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Kat Drummond #1–10 omnibus
Kat Drummond Ten Book Box Set: A Monster Hunter Urban Fantasy Series
I was orphaned and left for dead…
Until a ghost found me and taught me to slay monsters.
My name is Kat Drummond. Part-Time Monster Hunter. Full time badass. After watching a necromancer dissect my parents, I swore vengeance against the undead and the maniacs who bring them into this world.
But hunting monsters isn’t easy. Especially in Hope City. The city at the end of this magical, monster-filled world.
Lucky for me, I’ve got a ghost from another world here to train me.
He’s got a bone to pick with the undead just as much as I do. Together, we’ll become the greatest monster hunters Hope City has ever seen.
There’s a new necromancer on the block, and an army of undead monstrosities at his command. This could be my shot at entering the big leagues.
Or wind up a walking corpse.
Join Kat Drummond, Treth and the crew as they battle for the survival of Hope City and the world. This ten-book bundle
Part-Time Monster HunterBlood CartelDevil’s GambitNecrolordDarkness BeckonsLost HuntressDead WorldSilver BrotherhoodThe Fae HuntDark OrderDiscover why readers around the globe rave about the Kat Drummond series, describing it as "the perfect blend of the open world of the Witcher, the immersive world-building of Tolkien, and the thrilling firefights of Harry Dresden."
With its mix of excitement, humour, and a touch of romance, this series promises an unforgettable journey into a world where every shadow hides a new danger and every victory comes at a price.
Until a ghost found me and taught me to slay monsters.
My name is Kat Drummond. Part-Time Monster Hunter. Full time badass. After watching a necromancer dissect my parents, I swore vengeance against the undead and the maniacs who bring them into this world.
But hunting monsters isn’t easy. Especially in Hope City. The city at the end of this magical, monster-filled world.
Lucky for me, I’ve got a ghost from another world here to train me.
He’s got a bone to pick with the undead just as much as I do. Together, we’ll become the greatest monster hunters Hope City has ever seen.
There’s a new necromancer on the block, and an army of undead monstrosities at his command. This could be my shot at entering the big leagues.
Or wind up a walking corpse.
Join Kat Drummond, Treth and the crew as they battle for the survival of Hope City and the world. This ten-book bundle
Part-Time Monster HunterBlood CartelDevil’s GambitNecrolordDarkness BeckonsLost HuntressDead WorldSilver BrotherhoodThe Fae HuntDark OrderDiscover why readers around the globe rave about the Kat Drummond series, describing it as "the perfect blend of the open world of the Witcher, the immersive world-building of Tolkien, and the thrilling firefights of Harry Dresden."
With its mix of excitement, humour, and a touch of romance, this series promises an unforgettable journey into a world where every shadow hides a new danger and every victory comes at a price.
2229 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2024
969 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Woode-Smith
158 books157 followersNicholas Woode-Smith is a fantasy and science fiction author from Cape Town, South Africa. He has been writing since the age of twelve, writing short stories, novels, and RPG campaigns. In 2013, he published his first book, Fall of Zona Nox. Five years later, he published it again after greatly improving his skills.
Since then, he’s written dozens of books in the urban fantasy and sci-fi genre. Notably, the best-selling urban fantasy series, Kat Drummond.
Nicholas has a degree majoring in economic history and philosophy, and minors in political science, international relations, and English literature from the University of Cape Town. He has been involved in politics, civic activism, and political analysis since 2014.
Since then, he’s written dozens of books in the urban fantasy and sci-fi genre. Notably, the best-selling urban fantasy series, Kat Drummond.
Nicholas has a degree majoring in economic history and philosophy, and minors in political science, international relations, and English literature from the University of Cape Town. He has been involved in politics, civic activism, and political analysis since 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 7, 2024
“When faced with world-shattering change, try to remain calm and positive. If nothing else, that optimism is all you have left.”
“Through Light, we banish the Dark.”
Fighting monsters, saving lives, losing friends, experiencing betrayals, being sucked through rifts and dragged through the In Between..no wonder Kat thinks the Universe hates her. What a horrific life! “I’m glad you’re here with me, Treth.”These words comforted me as well, seeing Kat so alone on an “alien” world was depressing and heartbreaking, with many lump-in-throat moments. A tearful and at once heart warming story, bringing hope to a people, to see their faces illuminate, adds to our own positive thinking, contributing with strength and optimism. The thrilling and nervous anticipation before a battle is so vivid I could feel it in my person. Woode-Smith’s writing is relentless and full of creativeness. There were times I was tempted to jump some scenes because of their fierce moments, to not feel the despair, the suffering and the losses of such humble and resilient people, of peasants and survivors turned soldiers. A moment to be proud of, saving what humanity is left on the world. At the end, I couldn’t contain myself, felt the hurt, the temptation to abandon to one’s fate, to see the futility of an uncertain and frightening future, resign.. That’s how realistically Nicholas writes, with emotion.
