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Jeremiah Hunt #3
[ WATCHER OF THE DARK (JEREMIAH HUNT CHRONICLE #03) ] By Nassise, Joseph ( Author) 2013 [ Hardcover ]
A spine-tingling new Jeremiah Hunt dark fantasy thriller.New Orleans was nearly the death of Jeremiah Hunt, between a too-close brush with the FBI and a chilling, soul-searing journey through the realm of the dead that culminated with a do-or-die confrontation with Death himself.But when he performs an arcane ritual to reclaim the soul of the magically gifted, beautiful woman who once saved him, he must flee the law once again, to Los Angeles, city of angels, a temporary sanctuary. In L.A., he has to contend with Carlos Fuentes, who sees in Hunt a means to obtain the mystical key that would open the gates of Hell. Fuentes knows Hunt’s weakness—his loyalty to the woman he loves, and to another “gifted” friend—and uses the real threat of torturing them as a way to get Hunt to help complete his dread quest.Hunt has learned a lot since his life was irrevocably hijacked by fate months ago. But when his friends are threatened by the supernatural predator known as the Preacher, Hunt knows that all his newfound experience and ability will go for naught unless he can keep both the Preacher and Fuentes at bay long enough for him to somehow find a way to free his friends from mortal peril.
Hardcover
First published November 19, 2013
17 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Nassise
99 books331 followersI'm the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty novels, including the Templar Chronicles series, the Jeremiah Hunt trilogy, and the Great Undead War series. I've also written several books in the Rogue Angel action/adventure series from Gold Eagle. I'm a former president of the Horror Writers Association, the world's largest organization of professional horror writers, and a multiple Bram Stoker Award and International Horror Guild Award nominee.
When I'm not writing, I'm hanging out with dogs, practicing recurve archery, or off-roading in the desert around my home in Phoenix, AZ.
When I'm not writing, I'm hanging out with dogs, practicing recurve archery, or off-roading in the desert around my home in Phoenix, AZ.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
December 24, 2015
That was a ton of fun to read. I forgot how easy it is to get caught up in this world and really root for the cranky, cantankerous Jeremiah Hunt. It was a bit repetitive when describing Hunt's abilities whenever he used them, but I didn't mind too too much. I think this volume got back what I felt in the first one, so I really liked it. It ends in a way where I'm surprised there aren't anymore books in the series. It's satisfying enough, but there are still a lot of questions to be answered. I hope he writes more of Hunt's story in the future.
September 23, 2013
If you haven’t read the Jeremiah Hunt series yet, WHY HAVEN’T YOU READ THE JEREMIAH HUNT SERIES YET?!?!?!?!
This is a series that I started out with as a review request I received from Tor Books. Being one of my favorite publishers of urban fantasy, I decided to give King of the Dead (Hunt #2) a shot and they were nice enough to supply me with a copy of Eyes to See (Hunt #1) so I could get caught up. I was instantly hooked. Imagine how psyched I was when the author asked me to give a beta read to Watcher of the Dark (Jeremiah Hunt #3)!
Well, it just rocked. Cover to cover.
I have mentioned in my other reviews of this series that the biggest thing I like about this book is the lack of focus on any sort of romantic story line. Of course, there’s a little bit here and there but it is VERY minimal. The Jeremiah Hunt series is one of the few urban fantasy series that I can say is genuinely urban fantasy, through and through. Any guy could pick up these books and they would love them, I assure you.
A major draw to this series is the dark humor laced throughout the stories and Watcher of the Dark was no different. The book takes off right out of the gate with hardcore action. Hunt is in the midst of a dangerous situation he doesn’t entirely understand and humor is most definitely his go-to coping mechanism. And I love it! It’s not quite self-deprecating, but it treads lightly somewhere between dark humor and all-out sarcasm. I never know what is going to come out of his mouth, but it is always clever. Reading this character is so much fun! He’s half in and half out of the supernatural world and yet he still has a healthy fear of the things that go bump in the night. Combine that with the type of humor he has and you have a wickedly entertaining character!
One of my pet peeves in reading series books is bad rehashing—the retelling of the info from the previous books in the series so you can understand what is going on in the current book. Something that really stood out to me about this book is the rehashing is all done while all the action is going on at the very beginning. I was fed all the info I needed from the previous installments and I didn’t even realize it was happening until it was all over! The rehashing was blended perfectly with the new story.
I am a big fan of following series because it’s like watching episodes of your favorite show. I love that the series will have an overall story arc but each book has a story arc of its own. The first book was all about getting to know Hunt and learning about his abilities right alongside him. The second book takes him on a totally new adventure, but still keeps the big story arc going. Watcher of the Dark’s story arc was completely unique and yet you feel that you are in the same world as the previous books. We are introduced to a new big bad to deal with, and he’s a totally new type of villain for Hunt to have to deal with. That’s another thing!! The new big bad. My favorite villains are always the ones that are smart/clever and refined. The reader knows the villain is dangerous but also ends up kind of liking him. It’s like a collector’s sword – beautiful to look at, admirable in its own way, but could cut your arm off just as easily as a ratty old chainsaw. That is totally the big bad in Watcher of the Dark.
