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Hunter #1
Hunter
They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.
Monsters.
Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it’s taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake of the catastrophe. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous creatures fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.
To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.
Joy soon realizes that the city’s powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they’re in—to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.
When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy in the city. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them…
Monsters.
Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it’s taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake of the catastrophe. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous creatures fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.
To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.
Joy soon realizes that the city’s powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they’re in—to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.
When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy in the city. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them…
374 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2015
534 people are currently reading
10483 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,527 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,404 reviews
September 8, 2017
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
Contrary to my assumption, HUNTER by Mercedes Lackey was not a YA fantasy. If I'd bothered to read the blurb, I would've known that, but what can I say? Old habits die hard.
What it is is a paranormal/mythological/post-apocalyptic/dystopian mashup.
Sounds cool, right? And a lot of readers, particularly those still in their teens, will probably really like it.
Me? No such luck.
For starters, I'm not a big fan of the shy, reluctant heroine type. It always rings false to me. Little mouse girls who aren't comfortable with themselves or their abilities don't get books written about them, b/c they don't do anything worth writing about.
Timidity and diffidence do not breed heroic acts.
So when I'm confronted with a heroine who is all of those things, it feels contrived. If that had been my only issue with Joy, I might have gotten over it.
Guess what?
It wasn't:
Yes, she's SUPER special. But she's too busy being admirably self-sufficient to care about that:
*pats on back* *congratulates* *offers to set off fireworks, but is declined b/c wasteful*
Her SUPER specialness extends to her dogs, too:
And with all this awesomeness floating around, of course it can't help but positively impact others around her:
Soooo funny.
Her Country Mouse looking down her long nose at City Mouse, b/c "I'm wearing my drab hunting garb, b/c on the (perfect) Mountain we don't have exotic *ahem* unnatural dyes, and, my, I bet those heeled shoes must make your back hurt, but they certainly are pretty," attitude felt incongruent with her, "I just want to live a quiet life helping others as best I can, but thanklessly and out of public view, thankyouverymuch," game face.
This problem was compounded by the heroine's occasional direct comments to the reader . . . The phrase "two-faced" springs to mind. Especially when such an allegedly altruistic person thinks to herself:
It's good to have priorities.
Then there's this:
Got it. No screaming. Ever.
But this is fine:
Yeah, all the badasses drink hot chocolate and call it "yummy goodness."
And nothing wrong with wanting to cuddle up with your dog for "a good cry."
TOTALLY different from screaming.
Beyond my intense dislike of the heroine, the world-building was shoddy--it felt like a poor imitation of Panem.
I had similar issues with the plot: Joy leaves her mountain home where the people had REAL problems for the superficial and frivolous Capital at the behest of the corrupt government.
There are also the beginnings of a love triangle, but Boy #2 has a girlfriend, so maybe I'm mistaken . . . *snickers*
The writing was almost as bad as Joy (which probably had a lot to do with my dislike of her). When she wasn't finding ways to unobtrusively point out her SUPER specialness or stereotyping/contradicting her position in society, she was peating and repeating previously addressed information or stating the obvious.
*adopts lecturing tone*
When facing an opponent out-of-control with RAGE, you can use that RAGE against them. Like a weapon in your hand made of their RAGE. To turn their RAGE against them. Like a weapon.
A smaller person can use her larger opponent's size and momentum against them. It's all about leverage. So just b/c someone is bigger than you, doesn't mean you can't beat them. You just have to know how. Using energy. And leverage.
Othersiders don't like the cold. That's why everyone back home on Mountain is safe. B/c Mountain is cold, snow on its peak all year, so the Othersiders can't attack them b/c it's cold.
Speaking of Mountain, Joy really wishes she was at home. She can’t go back, b/c running away would draw attention to Mountain which would be bad b/c SECRETS, but she really, really wants to go home. If there was any way for her to return to Mountain, with her tiny room that is plenty big enough for her, she would totally do it.
*bangs head against wall* *repeatedly*
And once again, I'm nearing my self-imposed word limit. I had half a dozen other issues as well, but almost all of them can be attributed to Heroine's constant nattering and sanctimonious inner monologue. On the rare occasion she was actually doing something, HUNTER by Mercedes Lackey was fairly entertaining, but considering that accounts for maybe 20% of the book . . . Not recommended.
Contrary to my assumption, HUNTER by Mercedes Lackey was not a YA fantasy. If I'd bothered to read the blurb, I would've known that, but what can I say? Old habits die hard.
What it is is a paranormal/mythological/post-apocalyptic/dystopian mashup.
Sounds cool, right? And a lot of readers, particularly those still in their teens, will probably really like it.
Me? No such luck.
For starters, I'm not a big fan of the shy, reluctant heroine type. It always rings false to me. Little mouse girls who aren't comfortable with themselves or their abilities don't get books written about them, b/c they don't do anything worth writing about.
Timidity and diffidence do not breed heroic acts.
So when I'm confronted with a heroine who is all of those things, it feels contrived. If that had been my only issue with Joy, I might have gotten over it.
Guess what?
It wasn't:
Everybody with even a tiny little bit of magic gets taught at the Monastery; there aren’t many who have as much as me . . .
Yes, she's SUPER special. But she's too busy being admirably self-sufficient to care about that:
“Popular?” I repeated. “What’s popular got to do with anything?”
“People love watching him Hunt,” said the steward, sounding puzzled. “Don’t you—oh. I guess you don’t watch much vid out there—”
“We’re kind of busy,” I pointed out dryly. “We have to hunt and grow our food for ourselves. And make our own clothing from wool, hemp, linen, and ramie. And cut the wood to heat our houses. And—”
*pats on back* *congratulates* *offers to set off fireworks, but is declined b/c wasteful*
Her SUPER specialness extends to her dogs, too:
Not all Hounds can, but mine do.
And with all this awesomeness floating around, of course it can't help but positively impact others around her:
Mark laughed at that. Funny thing, he was laughing a lot more since he and I had partnered up.
Soooo funny.
Her Country Mouse looking down her long nose at City Mouse, b/c "I'm wearing my drab hunting garb, b/c on the (perfect) Mountain we don't have exotic *ahem* unnatural dyes, and, my, I bet those heeled shoes must make your back hurt, but they certainly are pretty," attitude felt incongruent with her, "I just want to live a quiet life helping others as best I can, but thanklessly and out of public view, thankyouverymuch," game face.
This problem was compounded by the heroine's occasional direct comments to the reader . . . The phrase "two-faced" springs to mind. Especially when such an allegedly altruistic person thinks to herself:
Suddenly my palms were damp and I was more nervous than I’d been facing down that Mage. After all, all he could do was kill me horribly. These people... they could make me look stupid.
It's good to have priorities.
Then there's this:
I wanted to scream, but I held it in. Hunters don’t scream. Not when we’re startled, not when we’re terrified, not when we’re hurt. Not when we’re dying.
Got it. No screaming. Ever.
But this is fine:
I sighed and finished my cup of yummy goodness, and wished I could Summon Bya back through again to cuddle up with.
Yeah, all the badasses drink hot chocolate and call it "yummy goodness."
The warm drink had finally made me sleepy, and it wasn’t private enough here for me to curl up and have a good cry about being sent away from everyone I knew.
And nothing wrong with wanting to cuddle up with your dog for "a good cry."
TOTALLY different from screaming.
Beyond my intense dislike of the heroine, the world-building was shoddy--it felt like a poor imitation of Panem.
I had similar issues with the plot: Joy leaves her mountain home where the people had REAL problems for the superficial and frivolous Capital at the behest of the corrupt government.
There are also the beginnings of a love triangle, but Boy #2 has a girlfriend, so maybe I'm mistaken . . . *snickers*
The writing was almost as bad as Joy (which probably had a lot to do with my dislike of her). When she wasn't finding ways to unobtrusively point out her SUPER specialness or stereotyping/contradicting her position in society, she was peating and repeating previously addressed information or stating the obvious.
*adopts lecturing tone*
When facing an opponent out-of-control with RAGE, you can use that RAGE against them. Like a weapon in your hand made of their RAGE. To turn their RAGE against them. Like a weapon.
A smaller person can use her larger opponent's size and momentum against them. It's all about leverage. So just b/c someone is bigger than you, doesn't mean you can't beat them. You just have to know how. Using energy. And leverage.
