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The Beast Hunter of Ashbourn #1
The Beast Hunters
Winner - Best in Fantasy by Indies Today Awards (2022)
Winner - The PageTurner Awards Best in Fantasy 2023
Shortlisted - The Chimera Awards (2022)
When a monster brutally kills her parents, Ara is saved by two beast hunters. Becoming their apprentice, she discovers serums, secret bestiary knowledge, and remarkable abilities-all to save unsuspecting souls from the same fate her parents suffered. But, terrifying creatures lurk everywhere and Ara must master the art of beast hunting quickly if she is to uncover the elusive beast plaguing the village of Cornstead.
Winner - The PageTurner Awards Best in Fantasy 2023
Shortlisted - The Chimera Awards (2022)
When a monster brutally kills her parents, Ara is saved by two beast hunters. Becoming their apprentice, she discovers serums, secret bestiary knowledge, and remarkable abilities-all to save unsuspecting souls from the same fate her parents suffered. But, terrifying creatures lurk everywhere and Ara must master the art of beast hunting quickly if she is to uncover the elusive beast plaguing the village of Cornstead.
- GenresFantasyYoung AdultMagic
Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2021
35 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Christer Lende
8 books59 followersChrister Lende is a Multi-Award Winning author who began writing in a library, which sounds fitting, only he was supposed to be there working on his engineering degree. He is a professional screenwriter, working with the Norwegian movie producer behind “One Love”, “Who Killed Birgitte” and “All about my Father” Bjørn Eivind Aarskog, together they are eveloping the manuscript for a Norwegian thriller. Bjørn hired Christer after reading The Beast Hunters, trusting Christer could bring his vision to life.
Christer lives in what Norwegians call a city, but people from actual cities would call a town. Of proud Viking blood, he honours his ancestors by
heroically sitting in front of a computer writing Fantasy and Science Fiction books. He believes in writing a little bit every day, through weekends, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, even his own birthday. When he’s not writing, he takes care of his two dogs and tries to broker peace with his girlfriend. He’s often found at a gym, trying to compensate for his height issues, or lazily playing video games.
Christer did get that master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, despite procrastinating by writing fiction in the library, and works for a large IT firm, but writing and storytelling are his passions.
Christer lives in what Norwegians call a city, but people from actual cities would call a town. Of proud Viking blood, he honours his ancestors by
heroically sitting in front of a computer writing Fantasy and Science Fiction books. He believes in writing a little bit every day, through weekends, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, even his own birthday. When he’s not writing, he takes care of his two dogs and tries to broker peace with his girlfriend. He’s often found at a gym, trying to compensate for his height issues, or lazily playing video games.
Christer did get that master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, despite procrastinating by writing fiction in the library, and works for a large IT firm, but writing and storytelling are his passions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
February 12, 2022
* Review copy supplied by the author. *
The Beast Hunters, by Christer Lende, is the fun tale of Ara, a young girl whose family is killed by a monster. She is rescued from the same fate by a pair of strange Beast Hunters who take her on as a sort of unofficial apprentice.
They travel to the village of Cornstead, where there's a mystery to be solved and people to be saved, and there's a whole host of monsters on the way. It's good that these are not just the usual kind of monster, they are all weird and wonderful, with a lot of invention shown by the author. Even the dwarves are different to what you usually tend to see.
The main characters, Ara and the two Beast Hunters, Topper and Khendrick, are well written and the interaction between them mostly comes across as quite natural. There’s one bit late in the book that seemed stretched out for the reader, that in real circumstances would likely have been explained at the first opportunity, but other than that there was a good flow.
I thought at first this book would be an episodic sort of “monster of the week” adventure, but it’s not that at all. When you get past the initial introductions, and Ara starts to feel at home with her two new companions, there’s a nice bit of mystery-solving which gives plenty of time to detail some of the many beasts of this world, as well as the cool tricks and tools at the Beast Hunters’ disposal.
The book also includes a full bestiary, giving a lot more information on all of these beasts, and I think this might be intended to replicate the red book of beasts that the characters carry in the book itself, which is a nice touch.
Overall, it’s a short read and is nicely paced, meaning it doesn’t take a long time to get through. The writing is easy going and there’s some good description, not only of the beasts, but also during battle scenes for instance, where the author isn’t at all shy about giving all the gory details.
The Beast Hunters, by Christer Lende, is the fun tale of Ara, a young girl whose family is killed by a monster. She is rescued from the same fate by a pair of strange Beast Hunters who take her on as a sort of unofficial apprentice.
They travel to the village of Cornstead, where there's a mystery to be solved and people to be saved, and there's a whole host of monsters on the way. It's good that these are not just the usual kind of monster, they are all weird and wonderful, with a lot of invention shown by the author. Even the dwarves are different to what you usually tend to see.
The main characters, Ara and the two Beast Hunters, Topper and Khendrick, are well written and the interaction between them mostly comes across as quite natural. There’s one bit late in the book that seemed stretched out for the reader, that in real circumstances would likely have been explained at the first opportunity, but other than that there was a good flow.
I thought at first this book would be an episodic sort of “monster of the week” adventure, but it’s not that at all. When you get past the initial introductions, and Ara starts to feel at home with her two new companions, there’s a nice bit of mystery-solving which gives plenty of time to detail some of the many beasts of this world, as well as the cool tricks and tools at the Beast Hunters’ disposal.
The book also includes a full bestiary, giving a lot more information on all of these beasts, and I think this might be intended to replicate the red book of beasts that the characters carry in the book itself, which is a nice touch.
Overall, it’s a short read and is nicely paced, meaning it doesn’t take a long time to get through. The writing is easy going and there’s some good description, not only of the beasts, but also during battle scenes for instance, where the author isn’t at all shy about giving all the gory details.
October 15, 2023
This fantasy novel might be short, but believe me when I tell you that it absolutely packs a punch! There is so much to love in these pages, I had a blast :)
The Beast Hunters follows 17-year-old Ara, whose family is brutally murdered before her eyes at the very beginning of the story. She is saved by two peculiar but endearing Beast Hunters and quickly becomes their (unofficial) apprentice of sorts. What follows is an adventurous tale full of mystery, found family, fighting for what is right and a whole lot of monsters and beast hunting!
Now, the absolute highlight of this book was the character work for me. I am honestly blown away by how quickly the author managed to make me care for these characters. I mean, I’ve read 600+ page chunkers that didn’t manage to capture me the way that this story did.
Ara is a delight to follow and her character development was truly exceptional. She has had a difficult past full of emotional and physical abuse, but we get to see her blossom into a confident and inquisitive young woman over the course of this story.
And her companions, the Beast Hunters Topper and Khendrick, were also quite complex and well-developed. We really get to see what makes each of these characters tick and that made it so easy to care for them. I loved the interactions between these characters and the found family vibes were just off the charts!
The worldbuilding is also excellent though! I really enjoyed how methodical and well thought-out the whole beast hunting business was, which made the reveals of the mystery extremely satisfying. You can really see how much time and effort has gone into creating this world and its monsters. Heck, there’s even a whole bestiary at the end of the book full of cool details and facts about the monsters, which is a wonderful extra touch to this book!
There are some darker themes and some gruesome scenes, but ultimately, this is really a feel-good book. I am eager to return to this world in the future, because these characters absolutely captured my heart and I need to know what else they will be up to!
If you need a short and entertaining read that still has a lot of merit, I highly recommend you give this book a try!
The Beast Hunters follows 17-year-old Ara, whose family is brutally murdered before her eyes at the very beginning of the story. She is saved by two peculiar but endearing Beast Hunters and quickly becomes their (unofficial) apprentice of sorts. What follows is an adventurous tale full of mystery, found family, fighting for what is right and a whole lot of monsters and beast hunting!
Now, the absolute highlight of this book was the character work for me. I am honestly blown away by how quickly the author managed to make me care for these characters. I mean, I’ve read 600+ page chunkers that didn’t manage to capture me the way that this story did.
Ara is a delight to follow and her character development was truly exceptional. She has had a difficult past full of emotional and physical abuse, but we get to see her blossom into a confident and inquisitive young woman over the course of this story.
And her companions, the Beast Hunters Topper and Khendrick, were also quite complex and well-developed. We really get to see what makes each of these characters tick and that made it so easy to care for them. I loved the interactions between these characters and the found family vibes were just off the charts!
