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The Hunters #14
Hunter's Rise
His past is a mystery, even to him-a werewolf with memories so lost in a fog that even the Hunter's healers cannot help him. More than a century ago, Toronto awakened on an unfamiliar street, naked and alone- and dogged by the unanswered questions of his enigmatic existence. The vampire Sylvia is no Hunter. She's a mercenary who just barely skates this side of what the Hunters consider acceptable. All she wants is to hunt her quarry, and make a lot of money. Her newest prey is a devious killer. But her newest complication is of a more intimate a blonde, blue-eyed werewolf who interferes with her plans in so many exquisite ways.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2012
About the author
Shiloh Walker
203 books2,443 followersHello... thanks for swinging by. I don't log into Goodreads much, so if you have questions, please visit my website to email me through my site.
Thank you!
My other me.... J.C. Daniels
And an experimental me that I put to sleep. J. Dallas
Bio...
Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.
To contact the author, please visit her website!
Thank you!
My other me.... J.C. Daniels
And an experimental me that I put to sleep. J. Dallas
Bio...
Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more...ah...serious vampire stories. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.
To contact the author, please visit her website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 3, 2012
Toronto is a werewolf, with no childhood that he can remember. He has attached himself to Rafe's group but tends to be unreliable, lost. Long white blonde hair, a confrontational attitude, and a Master unaware of all of his powers makes Toronto someone to notice.
Sylvia is a vampire, with a childhood that haunts her dreams at night. She is a killer for hire, but will do some jobs free if the cause is right. This current job has the right cause.
Early on in the story, Toronto and Sylvia decide to join forces because they are both hunting the same person.
Witches and psychics take an important secondary role in the story. These two realize half way through the book that things are much bigger than they seemed at first. Problems multipy quickly but Toronto and Sylvia need each other to do the job. Passion is hot, the road to love is very twisted and bumpy, and important personal observations by both the heroine and the hero is addictive.
Sylvia is a vampire, with a childhood that haunts her dreams at night. She is a killer for hire, but will do some jobs free if the cause is right. This current job has the right cause.
Early on in the story, Toronto and Sylvia decide to join forces because they are both hunting the same person.
Witches and psychics take an important secondary role in the story. These two realize half way through the book that things are much bigger than they seemed at first. Problems multipy quickly but Toronto and Sylvia need each other to do the job. Passion is hot, the road to love is very twisted and bumpy, and important personal observations by both the heroine and the hero is addictive.
April 28, 2012
Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks
Hunter’s Rise is the 14th book in Shiloh Walker’s The Hunters series. This is the first book that I read so that shows you that you don’t have to read this series in order. Not once did I feel lost or lacking any information as Shiloh does a good job filling us in on all the details we require.
In Hunter’s Rise, we follow Toronto (yes that is his name) as he tries to piece together his past and as he meets the perfect woman for him. Really, I felt that Sylvia was just that: his perfect mate.
But let’s go back a little bit…
Toronto was found, pretty much dead, when he was young. He had been brutally attacked and bitten by multiple werewolves. After being nursed to health by Nessa, the strongest witch out there (her character was a hoot by the way) he only knows that he is now a werewolf himself. He has no recollection of his past…at all. So he names himself after the city where he was found: Toronto. I liked how intense Toronto was but I found him a tad annoying in the first few chapters. This story is told using a third person perspective so we get to see things from many different points of view. That means we got to hear how Toronto was found and how he remembers nothing from many different people and many different times in the first part of the book. I realize that Toronto was introduced this way so we truly understand what he went and still going through and also to gain our sympathy, but it’s hard to feel pity for a character when he bugs you. Oh, and this attack happened over a hundred years ago. Yeah… Soon enough though he meets Sylvia and they focus on the case they are trying to solve together and that’s when Toronto shines. He’s not so ‘woe is me’ and is more focused on what needs to get done. I also like where his story ends up at the end of the book. It’s very fitting.
Sylvia has such a terrible backstory…but she’s not all whiny like Toronto is. She’s a vampire and I like how vampires and werewolves interact in this series. She is a strong woman and a hired killer. But she’s picky about who she goes after – does lots of research first to make sure she’s not being taken – and makes sure she only goes after the worst of the worst. That made me like her all the more. Basically, she’s a vigilante that gets paid lots of money to viligante. (That is so a word) Toronto is also working the same case but on a more official capacity seeing that he is a Hunter, something like ‘paranormal police’. Once they meet, they strike a bargain and decide to work together. That really is when the story picks up.
The mystery part of this book is well done. You can’t really piece any of it until the very last moment. It’s not a fluffy mystery as it involves teenagers and evil men doing evil things to them – really evil – but how everything fits together is a real surprise. Even when you are sure you know how all the pieces fit, you find out that you are slightly off. And I liked that.
Near the end was a little odd and unexpected but the very end is sweet. I like how it all wraps up and I really feel as though this couple deserve a HEA together.
There is one character that I truly enjoyed. Angel was awesome. I won’t go into it because I think her role and her character as a whole is best if you go into this book not knowing too much so I’ll just say that her role and her character is great. *g*
All in all, I enjoyed Hunter’s Rise. Even with its few issues, I’m glad I read it. Sylvia and Toronto are a strong couple and the mystery is really interesting. It’s a solid read that will have me checking out Shiloh’s books again in the future.
3.5 stars
Hunter’s Rise is the 14th book in Shiloh Walker’s The Hunters series. This is the first book that I read so that shows you that you don’t have to read this series in order. Not once did I feel lost or lacking any information as Shiloh does a good job filling us in on all the details we require.
In Hunter’s Rise, we follow Toronto (yes that is his name) as he tries to piece together his past and as he meets the perfect woman for him. Really, I felt that Sylvia was just that: his perfect mate.
But let’s go back a little bit…
Toronto was found, pretty much dead, when he was young. He had been brutally attacked and bitten by multiple werewolves. After being nursed to health by Nessa, the strongest witch out there (her character was a hoot by the way) he only knows that he is now a werewolf himself. He has no recollection of his past…at all. So he names himself after the city where he was found: Toronto. I liked how intense Toronto was but I found him a tad annoying in the first few chapters. This story is told using a third person perspective so we get to see things from many different points of view. That means we got to hear how Toronto was found and how he remembers nothing from many different people and many different times in the first part of the book. I realize that Toronto was introduced this way so we truly understand what he went and still going through and also to gain our sympathy, but it’s hard to feel pity for a character when he bugs you. Oh, and this attack happened over a hundred years ago. Yeah… Soon enough though he meets Sylvia and they focus on the case they are trying to solve together and that’s when Toronto shines. He’s not so ‘woe is me’ and is more focused on what needs to get done. I also like where his story ends up at the end of the book. It’s very fitting.
Sylvia has such a terrible backstory…but she’s not all whiny like Toronto is. She’s a vampire and I like how vampires and werewolves interact in this series. She is a strong woman and a hired killer. But she’s picky about who she goes after – does lots of research first to make sure she’s not being taken – and makes sure she only goes after the worst of the worst. That made me like her all the more. Basically, she’s a vigilante that gets paid lots of money to viligante. (That is so a word) Toronto is also working the same case but on a more official capacity seeing that he is a Hunter, something like ‘paranormal police’. Once they meet, they strike a bargain and decide to work together. That really is when the story picks up.
The mystery part of this book is well done. You can’t really piece any of it until the very last moment. It’s not a fluffy mystery as it involves teenagers and evil men doing evil things to them – really evil – but how everything fits together is a real surprise. Even when you are sure you know how all the pieces fit, you find out that you are slightly off. And I liked that.
Near the end was a little odd and unexpected but the very end is sweet. I like how it all wraps up and I really feel as though this couple deserve a HEA together.