I don’t want to go too far into detail because I hate/won’t post spoilers but I can tell you that there are a few unexpected twists to Watcher of the Dark that you won’t see coming at all! This was a book that kept me turning pages to the very end and left me DYING to know where the story is going to go next.
My favorite quote from Watcher of the Dark is a dorky one and I just don’t care because it made me laugh my ass off:
“I wasn’t worried; my Googlefu was strong.”
Overall, I am giving Watcher of the Dark a solid 5 stars. If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to start. For lovers of true urban fantasy, this whole series is a must have in your collection. Speaking technically, Joseph Nassise has figured out the formula. He’s got great storylines with perfect pacing, flawless character development, everything flows well, no continuity issues, it’s a balanced mixture of humor/fantasy/suspense….he’s got it all! Go. Read. LOVE.
I have included the purchase links for the series at the bottom of this post. The link for Watcher of the Dark is a pre-order link as this book does not come out until November 19, 2013.
This review was posted early with the blessing of the author.
This is a series that I started out with as a review request I received from Tor Books. Being one of my favorite publishers of urban fantasy, I decided to give King of the Dead (Hunt #2) a shot and they were nice enough to supply me with a copy of Eyes to See (Hunt #1) so I could get caught up. I was instantly hooked. Imagine how psyched I was when the author asked me to give a beta read to Watcher of the Dark (Jeremiah Hunt #3)!
Well, it just rocked. Cover to cover.
I have mentioned in my other reviews of this series that the biggest thing I like about this book is the lack of focus on any sort of romantic story line. Of course, there’s a little bit here and there but it is VERY minimal. The Jeremiah Hunt series is one of the few urban fantasy series that I can say is genuinely urban fantasy, through and through. Any guy could pick up these books and they would love them, I assure you.
A major draw to this series is the dark humor laced throughout the stories and Watcher of the Dark was no different. The book takes off right out of the gate with hardcore action. Hunt is in the midst of a dangerous situation he doesn’t entirely understand and humor is most definitely his go-to coping mechanism. And I love it! It’s not quite self-deprecating, but it treads lightly somewhere between dark humor and all-out sarcasm. I never know what is going to come out of his mouth, but it is always clever. Reading this character is so much fun! He’s half in and half out of the supernatural world and yet he still has a healthy fear of the things that go bump in the night. Combine that with the type of humor he has and you have a wickedly entertaining character!
One of my pet peeves in reading series books is bad rehashing—the retelling of the info from the previous books in the series so you can understand what is going on in the current book. Something that really stood out to me about this book is the rehashing is all done while all the action is going on at the very beginning. I was fed all the info I needed from the previous installments and I didn’t even realize it was happening until it was all over! The rehashing was blended perfectly with the new story.
I am a big fan of following series because it’s like watching episodes of your favorite show. I love that the series will have an overall story arc but each book has a story arc of its own. The first book was all about getting to know Hunt and learning about his abilities right alongside him. The second book takes him on a totally new adventure, but still keeps the big story arc going. Watcher of the Dark’s story arc was completely unique and yet you feel that you are in the same world as the previous books. We are introduced to a new big bad to deal with, and he’s a totally new type of villain for Hunt to have to deal with. That’s another thing!! The new big bad. My favorite villains are always the ones that are smart/clever and refined. The reader knows the villain is dangerous but also ends up kind of liking him. It’s like a collector’s sword – beautiful to look at, admirable in its own way, but could cut your arm off just as easily as a ratty old chainsaw. That is totally the big bad in Watcher of the Dark.
I don’t want to go too far into detail because I hate/won’t post spoilers but I can tell you that there are a few unexpected twists to Watcher of the Dark that you won’t see coming at all! This was a book that kept me turning pages to the very end and left me DYING to know where the story is going to go next.
My favorite quote from Watcher of the Dark is a dorky one and I just don’t care because it made me laugh my ass off:
“I wasn’t worried; my Googlefu was strong.”
Overall, I am giving Watcher of the Dark a solid 5 stars. If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to start. For lovers of true urban fantasy, this whole series is a must have in your collection. Speaking technically, Joseph Nassise has figured out the formula. He’s got great storylines with perfect pacing, flawless character development, everything flows well, no continuity issues, it’s a balanced mixture of humor/fantasy/suspense….he’s got it all! Go. Read. LOVE.
I have included the purchase links for the series at the bottom of this post. The link for Watcher of the Dark is a pre-order link as this book does not come out until November 19, 2013.
This review was posted early with the blessing of the author.
February 25, 2014
The good news? I've found another UF series that I enjoy greatly.
The bad news? This is the last so far...waiting on another series.
I will be assuming here that if you're looking at a review on this book you have read the first 2 in the series. that means there may be some spoilers for those two books in the body of the review. Be aware of that before you go on...I don't want to ruin the first 2 books for you.
