Hunted by the Others (H&W Investigations, #1) by Jess Haines

Feb 03, 2012 Wicked Incognito Now rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The heroine is not particularly likeable (in fact, she's a cry-baby wuss, NOT what I've come to expect from uf heroines), and there is a lack of forward action here. The dialogue is clunky and amateurish.

5 likes · like · see review

Jul 06, 2011 Katie(babs) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hunted by the Others takes place in present day New York City where vampires and werewolves have come out of hiding after 9/11. There are some humans who are very bigoted against them, mainly from a group called the White Hats. Shia is a bit bigoted herself when it comes to the vamps and the werewolves. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend, Chaz, who kept his true werewolf nature from her, but surprised her while they were in bed together one night. Both vampires and werewolves make no excuse...more Hunted by the Others takes place in present day New York City where vampires and werewolves have come out of hiding after 9/11. There are some humans who are very bigoted against them, mainly from a group called the White Hats. Shia is a bit bigoted herself when it comes to the vamps and the werewolves. She’s just broken up with her boyfriend, Chaz, who kept his true werewolf nature from her, but surprised her while they were in bed together one night. Both vampires and werewolves make no excuses for what they are and they expect humans to accept them. Shia gets up close and personal with the vampires when she takes on a job in finding an ancient artifact that can control them. Shia doesn’t really want the job, but she needs the money. This is where she comes in contact with Alec Royce, one of the most publically known vampires in the US who rules over most of the tri-state area. Royce is a near perfect specimen of manhood. He’s a superstar with a great deal of money and property. Shia doesn’t really stand a chance against him because Royce is just too smart and experienced. He and Shia don’t hit it off at all and she thinks he’s going to kill her. But surprise, he does something she doesn’t see coming and forces Shia to sign a contract to bind her to him. Royce also wouldn’t mind turning her into a vampire. But all is not lost, because Shia has backup and is able to turn the tables on Royce. Now not only does Shia have to contend with a more than cranky vampire who can snap her in two, but also with Chaz, her shady ex werewolf boyfriend, who wants to get back with her.

Shia is now forced into a world filled with mages, witches and other scary individuals who want to finish her off. And since Shia is a lowly human and very vulnerable she has to turn to Royce and Chaz for protection. Hunted by the Others sets up this world and new people Shia has become involved with. She’s given an awesome magical belt that only talks to her and helps her defeat the bad guys. For a debut novel, this was a pretty solid read.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

~* 3.5 Stars *~
Private Investigator Shiarra Waynest prefers to stay far away from the supernatural race of Others who made themselves known ten years ago, after 9/11 and the collapse of the Twin Towers. Frankly, they scare her. She even dumped her boyfriend when he revealed, in nearly as surprising and traumatic a way possible, that he was a werewolf (though that had less to do with him turning furry and more to do with him lying to her for months...so she says). Still, fear doesn't pay bills an...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 26, 2011 Mariya rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I found Hunted by the Others one of those light urban fantasy reads and in the beginning it did appeal to me, but after those first few chapters I was greatly let down.

I felt like the main character was so unlikable that I had to put this book down every chapter and pick it up again. Shiarra is a detective that works in the area of the supernatural, but she is oh, so terrified of them. And I am just in the mind of thinking why is this woman the heroine of the story. She also doesn't know anythin...more

3 likes · like · see review

Feb 15, 2013 Veronica G. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: female-protagonist, urban-fantasy, vampires, werewolves, first-in-series

Hmmm, what to say.... I did like this story overall but some elements were a little off-putting at times. Basically, in a world that only saw supernatural beings, i.e. the Others, out themselves following the tragic events of 9/11, certain prejudices still run high. Shiarra Waynest, the story's P.I. heroine, is not immune. Her particular prejudices seem to be borne mostly out of fear and an ignorance stemming from unfamiliarity so I think there is hope for her. I hope so anyway because I feel li...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 12, 2012 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shiarra is a private detective – for now anyway, though her business is in severe financial difficulty and it’s only with the intervention of her very wealthy business partner that they’re even keeping afloat at all.

It’s these money troubles that drives her to accept a case from the Magi. Despite never working for the Others and having no wish to spend any time among the relatively newly revealed supernatural creatures, the offer is simply too good to refuse. Even if it does mean spying on a vam...more Shiarra is a private detective – for now anyway, though her business is in severe financial difficulty and it’s only with the intervention of her very wealthy business partner that they’re even keeping afloat at all.

It’s these money troubles that drives her to accept a case from the Magi. Despite never working for the Others and having no wish to spend any time among the relatively newly revealed supernatural creatures, the offer is simply too good to refuse. Even if it does mean spying on a vampire to learn about a highly in demand artefact that has gone missing.

Unfortunately, she quickly finds herself revealed – and threatened – by the vampire that tries to put her very life in his hands. And she comes to the attention of the White Hats, a fanatical group determined to eliminate the Others. Already that’s more than complicated enough, but then people start dying to attacks that make no sense and events are being manipulated by a shadowy hand above and beyond the immediate players.

This is the kind of Urban Fantasy world that is guaranteed to pull me. Diverse creatures, integration into the human world, magic and vampires and werewolves, politics between the different groups, politics between them and the humans – it’s just the kind of world I love. No, it’s not completely knew, we know all of this before and none of the creatures here really strike new ground – but it’s an old pattern done well with enough original twists to keep me interested, keep drawing me in and keep enjoying it without think that it’s been done before. It’s a variation of an old theme – but it’s a good theme, it’s a fun theme and while the picture is similar, the details and story are different.

And it’s very well written. We have a few unnecessary monologues, but the pacing is excellent. We have a vast amount of information about the world but it’s all presented in a really natural way that completely flows into the story. The plot also has several interested parties, each with their own agendas and similar plots – the mages, the vampires, the White Hats – even Shiarra’s family but they are all given the attention they need and deserve without dragging the plot into a dozen different directions or getting us hopelessly lost. Couple with the necessary world building, the semi-love triangle, a decent cast of characters (even if they didn’t all play a huge role, they were all characters and there was some level of making them more than just floating names) keeping it all balanced was an act of true skill.

No matter what else, this book was an easy read because the writing just kept it all moving, kept me absorbed and never derailed me or left me floundering or bogged down – despite many chances when it could have.