What a passionate and exciting series! I may be a masochist, but I won’t abandon hope.
I’ve come a long way with Kat. I’ve laughed, cried, I despaired, hurt, suffered, felt scared, I ran, I fought, I killed monsters and not monsters, I was injured, I felt joy, hope, lost and recovered faith, fell in love, lost loved ones…a truly vivid experience! I felt totally involved with the story. But we still have more adventures to live, Shadows to overcome, darkness to fight.
I cannot praise this young writer and wonderful human being highly enough!
Thank you, Nicholas, for keeping the Light shining.
A 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ series!
“And, despite all the suffering, the loss and the pain, there was always a light in the darkness. And that made life worth living. To exist meant to be the hero of one’s own story.”
“Through Light, we banish the Dark.”
Fighting monsters, saving lives, losing friends, experiencing betrayals, being sucked through rifts and dragged through the In Between..no wonder Kat thinks the Universe hates her. What a horrific life! “I’m glad you’re here with me, Treth.”These words comforted me as well, seeing Kat so alone on an “alien” world was depressing and heartbreaking, with many lump-in-throat moments. A tearful and at once heart warming story, bringing hope to a people, to see their faces illuminate, adds to our own positive thinking, contributing with strength and optimism. The thrilling and nervous anticipation before a battle is so vivid I could feel it in my person. Woode-Smith’s writing is relentless and full of creativeness. There were times I was tempted to jump some scenes because of their fierce moments, to not feel the despair, the suffering and the losses of such humble and resilient people, of peasants and survivors turned soldiers. A moment to be proud of, saving what humanity is left on the world. At the end, I couldn’t contain myself, felt the hurt, the temptation to abandon to one’s fate, to see the futility of an uncertain and frightening future, resign.. That’s how realistically Nicholas writes, with emotion.
What a passionate and exciting series! I may be a masochist, but I won’t abandon hope.
I’ve come a long way with Kat. I’ve laughed, cried, I despaired, hurt, suffered, felt scared, I ran, I fought, I killed monsters and not monsters, I was injured, I felt joy, hope, lost and recovered faith, fell in love, lost loved ones…a truly vivid experience! I felt totally involved with the story. But we still have more adventures to live, Shadows to overcome, darkness to fight.
I cannot praise this young writer and wonderful human being highly enough!
Thank you, Nicholas, for keeping the Light shining.
A 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ series!
“And, despite all the suffering, the loss and the pain, there was always a light in the darkness. And that made life worth living. To exist meant to be the hero of one’s own story.”
March 2, 2024
Right from the very first book I knew this was my kinda read. Extremely cleverly written, the nuances of some of the descriptions and innuendos were really brilliant. As a South African I felt it to my core, the author mentions the chaos and apathy of the council, of their incompetent ruling, one I couldn't help but notice the parallel, bringing the real world to the fore, "hidden" in a very entertaining series. I so enjoyed the nuances, the humour and the incredible richness of this world, the wonderful robust characters and the fabulous pace. I loved the unpredictability and the vivid colours the author paints, bringing an artist flair to his penmanship, which has me completely under Kat's spell, ready to embark on whatever adventure Kat took me next, in this tremendously entertaining story, a story that gets better and better with each book. A story that captivated me so intensely, I shut out the entire world around me, I embraced this series wholeheartedly, suffering the punches just as Kat did, feeling the betrayal just as Kat did, relishing the friendships and the comraderie.
It's possible I'm a little weird, the wonderful humour in amongst major gory moments, and yes, there's gore aplenty, brought these characters to life, fully fleshed, no... that's not a pun...oh, I didn't mention that Kat is a monster Hunter, yep, all strange things that go bump in the night, Kat's your girl to call! And boy oh boy am I obsessed with Kat! I'm so hooked on her, I want to BE her!
She is a character that resonates with me, the underdog I want to succeed, she took hold of me and welcomed me so affably to join her journey. And I more than willingly took her hand, evading gore and bodily fluids alongside her.
What an interesting concept this series is, a post apocalyptic world where all sorts of monsters invade, where conspiracies around, where a young sassy university student making a living slaughtering them, no, I don't use that term lightly, she literally slaughters them, and sells her services to the highest bidder. Kat is a one woman killing machine in this post apocalyptic world but she has the best of friends, Trudie, who's concern for Kat is ridiculously heartwarming and Pranish, true friends. She's a tad impulsive, a tad reckless, putting herself in danger, all the time! Needless to say, that translated in super tense action and through sweaty palms, a dry mouth from gaping and highly elevated pulse rate, I relished every moment of this superbly crafted series!