This series started out a little iffy, but it picked up well. The second book ended in sort of a cliff hanger and this one picks up with our protagonist where he's "gone to ground"...again. You see due to some poor decisions and a few...misunderstandings, just minor ones you understand, Jeremiah is wanted by the FBI. See, they think he's a viscous serial killer. Of course as I said it's all a big misunderstanding...could happen to anyone.
I'm sure at some point he'll be able to straighten out the evidence that seems to point to him as the butcher...you know things like a dead cop, dead women...lots of dead people. You know, easily misunderstood stuff like that.
Well anyway as I said, he's gone to ground and all seems well, until he's forced into another life and death (and possibly worse than death) situation. He still isn't sure how the "situation" that we saw at the end of the last book has, progressed(?), turned out(?), well whatever. The thing is we aren't either...it does get settled, eventually, sort of.
While this book/these books may not rate at the top of my UF pile they are definitely "near" the top. I can recommend these...really. The "feel" of the series (if you know what I mean by that) seems to me to change slightly as we go along. This I believe is slightly better than the first 2, though not by much. It's just more coherent as a "novel". That said the overall plot and "larger story" is well into taking shape.
I can recommend these, highly.
The bad news? This is the last so far...waiting on another series.
I will be assuming here that if you're looking at a review on this book you have read the first 2 in the series. that means there may be some spoilers for those two books in the body of the review. Be aware of that before you go on...I don't want to ruin the first 2 books for you.
This series started out a little iffy, but it picked up well. The second book ended in sort of a cliff hanger and this one picks up with our protagonist where he's "gone to ground"...again. You see due to some poor decisions and a few...misunderstandings, just minor ones you understand, Jeremiah is wanted by the FBI. See, they think he's a viscous serial killer. Of course as I said it's all a big misunderstanding...could happen to anyone.
I'm sure at some point he'll be able to straighten out the evidence that seems to point to him as the butcher...you know things like a dead cop, dead women...lots of dead people. You know, easily misunderstood stuff like that.
Well anyway as I said, he's gone to ground and all seems well, until he's forced into another life and death (and possibly worse than death) situation. He still isn't sure how the "situation" that we saw at the end of the last book has, progressed(?), turned out(?), well whatever. The thing is we aren't either...it does get settled, eventually, sort of.
While this book/these books may not rate at the top of my UF pile they are definitely "near" the top. I can recommend these...really. The "feel" of the series (if you know what I mean by that) seems to me to change slightly as we go along. This I believe is slightly better than the first 2, though not by much. It's just more coherent as a "novel". That said the overall plot and "larger story" is well into taking shape.
I can recommend these, highly.
July 23, 2019
I've really liked the "The Jeremiah Hunt Chronicle" (as the series is called) since the first book, and Watcher of the Dark is no exception. The main reason is Hunt is a very real, very believable character. The man is seemingly always angry, rarely trusting, and generally conniving. But underneath his gruff exterior, there's also a lot of genuine pain due to the losses he has suffered and you really feel and root for him. This may not be a guy you'd want over for Friday Fun Night because he can be a downer with his solemn attitude, but you'll want him watching your back every day of the week because the loyalty he shows the people in his circle. He will (and has) risk life and limb to protect his friends.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
November 21, 2013
As seen on Rabidreads.ca:
Watcher of the Dark furthers the unfortunate story of one Jeremiah Hunt, once a professor of ancient languages at Harvard University and now a man absorbed in the world of supernatural ghostly affairs. Don't worry too much about his former career. There are only a couple of instances in which he can use his ears to pick out what language his abductors might be speaking.
Mostly Hunt is one who uses his eyes or lack thereof. You see due to some Faustian bargaining his vision is all scrambled and merits significant explanation both in book and in the review. During the daylight hours, Hunt can see merely a white curtain, an Arctic envelope that comes up even in a dimly lit pool hall.
So what Hunt can most easily navigate is an unlit room. In this environment everything is in a thousand differing shades of grey but Hunt can move without falling all over himself. In certain special cases, especially if there is a ghost nearby or human (willing or unwilling volunteer), Hunt can yank their sight so as to impair the movements of someone else or to aid his own. Also at the base level of Hunt's ability, he can detect the emotions that have been embedded in objects, all the ghastly energy that a particularly lonely person might invest into their remote control.
Now to transition to the plot, the developments in this book seem relatively minor. All the previous events that are summarized sound like a laser light show in comparison to this Fast & The Furious Los Angeles sorcerer politics. Many colorful minor characters are introduced such as a half-demon, half-human, all curvaceous woman (these are in high demand in urban fantasy these days) and a frequently shirtless tattooed sorcerer.
The problem, if you cannot yet see it, lies in the relevance of these events and side characters to Hunt's journey. I may have said his story was furthered but, if so, it was moved onwards by the slightest iota. The enigmatic and all-powerful Preacher, complete with gaping sockets where his eyes should be, shows up, without an end game. Some minor bad guys escape, without an end game. And Hunt stays on the run, without an end game.
What keeps this series afloat - if I may make a diagnosis - are the complexities of Hunt's powers, the difference that his world contains up against ours. I cannot see ghosts. I see with the aid of light. My keyboard shows no emotional energy to me. And Hunt lives like none of that. And just as much he's a couple breeds removed from your typical urban fantasy protagonist too. There's the appeal.