There is one character that I truly enjoyed. Angel was awesome. I won’t go into it because I think her role and her character as a whole is best if you go into this book not knowing too much so I’ll just say that her role and her character is great. *g*
All in all, I enjoyed Hunter’s Rise. Even with its few issues, I’m glad I read it. Sylvia and Toronto are a strong couple and the mystery is really interesting. It’s a solid read that will have me checking out Shiloh’s books again in the future.
3.5 stars
March 30, 2012
Review originally published at: http://thebookpushers.com/2012/03/30/...
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: April 3d
How I got this book: ARC from the author
His past is a mystery, even to him-a werewolf with memories so lost in a fog that even the Hunter’s healers cannot help him. More than a century ago, Toronto awakened on an unfamiliar street, naked and alone- and dogged by the unanswered questions of his enigmatic existence.
The vampire Sylvia is no Hunter. She’s a mercenary who just barely skates this side of what the Hunters consider acceptable. All she wants is to hunt her quarry, and make a lot of money. Her newest prey is a devious killer. But her newest complication is of a more intimate sort: a blonde, blue-eyed werewolf who interferes with her plans in so many exquisite ways.
This blurb came from Goodreads.
I have a confession to make. I first discovered Ms Walker’s writing through one of her Hunter’s books. I don’t remember exactly which one but it was before the series moved to NY publishing. After reading the first one I found the backlist, and have eagerly anticipated each new release. When Ms Walker asked if any of The Book Pushers were interested in reviewing it I leaped at the chance. Unfortunately the publisher has decided that Hunter’s Rise will be the last of the Hunter’s series they will be offering so that made me almost want to save the book because if I never read it then the series can never end. Since I had agreed to review Hunter’s Rise I sucked my bottom lip back up and got started. I was hooked from the opening lines. This is one of those books that I sat in my car in the parking lot reading because I really didn’t want to have to stop.
Ms Walker took two people who had been so broken by the cause of their transition, one to a shifter the other to a vampire, that they couldn’t tolerate being around others for a long period of time and made them fit each other. They do what they have found they are good at, but they are haunted by memories or in Toronto’s case a lack of memories. It is that very haunting that causes Sylvia to take on some of her jobs pro-bono, to decline other jobs and sometimes provide information to the police. She also doesn’t really have a home and has used a variety of names as she moves from place to place. Toronto does have a place that he calls home but doesn’t feel like he really belongs there. If anything he lives to provoke fights so people will leave him alone. He also makes trips back to the location where he was found as he tried to find out about his past. His obsession with his past has kept him from progressing any further towards what he COULD be.
I am not going to talk much about what drew Sylvia and Toronto together because it is so very interwoven with who they are that I am afraid of spoiling the book. They are both after the same person; Sylvia because she was hired and Toronto because the Hunters need to find the person of interest before Sylvia does. The Hunters want answers and information while Silvia just wants him dead. I will give this warning, Ms Walker brings up and deals with some harsh realities that could be a trigger to certain people. They are handled extremely well and not glossed over with the actions and their aftermath.
I loved Sylvia and Toronto, and their interactions had me alternating between laughing and sighing. They were both so wounded and mistrusting yet couldn’t resist depending on each other. Each had a certain skill that they needed as they continued to try to track down their target. I also liked how I found out about their previous lives through flashbacks and nightmares. As they learned about each other I also learned about them, what made them tick, what drove them. I also enjoyed how each had to grow individually and decide what they wanted then work to get it. This was certainly not an easy path to their HEA even after they gave into their mutual physical attraction.
I also enjoyed seeing how previous couples were doing. I liked being able to know that their HEAs were continuing and they continued to settle in and explore their relationships. The supporting cast was also important in fleshing out the story and the fact that Sylvia and Toronto didn’t live in their own isolated bubbles.
As some of you might have seen on my comment on Goodreads that Ms Walker has done it again. I partially guessed one of her twists but despite how much attention I pay I am always caught by surprise as all the pieces fall into place. I think one of the things I really enjoyed with Hunter’s Rise is that the book didn’t end when the bad guys were vanquished because that would have tied things up too conveniently. I am sad that this will be the last one and wish I could continue to read more.
I give Hunter’s Rise an A
Publisher: Berkley
Publish Date: April 3d
How I got this book: ARC from the author
His past is a mystery, even to him-a werewolf with memories so lost in a fog that even the Hunter’s healers cannot help him. More than a century ago, Toronto awakened on an unfamiliar street, naked and alone- and dogged by the unanswered questions of his enigmatic existence.
The vampire Sylvia is no Hunter. She’s a mercenary who just barely skates this side of what the Hunters consider acceptable. All she wants is to hunt her quarry, and make a lot of money. Her newest prey is a devious killer. But her newest complication is of a more intimate sort: a blonde, blue-eyed werewolf who interferes with her plans in so many exquisite ways.
This blurb came from Goodreads.
I have a confession to make. I first discovered Ms Walker’s writing through one of her Hunter’s books. I don’t remember exactly which one but it was before the series moved to NY publishing. After reading the first one I found the backlist, and have eagerly anticipated each new release. When Ms Walker asked if any of The Book Pushers were interested in reviewing it I leaped at the chance. Unfortunately the publisher has decided that Hunter’s Rise will be the last of the Hunter’s series they will be offering so that made me almost want to save the book because if I never read it then the series can never end. Since I had agreed to review Hunter’s Rise I sucked my bottom lip back up and got started. I was hooked from the opening lines. This is one of those books that I sat in my car in the parking lot reading because I really didn’t want to have to stop.
Ms Walker took two people who had been so broken by the cause of their transition, one to a shifter the other to a vampire, that they couldn’t tolerate being around others for a long period of time and made them fit each other. They do what they have found they are good at, but they are haunted by memories or in Toronto’s case a lack of memories. It is that very haunting that causes Sylvia to take on some of her jobs pro-bono, to decline other jobs and sometimes provide information to the police. She also doesn’t really have a home and has used a variety of names as she moves from place to place. Toronto does have a place that he calls home but doesn’t feel like he really belongs there. If anything he lives to provoke fights so people will leave him alone. He also makes trips back to the location where he was found as he tried to find out about his past. His obsession with his past has kept him from progressing any further towards what he COULD be.
I am not going to talk much about what drew Sylvia and Toronto together because it is so very interwoven with who they are that I am afraid of spoiling the book. They are both after the same person; Sylvia because she was hired and Toronto because the Hunters need to find the person of interest before Sylvia does. The Hunters want answers and information while Silvia just wants him dead. I will give this warning, Ms Walker brings up and deals with some harsh realities that could be a trigger to certain people. They are handled extremely well and not glossed over with the actions and their aftermath.
I loved Sylvia and Toronto, and their interactions had me alternating between laughing and sighing. They were both so wounded and mistrusting yet couldn’t resist depending on each other. Each had a certain skill that they needed as they continued to try to track down their target. I also liked how I found out about their previous lives through flashbacks and nightmares. As they learned about each other I also learned about them, what made them tick, what drove them. I also enjoyed how each had to grow individually and decide what they wanted then work to get it. This was certainly not an easy path to their HEA even after they gave into their mutual physical attraction.
I also enjoyed seeing how previous couples were doing. I liked being able to know that their HEAs were continuing and they continued to settle in and explore their relationships. The supporting cast was also important in fleshing out the story and the fact that Sylvia and Toronto didn’t live in their own isolated bubbles.
As some of you might have seen on my comment on Goodreads that Ms Walker has done it again. I partially guessed one of her twists but despite how much attention I pay I am always caught by surprise as all the pieces fall into place. I think one of the things I really enjoyed with Hunter’s Rise is that the book didn’t end when the bad guys were vanquished because that would have tied things up too conveniently. I am sad that this will be the last one and wish I could continue to read more.