Othersiders don't like the cold. That's why everyone back home on Mountain is safe. B/c Mountain is cold, snow on its peak all year, so the Othersiders can't attack them b/c it's cold.
Speaking of Mountain, Joy really wishes she was at home. She can’t go back, b/c running away would draw attention to Mountain which would be bad b/c SECRETS, but she really, really wants to go home. If there was any way for her to return to Mountain, with her tiny room that is plenty big enough for her, she would totally do it.
*bangs head against wall* *repeatedly*
And once again, I'm nearing my self-imposed word limit. I had half a dozen other issues as well, but almost all of them can be attributed to Heroine's constant nattering and sanctimonious inner monologue. On the rare occasion she was actually doing something, HUNTER by Mercedes Lackey was fairly entertaining, but considering that accounts for maybe 20% of the book . . . Not recommended.
dnf
August 10, 2015DNF - 25%
I'm so tired of reading this same old recycled story. It's like a The Hunger Games / Divergent mash-up with yet another special girl who saves the world. Starts with many tedious info-dumps and was so easy to put down and forget about.
I'm so tired of reading this same old recycled story. It's like a The Hunger Games / Divergent mash-up with yet another special girl who saves the world. Starts with many tedious info-dumps and was so easy to put down and forget about.
August 20, 2018
As a dystopian novel, Mercedes Lackey's Hunter doesn't offer anything really new. Due to some apocalyptic event, the fabric of the world opens up and allows magic to exist alongside modern technology. It also allows monsters to enter the world. Obviously, the world will need protection; enter the hunters. Our young protagonist is eager to prove herself, and through determination and resourcefulness advances through the ranks of hunters. Contrary to the reviewers here who either loved or hated Hunter, I liked it. The plot worked and it was interesting enough to keep me turning the pages.
September 4, 2015
Review first posted on www.fantasyliterature.com:
In Mercedes Lackey’s new young adult novel Hunter, post-apocalyptic science fiction mixes with magical fantasy to produce an adventure in the tradition of The Hunger Games and Divergent. A series of catastrophes called the “Diseray” – a corruption of Dies Irae – has hit our world: a nuclear bomb (blamed on Christians) was set off in the near east, the North and South Poles switched, plagues killed countless people, and storms have permanently grounded most aircraft. These disasters culminated in the Breakthrough, a permanent rift in reality that allows deadly magical creatures to invade our world from the Otherside. Luckily, along with all of the hostile magical monsters have come some friendly ones, called Hounds by humans, even though most Hounds are distinctly un-doglike. The Hounds adopt humans who have magical powers, cooperating with them to fight against the monstrous Othersiders. These Hunters and their Hounds are the most effective weapon in the ongoing battle against Othersider monsters, called Drakkens, Kraken, vampires, Gogs and Magogs, Tommyknockers, and other names from human mythology, and the mysterious human-like Folk, mages who often direct the monsters in their attacks.
Two hundred fifty years later, society is still struggling with the aftermath of the Diseray, and the encroaching Othersiders are growing ever more dangerous. Joyeaux Charmand, called Joy, is a 16 year old Hunter, with an unusually large pack of seven Hounds. Joy is required to leave her home in a mountain village to join the group of Hunters who protect Apex, the country’s largest city. To Joy’s surprise, in Apex Hunters are media celebrities, with their own television channels and floating cameras constantly following them and recording their every move and word. Joy just wants to do her job and protect society from the Othersiders, but the battle for popularity among Hunters leads to some resentment against Joy’s unusual level of skill, particularly from Ace Sturgis, the reigning celebrity Hunter, who views Joy as an unwanted challenge. Additionally, some mysterious, behind-the-scenes political intrigue is also threatening Joy and her uncle, the police prefect in Apex.
Joy’s group of Hounds is a highlight of Hunter: they are Alebrijes, fantastical creatures with neon colors, crazy patterns, and wings, spines and horns where you wouldn’t expect them.
In real life Alebriges are a Latin American folk art that originated with the artist Pedro Linares in the 1930s, but Joy explains that when Linares caught a fever and saw these fantastic creatures in a dream, he was actually seeing real creatures in the Otherside.
Joy’s Hounds can change their appearance – they sometimes show up looking like fire-breathing greyhounds – and can speak to Joy mind-to-mind. Joy’s closest friends among the Hunters have Hounds that look like shadowy wolves or pure white winged lions.
Hunter moves swiftly and has several exciting scenes where Joy and the other Hunters battle deadly Othersider monsters. Unfortunately, the story is molded too much on similar young adult novels, focusing on an improbably gifted teenage girl whose mission is to save the world. Joy has the largest and best group of Hounds, an unlikely level of skill in hand-to-hand combat, exceptional magical combat skills, beauty (when she takes the time to fix herself up; usually she can’t be bothered), and a sometimes off-putting level of earnestness about her calling:
Hunter is not a deep or groundbreaking novel, but in spite of its obvious weaknesses, it still pulled me into Joy’s world and was a fun ride. I'd recommend this to people, especially younger readers, who are fans of books like Divergent and aren't overly weary of the typical young adult SFF plotlines.
Free copy received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
In Mercedes Lackey’s new young adult novel Hunter, post-apocalyptic science fiction mixes with magical fantasy to produce an adventure in the tradition of The Hunger Games and Divergent. A series of catastrophes called the “Diseray” – a corruption of Dies Irae – has hit our world: a nuclear bomb (blamed on Christians) was set off in the near east, the North and South Poles switched, plagues killed countless people, and storms have permanently grounded most aircraft. These disasters culminated in the Breakthrough, a permanent rift in reality that allows deadly magical creatures to invade our world from the Otherside. Luckily, along with all of the hostile magical monsters have come some friendly ones, called Hounds by humans, even though most Hounds are distinctly un-doglike. The Hounds adopt humans who have magical powers, cooperating with them to fight against the monstrous Othersiders. These Hunters and their Hounds are the most effective weapon in the ongoing battle against Othersider monsters, called Drakkens, Kraken, vampires, Gogs and Magogs, Tommyknockers, and other names from human mythology, and the mysterious human-like Folk, mages who often direct the monsters in their attacks.
Two hundred fifty years later, society is still struggling with the aftermath of the Diseray, and the encroaching Othersiders are growing ever more dangerous. Joyeaux Charmand, called Joy, is a 16 year old Hunter, with an unusually large pack of seven Hounds. Joy is required to leave her home in a mountain village to join the group of Hunters who protect Apex, the country’s largest city. To Joy’s surprise, in Apex Hunters are media celebrities, with their own television channels and floating cameras constantly following them and recording their every move and word. Joy just wants to do her job and protect society from the Othersiders, but the battle for popularity among Hunters leads to some resentment against Joy’s unusual level of skill, particularly from Ace Sturgis, the reigning celebrity Hunter, who views Joy as an unwanted challenge. Additionally, some mysterious, behind-the-scenes political intrigue is also threatening Joy and her uncle, the police prefect in Apex.
Joy’s group of Hounds is a highlight of Hunter: they are Alebrijes, fantastical creatures with neon colors, crazy patterns, and wings, spines and horns where you wouldn’t expect them.
In real life Alebriges are a Latin American folk art that originated with the artist Pedro Linares in the 1930s, but Joy explains that when Linares caught a fever and saw these fantastic creatures in a dream, he was actually seeing real creatures in the Otherside.
Joy’s Hounds can change their appearance – they sometimes show up looking like fire-breathing greyhounds – and can speak to Joy mind-to-mind. Joy’s closest friends among the Hunters have Hounds that look like shadowy wolves or pure white winged lions.
Hunter moves swiftly and has several exciting scenes where Joy and the other Hunters battle deadly Othersider monsters. Unfortunately, the story is molded too much on similar young adult novels, focusing on an improbably gifted teenage girl whose mission is to save the world. Joy has the largest and best group of Hounds, an unlikely level of skill in hand-to-hand combat, exceptional magical combat skills, beauty (when she takes the time to fix herself up; usually she can’t be bothered), and a sometimes off-putting level of earnestness about her calling:
“I’m ready to serve and protect.”Joy is also given to teenager-ish interior monologues and, since the story is told in first person narrative, her thought processes sometimes are tedious and superficial, and are told in a very young voice.