Shiarra breaks the mould on a lot of Urban Fantasy protagonists. She’s not kick arse, she’s not lethal, she’s not skilled in weapons. She doesn’t want to get involved with the supernatural, she’s not hard as nails, she’s not a walking ball of attitude and chutzpah. The monsters frighten her, she doesn’t want anything to do with them, she doesn’t have the capability to deal with them. She isn’t a hunter, she isn’t a PI who works around the monsters - she’s been dragged into this against her will.

read more (less)

like · see review

Sep 04, 2012 Liz rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of paranormal and paranormal romance

Recommended to Liz by: Jess Haines

If you want your significant other followed because you think he/she is cheating on you, call Shiarra Waynest, PI. Unfortunately, Shiarra does her work so well that the “others” in the world wish to hire her as well, and that’s when things can turn a bit icky.

Hunted by the Others is a crazy fun rollick with a sassy, tough and slightly freaked-out heroine, a devastatingly gorgeous vampire named Alec Royce, a sexy ex-boyfriend who is a werewolf, a geeky mage who’s knowledge and abilities come in h...more If you want your significant other followed because you think he/she is cheating on you, call Shiarra Waynest, PI. Unfortunately, Shiarra does her work so well that the “others” in the world wish to hire her as well, and that’s when things can turn a bit icky.

Hunted by the Others is a crazy fun rollick with a sassy, tough and slightly freaked-out heroine, a devastatingly gorgeous vampire named Alec Royce, a sexy ex-boyfriend who is a werewolf, a geeky mage who’s knowledge and abilities come in handy, and her business partner, Sara Halloway.

Shia is about to lose her detective agency, so when a member of The Circle, a powerful coven who owns half of the city, hires her at a ridiculously high fee, Shia sees this as the perfect opportunity to save H & W. All she has to do is get close to the most powerful vampire in the city, Alec Royce, and keep her eyes peeled for an arcane object known simply as The Focus. Sounds easy enough until Royce buys out the contract she has with The Circle and forces her to sign a contract with him. Meanwhile, an anti-Other extremist group called the White Hats (think Ku Klux Klan) is also trying to recruit Shia to kill the mages and the vampires for them. See what I mean? Icky! Everyone threatens to kill Shia unless she does their bidding and all she wants to do track down missing persons – human missing persons.

Shia quickly became my new favorite heroine in this book. Throughout the story she obtains fantastic weapons and a kick-ass outfit that protects her, but she’s not Buffy the Vampire Slayer by any stretch. In fact, her first meeting with Royce is together scary and hilarious. She has a snarky mouth that rivals Sookie Stackhouse; in fact I’ll go as far as to say that I think these two could be great friends. Hunted by the Others is told in the first person, so you are viewing everything from Shia’s point of view.

Jess Haines does an excellent job of putting you in Shia’s shoes. There were many times during this story when I would react to something I’m reading only to have it echoed by Shia in the next sentence. I love when a book can do that. Jess tells her story in a colorful, witty way, and you are kept at the edge of your seat with every turn of the page.There was nothing I didn’t like about this book and I’m dying to get my hands on the next two. These are the kind of books you like to read over and over again. I give it 5 out of 5 stakes.

Hunted by the Others is the first of four books in the H&W Investigations Series. Taken by the Others, Deceived by the Others and Stalking the Others is available in book stores now. (less)

like · see review

Aug 01, 2012 Asha Richardson added it

Shelves: kindle, read-ebook, read-kindle

Formatting Tips

Goodreads allows some html formatting.
•well formed web urls automatically get turned into links
•link: my link text
•link to book: use the "add book/author" link or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
•link to author: use the "add book/author" link or J.K. Rowling
• image:

(Width must be 0-400, Height must be 0-1000, alt is a description of the image. All three are optional, but recommended.)
•bold text: ...
•italic text: ...
•underline text: ...
•strike text: ~~...~~
•indent text:

...

•blo...more Formatting Tips

Goodreads allows some html formatting.
•well formed web urls automatically get turned into links
•link: my link text
•link to book: use the "add book/author" link or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
•link to author: use the "add book/author" link or J.K. Rowling
• image:

(Width must be 0-400, Height must be 0-1000, alt is a description of the image. All three are optional, but recommended.)
•bold text: ...
•italic text: ...
•underline text: ...
•strike text: ~~...~~
•indent text:

...

•blockquote:

...

•paragraph:

...

•spoiler: (view spoiler)
•Note: tags must be properly nested, example:
OK test
Not OK test
(less)

like · see review

Jul 14, 2012 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

There are very few ideas that are “original” (whatever that means) in this novel. Most of it has been done before. Often more than once. But I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen it done so well.

Shiarra Waynest is a PI who wouldn’t normally wouldn’t accept a job from an Other (vampires, werewolves, mages, etc). But when she’s offered a job by a Mage from The Circle, an incredibly influential magical group, she doesn’t feel like she has a choice. Without a large influx of cash, she’s going to...more There are very few ideas that are “original” (whatever that means) in this novel. Most of it has been done before. Often more than once. But I can honestly say that I have NEVER seen it done so well.

Shiarra Waynest is a PI who wouldn’t normally wouldn’t accept a job from an Other (vampires, werewolves, mages, etc). But when she’s offered a job by a Mage from The Circle, an incredibly influential magical group, she doesn’t feel like she has a choice. Without a large influx of cash, she’s going to lose her PI business. The job is to get close enough to Alec Royce, an ages-old vampire, that she can steal a powerful artifact from him. But that is the simplest part of the paranormal mess that she finds herself involved in, which includes being threatened by White Hats (the anti-Other organisation) and being forced to confront and work with her lying, ex-boyfriend werewolf.

Shiarra is an absolutely fabulous protagonist. More than that, she’s a true hero. She has absolutely no way to compete physically or mentally with the Others that she comes into contact with, and she spends the majority of the book terrified that she’s in too deep, and someone is going to eat her. But she does what’s right, even when she’s scared. She isn’t one of those two-dimensional heroes who takes everything in her stride and never breaks a sweat. But she’s not whiney or pathetic, either. She is absolutely awesome.

And, for a change, Alec Royce (the vampire) is executed brilliantly. He really is mysterious, sexy, dark, dangerous, and Byronic. He’s both seductive and scary – an amazing combination. But he wasn’t even the most interesting Other in the book. My favourite was Arnold: a cute, D&D geek Mage who joins forces with Shiarra and gives her a few magic items to help her defeat the antagonist.

I picked up Hunted by the Others in the morning and finished it by that night. I couldn’t put it down. Seriously. I had to go grocery shopping, and I literally walked through the supermarket with the book in my hand, reading as I went. I walked home the same way. Take a shower? No way – I’d have to stop reading. I ran a bath instead. Cook dinner for the family? How about we order pizza.

