Racked

by Ash Fitzsimmons

Things could be worse…right?

Nine months ago, Annie Humphries had her life under control. Though she was still a very green private investigator, she’d begun to make a name for herself around Richmond as she tracked down missing teenagers and cheating spouses.

That was before Maya’s Halloween party. Unwittingly exposed to a potion along with the rest of the guests, Annie woke up with a rack of antlers growing from her head. Now she’s stuck in a magical pocket world, making lattes with Maya and hoping that the team of sorcerers and elves studying the novel potion can develop an antidote. Sure, things could be worse—some of the other partygoers died —but Annie desperately wants a ticket back to reality.

Then Wylan walks in.

Annie doesn’t know what to make of the new guy in town, a slightly clueless stranger who dresses like he just came from a Renaissance faire and sports antlers of his own, but what she learns about his family goes a long way toward explaining why people cross the street when they see her coming. Wylan belongs to the Wild Hunt, a group little understood but feared by the peoples of the Pactlands.

Now, an elven aristocrat has vanished shortly before her grand society wedding. Her parents publicly downplay their daughter’s disappearance in case she’s eloped with a paramour, but they accept Annie’s offer of help. Abandoning her espresso machine, Annie puts her skills to the test to figure out who might have wanted to harm or hide the bride, with Wylan riding along as her willing backup.

But the truth may be more than either of them bargained for, and if they can’t find her soon, Annie’s investigation could turn into a murder case.

Genres: Mystery

250 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 7, 2023

About the author

Ash has always loved a good story. Her childhood bookshelves overflowed, and she refused to take notes in her copies of classroom novels because that felt like sacrilege. She wrote her first novel the summer after her freshman year of college and never looked back. (Granted, that novel was an unpublishable 270,000-word behemoth, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?)

After obtaining degrees in English and creative writing and taking a stab at magazine work, Ash decided to put her skillset to different use and went to law school. She then moved home to Alabama, where she works as an attorney. These days, Ash can be found outside of Montgomery with her inordinately fluffy Siberian husky, who loves long walks, car rides, and whatever Ash happens to be eating.

Reviews

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have I mentioned how much I enjoy exploring this magical realm?????
I've read a few other books set within this fictional universe and Annie was in them, but I'm very much loving getting to know Annie much better, and getting the detailed story of who she is and how she fits in.
Great characters, just enough tension to make this mystery exciting, but also light-hearted enough to make it a fun read.
5 stars

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

With every one of Ash Fitzsimmons’ books set in the Pactlands, I fall a little more in love with this world and these characters! The Wild Hunt spinoff series features Annie and Maya, who were both impacted by a rogue potion in a previous book. Now Annie has pesky deer antlers she can’t get rid of, and Maya has fairy wings. They now run a coffee shop and bakery in the Pactlands since they can’t live in the human world any longer. Annie is still adjusting to her antlers and missing her life and her home, and when a cute guy with antlers wanders in while she’s making coffee, she’s shocked, to say the least. I adored the relationship between her and Wylan from the start. They were cute together, he clearly adores her, and his background as a member of the Wild Hunt sets off an intriguing new plotline for the series (the worldbuilding here is just great.) I loved the fish out of water feel that was there for them both, the heartwarming scenes with Rose and Yven, and as we get into the second half of the book and the suspense plotline kicks in, that was amazing as well. I finished this and all I could think was, give me book two!! 5/5 stars.

[S.C. James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Racked, the first in The Wild Hunt trilogy, follows Annie, who is trapped in the Pactlands. She offers to find the missing heiress, with Wylan by her side. Of course things do not go smoothly, and what she discovers takes her down an unexpected path.

I love Ash’s writing style, and the relationship between Annie and Wylan is brilliant to read. The characters and the world, are well written, and the story kept me engaged, making my decision to download all the three books at the same time a good one. I will give each book their own review, and I can say I will definitely be trying out more of Ash’s books, starting with the Hall of Thorns series, which I should have started with.

[Renee Marski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antlers and The Hunt

Annie is trapped in the pactlands after the incident with roulette. Working as a barista for her friend, she meets the only other person who has antlers. And hes part of the hunt. A group of 48 men controlled by their father. When an heiress goes missing, Annie offers her services as a PI and she and Wylan start tracking down leads. What they find sends them to a place that Annie never anticipated.

A great start to a new series! Loved it!

[Aaron D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Racked. The wild Hunt. Book one.

*****

Ash has worked her magic again. Exploring the Pactlands with more details and characters met before in the Hall of Thorns this is a new adventure with new perils and a rather scrumptious hero. Just as you think you've got to the end of the satisfactory action you are hit with a new twist - that means you're going to have to read Book Two to Four.
Great All Round Read for escaping from the real world!

[Joan Wendland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Same World, New POV

Racked takes place in the Hall of Thorns world but switches the POV from Rose to Annie (of the antler fiasco ).

I’d been disappointed that the Roulette victims hadn’t much page time in the last book so I was delighted to see them front and center here. Annie’s POV is interesting and the mystery she helps solve is gripping.

Looking forward to the next book!

[W.A. Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book.
I loved the idea of the Pactlands.
The characters are great and the story kept me hooked from the start.
I loved the relationship between Annie and Wylan.
Now I just need to wait until July for book 2.
Highly recommend.