He laughed. “There are no cameras in here, Hunter Candidate. You can save – “
Then he really looked at me. “You mean that, don’t you?” He sounded… shocked.
“I do, sir.” I was baffled. Of course I meant it! There is nothing – nothing – that is more important in a Hunter’s life than protecting the Cits without Powers.
Rumors? Oh… great… and wait, what – what was a leaderboard? And what was I going to do about all this? When the Masters said I would be treated like a star, I didn’t think they meant this! This was all turning out way more complicated than I had ever dreamed.Hunter has a minor romance subplot, with just a few kisses, though that relationship may be developed further in future books in this series. There are also some curious digs at Christians, with “Christers” being derided for their insularity and unfriendliness. However, eventually the one Hunter in Apex who is a Christer becomes one of Joy’s closest friends – after she sets him straight on how to treat other people.
Hunter is not a deep or groundbreaking novel, but in spite of its obvious weaknesses, it still pulled me into Joy’s world and was a fun ride. I'd recommend this to people, especially younger readers, who are fans of books like Divergent and aren't overly weary of the typical young adult SFF plotlines.
Free copy received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
October 21, 2015
DNF @25% - I really dislike giving out negative reviews, but this is just not working for me. Just far too much info dumping and not a lot happening. For example, 5 Kindle pages for the origin of breakfast food and a few more on fashion. I get that this is the first book in the series and world building needs to be established, but for goodness' sake we don't need to know about what kind of pig the bacon was from. Even with the prodigious info dumping, the world building is still haphazard at best. I don't even mind that the MC seems to be a Mary Sue special snowflake, I just wanted the story to move along, but at this point, my interest has waned and the story has barely begun.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
January 29, 2024
I am proud to say I am yet again an oddball... I really liked this book!
I've never read a book before that started so BAD but ended so GOOD!
The Bad (the first 20%) :
Okay, so the first 20% I'd only rate a 6/10 and that's being generous. The whole beginning is Joy riding the train to the city. It would've been so much better if it started in the mountains. Then we could've seen what it was like instead of being told about it.
It starts with TONS of info dumping! This girl has concentration issues. If she really spent this long staring into space people would think there was something wrong with her.
Seriously lots of telling! Do we really need to know how they make bread? The telling doesn't even track! First she's thinking about bread then it's the armed services. She also talks to the reader a couple of times. (Which annoys me.)
I understand Joy's never left home before and she's homesick. But I wasn't sure if I even liked her at the beginning! She came off conceited, constantly thinking how much better her mountain was and how silly the Cits are. (Cits = city people)
Speaking of which, I like made up magical words. But then she added in the dystopian slang too, and it was a bit much. Although I liked the names, did we really need things like coffee to be renamed?
Then she got to the Capital, sorry Apex, and Hunters are Vid stars. (It seemed very Hunger Games esque.)
The Good:
After Joy got to the city, she really grew on me! She really is a genuinely nice person. She also stopped constantly thinking of home and quoting her masters. (Which was beginning to grate on me.)
Once she she gets to Hunter HQ and starts going on hunts, the book improves drastically! The hunts were exciting and well done and I enjoyed the relationships between the Hunters. Though she not only makes friends, but also some enemies. Namely, Ace, the top ranked Hunter. He was a decent antagonist, I certainly disliked him.
There's also a romance. The dates didn't do much for me, because they couldn't speak freely. (Since every minute Joy is being recorded.) There could've been more joking and banter, more getting to know him for me. Even though I liked him, I was never sure he was trustworthy and I think that's why the author left him as a bit of a mystery, so there would be doubt.
The world was complex and there was so much to it; magic and psi energy, hounds and otherworlders. I love how the different mythologies come together. It's so unique and such a good idea!
My favorite part of the book was the hoounds! Joy and her hounds were more like siblings than pets. They had such a great relationship! The way they joked and helped one another. And everyone's Hounds were so different; from winged lions to Joy's large colorful shape changing Hounds.
The magic system was obscure, but had plenty of rules to ground it. I liked how it worked and the glyphs and the feelings she invoked. That last battle was pure perfection! Now this shows what a great writer Lackey is!
Do I recommend this book? Yes! But have patience with the beginning. It gets better, I promise!
Another reviewer complained that Joy was too special, but I didn't think so. Sure, she was good with magic, but she didn't start out with anything that was rare. (On the mountain at least.)
Point of View: First (Joy)
Predictability: 3 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)
Source: NetGalley
My Summary:
After the world ended, magic appeared and with it otherworlders, who think of humans only as prey. Luckily some rare humans with magic have a bond with magical creatures, known as Hounds. These Hunters keep people safe and are required to go in the main city of Apex.
Joy is a young Hunter, who has lived in a monetary on a mountain for most of her life. Her only family is her uncle, who is an important man in the city. When he requests that Joy join him, she has no choice, or she'll risk the government learning about the other Hunters in the monastery.
She realizes things are more complex in the city than she thought. Her uncle is surrounded by enemies and Hunting is done very differently.
I've never read a book before that started so BAD but ended so GOOD!
The Bad (the first 20%) :
Okay, so the first 20% I'd only rate a 6/10 and that's being generous. The whole beginning is Joy riding the train to the city. It would've been so much better if it started in the mountains. Then we could've seen what it was like instead of being told about it.
It starts with TONS of info dumping! This girl has concentration issues. If she really spent this long staring into space people would think there was something wrong with her.
Seriously lots of telling! Do we really need to know how they make bread? The telling doesn't even track! First she's thinking about bread then it's the armed services. She also talks to the reader a couple of times. (Which annoys me.)
I understand Joy's never left home before and she's homesick. But I wasn't sure if I even liked her at the beginning! She came off conceited, constantly thinking how much better her mountain was and how silly the Cits are. (Cits = city people)
Speaking of which, I like made up magical words. But then she added in the dystopian slang too, and it was a bit much. Although I liked the names, did we really need things like coffee to be renamed?
Then she got to the Capital, sorry Apex, and Hunters are Vid stars. (It seemed very Hunger Games esque.)
The Good:
After Joy got to the city, she really grew on me! She really is a genuinely nice person. She also stopped constantly thinking of home and quoting her masters. (Which was beginning to grate on me.)
Once she she gets to Hunter HQ and starts going on hunts, the book improves drastically! The hunts were exciting and well done and I enjoyed the relationships between the Hunters. Though she not only makes friends, but also some enemies. Namely, Ace, the top ranked Hunter. He was a decent antagonist, I certainly disliked him.
There's also a romance. The dates didn't do much for me, because they couldn't speak freely. (Since every minute Joy is being recorded.) There could've been more joking and banter, more getting to know him for me. Even though I liked him, I was never sure he was trustworthy and I think that's why the author left him as a bit of a mystery, so there would be doubt.
The world was complex and there was so much to it; magic and psi energy, hounds and otherworlders. I love how the different mythologies come together. It's so unique and such a good idea!
My favorite part of the book was the hoounds! Joy and her hounds were more like siblings than pets. They had such a great relationship! The way they joked and helped one another. And everyone's Hounds were so different; from winged lions to Joy's large colorful shape changing Hounds.
The magic system was obscure, but had plenty of rules to ground it. I liked how it worked and the glyphs and the feelings she invoked. That last battle was pure perfection! Now this shows what a great writer Lackey is!
Do I recommend this book? Yes! But have patience with the beginning. It gets better, I promise!
Another reviewer complained that Joy was too special, but I didn't think so. Sure, she was good with magic, but she didn't start out with anything that was rare. (On the mountain at least.)
Point of View: First (Joy)
Predictability: 3 out of 5 (Where 1 is totally unpredictable and 5 is I knew what was going to happen way ahead of time.)
Source: NetGalley
My Summary:
After the world ended, magic appeared and with it otherworlders, who think of humans only as prey. Luckily some rare humans with magic have a bond with magical creatures, known as Hounds. These Hunters keep people safe and are required to go in the main city of Apex.
Joy is a young Hunter, who has lived in a monetary on a mountain for most of her life. Her only family is her uncle, who is an important man in the city. When he requests that Joy join him, she has no choice, or she'll risk the government learning about the other Hunters in the monastery.
