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Dakota Shepherd is such a newb: newly Awakened, rookie werewolf, supernatural investigator in training. Her command of the wolf inside is shaky at best, and her grasp of the unstable magic she wields is worse. She sure has a lot to learn about her new life in the supernatural world.
So why would anyone want to stalk her?
A trespasser in pack territory. Blood on the mountain. An urban legend, spoken only in whispers.
Can Dakota rise to the challenge of a deadly foe?
There’s no shame in being new: everyone starts out that way. But in a world of powerful supernatural threats, being a newb could get a girl killed. And if Dakota isn’t up to the job of protecting herself, how can she hope to protect her loved ones from the ancient supernatural killer that hunts them?
So why would anyone want to stalk her?
A trespasser in pack territory. Blood on the mountain. An urban legend, spoken only in whispers.
Can Dakota rise to the challenge of a deadly foe?
There’s no shame in being new: everyone starts out that way. But in a world of powerful supernatural threats, being a newb could get a girl killed. And if Dakota isn’t up to the job of protecting herself, how can she hope to protect her loved ones from the ancient supernatural killer that hunts them?
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 2015
26 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Shei Darksbane
15 books68 followersShei Darksbane is the author of theDakota Shepherd series, an Urban Fantasy series featuring snarky lesbian geek-girl, Dakota Shepherd!
She writes alongside her wife, author Annathesa Nikola Darksbane, working on both of their projects together, contributing in various ways.
Shei is a proud pansexual, feminist, and natural bluenette.
She writes alongside her wife, author Annathesa Nikola Darksbane, working on both of their projects together, contributing in various ways.
Shei is a proud pansexual, feminist, and natural bluenette.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 9, 2017
Aside from one major fight sequence, this was a relatively uneventful book. It felt like the story ended in largely the same place it began, with one notable exception: the love triangle. To me, that was the weakest part of the first book and I really wanted that to work itself out quickly. It did, sort of, but not in the way I thought it would. Or in any way I could even remotely relate to. It's kind of more of a love...square...at this point. Or a really long line? And it looks like there may be prep-work to turn it into a pentagon. Or possibly an even longer line. I don't know. There's some kind of geometry involved.
We didn't get significantly more world-building here, but there were a few nice touches. Several characters and relationships were fleshed out a bit, a new potential conflict or three were introduced, pack dynamics were expanded upon (loved all of the pack stuff!), and a number of people are going to see large increases in their auto insurance deductibles. There were also a lot more quips and quirky references, some of which made me laugh out loud.
Not everything was perfect, though:
• While Nita's character didn't get much time, she felt really inconsistent when she did show up, as if the authors weren't sure who she was when she wasn't being dour; her 'friendly' persona was very generic and seemed to pop up out of nowhere, which didn't feel earned.
• There was a continuity issue. It's not the hugest thing in the world, but the first book demonstrated how hellfire worked, explaining in detail (and with visual examples) that it just keeps burning until you call it back. So why was Dakota just shooting it into the sky, at moving objects, stationary objects, sometimes hitting, sometimes missing, and pretty much never calling it back? Tennessee should be a big green ball of flames right now. Green-burny-lands.
• Also, if they're going to take the romantic situation in the direction this book indicates, I'd like to see how the characters deal with some of the very specific issues that seem almost inevitable. I don't need to see it fail, but I need to see an explanation for how it can possibly succeed. I just didn't get that here, and it's going to be hard for me to go much farther in the series if those questions remain unanswered.
• It'd also help me tremendously if Amorie were more likable. Probably a big ask, but I really don't like her. Seriously. No me gusta. That can't be ideal. I mean, I'm an Anne-Rice-reading lesbian that's been dressing like a vampire for years, so I'm kinda the target demographic, no? I played the tabletop version of Vampire: the Masquerade, for crying out loud. I should love this character. Don't.
All in all, it's worth the read, but I didn't think it was quite as strong as the first book. I gave that one 4.25 stars. This one comes in at a flat 3 for me.
We didn't get significantly more world-building here, but there were a few nice touches. Several characters and relationships were fleshed out a bit, a new potential conflict or three were introduced, pack dynamics were expanded upon (loved all of the pack stuff!), and a number of people are going to see large increases in their auto insurance deductibles. There were also a lot more quips and quirky references, some of which made me laugh out loud.
Not everything was perfect, though:
• While Nita's character didn't get much time, she felt really inconsistent when she did show up, as if the authors weren't sure who she was when she wasn't being dour; her 'friendly' persona was very generic and seemed to pop up out of nowhere, which didn't feel earned.
• There was a continuity issue. It's not the hugest thing in the world, but the first book demonstrated how hellfire worked, explaining in detail (and with visual examples) that it just keeps burning until you call it back. So why was Dakota just shooting it into the sky, at moving objects, stationary objects, sometimes hitting, sometimes missing, and pretty much never calling it back? Tennessee should be a big green ball of flames right now. Green-burny-lands.