It's possible I'm a little weird, the wonderful humour in amongst major gory moments, and yes, there's gore aplenty, brought these characters to life, fully fleshed, no... that's not a pun...oh, I didn't mention that Kat is a monster Hunter, yep, all strange things that go bump in the night, Kat's your girl to call! And boy oh boy am I obsessed with Kat! I'm so hooked on her, I want to BE her!
She is a character that resonates with me, the underdog I want to succeed, she took hold of me and welcomed me so affably to join her journey. And I more than willingly took her hand, evading gore and bodily fluids alongside her.
What an interesting concept this series is, a post apocalyptic world where all sorts of monsters invade, where conspiracies around, where a young sassy university student making a living slaughtering them, no, I don't use that term lightly, she literally slaughters them, and sells her services to the highest bidder. Kat is a one woman killing machine in this post apocalyptic world but she has the best of friends, Trudie, who's concern for Kat is ridiculously heartwarming and Pranish, true friends. She's a tad impulsive, a tad reckless, putting herself in danger, all the time! Needless to say, that translated in super tense action and through sweaty palms, a dry mouth from gaping and highly elevated pulse rate, I relished every moment of this superbly crafted series!
February 27, 2024
This as an epic box set containing the first 10 books in a 16-book series (plus side-stories and back-stories on side characters). The entire series is wonderful and this is a great way to introduce yourself to it. I absolutely adore Kat Drummond and her friends and hope Mr. Woode-Smith continues to expand this epic story for a long time to come. I broke my review down by each book included in this box set:
Book 1: Part-Time Monster Hunter
Not the easiest part time job . . .
I love the concept behind this book. Magic has entered the world. Magic and magical creatures have always been around in small quantities, but the barriers between our world and other worlds have fallen and now magic and magical creatures are everywhere. Kat is a college student that exterminates monsters in her spare time to make ends meet. Let the fun begin!
Book 2: Blood Cartel
Great sequel to _Part-Time Monster Hunter_!
Oh, man, Kat is broadening her horizons. Not by choice, so much as circumstances at least somewhat beyond her control. If she keeps this up, and keeps coming out on top, she's going to be very in-demand. Either that, or dead.
Book 3: Devil's Gambit
Kat's not a detective. Sure . . .
Kat keeps saying she's not a detective. Then she goes and does lots of detective stuff. She might not think she's a detective, but she's getting pretty good at sleuthing. Now she gets to figure out who's killing off the mages protecting the city (and the world). For everybody's sake, let's hope she's successful.
Book 4: Necrolord
Things are getting real now . . .
This series just keeps getting better and more intense! Kat is hot on the trail of a true monster (in human form), but other monsters are hot on her trail. It seems the hunter might have turned into the hunted.
Book 5: Darkness Beckons
When the Darkness Beckons, how does Kat answer?
Has Nicholas been foreshadowing? As we get farther along in the epic tale that is Kat Drummond's life, we see her faced with many choices--choices that could decide which side she comes out on. In this book, she is forced to make possibly the final choice that will put her firmly on one side or the other. Or is it possible in this universe to fall somewhere in the middle? If she were a Jedi, would she choose the light side of the force, the dark side, or the grey in between? Is there always even a right or wrong choice?
Book 6: Lost Huntress
"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges."
Kat is a monster hunter. For her, it's more than just a job. Her life revolves around it. So what is she supposed to do when her monster-hunting license gets revoked and she's no longer allowed to hunt monsters? On top of that, her best friend has decided to pull a disappearing act, she's been evicted from her apartment, and she's still dealing with the loss of the love of her life. Where does she go from here? We're about to find out.
Book 7: Dead World
Like falling down a rabbit-hole . . .
Kat gets sucked into a rift and lands on a dead world. If she's not careful, she'll be dead, too. Every creature she encounters is some sort of walking dead. And they all want to make /her/ dead, too. She doesn't have much in the way of supplies, and has never tried to live off the land. By all rights, she should die of starvation before too long. Thankfully, Trey /has/ lived off the land, and done so on a world with a similar zombie infestation. Together they might just be able to make a new life here.
Book 8: Silver Bortherhood
When worlds collide . . .
Kat's best friend Trudie is back. But there's a problem. One with lots of fur and sharp teeth. One that has an aversion to silver and hides inside Trudie. Does this make Trudie a monster? Oh, and Brett's mentor and father figure, who's supposed to be dead, is also back. And he's dead set on wiping werewolves off the face of the Earth. And he wants Brett's help.