The worldbuilding is also excellent though! I really enjoyed how methodical and well thought-out the whole beast hunting business was, which made the reveals of the mystery extremely satisfying. You can really see how much time and effort has gone into creating this world and its monsters. Heck, there’s even a whole bestiary at the end of the book full of cool details and facts about the monsters, which is a wonderful extra touch to this book!
There are some darker themes and some gruesome scenes, but ultimately, this is really a feel-good book. I am eager to return to this world in the future, because these characters absolutely captured my heart and I need to know what else they will be up to!
If you need a short and entertaining read that still has a lot of merit, I highly recommend you give this book a try!
September 12, 2025
I usually try not to take on too many ebooks for review as I have never been the most organized person. But I also find it hard to say no, so I usually never agree to attach a date to when I will read it by. Even with those excuses in place, I would still consider this late as hell, so I am truly sorry! With that being said, I have bought all the ebooks for the trilogy, and I also bought this one on audio when it came to my attention I still hadn’t gotten to it yet. I do try to make my small amends. The narration by Jonathan Johns was solid, I enjoyed the voices he did and his pronunciations of all the monsters.
When a beast surprises Ara parents, they fall victim to the deadly attack. Ara is left with nothing and no one, and although her parents weren’t shining beacons of parenthood, that’s still a daunting reality to find yourself in for someone that’s not quite an adult yet. In enter the beast hunters to save the day. They were working another case, and therefore they were too late to save her parents. They take her under their wings, and while she’s traveling with them, they gain her trust and begin to teach her of the world and monsters around her. When they reach their destination of Cornstead, they are plunged into mystery, deception, and a bit of short-legged mayhem!
This read like a coming of age, young adult blend of The Witcher and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Like if Geralt was a little less gruff (a lot less) and the world wasn’t so dark. If Ciri wasn’t always gone and was instead more the focus. This world is described as being filled with dangerous monsters and beasts, many with cool and original names like Fantastic Beasts. However, with most of the story taking place within the walls of Cornstead, the reader doesn’t actually get to experience many. Instead, we receive an almost inspector’s apprentice mystery, where we learn only as clues trickle in. With that being said, it’s certainly in no way slow, it just took me by surprise.
Though the ending was a little rushed for me, as I did not feel fully connected to the trio of characters yet, I really do enjoy them. I liked how the author weaved a story that started with abusive parents and then gave us the rest of the story with understanding and accepting male protectors. Ara has to battle within to trust them, to let them in, and that continues on to the very last page. The town’s guard is displayed to perfectly play off of them with male toxicity and anger.
It fittingly felt almost like finishing The Sword of Destiny, where the Witcher shorts only leave you wanting more—as a book one, this is poised to do just that in the sequels.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-be...
When a beast surprises Ara parents, they fall victim to the deadly attack. Ara is left with nothing and no one, and although her parents weren’t shining beacons of parenthood, that’s still a daunting reality to find yourself in for someone that’s not quite an adult yet. In enter the beast hunters to save the day. They were working another case, and therefore they were too late to save her parents. They take her under their wings, and while she’s traveling with them, they gain her trust and begin to teach her of the world and monsters around her. When they reach their destination of Cornstead, they are plunged into mystery, deception, and a bit of short-legged mayhem!
This read like a coming of age, young adult blend of The Witcher and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Like if Geralt was a little less gruff (a lot less) and the world wasn’t so dark. If Ciri wasn’t always gone and was instead more the focus. This world is described as being filled with dangerous monsters and beasts, many with cool and original names like Fantastic Beasts. However, with most of the story taking place within the walls of Cornstead, the reader doesn’t actually get to experience many. Instead, we receive an almost inspector’s apprentice mystery, where we learn only as clues trickle in. With that being said, it’s certainly in no way slow, it just took me by surprise.
Though the ending was a little rushed for me, as I did not feel fully connected to the trio of characters yet, I really do enjoy them. I liked how the author weaved a story that started with abusive parents and then gave us the rest of the story with understanding and accepting male protectors. Ara has to battle within to trust them, to let them in, and that continues on to the very last page. The town’s guard is displayed to perfectly play off of them with male toxicity and anger.
It fittingly felt almost like finishing The Sword of Destiny, where the Witcher shorts only leave you wanting more—as a book one, this is poised to do just that in the sequels.
https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-be...
December 23, 2021
Thank you NetGalley for the free copy
I greatly enjoyed this book, it was fantastical and full of creatures.
I'm a big fan of creatures, and I greatly enjoyed how there were over a dozen introduced in this tiny 200 or so page book and only one of them had even a familiar name. Which made the book feel quite unique.
This book tells the story of Ara, 17, who is rescued by two Beast Hunters when a monster attacks her family. And the two hunters, Topper and Khendric take her under their wing and try to teach her their ways. I'm not sure I can call this Young Adult, but then I don't have a lot of experience with YA. Despite the age of Ara, there is quite a deal of gore in the book. There were also none of the pesky YA tropes you generally see, despite one of her rescueer seeming to be in his young 20s there wasn't even a hint of romance, which I greatly enjoyed.
My biggest complain is that I wish the book was larger and slower. (which is usually a sign of a good book) Ara at the beginning showed many personality traits of someone who not only came from an abusive family, but from a bad place. Mistrustful and secretive, I loved how grey she was. It wasn't black and white, she still loved her family. Which is often the truth in those cases. I loved the scenes where Topper and Khendric were trying to get to the soft gooey center of her personality. Alas, the change from mistrustful slum child to the typical heroine of a fantasy novel happened a little too quickly. Like blink and you missed it. I wish the change was more gradual, more realistic instead of a flip of a switch.
I'm also not the biggest fan of the cover, I was expecting big ass dragons. But the closest thing we got was the large dog sized thing (small horse?) in the prequel. Everything else was human or smaller sized. But, I enjoyed the story nonetheless and I cannot wait to see the next book. Maybe we'll see something bigger in the end!
I also loved the bestiary at the end, I loved how we got to see pages from the Red Book of creatures that weren't even mentioned in the first book. I wish there were illustrations available and would love to see an edition in the future that held them.
I greatly enjoyed this book, it was fantastical and full of creatures.
I'm a big fan of creatures, and I greatly enjoyed how there were over a dozen introduced in this tiny 200 or so page book and only one of them had even a familiar name. Which made the book feel quite unique.
This book tells the story of Ara, 17, who is rescued by two Beast Hunters when a monster attacks her family. And the two hunters, Topper and Khendric take her under their wing and try to teach her their ways. I'm not sure I can call this Young Adult, but then I don't have a lot of experience with YA. Despite the age of Ara, there is quite a deal of gore in the book. There were also none of the pesky YA tropes you generally see, despite one of her rescueer seeming to be in his young 20s there wasn't even a hint of romance, which I greatly enjoyed.
My biggest complain is that I wish the book was larger and slower. (which is usually a sign of a good book) Ara at the beginning showed many personality traits of someone who not only came from an abusive family, but from a bad place. Mistrustful and secretive, I loved how grey she was. It wasn't black and white, she still loved her family. Which is often the truth in those cases. I loved the scenes where Topper and Khendric were trying to get to the soft gooey center of her personality. Alas, the change from mistrustful slum child to the typical heroine of a fantasy novel happened a little too quickly. Like blink and you missed it. I wish the change was more gradual, more realistic instead of a flip of a switch.
I'm also not the biggest fan of the cover, I was expecting big ass dragons. But the closest thing we got was the large dog sized thing (small horse?) in the prequel. Everything else was human or smaller sized. But, I enjoyed the story nonetheless and I cannot wait to see the next book. Maybe we'll see something bigger in the end!
I also loved the bestiary at the end, I loved how we got to see pages from the Red Book of creatures that weren't even mentioned in the first book. I wish there were illustrations available and would love to see an edition in the future that held them.
February 25, 2023
a fun debut fantasy
This is a story you can devour in two days. Right from the beginning, you get acquainted with Ara and her hard life. We see monsters appear quickly. There are so many, that there is a bestiary book which describes them all. Once she joins Khendric and Topper her life begins anew. They are Beast Hunters.