Hunted by the Others is everything an urban fantasy book should be, and more. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the sequel.(less)

like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

After 9/11, the 'Others' (vampires, weres, mages, etc.) came out to the public to help the US recover from the disaster. In the time since, they've won legal battles against discrimination - but that doesn't mean people still aren't leery of anyone "non-human" - or that they still aren't persecuted. Shiarra (Shia) Waynest is a PI who is struggling to get by when she's given a job offer by The Circle - a powerful, influential, and rich coven of magic-workers. She's hired to find an artifact that...more

like · see review

Jan 11, 2012 Amanda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, beware-of-the-love-triangle, werewolves, vampires

Since Shiarra works as a private detective and owns her own agency, I expected her to be observant and intelligent, but she often comes off as a bit of an idiot; for her first meeting as Royce her proposed cover story [which she refers to as a stroke of genius] is pretending to be a reporter or restaurant guide reviewer, but, luckily for her, her business partner points out that Royce owns multiple restaurants and clubs and has staff who would handle media. Speaking of Royce, he is a high profil...more Since Shiarra works as a private detective and owns her own agency, I expected her to be observant and intelligent, but she often comes off as a bit of an idiot; for her first meeting as Royce her proposed cover story [which she refers to as a stroke of genius] is pretending to be a reporter or restaurant guide reviewer, but, luckily for her, her business partner points out that Royce owns multiple restaurants and clubs and has staff who would handle media. Speaking of Royce, he is a high profile vampire and Shiarra refers to when someone tried to stake him at one of his public appearances, and then there is his high profile lawsuit with another company, but she still doesn't recognise the man when she meets him in person. The number one standout moment, over the many other instances, is that she fails to immediately recognize a man who broke into her apartment and held her at knife point.
Being so sharp eyed and a quick-thinker, it was a huge surprise to learn that her business is failing.

At one point she worries about what to say to someone, as she doesn't want to sound like an unenlightened raciest. But the thing is, she IS an unenlightened raciest, so the book is actually quite unpleasant to read at times. And as the book is in first person, readers also have to sit through her thoughts too. Yay.

Her biggest hatred/fear is mainly reserved for the vampires, which I just don't understand. It's the mages who drag her into the mess in the first place and she already has had some unpleasant dealings with werewolves, so I can sort of understand why she isn't so fond of their races. However she has had no prior dealings or experiences with vampires to cause her prejudgement. In fact there isn't anything in the book to suggest that she has even been within ten feet of a vampire before.
And she doesn't know anything about vampires in general, as evidenced by a scene where she reads a email from Royce - it was sent during the day and she wonders how he sent it, as she thought vampires slept during the day. If vampires are a reality in her world, why does she only know 'movie rules' about them and no hard facts?

Royce is the vampire she is dealing with and he only pays specific attention to her AFTER she initiates contact with him [for their first meeting she wears a crucifix necklace and displays it in full view]. Until he learns about her involvement with the mages and White Hats, he seems very helpful and polite towards her - to the point of applying for a extermination of another vampire on her behalf.

So, despite knowing that her target is a high profile vampire, she A) doesn't recognize him in person, and, B) doesn't bother finding the answers to basic info on vampires of her world. Shiarra's dumb moments and general bigotry makes me pro-vampire and makes me hope that she does get bitten before the book is over.

Not only do I dislike Shiarra, but there is the problem of Chaz - her ex-boyfriend. He is also a werewolf, which means that he is the standard alpha male prototype, so I've taken an instant dislike to him. He's so possessive, he has a secret romantic side... What?! It comes of more like she's a toy, that he won't let anyone else touch. There's nothing much to say about him - he's both irritating and boring.

I just knew this would pop up; multiple love interests. Not only is this a angle that bores me and can be a irritant if the heroine picks someone I don't care for, but in this book I just don't get why anyone would want Shiarra; just what do they see in a often brainless raciest?

My main grievances are with the heroine [and Chaz], the other secondary characters are much more appealing; Shiarra's business partner Sara, mage Arnold who offers to act as a security guard to Shiarra and poor Royce. It's a shame, the author has some solid secondary characters, so who knows why she picked the worst one to lead the way?

The plot itself is fast-paced and entertaining, mixing drama, horror, action, the odd bit of humour and mystery together successfully, for the most part. Let's just hope that the sequel [Taken By The Others] shows a different side to Shiarra, otherwise these books will be deleted during my next Kindle clean-up.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 31, 2011 Heather Bokon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shiarra is a human PI who gets sucked into a case involving The Others, vampires, weres, mages, sorcerers, and other supernaturals who came out of hiding after 9/11. Shiarra doesn't like The Others, in fact she's downright terrified of most of them, but she takes the case anyway because it pays a lot and she's in a bit of a financial bind.

There was a lot I liked about Shiarra. She knew that she was just human, and that these creatures could kill her just by hugging her hello, and she was approp...more Shiarra is a human PI who gets sucked into a case involving The Others, vampires, weres, mages, sorcerers, and other supernaturals who came out of hiding after 9/11. Shiarra doesn't like The Others, in fact she's downright terrified of most of them, but she takes the case anyway because it pays a lot and she's in a bit of a financial bind.

There was a lot I liked about Shiarra. She knew that she was just human, and that these creatures could kill her just by hugging her hello, and she was appropriately terrified of them, and she showed it. I get tired of urban fantasy heroines who aren't scared of anything and don't take anything from anyone, ever. Shiarra was human in an un-human world, and she acted like it. I didn't love her reasons for breaking up with her boyfriend before the story started, but she seemed to realize how she screwed that up and came around toward the end. I'm not convinced that Chaz is completely on the up-nd-up, though.

I was surprised that she didn't tell her family anything about the threats made against them. She went balls-to-the-wall to get Sara back when she was kidnapped, but she didn't even tell her family that there could be a problem. I thought that was a little strange. And she seemed to rush headlong into decisions without thinking them all the way through, but who among us hasn't done that???

The supporting cast was pretty good - Royce the vampire. I was a little surprised after hearing how old and powerful he was, and how weak David and Anastasia were, that they were able to control him the way that they did, but control him they did. He seemed to be able to peek out once in a while and help Shiarra out, but for the most part he wasn't himself for most of the book. Chaz - the werewolf ex-now-not-ex-boyfriend - I'm still not convinced of his motives, but we'll see if future books if I'm just reading too much into it. Arnold - the mage who helped Shiarra with his magic and his spells. I think he was my favorite. I loved his geekiness and D&D playing.

