The Hunt (Devil's Isle, #3) by Chloe Neill

Oct 12, 2017 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, magic, paranormal, adult-content, listened-to-audiobook, read-2017

The Hunt is the third installment in Chloe Neill's urban fantasy series titled Devil's Isle. It is a wonderful addition to this series and is my favorite installment to date. Mystery, action, suspense, maturing powers, romance, game-changing revelations... it was an engaging read that I easily flew through (via audio). If you follow this series, get your hands on this one sooner rather than later. You won't regret it!

My favorite quote:
“Sometimes the oneswhocry loudest for war don't really want ...more

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Jun 28, 2017 Beth rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, fantasy, scifi, urban-fantasy, arc, own, netgalley, berkley-publishing, september-2017

Magic, mystery, mayhem and murder, The Hunt is the perfect urban fantasy book vacation!

Liam Quinn is in hiding and coming to terms with the magical back lash that left him with abilities that at best would get him locked up for life.

Claire isn’t sure where she stands with Liam and is trying to deal with NOLA. When NOLA decides to blame/frame Liam for a murder, he didn’t commit. It becomes a race against the clock to find Liam and prove his innocence all before the government gets his hands on ...more

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Sep 26, 2017 Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, fantasy, reviewed, net-galley, 2017

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

This was a really good book! I was really excited to dive back into this series after reading and enjoying the first two installments. This was a solid addition to the series. I feel that this is a series that really does need to be read in order since the events in each book builds on the earlier events. I found myself really getting hooked by the story and I ended up most of it in a single day.

Claire and the rest of the crew are This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.

This was a really good book! I was really excited to dive back into this series after reading and enjoying the first two installments. This was a solid addition to the series. I feel that this is a series that really does need to be read in order since the events in each book builds on the earlier events. I found myself really getting hooked by the story and I ended up most of it in a single day.

Claire and the rest of the crew are laying low in New Orleans. Liam left without a word to anyone now that he has magic like Claire. When Liam is accused of murder, Claire insists on going to find him along with a couple of other members of the group. They do find him but also find another problem that seems to be putting paranormals at risk.

I really have been enjoying the wonderful cast of characters in this series. Each of the recurring characters are well developed and I think that I like them just a little bit more with each installment. They have all grown over the course of the series and have learned to rely on each other. The world that this story takes place in is equally well done. I really liked the contrast of the world outside of New Orleans that we saw a bit of in this installment.

I thought that the mystery at the core of this book was entertaining and quite complex. I found myself really working to figure out who was really responsible for the murder and how it connected to everything else going on. Claire must also deal with a few discoveries that are quite personal. The book does end in a very exciting manner that makes me want to get my hands on the next book as soon as I possibly can.

I would recommend this book to others. This is a really exciting series that takes place in a well crafted world that I think a lot of readers will enjoy. I can't wait to find out what happens next to Claire and the rest of the group!

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.

Initial Thoughts
This was a really good book. There was a lot of excitement and the mystery kept me guessing. I loved the way that Claire took on everything. She had to deal with a lot of things that had a big impact on her personally but she always seemed to be able to come out on top. ...more

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Sep 17, 2017 Maja (The Nocturnal Library) rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, favorites, role-models, magic, romance, arc-2017, reviewed-in-2017

Did you know that visiting New Orleans has always been a dream of mine? One day I’ll go there, stay for a month, eat fabulous food, listen to their gorgeous dialects and enjoy the music and the flavorful air. In the meantime, though, my very favorite thing are books set in New Orleans that give me a sense of its gorgeous atmosphere, no matter how brief. Chloe Neill’s Devil’s Isle books show us a different New Orleans, a city forever changed by magic and fear. Still, the author succeeded in Did you know that visiting New Orleans has always been a dream of mine? One day I’ll go there, stay for a month, eat fabulous food, listen to their gorgeous dialects and enjoy the music and the flavorful air. In the meantime, though, my very favorite thing are books set in New Orleans that give me a sense of its gorgeous atmosphere, no matter how brief. Chloe Neill’s Devil’s Isle books show us a different New Orleans, a city forever changed by magic and fear. Still, the author succeeded in keeping the best of the city’s spirit and in turning her chosen setting into yet another character, very much alive in every scene.

We reunite with Claire Connolly weeks after the battle that separated her from Liam. Having used magic out in the open, she must hide from the authorities or she risks ending up at Devil’s Isle, the very place she’s worked so hard to avoid. Surrendering her shop is very difficult for Claire, but she has a more important mission now, and she’s willing to risk almost anything to fight for what’s right.

Wounded by Liam’s abandonment and yet trying to be as understanding as possible, Clair works with her allies to help those on Devil’s Isle and bring necessary supplies to people who care for them. Claire is a strong, serious woman, not one for too much snark. She cares deeply and doesn’t hesitate to risk herself for those she loves, even when they might not want her around. She learns things about her past in this book, things that would be hard for any person, and yet she displays bravery and determination while facing challenge after emotional challenge.