Although they do find and slay beasts for pay, they are different from others. There are little hints as to how throughout the book, and you will find out the mysterious identities. But there aren’t only deadly creatures, that they have to worry about. Some interesting twists occur that make this a unique monster story.
My slight criticism is that the language is quite modern and that sometimes takes me out of the tale. So the writing style is so simplistic that it reads YA. Although that also means a younger audience could certainly read this and enjoy it. In addition the use of guns doesn’t seem to really fit in with this time period. But I’m not a fan of these weapons in my fantasy stories.
I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the beastly world. It was a lot of fun. I will definitely continue reading this series.
This is a story you can devour in two days. Right from the beginning, you get acquainted with Ara and her hard life. We see monsters appear quickly. There are so many, that there is a bestiary book which describes them all. Once she joins Khendric and Topper her life begins anew. They are Beast Hunters.
Although they do find and slay beasts for pay, they are different from others. There are little hints as to how throughout the book, and you will find out the mysterious identities. But there aren’t only deadly creatures, that they have to worry about. Some interesting twists occur that make this a unique monster story.
My slight criticism is that the language is quite modern and that sometimes takes me out of the tale. So the writing style is so simplistic that it reads YA. Although that also means a younger audience could certainly read this and enjoy it. In addition the use of guns doesn’t seem to really fit in with this time period. But I’m not a fan of these weapons in my fantasy stories.
I enjoyed getting to know these characters and the beastly world. It was a lot of fun. I will definitely continue reading this series.
November 15, 2022
Disclaimer - received a review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review
What if Supernatural and The Witcher had a baby and the baby had the personality of Riyria Revelations? Welcome to the world of Ashbourn, a world teeming with numerous creatures and professional Beast Hunters who kill these creatures.
We follow Ara who is the sole survivor of a beast attack that kills her parents. The beast hunters, Khendric and Topper decide to take the poor girl under their wing until they figure out what to do with her. The group travel to a nearby town where they are encounter an odd mystery. Good people of the village were suddenly losing their minds and murdering others. To make matters more complicated, they are also approached by a man who claims of strange goings on in his house. The trio will have to solve the mystery that plagues Cornstead before things get worse!
I had so much fun with this book! The humour of the book totally worked for me, the banter reminded me of Royce and Hadrian's easy camaraderie. The characters are well done and show a lot of promise. Ara had a tragic childhood that left her scarred and these scars showed in her interaction with Khendric and Topper. She tries to take up as little space as possible and has serious trust issues at the beginning of the book but slowly opens up as time went by. Ara's development was a delight to read and watching her gain confidence and self worth was amazing.
Khendric and Topper did not have much depth to them in this book but I'm hoping to see more of that in the next book!
The world building is what made the book unique and fun. There are a multitude of creatures in this world and they are very well fleshed out. We see this world through Ara's eyes and learn about these creatures as we go. The descriptions never felt info dumpy to me and was woven into the narrative with ease. I wanted to see more aspects of this world though- the culture, the political structure, the history, etc. I feel we'll get more of that in the next book in the series.
The writing is accessible but a little rough around the edges. The prologue was the weakest point and felt rushed. Khendric and Topper decide very quickly that Ara should come with them without having a discussion about pros and cons of such an act. We don't see Ara have any conflicting thoughts about leaving with two strange men. The prologue could have been longer, with an extra scene or two exploring the above mentioned elements.
The "bad guys" didn't really work for me. Seemed a bit underdeveloped.
The mystery and the reveals were well done. I was hooked to it immediately and couldn't put the book down!
The problems I had could be easily overcome with some extra polishing by the author. The book shows a lot of promise and I am eager to read the sequel. This is a great fun romp that can act as a palate cleanser between chunky books. Definitely recommend it to new as well as seasoned fantasy readers!
What if Supernatural and The Witcher had a baby and the baby had the personality of Riyria Revelations? Welcome to the world of Ashbourn, a world teeming with numerous creatures and professional Beast Hunters who kill these creatures.
We follow Ara who is the sole survivor of a beast attack that kills her parents. The beast hunters, Khendric and Topper decide to take the poor girl under their wing until they figure out what to do with her. The group travel to a nearby town where they are encounter an odd mystery. Good people of the village were suddenly losing their minds and murdering others. To make matters more complicated, they are also approached by a man who claims of strange goings on in his house. The trio will have to solve the mystery that plagues Cornstead before things get worse!
I had so much fun with this book! The humour of the book totally worked for me, the banter reminded me of Royce and Hadrian's easy camaraderie. The characters are well done and show a lot of promise. Ara had a tragic childhood that left her scarred and these scars showed in her interaction with Khendric and Topper. She tries to take up as little space as possible and has serious trust issues at the beginning of the book but slowly opens up as time went by. Ara's development was a delight to read and watching her gain confidence and self worth was amazing.
Khendric and Topper did not have much depth to them in this book but I'm hoping to see more of that in the next book!
The world building is what made the book unique and fun. There are a multitude of creatures in this world and they are very well fleshed out. We see this world through Ara's eyes and learn about these creatures as we go. The descriptions never felt info dumpy to me and was woven into the narrative with ease. I wanted to see more aspects of this world though- the culture, the political structure, the history, etc. I feel we'll get more of that in the next book in the series.
The writing is accessible but a little rough around the edges. The prologue was the weakest point and felt rushed. Khendric and Topper decide very quickly that Ara should come with them without having a discussion about pros and cons of such an act. We don't see Ara have any conflicting thoughts about leaving with two strange men. The prologue could have been longer, with an extra scene or two exploring the above mentioned elements.
The "bad guys" didn't really work for me. Seemed a bit underdeveloped.
The mystery and the reveals were well done. I was hooked to it immediately and couldn't put the book down!
The problems I had could be easily overcome with some extra polishing by the author. The book shows a lot of promise and I am eager to read the sequel. This is a great fun romp that can act as a palate cleanser between chunky books. Definitely recommend it to new as well as seasoned fantasy readers!
November 11, 2022
I spotted this book after seeing on Twitter that the author recently made the change from traditional to indie publishing, and I’m so glad I gave it a go!
The Beast Hunters is a small book of only 180 pages, and I believe it was initially written as one giant novel and then split into three, which I think works for the story.
—
I was surprised with how well done the world building was considering the smaller size, the author doesn’t go into great detail in each scene, the whole plot is father fast paced, but what he does do well is make those small details matter. For example: there is a beastiary in the back of the book with some (rather awesome and even humorous) descriptions of each beast mentioned in the story, this then links to one of the characters as they keep their own journal about the kind of beasts they encounter.
—
There is nothing particularly new about the characters and premise, but the characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed the ‘master and apprentice’ sort of vibe, added to that there is some really good banter and quirks given to each of them which really makes the experience more immersive. There was also noticeable growth and character progression which was fun to read!
—
My one gripe is that because of the cover I was expecting a dragon and one never came 😅 but there was some hints at some big monsters which are coming, one in particular a big ‘Ho-oh’ type bird I’m super keen to see, and excited to see where Christer takes the story!
Already bought the next book! And you should too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Beast Hunters is a small book of only 180 pages, and I believe it was initially written as one giant novel and then split into three, which I think works for the story.
—
I was surprised with how well done the world building was considering the smaller size, the author doesn’t go into great detail in each scene, the whole plot is father fast paced, but what he does do well is make those small details matter. For example: there is a beastiary in the back of the book with some (rather awesome and even humorous) descriptions of each beast mentioned in the story, this then links to one of the characters as they keep their own journal about the kind of beasts they encounter.
—
There is nothing particularly new about the characters and premise, but the characters were well fleshed out and I enjoyed the ‘master and apprentice’ sort of vibe, added to that there is some really good banter and quirks given to each of them which really makes the experience more immersive. There was also noticeable growth and character progression which was fun to read!
—
My one gripe is that because of the cover I was expecting a dragon and one never came 😅 but there was some hints at some big monsters which are coming, one in particular a big ‘Ho-oh’ type bird I’m super keen to see, and excited to see where Christer takes the story!
Already bought the next book! And you should too!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
February 17, 2023
https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/202...
I recieved an audio book copy from the author in exchange for a honest review. What we have here is a grim adventure story long time fans of The Witcher will love. Each chapter seemed to end right on the spot where you wanted to know just a little more before drifting off to sleep. A true page turner in the best way possible and I hope you are all ready for a adventure sure to steal your heart.