She realizes things are more complex in the city than she thought. Her uncle is surrounded by enemies and Hunting is done very differently.
dnf
March 9, 2018I am with the majority - infodumps, Mary Sue MC and recycled YA tropes galore.
Read
February 7, 2017I love the mix of different cultures as well as the world building in this series. The heroine is amazing and I wish I could fight alongside her or see her in action. She's super cool. The spells and the magic are really well imagined. Love the colors of the hunters and the fact that they have channels people follow. It's fantasy but with enough of a real world overlap, it feels like it could happen.
Want to read
May 3, 2015This sounds like Attack on Titan.
August 8, 2021
Boringgggg and nothing unique about it
dnf
August 19, 2015Pages read: 21
The whole first chapter was infodumping without any personality and some sketchy world building. I'm thrown out of the book at every reference to the Diseray. I know you mean the disarray, so why oh why is it spelled like that?
Also, there was some serious comma abuse happening.
THIS. IS. NOT. HOW. SEMICOLONS. WORK.
In the middle of the infodump, the heroine also decides to address the reader directly, which was...weird.
Actually, what I'm wondering is why you're telling me what I'm thinking. Good try, though.
With uninspiring early reviews and that first chapter, I'm out.
The whole first chapter was infodumping without any personality and some sketchy world building. I'm thrown out of the book at every reference to the Diseray. I know you mean the disarray, so why oh why is it spelled like that?
Also, there was some serious comma abuse happening.
"Two years ago; I was fourteen then. Summer, of course; in winter, all the settlements are relatively safe, protected by snow and cold."
THIS. IS. NOT. HOW. SEMICOLONS. WORK.
In the middle of the infodump, the heroine also decides to address the reader directly, which was...weird.
Now, right now, I bet you're thinking, Well, if these monastery people are all wrapped up in protecting and helping everyone, why aren't they in Apex in the first place?
Actually, what I'm wondering is why you're telling me what I'm thinking. Good try, though.
With uninspiring early reviews and that first chapter, I'm out.
April 9, 2016
Originally posted on the blog: What the Cat Read
I’ve always been a fan of Lackey’s novels. She’s been a household favorite since the time I was a tiny little kitten to present day. There has been very little which she has written that I have not loved, so when I heard that she had a new YA novel releasing this year, I pounced on the chance to read it because I knew it was going to be enjoyable. And I can assure you that it did not disappoint. Fans of Lackey’s various series are going to purr over Hunter, the first in a brand new YA series that blends cultural paranormal myths with reality TV stardom and just a dash of what lovers of young adult novels have come to expect in a new title.
Okay, yes, I will admit that this does have some elements that feel very Hunger Games-ish, and I can understand that for some readers this is something that can be a turn off, but hear this feline out and give the book a chance. If you look beyond the similarity between the Tributes from the Hunger Games and the Hunters in this book, you will find a story rich with cultural traditions and beliefs, political intrigue, and lots of action. It’s classic Lackey writing.
Joyeaux (Joy) Charmand is a strong, intelligent, and compassionate young woman who knows how to navigate her way through the inner political world she finds herself in in Apex City. Because she comes from a rural area she is often thought of by others as being a “turnip,” and while there are some things where her ignorance is not feigned, she is, for the most part extremely street savvy and knows when to play dumb. I instantly connected with her and cheered at the end when she took up the challenge to become Elite, something that few Hunters aspire to try and become. She is a character young felines will enjoy and want to emulate, and Bastet knows we can never have too many strong female characters in books, despite what some may think. As for the secondary characters, while I didn’t feel like any of them really stood out in any exceptional way, I think there is a lot of potential for some of them to be important players in the rest of the books in the series.
What I really enjoyed about Hunter though was the world that Lackey built, in particular the blending together of different cultures, beliefs, and traditions. From Tibetan, Christian, Aztec, and Native American beliefs to European, Celtic, and Welsh myths (and more), this is where Hunter differs from all the other Dystopian young adult books. The Othersiders are fascinating, especially the Hounds and I loved how each set of Hounds was unique to the Hunters they chose to connect themselves to. I can only hope that Lackey delves further into each mythos in her future books because she’s really got a great world started here.
The only thing that I had trouble with was the deliberate misspelling of various words throughout the story. I understand the reasoning behind Lackey’s choice to change the spelling as it fits with the world that she’s created, but I’m not going to lie and say it didn’t get under my fur a lot in the beginning. Halfway through the book I started to gloss over the misspellings, however there were times where I was still momentarily jarred by them. An example: vaygen. Yes, it is fairly obvious what the author means here, but still, it was difficult to not cringe every time I came across a misspelling.
Overall though, this is a fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting series of books and I for one am greatly looking forward to discovering what happens next.
I’ve always been a fan of Lackey’s novels. She’s been a household favorite since the time I was a tiny little kitten to present day. There has been very little which she has written that I have not loved, so when I heard that she had a new YA novel releasing this year, I pounced on the chance to read it because I knew it was going to be enjoyable. And I can assure you that it did not disappoint. Fans of Lackey’s various series are going to purr over Hunter, the first in a brand new YA series that blends cultural paranormal myths with reality TV stardom and just a dash of what lovers of young adult novels have come to expect in a new title.
Okay, yes, I will admit that this does have some elements that feel very Hunger Games-ish, and I can understand that for some readers this is something that can be a turn off, but hear this feline out and give the book a chance. If you look beyond the similarity between the Tributes from the Hunger Games and the Hunters in this book, you will find a story rich with cultural traditions and beliefs, political intrigue, and lots of action. It’s classic Lackey writing.
Joyeaux (Joy) Charmand is a strong, intelligent, and compassionate young woman who knows how to navigate her way through the inner political world she finds herself in in Apex City. Because she comes from a rural area she is often thought of by others as being a “turnip,” and while there are some things where her ignorance is not feigned, she is, for the most part extremely street savvy and knows when to play dumb. I instantly connected with her and cheered at the end when she took up the challenge to become Elite, something that few Hunters aspire to try and become. She is a character young felines will enjoy and want to emulate, and Bastet knows we can never have too many strong female characters in books, despite what some may think. As for the secondary characters, while I didn’t feel like any of them really stood out in any exceptional way, I think there is a lot of potential for some of them to be important players in the rest of the books in the series.
What I really enjoyed about Hunter though was the world that Lackey built, in particular the blending together of different cultures, beliefs, and traditions. From Tibetan, Christian, Aztec, and Native American beliefs to European, Celtic, and Welsh myths (and more), this is where Hunter differs from all the other Dystopian young adult books. The Othersiders are fascinating, especially the Hounds and I loved how each set of Hounds was unique to the Hunters they chose to connect themselves to. I can only hope that Lackey delves further into each mythos in her future books because she’s really got a great world started here.
The only thing that I had trouble with was the deliberate misspelling of various words throughout the story. I understand the reasoning behind Lackey’s choice to change the spelling as it fits with the world that she’s created, but I’m not going to lie and say it didn’t get under my fur a lot in the beginning. Halfway through the book I started to gloss over the misspellings, however there were times where I was still momentarily jarred by them. An example: vaygen. Yes, it is fairly obvious what the author means here, but still, it was difficult to not cringe every time I came across a misspelling.
Overall though, this is a fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting series of books and I for one am greatly looking forward to discovering what happens next.
Read
September 7, 2018Seriously? I'm not one to be easily offended, ESPECIALLY when reading fantasy fiction. In fact, I dare say this is a first. DNF
I honestly felt contempt for Christians oozing from the author's words. I understand the importance of creating a believable backstory, but Ms. Lackey could have said the exact same thing without denigrating the beliefs of millions of people by calling her villains "Christers". I don't think it's wise for an author to purposefully alienate potential readers by making her personal disdain known. But that's just my opinion...
As a courtesy, I choose not to rate a book that I didn't finish.
"That's how Apex started. A lot of really smart tech and builder people and the military. And the emergent hunters protecting everyone that came to them."
He didn't say anything about the Christers, other than what everybody knows--that some fanatics set off a nuke. But there didn't seem to be a lot of Christers in Apex from what I'd seen. The Christers of that time thought it was their Apocalypse and the Masters say they were all confidently expecting to be carried up to Heaven while everyone that wasn't them died horribly or suffered for hundreds of years. Only that didn't happen. Even when some of them decided that the Apocalypse must need a kick start, like a bulky engine, and set off some sort of nuke in what used to be Israel. They still didn't get carried up to Heaven. Not one. They just died like everyone else. So that's why it's called the Diseray instead of the Apocalypse.