When Liam does show up, it becomes clear (if it wasn’t before) that the two are meant for each other, but the trust between them is damaged. Claire has abandonment issues and a very good reason for them and Liam did the only thing she has a hard time forgiving. I was equally mad at him and sad for him in this book, but the second Claire forgives him completely, so will I.

Compared to her previous series. Chloe Neill kept all the best things in her writing, clarity being the most important among them, and lost all those issues I remember from her early work. There is an undeniable maturity in these books that simply wasn’t present before and the quality of her storytelling far surpasses her previous books. It’s easy to see how she grows and learn with each book she writes. I trust her to take us along for the ride.

...more

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Sep 23, 2017 Dianne rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-romance, netgalley, own, arc-read

A touch of mystery, a touch of the magic of the supernatural and New Orleans, shake it up, add some fabulous characters and delightful dialogue and voila! Chloe Neill’s THE HUNT is born!

Bounty hunter, Liam Quinn has gone against all the rules and protected and aided Sensitive Claire Connolly. Now Liam is in trouble and Claire is determined to return the favor and will do all she can to protect Liam from the government’s deadly claws by proving him innocent of murder. The clock is ticking and ...more

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Jul 13, 2017 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-books, arc-book-read

Picking up one of Neill's books is a lot like coming home. It is so good to see familiar cherished faces and a setting that is every bit as appealing and beautifully described as the plot is entertaining and hard to forget. In short, a place you don't mind going to time and time again and in fact, wish you could visit more often. A place you love and think about even when you aren't immersed in the world that she has created.

That is what it has been like each time I have picked up a book in the ...more

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Mar 04, 2018 Yodamom rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy

If you've read the first two you know Claire and Liam went separate ways. If you haven't read them, go read them or you'll be lost. This is a series that builds on each previous book. Claire and Liam, they will be reunited but not for the reason you might expect. Liam has been framed for a murder, in a very personal way. The legal forces are looking for him and anyone who knows him. This has Claire and her crew hustling to find him and associates to warn them. Unfortunately, he has gone off the ...more

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Sep 26, 2017 Jen Davis rated it liked it

This third installment of Chloe Neill’s Devil’s Isle series holds up consistently with the two books before it; in other words, if you enjoyed those, you will probably like this one too. It picks up right where The Sight left off. Claire is on the run after exposing her magic in the last book’s big battle, and she is scavenging for supplies to lend assistance to the paranormals who are still under lock and key.

Liam is gone, having bailed after he was imbued with magical powers of his own. He ...more

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Sep 17, 2017 Sarah rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, books-i-own-print, for-review-read, books-i-own-kindle, read-in-2017

After being outed as a Sensitive during the last big battle Claire is having to keep a very low profile to avoid Containment catching her and imprisoning her in Devil's Isle. She's no longer able to run her store so she's focusing her energies on scavenging for useful supplies for people who aren't as lucky as she is. Liam's life was changed forever when he was hit with a blast of magic during the battle, Claire knows it gave him new abilities but he's kept his distance from her ever since it After being outed as a Sensitive during the last big battle Claire is having to keep a very low profile to avoid Containment catching her and imprisoning her in Devil's Isle. She's no longer able to run her store so she's focusing her energies on scavenging for useful supplies for people who aren't as lucky as she is. Liam's life was changed forever when he was hit with a blast of magic during the battle, Claire knows it gave him new abilities but he's kept his distance from her ever since it happened so she doesn't know what form his powers have taken. She understands his need to come to terms with what happened but it hurts her that he was able to walk away from her so easily and it's been several months since she even heard from him.

When Claire finds out that Liam has been accused of murder she knows she has to warn him. He wasn't even in the city so it's obviously a set up but what does anyone have to gain in blaming him and why has he suddenly become a target? With all Containment's energies focused on finding and arresting Liam it's up to Claire and her friends and allies to prove his innocence and figure out what's really going on.

I have to admit I was a little disappointed at the beginning of the book when I found out that Claire and Liam have been apart for the last few months. I was annoyed with Liam for pushing Claire away, especially when she was one of the few people who would be able to understand what he was going through. I didn't like how unsure she had become of herself and their relationship in his absence so it was a disappointing change of direction for them as a couple. I did enjoy seeing Claire and Gavin go searching for him though and I was really pleased that Claire showed a backbone and told Liam that she wouldn't sit around waiting forever for him. The beginning of the book felt a little on the slow side because of the relationship angst but luckily the pace really picked up when they were working alongside each other again.