I give Hunter’s Rise an A
March 29, 2012
Fantasy meets gritty mystery in this story told in many personalities' points of view. The author tells their story through different voices as time unfolds for the witches, werewolves and vampires in this story. The humans that fill the world show up in different interactions with the non-mortals, they never have a POV voice but that is never missed as the story quickly takes you away in a tsunami of action.
The romantic aspect is subtle and in sensible places as the mystery unfolds. It does explain why a vampire (Sylvia) and a werewolf (Toronto) would trust each other enough to work together although they seem to be total strangers. I liked that the mystery unfolds with the building love and then I won't spoil the ending, but the mystery is solved about 50 pages before the actual ending of the book which gives enough time to find real closure for the main characters. I would have liked to have Rafe's or Angel's love story told in an other book because I felt close to them although they show up only a little in this novel.
Mostly set in Memphis and the United states, although Canada does make a little cameo with the city of Toronto. In this world, Vampires and Werewolves can get along and become lovers although it doesn't seem to happen often. There are also witches, human/vamp hybrids and natural shape-shifters. The non-mortals try to live a undercover existence from the mortal world and 'Hunters' clean up the riff-raff feral fantasy folks before they can make a spectacle and clue the humans into their existence.
I got to read this early when I won the book in one of Goodread's giveaways. I'm thinking that I am very lucky because it was delicious reading and free! I would recommend this to readers that like werewolves, vampires, gritty mysteries with a touch of romance. This is not erotica although there is mention of some seriously deviant pervy characters in the story, the few sex scenes are fairly vanilla sweet.
4 stars
The romantic aspect is subtle and in sensible places as the mystery unfolds. It does explain why a vampire (Sylvia) and a werewolf (Toronto) would trust each other enough to work together although they seem to be total strangers. I liked that the mystery unfolds with the building love and then I won't spoil the ending, but the mystery is solved about 50 pages before the actual ending of the book which gives enough time to find real closure for the main characters. I would have liked to have Rafe's or Angel's love story told in an other book because I felt close to them although they show up only a little in this novel.
Mostly set in Memphis and the United states, although Canada does make a little cameo with the city of Toronto. In this world, Vampires and Werewolves can get along and become lovers although it doesn't seem to happen often. There are also witches, human/vamp hybrids and natural shape-shifters. The non-mortals try to live a undercover existence from the mortal world and 'Hunters' clean up the riff-raff feral fantasy folks before they can make a spectacle and clue the humans into their existence.
I got to read this early when I won the book in one of Goodread's giveaways. I'm thinking that I am very lucky because it was delicious reading and free! I would recommend this to readers that like werewolves, vampires, gritty mysteries with a touch of romance. This is not erotica although there is mention of some seriously deviant pervy characters in the story, the few sex scenes are fairly vanilla sweet.
4 stars
February 20, 2012
I have been waiting for Toronto's book since the first time I encountered him and I was so happy to see I wasn't disappointed. I just love a strong flawed hero with a snarky sense of humor. I also enjoy the way Shiloh includes previous characters so we don't lose track of them.
April 3, 2012
Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2012/04/review-...
Favorite Quote: “This was going to end in heartbreak.“
His past is a mystery, even to him-a werewolf with memories so lost in a fog that even the Hunter’s healers cannot help him. More than a century ago, Toronto awakened on an unfamiliar street, naked and alone- and dogged by the unanswered questions of his enigmatic existence.
The vampire Sylvia is no Hunter. She’s a mercenary who just barely skates this side of what the Hunters consider acceptable. All she wants is to hunt her quarry, and make a lot of money. Her newest prey is a devious killer. But her newest complication is of a more intimate sort: a blonde, blue-eyed werewolf who interferes with her plans in so many exquisite ways. (goodreads)
Toronto is a werewolf whose past is a complete mystery. Attacked by five feral wolves and left for dead, he was found by the witch Nessa and nursed back to health. He now works as a hunter and lives to annoy master vampire Rafe. When a vicious pediphile vanishes from house arrest, Rafe sends Toronto to find him and bring him in. Rafe warns Toronto that he will have to some competition in the form of a certain mercenary vampire who also has the pediphile on her hit list. Sylvia, a vampire who murders for hire, has been paid by the pediphile’s last victim’s parents to take this animal down. She knows she will have to tread carefully to avoid the pious hunters who object to her methods, because one way or another, this pediphile won’t see the light of day again.
Hunter’s Rise in number fourteen in Shiloh Walker’s long standing Hunters series. An emotionally dark paranormal series that gives us damaged characters who have managed to survive in spite of their abusive pasts and eventually find a way to overcome and be happy. Though part of a series, this can be read as a stand alone. Shiloh Walker has a wonderful writing style that draws you into her character’s’ emotional pathways and lets you feel with them what they are experiencing. What I particularity have always enjoyed about this series is that Ms. Walker doesn’t always give us likeable characters. Some are insane, some are cruel, and some are just plain annoying.
Toronto is one of those characters who can be annoying. He is stuck in the past and can’t see beyond his own emotional dark hole. He’s not happy being a hunter and not happy being under Rafe’s thumb. He causes a lot of turmoil as he is neither a leader nor a follower; often leaving his fellow hunters high and dry. He wants to do what he wants to do and the hell with everyone else. Nessa and Dominick come to Rafe’s territory because she has been getting more visions about Toronto but refuses to tell him what they are. This of course, only infuriates Toronto because he needs to know what happened to him in the past. Why was he bitten and who was he before the change. Her only advice to him is to let it all go. That who he was doesn’t matter, compared to who he is now.
Sylvia is a lot like Toronto in that she too was changed against her will as a young woman and suffered greatly for it. She knows her past though and has managed to make a life for herself in spite of it. As a mercenary, she is able to weed out the monsters of the world but without the constraints imposed upon the hunters. Despite her nonchalant attitude, Sylvia will often take pro bono cases for those who need help but don’t have the ability to pay her fee. The pediphile case calls to her because of her past.
When Toronto and Sylvia meet, there is a connection between them that sparks instant chemistry. While Toronto will do anything to be with her, even trying to exert his will against hers, Sylvia struggles to maintain her anatomy. Her past requires her to be in charge of her own life. This causes some problems as they agree to work together to being the pediphile to justice. Toronto knows that he keeps running over her and making decisions for both of them but is powerless to stop himself. They are both strong warriors who are used to being in charge. It makes for some interesting scenes.
The romance between them is hot yet bittersweet. The chemistry smolders in the background as they struggle to get past old emotional scars and baggage. It’s a major part of the storyline and tends to overwhelm the main arc at times. Their physical scenes are tasteful and satisfying though few and far between. There is a lot of sexual tension in here that delights and it was very easy to get caught up in the emotional undercurrents of these two damaged lovers.
There are three storylines in here. The romance, the main conflict, and a subplot that branches from the main conflict. Each one is a piece in the puzzle; and eventually merging together towards the end. The secondary characters are bold, viable additions to the story and I did like seeing many old yet familiar faces. I will say I still think Nessa and Angel are annoying. Angel is especially strange; not in a “haha” way but more in a “I wanna punch you repeatedly in the head” way. I am not a big fan of psychics who hint at someone’s future then tell them that they can’t help you with it. I also felt cheated with the resolution concerning the villain and Toronto’s past. The villain’s demise is anti climatic and it leaves you slightly off kilter as to what exactly his purpose was in the book. Though built up as a major player, he is rarely seen and our hero and heroine never interact with him. We are also given clues to how Sylvia and Toronto are connected but it’s never firmly established. I do not know if Ms. Walker plans to address this later in the series or not.