The only negative I really had for this book is that we heard a lot about an incident involving weres that apparently brought Shiarra to the attention of The Others, but we never learned anything about the incident at all. Maybe it’ll be addressed in another book, but for now, it’s kind of a dangling thread for me.

Overall, I really liked this book. I'm looking forward to going forward with the series and seeing how Shiarra grows in her further contact with The Others. And I loved that belt. I really want one for myself. The whole world-building was great. Haines did a really good job creating a world where The Others have come out to the humans and the humans have reacted. The White Hats are creepy in their own right, and I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen the last of them. (less)

like · see review

Oct 16, 2011 Lola4 rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book would have been a great read--if you've never read Laurell Hamilton's early Anita Blake books. I hope Ms. Haines and Ms. Hamilton are friends so that Ms. Haines has her permission to use her intellectual property for this series--since their paranormal worlds and characters are way too similar, right down to the vampires using breath mints to mask their blood-breath. Granted there were some differences between the two characters and series, but many of those differences were eerily sim...more

like · see review

Aug 16, 2011 Mel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, vampires, magic

This was one of the first books I knew I would have read while on holiday – partly because my copy has been sitting on my TBR pile for a long time, but mostly because I had heard so many positive things about this series so I was looking forward to meeting Shiarra and friends. And I think I’ve made some new friends!

Shiarra doesn’t get involved with The Others – werewolves, vampires and mages who came out after the terrorist attacks on 911. She avoids them out of fear and ignorance and is happy...more

1 like · like · see review

Aug 01, 2011 Madame X rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-urban-fantasy, love-triangle, weak-heroine, shapeshifters, vampires, witchcraft-sorcery

I hear this series gets better with later installments but after reading HUNTED BY THE OTHERS I doubt I'll read far enough along to find out.

The heroine, Shiarra Waynest, takes a very dangerous job to wrangle sensitive information from a powerful vampire despite the fact that she has no experience dealing with supernatural beings, is completely terrified of them, and has no chance of success. Normally that would be the introduction to an exciting Urban Fantasy plot except, this time, it's reall...more I hear this series gets better with later installments but after reading HUNTED BY THE OTHERS I doubt I'll read far enough along to find out.

The heroine, Shiarra Waynest, takes a very dangerous job to wrangle sensitive information from a powerful vampire despite the fact that she has no experience dealing with supernatural beings, is completely terrified of them, and has no chance of success. Normally that would be the introduction to an exciting Urban Fantasy plot except, this time, it's really all true.

Shiarra honestly knows next to nothing about vampires, werewolves, and mages - she's a borderline bigot, in fact, who's avoided learning about supernaturals even though the information is readily available. She is so scared of them that the most innocuous encounter with a supernatural being leaves her speechless, flabbergasted, and too scared to act. The book opens with her meeting with a mage who's trying to hire her - sure, Veronica is a little intimidating but she subscribes to the "catch more flies with honey than vinegar" philosophy and really just bribes Shiarra into taking the job. While Vernoica is wooing Shiarra, Shiarra is quaking in her boots, her internal monologue is all blubbering panic...and yet she's too greedy to walk away. She seems spineless. Really, most of Shiarra's meetings with supernaturals fall along the same lines: they don't have to work very hard to bully her, bulldoze over her, and get their way.

You know how most UF books open with some routine job, so that we get a sense that even though our protagonist may be outgunned and up against the wall during the main plot, they're generally pretty good at their job? I was really missing that here. We hear that Shiarra did something glorious in the recent past, but we never actually see her acting like a competent professional. She's supposed to be a PI but she never notices when she's being followed - someone else does, and tells her about it. She never guesses that people have ulterior motives - she must be told by some other, more observant person. She doesn't know how to shoot a gun or have any other native self-defense skills; and there's no need to torture any information out of her, oh no, not when a single mean look will have her spilling the beans.

There's a love triangle, but I didn't care about either romantic interest. Chaz is a werewolf who makes his money as a personal trainer at a gym. He's got no personality at all. Shiarra dumped him when she found out that he was a werewolf (tossed him out without a word, actually, and broke off contact - back to the bigot thing). When Chaz first appears he's sweet and attentive, trying to win her back - which is already weird enough, since when do alpha werewolves pine over unremarkable bigots? As the plot heats up, Chaz shifts into protector mode, but there's still not much to him. I never got a sense of what motivated him at all; why he kept the secret, why he decided to share, why he kept caring about Shiarra after they broke up.

On the other hand, there's Royce - it seems like he's being set up as the long-term love interest, someone we'll slowly fall for over several books. He's a dark and brooding vampire and has a reputation for being unscrupulous but treats his human blood donors with more respect than is common. He could have been interesting, but we don't really see much of him, and I didn't feel the sexual tension. Mostly, I couldn't understand what either he or Chaz thought was so special about Shiarra.

I've been on an urban fantasy binge lately. On the one hand, that means I'm jonesing for a fix - my standards are lower than usual. But on the other hand, I've gotten lucky in the recent past and read some amazing books that have totally bowled me over. So it's extra obvious to me how far this one falls short. Shiarra is simply too fearful and incompetent to make me root for her. (less)

like · see review

Jul 15, 2011 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-5-stars

Plot: 4.5 Stars
What a great book to start the new year off with. It had been sitting on my massive TBR pile since May, and I really can't believe it took me so long to read it. I liked the idea of the Others, and really enjoyed that mages were added in to the mix of werewolves and vampires. I, of course, enjoyed the fact that all of the Others were scary, especially to Shia. And the contracts that humans signed to interact with the Others was a very interesting twist. This book kept me on my toe...more Plot: 4.5 Stars
What a great book to start the new year off with. It had been sitting on my massive TBR pile since May, and I really can't believe it took me so long to read it. I liked the idea of the Others, and really enjoyed that mages were added in to the mix of werewolves and vampires. I, of course, enjoyed the fact that all of the Others were scary, especially to Shia. And the contracts that humans signed to interact with the Others was a very interesting twist. This book kept me on my toes with it's twists and turns. Although I saw a few of them coming, most caught me by surprise. I think my favorite part of the whole novel is that Shia is a human mixed up in the world of the Others. She didn't really have any superhuman strengths, but played to her human strengths along with the help she got from friends and collegues.

Pace: 4 Stars
This book made me very happy because it was the first book in a couple months that I seriously couldn't put down. There were some pacing issues along the way. There were times in which there was a bit more talking than action. And there were also a few spots that just didn't move as swift or smoothly as the rest of the book. But it's been a long time since I've had to keep reading, keep reading, keep reading. Usually, I'll read a bit here and there around everything else I'm doing. So although there were a few bumps in the road in regards to the pacing, the novel was a fun and interesting ride.