There are some really interesting revelations in this book, both about Claire's background and her family and about what is happening in the world by the groups working against the paranormals. It's so frustrating that Containment will happily work with Claire and other Sensitives or Paranormals when they need their help but that they immediately start to treat them badly again the minute the current crisis is over. Unfortunately it's also incredibly easy to believe and very true to life, humanity has a horrible track record when it comes to showing prejudice against any kind of difference - either real or perceived - and Chloe Neill has done a brilliant job of showing that in her stories.

I can't say much in this review for fear of spoilers but there are some MAJOR changes at the end of the book that are going to have a huge impact on where the series goes from here onwards and I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us next. I'm really enjoying this series and have a feeling things are only going to get more intense in book 4! ...more

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Mar 14, 2017 *Thea 'Wookiee'sMama' Wilson* rated it really liked it

Shelves: favourite-reads

The Hunt is the perfect finale to the The Veil series, although I am extremely sad that it's over and would to continue further with the both the wonderful story and the incredible characters that Chloe Neill created for this wonderful trilogy if I could.

The book continues the story shortly after the events of the end of the previous book. Liam is still missing and Claire is keeping herself to herself by keeping a low profile. After finding out that Liam is the number one suspect in the murder ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Marta Cox rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-reviews, netgalley

Three and a half
Well this the third book catches up with Claire as she's managing just to maintain some semblance of normality. She no longer runs her store but has hunkered down in her late fathers secret bolt hole. Claire is trying hard to avoid Containment as the last thing she needs is to be incarcerated on Devil's Isle but being a Sensitive and able to use magic means she's constantly looking over her shoulder. Magic hit New Orleans hard leaving widespread paranoia but what it hasn't left Three and a half
Well this the third book catches up with Claire as she's managing just to maintain some semblance of normality. She no longer runs her store but has hunkered down in her late fathers secret bolt hole. Claire is trying hard to avoid Containment as the last thing she needs is to be incarcerated on Devil's Isle but being a Sensitive and able to use magic means she's constantly looking over her shoulder. Magic hit New Orleans hard leaving widespread paranoia but what it hasn't left behind is Liam. Liam might have saved Claire in the past but now he's faraway struggling with his own problems as he was recently hit by magic and is very secretive about exactly what it's done to him. So how is it that Liam is the suspect in a recent murder when he wasn't even in the city? Something isn't right obviously and Claire knows she needs to track down Liam before the bounty hunters do but will he want to see her?
I've enjoyed the previous books in this series but something was missing in this one. Perhaps it was the pace as certainly I felt that if honest not a lot really happened initially. Yes Claire is with interesting supporting characters but I think I missed the action scenes plus she's so full of doubt about Liam. Considering I've found Claire to be a strong character previously I just didn't quite believe her fears about Liam.
Now luckily Liam does decide to return when faced with the little matter of him being accused of murder but here's where the story really got going! Claire discovers a whole lot more about her parentage and it's fair to say it's not exactly the warm loving beginning that we all hope for and to further muddy the waters someone who is supposed to be dead is very much alive! Yes secrets are revealed but more importantly the Veil that separates the human world from the paranormal is under threat from a most unexpected source!
Perhaps too much angst for me and not enough action. I enjoyed the odd comic touch but unfortunately that was quickly over . I did like where the story went in terms of what is happening to the paranormals who are no longer held in Devil's Isle but the shock ending has left me wondering just how the humanity will survive what's coming .
This voluntary review is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair ...more

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Feb 19, 2018 Kira rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, magic, fae, dragged-on-endlessly, 2018-tbr-challenge

Chloe Neill's books may not be for me. I gave up on CLV, and I'm about ready to give up on this series. For one thing the pacing is slow. I never got invested in the plot. It took me a few days to get through this. Every time I put it down I had no desire to pick it back up again. After 3 books, I'm not deeply attached to any of the characters. I like Liam and Claire, but don't care about anyone else. Although I like Liam and Claire, they are not unique.

This picked up a few weeks after the last Chloe Neill's books may not be for me. I gave up on CLV, and I'm about ready to give up on this series. For one thing the pacing is slow. I never got invested in the plot. It took me a few days to get through this. Every time I put it down I had no desire to pick it back up again. After 3 books, I'm not deeply attached to any of the characters. I like Liam and Claire, but don't care about anyone else. Although I like Liam and Claire, they are not unique.

This picked up a few weeks after the last book. Liam had taken off after the battle. Claire was coping with him being gone without having heard from him. Then Liam was framed for murder, and Claire and Gavin had to find him. They knew he was innocent, but proving it would be hard.

Liam and Claire reuniting was not all I hoped it would be. I understood why he left, but it was still a total dickhead move. I was hoping there would have been something more drastic behind his motivation to go into hiding. Claire forgave him, but I'm not sure I have. Even once they reunited, he was distant for most of the book.