Watcher of the Dark furthers the unfortunate story of one Jeremiah Hunt, once a professor of ancient languages at Harvard University and now a man absorbed in the world of supernatural ghostly affairs. Don't worry too much about his former career. There are only a couple of instances in which he can use his ears to pick out what language his abductors might be speaking.
Mostly Hunt is one who uses his eyes or lack thereof. You see due to some Faustian bargaining his vision is all scrambled and merits significant explanation both in book and in the review. During the daylight hours, Hunt can see merely a white curtain, an Arctic envelope that comes up even in a dimly lit pool hall.
So what Hunt can most easily navigate is an unlit room. In this environment everything is in a thousand differing shades of grey but Hunt can move without falling all over himself. In certain special cases, especially if there is a ghost nearby or human (willing or unwilling volunteer), Hunt can yank their sight so as to impair the movements of someone else or to aid his own. Also at the base level of Hunt's ability, he can detect the emotions that have been embedded in objects, all the ghastly energy that a particularly lonely person might invest into their remote control.
Now to transition to the plot, the developments in this book seem relatively minor. All the previous events that are summarized sound like a laser light show in comparison to this Fast & The Furious Los Angeles sorcerer politics. Many colorful minor characters are introduced such as a half-demon, half-human, all curvaceous woman (these are in high demand in urban fantasy these days) and a frequently shirtless tattooed sorcerer.
The problem, if you cannot yet see it, lies in the relevance of these events and side characters to Hunt's journey. I may have said his story was furthered but, if so, it was moved onwards by the slightest iota. The enigmatic and all-powerful Preacher, complete with gaping sockets where his eyes should be, shows up, without an end game. Some minor bad guys escape, without an end game. And Hunt stays on the run, without an end game.
What keeps this series afloat - if I may make a diagnosis - are the complexities of Hunt's powers, the difference that his world contains up against ours. I cannot see ghosts. I see with the aid of light. My keyboard shows no emotional energy to me. And Hunt lives like none of that. And just as much he's a couple breeds removed from your typical urban fantasy protagonist too. There's the appeal.
December 20, 2013
http://openbooksociety.com/article/wa...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Sammy
Another hit! This addition starts off fast and furious and continues until the end of the book.
By page 16 I was completely sucked in. Loved this:
”I had no idea who these people were, but it was a safe assumption that they didn’t have my best interests at heart; you didn’t kick in a door of a man’s motel room to invite him out for a venti caramel macchiato.”
Hunt has a wonderful sense of humor that I find ironically hilarious.
I missed Denise and Dmitri, but thought it worked well with them coming in at the end of the story. I was glad to see Scream and Whisper again, great characters. The new “bad guys” were the usual suspects but a bit more interesting. Seeing how Hunt has progressed with the use of his sight is an interesting part of the storyline, I’m looking forward to learning more about how he develops that talent. Also, the ending of the story leaves me wanting more, without being a cliffhanger. A big thank you to the author for that, yes there are new storylines to look forward to but this story had an ending as well.
There are many surprises in book three. A couple that I was surprised by, or felt were small hiccups were that Hunt took so long to figure out what Durante was up to and that he trusted Ilyana??? What was up with that? Those two things made this a 4 1/2 star book but because of all the new and interesting directions it goes, I bumped it up to 5 stars.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fast well paced, action, mystery, horror and fantasy all rolled up into a well written interesting story. You can read this as a stand alone book, because the author does a fantastic job of giving the reader enough information while at the same time not repeating too many things for the readers who have read the other two books. Although, I would recommend that you read the other two because all three of books in this series are fantastic.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Sammy
Another hit! This addition starts off fast and furious and continues until the end of the book.
By page 16 I was completely sucked in. Loved this:
”I had no idea who these people were, but it was a safe assumption that they didn’t have my best interests at heart; you didn’t kick in a door of a man’s motel room to invite him out for a venti caramel macchiato.”
Hunt has a wonderful sense of humor that I find ironically hilarious.
I missed Denise and Dmitri, but thought it worked well with them coming in at the end of the story. I was glad to see Scream and Whisper again, great characters. The new “bad guys” were the usual suspects but a bit more interesting. Seeing how Hunt has progressed with the use of his sight is an interesting part of the storyline, I’m looking forward to learning more about how he develops that talent. Also, the ending of the story leaves me wanting more, without being a cliffhanger. A big thank you to the author for that, yes there are new storylines to look forward to but this story had an ending as well.
There are many surprises in book three. A couple that I was surprised by, or felt were small hiccups were that Hunt took so long to figure out what Durante was up to and that he trusted Ilyana??? What was up with that? Those two things made this a 4 1/2 star book but because of all the new and interesting directions it goes, I bumped it up to 5 stars.
I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fast well paced, action, mystery, horror and fantasy all rolled up into a well written interesting story. You can read this as a stand alone book, because the author does a fantastic job of giving the reader enough information while at the same time not repeating too many things for the readers who have read the other two books. Although, I would recommend that you read the other two because all three of books in this series are fantastic.