All in all Hunter’s Rise is a nice addition to her Hunters series and I look forward to visiting this series again soon.
Overall Rating: C+
Favorite Quote: “This was going to end in heartbreak.“
His past is a mystery, even to him-a werewolf with memories so lost in a fog that even the Hunter’s healers cannot help him. More than a century ago, Toronto awakened on an unfamiliar street, naked and alone- and dogged by the unanswered questions of his enigmatic existence.
The vampire Sylvia is no Hunter. She’s a mercenary who just barely skates this side of what the Hunters consider acceptable. All she wants is to hunt her quarry, and make a lot of money. Her newest prey is a devious killer. But her newest complication is of a more intimate sort: a blonde, blue-eyed werewolf who interferes with her plans in so many exquisite ways. (goodreads)
Toronto is a werewolf whose past is a complete mystery. Attacked by five feral wolves and left for dead, he was found by the witch Nessa and nursed back to health. He now works as a hunter and lives to annoy master vampire Rafe. When a vicious pediphile vanishes from house arrest, Rafe sends Toronto to find him and bring him in. Rafe warns Toronto that he will have to some competition in the form of a certain mercenary vampire who also has the pediphile on her hit list. Sylvia, a vampire who murders for hire, has been paid by the pediphile’s last victim’s parents to take this animal down. She knows she will have to tread carefully to avoid the pious hunters who object to her methods, because one way or another, this pediphile won’t see the light of day again.
Hunter’s Rise in number fourteen in Shiloh Walker’s long standing Hunters series. An emotionally dark paranormal series that gives us damaged characters who have managed to survive in spite of their abusive pasts and eventually find a way to overcome and be happy. Though part of a series, this can be read as a stand alone. Shiloh Walker has a wonderful writing style that draws you into her character’s’ emotional pathways and lets you feel with them what they are experiencing. What I particularity have always enjoyed about this series is that Ms. Walker doesn’t always give us likeable characters. Some are insane, some are cruel, and some are just plain annoying.
Toronto is one of those characters who can be annoying. He is stuck in the past and can’t see beyond his own emotional dark hole. He’s not happy being a hunter and not happy being under Rafe’s thumb. He causes a lot of turmoil as he is neither a leader nor a follower; often leaving his fellow hunters high and dry. He wants to do what he wants to do and the hell with everyone else. Nessa and Dominick come to Rafe’s territory because she has been getting more visions about Toronto but refuses to tell him what they are. This of course, only infuriates Toronto because he needs to know what happened to him in the past. Why was he bitten and who was he before the change. Her only advice to him is to let it all go. That who he was doesn’t matter, compared to who he is now.
Sylvia is a lot like Toronto in that she too was changed against her will as a young woman and suffered greatly for it. She knows her past though and has managed to make a life for herself in spite of it. As a mercenary, she is able to weed out the monsters of the world but without the constraints imposed upon the hunters. Despite her nonchalant attitude, Sylvia will often take pro bono cases for those who need help but don’t have the ability to pay her fee. The pediphile case calls to her because of her past.
When Toronto and Sylvia meet, there is a connection between them that sparks instant chemistry. While Toronto will do anything to be with her, even trying to exert his will against hers, Sylvia struggles to maintain her anatomy. Her past requires her to be in charge of her own life. This causes some problems as they agree to work together to being the pediphile to justice. Toronto knows that he keeps running over her and making decisions for both of them but is powerless to stop himself. They are both strong warriors who are used to being in charge. It makes for some interesting scenes.
The romance between them is hot yet bittersweet. The chemistry smolders in the background as they struggle to get past old emotional scars and baggage. It’s a major part of the storyline and tends to overwhelm the main arc at times. Their physical scenes are tasteful and satisfying though few and far between. There is a lot of sexual tension in here that delights and it was very easy to get caught up in the emotional undercurrents of these two damaged lovers.
There are three storylines in here. The romance, the main conflict, and a subplot that branches from the main conflict. Each one is a piece in the puzzle; and eventually merging together towards the end. The secondary characters are bold, viable additions to the story and I did like seeing many old yet familiar faces. I will say I still think Nessa and Angel are annoying. Angel is especially strange; not in a “haha” way but more in a “I wanna punch you repeatedly in the head” way. I am not a big fan of psychics who hint at someone’s future then tell them that they can’t help you with it. I also felt cheated with the resolution concerning the villain and Toronto’s past. The villain’s demise is anti climatic and it leaves you slightly off kilter as to what exactly his purpose was in the book. Though built up as a major player, he is rarely seen and our hero and heroine never interact with him. We are also given clues to how Sylvia and Toronto are connected but it’s never firmly established. I do not know if Ms. Walker plans to address this later in the series or not.
All in all Hunter’s Rise is a nice addition to her Hunters series and I look forward to visiting this series again soon.
Overall Rating: C+
November 28, 2017
4.25 overall stars
Couple4.25
Plot 4.5
Story 4.0
Sex 4.0
Series 4.5
Couple4.25
Plot 4.5
Story 4.0
Sex 4.0
Series 4.5
June 5, 2018
There are monsters and there are monsters, just ok
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2020
I hated to see the series end . Ms walker your the best
July 2, 2012
A recommended read! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:
Sylvia has been a vampire for over a hundred years. She is also an assassin and has had plenty of time to hone her skills, but she has her standards. When she takes on a job, she warns the person hiring her about certain conditions. The one hiring her has to have a good reason for wanting someone dead. For instance, Sylvia has no qualms about killing abusers. She also warns the person to be discreet, take precautions and above all, not to lie to her. She can tell when a person is lying and if they lie to her, they will find their plans backfiring. She also does not do blackmail or bribes. Authorities have been looking for her for years, but Sylvia knows how to fade into the background and when to move on. She also takes the precaution of using various aliases. She hunts other monsters and has learned how to hide her trail very well and never kills just to kill. Sylvia is paid well for what she does, but there are some cases that she is even willing to do for free.
Toronto is not his real name, but it is the name he had taken from the city in which he had been ‘born’ as a werewolf. He had been a youth not quite a man and had had the instincts of a fighter, but his mind had been a blank slate. No one knew about his past, including him. Although his past is lost to him, he has never given up hope and every once in a while, he returns to Toronto, hoping to pick up some connection that will bring his past all together. He has just returned to Toronto, back to the place where he had been found all those years ago. This is where the witch Nessa had found him and healed him, but she had been too late to heal his brain. She had been like a mother and a grandmother to him, staying with him and not letting him out of her sight until he had learned to control the wolf within. Arriving there again for the first time in fifteen years, Toronto is not that surprised to find that Nessa has followed him there, with her mate Dominic, a young vampire. But this time he is certain that Nessa knows more about him than she is saying. Toronto was only in Canada for a short time when he felt himself being called back to Memphis.
When Sylvia receives an email from the parents of a young boy, Toby, who was abused and killed by a pervert, Alan, she knows this is one case she must take. Sylvia does not take on every case that comes to her, but this one haunts her. The picture of the small boy triggers some terrible memories. The only way to get past these memories and to give the parents some closure is to find Alan and kill him before he can hurt anyone else. While awaiting trial, Alan has been on house arrest, but he has managed to escape. Although the police have been looking for him, they have not found him. Toby’s parents want the monster dead.