I honestly felt contempt for Christians oozing from the author's words. I understand the importance of creating a believable backstory, but Ms. Lackey could have said the exact same thing without denigrating the beliefs of millions of people by calling her villains "Christers". I don't think it's wise for an author to purposefully alienate potential readers by making her personal disdain known. But that's just my opinion...
As a courtesy, I choose not to rate a book that I didn't finish.
July 31, 2015
7/30/2015: ARC! WOOWOO
DNF Review
Stopped at: 21%
7/31/2015: I am so, SO disappointed. I can't believe a veteran novelist wrote this. It is goofy and derivative, and the infodumping is tedious. If I have to go back and read the same paragraph five times, then maybe it is time to admit that this isn't for me.
The worldbuilding was great. It was the characters, and mostly the main character, that killed my interest. The writing is, at best, juvenile and condescending. I don't mind the MC wanting to get chummy with the reader and break down that forth wall, but when you can detect that the narrative is filled with bragging and entitlement, then it isn't going to bode well.
Sorry, Hunter. I tried.
This eARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
DNF Review
Stopped at: 21%
7/31/2015: I am so, SO disappointed. I can't believe a veteran novelist wrote this. It is goofy and derivative, and the infodumping is tedious. If I have to go back and read the same paragraph five times, then maybe it is time to admit that this isn't for me.
The worldbuilding was great. It was the characters, and mostly the main character, that killed my interest. The writing is, at best, juvenile and condescending. I don't mind the MC wanting to get chummy with the reader and break down that forth wall, but when you can detect that the narrative is filled with bragging and entitlement, then it isn't going to bode well.
Sorry, Hunter. I tried.
This eARC was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2022
02/10/2022 Notes on Trilogy:
Overall, a fun dystopian with a cheer worthy main character.
The character builds & world setting for the trilogy were great. However, plot progression and other aspects were too hand-wavy or seemed out of character. The writing in #2 & 3 were much more like the quality I expect from a ML novel. I think the books needed to be a little longer to really make the story arc shine.
The story arc was completed by #3, but there's room for a lot more to be explored within the world. So much so that it feels as though the series is not over at the end of the third book.
Amy Landon's narration was okay in #1 and better in #2-3.
02/08/2022 Notes:
Trilogy is Currently on Audible Plus
Mercedes Lackey is one of my fav authors. I grew up reading her books, and will continue to read the stories. That said, the writing for the story was not up to the quality I expect from a ML novel. Great concepts, engaging MC and an interesting dystopian world are the bones of the story. There were repeat phrasing and awkward emphasis on internal monologue. It felt like the writing was forced to be adapted for certain rules of YA genre generalizations vs the story being written out as the inspiration & planned work.
It also did not help that Amy Landon's narration was okay vs great.
Overall, a fun dystopian with a cheer worthy main character.
The character builds & world setting for the trilogy were great. However, plot progression and other aspects were too hand-wavy or seemed out of character. The writing in #2 & 3 were much more like the quality I expect from a ML novel. I think the books needed to be a little longer to really make the story arc shine.
The story arc was completed by #3, but there's room for a lot more to be explored within the world. So much so that it feels as though the series is not over at the end of the third book.
Amy Landon's narration was okay in #1 and better in #2-3.
02/08/2022 Notes:
Trilogy is Currently on Audible Plus
Mercedes Lackey is one of my fav authors. I grew up reading her books, and will continue to read the stories. That said, the writing for the story was not up to the quality I expect from a ML novel. Great concepts, engaging MC and an interesting dystopian world are the bones of the story. There were repeat phrasing and awkward emphasis on internal monologue. It felt like the writing was forced to be adapted for certain rules of YA genre generalizations vs the story being written out as the inspiration & planned work.
It also did not help that Amy Landon's narration was okay vs great.
April 11, 2017
~review copy from Netgalley
HUNTER -- I LOVE this book. It's so much fun and Mercedes Lackey's world building is engaging and her take on magic is believable.
THE BACKDROP-- is an alternative earth where catastrophe has struck. And while the Christers may have been expecting to be gathered up to Heaven, what really happened was that the border between this earth and other worlds was breached, and magic and horrid creatures can spilling in.
Hobgoblins, vampires and a host of creatures we know through our mythology were now real and now determined to consume every human they could get their hands on.
Most people died. And all might have died except that 'hounds' also came through this rift. Hounds take on a variety of the forms, but they are power creatures that dislike the human hating forces. They come only to certain people, and they became our only true defense.
THE STORY -- begins with Joy, a mountain girl, who was raised in a monastery after her parents were killed. When quite young she came into her powers and she has been training with her hounds for years, defending the little communities that hover in the shadows of the monastery.
She is happy there, which is unfortunate as fate and her uncle have called her to the big city. The big city needs protection because the shear number of humans attracts monsters.
Culture shock follows. On the one level it's from be catapulted from the medieval times to 21st Century. On the other level it's because the depravity of the city folk makes no sense to Joy.
Not only are there intricate political shenanigans at work --frequently against their own survival-- but the hunters --of which Joy is now one-- each have their own 'fans' with their own TV channels. Step over World Wrestlers, we have monster hunters to squee over.
I won't say more except that Mercedes managed to make even the TV thing work for me.
THE PLOT and PLOTTING -- Joy is a bit of a special snowflake but I'm not one to be put off by that. I enjoyed everyone of Tamora Pierces' Alanna books, and I enjoy a heroine who has roots and stands by what she believes.
Those of you who dislike the insta-lurve will be happy to note that this modern trope is missing. There eventually comes a romance but it's pretty unimportant.
~
HUNTER is a book that I can't quite peg as far as market goes. Book I is certainly suitable for middle-graders, and that might, in fact, it's target audience. But I wouldn't not suggest it to Young Adults or even Adults like me who are looking for light fantasy adventure.
I REALLY enjoyed HUNTER. Can't wait for the next book. It was fun, quick read.
~ review copy from NG
**HUNTER (volume 1) is at the 6th Grade reading level. [Accelerated Reader: 6.4 with 18 points].
HUNTER -- I LOVE this book. It's so much fun and Mercedes Lackey's world building is engaging and her take on magic is believable.
THE BACKDROP-- is an alternative earth where catastrophe has struck. And while the Christers may have been expecting to be gathered up to Heaven, what really happened was that the border between this earth and other worlds was breached, and magic and horrid creatures can spilling in.
Hobgoblins, vampires and a host of creatures we know through our mythology were now real and now determined to consume every human they could get their hands on.
Most people died. And all might have died except that 'hounds' also came through this rift. Hounds take on a variety of the forms, but they are power creatures that dislike the human hating forces. They come only to certain people, and they became our only true defense.
THE STORY -- begins with Joy, a mountain girl, who was raised in a monastery after her parents were killed. When quite young she came into her powers and she has been training with her hounds for years, defending the little communities that hover in the shadows of the monastery.
She is happy there, which is unfortunate as fate and her uncle have called her to the big city. The big city needs protection because the shear number of humans attracts monsters.
Culture shock follows. On the one level it's from be catapulted from the medieval times to 21st Century. On the other level it's because the depravity of the city folk makes no sense to Joy.
Not only are there intricate political shenanigans at work --frequently against their own survival-- but the hunters --of which Joy is now one-- each have their own 'fans' with their own TV channels. Step over World Wrestlers, we have monster hunters to squee over.
I won't say more except that Mercedes managed to make even the TV thing work for me.
THE PLOT and PLOTTING -- Joy is a bit of a special snowflake but I'm not one to be put off by that. I enjoyed everyone of Tamora Pierces' Alanna books, and I enjoy a heroine who has roots and stands by what she believes.
Those of you who dislike the insta-lurve will be happy to note that this modern trope is missing. There eventually comes a romance but it's pretty unimportant.
~
HUNTER is a book that I can't quite peg as far as market goes. Book I is certainly suitable for middle-graders, and that might, in fact, it's target audience. But I wouldn't not suggest it to Young Adults or even Adults like me who are looking for light fantasy adventure.