Ara is a simple girl living in the country side with her parents. After witnessing the death of her mom and dad at the hands of a giant beast, Ara is rescued by two beast hunters Khendric and Topper. The two hunters realize the pain Ara is going through and decide to invite her on their journey to become a beast hunter herself. On the trip to Cornstead, Ara will learn all about the beasts of the wild, potions to help the crew, and unravel the mysteries around why the beasts are plaguing Cornstead. Dark magic is about to be unleased and Ara will be the one caught in the middle of it all. This will be a novel you will not want to miss.
Although Ara is the main character and a good view point for this debut novel, I was by far more invested in the two male beast hunters Khendric and Topper. Khendric is the older and wiser of the two and knows his way around the wilds, while the younger hunter Topper tries interesting and funny ways to be clever and try new things. Each one holds a mystery or two of their own and will be revealed to the readers at just the right time. Although The Beast Hunters will be enjoyed by a YA audience there is so much grit and pain in this novel that any fantasy reader will breath it in like a cold chill watching the morning sunrise. The writing style is very fast paced and I am in awe at just how much world building the author was able to pack into a novel just over two hundred pages. Shocking twists are also the name of the game with this debut and many of them I was not able to guess at all.
With the trilogy now being completed, The Beast Hunters of Asnbourn will absolutley be a series I intend to finish this year. If you are like me and find yourself in a bit of a reading slump, then this is the novel to snap you about of it. I sure hope the sequels are just as good as this debut because I am coming in hot!
Cheers!
I recieved an audio book copy from the author in exchange for a honest review. What we have here is a grim adventure story long time fans of The Witcher will love. Each chapter seemed to end right on the spot where you wanted to know just a little more before drifting off to sleep. A true page turner in the best way possible and I hope you are all ready for a adventure sure to steal your heart.
Ara is a simple girl living in the country side with her parents. After witnessing the death of her mom and dad at the hands of a giant beast, Ara is rescued by two beast hunters Khendric and Topper. The two hunters realize the pain Ara is going through and decide to invite her on their journey to become a beast hunter herself. On the trip to Cornstead, Ara will learn all about the beasts of the wild, potions to help the crew, and unravel the mysteries around why the beasts are plaguing Cornstead. Dark magic is about to be unleased and Ara will be the one caught in the middle of it all. This will be a novel you will not want to miss.
Although Ara is the main character and a good view point for this debut novel, I was by far more invested in the two male beast hunters Khendric and Topper. Khendric is the older and wiser of the two and knows his way around the wilds, while the younger hunter Topper tries interesting and funny ways to be clever and try new things. Each one holds a mystery or two of their own and will be revealed to the readers at just the right time. Although The Beast Hunters will be enjoyed by a YA audience there is so much grit and pain in this novel that any fantasy reader will breath it in like a cold chill watching the morning sunrise. The writing style is very fast paced and I am in awe at just how much world building the author was able to pack into a novel just over two hundred pages. Shocking twists are also the name of the game with this debut and many of them I was not able to guess at all.
With the trilogy now being completed, The Beast Hunters of Asnbourn will absolutley be a series I intend to finish this year. If you are like me and find yourself in a bit of a reading slump, then this is the novel to snap you about of it. I sure hope the sequels are just as good as this debut because I am coming in hot!
Cheers!
March 9, 2025
If there's something strange
In your neighborhood
Who you gonna call?
BEAST HUNTERS!
The Beast Hunters are the exterminators in the fantasy world. Getting rid of your naughty nuisances and possibly sneaking a little "work enhancement" drug on the side.
This was a fun read with a few little surprises. The ending was great and left me wanting more. I'm eager to see what the next book has in store!
November 3, 2022
Score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4,5 out of 5 stars)
The Beast Hunters is the first book in a dark fantasy saga, written by Christer Lender. I'm really glad to have found this book, and to pick it by the cover, because it hasn't let me down, being absolutely amazing (I only have one complaint: it's too short), a novel that I would define as The Witcher meets Sherlock Holmes. There are so many things to love on these pages, to be fair.
This book follows the story of Ara, a 17-years-old girl, who lives with her family, suffering due to the contempt of his father (who evens hit her regularly), and whose life changes as she sees how her family gets brutally murdered before her eyes; and honestly, she's saved just by the pure luck of two strangers who work as Beast Hunters, and she becomes (sort of) her apprentice. Personally, this whole first scene for me it's an intention declaration by Christer Lende, letting clear that we are in a dark fantasy novel, in a hard world. And after this, the real story starts, an adventure full of mysteries, found family, and action.
There is great work behind the characters in this story, especially on the group that gets formed between Ara and the Beast Hunters. Particularly, I would like to stop to highlight how certain themes are touched with the character of Ara; she's somebody that hasn't gotten appreciation from her family, her self-esteem is non-existent at the moment she is adopted by Topper and Khendrick; and her progression as a character with the help of the Hunters is well crafted, feeling really natural. Khendrick is also a particular kind of character, somebody who has been forged due to his years traveling as Beast Hunter, and with an excellent capability of observation (which is partly why I get those big Sherlock vibes, as that kind of eidetic memory is shared with the Conan Doyle's character); and Topper, well, it's Topper. It's delightful to see the training and learning arc of Ara with these two, meanwhile, their bonds strengthen.
The worldbuilding is also excellent, something impressive with the short length of the book. There are plenty of fantastical creatures presented, sometimes with entries in the book they maintain as a compendium of their knowledge, sometimes by fighting with them. During their adventure in the city, we can also experiment with the multiple faces of people, and how they react to things they don't really understand. Christer Lender has several surprises for the reader during this arc, letting you with your mouth open several times and hooking you to the book.
I absolutely loved the experience of reading the Beast Hunters. I think there is so much potential in this world, and in our group of characters, which I hope gets developed more in future books. It's a really solid debut, my only complain with it is the length, as it is a short book in my opinion; and totally a recommendation for those The Witcher fans, because the vibes are totally there. Seriously, great job!
The Beast Hunters is the first book in a dark fantasy saga, written by Christer Lender. I'm really glad to have found this book, and to pick it by the cover, because it hasn't let me down, being absolutely amazing (I only have one complaint: it's too short), a novel that I would define as The Witcher meets Sherlock Holmes. There are so many things to love on these pages, to be fair.
This book follows the story of Ara, a 17-years-old girl, who lives with her family, suffering due to the contempt of his father (who evens hit her regularly), and whose life changes as she sees how her family gets brutally murdered before her eyes; and honestly, she's saved just by the pure luck of two strangers who work as Beast Hunters, and she becomes (sort of) her apprentice. Personally, this whole first scene for me it's an intention declaration by Christer Lende, letting clear that we are in a dark fantasy novel, in a hard world. And after this, the real story starts, an adventure full of mysteries, found family, and action.
There is great work behind the characters in this story, especially on the group that gets formed between Ara and the Beast Hunters. Particularly, I would like to stop to highlight how certain themes are touched with the character of Ara; she's somebody that hasn't gotten appreciation from her family, her self-esteem is non-existent at the moment she is adopted by Topper and Khendrick; and her progression as a character with the help of the Hunters is well crafted, feeling really natural. Khendrick is also a particular kind of character, somebody who has been forged due to his years traveling as Beast Hunter, and with an excellent capability of observation (which is partly why I get those big Sherlock vibes, as that kind of eidetic memory is shared with the Conan Doyle's character); and Topper, well, it's Topper. It's delightful to see the training and learning arc of Ara with these two, meanwhile, their bonds strengthen.
The worldbuilding is also excellent, something impressive with the short length of the book. There are plenty of fantastical creatures presented, sometimes with entries in the book they maintain as a compendium of their knowledge, sometimes by fighting with them. During their adventure in the city, we can also experiment with the multiple faces of people, and how they react to things they don't really understand. Christer Lender has several surprises for the reader during this arc, letting you with your mouth open several times and hooking you to the book.
I absolutely loved the experience of reading the Beast Hunters. I think there is so much potential in this world, and in our group of characters, which I hope gets developed more in future books. It's a really solid debut, my only complain with it is the length, as it is a short book in my opinion; and totally a recommendation for those The Witcher fans, because the vibes are totally there. Seriously, great job!