November 10, 2020
Oh WOW! So Hunt finds himself on the run in L.A. after the events in New Orleans, and in a form of indentured (read blackmailed) servitude to the Master of the City. In typical Hunt fashion he tries to make life as miserable as he can for the people screwing with him while doing the job he has to for them. The Preacher makes a reappearance and is dealt with, at least for the time being. And for me, the ABSOLUTE BEST PART OF THE BOOK...Cade Williams of Nassise's Templar Chronicles makes a cameo guest appearance!! Totally Cool! I loved this book, and that was icing on the cake for me. THANKS JOE!!
January 3, 2014
I just want more... this book was pretty great. Really disorienting at first because of how the last book ended... but good. Very solid play and really just leaves me waiting for the next book, now. Gosh Darnit.
December 7, 2019
(review of all three books)
This isn't a masterwork, neither in terms of representation nor in general. Within the three books entire sections are recycled and the protagonists' disability is not consistent.
But this series doesn't have to be a masterwork, it can simply be entertaining and enjoyable. The concept is incredibly interesting, so is the world-building, and having a disabled protagonist at all is refreshing in the urban fantasy genre.
Maybe my bars are too low, but I enjoyed this series, despite its flaws. And my position towards literature is that as long as you enjoy it, it's all fine.
This isn't a masterwork, neither in terms of representation nor in general. Within the three books entire sections are recycled and the protagonists' disability is not consistent.
But this series doesn't have to be a masterwork, it can simply be entertaining and enjoyable. The concept is incredibly interesting, so is the world-building, and having a disabled protagonist at all is refreshing in the urban fantasy genre.
Maybe my bars are too low, but I enjoyed this series, despite its flaws. And my position towards literature is that as long as you enjoy it, it's all fine.
March 31, 2019
Exciting third book!
This third Jeremiah Hunt book was really great!
Hunt finds himself the unwilling accomplice to a powerful sorcerer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
The action was good and the characters as great as they've been all throughout the series.
The plot was exciting and kept me enthralled the whole time.
I can't wait for more of these books!
This third Jeremiah Hunt book was really great!
Hunt finds himself the unwilling accomplice to a powerful sorcerer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
The action was good and the characters as great as they've been all throughout the series.
The plot was exciting and kept me enthralled the whole time.
I can't wait for more of these books!
April 4, 2021
Rereading for the pleasure of it
Had this series on hard copy way back when. What a pleasant surprise to see it on KU. If you like urban fantasy with more than a hint of horror, a strong compelling MC that’s not overpowered but still kicks ass, and tight entertaining plots give this series a read.
Had this series on hard copy way back when. What a pleasant surprise to see it on KU. If you like urban fantasy with more than a hint of horror, a strong compelling MC that’s not overpowered but still kicks ass, and tight entertaining plots give this series a read.
December 9, 2018
Must read
Having read previous works of this author ,I truly enjoyed this series action packed well written and I loved the way you tied up the ending in this book.Heads up this author has pen names that I plan to check out also.Thanks for a wonderful adventure.......
Having read previous works of this author ,I truly enjoyed this series action packed well written and I loved the way you tied up the ending in this book.Heads up this author has pen names that I plan to check out also.Thanks for a wonderful adventure.......
January 16, 2020
Joseph Nassie does the genre right. Here is a deep, mysterious and dark story that forces the protagonist to balance need versus their conscience. There's a dresden level of betrayal and counter betrayal and some great story scenes. I wish there was another book in the series.
July 16, 2017
Another very good read.
July 7, 2018
Did not like the fact the author chose to leave several plot points unanswered. However, the author gives his audience a mellow finish to the trilogy.
August 3, 2023
Good book! Very anticlimactic ending !
April 11, 2018
If you haven’t read the Jeremiah Hunt series yet, WHY HAVEN’T YOU READ THE JEREMIAH HUNT SERIES YET?!?!?!?!
This is a series that I started out with as a review request I received from Tor Books. Being one of my favorite publishers of urban fantasy, I decided to give King of the Dead (Hunt #2) a shot and they were nice enough to supply me with a copy of Eyes to See (Hunt #1) so I could get caught up. I was instantly hooked. Imagine how psyched I was when the author asked me to give a beta read to Watcher of the Dark (Jeremiah Hunt #3)!
Well, it just rocked. Cover to cover.
I have mentioned in my other reviews of this series that the biggest thing I like about this book is the lack of focus on any sort of romantic story line. Of course, there’s a little bit here and there but it is VERY minimal. The Jeremiah Hunt series is one of the few urban fantasy series that I can say is genuinely urban fantasy, through and through. Any guy could pick up these books and they would love them, I assure you.
A major draw to this series is the dark humor laced throughout the stories and Watcher of the Dark was no different. The book takes off right out of the gate with hardcore action. Hunt is in the midst of a dangerous situation he doesn’t entirely understand and humor is most definitely his go-to coping mechanism. And I love it! It’s not quite self-deprecating, but it treads lightly somewhere between dark humor and all-out sarcasm. I never know what is going to come out of his mouth, but it is always clever. Reading this character is so much fun! He’s half in and half out of the supernatural world and yet he still has a healthy fear of the things that go bump in the night. Combine that with the type of humor he has and you have a wickedly entertaining character!