I REALLY enjoyed HUNTER. Can't wait for the next book. It was fun, quick read.
~ review copy from NG
**HUNTER (volume 1) is at the 6th Grade reading level. [Accelerated Reader: 6.4 with 18 points].
November 23, 2015
~Thanks Netgalley for providing a review copy in exchange for my honest review~
Actual rating: 2.5 stars, generously rounded up
Hunter isn’t so bad. It isn’t compelling either.
This book places itself in the well-established tradition of dystopian YA, such as The Hunger Games and Prodigy, with a slight touch of fantasy and a bunch of mythological stuff. It mixes up bullets and magic in a post-apocalyptic world threatened by monsters from the Otherworld. Only corps of Hunters with magical skills and the ability to summon Hounds can protect Cits (aka citizens) from Othersiders’ attacks; attacks that are getting more and more frequent.
Although it chases some tropes of this genre, I can’t say it lacks originality. The flaws of this book entirely lie elsewhere, though:
- The first few chapters are afflicted by infodumping: too many unnecessary details are presented. However it doesn’t avoid huge holes in the worldbuilding: the magical system is barely explained and the reader gets only bit and pieces about the Otherworld, the Hounds or the organization of Apex's society… (let’s say: the most interesting info);
- The main character, Joy, is so humble, so kind-hearted, so smart, so clever… and every here and there the Author reminds us how special she is:
- Joy seems to have a so special (of course) bond with her Hounds… well, she says so; however, I cannot feel it at all;
- The fantasy-component is quite weak: there’s a goblin here, a wyvern there and a couple of vampires… but beside the brief encounter with the Folk mage at the beginning of the book nothing makes the Othersiders vivid, dimensional… they seem nothing more than cannon folder for the Hunters;
- The ending seems a little bit rushed and turns out to be another proof of how special Joy is.
Overall, I think that this book has many good elements, but they are poorly mixed up. Furthermore, it is spoiled by a too, too special heroine and a general lack of depth in the plot.
Actual rating: 2.5 stars, generously rounded up
Hunter isn’t so bad. It isn’t compelling either.
This book places itself in the well-established tradition of dystopian YA, such as The Hunger Games and Prodigy, with a slight touch of fantasy and a bunch of mythological stuff. It mixes up bullets and magic in a post-apocalyptic world threatened by monsters from the Otherworld. Only corps of Hunters with magical skills and the ability to summon Hounds can protect Cits (aka citizens) from Othersiders’ attacks; attacks that are getting more and more frequent.
Although it chases some tropes of this genre, I can’t say it lacks originality. The flaws of this book entirely lie elsewhere, though:
- The first few chapters are afflicted by infodumping: too many unnecessary details are presented. However it doesn’t avoid huge holes in the worldbuilding: the magical system is barely explained and the reader gets only bit and pieces about the Otherworld, the Hounds or the organization of Apex's society… (let’s say: the most interesting info);
- The main character, Joy, is so humble, so kind-hearted, so smart, so clever… and every here and there the Author reminds us how special she is:
You're really special, Joy, and not just because you're a Hunter. It's because you think about other people all the time. Put others ahead of what you want. That's - that's real rare.In my opinion, she’s annoyingly too special and too perfect to be believable or likeable;
- Joy seems to have a so special (of course) bond with her Hounds… well, she says so; however, I cannot feel it at all;
- The fantasy-component is quite weak: there’s a goblin here, a wyvern there and a couple of vampires… but beside the brief encounter with the Folk mage at the beginning of the book nothing makes the Othersiders vivid, dimensional… they seem nothing more than cannon folder for the Hunters;
- The ending seems a little bit rushed and turns out to be another proof of how special Joy is.
Overall, I think that this book has many good elements, but they are poorly mixed up. Furthermore, it is spoiled by a too, too special heroine and a general lack of depth in the plot.
May 2, 2018
4.5 stars - it surprised me how much I liked this book, since on the whole YA books have annoyed me lately. This one just didn't have any of the tropes that push my buttons I guess. Plus, who wouldn't want a pack of cool demon "hounds", etc. I thought that Lackey also used the whole "reality tv" craze effectively.
I've already downloaded the next book :)
I've already downloaded the next book :)
September 2, 2015
Just when I thought I was worn out on the YA genre, Hunter comes along and knocks my socks off! I’ve been a fan of Mercedes Lackey for years (with the Dragon Jousters series claiming the spot as my favorite), so I knew that, even though she was tackling a younger demographic, it was still going to be fantastic – and it was. She delivered a cool, creative book with dangerous monsters, memorable characters, and a (mostly) unpredictable (and exciting!) plot-line. The best compliment I can give this book is that it compelled me back to it almost obsessively all the way to the end. Most books, I’ve found, can wait… this one could not!
By far, my favorite element of the book were the Hunters and their kick-butt role in this futuristic society. They were essentially celebrities – all of their activities (everything from their epic hunts down to their most mundane activities) were recorded for public viewing, and each Hunter was given a rating based on popularity. It was a neat dynamic, and I loved the action, the comaraderie, and the element of competition this concept brought into play.
While the main draw of the book for me was the concept and loads of action and adventure, I also really liked the characters – especially Joyeaux, the main POV. She was smart, resourceful, compassionate, and perfectly capable of handling herself in dangerous situations. She also always THOUGHT THINGS THROUGH, and whenever I had suspicions about a character or situation, so did she. This may seem trivial, but I’ve read at least a dozen YA novels over the last year where the supposedly intelligent heroines proceed to make one harebrained decision after another simply so the author could advance the plot. Joyeaux was a breath of fresh air because she came across logical and, essentially, like a real person. I especially loved how she handled conflicts, specifically with the main bully in the story – superb!
Overall, I’m very pleased with Hunter and am lamenting the year I’ll have to wait to read the next one. There’s no doubt I’ll be recommending it as often as I can. The only thing I’ll disclaim is that it takes a few chapters to really get going, but once it does – magic!
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
By far, my favorite element of the book were the Hunters and their kick-butt role in this futuristic society. They were essentially celebrities – all of their activities (everything from their epic hunts down to their most mundane activities) were recorded for public viewing, and each Hunter was given a rating based on popularity. It was a neat dynamic, and I loved the action, the comaraderie, and the element of competition this concept brought into play.
While the main draw of the book for me was the concept and loads of action and adventure, I also really liked the characters – especially Joyeaux, the main POV. She was smart, resourceful, compassionate, and perfectly capable of handling herself in dangerous situations. She also always THOUGHT THINGS THROUGH, and whenever I had suspicions about a character or situation, so did she. This may seem trivial, but I’ve read at least a dozen YA novels over the last year where the supposedly intelligent heroines proceed to make one harebrained decision after another simply so the author could advance the plot. Joyeaux was a breath of fresh air because she came across logical and, essentially, like a real person. I especially loved how she handled conflicts, specifically with the main bully in the story – superb!
Overall, I’m very pleased with Hunter and am lamenting the year I’ll have to wait to read the next one. There’s no doubt I’ll be recommending it as often as I can. The only thing I’ll disclaim is that it takes a few chapters to really get going, but once it does – magic!
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
January 1, 2022
Hunter is Mercedes Lackey's entry into YA dystopia. It's the first book in a trilogy of the same name. If you've read any books from the genre in the last 5 to 10 years, like Hunger Games or Divergent, then you've likely read a version of this story before.
A series of catastrophes have left the world in a post-apocalyptic setting where magic and monsters are found right along with technology. Joyeau Charmand is marked as a Hunter, one who has mystical glyphs that allows her to cast spells and summon hounds to help her hunt the monsters that threaten human civilization. It's not long before Joy is summoned to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the largest remaining human city. Joy proceeds to uncover a conspiracy that threatens not just Apex City but all of mankind.
See what I mean? You've definitely heard this one before. While treading a lot of familiar ground, Lackey comes up with some unique concepts that keep the story interesting. Joy is a reluctant hero, not wanting to leave her village but knowing she must since she's been summoned. I liked the various types of "hounds," some of which aren't very hound-like at all. Also the variety of different monsters pulled from mythology was fun.
What bugged me the most was deliberate misspellings of familiar words to add flavor to the world. Such as "diseray" instead of "disarray". The first 20% or so is also filled with a lot of info dumps that drag the pacing down. Things pick up once Joy arrives at Apex City.