January 8, 2024
2.5 Stars
For the full review, check out: https://medium.com/@kemerysjourneythr...
What's the story about: The Beast Hunters follows the protagonist, Ara, who is the story's only POV, and two experienced beast hunters as they solve a mystery plaguing a small town. Ara is swept up into their adventure across the land, becomes an apprentice beast hunter herself, and must contend with monsters and vile humans alike.
The Beast Hunters is a fun and straightforward adventure tale of a young woman out to find a purpose for herself after tragedy ends what life she thought she was destined for. The best aspects of the story are the worldbuilding, the interestingly unique beasts, the missions that the characters embark on, and the action and tension that keep it all together are executed effectively. Also, all of the threads that are opened are generally resolved by the end of the story, which was pleasantly surprising and satisfying since this was the first book in the series. On the flip side, the dialogue is often rough, forced, and ill-fitting, the characters don't feel fleshed out (with a few exceptions), and combining these two aspects makes for a lot of melodramatic situations that stunted the progression. While I didn't love the character work, I enjoyed what they were doing as surrogates to hear about their exploits and travels. I think if the dialogue and character development improved, this would be a great story and would be admirably close to The Witcher in terms of quality storytelling.
For the full review, check out: https://medium.com/@kemerysjourneythr...
What's the story about: The Beast Hunters follows the protagonist, Ara, who is the story's only POV, and two experienced beast hunters as they solve a mystery plaguing a small town. Ara is swept up into their adventure across the land, becomes an apprentice beast hunter herself, and must contend with monsters and vile humans alike.
The Beast Hunters is a fun and straightforward adventure tale of a young woman out to find a purpose for herself after tragedy ends what life she thought she was destined for. The best aspects of the story are the worldbuilding, the interestingly unique beasts, the missions that the characters embark on, and the action and tension that keep it all together are executed effectively. Also, all of the threads that are opened are generally resolved by the end of the story, which was pleasantly surprising and satisfying since this was the first book in the series. On the flip side, the dialogue is often rough, forced, and ill-fitting, the characters don't feel fleshed out (with a few exceptions), and combining these two aspects makes for a lot of melodramatic situations that stunted the progression. While I didn't love the character work, I enjoyed what they were doing as surrogates to hear about their exploits and travels. I think if the dialogue and character development improved, this would be a great story and would be admirably close to The Witcher in terms of quality storytelling.
March 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this story. I immediately felt for the MC. She's not had an easy start in life and doesn't really know what family is.. or what it is like to have someone really care for her wellbeing until she meets thes too unusual men!
I don't want to spoil anything by saying much more than that but found family is a trope that I love when done well and it definitely pulled at my heartstrings!!
I can't believe this is just a debut.. I am looking forward to seeing what comes next for these characters!
I don't want to spoil anything by saying much more than that but found family is a trope that I love when done well and it definitely pulled at my heartstrings!!
I can't believe this is just a debut.. I am looking forward to seeing what comes next for these characters!
November 17, 2021
TW: Physical and mental abuse, gore
Holy shit. This was amazing. If you like stories with fantastical beasts, mysteries and well developed characters. This one is for you!
This book follows Ara, a young woman who gets her whole life turned upside down and find herself on a journey with two beast hunters. She must learn, and do so quickly, in order to help solve a mystery.
There's a lot I loved in this book, so let's start with the basics. The world was well built up, without getting overly detailed. We're introduced to the different beasts over a long period of time and in an organic way. It doesn't get overwhelming yet manages to keep adding layers to the world. The characters are well written, to the point where they seemed real. They all had depth, had distinct voices and stayed believable throughout the book. The pacing of the book was great. There's action from the very beginning, then keeps slowing up and down throughout the book. There was always that intrigue that makes you want to keep reading, pared with a good balance of action and slower scenes.
The plot of the book was, in my opinion, just amazing. We get presented with a mystery and just enough information to make you try and solve it yourself, never making anything to easy. Just giving you that little something, to make you question things yourself, and having a hard time putting the book down, because you simply need to know. The beasts are original and diverse, with some unique takes on beasts you might have heard of before.
One thing I'd like to mention is how the topic of abuse was handled. Everyone's experience is different and I can only speak from my own. I felt like it was handled in a very good way. Meaning it wasn't used simply as a plot devise or used as a trope. The abuser isn't made out to be some inhuman monster, but someone who could be a friend, relative or neighbor, like most abusers are. The victim is written with what I felt was genuine understanding of the world they live in. It includes the aftermath and how it changes their way of thinking. It's not magically fixed or gone. This is something I unfortunately see mishandled in a lot of books, and I wanted to include how I think it was handled in this one.
Another thing I really loved was that even though this is book 1 in a trilogy, it gives you answers. There's still things I want to know, but I felt satisfied whit how it ended. Still very much need to continue this series as soon as possible!!
All in all an amazing book I highly recommend. It's become an instant favorite of mine and I think it's gonna be one a lot of people love. Give it a try!
Holy shit. This was amazing. If you like stories with fantastical beasts, mysteries and well developed characters. This one is for you!
This book follows Ara, a young woman who gets her whole life turned upside down and find herself on a journey with two beast hunters. She must learn, and do so quickly, in order to help solve a mystery.
There's a lot I loved in this book, so let's start with the basics. The world was well built up, without getting overly detailed. We're introduced to the different beasts over a long period of time and in an organic way. It doesn't get overwhelming yet manages to keep adding layers to the world. The characters are well written, to the point where they seemed real. They all had depth, had distinct voices and stayed believable throughout the book. The pacing of the book was great. There's action from the very beginning, then keeps slowing up and down throughout the book. There was always that intrigue that makes you want to keep reading, pared with a good balance of action and slower scenes.
The plot of the book was, in my opinion, just amazing. We get presented with a mystery and just enough information to make you try and solve it yourself, never making anything to easy. Just giving you that little something, to make you question things yourself, and having a hard time putting the book down, because you simply need to know. The beasts are original and diverse, with some unique takes on beasts you might have heard of before.
One thing I'd like to mention is how the topic of abuse was handled. Everyone's experience is different and I can only speak from my own. I felt like it was handled in a very good way. Meaning it wasn't used simply as a plot devise or used as a trope. The abuser isn't made out to be some inhuman monster, but someone who could be a friend, relative or neighbor, like most abusers are. The victim is written with what I felt was genuine understanding of the world they live in. It includes the aftermath and how it changes their way of thinking. It's not magically fixed or gone. This is something I unfortunately see mishandled in a lot of books, and I wanted to include how I think it was handled in this one.
Another thing I really loved was that even though this is book 1 in a trilogy, it gives you answers. There's still things I want to know, but I felt satisfied whit how it ended. Still very much need to continue this series as soon as possible!!
All in all an amazing book I highly recommend. It's become an instant favorite of mine and I think it's gonna be one a lot of people love. Give it a try!
October 31, 2022
A young woman’s life is turned upside down after her parents gruesome deaths. Hunting the monsters who plague the land her desire. The legendary Beast Hunters have a new apprentice. Badass & non stop! Great stuff!
December 3, 2022
This was one of those books I can see myself reading/listening to many times. It was a very enjoyable ride (at times a roller coaster ride). Listening to the story I could picture myself there. Looking forward to reading the 2nd book.
January 10, 2023
4.5 stars
I hope this will be the beginning of a longer series! Very short book, but packs in the action, with several intense scenes!
Only gripe was the main character not picking up on a lot of VERY obvious clues to a "reveal".
Otherwise loved it. Great trip of characters, great creatures, and good plot!
Congratulations to the author on being shortlisted for the Chimera Fantasy Awards.
I hope this will be the beginning of a longer series! Very short book, but packs in the action, with several intense scenes!
Only gripe was the main character not picking up on a lot of VERY obvious clues to a "reveal".
Otherwise loved it. Great trip of characters, great creatures, and good plot!
Congratulations to the author on being shortlisted for the Chimera Fantasy Awards.