Toronto is a powerful Master werewolf, but he does not want to lead, or even follow as far as that goes. However, he will do what he has to do. When the leader of the Hunters, Rafe, sends the Hunters out on the street to find Alan, he also warns them that a vampire named Sylvia is also looking for the pervert. But where she wants to kill the culprit, Rafe wants him alive. There are three little boys who are missing and the only one who knows where they are located is their killer. Just seeing Sylvia’s picture stirs up a longing within Toronto, and his wolf makes his desire for her well known. Can he find Sylvia BEFORE she carries out her contract so he can get the information they need to give the parents of the other boys some closure? Will the complication of being shadowed by a blonde, blue-eyed hunter interfere with the job that Sylvia has set out to do, or is it her desire for him that is getting in the way?
An adventure-packed, sinfully sexy read, HUNTER’S RISE, the fourteenth and final book in phenomenal author Shiloh Walker’s HUNTERS series, is a sizzling hot, suspense-filled paranormal romance that will grab your attention from the very first page. This is one book I could not put down. Wherever I went, I took it with me until I finished reading the last page and put the book away. The passion between Toronto and Sylvia is raw and scorching hot! The characters are so beautifully drawn that you will feel as if you know them by the time you get into the story. Brimming with desire, imagination, truly evil villains, clever dialogue, suspense, vampires, werewolves, witches, danger, complex characters and romance, this is a book you will want to read more than once. Definitely a keeper! Author Shiloh Walker is a new author to me, but that is a situation that I plan to remedy. Although this is the last book of the series and can be read as a standalone, I plan to seek the other books in Ms. Walker’s HUNTERS series. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of HUNTER’S RISE. I highly recommend it!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
Sylvia has been a vampire for over a hundred years. She is also an assassin and has had plenty of time to hone her skills, but she has her standards. When she takes on a job, she warns the person hiring her about certain conditions. The one hiring her has to have a good reason for wanting someone dead. For instance, Sylvia has no qualms about killing abusers. She also warns the person to be discreet, take precautions and above all, not to lie to her. She can tell when a person is lying and if they lie to her, they will find their plans backfiring. She also does not do blackmail or bribes. Authorities have been looking for her for years, but Sylvia knows how to fade into the background and when to move on. She also takes the precaution of using various aliases. She hunts other monsters and has learned how to hide her trail very well and never kills just to kill. Sylvia is paid well for what she does, but there are some cases that she is even willing to do for free.
Toronto is not his real name, but it is the name he had taken from the city in which he had been ‘born’ as a werewolf. He had been a youth not quite a man and had had the instincts of a fighter, but his mind had been a blank slate. No one knew about his past, including him. Although his past is lost to him, he has never given up hope and every once in a while, he returns to Toronto, hoping to pick up some connection that will bring his past all together. He has just returned to Toronto, back to the place where he had been found all those years ago. This is where the witch Nessa had found him and healed him, but she had been too late to heal his brain. She had been like a mother and a grandmother to him, staying with him and not letting him out of her sight until he had learned to control the wolf within. Arriving there again for the first time in fifteen years, Toronto is not that surprised to find that Nessa has followed him there, with her mate Dominic, a young vampire. But this time he is certain that Nessa knows more about him than she is saying. Toronto was only in Canada for a short time when he felt himself being called back to Memphis.
When Sylvia receives an email from the parents of a young boy, Toby, who was abused and killed by a pervert, Alan, she knows this is one case she must take. Sylvia does not take on every case that comes to her, but this one haunts her. The picture of the small boy triggers some terrible memories. The only way to get past these memories and to give the parents some closure is to find Alan and kill him before he can hurt anyone else. While awaiting trial, Alan has been on house arrest, but he has managed to escape. Although the police have been looking for him, they have not found him. Toby’s parents want the monster dead.
Toronto is a powerful Master werewolf, but he does not want to lead, or even follow as far as that goes. However, he will do what he has to do. When the leader of the Hunters, Rafe, sends the Hunters out on the street to find Alan, he also warns them that a vampire named Sylvia is also looking for the pervert. But where she wants to kill the culprit, Rafe wants him alive. There are three little boys who are missing and the only one who knows where they are located is their killer. Just seeing Sylvia’s picture stirs up a longing within Toronto, and his wolf makes his desire for her well known. Can he find Sylvia BEFORE she carries out her contract so he can get the information they need to give the parents of the other boys some closure? Will the complication of being shadowed by a blonde, blue-eyed hunter interfere with the job that Sylvia has set out to do, or is it her desire for him that is getting in the way?
An adventure-packed, sinfully sexy read, HUNTER’S RISE, the fourteenth and final book in phenomenal author Shiloh Walker’s HUNTERS series, is a sizzling hot, suspense-filled paranormal romance that will grab your attention from the very first page. This is one book I could not put down. Wherever I went, I took it with me until I finished reading the last page and put the book away. The passion between Toronto and Sylvia is raw and scorching hot! The characters are so beautifully drawn that you will feel as if you know them by the time you get into the story. Brimming with desire, imagination, truly evil villains, clever dialogue, suspense, vampires, werewolves, witches, danger, complex characters and romance, this is a book you will want to read more than once. Definitely a keeper! Author Shiloh Walker is a new author to me, but that is a situation that I plan to remedy. Although this is the last book of the series and can be read as a standalone, I plan to seek the other books in Ms. Walker’s HUNTERS series. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of HUNTER’S RISE. I highly recommend it!
Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
December 31, 2015
Setting: Memphis - the enclave, his home overlooking the Mississippi River, the creepy duplicate of the old house in Toronto, the high school ; Toronto, Canada – old house with creepy basement;
Theme: confronting ones past – and realizing the past is the past, it’s the present and who one choses to be that matters; focus on strengths, compensating for weaknesses;
Characters:
Sylvia James: vampire, kidnapped 100 years earlier – with aid of 2 other teens, changed to vampire, held in cell, all but starved of blood (so her innate powers reduced), and continues to have nightmares of the blood and death of one of the teens, and of the other being dragged off screaming by the master vamp; she has since trained herself to be as strong and skillful as possible; she is a successful hitwoman – though careful of contracts she takes – only the guilty; takes a contract by a parent, against Pulaski, a pedophile who kills the boys after he’s done toying with them;
Toronto: werewolf; Hunter; found in Toronto having suffered bites of at least 5 werewolfs by Nessa, who nursed him through the transition (he has memories of others telling her to kill him, that he’ll never master control); he survived, mastered the blood, but has no memories of his early life or of how turned (ends up he is friends with the two that fooled Sylvia – but he refused to join them – and that master vamp set the weres on him); he has a poor attitude, bouts of depression, is a Hunter, but doesn’t emotionally buy into the whole hunter lexicon – he does his job, but; he has made numerous trips back to Toronto trying to find his past; he is pissing of the master vamp/Hunter head in Memphis, and is almost on his way out when news of Pulaski comes out and he agrees to resolve it – as much to protect Sylvia, whose picture they have, as Rafe doesn’t want her to interfere;
‘Nessa’ Agnes Milcher & Dominic: older vamp and her newer lover (also vamp?)… a different book; she is like a mother to Toronto, wants to protect him; she offers a bit of guidance to him, encouragement, and is in the brouhaha at the end;
Kel & Angel: he’s a vamp, she’s part vamp and part psychic – and special – also a different book; she looks young, and goes into the high school as a student to try an identify who’s involved in the sex abuse going on; she’s a bit creepy and directs without justifying (a feeling , and connects with Sylvia… hmmm
Rafe: master vamp / head of the Hunters in Memphis; worried because not only Pulaski operated under the radar (a neighbor witch, ‘feeding’ off the bad powers set a cloak of sorts around his house – he paid the price when Rafe found out) but that there is a bigger nest of sex crimes against children; He puts his resources into place to stop it all;
Alan Pulaski: pedophile, murderer… once discovered he goes into hiding, and is ‘taken’ in by the vamp running the sex abuse ring – made into a vampire, and feeding the vamp’s need for pain; ultimately the vamp kills him;
The bad vamp (don’t know name): one of the teens that turned/tortured Sylvia; thought Sylvia was dead; he kills the master vamp, but then steps into his shoes and keeps houses around the country with dungeons behind mirror/hidden doors, and perpetuating sex crimes against youth; he’s crazy… and finally taken down in Toronto, and in his confusion of finding that Sylvia was alive;
Summary:
Sylvia and Toronto – with pasts that haunt them… there is, of course, attraction… and pretty quickly Toronto sees she’s not giving up her ‘contract’ (even though she’s not taking any money for it) – so he decides they will work together… and for a cranky were, he’s actually pretty tolerant, flexible, loving, patient with her…
And even though neither said ‘this is until we finish it’ or conversely ‘I’d like to see you more after we finish it” Sylvia runs off when she wakes up the next day and he’s out getting food… and he decides it is what it is, and he can’t chase her… but he leaves the nest, and ends up in Oregon with a were pack where the elders have been killed, and he is helping the new alpha to adjust, gain control of himself and the rest – a 3 year commitment; and after a few months, she realizes she has a hole in her heart that only he can fill, and she tracks him down… and… all is well : )
Memorable scenes:
“He really, really wanted a taste of her, but he didn’t get naked with women who tried to kill him. Toronto didn’t have a lot of rules, but that was one of them.”