• Also, if they're going to take the romantic situation in the direction this book indicates, I'd like to see how the characters deal with some of the very specific issues that seem almost inevitable. I don't need to see it fail, but I need to see an explanation for how it can possibly succeed. I just didn't get that here, and it's going to be hard for me to go much farther in the series if those questions remain unanswered.
• It'd also help me tremendously if Amorie were more likable. Probably a big ask, but I really don't like her. Seriously. No me gusta. That can't be ideal. I mean, I'm an Anne-Rice-reading lesbian that's been dressing like a vampire for years, so I'm kinda the target demographic, no? I played the tabletop version of Vampire: the Masquerade, for crying out loud. I should love this character. Don't.
All in all, it's worth the read, but I didn't think it was quite as strong as the first book. I gave that one 4.25 stars. This one comes in at a flat 3 for me.
August 13, 2015
While I didn't believe it was possible to beat Awakened, Hunted managed it! Taking place only a few days after Awakened, Hunted focuses on Dakota's continuing journey to find her place in her new and exciting world. She's got a new pack, a boatload of new instincts that run counter to what she's spent her life working with, a wonderful lover and a whole bunch of new problems that keep cropping up!
I'm not going to say too much about the story, but it was REALLY cool :) The pacing was amazing and I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happens next... In the end, this story was really touching on many emotional levels: family is really important to Dakota in a way that I think a lot of modern authors don't seem to get... family isn't always about blood (though it can be).. it's about the people who chose to share your life with, the people you share a bond with, the people you chose to love. And, even past that, this book contains one of the most exciting... well.. I'm keeping this spoiler free, so I'll hint: a friend of mine said that the first book didn't contain enough "external conflict". I think he'll find PLENTY of REALLY EXCITING "external conflict" to sate his desires in this book! :3
I can't WAIT for the 3rd one in the series!
I'm not going to say too much about the story, but it was REALLY cool :) The pacing was amazing and I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out what happens next... In the end, this story was really touching on many emotional levels: family is really important to Dakota in a way that I think a lot of modern authors don't seem to get... family isn't always about blood (though it can be).. it's about the people who chose to share your life with, the people you share a bond with, the people you chose to love. And, even past that, this book contains one of the most exciting... well.. I'm keeping this spoiler free, so I'll hint: a friend of mine said that the first book didn't contain enough "external conflict". I think he'll find PLENTY of REALLY EXCITING "external conflict" to sate his desires in this book! :3
I can't WAIT for the 3rd one in the series!
March 1, 2018
The Darksbanes seem to have difficulty building dramatic tension into satisfying climaxes.
This is especially the case with their fight scenes, during which the POV character often enters into a passive state in order to recount the actions of allied fighters.
Hunted is mainly interesting for the intra-pack drama.
This is especially the case with their fight scenes, during which the POV character often enters into a passive state in order to recount the actions of allied fighters.
Hunted is mainly interesting for the intra-pack drama.
March 21, 2017
This can best be described as a cosy paranormal novel. In my review of the first book in the series I said it had a charm that pulls you in and this is still true, but I also wanted a bit more action. We get this at the end, but for most of the book we had to put up with the tortuous love triangle with Dakota, Amorie and Raelya. I don’t mind the love interest, but it did drag on and I found the pontificating by Dakota quite annoying.
February 20, 2018
GREAT BOOK I REALLY LIKED IT.
March 30, 2018
3.5 Stars.
May 25, 2018
Sequel was just as good as the first, and has me more intrigued about the supernatural world Dakota finds herself in.
June 13, 2018
Hellfire
Oglgogifufudududyiyu
I’m not really sure answering my questions but I don’t have a good lot right now of it I just want
Oglgogifufudududyiyu
I’m not really sure answering my questions but I don’t have a good lot right now of it I just want
August 27, 2016
My second book by these author and in this series.
This book has kind of the ‘middle’ vibe that a second book in a trilogy, or the second book in a series has. The initial excitement of a new world to explore is starting to fade, there are hints of future conflicts, and there’s a certain amount of settling into roles/universes/etc. I had that vague idea, at least, while reading this one. I’m not sure if that actually works here.
In terms of action and adventure – for the longest period of time, the action involved wrapping up previous life (job), moving, preparing for new job. While also spotting things that hadn’t been spotted before, now that there are these heightened senses. There’s a kind of ‘slice of life’ vibe going on, just involving werewolves and the like. But then conflict erupts within the pack when Dakota meets the third in command, and conflict erupts outside the pack when a super powerful supernatural-like creature attacks.
Some might find it slow in parts and fast in others, but I liked the pace. I liked the deepening characterization of the people around and in Dakota’s new wolf pack.