January 18, 2022
I first want to thank Kay Kett from Literallypr, otherwise I might have missed out on reading this. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more beast hunter action. I liked that I got to read Ara’s introduction to Khendric andTopper from her perspective, even tho I had read about it in The Dollmaker of Kalastra. The characters are great, world building is good and storyline stays interesting, and Lende was not afraid to step out of the norm with completely unique “beasts “. I do feel that this could have been longer so Ara’s …to avoid spoilers I will just say growth might not have been so abrupt, considering her background and not only the time but intensity of her situation. Still I definitely look forward to more. I did recieve an ARC copy
October 31, 2022
Totally amazing and creepy, this author rolled up his sleeves and produced a novel that begs you to read (and repeat). Awesome storytelling! Kudos, MR. LENDE!
November 6, 2025
7/10
Short and sweet. Prose and themes are very YA and kinda simplistic, but at the same time everything is very brutal, so I’m kinda confused.
Short and sweet. Prose and themes are very YA and kinda simplistic, but at the same time everything is very brutal, so I’m kinda confused.
January 1, 2024
The story was good and I like the pacing and the atmosphere. But the writing was very basic and choppy and reminded me more of a middle grade style book, which it absolutely isn’t as it contains some gore and such. There was no flow in the writing and a lot of the dialogue fell flat and felt very unnatural.
February 18, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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This was a delightful read! I went into this expecting a dizzying variety of majestic creatures and was not disappointed!
I also liked how there were numerous hints alluding to Ara's childhood in the slum but it would have been better if similar attention was given to her development from a mistrustful person to the typical YA fantasy heroine. It felt a bit too sudden and could have been handled more gradually.
The Beast Hunters also lacks the typical YA tropes and is quite a gory read, both of which make it enjoyable for an older audience too.
Lastly, I would absolutely love to see illustrations of the beasts in this story and the ones mentioned in the Red Book of Creatures.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars
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This was a delightful read! I went into this expecting a dizzying variety of majestic creatures and was not disappointed!
I also liked how there were numerous hints alluding to Ara's childhood in the slum but it would have been better if similar attention was given to her development from a mistrustful person to the typical YA fantasy heroine. It felt a bit too sudden and could have been handled more gradually.
The Beast Hunters also lacks the typical YA tropes and is quite a gory read, both of which make it enjoyable for an older audience too.
Lastly, I would absolutely love to see illustrations of the beasts in this story and the ones mentioned in the Red Book of Creatures.
Overall rating: 4/5 stars
January 7, 2022
Dette var en vanskelig bok å lese.
Mye av problemet er at den føltes merkelig i setningsoppbygging. Tror den kunne blitt mye bedre på norsk.
Tempo var og ujevnt - det går veldig fort i svingene i begynnelsen og jeg føler jeg sitter igjen med en hovedperson som manglet oppbygging.
Normalt sett ville dette vært helt i min gate med tanke på sjanger og tema lik mange andre bøker jeg leser.
Men ble dratt inn av en haug med rykende omtaler som jeg nå ikke helt skjønner mye av.
Ser potensiale i forfatteren i en start på god verdensbygging. Men språklig så ble det ikke god lesing på engelsk..
Mye av problemet er at den føltes merkelig i setningsoppbygging. Tror den kunne blitt mye bedre på norsk.
Tempo var og ujevnt - det går veldig fort i svingene i begynnelsen og jeg føler jeg sitter igjen med en hovedperson som manglet oppbygging.
Normalt sett ville dette vært helt i min gate med tanke på sjanger og tema lik mange andre bøker jeg leser.
Men ble dratt inn av en haug med rykende omtaler som jeg nå ikke helt skjønner mye av.
Ser potensiale i forfatteren i en start på god verdensbygging. Men språklig så ble det ikke god lesing på engelsk..
January 24, 2022
Superb book! Kinda has a Fantastic Beast's feel, but rather than saving misunderstood creatures, our characters are hunting them to save people.
I absolutely adore the growth of Ara. Christer Lende did a wonderful job of bringing her to life and making her, as well as the other characters, feel real. I cannot wait to see what comes next!!
I absolutely adore the growth of Ara. Christer Lende did a wonderful job of bringing her to life and making her, as well as the other characters, feel real. I cannot wait to see what comes next!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2023
The Beast Hunters is one of those rare but fantastic Fantasy novels that can be enjoyed by anyone. I cannot tell you how many times I thought, “OMG! This book is GREAT! Hans (my husband) and Garion (my 11 year old son) need to read this! They would love it!” There are just so many amazing and wonderful aspects to this story. There are a ton of crazy cool creatures/beast, enough death and fighting to intrigue those readers who enjoy action and battles, but the overall tone of the story is light enough to avoid extreme amounts of angst or anxiety. I absolutely adore how Lende was able to incorporate certain types of storylines, for example abuse victim mentality, but was able to portray it in a way that was both completely believable and yet extremely relatable. The mental battles, as well as, the physical battles the characters wage in this story are excellently written and I appreciated how well done it was.
At 17, Ara spends her days doing chores, running errands and taking mental, as well as, physical blows from her father. After a tragic accident some years before, her parents and her life have never been the same. But when a vicious beast attacks her home, leaving both her parents dead, Ara finds herself being rescued by two friendly, but extremely strange men. They call themselves Beast Hunters and Ara finds herself being drawn into their world of crazy beast and unimaginable creatures. Now she must decide whether to become their newest apprentice or search for a new life somewhere else. But as strange happenings and vicious murders begin to take place around them Ara realizes her decision may be made for her.
The two Beast Hunters were perfectly written! They were extremely compassionate (and if you know me at all you know I enjoy a well written compassionate character). But they were also fierce and knowledgeable and able to take on the wickedest of foes. I, also, really really enjoyed Ara. Her mental battles where extremely well written and believable and I loved how Lende was able to portray that aspect of her personality without causing the reader tons of anxiety. He wrote her extremely strong, compassionate, and overall very relatable.
Another thing I found extremely enjoyable in this book were the acknowledgments before the book started (which I found beyond hilarious…how do I get my name among them?! Lol) and the Beastiary at the end of the book that served as a glossary of the different types of beast. Both added some fun and interesting aspects to the book, other than the story itself. So don’t miss out on exploring either one!!!
So if you love a fabulous story with a ton of cool beasts and creatures to discover, enough battles and danger to intrigue any reader, amazing characters that were compassionate, honorable, and loyal, enough mystery and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat and searching for the next great secret, and is perfect for any reader of almost any age or gender, than you Simply MUST Read The Beast Hunters!
At 17, Ara spends her days doing chores, running errands and taking mental, as well as, physical blows from her father. After a tragic accident some years before, her parents and her life have never been the same. But when a vicious beast attacks her home, leaving both her parents dead, Ara finds herself being rescued by two friendly, but extremely strange men. They call themselves Beast Hunters and Ara finds herself being drawn into their world of crazy beast and unimaginable creatures. Now she must decide whether to become their newest apprentice or search for a new life somewhere else. But as strange happenings and vicious murders begin to take place around them Ara realizes her decision may be made for her.
The two Beast Hunters were perfectly written! They were extremely compassionate (and if you know me at all you know I enjoy a well written compassionate character). But they were also fierce and knowledgeable and able to take on the wickedest of foes. I, also, really really enjoyed Ara. Her mental battles where extremely well written and believable and I loved how Lende was able to portray that aspect of her personality without causing the reader tons of anxiety. He wrote her extremely strong, compassionate, and overall very relatable.
Another thing I found extremely enjoyable in this book were the acknowledgments before the book started (which I found beyond hilarious…how do I get my name among them?! Lol) and the Beastiary at the end of the book that served as a glossary of the different types of beast. Both added some fun and interesting aspects to the book, other than the story itself. So don’t miss out on exploring either one!!!
So if you love a fabulous story with a ton of cool beasts and creatures to discover, enough battles and danger to intrigue any reader, amazing characters that were compassionate, honorable, and loyal, enough mystery and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat and searching for the next great secret, and is perfect for any reader of almost any age or gender, than you Simply MUST Read The Beast Hunters!
March 22, 2022
Rating: 3.5 Stars
I was granted complimentary audiobook access to The Beast Hunters by Christer Lende via the Authors Direct platform as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Audiobookworm Promotions. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
The Beast Hunters is a quick read featuring a teenaged main character in a fantasy world full of very real monsters of all shapes and sizes. Ara's parents are gruesomely slaughtered by a monster that invaded their house, but Ara herself is saved by the band of beast hunters who slay this creature before it kills her as well, and she tags along with the crew. Learning everything she can about monsters and how to kill them, Ara forms a found-family sort of bond with this unlikely gang of outcasts and builds a brighter future for herself in the fallout of tragedy.