One of my pet peeves in reading series books is bad rehashing—the retelling of the info from the previous books in the series so you can understand what is going on in the current book. Something that really stood out to me about this book is the rehashing is all done while all the action is going on at the very beginning. I was fed all the info I needed from the previous installments and I didn’t even realize it was happening until it was all over! The rehashing was blended perfectly with the new story.
I am a big fan of following series because it’s like watching episodes of your favorite show. I love that the series will have an overall story arc but each book has a story arc of its own. The first book was all about getting to know Hunt and learning about his abilities right alongside him. The second book takes him on a totally new adventure, but still keeps the big story arc going. Watcher of the Dark’s story arc was completely unique and yet you feel that you are in the same world as the previous books. We are introduced to a new big bad to deal with, and he’s a totally new type of villain for Hunt to have to deal with. That’s another thing!! The new big bad. My favorite villains are always the ones that are smart/clever and refined. The reader knows the villain is dangerous but also ends up kind of liking him. It’s like a collector’s sword – beautiful to look at, admirable in its own way, but could cut your arm off just as easily as a ratty old chainsaw. That is totally the big bad in Watcher of the Dark.
I don’t want to go too far into detail because I hate/won’t post spoilers but I can tell you that there are a few unexpected twists to Watcher of the Dark that you won’t see coming at all! This was a book that kept me turning pages to the very end and left me DYING to know where the story is going to go next.
My favorite quote from Watcher of the Dark is a dorky one and I just don’t care because it made me laugh my ass off:
“I wasn’t worried; my Googlefu was strong.”
Overall, I am giving Watcher of the Dark a solid 5 stars. If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to start. For lovers of true urban fantasy, this whole series is a must have in your collection. Speaking technically, Joseph Nassise has figured out the formula. He’s got great storylines with perfect pacing, flawless character development, everything flows well, no continuity issues, it’s a balanced mixture of humor/fantasy/suspense….he’s got it all! Go. Read. LOVE.
I have included the purchase links for the series at the bottom of this post. The link for Watcher of the Dark is a pre-order link as this book does not come out until November 19, 2013.
This review was posted early with the blessing of the author.
This is a series that I started out with as a review request I received from Tor Books. Being one of my favorite publishers of urban fantasy, I decided to give King of the Dead (Hunt #2) a shot and they were nice enough to supply me with a copy of Eyes to See (Hunt #1) so I could get caught up. I was instantly hooked. Imagine how psyched I was when the author asked me to give a beta read to Watcher of the Dark (Jeremiah Hunt #3)!
Well, it just rocked. Cover to cover.
I have mentioned in my other reviews of this series that the biggest thing I like about this book is the lack of focus on any sort of romantic story line. Of course, there’s a little bit here and there but it is VERY minimal. The Jeremiah Hunt series is one of the few urban fantasy series that I can say is genuinely urban fantasy, through and through. Any guy could pick up these books and they would love them, I assure you.
A major draw to this series is the dark humor laced throughout the stories and Watcher of the Dark was no different. The book takes off right out of the gate with hardcore action. Hunt is in the midst of a dangerous situation he doesn’t entirely understand and humor is most definitely his go-to coping mechanism. And I love it! It’s not quite self-deprecating, but it treads lightly somewhere between dark humor and all-out sarcasm. I never know what is going to come out of his mouth, but it is always clever. Reading this character is so much fun! He’s half in and half out of the supernatural world and yet he still has a healthy fear of the things that go bump in the night. Combine that with the type of humor he has and you have a wickedly entertaining character!
One of my pet peeves in reading series books is bad rehashing—the retelling of the info from the previous books in the series so you can understand what is going on in the current book. Something that really stood out to me about this book is the rehashing is all done while all the action is going on at the very beginning. I was fed all the info I needed from the previous installments and I didn’t even realize it was happening until it was all over! The rehashing was blended perfectly with the new story.
I am a big fan of following series because it’s like watching episodes of your favorite show. I love that the series will have an overall story arc but each book has a story arc of its own. The first book was all about getting to know Hunt and learning about his abilities right alongside him. The second book takes him on a totally new adventure, but still keeps the big story arc going. Watcher of the Dark’s story arc was completely unique and yet you feel that you are in the same world as the previous books. We are introduced to a new big bad to deal with, and he’s a totally new type of villain for Hunt to have to deal with. That’s another thing!! The new big bad. My favorite villains are always the ones that are smart/clever and refined. The reader knows the villain is dangerous but also ends up kind of liking him. It’s like a collector’s sword – beautiful to look at, admirable in its own way, but could cut your arm off just as easily as a ratty old chainsaw. That is totally the big bad in Watcher of the Dark.
I don’t want to go too far into detail because I hate/won’t post spoilers but I can tell you that there are a few unexpected twists to Watcher of the Dark that you won’t see coming at all! This was a book that kept me turning pages to the very end and left me DYING to know where the story is going to go next.