Book 9: The Fae Hunt
"I'm not a doctor, Jim, I'm a monster hunter!"
Kat might not be a doctor, but in this installment, she's trying to find the cause of a magical disease that's ravaging Hope City. The Fae are being blamed, but she knows they're /not/ the source of the problem. Can she find the source, and maybe even a cure, before her afflicted friends succumb to the illness?
Book 10: Dark Order
Kat Drummond's story just keeps getting better!
I have read every book in the Kat Drummond series, and as her story gets more and more fleshed out, it just keeps getting better. I love the characters and the situations Kat and her team (friends? maybe even family?) get into just keep getting more epic. The world Kat lives in could be our own if it weren't for the magic and magical creatures. And that's part of what makes it so enjoyable.
Book 1: Part-Time Monster Hunter
Not the easiest part time job . . .
I love the concept behind this book. Magic has entered the world. Magic and magical creatures have always been around in small quantities, but the barriers between our world and other worlds have fallen and now magic and magical creatures are everywhere. Kat is a college student that exterminates monsters in her spare time to make ends meet. Let the fun begin!
Book 2: Blood Cartel
Great sequel to _Part-Time Monster Hunter_!
Oh, man, Kat is broadening her horizons. Not by choice, so much as circumstances at least somewhat beyond her control. If she keeps this up, and keeps coming out on top, she's going to be very in-demand. Either that, or dead.
Book 3: Devil's Gambit
Kat's not a detective. Sure . . .
Kat keeps saying she's not a detective. Then she goes and does lots of detective stuff. She might not think she's a detective, but she's getting pretty good at sleuthing. Now she gets to figure out who's killing off the mages protecting the city (and the world). For everybody's sake, let's hope she's successful.
Book 4: Necrolord
Things are getting real now . . .
This series just keeps getting better and more intense! Kat is hot on the trail of a true monster (in human form), but other monsters are hot on her trail. It seems the hunter might have turned into the hunted.
Book 5: Darkness Beckons
When the Darkness Beckons, how does Kat answer?
Has Nicholas been foreshadowing? As we get farther along in the epic tale that is Kat Drummond's life, we see her faced with many choices--choices that could decide which side she comes out on. In this book, she is forced to make possibly the final choice that will put her firmly on one side or the other. Or is it possible in this universe to fall somewhere in the middle? If she were a Jedi, would she choose the light side of the force, the dark side, or the grey in between? Is there always even a right or wrong choice?
Book 6: Lost Huntress
"Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges."
Kat is a monster hunter. For her, it's more than just a job. Her life revolves around it. So what is she supposed to do when her monster-hunting license gets revoked and she's no longer allowed to hunt monsters? On top of that, her best friend has decided to pull a disappearing act, she's been evicted from her apartment, and she's still dealing with the loss of the love of her life. Where does she go from here? We're about to find out.
Book 7: Dead World
Like falling down a rabbit-hole . . .
Kat gets sucked into a rift and lands on a dead world. If she's not careful, she'll be dead, too. Every creature she encounters is some sort of walking dead. And they all want to make /her/ dead, too. She doesn't have much in the way of supplies, and has never tried to live off the land. By all rights, she should die of starvation before too long. Thankfully, Trey /has/ lived off the land, and done so on a world with a similar zombie infestation. Together they might just be able to make a new life here.
Book 8: Silver Bortherhood
When worlds collide . . .
Kat's best friend Trudie is back. But there's a problem. One with lots of fur and sharp teeth. One that has an aversion to silver and hides inside Trudie. Does this make Trudie a monster? Oh, and Brett's mentor and father figure, who's supposed to be dead, is also back. And he's dead set on wiping werewolves off the face of the Earth. And he wants Brett's help.
Book 9: The Fae Hunt
"I'm not a doctor, Jim, I'm a monster hunter!"
Kat might not be a doctor, but in this installment, she's trying to find the cause of a magical disease that's ravaging Hope City. The Fae are being blamed, but she knows they're /not/ the source of the problem. Can she find the source, and maybe even a cure, before her afflicted friends succumb to the illness?
Book 10: Dark Order
Kat Drummond's story just keeps getting better!
I have read every book in the Kat Drummond series, and as her story gets more and more fleshed out, it just keeps getting better. I love the characters and the situations Kat and her team (friends? maybe even family?) get into just keep getting more epic. The world Kat lives in could be our own if it weren't for the magic and magical creatures. And that's part of what makes it so enjoyable.