Assuming you can get by those issues, it is an entertaining story. I'm unsure if I'll continue the series or not.
A series of catastrophes have left the world in a post-apocalyptic setting where magic and monsters are found right along with technology. Joyeau Charmand is marked as a Hunter, one who has mystical glyphs that allows her to cast spells and summon hounds to help her hunt the monsters that threaten human civilization. It's not long before Joy is summoned to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the largest remaining human city. Joy proceeds to uncover a conspiracy that threatens not just Apex City but all of mankind.
See what I mean? You've definitely heard this one before. While treading a lot of familiar ground, Lackey comes up with some unique concepts that keep the story interesting. Joy is a reluctant hero, not wanting to leave her village but knowing she must since she's been summoned. I liked the various types of "hounds," some of which aren't very hound-like at all. Also the variety of different monsters pulled from mythology was fun.
What bugged me the most was deliberate misspellings of familiar words to add flavor to the world. Such as "diseray" instead of "disarray". The first 20% or so is also filled with a lot of info dumps that drag the pacing down. Things pick up once Joy arrives at Apex City.
Assuming you can get by those issues, it is an entertaining story. I'm unsure if I'll continue the series or not.
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August 10, 2015DNF at %15
I love the cover and I loved the synopsis but once I started this book, I realized that Hunter is pretty much every YA book ever. Unlikely hero from humble origin is "different", "special" and is the only one who can save the world. I started this book two weeks ago and I just couldn't get into it and I just didn't want to finish it. That being said, I have pre-ordered this book. The cover is amazing and I want to own it. I didn't finish this book now but I'll start it once I have a hardcover. I have high hopes that I'll love this book when I pick it up again but as of right now, it's just not for me.
I love the cover and I loved the synopsis but once I started this book, I realized that Hunter is pretty much every YA book ever. Unlikely hero from humble origin is "different", "special" and is the only one who can save the world. I started this book two weeks ago and I just couldn't get into it and I just didn't want to finish it. That being said, I have pre-ordered this book. The cover is amazing and I want to own it. I didn't finish this book now but I'll start it once I have a hardcover. I have high hopes that I'll love this book when I pick it up again but as of right now, it's just not for me.
August 4, 2019
I enjoyed this book so much the 2nd time around, knowing what's to come, and just enjoying where Joy is at this point of her life! Such a great read, must reread more!
*First read September 26th, 2015*
Oh, so awesome! Really enjoyed this book, and there were a couple of things that were unsolved for the next book, and I can't wait to find out about them!
*First read September 26th, 2015*
Oh, so awesome! Really enjoyed this book, and there were a couple of things that were unsolved for the next book, and I can't wait to find out about them!
December 29, 2019
For the first novel by this author I have listened to on audiobook, I was entertained most of the way through. Mercedes Lackey has written an infinite number of novels - by which I mean I know I will never be able to read them all. (Seriously, look at that bibliography...) Taking this one as an example, it is part of a trilogy taking place in a dystopian world full of storybook creatures and built upon centuries of fantasy cliches. However, it justifies the use of many of the tropes through clever loopholes in its own world-building. I will list some pluses and minuses.
Pluses: an easy read or listen.
Lackey does not seem any worse or any better at writing than Ann Leckie. The suspiciously similar last name notwithstanding, I was more engaged by Hunter than I was by Ancillary Justice. Whereas Lackey writes prolifically, Leckie seems to scoop up all the awards and acclaim. I prefer an industrious writer working from the shadows.
I was surprised by the dark tone, the violent action sequences and the fast pacing.
Strong suspension of disbelief is required. Humorous bloodthirsty gnome-like monstrosities and other nightmarish hoards.
The world-building actually does its job.
Functional post-apocalypse where conflict is essentially guaranteed for eternity. (I used this same approach for my serialized novel.)
Minuses:
Cardboard side characters.
Unlikeable 1st person heroine. Seriously, the biggest let-down is that main character. What if she had been similar to Poul Anderson's main character from Broken Sword? It would have been a much more enjoyable read.
World-building shortcuts. Heavy reliance on cliches. Clashing tones.
Anti-religious themes that don't seem to add anything to the plot.
The magic system could've been more interesting. I don't require plausible explanations, but advanced tech + super powers without any literary invention is tough to swallow.
I actually feel like listening to the sequel's audiobook. Despite my reservations, it was still competent. I have been a lot less enthusiastic about certain Niven, Sheckley, Heinlein, Anderson, and Silverberg disgraces. (See my 2star shelf).
Pluses: an easy read or listen.
Lackey does not seem any worse or any better at writing than Ann Leckie. The suspiciously similar last name notwithstanding, I was more engaged by Hunter than I was by Ancillary Justice. Whereas Lackey writes prolifically, Leckie seems to scoop up all the awards and acclaim. I prefer an industrious writer working from the shadows.
I was surprised by the dark tone, the violent action sequences and the fast pacing.
Strong suspension of disbelief is required. Humorous bloodthirsty gnome-like monstrosities and other nightmarish hoards.
The world-building actually does its job.
Functional post-apocalypse where conflict is essentially guaranteed for eternity. (I used this same approach for my serialized novel.)
Minuses:
Cardboard side characters.
Unlikeable 1st person heroine. Seriously, the biggest let-down is that main character. What if she had been similar to Poul Anderson's main character from Broken Sword? It would have been a much more enjoyable read.
World-building shortcuts. Heavy reliance on cliches. Clashing tones.
Anti-religious themes that don't seem to add anything to the plot.
The magic system could've been more interesting. I don't require plausible explanations, but advanced tech + super powers without any literary invention is tough to swallow.
I actually feel like listening to the sequel's audiobook. Despite my reservations, it was still competent. I have been a lot less enthusiastic about certain Niven, Sheckley, Heinlein, Anderson, and Silverberg disgraces. (See my 2star shelf).
February 28, 2024
2.5/5; 3 stars
Mercedes Lackey is a super experienced writer and it’s shows in the smooth narrative, world building, and character creation. However, this book, and indeed, the whole series really fell short for me. There was so much good stuff, so many fine ingredients but they were put together badley. I think the series could be improved by cutting out one whole book worth of battles and cut out the self flagellation in book three. I regret slogging through all three.
Maybe I’m just in a grumpy book slump. Take it with a grain of salt.
Mercedes Lackey is a super experienced writer and it’s shows in the smooth narrative, world building, and character creation. However, this book, and indeed, the whole series really fell short for me. There was so much good stuff, so many fine ingredients but they were put together badley. I think the series could be improved by cutting out one whole book worth of battles and cut out the self flagellation in book three. I regret slogging through all three.
Maybe I’m just in a grumpy book slump. Take it with a grain of salt.
March 24, 2020
Maybe I was sufficiently warned from other reviews, or maybe I'm just used to Lackey's style at this point, but I had no trouble getting into this book. The start was slow, but I genuinely enjoyed being slowly introduced to this weird science fiction/fantasy world. It's incredibly complex, with its mythology and politics, and I love that Joy is at the center of it; she's keeping the secrets of the place where she grew up while also playing the game and being a good Hunter for the higher-ups.
I love the way relationships between the characters is developed is amazing. I felt like I had emotional connections with the characters almost instantly, and whether that's because Joy is so well developed and I felt such a connection to her, or because all the characters are developed well, I don't know. Probably a combination of the two. One of my pet peeves is how romantic relationships are often developed in YA books, particularly. It all too frequently takes center-stage, even in a book like this one, where it seems like the pressing danger of the Othersiders should theoretically take precedence. Luckily, Lackey knows what she's about and focuses on the story rather than the romance. There is just enough of the whole this-guy-is-cute-I-want-to-date-him thing.
My absolute favorite part, however, is how well the mythology/fantasy elements are tied together with the science fiction/post-apocalypse elements. I love how religion and fairy tales are almost given the same level of importance in this new world, where Othersiders seem very much to match a lot of the folk tales and legends found in old stories. And the ways they fight these supernatural creatures with a mixture of magic that the Hunters have within them and the tech developed by the military is also really cool; as I said, I was fascinated by this science fiction/fantasy fusion. I found it incredibly compelling.