My favorite quote from Watcher of the Dark is a dorky one and I just don’t care because it made me laugh my ass off:
“I wasn’t worried; my Googlefu was strong.”
Overall, I am giving Watcher of the Dark a solid 5 stars. If you haven’t read this series yet, you need to start. For lovers of true urban fantasy, this whole series is a must have in your collection. Speaking technically, Joseph Nassise has figured out the formula. He’s got great storylines with perfect pacing, flawless character development, everything flows well, no continuity issues, it’s a balanced mixture of humor/fantasy/suspense….he’s got it all! Go. Read. LOVE.
I have included the purchase links for the series at the bottom of this post. The link for Watcher of the Dark is a pre-order link as this book does not come out until November 19, 2013.
This review was posted early with the blessing of the author.
July 28, 2016
Do you like sequels that do pretty much nothing to progress the overarching plot, refuse to start answering long-standing questions, and fail to allow characters to grow or progress their relationships with other characters? If so then this book is for you.
It's not bad, don't get me wrong. It is still well written and interesting, but that's about it. That's fine for a stand alone novel, but for a story that is supposed to be part of a series, it was a big disappointment.
This story picks up 4 months after Jeremiah is forced to run after his trip to a hell and having to stab Denise in the heart. After such an event, the things I most wanted to know about was how Denise was doing, how much did she remember, and does she now think that Jeremiah was trying to kill her? I wanted to know about the fall out from what happened with the FBI. I wanted to know if the New Orleans coven were actively hunting him. I basically wanted a sequel to what happened in the last novel.
Instead, we are left with a story where Denise and Demitri don't show up until the last act (maybe 85% of the way into this book) and we have to put up with Jeremiah in a stand-alone adventure. Though it touched on issues with the Preacher and the ending seemed quite important, we didn't know that through most of the book and after the half way mark I was growing frustrated about the fact that it felt like the author had pretty much abandoned the larger issues in the series.
So overall, when taken on its own merits this book is probably a 3.5-4 star read. However, when taken as part of a series it's lucky to scrape through with a 2. Therefore I have rounded up to 3.
It's not bad, don't get me wrong. It is still well written and interesting, but that's about it. That's fine for a stand alone novel, but for a story that is supposed to be part of a series, it was a big disappointment.
This story picks up 4 months after Jeremiah is forced to run after his trip to a hell and having to stab Denise in the heart. After such an event, the things I most wanted to know about was how Denise was doing, how much did she remember, and does she now think that Jeremiah was trying to kill her? I wanted to know about the fall out from what happened with the FBI. I wanted to know if the New Orleans coven were actively hunting him. I basically wanted a sequel to what happened in the last novel.
Instead, we are left with a story where Denise and Demitri don't show up until the last act (maybe 85% of the way into this book) and we have to put up with Jeremiah in a stand-alone adventure. Though it touched on issues with the Preacher and the ending seemed quite important, we didn't know that through most of the book and after the half way mark I was growing frustrated about the fact that it felt like the author had pretty much abandoned the larger issues in the series.
So overall, when taken on its own merits this book is probably a 3.5-4 star read. However, when taken as part of a series it's lucky to scrape through with a 2. Therefore I have rounded up to 3.
November 18, 2013
I've read the other 2 books in this series: Eyes to See, and King of the Dead. I enjoyed both and when I was asked to review this one I jumped at the chance. I enjoy these characters but was a bit disappointed that 2 of my favorite side characters weren't in this one as much. There is a reason explained at the end of the second book... so you can see these books are best when read in order. One book does build upon another.
The cover does look like a horror book, but like the other 2 this one is really more of a UF or thriller kind of book. Yes, there are scary elements, but nothing to scare you but more to enhance the flavor of this world. If you read dark UF, but don't like true horror, you will be fine.
In this story and mystery Jeremiah finds himself embroiled in a plot to take over LA in the magical realm. It is hard to figure out who is good and who is evil in this story, but we get glimpses of who we might trust. However, nothing is certain in this world. There is also a race of sorts to get to one of the gates of Hell which would bring about Hell on earth as well as solidify the person opening it as the one who reigns over the world. In the search for the key we find ourselves with Jeremiah in a bind where there seems to be no way out. I was surprised by this ending. :) Yes, that is all I will say.
I give this book 4 stars. All 3 books have the edge of the seat quality in them. I do recommend this series to anyone who loves a good dark UF/thriller.
The cover does look like a horror book, but like the other 2 this one is really more of a UF or thriller kind of book. Yes, there are scary elements, but nothing to scare you but more to enhance the flavor of this world. If you read dark UF, but don't like true horror, you will be fine.
In this story and mystery Jeremiah finds himself embroiled in a plot to take over LA in the magical realm. It is hard to figure out who is good and who is evil in this story, but we get glimpses of who we might trust. However, nothing is certain in this world. There is also a race of sorts to get to one of the gates of Hell which would bring about Hell on earth as well as solidify the person opening it as the one who reigns over the world. In the search for the key we find ourselves with Jeremiah in a bind where there seems to be no way out. I was surprised by this ending. :) Yes, that is all I will say.
