Oak & Thorns

The Wild Hunt #2

by Yasmine Galenorn

Caught between the worlds of Light and Dark Fae, Ember Kearney was born with the mark of the Silver Stag. Rejected by both her bloodlines, she’s turned her back on her people to become a freelance investigator. Ember and her best friend Angel are led into a glittering world of conspiracy and danger when they are recruited to join the Wild Hunt, run by Herne, son of the god Cernunnos and the Faerie goddess, Morgana. Now, Ember must not only face her heritage, but she’s bound to preserve the balance between the Fae Courts, for if order isn’t maintained, war and chaos will spill out into the mortal realm.

Oak & Thorns:
When Herne and Ember are approached by the matriarch of a group of water-horse shifters to help find her cousin's murderer, the Wild Hunt is drawn into a dark and shadowed world of the Ante-Fae. But as the team delves into the details of the grisly death, they uncover evidence of a string of murders that leads them directly into the court of Blackthorn. Caught in a mire of political intrigue and shadow magic, will Ember and Herne be able to bring the serial killer to light, or will the King of Thorns manage to silence them forever?

Wild Hunt Series:
Book 1: The Silver Stag
Book 2: Oak & Thorns

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Fae, Romance, Vampires, Magic

394 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2018

About the author

NOTE: I SELDOM visit Goodreads and do very little here. Please see my website for more information on my work: https://galenorn.com

New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and is the author of over 80 books & numerous series, including the Wild Hunt Series, the Moonshadow Bay Series, the Fury Unbound Series, the Otherworld Series, the Bewitching Bedlam Series, and more. She wrote for trad publishers for 20 years until she went indie in 2016.

She’s also written nonfiction metaphysical books. She is the 2011 Career Achievement Award Winner in Urban Fantasy, given by RT Magazine. Yasmine has been in the Craft since 1980, is a shamanic witch and High Priestess. She describes her life as a blend of teacups and tattoos. She lives in Kirkland, WA, with her husband Samwise and their cats. Yasmine can be reached via her web site at Galenorn.com. Sign up for her newsletter at: http://galenorn.com/newsletter/

NOTE: ALWAYS check the website and blog, and please sign up for her newsletter there to keep current with new and upcoming releases. Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter are NOT viable places to find out all this information.

Reviews

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oak & Thorns is book two in The Wild Hunt series by Yasmine Galenorn. It’s another action-packed fast-paced magical mystery. We are treated to mythical creatures of all kinds, magic, and romance.

I had a blast! I love all the different supernaturals we meet and interact with. The magic and folklore weaved in is out of this world.

The world keeps building and there are plenty of secrets to uncover as things progress. The mystery was refreshing and full of suspense and well drawn-out. The crime they are hired to investigate morphed into something more.

We get to learn more about The Wild Hunt which is an investigative team derived of all kinds of supernaturals. We don’t know a lot about these characters, but we are learning as we go. I liked that Ember took time to get to know her co-workers. It’s great how Ms. Galenorn is building a community with the characters in the Wild Hunt crew.

As for the romance it’s progressing and developing nicely. It doesn’t overshadow the rest of the plot. In this novel Herne and Ember had a talk to define things. We as well as Ember got to meet Herne’s father. That was interesting.

Oak & Thorns got everything I enjoy with a great Urban Fantasy series. It’s got a strong mystery, strong heroine, and hints of romance. I can’t wait to spend more time in this world and with these characters.

Rated: 4 Stars

[Marion Over · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love long urban fantasy series. The magic and folklore weave around this series in a glorious way. There great books.

[Robin Mandell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has all the usual elements of a wonderful Yasmine Galenorn novel: mythical creatures of all kinds, magic, interesting characters I'd love to be friends with (or would at least love to have a bit of tea and conversation with), and, yes, some romance.

What felt refreshing and different to me was the pacing and plotting of the mystery. The first book had a mystery element too - bad things happening with no explanation to hand, but the mystery part of this book felt a little more suspenseful and drawn-out.


The strongest part of this book is the professional and personal interaction between the employees of The Wild Hunt. Everyone's work is interconnected. Their lives depend on everyone being skilled and present. They require honesty from each other, which they don't always get to the fullest degree. I'm really enjoying how Ms. Galenorn is building that community, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the characters grow, both individually and as a unit.

Great installment in the series. (Yes, you should start with the first book, The Silver Stag.)

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Wild Hunt is an investigative team charged with trying to keep balance in the world between all the supernatural factions and humans. The investigators are run by Herne, a demigod, but the story is told in first person by Ember, a member of the team who is half light and half dark fae (something disavowed by both factions). I love the worldbuilding and plots. It's everything I love about urban fantasy, from the strong mysteries, strong women, and hints at romance. I enjoyed the first book but felt the info dumping was a bit extreme, even for a first book of a series. I liked this book and felt the mystery and overall plot points were better developed from book 1. However, the dialog is terrible. It's stilted and awkward. Do people who've been alive for 100 years or more sound like this? I know Ember is really only 30, even in human years, but the rest of the crew...ancient. This is my third book by Galenorn, and I wish she wrote dialog better. Especially since the rest of the book is so fantastic. I'll read the next one and maybe even further, but it will really depend how the dialog situation plays out whether I'll ever love these books.

[Lyndi W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars if we're being honest here. Ember had some TSTL moments where I swear I thought a god was gonna backhand her into a whole other realm (should've done it, too). And a couple times Herne actually came across as an immature teen trying to figure out how to express his romantic feelings. So that was weird. Oh, and this whole "we have no idea how we're going to do this, but let's just do it anyway" plan obviously works out somehow, but it shouldn't have. Glad it did, but come on.

With the first person POV, the characters splitting up for this investigation means some of them would be getting very little page time - I think the author did a great job at pairing them up in different combinations so that we got to spend more time with the rest of the team. And the team is so interesting, I really hope we'll get to learn the deeper details and backstories on some of them in the next book. The sex scenes are good, the humor is on point, the villains are interesting and significantly bad.

Overall, this is a win. I had a few complaints, but I read it straight through and I'll read the next one tonight. The end. I DNF'd the 3rd book. Heh.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the group at the agency seems to be gelling more in this one. I like that Ember realized she didn't know her co-workers well and took time to talk to them and I have a feeling she will continue to do so.

I like that Ember was house hunting, was a bit surprising about the house that Ember and Angel liked the best. I found myself wondering about the same issues that both Ember and Angel did, but like them came to the same end thought.

Herne and Ember's relationship seems to be progressing. They had some talks to define things and Ember got to met Herne's father, interesting in it's own right.

The crime they were hired to investigate morphed into so much more. I liked that they got their guy, that they were given the go ahead from some powerful beings and took out those that were helping the bad guy. All around a win for the agency.

[Jumms · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still on the fence

This story still draws you in but something is missing. I'm not sure what yet. I don't know if I have read anything abt the Ant-Fae before so this was a good read. I wish Ember would listen and stop talking sometimes. The relationship w her and Herne just seems rushed. That being said it's good enough for me to buy the 3rd book. I finished book one and two in a day. So a good book or series to get into if you want something a bit different to read and take your mind off things.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wild Hunt is a new series for Yasmine and me. I have enjoyed it so far. I like Ember and Herne and the whole Wild Hunt group. I think I am glad Ember and Angel joined the Wild Hunt. I love Yasmine's Sister series which has come to an end recently. I can't wait to read the last book in that series next. Yasmine is a great author and I can't wait to what other stories she has for the Wild Hunt and I can't wait to see what else she will write. Thanks for all your great books, I look forward to them all!

[Shannon Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oak and Thorns allows readers to learn more about the world first introduced in The Silver Stag, but it seems there are plenty of secrets to uncover as the series progresses. The central romance is nicely developed and doesn’t overshadow the rest of the plot. I’m eager to spend more time with these characters.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Herne and Ember are called to help a group of water-horse shifters, they find that the Wild Hunt is drawn into the dark and shadow world of the Ante-Fae. A string of murders is uncovered the more they investigate and as The Wild Hunt discovers, the court of Blackthorn is involved. Can Ember and Herne try to bring the serial killer to justice, but the King of Thorns is watching, and one wrong move will silence them forever.

Yasmine Galenorn delivers another pulse pounding ride in her next book in her thrilling new series, The Wild Hunt, in Oak and Thorns. The story is full of new characters and species, a mystery that hints at even more danger and a blossoming romance between Herne and Ember as they navigate the world of the Ante-Fae while trying to keep their necks out of the King of Thorns noose. I just absolutely love this series. Its full of intriguing and diverse characters, a world that is just so fascinating and a storyline that will eave you on the edge of your seat till the very end. This is an author who knows how to reel her readers in and captivate them from the start of the book to the very end. I couldn’t put this book down, even to eat or sleep. I just needed to know what was going to happen to Ember, Herne and the gang.

OAK AND THORNS continues a little bit after The Wild Stag (book one) left off and we got to see more of this world Ms. Galenorn created and it is just amazing. Filled with characters and creatures I never really knew much about, this author brings them to life in a way that left me eager for more after each page I turned. I have to say though besides this masterful world building, the characters are what deliver the most in my opinion. In this second book, we find Herne and Ember trying to navigate a personal and professional relationship, try to figure out a mystery of killings that hint at something bit more terrifying and more. The reader will be on the edge of their seat after chapter two and the action, twists and turns don’t let up till the very end. Then as you close the book, you long for more in this wonderful world. The characters-main and secondary-are all well written and complex individuals that fairly step off the pages and into your room. This is an author who knows how to capture her characters essence and personality perfectly within the pages of a story and keep them fresh and unique. I love how this author just keeps upping the bar in each book she writes and delivers a few more twists in a world that is still evolving within the series.

If you haven’t tried this author’s work before, I highly recommend her newest series, The Wild Hunt, if you enjoy action, mystery and romance that will make you wish for air conditioning or your partner to jump. I do caution in this series her romances are more explicit than some other books she has written so be warned if you don’t care for explicit sex scenes in your stories. The Wild Hunt series is a it darker than her Bedlam series, but it works and is one I am eager to read more about. I can not wait for the next book, Iron Bones, and see where the author goes next in this marvelous world.

[Bernard · Rating 2 out of 5]

We meet more of the characters in this world. Honestly, the vampires seem like somewhat secretive members of the Chamber of Commerce. No, I really am not joking.

This book moved slower than the first.

If you need a time killer, go for it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Caught between the worlds of Light and Dark Fae, Ember Kearney was born with the mark of the Silver Stag. Rejected by both her bloodlines, she’s turned her back on her people to become a freelance investigator. Ember and her best friend Angel are led into a glittering world of conspiracy and danger when they are recruited to join the Wild Hunt, run by Herne, son of the god Cernunnos and the Faerie goddess, Morgana. Now, Ember must not only face her heritage, but she’s bound to preserve the balance between the Fae Courts, for if order isn’t maintained, war and chaos will spill out into the mortal realm.
Oak & Thorns:
When Herne and Ember are approached by the matriarch of a group of water-horse shifters to help find her cousin's murderer, the Wild Hunt is drawn into a dark and shadowed world of the Ante-Fae. But as the team delves into the details of the grisly death, they uncover evidence of a string of murders that leads them directly into the court of Blackthorn. Caught in a mire of political intrigue and shadow magic, will Ember and Herne be able to bring the serial killer to light, or will the King of Thorns manage to silence them forever?

Heather's Notes
I do enjoy Ember and Herne. I like that there is not a lot of angst in their relationship. I like that she is and him are slowly growing into a couple. I hope this is how the series continues. As for the plot, it was interesting.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oak & Thorns by Yasmine Galenorn

Blurb

When Herne and Ember are approached by the matriarch of a group of water-horse shifters to help find her cousin's murderer, the Wild Hunt is drawn into a dark and shadowed world of the Ante-Fae. But as the team delves into the details of the grisly death, they uncover evidence of a string of murders that leads them directly into the court of Blackthorn. Caught in a mire of political intrigue and shadow magic, will Ember and Herne be able to bring the serial killer to light, or will the King of Thorns manage to silence them forever?

My Opinion

I am not sure what it is about this series, but I was drawn back in for the second book. I have had this book on my want to read list for months but I finally gave in and gave it a listen. This has a slow, but detailed plot and makes for an enjoyable and relaxing read. I would highly recommend reading The Silver Stag before this so you can have a bit of background on The Wild Hunt.

Rating 4/5

[Alina Tache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from Ms. Galenorn

Ms. Galenorn introduced me to urban fantasy. Since then, I've read all her books, including the new universes that she created. I have never been left disappointed, always wanted to see where the next story will lead.

This book is thr 2nd book in the story, so I strongly suggest you try the first one to get more info about the world and the characters. Ember is a member of an investigation agency and they cover a very interesting case. All the while working with her boyfriend and best friend and ending up in tight situations with "bad guys".

I love the characters and the plot, Ms. Galenorn is getting more creative as time goes by. Also, the writing and storytelling are wonderful.

I recommend this series with all my heart!

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

NOT Vampires...

•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!•••



This series must be read in order. The first book is "The Silver Stag". This is the second book. I can't wait to read "Iron Bones"!



Ember and Angel are settling in at The Wild Hunt. Now they have to find a house because there just isn't enough room for them in Ember's condo. With a cold case on Whidbey Island it seems like a great time for everyone to get some downtime in nature, so they all are going on a case for once... Even Angel and Talia. Is there a serial killer on the island? Why are all the murders being covered up? What about the missing persons? Who kills humans and sub-cult alike? Will they ever get to the bottom of this huge cover up?

[Kit Moonstar · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid outing. I liked seeing how Ember and Angel were fitting into the Wild Hunt. They've been working there for a couple of months at the start of the book. The book also builds on some of plot threads from the previous book like the situation with Angel's brother, Angel and Ember's hunt for a new home, and Ember's ex. I also really appreciate the way that Ember and Herne's relationship is building. I can't quite call it a slow build, but I like that they're taking their time with it. However, once the case really starts, that's the main focus of the book. It's a good mystery, and it definitely adds to the worldbuilding.

Probably my biggest frustration is the fact that the author is clearly building to something with Ember and her fae background, but it's moving really slowly. While the books are quick reads so far, not a lot happens. There's not much in the way of subplots, and once the main storyline gets going it takes over everything else for the most part. There are drips and drabs of information about some of the larger story arcs like Ember's powers, but it's barely a trickle. Still, it's the most engaging urban fantasy with a woman main character I've come across in a while, and I’m interested in seeing where it goes. Three out of five stars.

[Starr Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

wild ride for the wild hunt

Ember and Herne and the Wild Hunt Agency have a disturbing cold case and decide to accept it. A local Fae woman who is part of the reclusive Hippocampus tribe has lost a family member through murder.

The local police told her it was a vampire, but the clues don’t add up. The bereaved family member cannot rest until she knows the truth. The team accepts the case and goes to the island, on,y an hour or two away.

Curiouser and curiouser,the Wild Hunt teams discover more and more deaths as they talk to the local families of the victims and all signs point to lesser known Fae as the murderer. The actual killer was shocking!

An exciting story filled with suspense and mystery and a totally worthwhile read.

[Kady Bowers · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of description that was completely pointless and could have been taken out to make the story flow better. Also, the need to give directions to everywhere is extremely annoying. I don't need a GPS map of where she's going, and the repetitive descriptions is a bit much. We know what all the characters look like unless something changes in their appearance or we get sexy time I don't need to know. Other than these thing i really enjoyed the story. Ember is a great heroine. I have a few questions but I think that they will be solved, the story seems to be leading toward them. All in all, I'm excited about the next book.

[Lillie Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oak and Thorns is the second book in the Wild Hunt series by Yasmine Galenorn. Ember and the members of the Wild Hunt Agency are called in to investigate a murder from a year ago. While working the case the team finds a string of murders with the same evidence and start to wonder if there is a serial murderer on Whidbey Island. And on top of the case, Ember has some stressful personal stuff to handle. I absolutely love this series and cannot wait to see where Ember's and the team's storylines go. Yasmine's worlds are magical and draw you into a world of fantasy.

[Abra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books begins three months after the last book. Ember and Angel are settled in their jobs and Wild Hunt. A client comes into their office with a private job for them. She's a hippocampus and someone in her pod was murdered and she wants to know what happened. Of course, there is a lot more involved than simply finding a murderer and it's all interesting and exciting.

There were a surprising number of typos. The one I found the funniest was when the baddie starts shouting epitaphs instead of epithets. I pictured her yelling "a beloved mother and wife"!

[Jennifer Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!!!

Wow! Ember, Herne, and the gang are onto another case and it is a doozy. In this installment Ember and Angel are deciding on a new house. Herne and Ember are becoming so much more to each other. We learn more about each of our main characters and its a ride. On top of that they have a solve a murder that involves so much more and decades worth of unsolved deaths. Oak & Thorns is action packed from page one to the end. Excellent world building, the characters are so unique and complex. I love this series.

[Dapper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book was interesting and highly readable. This second one has me realizing the main character is blander than an overcooked bowl of unsalted grits. The only thing more boring than her demeanor is her bedroom prowess (in which she’s no more a lively participant than a silicone sex doll would be)

The only times she showed a spark of life were in front of all powerful gods, where she would speak out of turn in order to say inane things that only served to annoy both the reader and the other characters

I don’t think I’ll be giving the next one a try.

The writing was good though

[C. Mercie M Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ember continues to settle into her new job with the wild hunt....

The book is written with a balance of action, humor, sex, sarcasm, and wit. The characters are starting to become one in their setting, and coming together into a cohesive whole. I have always enjoyed Y. Galenorn's books, and this one didn't disappoint. The blending of both the supernatural & human world into this fantasy was a fun tale. Thank you for the chance to go on a mini adventure, and escape for awhile.

[Jennifer Markowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. However it’s made me very curious about the Ante-Fae. And I want to know more about them. Hopefully they’re involved in other books in the series. The first meeting between Ember and Cernunnos is interesting to read about. And then the next time they meet he treats her totally different. So we’ll see how that relationship between her and her boyfriend's father continues to grow.
Very well written and well worth the read!! Highly recommended!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Silver Stag series, and just like the first book I was quickly pulled into the story. In this story we are introduced to water-horse shifters and I wish there had been more information on this type of shifter we are given enough information for the story. The dynamic between the members of the Wild Hunt Agency is starting to shape up and I will most certainly be getting the next book in the series.

[Becki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thoroughly enjoying this series!!

I have had this series for quite a while now, but this is the first time I’ve ever read it. I didn’t think I would like it. But the more of Yasmine’s books that I read, I began to realize that I really should give it a chance. And I’m so glad that I did! I have enjoyed every single one of her novels that I have read so far! I need to trust my instincts better in the future!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enthralling

This story was enthralling. The characters were engaging and entertaining and fantastic, their interactions were intriguing and fun to read. The storyline grabbed my attention, it continued on from the previous wild hunt story seamlessly. Can't wait to read the next story.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is fast becoming a new favorite series. I love the characters, especially Ember and Angel. I won’t say too much so as not to spoil it. But I will say this, it’s worth the read most definitely. I’m now currently reading the newest book in Ms Galenorn’s Otherworld series. Can’t wait for the next Wild Hunt book and the next Bedlam book to come out.

[jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t have loved it more, I am so into this series, and I get so involved that I forget it’s immersed in a world that’s not quite ours, but in towns I know. Its like laying a world of fantasy over the top of my world and I crave being in it. Ember is my new favorite heroin, and Herne my new worship. Mmmm love me some Godly strong men.

[tsaxed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent! Loving the new stories, Yasmine. Typos and missed grammatical errors usually annoy me terribly, but I understand that as an Indie author (don't know all the lingo - sorry), you're more on your own with regard to editing. I'll always read my favorite authors no matter what, and you're one of them, so keep on writing, and I'll keep visiting your world!