Characters: 5 Stars
Shiarra was a very likeable main character, and definitely showed growth throughout the novel. I really enjoyed her crazy family, even if they were only around for a couple chapters. Sara, her friend and business partner, was the voice of reason while Shia ran around making decisions without completely thinking them through. They made a really interesting team. Alec was a tiny bit scary, but I do look forward to seeing more of the vampire. Arnold, the mage that helped Shia out a lot with all the tricks he had up his sleeve, was a bit nerdy, but a bit lovable as well. Although they didn't play a big part, I loved to hate the White Hats, the anti-Other group. They were definitely creepy in their attempts to sway Shia to their cause, but I see a showdown of some sort in the future.

Cover: 4.5 Stars
This cover immediately attracts the eye. The dusky orange of the background is a very interesting and not a very common color, so even the spine stands out. For such a long title, the text didn't get in the way of showing off the cover model, and it was shiny. The cover model was a great choice for Shia, and they dressed her appropriately to the plot. The trenchcoat she's wearing is definitely badass, along with the weapons. I was a little thrown off by the pose the cover model took at first, since it looks like she floating slightly Matrix style, but it definitely grew on me.

Overall: 4.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment. (less)

like · see review

Jul 12, 2011 Paranormal Haven rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-by-beth-guest-reviewer

3.5 Stars

Shiarra is a PI. Her business is not doing so well, which leads her to work for the Circle. The Circle is a coven of Magi, the biggest in the city. Along with Magi, there are more ‘Others,’ Vamps and Weres. There is also a faction against ‘Others’ called the White Hats. The Circle asks her to recover an object from Royce, the richest and most influential vampire in the city.

Royce turns out to be a sexy vamp, but manipulative. Shiarra is scared of him, and rightly so. Instead of killing...more 3.5 Stars

Shiarra is a PI. Her business is not doing so well, which leads her to work for the Circle. The Circle is a coven of Magi, the biggest in the city. Along with Magi, there are more ‘Others,’ Vamps and Weres. There is also a faction against ‘Others’ called the White Hats. The Circle asks her to recover an object from Royce, the richest and most influential vampire in the city.

Royce turns out to be a sexy vamp, but manipulative. Shiarra is scared of him, and rightly so. Instead of killing her, he ends up asking (blackmailing) her to sign a contract. A contract has to be signed for any relationship between a mortal and Vamp, or mortal and Were. I liked the idea of a contract, and liked the fact that Shiarra was scared of Royce. I think that in reality the average human would be scared. It makes for a refreshing change to the Urban Fantasy genre. Not only is Shiarra scared of Royce, and doesn’t fall at his feet in love, but she has no special power.

Shiarra is helped by her friend, and business partner Sara. She is also joined with Arnold the head of the Circle’s security. Arnold was one of my favorite characters out of the story. He is a mage with a thing for geeky things. There is also Chaz, Shiarra’s Were ex-boyfriend that pokes his nose into the mess she gets herself in. He is hunky and cute, but a little too dog like for my tastes. He acts as if he is trying to get back with Shiarra, and in the process sometimes comes off as too soft.

This is a fast paced novel. Tension and action go hand in hand, and most of it takes place in just a couple days. Its pace means it is very easy to sit down and read it cover to cover. I finished it in two sittings. The plot line was never confusing. The story unfolded itself in its New York urban setting.

The only thing that threw me was Sara, and some repeated thoughts and feelings from Shiarra. Sara was a little too easy of a character. She has no flavor, but feels just there until she isn’t. I felt more for Sara’s sister who only makes two appearances. My only other complaint is a pet-peeve of mine. Shiarra has a bad habit of telling the reader repeatedly what she is and isn’t feeling.

When the story ended, I am not sure how I felt about the relationships in it. The story was good. I love anything packed full of action. There were lots of surprise turns, and I love that. I cheered Shiarra on, but I didn’t cheer Shiarra and Chaz on. I want to see where the story goes, and I want the characters and the relationships between them to grow, maybe even surprise me.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer)
(less)

like · see review

Apr 15, 2011 Susan Mann rated it 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this book, I'd spoken to Jess via twitter and I'd read the synopsis, it sounded like something I'd like. However I ate this book up, I devoured it whole. It is a fantastic read and I was lucky enough to go straight onto the sequel.
Shiarra is a PI who gets fed up with being pushed around by mages, vampires, and almost anyone she encounters. She is pushed into a vampiric contract, signing her life away, and realises she is putting her life in jeopardy. So...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Lady Rogue rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Shiarra aka "Shia" owned a PI business with gal pal Sara. The most appealing aspect of her character was that she was human in every sense. She didn't have any super powers and wasn't psychic. She was intelligent, but at times naive. Shia didn't always know all the answers, but she had an "expected the worst and hoped for the best" mentality. She was brave and resourceful even when she was scared shitless, which to be frank was quite frequently. I loved that Shia was honest about her feelings an...more Shiarra aka "Shia" owned a PI business with gal pal Sara. The most appealing aspect of her character was that she was human in every sense. She didn't have any super powers and wasn't psychic. She was intelligent, but at times naive. Shia didn't always know all the answers, but she had an "expected the worst and hoped for the best" mentality. She was brave and resourceful even when she was scared shitless, which to be frank was quite frequently. I loved that Shia was honest about her feelings and her confusions both internal and externally and how she would express them at times with her wit and sarcasm. I did have some issues with the lack of Shia' backstory. I would have liked to known more about her previous case involving the others that seem to make her infamous in the supernatural community. It seemed to be relevant to the story, but the details were withheld. Because of this missing element, I often found myself concentrating on what might have happened versus the what was unfolding within the pages of the current story.

There were several male counterparts to Shia's character. First there was Chaz, ex-boyfriend who happened to be a hunky alpha werewolf. While everything was told from Shia's perspective, it was apparent that the loyal pup had his heart set on Shia. He would have had her too I think, if she didn't freak out when she discovered that he turned furry once every month. But, fortunately for Chaz, she was trying to work through it...Unfortunately for him, she met Alex Royce, tall, dark and handsome vampire with a devious mind and an alpha ego. He oozed Yummy! Too bad for me, he wasn't present through much of the book...I thought for sure, he would have been a potential romance, but with the lack of presence and interaction...I was unable to feel any kind of romantic connection between him and the protagonist. Only at the end had I felt a spark between Royce and Shia....So, I am looking forward to the next installment to see if it goes anywhere. Then there was Arnold, the mage with a heart. He became Shia's self proclaimed protector and friend when Veronica, her previous client died. Last but certainly not least..... I don't know if an object could be considered a supporting character, but I want a belt like Shia had. It had a mind of its own and powers to boot. I loved the symbiotic relationship it had with Shia. In some ways, it felt like a familiar or a sentient talisman. I am anxious to learn more about it in Taken By The Others.