The quest to prove Liam's innocence was ridiculous since Claire and Liam repeatedly did stupid things. Liam going back to New Orleans was not a good idea. Containment was hellbent on framing him. He should have let Claire and Gavin look into it. Going to the scene of the crime ultimately helped but caused lots of problems. Claire's actions regarding a certain new character were not smart. Without the piss poor choices the two of them made most of the developments with the plot would not have been possible.

It didn't help that Claire was also wanted by containment for her connections to Liam. They casually walked around New Orleans, went to some of their usual haunts, and hung out with their usual crew. All of these things would have made them easy to find, which is not good since they were on the run. Neither of them wanted to be caught and sent to the dreaded Devil's Isle aka the least scary prison on Earth. It's actually more like an internment camp than a traditional prison. Other than not having an abundance of supplies, the people in devil's isle aren't treated poorly. Plus it seems like it would be easy to escape if someone was determined. The ultimate threat to them should feel more threatening. ...more

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Apr 26, 2017 RachelW (BamaGal) added it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

No rating because I skimmed a lot. This one just didn't hold my interest, and everything I don't care for in Neill’s writing was forefront. CN has never been a particularly adult writer, but this was more juvenile than ever before.

From the ‘do you like me check yes or no’ angst, the YA tone of the writing and characters, the over description of absolutely everything, the repetitive and rambling storyline full of angst and silly drama, the Nancy Drew does pnr type mystery…nothing worked for me, ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Angela (Angel's Guilty Pleasures) rated it liked it

Shelves: arc-review-copy, 3-stars, netgalley

This series needs to be read in order.

The Hunt starts off 5 weeks from where The Sight ends. The tension is ramped up several notches in this installment. It’s filled with action, heartache, betrayal, fear, friendship, and death.

Claire spends a lot of time in an emotional turmoil over Liam, secrets that she is finding out about her family, and what she can do to change the world for the better for those paranormals in it. When Liam comes back in the picture the tension between him and Claire ...more

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Aug 31, 2017 Linda (un)Conventional Bookworms rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, romance, adult, review-books, urban-fantasy, netgalley, arc, fave-author, paranormal, read-in-2017

The tension was brought up several notches in The Hunt! There was heartache, action, fear, betrayal, fights, and death.

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Nov 21, 2017 Ronda rated it liked it

For whatever reason, The Hunt wasn't as good as its predecessors, it was a little slow in gathering momentum and when it eventually got to where it needed to be, there wasn't a lot to be desired.

The love story between Liam and Claire catches fire again with this book but again, the story in itself is short lived. Everything seemed to be a little slow then a little rushed.

It's a bit disheartening when one book in the series becomes the one book that makes you wonder whether you will continue or ...more

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Sep 01, 2017 Carmel (Rabid Reads) rated it liked it

Full review to follow.

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Aug 13, 2017 ☕️Kimberly rated it really liked it

Gads. I need the next book yesterday. RTC.

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Sep 29, 2017 Tori rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: review-for-smexybooks, arc, net-galley, e-book, urban-fantasy, series, there-s-an-arse-inhere, supernatural-elements, violence, tortured-hero

Grade: C+

Favorite Quote: “We’re family, Claire. Granted, a kind of weird, dysfunctional family, but family all the same.”

The Hunt picks up a couple of months after book two, The Sight, ended. Claire is lying low to avoid being sent to Devil’s Isle after using her magic to help defeat the Reveillon. Firmly outed as a Sensitive, she has given her store to her best friend and now uses her skills to help those in need. Liam is still missing, having disappeared after being hit with magic during the Grade: C+

Favorite Quote: “We’re family, Claire. Granted, a kind of weird, dysfunctional family, but family all the same.”

The Hunt picks up a couple of months after book two, The Sight, ended. Claire is lying low to avoid being sent to Devil’s Isle after using her magic to help defeat the Reveillon. Firmly outed as a Sensitive, she has given her store to her best friend and now uses her skills to help those in need. Liam is still missing, having disappeared after being hit with magic during the battle. Claire has not heard a word from him since he left her and is saddened that he could so easily abandon her and their relationship. When word filters down that a Containment agent has been murdered and Liam is the main suspect, Claire, Gavin, and Malachi all head out to find Liam and bring him home so they can prove his innocence. But there are darker forces at work and soon Claire and her friends find themselves once again caught in the middle.

Minor Recap of Series- As this series is evolutionary, starting here is inadvisable. Devil’s Isle is a post-apocalyptic fantasy set in New Orleans. Torn apart by civil war when the veil between our world and the fae was opened, humanity now lives in an uneasy existence with the Paranormals who were caught on our side of the veil when it closed. Magic is forbidden and anyone caught using it is instantly picked up and taken to Devil’s Isle, an internment camp. Our heroine, Clare Connelly, is a Sensitive (human with magic) though we learn her gifts were inherited. Caught doing magic, she is saved by a bounty hunter, Liam, who shows her how to unload her magic and helps to keep her out of Devil’s Isle. A small romance develops though it falls by the wayside when an alt-right group attempts to cleanse the world of all magic and Liam finds himself now the hunted instead of the hunter.