Super excited to start the sequel!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
I love the way relationships between the characters is developed is amazing. I felt like I had emotional connections with the characters almost instantly, and whether that's because Joy is so well developed and I felt such a connection to her, or because all the characters are developed well, I don't know. Probably a combination of the two. One of my pet peeves is how romantic relationships are often developed in YA books, particularly. It all too frequently takes center-stage, even in a book like this one, where it seems like the pressing danger of the Othersiders should theoretically take precedence. Luckily, Lackey knows what she's about and focuses on the story rather than the romance. There is just enough of the whole this-guy-is-cute-I-want-to-date-him thing.
My absolute favorite part, however, is how well the mythology/fantasy elements are tied together with the science fiction/post-apocalypse elements. I love how religion and fairy tales are almost given the same level of importance in this new world, where Othersiders seem very much to match a lot of the folk tales and legends found in old stories. And the ways they fight these supernatural creatures with a mixture of magic that the Hunters have within them and the tech developed by the military is also really cool; as I said, I was fascinated by this science fiction/fantasy fusion. I found it incredibly compelling.
Super excited to start the sequel!
Also posted on Purple People Readers.
August 20, 2015
When I received Hunter from NetGalley I looked through some of the reviews on Goodreads and they made me so nervous to read it. There were some good reviews here and there but most of them were at best mediocre. Now here I am writing my review and I am torn. I am giving this book a three out of five simply because my feelings on it are so mixed.
I actually really enjoyed the story. I thought that it was a fun new take on the often over played Dystopian genre. When the Diseray occurred, which is their apocalyptic event that changed the world, it opened up our world to creatures from the Otherside. The Othersiders are based on pretty much every mythological creature that you can think of. I thought this was really fun and it leaves endless possibilities for the rest of the series. At times it was a little overwhelming trying to keep track of all of the different characters and creatures but overall I really liked the story. I will definitely read the rest of the series.
As much as I enjoyed the story, the writing was very mediocre. The descriptions were lacking and at times repetitive. There were a few times when the poor word choice really detracted from the story. I think that I would have rated this book higher if there were some small improvements on the writing.
I actually really enjoyed the story. I thought that it was a fun new take on the often over played Dystopian genre. When the Diseray occurred, which is their apocalyptic event that changed the world, it opened up our world to creatures from the Otherside. The Othersiders are based on pretty much every mythological creature that you can think of. I thought this was really fun and it leaves endless possibilities for the rest of the series. At times it was a little overwhelming trying to keep track of all of the different characters and creatures but overall I really liked the story. I will definitely read the rest of the series.
As much as I enjoyed the story, the writing was very mediocre. The descriptions were lacking and at times repetitive. There were a few times when the poor word choice really detracted from the story. I think that I would have rated this book higher if there were some small improvements on the writing.
April 26, 2017
DNF at 44%
I remember having my interest piqued by the unique world introduced by the author but it wasn't enough to keep me reading so I eventually gave up on it.
Thank you so much to Disney Book Group, Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for granting me access to an eARC. (incredibly late, I know)
I remember having my interest piqued by the unique world introduced by the author but it wasn't enough to keep me reading so I eventually gave up on it.
Thank you so much to Disney Book Group, Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for granting me access to an eARC. (incredibly late, I know)
May 5, 2015
This is a tough one to categorize, in terms of a genre, because it's both science fiction AND fantasy, in a dystopian, post-disaster future. The main character is a teen who was trained in what seems to be a mixture of Tibetan and Native Mexican traditions, in a world where northern European Fair Folk guide creatures from a variety of traditions over the border into the "real" world to do odd things.
I have long thought that some of Mercedes Lackey's books were well suited to a teen audience, but this seems to be a more deliberate attempt to cross over and write something for that audience. In this case, you could compare it to everything from Maze Runner to Attack on Titan, but it's not exactly derivative of any of them. The author is good enough to put her own very interesting spin on the story.
After the disaster, there are scattered groups of survivors, but the best-defended are the only ones really growing. Survivors are making their way to Apex City, which has created a barrier wall that at least makes it difficult for Otherworlders to come in and eat people. The problem is, the larger the city, the greater chance for politics and power plays to raise their ugly heads, and that is happening.
Specially trained Hunters are keeping people alive, and fighting the Otherworld menaces on a daily basis, but the powers that be are almost more concerned with making them into media stars to keep the citizens happy. What could possibly go wrong, after all?
The main character, Joyeaux, comes from a rural setting but is related to the politician in charge of Apex. This, and the secrets the two of them share, create lots of tension.
There are plenty of plot hooks in this volume that suggest there is more of the story to tell. I hope that she continues this into at least a short series.
I have long thought that some of Mercedes Lackey's books were well suited to a teen audience, but this seems to be a more deliberate attempt to cross over and write something for that audience. In this case, you could compare it to everything from Maze Runner to Attack on Titan, but it's not exactly derivative of any of them. The author is good enough to put her own very interesting spin on the story.
After the disaster, there are scattered groups of survivors, but the best-defended are the only ones really growing. Survivors are making their way to Apex City, which has created a barrier wall that at least makes it difficult for Otherworlders to come in and eat people. The problem is, the larger the city, the greater chance for politics and power plays to raise their ugly heads, and that is happening.
Specially trained Hunters are keeping people alive, and fighting the Otherworld menaces on a daily basis, but the powers that be are almost more concerned with making them into media stars to keep the citizens happy. What could possibly go wrong, after all?
The main character, Joyeaux, comes from a rural setting but is related to the politician in charge of Apex. This, and the secrets the two of them share, create lots of tension.
There are plenty of plot hooks in this volume that suggest there is more of the story to tell. I hope that she continues this into at least a short series.
August 30, 2015
Whoa, I never thought I'd do this in a review, but I have to. (Giving one star, I mean). I was quite overwhelmed by the amount of words and info contained in this book. I mean, yes, the blurb really got my attention when I first got this, I thought Joyeaux would be the new or next Katniss Everdeen or Tris Prior. Sadly, after a seemingly endless dragging history and innumerable descriptive words, the interest I initially invested slowly faded into oblivion.
But I still finished this book because I want it to justify my thoughts. So here's the gist:
Joyeaux Charmand, also known as Joy, was a sixteen-year old Hunter, someone who hunted and killed deadly monsters from the "Otherside". She and her band of 7 other Hunters went to Apex to save and protect the city, but with one hitch. Whatever she and the others did in Apex, wherever they went, cameras would be trailing them, recording their every move, watching their every attack. {Does this sound familiar? You bet it does!)
What are Hunters, you might ask? Well, Hunters are born, not made, and they have these various magical abilities and they can manipulate the hounds that are "hounding" the Otherworld. (Not the same with the Otherside). Confusing much? I thought so too.
Anyway, to cut the story short, the ending was quite tolerable, it wasn't cliffhanging but there's a promise of a new chapter, a new beginning, a new book. Would I be reading the next book perchance? I don't think so. I gave it a try, and that's all I could give. No more, no less.
But I still finished this book because I want it to justify my thoughts. So here's the gist:
Joyeaux Charmand, also known as Joy, was a sixteen-year old Hunter, someone who hunted and killed deadly monsters from the "Otherside". She and her band of 7 other Hunters went to Apex to save and protect the city, but with one hitch. Whatever she and the others did in Apex, wherever they went, cameras would be trailing them, recording their every move, watching their every attack. {Does this sound familiar? You bet it does!)
What are Hunters, you might ask? Well, Hunters are born, not made, and they have these various magical abilities and they can manipulate the hounds that are "hounding" the Otherworld. (Not the same with the Otherside). Confusing much? I thought so too.
Anyway, to cut the story short, the ending was quite tolerable, it wasn't cliffhanging but there's a promise of a new chapter, a new beginning, a new book. Would I be reading the next book perchance? I don't think so. I gave it a try, and that's all I could give. No more, no less.
October 21, 2020
Story-wise A 4+* review from me. I went through a couple of other books recently that were just ok and I thought maybe it was me! I started this book with low expectations and boy was I pleasantly surprised. This story hit me in all the right ways. There are some common tropes, a young person with lots of potentials, treated unfairly and is on the outs, finds a couple of trustworthy friends, and finds a way to overcome. I don't care. Lackey told it all in a way that kept me entertained and excited for the next chapter to unfold. There are some not so disguised digs at "Christers" very similar to Christian, that attempt to destroy the world.
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