The author did a wonderful job writing not only a compelling and interesting plot, but she wrote a great foundation to build her world upon. I absolutely love when a world is filled with supernatural beings co-existing with humans. There is something about the political intrigue and the mystical wonder that just plain does it for me. I thought the author had an interesting idea making all negotiations documented. I kinda giggled to myself thinking with all the monsters...the ones to be feared were the lawyers. I thought the White Hats, a human organization determined to rid the world of all supernatural beings added an interesting dynamic to the story.I felt the prejudices and morality issues the fanatical group brought to the the plot was not only credible but most definitely realistic.

Overall, I thought this book was an enjoyable read. I felt it was a great start to a potentially great series. I would have liked to seen it have a little more action and perhaps it could have been a bit darker. I would have also liked to known more about Shia's past and her initial introduction to the supernatural community. But, other than that, I loved the engaging characters, thought the world building was wonderfully written, and the plot was not only intriguing, but fun. Finally, I loved the witty dialogue and found the final showdown to be exciting. I look forward to reading Taken By The Others to see where the author takes this series.

(less)

like · see review

Jan 19, 2011 Natasha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hunted by the Others is the first installment in the H&W Investigations series by Jess Haines, published by Zebra Books.
I picked this up on a whim. I was in the mood for a Urban Fantasy with Romance, particularly vampire that day, and came across this novel. I seen this novel around a bunch for the past little while, but I didn't know what to expect. Quickly in, I realized I was going to really enjoy this book.

The H&W Investigations series is based in our modern day world with a twist. V...more Hunted by the Others is the first installment in the H&W Investigations series by Jess Haines, published by Zebra Books.
I picked this up on a whim. I was in the mood for a Urban Fantasy with Romance, particularly vampire that day, and came across this novel. I seen this novel around a bunch for the past little while, but I didn't know what to expect. Quickly in, I realized I was going to really enjoy this book.

The H&W Investigations series is based in our modern day world with a twist. Vampires, werewolves and mages exist alongside us humans, but the immortal beings and humans don't get along as some series portray, not to mention the hostility between the immortals themselves.

Before I go on, I want to say how much I enjoy the Vampire vs Were tale. Natural enemies with a centuries-old-grudge is always a fun read.
Vampire vs Weres vs Mages. It's always a fun concept.

First off, the "immortals" of this novel were hidden for centuries, until 9/11, then they soon came out to the world. Some are fine with it, but most aren't.. there are orginaztions against them like every other "what's different is wrong" type group. The White Hats are an example of that. They are the extremists and anti-other beings of the series, which I really didn't like... but I think that was the point of them in the story.

The story is narrated in first person by Shiarra. Shiarra is a tough ass, normal hard working woman, looking out for herself and her friends while working as private investigator and barley getting by. The novel starts with Shiarra and a woman at a restaurant. That particular woman is head in an organization called The Circle. The Circle wants to hire Shiarra to recover a magical artifact called a focus from a ancient, very good looking vampire, named Alec Royce. The last thing Shiarra wants to do is tangle with immortals, but her bank account says otherwise, and the Circle has money to spare..and then some.

The mesmerizing vampire named Alec Royce was unique. In some ways he reminded me of Jean-Claude from The Anita Blake series, but with less personility. (He's also the head vampire in New York, like Jean Claude is the master vampire of St. Louis) Considering he wasn't always in "his" state of mind...(Which I won't get into detaile about..) we didn't get to much of a personility vibe from him. (IMO anyway) Don't get me wrong, what I read, I liked, but I just didn't feel like he was the main male for the story, but just the hot, mysterious male of the story. I have a feeling he will be much bigger a character throughout the series. I can't wait. ;)

Shiarra's Ex, Chaz was a hit in my book. Yes, he was the protective, jealous, hot werewolf, but I couldn't help but love him. I wasn't sure waht his angle was, but I didn't care, I like his character. I can't wait to see more of him as well.. I'm wanting both, and waiting to see what Haines decides!

The rest of the secondary characters were also a hit for me. I really enjoyed Arnold, the geeky mage, who was a great friend in this novel. I was surprised of his interests, but I thought it went well with the story. He's a favorite of mine.
Sara was a great friend and character, she's Shiarra's Ivy to her Rachel (The Hollows series by Kim Harrison) minus the sexual tension. haha!Oh, and I cannot forget the talking stake belt. It was weird, but I liked it.. I won't give to much away, but lets say, it's unique.

As for the storyline, I found it very enjoyable. Good pacing,plenty of action and romance. An enteraining read that will keep you on your toes, filled with supernatural and fantasy. Hunted by the Others is a must read for all Urban Fantasy lovers. It delivers everything you've come to expect from this genre. I cannot wait to read Taken by others tonight!
(less)

5 likes · like · see review

May 16, 2010 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars

Quick & Dirty: An enjoyable read with danger, tension and a fascinating paranormal world.

Opening Sentence: Long, delicate fingers caressed the stem of a wineglass, trailing upward to catch a few small beads of condensation on the glass.

The Review:

Supernatural elements known as the Others have revealed themselves to the public. Our protagonist, Shiarra Waynest, is a private investigator struggling to make ends meet. Seeing no other alternatives, and against her better judgment, she decides to...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2012 Christen *Goldilox And The Three Weres* rated it 4 of 5 stars

Read more of my reviews at: http://goldiloxandthethreeweres.blogs...

Hunted By the Others is fun, fun, fun! With classic urban fantasy elements and a regular ole human heroine, this series is one to watch!

Shiarra (yes, that is her name. . .) is a private detective who owns her agency with her partner and best friend. A lack of cash flowing in forces Shiarra to take on a job working for The Circle, which is a local group of mages. In Haines' urban fantasy, there are no paranormals hiding, rather,...more

like · see review

Jul 22, 2011 Jessica Bronder rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shiarra is a human detective with a fear of Others, vampires, werewolves, mages, etc. Shia does everything she can to stay away from Others until being low on funds and a choice job with a mage comes along. It sounds simple, find a statue for the mages that a local vampire is said to have. Since the vampire has several businesses that he makes frequent appearances at, Shia decides to approach him about a case where some parents are trying to find their goth son that took off with a vampire.