I was under the impression this was going to be a trilogy but it looks to have become a full-fledged series. Chloe Neill continues to expand the arc with a compelling narrative, unique characters, and nuanced storylines, engaging readers as this heavily character-driven novel digs even deeper into Claire’s family dynamics and the parts they played in the first civil war. The David and Goliath theme remains the main underlying base with family gaining a strong foothold as Claire and her fellow rebels continue to fight for justice and freedom.

Per usual, Neill takes her time setting up the main conflict. Some may find it disconcerting the romance falls to the wayside against the main storyline and takes more than half the book to re-establish itself but it makes sense after the events in book two. Liam’s family has been negatively affected by magic and now he is one of those magical beings. I liked that Claire doesn’t fall apart after Liam left. He has been her rock through all that has happened yet she is able to grieve and move forward with her own agenda in his absence. She continues to evolve as she completely sheds her cloak of self isolation and learns that in this new world nothing is set in stone and the notion of good and evil is relative. Claire is creating her own friends and connections without Liam’s help and this further helps to develop her as a strong and multi-faceted lead. We don’t see much of Liam until the second half and when we do, it’s more in a supporting role. Claire has definitely become the main lead.

Fans will enjoy the new characters added as the arc takes a major but predictable turn. Claire’s mother is an interesting addition and I’m looking forward to interacting with her more in the future. Moses continues to entertain while Neill hints at a romance for Malachi but it is drenched in antagonism so we shall see. I really wish the ending hadn’t gone the route it did because it feels redundant. Hopefully, book four will shake that up.

This series remains a comfortable addition to my bookshelf though I have come to accept it is not going to hold all the elements I find enjoyable in urban fantasy. Neill continues to play it safe with Claire both emotionally and physically and the energy of the story remains low-key. Regardless, book four is already on my TBR for 2018.

...more

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Sep 30, 2017 Bambi Unbridled rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy-urban, million-page-challenge, arc, read-2017

Warning! This review may have spoilers for the earlier books in the series. If you have not read the earlier books... go do that, like, right now!

In this third installment of the Devil's Isle series, we are fresh off the failed attempt to open the veil between New Orleans and the Beyond, and secrets are out for our main characters, Claire Connolly and Liam Quinn. Claire had to use magic during the battle, and Liam got hit with magic... so both of them will have to avoid being rounded up by description

Warning! This review may have spoilers for the earlier books in the series. If you have not read the earlier books... go do that, like, right now!

In this third installment of the Devil's Isle series, we are fresh off the failed attempt to open the veil between New Orleans and the Beyond, and secrets are out for our main characters, Claire Connolly and Liam Quinn. Claire had to use magic during the battle, and Liam got hit with magic... so both of them will have to avoid being rounded up by Containment and being stuck in Devil's Isle. It's quite easy for Liam, who has left New Orleans, and Claire, to deal with the magical consequences.

I was totally sympathizing with Claire in this installment. She is feeling rejected, sad and frustrated by Liam's defection, and given her past, I can totally understand why. Claire doesn't have the best track record for people in her life sticking around, willingly or not. But although Claire is having relationship (or lack thereof) issues, she doesn't let that stop her from working to help the oppressed and confined paranormals in Devil's Isle. You have to admire her for that. I feel like Claire's character has continued to grow over the series as she has learned more about paranormals, herself and her family. She certainly is not afraid to get her hands dirty or to charge in and get the job done. So she is a headstrong heroine that speaks to all my kickass female tendencies, but also has that little bit of vulnerability when it comes to her relationship and family issues.

I have been a fan of Liam Quinn from the start, but I have to say that I was disappointed in him leaving Claire to handle New Orleans on her own. Liam has retreated to the bayou with his grandmother as a magical casualty, and I wish that would have been expounded upon a bit more. I would love to have Liam's POV thrown in here and there to let us know what he is thinking and how he feels about our heroine.

I really really love Malachi and Moses as secondary characters, and I would totally enjoy a spinoff story about Malachi, his past, and his romantic potential. Now that our crew of magical misfits (with a couple normals thrown in) was successful in keeping the veil closed, they have to deal with the next conspiracy. Paranormals are getting sick and dying, and Claire is taking the lead (with some assistance) to find out why. What she finds will hit closer to home that Claire expects, and will throw a wrench into the past she thought she knew. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense aspect of the plot, and the pace moved along at a steady clip that kept me riveted during an early morning flight this week. I found myself not wanting to finish the story and hoping it would drag out longer, so it felt like the ending was a bit rushed. But man, I didn't foresee that outcome and I am super impatient for the next installment of the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley. ...more

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Sep 28, 2017 Rebecca rated it really liked it

Shelves: favorite-series, men-i-love, favorite-authors, tough-heroines, girl-crush, para-is-my-happy, series-not-complete, 2017-reads

I am a huge fan of Neill and when my beloved Chicagoland Vampires ended this year, I decided to delve into her latest series, The Devi’s Isle. Set in the city of New Orleans, I once again found myself invested in another magical world. After the looming cliffhanger from The Sight, I’ve been wondering all summer, what would happen with Liam and Claire?