Overall this is a fun read with a lot of unique monsters and great one liners. I loved all of the key characters, but it took a while to warm up to them. Everyone felt quite flat at first, and I really can't pinpoint when they elvoved into well-rounded characters, but at some point in the second half I realized that I suddenly had a connection to them.
I've noticed that a couple of other reviewers complained that the dialogue is too modern for the setting, but this is high fantasy, so anything goes. Most high fantasy worlds are built on the blueprint of medieval Europe, but that doesn't mean the people of this world are at a medieval ages point in their own timeline. Plus, it's very much a YA title. I think the modern dialogue can be forgiven!
I was struck by how gruesome this book can get at points, though. We open with quite a bit of body horror as a beast kills Ara's family. We get hints that her sister died in an equally horrible way and later on Ara has a very graphic vision of that memory. Besides these scenes, the book she's reading to get caught up on all the beast hunter required knowledge spares no details in terms of how all of these creatures kill. On one hand, the amount of world-building information crammed into this story and conveniently dolled out by way of Ara's little textbook is fascinating and the delivery is clever. On the other hand, the gory details really didn't seem to fit the tone of the book overall.
I reviewed an audiobook copy, so I must also comment on the narration. The audiobook narrator is Jonathan Johns, a new narrator to me but an accomplished one according to Audible. Overall the narrative performance was good. It was easy to listen to and keep characters straight. This certainly wasn't my favourite audiobook performance, though. Some passages felt quite dry and the different voices performed for some characters were annoying and distracting. (Ara frequently sounded like an out of breath old man.) I think it would have been better if every character had the narrator's natural speaking voice.
I was granted complimentary audiobook access to The Beast Hunters by Christer Lende via the Authors Direct platform as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Audiobookworm Promotions. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
The Beast Hunters is a quick read featuring a teenaged main character in a fantasy world full of very real monsters of all shapes and sizes. Ara's parents are gruesomely slaughtered by a monster that invaded their house, but Ara herself is saved by the band of beast hunters who slay this creature before it kills her as well, and she tags along with the crew. Learning everything she can about monsters and how to kill them, Ara forms a found-family sort of bond with this unlikely gang of outcasts and builds a brighter future for herself in the fallout of tragedy.
Overall this is a fun read with a lot of unique monsters and great one liners. I loved all of the key characters, but it took a while to warm up to them. Everyone felt quite flat at first, and I really can't pinpoint when they elvoved into well-rounded characters, but at some point in the second half I realized that I suddenly had a connection to them.
I've noticed that a couple of other reviewers complained that the dialogue is too modern for the setting, but this is high fantasy, so anything goes. Most high fantasy worlds are built on the blueprint of medieval Europe, but that doesn't mean the people of this world are at a medieval ages point in their own timeline. Plus, it's very much a YA title. I think the modern dialogue can be forgiven!
I was struck by how gruesome this book can get at points, though. We open with quite a bit of body horror as a beast kills Ara's family. We get hints that her sister died in an equally horrible way and later on Ara has a very graphic vision of that memory. Besides these scenes, the book she's reading to get caught up on all the beast hunter required knowledge spares no details in terms of how all of these creatures kill. On one hand, the amount of world-building information crammed into this story and conveniently dolled out by way of Ara's little textbook is fascinating and the delivery is clever. On the other hand, the gory details really didn't seem to fit the tone of the book overall.
I reviewed an audiobook copy, so I must also comment on the narration. The audiobook narrator is Jonathan Johns, a new narrator to me but an accomplished one according to Audible. Overall the narrative performance was good. It was easy to listen to and keep characters straight. This certainly wasn't my favourite audiobook performance, though. Some passages felt quite dry and the different voices performed for some characters were annoying and distracting. (Ara frequently sounded like an out of breath old man.) I think it would have been better if every character had the narrator's natural speaking voice.
March 25, 2022
*Thank you **Netgalley** for the free copy and **Literally PR** for reaching back out to me after the archive date.*
Rating: 3.5 Stars♡
Coming from a reader who enjoys all things to do with mystical beings/creatures this was such an interesting read. I loved how we received page-long descriptions of certain creatures and the book even ended on more creature commentary. I can tell that the author really took his time to think about these beings and this really helps set the tone for the book.
In this book were following Ara, who ends up in a life-threatening situation until two beast hunters rescue her. She then finds herself traveling with these two hunters, Khendric and Topper. On her own personal journey of self-discovery, she embarks on taking down a mystery with the two hunters and battling her past.
The beginning of the book was definitely a shock as to how cruel her father was to her. The family dynamic as a whole was very toxic and Ara found herself taking the blame for everything. Her father diminished her being down to somewhat of a means to an end for labor. Ara drowning in sorrow and guilt loses her ability to effectively think for herself and loses a bit of herself as well. During her traveling, she would hesitate to ask for things with the fear of being reprimanded, she didn't want to be too much of a burden. Throughout the book, Ara would move about and shoulder things she didn't have to. I liked seeing her character development throughout the book, good for her♡
The world-building was lovely and with all the unique creatures it made going through the book so pleasant. Although, I do wish the book was more spaced out if that makes sense. I think this book could have really benefited more from maybe 100 or 150 more pages. We could have taken more time to develop relationships between the characters or even have them go through more challenging events together. At times, the book felt rushed and that knocked my rating down, I'm all for a good journey/quest trope. But I will hand it to Christer Lende for packing so much into a book that is a little over 200 pages, it just felt a bit rushed. But when CL continues to further the series, this book is a solid first installment and I would love to read about the characters and be back in the world again.
***Side notes:***
I would love for the author to maybe publish an actual “red book” to be a companion to the other potential books in the series. I think that would be really cool 🙂 referencing this book while reading the other installments.
I really loved Topper’s plot twist, I think that could have been something that was expanded on a bit. Honestly, maybe even a novella or a chapter with his POV about his backstory if there is one, would be nice. I don't know but I just find his plot twist so fascinating. Topper is able to die but wakes up a few hours later in a new body with a small reminiscence of the previous life but with the “new persons” personality, like what?? That's so creative and adds a fresh dynamic to the group.
***Favorite beast mentioned:*** The Vengeful Remnant <3
Rating: 3.5 Stars♡
Coming from a reader who enjoys all things to do with mystical beings/creatures this was such an interesting read. I loved how we received page-long descriptions of certain creatures and the book even ended on more creature commentary. I can tell that the author really took his time to think about these beings and this really helps set the tone for the book.
In this book were following Ara, who ends up in a life-threatening situation until two beast hunters rescue her. She then finds herself traveling with these two hunters, Khendric and Topper. On her own personal journey of self-discovery, she embarks on taking down a mystery with the two hunters and battling her past.
The beginning of the book was definitely a shock as to how cruel her father was to her. The family dynamic as a whole was very toxic and Ara found herself taking the blame for everything. Her father diminished her being down to somewhat of a means to an end for labor. Ara drowning in sorrow and guilt loses her ability to effectively think for herself and loses a bit of herself as well. During her traveling, she would hesitate to ask for things with the fear of being reprimanded, she didn't want to be too much of a burden. Throughout the book, Ara would move about and shoulder things she didn't have to. I liked seeing her character development throughout the book, good for her♡
The world-building was lovely and with all the unique creatures it made going through the book so pleasant. Although, I do wish the book was more spaced out if that makes sense. I think this book could have really benefited more from maybe 100 or 150 more pages. We could have taken more time to develop relationships between the characters or even have them go through more challenging events together. At times, the book felt rushed and that knocked my rating down, I'm all for a good journey/quest trope. But I will hand it to Christer Lende for packing so much into a book that is a little over 200 pages, it just felt a bit rushed. But when CL continues to further the series, this book is a solid first installment and I would love to read about the characters and be back in the world again.
***Side notes:***
I would love for the author to maybe publish an actual “red book” to be a companion to the other potential books in the series. I think that would be really cool 🙂 referencing this book while reading the other installments.
I really loved Topper’s plot twist, I think that could have been something that was expanded on a bit. Honestly, maybe even a novella or a chapter with his POV about his backstory if there is one, would be nice. I don't know but I just find his plot twist so fascinating. Topper is able to die but wakes up a few hours later in a new body with a small reminiscence of the previous life but with the “new persons” personality, like what?? That's so creative and adds a fresh dynamic to the group.