But t...more

like · see review

Jan 18, 2011 Yodamom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

I got this free on Amazon and I am so glad I did, it was really good. It had werewolves, vampires, mages, familiars, nutty people and some very funny moments. At the start of the book I thought it too detailed and somewhat jumbled, I quickly changed my mind on that. The author is very detail orientated and it fits well into the story with all the characters and mysteries happening, The world has been built and it is fully developed, I can't wait to read the next one.
Basically it is a story of a...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 11, 2010 Tynga rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shiarra is a PI in a quite different world. After the 9/11 events, Vampires, Mages and Werewolves came out of the closet and new laws were written, protecting both parties. Humans can’t take actions against the Others without a warrant or they will have to face consequences. Also, any Other getting intimate with a human is legislated and they must sign a contract stipulating the Other can do w/e they want to the human without any legal backlash. Shiarra’s ex is a werewolf and didn’t respect the...more Shiarra is a PI in a quite different world. After the 9/11 events, Vampires, Mages and Werewolves came out of the closet and new laws were written, protecting both parties. Humans can’t take actions against the Others without a warrant or they will have to face consequences. Also, any Other getting intimate with a human is legislated and they must sign a contract stipulating the Other can do w/e they want to the human without any legal backlash. Shiarra’s ex is a werewolf and didn’t respect the laws, she found out his true identity when he shifted in the middle of her living room. She kicked him out and stayed away from Others until a powerful mage dangled a nice amount of money in front of her nose for her PI services. She doesn’t know yet but she just enrolled for the ride of her life.

I really liked this book, it was a blur of emotions, action, magic and danger. The world was well built and I followed the twist and turns of the plot without ever suspecting who was “the bad guy” in the story. Most characters are in shades of gray and it made the story that much more interesting.

I loved every single characters in this book. Shiarra is the girl next door, with her fears, insecurities and money problems but when her loved ones are threatened she steps-up to the game and accomplishes the impossible. Sara, Shiarra’s best friend, is smart and dedicated, she jumps on Shia’s crazy-wagon without looking back. Arnold (a mage) is a very interesting character. Resourceful and geeky but also charming, he will help Shia the best he can but he also has ulterior motives. Royce (a vamp) is seductive and oh so dangerous. He wants something from Shia but we don’t really know what and he really surprised me. Chaz really got to me, he is a sweet-heart in a brute’s body, or should I say a werewolf’s pelt. He is unpredictable but so loveable.

Haines wrapped-up her story perfectly and I am really curious of the next book. I can’t wait to put my hands on it!

Overall, Hunted by the Others is a fantastic action-packed story in a rather original world. It’s a great debut for Haines and my only wish for the next book is to get a bit more romance blended in the mix. Definitely worth buying!
(less)

like · see review

Sep 19, 2010 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, paranormal-fantasy

Shiarra is desperate for money so she takes a job to find a statue for the 'The Circle' who are a group of mages,to get to the statue she has to get close to a powerful vamp called Royce, very quickley she is embroiled in a three way dilemma between the leeches (vampire), sparks (mages) & White Hats (vigilente humans), throw in two different werewolf packs & you have yourself a fast paced well written start to a great urban fantasy. I enjoyed the writers style, this a great page turner,...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 14, 2013 Inessa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

My English review: http://betweendandr.blogspot.com/2013...

Mon avis en français : http://betweendandr.blogspot.com/2013...

Encore une nouvelle série que j'étais impatiente de découvrir! En effet, Melliane, ne tarissait pas d'éloges au sujet de la série de Jess Haines, alors quand j'ai appris qu'elle allait être publiée en France, je n'avais plus qu'une envie : plonger dedans dès sa sortie.

Shiarra Waynest a fondé une agence de détective privé avec sa meilleure amie Sara Halloway. Mais les caisses...more My English review: http://betweendandr.blogspot.com/2013...

Mon avis en français : http://betweendandr.blogspot.com/2013...

Encore une nouvelle série que j'étais impatiente de découvrir! En effet, Melliane, ne tarissait pas d'éloges au sujet de la série de Jess Haines, alors quand j'ai appris qu'elle allait être publiée en France, je n'avais plus qu'une envie : plonger dedans dès sa sortie.

Shiarra Waynest a fondé une agence de détective privé avec sa meilleure amie Sara Halloway. Mais les caisses sont vides et si la situation ne s'améliore pas très vite, elles pourraient bien mettre la clé sous la porte. Lorsque la magicienne Veronica fait appel aux services de Shiarra afin qu'elle récupère un artefact détenu par Alec Royce, un vampire très puissant, Shiarra n'a pas d'autre choix que d'accepter, bien qu'elle ait toujours gardé ses distances avec les Autres. Mais la mission s'avère bien plus difficile que prévu et Shiarra se retrouve ainsi impliquée bien malgré elle dans une histoire assez compliquée.

Je dois avouer tout de même que j'ai eu un peu de mal à accrocher, essentiellement à cause de Shiarra qui ne m'a pas semblé bien sympathique au début. En effet, durant toute la première moitié du livre, on a une héroïne qui n'arrête pas de se plaindre et de nous faire part de ses préjugés vis-à-vis des Autres. Le moins qu'on puisse dire est qu'elle ne les apprécie pas particulièrement et ne veut rien avoir à faire avec eux. On ne peut pas dire qu'elle soit très ouverte d'esprit et par moments j'ai même trouvé qu'elle en faisait trop. Ces réactions en présence de Royce sont excessives. Un rien l'effraie. Pour une détective privée censée faire face au danger tous les jours, je trouve ça un peu limite quand même. Qui plus est, l'action tarde à se mettre en place mais heureusement, une fois arrivés dans la deuxième moitié du livre, les choses bougent, l'héroïne évolue et prend un peu plus d'assurance et à partir de là l'histoire devient plus captivante.

Les autres personnages en revanche m'ont beaucoup plu. Que ce soit Sara, la meilleure amie et associée, Arnold, le mage avec ses airs de geek ou encore, Chaz, l'ex-petit ami de Shiarra, tous m'ont paru très attachants. Chaz est vraiment touchant. Il est jaloux, possessif et très protecteur vis-à-vis de Shiarra mais on l'adore. Bien sûr j'ai aussi été très intriguée par Royce ! D'ailleurs j'aurais voulu qu'il soit davantage présent dans ce tome. On n'apprend pas grand chose sur lui compte tenu de ce qui lui arrive mais à la fin du livre, tout laisse à penser qu'il aura un rôle bien plus important à jouer dans la suite de l'histoire, du moins je l'espère car il semble être un personnage intéressant.