There’s something of an odd dynamic going on in the romance department, though there’s a reason tossed in that seems plausible and reasonable. Dakota feels a pull towards two different women, one a wolf, one a vampire. One she rarely sees, the other she seems to see constantly. There were times when I started to lose sight of the appeal of the vampire, then they’d be together and it’d all rush back. I’m not wording this right. I have a tendency to do that, eh? Word things wrong.
Well, the long and short of it is that this is the second book in a series, so some of the freshness has faded, but there’s enough here to make everything exciting and fun to read about, and still leaving a strong desire to continue reading.
Unfortunately, in terms of continued reading, there’s only a short story left to poke at that I’ve not yet read. There is mention of future books in the works, one even already supposed to have appeared, but it didn’t appear in the fall of 2015. So I be sad.
Hmms. My ability to write reviews appears to be tapering off. Bad me! Bad!
December 18 2015
This book has kind of the ‘middle’ vibe that a second book in a trilogy, or the second book in a series has. The initial excitement of a new world to explore is starting to fade, there are hints of future conflicts, and there’s a certain amount of settling into roles/universes/etc. I had that vague idea, at least, while reading this one. I’m not sure if that actually works here.
In terms of action and adventure – for the longest period of time, the action involved wrapping up previous life (job), moving, preparing for new job. While also spotting things that hadn’t been spotted before, now that there are these heightened senses. There’s a kind of ‘slice of life’ vibe going on, just involving werewolves and the like. But then conflict erupts within the pack when Dakota meets the third in command, and conflict erupts outside the pack when a super powerful supernatural-like creature attacks.
Some might find it slow in parts and fast in others, but I liked the pace. I liked the deepening characterization of the people around and in Dakota’s new wolf pack.
There’s something of an odd dynamic going on in the romance department, though there’s a reason tossed in that seems plausible and reasonable. Dakota feels a pull towards two different women, one a wolf, one a vampire. One she rarely sees, the other she seems to see constantly. There were times when I started to lose sight of the appeal of the vampire, then they’d be together and it’d all rush back. I’m not wording this right. I have a tendency to do that, eh? Word things wrong.
Well, the long and short of it is that this is the second book in a series, so some of the freshness has faded, but there’s enough here to make everything exciting and fun to read about, and still leaving a strong desire to continue reading.
Unfortunately, in terms of continued reading, there’s only a short story left to poke at that I’ve not yet read. There is mention of future books in the works, one even already supposed to have appeared, but it didn’t appear in the fall of 2015. So I be sad.
Hmms. My ability to write reviews appears to be tapering off. Bad me! Bad!
December 18 2015
August 17, 2015
Can't wait for the next installment!
Love that this picked up right where the first book left off. Dakota has a lot to work through and if significant time had passed I think I might have disconnected with the character. There is a good amount of internal turmoil with the love interests in relation to their supernatural statuses. Plenty of action, leaves me wanting to know more about the world Dakota lives in, for sure!
Definitely a worthy read. Can't wait for more!!!
Love that this picked up right where the first book left off. Dakota has a lot to work through and if significant time had passed I think I might have disconnected with the character. There is a good amount of internal turmoil with the love interests in relation to their supernatural statuses. Plenty of action, leaves me wanting to know more about the world Dakota lives in, for sure!
Definitely a worthy read. Can't wait for more!!!
February 8, 2018
While I enjoyed the first book, this book is better. I love seeing that the author's skills at being a storyteller increase with each book, so this is a bug plus to me. To see an author working at up-skilling is very rewards for me to read. I enjoyed this story more then the first, as it brought more depth to the characters I loved in the first book.
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next publications. Love the geeky quips, and attitude and that Dakota isn't to overpowered in the books. She has strengths and weakness and is definitely not the baddest bitch on the block. I love the fact that she's lower on the food chain, that she respects the chain of command, and that she's spunky but comfortable with not being the alpha wolf. Makes her more believable, which I enjoy.
I also like how and how it's approached. Well done on that! Bringing in alternative lifestyles as well as a Lesbian main character is refreshing and fun. Keep it up!
I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for the next publications. Love the geeky quips, and attitude and that Dakota isn't to overpowered in the books. She has strengths and weakness and is definitely not the baddest bitch on the block. I love the fact that she's lower on the food chain, that she respects the chain of command, and that she's spunky but comfortable with not being the alpha wolf. Makes her more believable, which I enjoy.
I also like how and how it's approached. Well done on that! Bringing in alternative lifestyles as well as a Lesbian main character is refreshing and fun. Keep it up!
August 16, 2015
Just like the other reviewer, I had a hard time believing the first could be beat. Boy was I wrong! This was amazingly done! I do love how she brings real life personal issues to light. Get your copy and dive in!
May 18, 2016
The nerdy references in this book as well as the first in the series is what I love most about these books. At a certain part the main character makes an amazing Fury Road reference and I almost died of happiness!
May 24, 2018
I was starting to think the series might be something of a body positive book. I was pleased at the main character takes mental illness seriously. then she compared it to bring fat, so, guess I was mistaken.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews