Review: Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on August 29, 2015 | 5 Comments


Review: Hunter by Mercedes LackeyHunter by Mercedes Lackey
Series: Hunter #1
Published by Disney Hyperion (9.1.2015)
Genres: High Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: eARC, 384 pages
Source: NetGalley


4 Stars

Centuries ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were slashed open allowing hideous fantastical monsters to wreak havoc; destroying entire cities in their wake. Now, people must live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the evil creatures constantly trying to break in. Only the corps of teen Hunters with lightning reflexes and magical abilities can protect the populace from the daily attacks.

Joyeaux Charmand is a mountain girl from a close knit village who comes to the big city to join the Hunters. Joy thinks she is only there to perform her civic duty and protect the capitol Cits, or civilians, but as cameras follow her every move, she soon learns that the more successful she is in her hunts, the more famous she becomes.

With millions of fans watching her on reality TV, Joy begins to realize that Apex is not all it seems. She is forced to question everything she grew up believing about the legendary Hunters and the very world she lives in. Soon she finds that her fame may be part of a deep conspiracy that threatens to upend the protective structure built to keep dark magic out. The monsters are getting in and it is up to Joy to find out why.

My thoughts

What a fabulous concept! I think that was the driving point of this novel for me. I highly enjoyed the world and all of the monsters. I also loved the Hunters and the fact that they had a celebrity status – all of the costumes and colors reminded me a bit of the way the Jaeger pilots were portrayed in the beginning of Pacific Rim! This book was certainly cinematic – it would be awesome as a movie!

There was plenty of action in this book to keep you on your toes. I loved that there was danger and monsters lurking around every corner! I highly enjoyed all of the fight scenes, especially the one with the wyverns!

THE HOUNDS OMG. I was totally in love with Joy’s Hounds! Especially Bya. I loved Bya! I also thought it was awesome that the Mandala tattoos on her hands had marks for each hound. View Spoiler »

I love that there was little to no romance in this. Knight and Joy Hunt together, but it was strictly platonic. I love that there was a male-female relationship in this book that never left the friend zone! (BOYS AND GIRLS CAN BE JUST FRIENDS, PEOPLE.) I didn’t really care about the tiny romance between Joy and Josh, but thankfully it was almost nonexistent.

My main complaint with this book are that I didn’t connect to the characters as well as I’d hoped. I didn’t really care about them one way or another. Except for Knight – I did like him! Second, I had some trouble grasping the world in the beginning. There were a lot of terms tossed around and I didn’t quite understand the way their society worked. I had some confusion about the Diseray because it wasn’t ever truly explained, there were just snippets here and there. I also found it to be a bit predictable. View Spoiler »

Overall Assessment

Plot: 4/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 3/5
World-building: 4/5
Pace: 4.5/5
Feels: 2.5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5

Jessi (Geo)

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5 responses to “Review: Hunter by Mercedes Lackey

  1. I am reading this one and I am having a hard time with it. I am still in the first 10% of it, but there is just so much information and not a lot of action. I am a bit bored. I will push through it though. I am glad that you enjoyed it.

  2. I really want to read this one but I’ve seen all types of reviews so I’m a tad nervous. I’m so happy that you ended up liking it! Gives me hope that I will too. Sort of sad there isn’t more of a romance, haha. Wonderful review.

  3. The concept sounds great and it’s good to hear that you enjoyed the world-building. That is always an important aspect for me :) Male-female friendship, YES! I miss that in books. I have a best friend and there is zero attraction between us. I’d love to see that more often :D

  4. Karen

    I really like this book. Would have liked a little more info about the Diseray, it will probably be in a future book. But as far as terms that were hard to understand? I realized real quick that what happened is the terms became slang because this is the future. For instance perscom – personal computer/pc or at least that is what I think :) can’t wait for the next book, does anyone know when it may be due out?

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