Theme: confronting ones past – and realizing the past is the past, it’s the present and who one choses to be that matters; focus on strengths, compensating for weaknesses;
Characters:
Sylvia James: vampire, kidnapped 100 years earlier – with aid of 2 other teens, changed to vampire, held in cell, all but starved of blood (so her innate powers reduced), and continues to have nightmares of the blood and death of one of the teens, and of the other being dragged off screaming by the master vamp; she has since trained herself to be as strong and skillful as possible; she is a successful hitwoman – though careful of contracts she takes – only the guilty; takes a contract by a parent, against Pulaski, a pedophile who kills the boys after he’s done toying with them;
Toronto: werewolf; Hunter; found in Toronto having suffered bites of at least 5 werewolfs by Nessa, who nursed him through the transition (he has memories of others telling her to kill him, that he’ll never master control); he survived, mastered the blood, but has no memories of his early life or of how turned (ends up he is friends with the two that fooled Sylvia – but he refused to join them – and that master vamp set the weres on him); he has a poor attitude, bouts of depression, is a Hunter, but doesn’t emotionally buy into the whole hunter lexicon – he does his job, but; he has made numerous trips back to Toronto trying to find his past; he is pissing of the master vamp/Hunter head in Memphis, and is almost on his way out when news of Pulaski comes out and he agrees to resolve it – as much to protect Sylvia, whose picture they have, as Rafe doesn’t want her to interfere;
‘Nessa’ Agnes Milcher & Dominic: older vamp and her newer lover (also vamp?)… a different book; she is like a mother to Toronto, wants to protect him; she offers a bit of guidance to him, encouragement, and is in the brouhaha at the end;
Kel & Angel: he’s a vamp, she’s part vamp and part psychic – and special – also a different book; she looks young, and goes into the high school as a student to try an identify who’s involved in the sex abuse going on; she’s a bit creepy and directs without justifying (a feeling , and connects with Sylvia… hmmm
Rafe: master vamp / head of the Hunters in Memphis; worried because not only Pulaski operated under the radar (a neighbor witch, ‘feeding’ off the bad powers set a cloak of sorts around his house – he paid the price when Rafe found out) but that there is a bigger nest of sex crimes against children; He puts his resources into place to stop it all;
Alan Pulaski: pedophile, murderer… once discovered he goes into hiding, and is ‘taken’ in by the vamp running the sex abuse ring – made into a vampire, and feeding the vamp’s need for pain; ultimately the vamp kills him;
The bad vamp (don’t know name): one of the teens that turned/tortured Sylvia; thought Sylvia was dead; he kills the master vamp, but then steps into his shoes and keeps houses around the country with dungeons behind mirror/hidden doors, and perpetuating sex crimes against youth; he’s crazy… and finally taken down in Toronto, and in his confusion of finding that Sylvia was alive;
Summary:
Sylvia and Toronto – with pasts that haunt them… there is, of course, attraction… and pretty quickly Toronto sees she’s not giving up her ‘contract’ (even though she’s not taking any money for it) – so he decides they will work together… and for a cranky were, he’s actually pretty tolerant, flexible, loving, patient with her…
And even though neither said ‘this is until we finish it’ or conversely ‘I’d like to see you more after we finish it” Sylvia runs off when she wakes up the next day and he’s out getting food… and he decides it is what it is, and he can’t chase her… but he leaves the nest, and ends up in Oregon with a were pack where the elders have been killed, and he is helping the new alpha to adjust, gain control of himself and the rest – a 3 year commitment; and after a few months, she realizes she has a hole in her heart that only he can fill, and she tracks him down… and… all is well : )
Memorable scenes:
“He really, really wanted a taste of her, but he didn’t get naked with women who tried to kill him. Toronto didn’t have a lot of rules, but that was one of them.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2012
Hunter’s Rise by Shiloh Walker
Grade: B+
“You know, most men would at least bother to introduce themselves before the guy starts picturing the woman naked.”
Sylvia is a vampire mercenary who lives off the grid and keeps to herself but all that changes when her new job takes her on the hunt for a child molesting killer down in Memphis, Tennessee. Sylvia tries her best to stay clear of Hunters, the paranormal communities regulators, but for this job she is forced to team up with one and Toronto gets under her skin like no one has before.
Toronto has no memory of his past before waking up a werewolf and it has made him very angry and antisocial. Toronto finds himself drawn to the the mercenary vampire Sylvia and she awakens feelings in him he never thought possible. Together they must track the serial killer before he hurts more young boys but they soon discover much more is going on in Memphis and if they don’t stop it the consequences will be devastating.
Shiloh Walker is one of my favorite authors and I think her books just keep getting better and better. This was my first book out of her Hunters series but it will not be my last because it is so amazing. I love how well she can blend the mystery and suspense of tracking down a serial killer with a great love story. It’s not an easy thing to do but Mrs. Walker does it perfectly.
I loved Toronto and I just wanted to give him a big hug because he is so broken from his past. I was very nervous that he would be too broken for my taste but the way that he acts with Sylvia just made me love him. I loved the relationship these two develop and how they finally both learned to open up and let someone in after all the horrible things they had both been through in the past. Sylvia is also very broken but I loved that she finally let go of the pain inside of her and refused to be a victim. These are two of the most broken characters I’ve come across in a while and I loved reading their story even though it was very emotional at times.
I plan on going back and reading some of the earlier books in the series just so I can have a better understanding for future books in the series. As usual Mrs. Walker blends a great story with just enough adventure, romance, murder and suspense to keep you up late into the night to find out how it all ends. This is a must read for all paranormal romance fans.
Grade: B+
“You know, most men would at least bother to introduce themselves before the guy starts picturing the woman naked.”
Sylvia is a vampire mercenary who lives off the grid and keeps to herself but all that changes when her new job takes her on the hunt for a child molesting killer down in Memphis, Tennessee. Sylvia tries her best to stay clear of Hunters, the paranormal communities regulators, but for this job she is forced to team up with one and Toronto gets under her skin like no one has before.
Toronto has no memory of his past before waking up a werewolf and it has made him very angry and antisocial. Toronto finds himself drawn to the the mercenary vampire Sylvia and she awakens feelings in him he never thought possible. Together they must track the serial killer before he hurts more young boys but they soon discover much more is going on in Memphis and if they don’t stop it the consequences will be devastating.
