Hunter's Death

Often when I begin sequels I always have that faint thought nudging at the back of my mind: Will it be as good as the first? Or will it fail to live up to what came before it? What surprised me here is that I didn't even bother to think that. I just assumed that it would live up to expectations - which shows the quality of West's writing as a whole - and indeed, it was just as good, if not better. The first book, HUNTER'S OATH, had revolved around things I don't usually find "appetizing" in novels - dogs, hunting, medieval-style fealty don't particularly interest me - although I had allowed it to pull me in all the same. But this time, it's got that same delicious sense of intrigue and suspense, all set in a much more fascinating place - the courts of Averalaan. Court intrigue is what I live for, and this book had more than enough to pull me in and keep me there. Hunter Lord Gilliam and Huntbrother Stephen are the lone Breodani bumbling their ways through the capital Averlaan, a city unlike anything they've ever known. There are mages there, Artisans, nobles, Queens - and demons. For Averlaan, and the whole Empire, are no longer safe; demons are infiltrating the city, intent on doing - what? No one knows - but Gilliam and Stephen may prove by the end to be the keys needed to save everyone. There is so much going on in this novel that I'm not even sure if you could call Stephen of Elseth the main character. There's Jewel, the poor girl who steals off the streets but can sense the future; Kallandras, an assassin-turned-bard; Evayne, the time-traveler - and many more. Each and every character with even the smallest part in the plot gets a full canvas upon which to sketch their lives and thoughts and motives. It's all done carefully, building up to the main battle, but each part leading you there is also fascinating. A lot can be read into the character's actions: while West describes everyone in exhaustive detail, she leaves it open in such a way that guessing at character relationships is really quite enjoyable. The result of all this build-up, perspective-switching, and analyzing of motives and ambitions is an epic tale with characters you really care about. By the time the climactic events happen, all those characters are firmly and solidly real - so real that the book became, to me at least, really powerful. West is an amazingly skilled writer, and I applaud her careful attention to the fostering of each subplot, character quirk, and historical reference. She manages to pull everything together thoroughly. HUNTER'S DEATH does not disappoint. I loved it!

This novel attempts to wrap up the major plots in this part of the fantasy world, leaving open several strands the author may choose to revisit later. I thought it was better than the first book, with the shift in location from the small, forested country of Breodanir to the large metropolis of Averalaan in Essaylien. This book introduces one of my favorite fantasy characters of all time: Jewel, a 15 year old leader of a band of street urchins. Jewel has a rare and untrained power to "see" certain events before they occur, and to "know" a lie from truth. The mysterious Evayne, Kallandras, and of course, Stephan and Gilliam advance the story to its conclusion, with the addition of a whole new cast of characters. It is both a great conclusion to the first book and a preparation by the author for the Sun Sword series. I could hardly wait for The Broken Crown to come out!

Hunter's Death has been nothing short of one of the best stories I've ever read. A constant page turner, yet a dramatic tear-jerker. The cast is one of the best ever, and everytime I think of this book a tear comes to my eye (or a big smile stretches from ear to ear). If I were to count how many nights of 5 1/2 hours to 6 hours worth of sleep I got just b/c I couldn't put this book down, well, you'd be amazed I could have functioned throughout the entire week I spent mostly reading this book. But if you love a phenomenal storyline, an excellent plot, an unforgetable (in a good way) cast of characters, and to be touched emotionally like no other story has ever or could ever do to you, then this book is a must read. I recommend it to everyone that likes to read, PERIOD.

It is not often that I have to put down a book and return to it a few days later because the events were too upsetting. How could she have done that to Stephen? (What more can I say without giving away the story?) While at times a bit slow, I thouroughly enjoyed this book. But what happens to Kallandras now?

Continues, and builds upon the promise of her first book in this duology, 'Hunter's oath, definitely a solid read. If good characterization, real depth of writing and 'pick you up and take you along' writing are what you look for in a fantasy novel- then look no further.An easy read, but not a mass market feather-weight, she gives a solid experience for the money. Names like Tad Williams, C.J.Cherryh, K.K. Rusch and P. Volsky would be on the same shelf if books were filed by a quality plus quantity conscious (but alphabetically challenged) librarian.