***Favorite beast mentioned:*** The Vengeful Remnant <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2021
This is a tale of fighting for what is right, making new friends and family as well as fighting off terrifying beasts along the way. The fact that there is almost an encyclopaedia of each monster that they encounter shows how much Lende has thought into this world. How this is only one book intrigues me to see what else can be found in this beast-hunting universe.
We find Ara at first who clearly at the beginning is struggling with the past and how this has affected her life, soon blossom into a confident young woman who strives to help and make sure the group is doing the right thing. She has lovely character development which would be interesting to see what sort of person she will become throughout all their adventures.
I loved how beast hunting is not something that is purely fantastical in the way that they simply just figure out what is going on, there is logic and research and new discoveries that they haven't yet come across. It's realistic in the way that we can see how they finally get the answer they need.
The beast-hunting team were a great match together. They all had their own qualities that I found to be fascinating and complemented one another. No one is really greater than the other. They all brought their own skills and theories to the team. They made their own mark. No one was overshadowed.
I really cannot recommend this book enough. It truly is a triumph. I'm truly invested in this story and it's characters and I think that you all could be the same.
Thank you to LiterallyPR for the proof copy to review this book.
We find Ara at first who clearly at the beginning is struggling with the past and how this has affected her life, soon blossom into a confident young woman who strives to help and make sure the group is doing the right thing. She has lovely character development which would be interesting to see what sort of person she will become throughout all their adventures.
I loved how beast hunting is not something that is purely fantastical in the way that they simply just figure out what is going on, there is logic and research and new discoveries that they haven't yet come across. It's realistic in the way that we can see how they finally get the answer they need.
The beast-hunting team were a great match together. They all had their own qualities that I found to be fascinating and complemented one another. No one is really greater than the other. They all brought their own skills and theories to the team. They made their own mark. No one was overshadowed.
I really cannot recommend this book enough. It truly is a triumph. I'm truly invested in this story and it's characters and I think that you all could be the same.
Thank you to LiterallyPR for the proof copy to review this book.
November 25, 2021
Wow, what an amazing debut novel! Christer has created an intricate and detailed world, filled with mystery and wonder.
I was expecting The Beast Hunters to feature the usual werewolves and vampires. Instead, there is a huge indepth bestiary included with this book, including ruras, varghuls and rabdogs. The only mythological being I was familiar with was dwarves, and Christer has given those his own twist. There were some great extra touches, such as how the beast hunters set up traps so they aren't attacked by beasts in the night, and the bestiary is included in the back of the book. I loved learning about all the different beasts and it really made the world come alive.
The characters are really interesting and memorable. Khendric and Topper are really funny, and their jokes and banter really made it seem like they were old friends. I thought that Ara was especially well written. Her abusive past is well handled and sensitively done. Her thoughts and worries felt realistic, such as her nervousness and distrust of Khendric and Topper at first.
The story is quite fast-paced but was great fun to read, keeping me on my toes throughout the book. I really enjoyed it, and at 206 pages, it didn't take me too long to whizz through! I can't wait for the next book in the series!
I was expecting The Beast Hunters to feature the usual werewolves and vampires. Instead, there is a huge indepth bestiary included with this book, including ruras, varghuls and rabdogs. The only mythological being I was familiar with was dwarves, and Christer has given those his own twist. There were some great extra touches, such as how the beast hunters set up traps so they aren't attacked by beasts in the night, and the bestiary is included in the back of the book. I loved learning about all the different beasts and it really made the world come alive.
The characters are really interesting and memorable. Khendric and Topper are really funny, and their jokes and banter really made it seem like they were old friends. I thought that Ara was especially well written. Her abusive past is well handled and sensitively done. Her thoughts and worries felt realistic, such as her nervousness and distrust of Khendric and Topper at first.
The story is quite fast-paced but was great fun to read, keeping me on my toes throughout the book. I really enjoyed it, and at 206 pages, it didn't take me too long to whizz through! I can't wait for the next book in the series!
March 7, 2022
3,5 stars for The Beast Hunters
Disclaimer, the book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review (#arc)
My first impressions are that this is a good debut novel with a fast paced plot that will fit good for a younger audience. What I do like about The Beast Hunters is that it has a good premises, the plot flows naturally as you follow Ara and her beast hunters to the next village.
I also do have a soft spot for descriptions of monsters and how they are viewed by their peers. I became fond of particularly one chapter, as its where Ara truly shows her growth. There is also this feeling and hints about what this story can become, which I really do like in fantasy books. Sort of pawing the way for the story. (Edit: I just saw that it is book 1 of a series)
When it comes to what pulls this book a little down for me its more about how the characters feel a little flat. It took time to feel connected to them. For short novel I am in need of connecting right away. There is a particular scene that would’ve had more of an impact if the connection gad been established a bit earlier. If that would've been established earlier I think that it would have had its desired effect on the reader.
However, it was an enjoyable read and I did read it really quickly myself. I would recommend this book for a younger audience, maybe those who are just testing out fantasy to see if they like it, or maybe the ones who are reading in English for the first time. You will not be bored! If you are like me and like descriptions of monsters and beast, there is a nice addition of that at the very end.
Thanks again to the author for letting me read his work!
Disclaimer, the book was gifted to me by the author in exchange for an honest review (#arc)
My first impressions are that this is a good debut novel with a fast paced plot that will fit good for a younger audience. What I do like about The Beast Hunters is that it has a good premises, the plot flows naturally as you follow Ara and her beast hunters to the next village.
I also do have a soft spot for descriptions of monsters and how they are viewed by their peers. I became fond of particularly one chapter, as its where Ara truly shows her growth. There is also this feeling and hints about what this story can become, which I really do like in fantasy books. Sort of pawing the way for the story. (Edit: I just saw that it is book 1 of a series)
When it comes to what pulls this book a little down for me its more about how the characters feel a little flat. It took time to feel connected to them. For short novel I am in need of connecting right away. There is a particular scene that would’ve had more of an impact if the connection gad been established a bit earlier. If that would've been established earlier I think that it would have had its desired effect on the reader.
However, it was an enjoyable read and I did read it really quickly myself. I would recommend this book for a younger audience, maybe those who are just testing out fantasy to see if they like it, or maybe the ones who are reading in English for the first time. You will not be bored! If you are like me and like descriptions of monsters and beast, there is a nice addition of that at the very end.
Thanks again to the author for letting me read his work!
November 30, 2021
I received The Beast Hunters by Christer Lende for free in exchange for an honest review as part of a blog tour organised by Literally PR. Thank you so much for having me on the tour!
The Beast Hunters follows our protagonist Ara as she is rescued by two beast hunters and joins them on their journey learning their craft the way. The story starts with a burst of action that grips your attention and continues with immersive worldbuilding and interesting monsters! I really enjoyed getting to know more about this world alongside Ara. It was so rich with detail and flowed so well - I finished the book in one sitting! Plus, I thought the bestiary at the end was a really nice touch!
I loved the characters, I thought they all had really good chemistry with each other and I love how they made their own little ‘found family.’ I also really liked seeing Ara’s confidence and personality shine through in the story, she was a great and engaging main character. I also want to quickly appreciate how gorgeous the cover is because I am obsessed!
The Beast Hunters is a brilliant story full of adventure, mystery and friendship perfect for fans of The Witcher. I’m so excited to read more from Christer Lende!
The Beast Hunters follows our protagonist Ara as she is rescued by two beast hunters and joins them on their journey learning their craft the way. The story starts with a burst of action that grips your attention and continues with immersive worldbuilding and interesting monsters! I really enjoyed getting to know more about this world alongside Ara. It was so rich with detail and flowed so well - I finished the book in one sitting! Plus, I thought the bestiary at the end was a really nice touch!
I loved the characters, I thought they all had really good chemistry with each other and I love how they made their own little ‘found family.’ I also really liked seeing Ara’s confidence and personality shine through in the story, she was a great and engaging main character. I also want to quickly appreciate how gorgeous the cover is because I am obsessed!
The Beast Hunters is a brilliant story full of adventure, mystery and friendship perfect for fans of The Witcher. I’m so excited to read more from Christer Lende!
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