Because even though I knew why he’d gone, it still hurt to be left behind.

The beginning is somewhat slow and the focus is mainly on Claire and the ...more

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Nov 08, 2017 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Hunt is the third book in the Devil's Isle series, and one I was eager to read. After the events of the previous book, The Sight, I had to know what was going on, and what happened to Liam.
We are thrown into the plot pretty fast with Hunt, Broussard has been found dead, and Liam is suspect number 1, with anyone associated with him also on a list to detain and question. Determined to prove his innocence Claire travels with Gavin and Malachi to find Liam and warm him, whilst they also try to find Hunt is the third book in the Devil's Isle series, and one I was eager to read. After the events of the previous book, The Sight, I had to know what was going on, and what happened to Liam.
We are thrown into the plot pretty fast with Hunt, Broussard has been found dead, and Liam is suspect number 1, with anyone associated with him also on a list to detain and question. Determined to prove his innocence Claire travels with Gavin and Malachi to find Liam and warm him, whilst they also try to find out who is really responsible.

Hunt was a book that drew me in and kept me interested, but I didn’t feel like there was a lot of progress with the story as a whole, and that the main focus was the death and finding the reasons why, which unveiled another plot to open the veil. There was a lot of problem solving, and going back to New Orleans and Devil’s Isle to get answers but what was uncovered wasnt something I expected but was also very underhanded of Containment to do this.

I enjoyed getting to see everyone together again, and also get the answers to what is going on with Liam now. The secondary plots within the story certainly leave you worried over what is going to happen to all those who are affected and how it will get solved.

The relationship between Claire and Liam is definitely a tentative one, both of them unsure on where they stand and how to move forwards, and it’s eventually left in Liam’s hands to make the next move. I love that Claire is getting more sure of herself, and how she fits into the grand scheme of thing. , Going out of her way to investigate and get answers, not only for the paras but also for herself, even if that does mean putting herself at risk.

Like I previously mentioned, I didn’t feel like there was a lot of progression in the plot as part of the series, and it’s not until the last few pages that there is a real progression that brings urgency with it and really moves things along. For me the main focus of Hunt was Liam and his wrong accusation, his relationship with Claire, and his new ability, with the background plot of sickness.

Final Verdict
Hunt was an interesting read for me. It gave me answers I was looking for, but also laves you with a lot of questions running around your head and eager for the next instalment. ...more

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Oct 17, 2017 Alisha Tarran rated it really liked it · review of another edition

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I kicked off my October TBR with this little gem last week! Yaaaaay! I'm loving this series, it's easy to read, has plenty of action and romance and is set in an interesting world with plenty of originality to it. It's such a good Halloween read and if you haven't read this series yet, you can easily binge read it!

With this third instalment, we're straight in to the plot with no messing around. About a month or so has passed since the end of the last book ...more

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Sep 25, 2017 Tanya Davis rated it really liked it

Everyone is trying to stay under Containment's radar since Claire's magic was shown during the fight with Ezekiel. Some of the Paras got passes after the battle and are living on the outside. Moses was pretty much coming and going as he pleased at the end of The Sight, and he is a pretty good companion for Claire. They scavenge and pass on to the Devil's Isle clinic anything they find that might be needed. Until Gavin alerts them that there has been a murder and Liam is the prime suspect. After Everyone is trying to stay under Containment's radar since Claire's magic was shown during the fight with Ezekiel. Some of the Paras got passes after the battle and are living on the outside. Moses was pretty much coming and going as he pleased at the end of The Sight, and he is a pretty good companion for Claire. They scavenge and pass on to the Devil's Isle clinic anything they find that might be needed. Until Gavin alerts them that there has been a murder and Liam is the prime suspect. After consideration, Claire joins the party to go find him and alert him. I wasn't sure what they thought was going to happen. Gavin, Claire and Malachi all seem intent on him staying where he was after Liam finds out. They should have known that he would insist on coming back to clear his name and get the bounty off of him.

I was left hurt by The Sight, when Liam disappeared. I thought they had worked through all their issues and were now going to be a team against the problems of the world. So when it comes time to find him, I was really hoping that Claire would really go off on him, but apparently she is better and more patient than I. Which is funny considering what they say about red heads and their tempers! ;) Things are awkward until Claire spells everything out for him. What she needs to know from him before they can move on. But their relationship problems do not keep them from working together.