February 26, 2024
Kat Drummond is like any other University student. She attends classes, has a part-time job, hangs out with her friends, and plays with her cat. Except that Kat’s part-time job is as a monster hunter. And her cat… wait no, the cat is normal. And her friends are magically inclined. And, of course, there’s the ghost of an interdimensional monster hunter named Treth living inside of her head, giving her pointers on her journey. You know, normal. With the monster-hunters app, she finds gigs and slays monsters all around Hope City, the Post-Cataclysm name for Cape Town, South Africa.
Since the rifts opened, just over 40 years ago, the world has changed drastically. Magic, monsters, demons, and damsels are no longer the stuff of legend, lore, and literature; they’re the stuff of daily life! When the Cataclysm happened, in 1991, rifts to other worlds and other dimensions opened all around Earth, spewing forth every monster, demon, god, and dragon that mythologies had ever dreamed up, and even more. Since then, magic has become a part of daily life. Companies have arisen to capitalize on it, others to quell it, while some people (as people do) try to avoid it outright. Religion has changed in a big way… learning what your gods are REALLY like can be - jarring - to say the least. And like any technologically advanced civilization, a gig economy has popped up around one of society’s needs, monster hunting.
Now Kat is a freelance monster hunter, trying to balance her job, school, friends, oh, and necromancers, pitfiends, and other things that go “bump” in the night. No biggie, right? She’s going to need all the help she can get to survive, thrive, and solve a mystery or two… all the while trying to keep her wits, and her head, about her.
“The Kat Drummond Collection” by Nicholas Woode-Smith, “Hope City”, uh, Cape Town native, covers the first 10 volumes of the establishment of the KatVerse. With harrowing adventures, hilarious quips, and entirely relatable characters (I mean, everybody’s got a monster-hunting ghost as their Jiminy Cricket, right?), this dive into the 18-book series will be a delight and desire of any Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Fantasy fan and aficionado. The pages almost turn on their own, the characters positively coming to life as the reader journeys with Kat along her path from being a “Part-Time Monster Hunter” (Book 1) to facing off against the “Dark Order” (Book 10) itself as one of the main saviors of Hope City, and possibly the world!
I received a free copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Since the rifts opened, just over 40 years ago, the world has changed drastically. Magic, monsters, demons, and damsels are no longer the stuff of legend, lore, and literature; they’re the stuff of daily life! When the Cataclysm happened, in 1991, rifts to other worlds and other dimensions opened all around Earth, spewing forth every monster, demon, god, and dragon that mythologies had ever dreamed up, and even more. Since then, magic has become a part of daily life. Companies have arisen to capitalize on it, others to quell it, while some people (as people do) try to avoid it outright. Religion has changed in a big way… learning what your gods are REALLY like can be - jarring - to say the least. And like any technologically advanced civilization, a gig economy has popped up around one of society’s needs, monster hunting.
Now Kat is a freelance monster hunter, trying to balance her job, school, friends, oh, and necromancers, pitfiends, and other things that go “bump” in the night. No biggie, right? She’s going to need all the help she can get to survive, thrive, and solve a mystery or two… all the while trying to keep her wits, and her head, about her.
“The Kat Drummond Collection” by Nicholas Woode-Smith, “Hope City”, uh, Cape Town native, covers the first 10 volumes of the establishment of the KatVerse. With harrowing adventures, hilarious quips, and entirely relatable characters (I mean, everybody’s got a monster-hunting ghost as their Jiminy Cricket, right?), this dive into the 18-book series will be a delight and desire of any Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Fantasy fan and aficionado. The pages almost turn on their own, the characters positively coming to life as the reader journeys with Kat along her path from being a “Part-Time Monster Hunter” (Book 1) to facing off against the “Dark Order” (Book 10) itself as one of the main saviors of Hope City, and possibly the world!
I received a free copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2024
Overall this was quite a good set of stories although initially it just seemed that the "next" book in the series just had Kat fighting bigger monsters and this became a bit "samey". There was some good development of the characters in the book and it was interesting how their relationships changed over time. I was expecting there to be some lead-in to the next book in the series (which now happens to be book 12 - see comments below) but this did not occur. This allowed this ten-book series to be complete in themselves which I thought was good. There were some irritating things in the book which I have commented on below. These caused me to give the book a 3-star rating instead of 4 stars.
There are made-up words in the book such as lich and gül for monsters. It would have been better if descriptions of these monsters were given when they first appeared. The word "tick" is also used as a slang word for policemen - something which I haven't been able to find any reference to outside the book.
"Cause" is used as a shortened form of "because" outside of dialogue in the early books. This is just bad grammar and grated when reading it.