Shiloh Walker is one of my favorite authors and I think her books just keep getting better and better. This was my first book out of her Hunters series but it will not be my last because it is so amazing. I love how well she can blend the mystery and suspense of tracking down a serial killer with a great love story. It’s not an easy thing to do but Mrs. Walker does it perfectly.
I loved Toronto and I just wanted to give him a big hug because he is so broken from his past. I was very nervous that he would be too broken for my taste but the way that he acts with Sylvia just made me love him. I loved the relationship these two develop and how they finally both learned to open up and let someone in after all the horrible things they had both been through in the past. Sylvia is also very broken but I loved that she finally let go of the pain inside of her and refused to be a victim. These are two of the most broken characters I’ve come across in a while and I loved reading their story even though it was very emotional at times.
I plan on going back and reading some of the earlier books in the series just so I can have a better understanding for future books in the series. As usual Mrs. Walker blends a great story with just enough adventure, romance, murder and suspense to keep you up late into the night to find out how it all ends. This is a must read for all paranormal romance fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2012
Hunter’s Rise by Shiloh Walker
Paranormal Romance – April 3rd, 2012
4 ½ stars
Shiloh Walker’s latest electrifying Hunter romance builds upon the previous books but can easily be read by itself.
Toronto’s past eludes him. He was turned into a werewolf and adopted by a powerful witch. Now he is a Hunter, one who protects humans as well as paranormal creatures. But he is tortured by the blanks in his memories and seeks to vent his frustrations. A bit of a rebel, he is being threatened to be kicked out of his current base where he patrols. He is restless and unfocused until his next assignment -stopping and capturing the mercenary Sylvia James. Toronto is captured by her beauty and feels drawn to her for Sylvia is a beautiful vampire female vigilante who is cunning and mysterious.
Sylvia James is a mercenary for hire, but she picks her jobs carefully and does the work that others cannot do. She prides herself on bringing justice to those in need but little does she realize that her actions are being followed. For the Hunters want to prevent her from killing her next mark. And When Toronto and Sylvia meet, it is like oil and fire…smoldering heat.
This was a fabulous read. Not only does the author have a rich cast of old and new characters but the world is complex, compelling, and addictive. The passion that flares between Toronto and Sylvia is super hot. I couldn’t wait for them to get together. Both are extremely controlled, alpha characters confident in their powers and sexuality. But while both are strong, they carry painful pasts. Both are wounded characters who show rare vulnerability to each other. Toronto has a huge hole in his past that haunts him, and Sylvia has too many bad memories of abuse when she was defenseless and hopeless. It was fascinating to read Sylvia’s past and how she overcame her abuse to become a strong woman. It also made the reader realize how much she cares for the underdog and her deep drive to punish abusers to protect other innocents and not be a victim anymore.
Honorable and unconventional main characters share a deep passion and find surprising love as they seek to hunt down a monster.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Paranormal Romance – April 3rd, 2012
4 ½ stars
Shiloh Walker’s latest electrifying Hunter romance builds upon the previous books but can easily be read by itself.
Toronto’s past eludes him. He was turned into a werewolf and adopted by a powerful witch. Now he is a Hunter, one who protects humans as well as paranormal creatures. But he is tortured by the blanks in his memories and seeks to vent his frustrations. A bit of a rebel, he is being threatened to be kicked out of his current base where he patrols. He is restless and unfocused until his next assignment -stopping and capturing the mercenary Sylvia James. Toronto is captured by her beauty and feels drawn to her for Sylvia is a beautiful vampire female vigilante who is cunning and mysterious.
Sylvia James is a mercenary for hire, but she picks her jobs carefully and does the work that others cannot do. She prides herself on bringing justice to those in need but little does she realize that her actions are being followed. For the Hunters want to prevent her from killing her next mark. And When Toronto and Sylvia meet, it is like oil and fire…smoldering heat.
This was a fabulous read. Not only does the author have a rich cast of old and new characters but the world is complex, compelling, and addictive. The passion that flares between Toronto and Sylvia is super hot. I couldn’t wait for them to get together. Both are extremely controlled, alpha characters confident in their powers and sexuality. But while both are strong, they carry painful pasts. Both are wounded characters who show rare vulnerability to each other. Toronto has a huge hole in his past that haunts him, and Sylvia has too many bad memories of abuse when she was defenseless and hopeless. It was fascinating to read Sylvia’s past and how she overcame her abuse to become a strong woman. It also made the reader realize how much she cares for the underdog and her deep drive to punish abusers to protect other innocents and not be a victim anymore.
Honorable and unconventional main characters share a deep passion and find surprising love as they seek to hunt down a monster.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
April 22, 2012
A vampire/mercenary meets a werewolf/hunter. Two totally different worlds and the sparks fly. That's how Shiloh Walker does it in her world and I loved it. Hunter's Rise is the last book in her Hunter series and to bad that is. If you hate all the rehashing a lot of authors do in their series you will be pleasantly surprised. Even though this is book 13 in a series Shiloh writes them stand alone and I didn't feel like I was missing anything.
Sylvia who is a vampire/mercenary is on the hunt for a child killer. Toronto a werewolf hunter is also on the hunt for the same person. Toronto and Sylvia have a lot of baggage from their past they have to deal with to get through this case and together they plan to find the people responsible for doing terrible things to young adults. After what happened to them in their past there is no way they can let this killer keep doing these bad things.
Being a hunter means keeping order in a region and mercenaries don't always follow the rules. When that happens the hunter has to do what is neccassary to keep order. Sylvia doesn't follow anyones rules so when she and Toronto's paths cross on the same mission they must decide how to handle this case and where the lines are drawn. They must also learn about their past and deal with it to figure out where their future will take them.
This book was about people being from two different worlds but also learning how to conquer their past and move on. Terrible things were done to both of the leading characters but through the book you see how they overcome all of them and kickass in the process. The big question is can they overcome enough to be together?
Sylvia who is a vampire/mercenary is on the hunt for a child killer. Toronto a werewolf hunter is also on the hunt for the same person. Toronto and Sylvia have a lot of baggage from their past they have to deal with to get through this case and together they plan to find the people responsible for doing terrible things to young adults. After what happened to them in their past there is no way they can let this killer keep doing these bad things.
Being a hunter means keeping order in a region and mercenaries don't always follow the rules. When that happens the hunter has to do what is neccassary to keep order. Sylvia doesn't follow anyones rules so when she and Toronto's paths cross on the same mission they must decide how to handle this case and where the lines are drawn. They must also learn about their past and deal with it to figure out where their future will take them.
This book was about people being from two different worlds but also learning how to conquer their past and move on. Terrible things were done to both of the leading characters but through the book you see how they overcome all of them and kickass in the process. The big question is can they overcome enough to be together?
April 9, 2014
"Hunter's Rise" by Shiloh Walker. Book 14 in The Hunters series. **Last book of the series**
I really liked this last book of the Hunters series. The main characters are Toronto (a werewolf) and Sylvia (a vampire). The storyline was really interesting. It kind of reads like a mystery, in that you don't really know who the "bad guy" is because there's more than one possibility. Both main characters have a past that catches up with them in this book. And we finally find out why Toronto has no memory!
Interesting dynamic between Toronto and Sylvia. Toronto is a Hunter, trying to find a killer but not to kill him. He needs information from him first...then he can kill him. The families of the murdered children want closure, and Toronto is tasked to get it. The only problem is, someone is trying to kill the murderer before he has a chance to question him.
Sylvia is a mercenary and she's on the hunt for a murderer. But this job, she's not doing it for the money. She doing it because one of the children he's killed reminds her of her past and a boy she knew that tried to help her. The problem is a Hunter is also on the hunt for the murderer. Well, she'll just have to find him first....
