the book were the multiple POV’s. I felt like this made the action stumble a bit and it also took me out of the story when the focus was pulled away from Jeremiah. I think the tension would have played better (at least for me) if the entire book had been from Jeremiah’s POV. I also felt the ending was a little too “clean”. Everything seemed to fall into place too easily. Still, it didn’t ruin the book for me. I have the second book in the series and I will dive in soon, and I’m very much looking forward to it.

If you are an urban fantasy fan or a fan of thrillers or procedurals, I would encourage you to check this series out.(less)

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title link	preview: Eyes to See
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Eyes to See (Jeremiah Hunt #1)

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