In the midst of all the clues and hair raising situations, Claire gets a surprise. She has to try and deal with the feelings that surprise bring on but yet keep her head straight on the plans the team are putting together. I found Claire a tad bit reckless in some situations where she strikes out on her own despite the bounty on her head. She's been sneaking around New Orleans for 5 weeks now, yes. But during this whole mess, she has done things to bring attention to herself and she is now almost as wanted as Liam. It's dangerous. She does however collect some very useful information and a great lead that puts all the pieces into place.

To say all hell breaks loose at the ending is putting it lightly. Just as I thought we had come to our conclusion, we get a surprise that is going to turn the world upside down. The setting for upcoming books is being set and I think they are going to be full of action.

I was left freaked out for what was to come, but also content with the way the characters had developed. Claire and Liam really grow into themselves. Gavin and Moses are still two of my favorite characters. They can bring a smile into even the most dire of situations. After this ending, there HAS to be more coming. I have yet to find any news on a book four, but I'll be keeping my eyes open. I feel like a door has been opened and the world is starting anew. We need to have more from this series for sure.

The Series

This review was originally posted on Rantings of a Reading Addict ...more

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Oct 29, 2017 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it liked it

Claire saved Devil’s Island and Containment in the last book. But she did it using magic and in doing so may have cost herself everything

She is now a fugitive, a magic user who, by law, should be locked up in Devil’s Isle before she becomes a dangerous wraith. And the man she loves, Liam, was infected by magic in that battle and now seems unable to even endure her presence having disappeared for weeks.

But when a government agent is killed and Liam is framed, Claire can’t afford to give him any Claire saved Devil’s Island and Containment in the last book. But she did it using magic and in doing so may have cost herself everything

She is now a fugitive, a magic user who, by law, should be locked up in Devil’s Isle before she becomes a dangerous wraith. And the man she loves, Liam, was infected by magic in that battle and now seems unable to even endure her presence having disappeared for weeks.

But when a government agent is killed and Liam is framed, Claire can’t afford to give him any more space. They have to clear his name, find a murderer - and uncover a plot which may change the world - again

I’m putting aside that a lot of what I wanted to see from Claire: exploring and examining her powers, more relations with the Paras, more of her work opposing Reveillon, more examination of the difference between Court and Council, more of her relations with others. I have to say I wasn’t a fan of her romance with Liam - I just don’t really see much about Liam to make me that invested in him. When we saw him in the first book he spent a huge chunk of it being hostile to Claire, then the second book there were more convoluted barriers to this book where, again, we had barriers. The thing is, I feel lots of barriers have been thrown into Claire and Liam’s relationship before they even had a relationship. So much has happened to keep them apart I’m not sure they’ve really been together - which leaves me questioning just why Claire is this invested in it and why I’m way more interested in Claire and Moses than I am Claire and Liam.

Similarly, I’m not sure about the big familial revelations about Claire… I just wonder why it’s here. Don’t we have enough motive for Claire to be involved because of the whole world ending thing? Do we need parental angst? Does every urban fantasy protagonist need to have parental angst?

Again, these are personal taste issues - none of these stories are poor. They’re not badly written. They’re not bad stories. The emotion is deep and powerful, the conflicts very real, the writing excellent and the humanity is really apparent. You can feel Claire’s pain, there’s a lot of tension, some great scenes full of action and a real sense of building epic by the end of the book.

So, yes, I am trying not to be down on this book for not being the story I wanted it to be - instead it being the good book it was.

While I can put that aside, I am somewhat disappointed by the world building development. The world building isn’t small or even flawed not by any stretch. We have a fascinating, large, deep, rich world. We have numerous paranormal races and their different factions. We have magic and the consequences of it - from both the lifeless soil patches around New Orleans to humanity confiscating and destroying everything that may even be slightly magical - including cultural and religious artefacts. But we don’t have much of it analysed - what magic means, what it can do. How the society beyond the veil actually works? The differences between Crown and Court and their history? What about the different kinds of Paranormals? I don’t even know what some of these beings are supposed to be and no-one mentions it. I mean, is it awkward? Is it rude to say “hey this is Bob, he’s a troll?” Because Claire openly refers to Seraphs and Valkyries and this doesn’t seem to be an issue? And what does Erida being a “goddess” actually mean?