Le monde crée par Jess Haines est assez fascinant, bien qu'il ne soit pas vraiment nouveau. D'un côté, on a des créatures surnaturelles qui ont fait leur coming out et qui ont acquis les mêmes droits que les humains. On les appelle les Autres (vampires, garous, mages, sorciers, etc.). Puis d'un autre côté, on a des groupes extrémistes (dont les White Hats) qui prônent la suppression de ces droits et l'élimination de tous les Autres, sans parler bien sûr des luttes intestines qui existent au sein de cette communauté surnaturelle. Tout cela ne vous rappelle pas d'autres séries de fantasy urbaine ? Oui et pourtant, j'aime toujours autant. Ce qui différencie essentiellement cette série d'une autre c'est surtout la magie qui est très présente dans ce roman. L'autre originalité de ce livre se situe au niveau des rapports qu'entretiennent les humains avec les Autres. Les humains doivent au préalable donner leur consentement par écrit s'ils veulent nouer des liens avec une personne issue de l'altérité. Autrement dit, que la relation soit professionnelle ou amoureuse, tout se fait par contrat écrit ! J'ai trouvé l'idée très intéressante bien que j'aie du mal à imaginer l'existence d'un tel monde.

Au final même si j'ai eu un peu de mal à apprécier l'héroïne, ça reste un premier tome assez sympathique qui pose les bases d'une série qui pourrait s'avérer plus palpitante par la suite. Je suis tout de même curieuse de voir comment les choses vont évoluer pour Shiarra.(less)

like · see review

Feb 16, 2011 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

*sigh* I want to like this book better but it's just hard. This falls into one of those so-so reading that is so common for the first book in an urban fantasy series

What I Like
+ The heroine is a human, a completely human being without any kind of powers, and she must deals with the Others, which is a nice premise. Human scores, that's rare, right ...

+ I like the idea of the Others coming out after 9/11 and how the rescuers during 9/11 are part of the Others. That is interesting

+ The writing is n...more

like · see review

Mar 12, 2013 Blood Rose Books rated it 2 of 5 stars

In her debut novel Jess Haines introduces readers to Private Investigator who lives in a world with vampires and werewolves but she is very afraid of, but sometimes you have to face your fears in order to pay the bills.

Shiarra Waynest works as a private detective for the her own company H&W Investigations and so far she has been able to stay away from the work that would have been provided by the paranormal community because although they have been accepted by society (well minus the White H...more In her debut novel Jess Haines introduces readers to Private Investigator who lives in a world with vampires and werewolves but she is very afraid of, but sometimes you have to face your fears in order to pay the bills.

Shiarra Waynest works as a private detective for the her own company H&W Investigations and so far she has been able to stay away from the work that would have been provided by the paranormal community because although they have been accepted by society (well minus the White Hats) Shiarra is terrified of the paranormal especially their ability to look human most of the time. However, Shiarra was unaware that the business was failing and her best friend and business partner had been footing the bill for the extra expenses for awhile now. When Shiarra is approached by a high-level mage to recover an ancient artifact that is owned by one of the cities most well known vampires Alec Royce, she tries to put all her fears behind her in order to help out the business, which is easier said than done. Shiarra finds herself as the middle point for the war between different paranormal groups as well as the White Hats she does not know what to do. The White Hats and all the paranormal groups are all trying to get a hold of the same artifact in order to increase their power, and will stop at nothing to get it. Shiarra realizes that she was right to fear the paranormal and the unknown world around her.

Overall I found this book was just okay. I think that it would be a good book for someone to start out with if they wanted to try out the paranormal genre. There are some very similar ideas within this book and Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series and I would classify this book as Anita Blake light, as I found it lacked the dark and gritty aspects of the earlier Anita Blake series. Therefore, I would classify this book as Urban Fantasy Light.

I found the main character Shairra a little bit too whinny for my taste, this is not to say that I did not like that she was afraid of the Others, I think that was interesting and different, what I did not like was the constant whinnying ("Why do I have to do this?", "Why do I have to do that?"), just not how I wanted to the main character to be like. I would have been okay if she was just afraid but this went beyond that. Shairra was the one that took the job for the Others (by one of the top Mages in the Circle nonetheless) and when everything blows up and you are fighting for your own and your friend's lives, there is no doubt that a little complaining would have been okay, but it was a constant aspect with her. She should have been doing something about it, trying to figure a way out of the mess. I think that Shairra was the weakest aspect in this book for me. This is not to say I wanted her to be the Kickass, know it all heroine that are very popular these day, just a touch more confident and less whiny would have been nice, like when she had the belt on (I really like the hunter behind the belt). However, I will say that Shairra was able to eventually muster up the courage to do something but I wonder if it was her acting or the belt ( I loved the belt, I think I just really want one for myself)

Additionally, I could have done without the Werewolf - Vampire - Human love triangle that seems to be appearing, and left me wondering have I read this before, oh wait I have, in Hamilton’s series. There was just a lack of overall originality within this series and when a subject like the paranormal genre becomes over saturated your need to do something different in order to stand out, and I felt like Haines was not able to achieve this. I think my favorite part of the book was the vampire hunter belt, which was really the only new aspect in the book. The belt was very cool, and interesting and I look forward knowing more about the hunter who owned it previously. However, when my favorite part of a book is a belt/weapon it says something about the rest of the novel, I don’t know if the belt is enough to bring me back.

I think that those who are looking to get into the paranormal genre may want to start here, however, for me who has been reading in this genre for years now there was nothing really new within this novel that makes me want to stand up and shout out about it. It is a pretty light easy read, that I may visit again when I need a break from something that is dark and gritty but even then I'm not sure if I will remember to pick up the next book in this series.

Cheers!!!!(less)

like · see review

Apr 01, 2010 Marty Shaw rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines is a must-read for fans of urban fiction because it delivers everything you expect from this genre.

Shiarra is a likable hero, and a very real character in world turned upside-down by the Others revealing themselves. Being grounded firmly in the 'normal' world, she is someone the reader can relate to, so it's easy to live the adventure through her eyes.

Ms. Haines does a great job of providing the background of this alternate world in bits and pieces, so you lea...more

like · see review

title link	preview: Hunted by the Others
avg rating	preview: Hunted by the Others Goodreads rating: 3.63 (1254 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7081899-hunted-by-the-others?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327902624l/7081899.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7081899-hunted-by-the-others?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Hunted by the Others by Jess Haines[/url]

Hunted by the Others (H&W Investigations #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (5)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jess Haines

Books by Jess Haines

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Hunted by the Others