Overall, I really enjoyed the whole Hunters series. The majority of the books can be read as stand alones but I would recommend reading them in order mainly because there are recurring characters throughout the series. All in all, I really like it.
I really liked this last book of the Hunters series. The main characters are Toronto (a werewolf) and Sylvia (a vampire). The storyline was really interesting. It kind of reads like a mystery, in that you don't really know who the "bad guy" is because there's more than one possibility. Both main characters have a past that catches up with them in this book. And we finally find out why Toronto has no memory!
Interesting dynamic between Toronto and Sylvia. Toronto is a Hunter, trying to find a killer but not to kill him. He needs information from him first...then he can kill him. The families of the murdered children want closure, and Toronto is tasked to get it. The only problem is, someone is trying to kill the murderer before he has a chance to question him.
Sylvia is a mercenary and she's on the hunt for a murderer. But this job, she's not doing it for the money. She doing it because one of the children he's killed reminds her of her past and a boy she knew that tried to help her. The problem is a Hunter is also on the hunt for the murderer. Well, she'll just have to find him first....
Overall, I really enjoyed the whole Hunters series. The majority of the books can be read as stand alones but I would recommend reading them in order mainly because there are recurring characters throughout the series. All in all, I really like it.
August 18, 2012
First of all: YAY, I WON! Yup, I'm the winner of this giveaway! Huzzah! I hadn't read any of the books in the Hunter series before, so after receiving the book (which is number 14 in the series) I debated whether or not I should order the first 13 books and read them before starting this one. However, after a quick Google search I found that the books don't necessarily need to be read in order. However, one should know that characters from the earlier books do appear in Hunter's Rise. That didn't bother me at all, though; the author did a really good job at filling in with enough details from the past books that were needed for me to follow the story. Also; reading about these "old" characters made me want to buy and read the previous 13 books.
Anyway: Hunter's Rise. The main characters, Toronto and Sylvia, are hot, funny and dangerous. Always a good combination. The story and dialog flow nicely. The mystery part held me in suspense; it took me quite a while to figure out "who dunnit". Oh, and the sex was hot, too. ;)
Thank you for the gift, ms Walker!
Anyway: Hunter's Rise. The main characters, Toronto and Sylvia, are hot, funny and dangerous. Always a good combination. The story and dialog flow nicely. The mystery part held me in suspense; it took me quite a while to figure out "who dunnit". Oh, and the sex was hot, too. ;)
Thank you for the gift, ms Walker!
January 29, 2013
Good characters.Great storyline in the series. Loved coming back to this series after a long break.I really want more books though.Grins.
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Spoiler
Note to Self:
"Toronto" Solomon(Hunter,Master were,"Tor,"pal,new shifter pack temp 2nd in command)+"Sylvia James" Sada(vamp,merc),Kel(Hunter,vamp,pal)+ Angel(20's,human psychic,pal),Rafe(Master vamp,Hunter,150yo)+ Sheila(Hunter),Agnes "Nessa"(Hunter, witch,Council,pal)+Dominic Ralston(Hunter,vamp),Lindsey(Hunter, were),Josiah(Hunter,tech),Kelsey Hughes(Hunter,Council mem witch),Sean Curtis(were,Detroit homicide detective),Tamara(witch),Matt (Alpha shifter,16yo).
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Spoiler
Note to Self:
"Toronto" Solomon(Hunter,Master were,"Tor,"pal,new shifter pack temp 2nd in command)+"Sylvia James" Sada(vamp,merc),Kel(Hunter,vamp,pal)+ Angel(20's,human psychic,pal),Rafe(Master vamp,Hunter,150yo)+ Sheila(Hunter),Agnes "Nessa"(Hunter, witch,Council,pal)+Dominic Ralston(Hunter,vamp),Lindsey(Hunter, were),Josiah(Hunter,tech),Kelsey Hughes(Hunter,Council mem witch),Sean Curtis(were,Detroit homicide detective),Tamara(witch),Matt (Alpha shifter,16yo).
April 11, 2012
I have to say this was an excellent read. This being the newest one (I think) I accidentally read it before about 6 books that should have been first and yes it did ruin the plot of some of those books for me reading them out of order. But it didn't keep me from reading g them and enjoying them. This was a story I had been waiting for for a while, and it was worth it. If you haven't read the hunter series you should really pick it up its a great action filled series full of supernatural creatures, and overwhelming love story's that are so hot the pages sizzle. The first book in this series is called Declan and Tori. Happy hunting :)
July 18, 2012
It's too bad that this is the last installment in the series, but I can see why Walker is moving on. It's a limiting framework and she's written herself into the corners by now. Aside from that, it's a confusing series--with book order messiness abounding--so that just adds to the reasons why it should end. I wouldn't suggest going back and reading the series, unless one wants to be witness to the progression of a writer from electronic publishing to print house in terms of editing and what Walker does once she's given plenty more space. Not so surprisingly, she flexes the series more into the suspense realm, which is where she has ultimately headed in her new series.
August 22, 2012
Paranormal romance is tricky at best. This author is experienced in writing for this genre and so she does a good job. However in many areas this ends up as a not very organized potboiler. Her characters are interesting, but not so defined that you don't mix them up as well as their storylines. Her world-building is a little shaky and so it seems like anything goes. Unclear world building creates too many plot-holes. Her villians are great, nasty pieces of work and plot makes it fun and easy to root for the good guys.
June 13, 2013
I don't think I have read any previous "Hunter" novels before, but this one stood on its own quite well.
I pretty much saw where this book was going from the beginning, but despite that, it kept me interested and enjoying the story all the way through. I very much enjoyed both of the main characters and wish I could read of their further adventures. A vampire and a werewolf seem like an odd combination, but in this book, it works. Lots of fun, kept me reading even when I should have been doing something else! I'll definitely have to go back and read this series from the beginning.
I pretty much saw where this book was going from the beginning, but despite that, it kept me interested and enjoying the story all the way through. I very much enjoyed both of the main characters and wish I could read of their further adventures. A vampire and a werewolf seem like an odd combination, but in this book, it works. Lots of fun, kept me reading even when I should have been doing something else! I'll definitely have to go back and read this series from the beginning.
August 28, 2012
This has to be one of the MOST awful books I have ever read, I will never, ever pick up another one of these books again. the character development was non existant, the pathetic attempt at mystery and intrigue in their past was laughable. The book could have been half as long as it was due to the drawn out descriptions. Sorry to say there was nothing about this book that I liked except that it ended
June 17, 2014
Toronto and Silvia. This was different but it was really good!!! I couldn't put it down and I enjoyed each of the characters, the sexual heat, the violence of tracking bad people, the fighting, she is a must read and I wouldn't say you couldn't start out of order. I've skipped around and have enjoyed it!
Want to Read
February 16, 2012I've read the review and love it...at that moment I wanted to start reading this book! And then I heard about this giveaway and said to myself this the chance to win a copy...So I hurry up and enter this wonderful giveaway..:D I hope I win...One awesome book review.
March 11, 2013
I liked this well enough, though I don't know if I liked it well enough to buy into a series. There was enough MarySue in both the main characters that it was entertaining but not overly engaging. Quick read, solid action.
March 29, 2013
Loved this book. This book made me laugh and cry and want to punch Toronto in the face a few times. Not that Slyvia didn't do her best at trying to kill the relationship too. I am glad they figured it out finally.
April 2, 2012
This book was really good I recommend it to those who have read the series! I didn't realize it was number 14 in the series when i entered but it is a really good book none the less =].
July 25, 2012
A mercenary vampire and hunter werewolf love story.
October 13, 2013
light enjoyable read
October 7, 2012
God i love this series
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