I give this book 4 stars. All 3 books have the edge of the seat quality in them. I do recommend this series to anyone who loves a good dark UF/thriller.
January 2, 2014
Jeremiah Hunt has fled New Orleans after doing everything he could to save Denise Clearwater, the beautiful Gifted woman who is now part of his life. He’s hiding out in L.A. until Whisper comes to him and tells him to run. Hunt isn’t fast enough and is captured by Carlos Fuentes, the Magister of L.A. who wants all the power he can grab for himself. He blackmails Hunt into helping him find the pieces of the Key to the Bone Gate, which will open a doorway into Hell. The Preacher also wants the Key and Hunt will do anything to save Denise and Dmitri from both Fuentes and the Preacher.
I love how the author doesn’t pull any punches and doesn’t give his characters the easy way out. I have truly fallen in love with this series! Seeing the world through Hunt’s eyes (or lack thereof) is a refreshing way of world-building and gives a different perspective on how the world truly works. The magick, mystery, and mayhem will keep you on the edge of your seat. As much as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened I savored each page WATCHER OF THE DARK because I didn’t want the book to end! WATCHER OF THE DARK, beautifully haunting and grim, is the best of the Jeremiah Hunt Chronicles to date and it will burrow into your very soul!
I love how the author doesn’t pull any punches and doesn’t give his characters the easy way out. I have truly fallen in love with this series! Seeing the world through Hunt’s eyes (or lack thereof) is a refreshing way of world-building and gives a different perspective on how the world truly works. The magick, mystery, and mayhem will keep you on the edge of your seat. As much as I couldn’t wait to find out what happened I savored each page WATCHER OF THE DARK because I didn’t want the book to end! WATCHER OF THE DARK, beautifully haunting and grim, is the best of the Jeremiah Hunt Chronicles to date and it will burrow into your very soul!
February 6, 2014
A thriller with supernatural trappings, this book concerns itself with Jeremiah Hunt, a man who bargained with supernatural forces earlier in this series for the ability to see things as they are. His magically enhanced vision leaves him blind most of the time, and he's drawn into supernatural disputes.
Like in this book, where, on the run from the FBI, a local warlord in LA's magical community has drafted his services and forced him to help cement the warlord's power. Needless to say, Jeremiah sees a ghost of a chance to get out of the situation...
This felt somewhat like a by-the-book thriller. Things happen to him, he reacts to the immediate situation, repeat from start. For having only one magical power, Hunt manages a number of different-feeling exploits, but the novel feels somewhat limited. Still, enjoyable.
Like in this book, where, on the run from the FBI, a local warlord in LA's magical community has drafted his services and forced him to help cement the warlord's power. Needless to say, Jeremiah sees a ghost of a chance to get out of the situation...
This felt somewhat like a by-the-book thriller. Things happen to him, he reacts to the immediate situation, repeat from start. For having only one magical power, Hunt manages a number of different-feeling exploits, but the novel feels somewhat limited. Still, enjoyable.
April 6, 2015
I should have started these in order but I'm reading the third one first because that was the one my library had. Part fantasy and part horror, Jeremiah Hunt is running from the law for a crime he didn't commit and his power to see the unseen is what will help him get through it. When he is captured by the evil Magister of Las Angeles, he needs his friends and his powers to live through it. The plot was well done with lots of conflict and the characters live up to their story arcs. I didn't need to read the first two to catch up as the author gives us enough of the back story to want to read the first tow but it isn't needed.
Nassise lives in Phoenix which is what brought him to my attention. He's been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award and written many books and now I have to add him to my favorite author list and go find all his other books.
Nassise lives in Phoenix which is what brought him to my attention. He's been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award and written many books and now I have to add him to my favorite author list and go find all his other books.
May 3, 2014
I have enjoyed this series so far. However there are 3 inconsistencies in the third book that really stood out for me. 1. The FBI agent's name. 2. The car suddenly disappearing when Hunt woke up in Grady's apartment. 3. The time Hunt was supposed to me Denise and Dmitri. Other than these questions, I like this series and the characters.
January 3, 2015
Honestly, each book that he puts out in the series has so many twists and turns in it that it just leaves you wondering what will happen next. I absolutely love the series (as if that isn't obvious). If you like your fiction on the edge, this is the series for you.
May 31, 2020
Loved this series, so sad that this is the last novel of it.
Not a huge fan of how the novel started but i ended up loving this one as much as the other two.
It's a nice way of ending the series and a must read if you like Urban fantasy.
Not a huge fan of how the novel started but i ended up loving this one as much as the other two.
It's a nice way of ending the series and a must read if you like Urban fantasy.
December 13, 2013
Great series, characters, mystery and interesting ending.
July 24, 2016
Definately the best out of the three, very fast paced and just enough character dialogue in between occurrences.
December 22, 2015
This book was a nice change to the flow of the other books, I will say that the action was good; just not as good as the pervious books. I hope the next one in the series will be a little bit longer!
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