In a couple of the early books, Kat makes a jokey reference to a man in a trenchcoat named after a German city. This puzzled me and I could not work out who she was referring to. To solve this mystery I e-mailed the author and was told that "The city is Dresden and the character is Harry Dresden of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, a wizard detective.". To me, this was an obscure reference and no way to engage the reader. I thought that perhaps a reference to Colombo would be more widely known
At the end of this series of ten books, there was a recommendation for further reading and this proved slightly confusing when searching for the books on Amazon since book 11 is no longer "The Silver Star". This has become book 12. Book 11 is "Blood Hunter". Frustratingly, the blurb on Amazon about book 11 recommends that it is read before book 10!
There are made-up words in the book such as lich and gül for monsters. It would have been better if descriptions of these monsters were given when they first appeared. The word "tick" is also used as a slang word for policemen - something which I haven't been able to find any reference to outside the book.
"Cause" is used as a shortened form of "because" outside of dialogue in the early books. This is just bad grammar and grated when reading it.
In a couple of the early books, Kat makes a jokey reference to a man in a trenchcoat named after a German city. This puzzled me and I could not work out who she was referring to. To solve this mystery I e-mailed the author and was told that "The city is Dresden and the character is Harry Dresden of the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, a wizard detective.". To me, this was an obscure reference and no way to engage the reader. I thought that perhaps a reference to Colombo would be more widely known
At the end of this series of ten books, there was a recommendation for further reading and this proved slightly confusing when searching for the books on Amazon since book 11 is no longer "The Silver Star". This has become book 12. Book 11 is "Blood Hunter". Frustratingly, the blurb on Amazon about book 11 recommends that it is read before book 10!
April 14, 2024
When I pick up a Kat Drummond book I've come to expect pulse-pounding excitement, deep, authentic relationships, and a complex plot featuring plenty of moral ambiguity. High expectations, and this series delivers book after book! The story line is remains fresh and compelling as the series progresses. And OH! the emotional impact! Woode-Smith knows how to write a book that really draws the reader in, hits all the feels, and gives you the best kind of book hangover. The heroes are noble, the villains despicable, but nothing is predictable or black and white. Sometimes Kat wishes she could go back to the simple days when it was just monster hunting.
A modern urban fantasy that takes place in an alternate earth where a Cataclysm introduced magic to the world and changed life forever. The magical system and various creatures are well planned out. The author's experience with PC strategy games and Dungeons and Dragons definitely comes through - in a good way. Love that it is placed in South Africa and how well that culture is captured. What could be a dark and heavy series is very well balanced with humor. The laughs, the triumphs, the heartbreaks - all deep in the feels! Sign me up for more!
A modern urban fantasy that takes place in an alternate earth where a Cataclysm introduced magic to the world and changed life forever. The magical system and various creatures are well planned out. The author's experience with PC strategy games and Dungeons and Dragons definitely comes through - in a good way. Love that it is placed in South Africa and how well that culture is captured. What could be a dark and heavy series is very well balanced with humor. The laughs, the triumphs, the heartbreaks - all deep in the feels! Sign me up for more!
May 20, 2025
I absolutely loved every minute of this incredible series. Kat is a fantastic hero and I absolutely adored how she grew as a person through all the adventures detailed in these ten wonderful novels.
I’m also completely in love with the setting. Being South African myself, the futuristic Capetonian setting along with the style of multiculturalism unique to South Africa really resonated for me. Add to that the legends and myths from the are that the author drew on in some of the books, and the strong message in support of tolerance for difference and the humanistic ideal of the right all have to a decent life and a meaningful existence, and I’m utterly blown away. Kat’s story is the epitome of what I love about fantasy: taking some thin invented and utterly fantastical and turning it into a lens through which we can take a closer look at some of the most important issues we face in our own society.
I’m delighted to know there’s more to Kat’s adventures and I will absolutely be tracking down the rest of this author’s books.
I’m also completely in love with the setting. Being South African myself, the futuristic Capetonian setting along with the style of multiculturalism unique to South Africa really resonated for me. Add to that the legends and myths from the are that the author drew on in some of the books, and the strong message in support of tolerance for difference and the humanistic ideal of the right all have to a decent life and a meaningful existence, and I’m utterly blown away. Kat’s story is the epitome of what I love about fantasy: taking some thin invented and utterly fantastical and turning it into a lens through which we can take a closer look at some of the most important issues we face in our own society.
I’m delighted to know there’s more to Kat’s adventures and I will absolutely be tracking down the rest of this author’s books.
February 25, 2024
What can I say other than I absolutely love this series!! I have read the entire collection and reviewed each one individually. Kat is a student in Hope City who kills zombies part time to make ends meet. But these zombies are not your normal outbreak zombies. They are the result of a necromancer bringing them back to use as weapons in a post-apocalyptic world. She also has a ghost living in her head that only she can hear who trains her on the art of killing monsters. This is her journey from killing zombies to taking on the injustices of Hope CIty and slaying monsters of all kinds. There is lots of action, suspense and creatures and monsters of all kinds, even the human kind. I love this series from beginning to end!!! If you are interested in my reviews from each book, just check my goodreads reviews!
April 29, 2025
This series took me a while to read. A South African monster slayer, post-apocalypse, still in college in a time when monsters now roam. Kat Drummond is a ghost-inhabited student just trying to get by. She can be sassy, but mostly a new adult full of the normal insecurities we all have in our late teens and early twenties.
This was fun, if not downright bloody. The gross scenes were vivid and not the best for a bedtime read. But before long, the characters grow on you, and the story holds up over the scarier or grosser parts.
I can see young adults and new adults loving this series.
The coolest part of this book was that it took place in South Africa. It is a nice diversion from the usual books we can access here in the States. This is a fun series if you can handle monsters to learn about how real people operate in less than the best circumstances.
This was fun, if not downright bloody. The gross scenes were vivid and not the best for a bedtime read. But before long, the characters grow on you, and the story holds up over the scarier or grosser parts.
I can see young adults and new adults loving this series.
The coolest part of this book was that it took place in South Africa. It is a nice diversion from the usual books we can access here in the States. This is a fun series if you can handle monsters to learn about how real people operate in less than the best circumstances.
November 19, 2025
Very enjoyable and well written - drew me in completely
I really had no idea how this would be or if it would be any good. I'm a Jim Butcher Dresden Files fan and since my introduction to "urban fantasy" thru him many years ago, it seems the genre has exploded. Many of the offerings seem to be little more than an expansion of soft core romance novels - which is fine for that but makes for poor actual Urban Fantasy. So it's a very pleasant surprise when I do run across a really good series with a well built and interesting world! I'm impressed by the variety of characters and mythologies that the main character Kat is challenged by and the premise behind the world is interesting and well done! I got this first set at a good price on Kindle - but as I neared the end I immediately paid for the next 2 book sets in the series!
I really had no idea how this would be or if it would be any good. I'm a Jim Butcher Dresden Files fan and since my introduction to "urban fantasy" thru him many years ago, it seems the genre has exploded. Many of the offerings seem to be little more than an expansion of soft core romance novels - which is fine for that but makes for poor actual Urban Fantasy. So it's a very pleasant surprise when I do run across a really good series with a well built and interesting world! I'm impressed by the variety of characters and mythologies that the main character Kat is challenged by and the premise behind the world is interesting and well done! I got this first set at a good price on Kindle - but as I neared the end I immediately paid for the next 2 book sets in the series!
September 5, 2024
I love a great series
I was only sad to discover it's not the complete series, but happy there's more to be read. Kat is fascinating, down-to-earth, & a worthy hero. She learns on the fly, & knows she'd never survive without her found family. She's also willing to learn & grow, & luckily, is given lots of opportunities to hone her abilities & expand her mind. Each book is full of new monsters & new friends. There is a bit of romance, but nothing spicy. Mostly gory, but monsters don't die cleanly.
I was only sad to discover it's not the complete series, but happy there's more to be read. Kat is fascinating, down-to-earth, & a worthy hero. She learns on the fly, & knows she'd never survive without her found family. She's also willing to learn & grow, & luckily, is given lots of opportunities to hone her abilities & expand her mind. Each book is full of new monsters & new friends. There is a bit of romance, but nothing spicy. Mostly gory, but monsters don't die cleanly.
February 27, 2024
Though I haven't read all the books in this box set--I found this treasure just recently-- I'm hooked, and can't stop reading it. I love the characters, how they grow, the friendships they build; the world is vivid, rich and diverse; and the story is fast paced, action packed, and compelling. Every book is its own story, yet part of a bigger arc, without repeating previous books and make it hard to put down. I highly recommend the series.
March 9, 2024
Kat Drummond starts out as a part-time monster hunter, making just enough money to feed herself and her cat, plus going to university. She goes through so many changes, as do the family that she makes for herself from her close friends. She saves Hope City so many times from Blood Cartels and Necrolords - and makes friends in the strangest places or with the strangest creatures. This series just gets better and better.
May 8, 2024
Nothing will be done while reading this!
This set and world is so addictive...once you start you cannot put it down. Amazing world building, fantastic characters, adventures and journeys for all. If you like the Sarah Noffke, Laurell K Hamilton, or anything with vampires, werewolves, ghosts far and a human hero...you will love this set! Can't wait for the giant bundle on Kat and Co next installment!!!
This set and world is so addictive...once you start you cannot put it down. Amazing world building, fantastic characters, adventures and journeys for all. If you like the Sarah Noffke, Laurell K Hamilton, or anything with vampires, werewolves, ghosts far and a human hero...you will love this set! Can't wait for the giant bundle on Kat and Co next installment!!!
June 2, 2024
Action packed.
I have really enjoyed the series up to this point, and even purchased the next two books in the series (per the authors recommendation 😏). The author has done a great job of drawing the reader into the world and getting you to empathize with Kat and her friends/family. Highly recommended if you're looking for an enjoyable read.
I have really enjoyed the series up to this point, and even purchased the next two books in the series (per the authors recommendation 😏). The author has done a great job of drawing the reader into the world and getting you to empathize with Kat and her friends/family. Highly recommended if you're looking for an enjoyable read.
June 19, 2024
Immerse yourself in this great adventure.
I couldn't put the 10 Box !!!! Never have I been so excited to know that there are 8 more books and spinoffs to the Katverse.. . Your emotions run the full gamut from happy ,sad, glad, sorrow, horror, joyful, awe, duhhh...to wanting to slap someone and cheer . Please read...you won't be sorry.
I couldn't put the 10 Box !!!! Never have I been so excited to know that there are 8 more books and spinoffs to the Katverse.. . Your emotions run the full gamut from happy ,sad, glad, sorrow, horror, joyful, awe, duhhh...to wanting to slap someone and cheer . Please read...you won't be sorry.
February 26, 2024
This is a fantastic boxset, one that’s right up my street. Full of action throughout, I devoured every word. I loved Kat and the gang, I’m just very sad that it has finished now. Still looking forward to the next series anyway. Highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2024
This is a fantastic series. I love Kat and all her friends and foes. There's lots of action and heart in this collection. Nicholas Woode-Smith puts heart and soul into his characters. The magic world he built is scary and dangerous, but Kat and her friends manage to survive and thrive.
June 19, 2024
Riveting
Captivating tale of monsters, magic, good and evil. The world survives and evolves after a cataclysmic event and is in need of hero’s. Get swept away as Kat grows and learns that not all in humans are the same.
Captivating tale of monsters, magic, good and evil. The world survives and evolves after a cataclysmic event and is in need of hero’s. Get swept away as Kat grows and learns that not all in humans are the same.
February 2, 2025
Extremely well enjoyed.
I loved this set of stories,it was really enjoyable to read. Having lived in Cape Town I a!so enjoyed the location as it brought back many mermories. Please continue writing stories like this.
Regards
AJ
I loved this set of stories,it was really enjoyable to read. Having lived in Cape Town I a!so enjoyed the location as it brought back many mermories. Please continue writing stories like this.
Regards
AJ
March 1, 2024
This is a set of books that are a must read! A collection that will give you hours of reading adventure! Each has a unique storyline that has outstanding characters!
March 21, 2024
One of the best fantasy series I've read. Great characters, super action.
March 26, 2024
Wow what a box set of ten brilliant tales which will have you losing sleep as you will find it difficult to put down. Packed full of action and adventure, a brilliant read
September 4, 2024
Meh
The characters were not compelling enough to justify 10 books. I just read the last chapter to follow the story.
The characters were not compelling enough to justify 10 books. I just read the last chapter to follow the story.
July 3, 2025
Great long read
So much character development and story lines through ten books and never a dull page. It really is a wonder this many events could happen in one set.
So much character development and story lines through ten books and never a dull page. It really is a wonder this many events could happen in one set.
March 20, 2024
Meet Kat. A struggling student who makes ends meet by hunting monsters.
Meet Trent. The ghost who lives in her head, offers sword-fighting tips and takes mental notes when Kat sleeps through lectures.
This series hooked me from the get-go. I wanted to understand more about how Kat and Trent "worked", about why there were monsters and magic in what used to be known as Cape Town and if Kat would ever eat anything healthier than noodles.
The Kat Drummond series is one of my favourites, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for well-thought out plots with a great main character, strong supporting characters that are well-drawn and sympathetic, low romance, no "spice" in a sometimes dark, but always hopeful, post-apocalyptic urban fantasy.
This boxset is a fantastic introduction to Kat and her friends.
Meet Trent. The ghost who lives in her head, offers sword-fighting tips and takes mental notes when Kat sleeps through lectures.
This series hooked me from the get-go. I wanted to understand more about how Kat and Trent "worked", about why there were monsters and magic in what used to be known as Cape Town and if Kat would ever eat anything healthier than noodles.
The Kat Drummond series is one of my favourites, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for well-thought out plots with a great main character, strong supporting characters that are well-drawn and sympathetic, low romance, no "spice" in a sometimes dark, but always hopeful, post-apocalyptic urban fantasy.
This boxset is a fantastic introduction to Kat and her friends.
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