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Sep 18, 2017 Jen (That's What I'm Talking About) rated it liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, devils-isle-series

Picking up about five weeks after the intense conclusion of the previous book, The Hunt opens with our heroine, the Sensitive Claire, in hiding with Para Moses. Unfortunately, Liam, her boyfriend who was struck by magic in that battle, went into hiding with his grandmother, Eleanor. Even though Claire refuses to ask the resistance leader Malachi about Liam, she is worried for him and misses him. However, their enemy in Containment, Jack Broussard, is dead and the top suspect is Liam. So Claire, Picking up about five weeks after the intense conclusion of the previous book, The Hunt opens with our heroine, the Sensitive Claire, in hiding with Para Moses. Unfortunately, Liam, her boyfriend who was struck by magic in that battle, went into hiding with his grandmother, Eleanor. Even though Claire refuses to ask the resistance leader Malachi about Liam, she is worried for him and misses him. However, their enemy in Containment, Jack Broussard, is dead and the top suspect is Liam. So Claire, Gavin (Liam’s brother), and Malachi head out to find Liam, risking their own safety for the good of the resistance.

Devil’s Isle is a solid urban fantasy series set in an alternate world where Paranormal beings have invaded Earth through a breach known as the Veil. The attacking Paras are of a faction that wants to overthrow the existing, peaceful faction in the Beyond. However, most humans see all Para as bad, and fight against any and all magic. The story of The Hunt relies heavily upon the preceding events; therefore, I do not recommend reading it as a standalone story or starting the series with this title.

Overall, I still enjoy Claire’s story and the battle to protect New Orleans and the Earth. However, I was disappointed with The Hunt. While I didn’t dislike the overall plot, I found I had difficulty connecting with Claire and pieces of the story. In the previous two books, I was fully engaged, because each character had much to offer. I loved the mystery surrounding Claire’s mother and the budding romance between characters. But this time around, I felt like I was just watching events unfold, rather than participating through Claire.

The first third of The Hunt moves slowly, and I felt like we didn’t get into any real story as the trio looks for Liam. There are hints at the eventual storyline, but the interactions with the Paras at the Plantation seemed extraneous, and I felt like that whole journey could have taken a lot less book space.

Things pick up after Liam comes back into the fold, but the atmosphere of the group changed dramatically from the previous books. The group is on the run now, Liam is ice-cold, Claire can’t go back to her shop, and some of Claire’s close friends have smaller roles. These changes are all necessary as the storyline develops, but I missed the camaraderie and rapport from the earlier titles. With that said, the book starts to pick up as the group investigates who framed Liam and what the motives are behind the murder.

As the story progresses, I found there were little things in the book that annoyed me. However, I was very disappointed in how the storyline with Claire’s mom played out. Trying to remain spoiler-free here: there is a complete lack of character development, and I found the portrayal of woman who could be Claire’s mom to be utterly one-dimensional.

While I enjoy the world-building and characters of Ms. Neill’s Devil’s Isle series, I was disappointed in this third offering. I did enjoy seeing Claire and Liam together again (albeit a short time), and I am glad that there will be more to this series. However, I found parts of the story extraneous and slow-moving, and that overall, the book was missing its heart. What I love about the series is its strong characters and close camaraderie, which seemed to take a backseat this time around.

My Rating: C, Finished It - Liked some, didn't like some
Review copy provided by publisher/NetGalley
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About ...more

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Oct 11, 2017 Jackie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: trade-pb-copy-bought-from-tbd, pleasure-reading, trade-paperback-copy, uk-edition, 3rd-book-in-series, death-and-dying, family-relationships, family-secrets, family-ties, lies-uncovered

While the action was on point with each scene, the resolution that we have long anticipated between Claire and Liam was worth the wait, the mystery segments added to the overall picture of the story plot and the rest of the elements came together to create a good third book as well.

However, for me it was not great in the respect that if this is the end of the series/trilogy it has left us with unresolved issues as for me what happened did not finish the book it only created a new story arc and ...more

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Jun 15, 2019 Michael rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, aa-unitedstateslit, war, feminismlit, aa-womanauthor, historicity, romanticlit, horror, multivolume-lit, zz2017

150619: how can more plot end up with less compelling story? i do not know how, or whether this is just my reading, but as world-building deepens, characters rounding, motivation and conflict become further real- i am losing interest in the fantastic aspect. it has the unfortunate sense of reducing these otherworldly concerns to mundane very human disputes. does she, should she, will she do anything about it etc, regarding compulsive desires of sympathetic narrator female for hero male... who is ...more

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Oct 08, 2017 Lani ⚔⚔ the Destroyer ⚔⚔ rated it really liked it

Shelves: uf, series-i-like

Really enjoyed this one, except for the battle scene which seemed rushed and somewhat stupid. It was really unclear how one side even won. I really don't think action scenes are CN's forte because I remember thinking this in her Chicagoland Vampires series. Anyhoo, loved Claire and Liam, looking forward to the next one

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Oct 04, 2018 Lisa rated it liked it

3.5 stars. I didn't think this was as good as the first two, it kinda went on and on without much movement, in other words, it was a bit slow. The last quarter of the book made up for it and it ended on a oh shit moment. I'm really looking forward to the next book. I'm hoping we get a look inside the Veil. Overall it's a good series.

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