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Wild Hunt #3
Rise of a Huntress
It was supposed to be over.
She was supposed to be home.
Ice is a wicked deadly magic that creeps up dark corridors, threatening to crack all it touches. Valentina finds herself vulnerable behind enemy lines in the court of her nightmares. But frost has quieted her mind, ice has hardened her soul, and the Frost Witches of Winter Court have a power she never expected.
Uprooted from their safehold, the faeless of Blackwater Junction search for a new place to call home as the War of Many grows to extremes. But Deryn Ironside, recluse faeless on the Mainland, never expected it to be so close to her. Armed with her hawkshifter lover and her trickster demigod best friend, she does what she must to stay away from the War.
Kaderyn’s heard the baying of the hounds and has returned its call to the Wild Hunt. To home. But something in the soft night, memories of a love, call him back.
Rise of a Huntress is book 3 in the 4-book Wild Hunt fae fantasy romance series. Content warnings violence, swearing and sexual content not meant for those under 18.
She was supposed to be home.
Ice is a wicked deadly magic that creeps up dark corridors, threatening to crack all it touches. Valentina finds herself vulnerable behind enemy lines in the court of her nightmares. But frost has quieted her mind, ice has hardened her soul, and the Frost Witches of Winter Court have a power she never expected.
Uprooted from their safehold, the faeless of Blackwater Junction search for a new place to call home as the War of Many grows to extremes. But Deryn Ironside, recluse faeless on the Mainland, never expected it to be so close to her. Armed with her hawkshifter lover and her trickster demigod best friend, she does what she must to stay away from the War.
Kaderyn’s heard the baying of the hounds and has returned its call to the Wild Hunt. To home. But something in the soft night, memories of a love, call him back.
Rise of a Huntress is book 3 in the 4-book Wild Hunt fae fantasy romance series. Content warnings violence, swearing and sexual content not meant for those under 18.
- GenresFantasyFantasy Romance
Unknown Binding
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About the author
H.J. Reese
8 books22 followersH J Reese is a left-handed, second-born, Sagittarius, who often falls into all the stereotypes these represent. She lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada but her dreams take her around the world. She is the author of the Wild Hunt books.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 31, 2024
Unsatisfied and Confused
The first 2 books were fantastic. I was drawn in to Valentina and Kaderyn's world and invested in their growing bond. However, this book made me wanting for me.
I was confused why Daeryn got her own POV/storyline, to be honest. We barely met her and I wasn't interesting in hearing about her so I skipped all her chapters till about halfway in. With that in mind, I was only reading Valentina's POV and I was really enjoying her journey through the Winter Court, but I found it too short of a time to be worth putting it in the story. There were plot holes that made it very confusing and I lost the connection with Valentina that I made while reading the first 2 books.
When Kaderyn came to rescue her, I was very disappointed in how it happened. It was supposed to be emotional and exciting, but we saw it through her POV of being a lion, which was silly and random. Loss of connection between the characters.
I got about halfway through the book and stopped reading. Valentina was supposed to have lost her memories, but right away her memories were, in fact, still there. It's like they were hidden behind a screen door (seperate from her, but still very visible). They haunted Valentina because she didn't know what the memories were, but she knew they were hers somehow. I didnt get to take this journey with her. It was very bam, bam, bam, with the answers and each chapter felt like it started with new information without explaining how we got that information.
In conclusion, very confusing with random, new information sprouting all over the place, and loss of connection with the characters.
The first 2 books were fantastic. I was drawn in to Valentina and Kaderyn's world and invested in their growing bond. However, this book made me wanting for me.
I was confused why Daeryn got her own POV/storyline, to be honest. We barely met her and I wasn't interesting in hearing about her so I skipped all her chapters till about halfway in. With that in mind, I was only reading Valentina's POV and I was really enjoying her journey through the Winter Court, but I found it too short of a time to be worth putting it in the story. There were plot holes that made it very confusing and I lost the connection with Valentina that I made while reading the first 2 books.
When Kaderyn came to rescue her, I was very disappointed in how it happened. It was supposed to be emotional and exciting, but we saw it through her POV of being a lion, which was silly and random. Loss of connection between the characters.
I got about halfway through the book and stopped reading. Valentina was supposed to have lost her memories, but right away her memories were, in fact, still there. It's like they were hidden behind a screen door (seperate from her, but still very visible). They haunted Valentina because she didn't know what the memories were, but she knew they were hers somehow. I didnt get to take this journey with her. It was very bam, bam, bam, with the answers and each chapter felt like it started with new information without explaining how we got that information.
In conclusion, very confusing with random, new information sprouting all over the place, and loss of connection with the characters.
May 12, 2025
1.2 🌟
My first DNF.
The one upside to this, It seems this series is the authors debut. So it can only go up from here.
The confusion in this series has not stopped from book one to three and neither has the rambling and bumbling about.
So many missing details, and a million side quests in the story that could have given us those details. I feel a really good proof read of this series could have done everyone some good.
I'm finding myself skipping parts to try read the good parts. I ignored Deryn's part entirely, why? because the only thing drawing me into this book was the MMC and the parts I did read of deryn had no relevance or consequence to me not reading it.
The FMC annoyed me, the MMC's plot line has disappeared it all feels disjointed and rushed, with nothing thought through. To me it seems as if it was written without an ending in mind. Like its being made us as you go.
I recommended the previous books to people who are not fussy but I can't recommend this to anyone, which is sad because I want to like it soo much. I am generally unfussy but this was a huge DNF for me.
My first DNF.
The one upside to this, It seems this series is the authors debut. So it can only go up from here.
The confusion in this series has not stopped from book one to three and neither has the rambling and bumbling about.
So many missing details, and a million side quests in the story that could have given us those details. I feel a really good proof read of this series could have done everyone some good.
I'm finding myself skipping parts to try read the good parts. I ignored Deryn's part entirely, why? because the only thing drawing me into this book was the MMC and the parts I did read of deryn had no relevance or consequence to me not reading it.
The FMC annoyed me, the MMC's plot line has disappeared it all feels disjointed and rushed, with nothing thought through. To me it seems as if it was written without an ending in mind. Like its being made us as you go.
I recommended the previous books to people who are not fussy but I can't recommend this to anyone, which is sad because I want to like it soo much. I am generally unfussy but this was a huge DNF for me.
July 2, 2024
Valentina finds herself vulnerable behind enemy lines in the court of her nightmares and the Frost Witches of Winter Court have a power she never expected. The faeless of Blackwater Junction find a home on the mainland next to Deryn Ironside. She, alongside her hawk-shifter lover Rhett and demi-god best friend Adrian, tries to stay away from the oncoming war.
Kaderyn has re-joined the Wild Hunt but there are memories of his love pulling him back.
This is the third book in The Wild Hunt series and it was just as exciting as the previous two as we read about Kade, Val, Jair and Teal's journey.
Val must fight her way from the Winter Court and the curse that the King has put on her which has devastating consequences.
There was more about Deryn and her forge this time as she fights her fear of the evil Lady Fede.
Kade seeks out those who turned him into a fae at the beginning. Have to wait for the fourth and final book. Cannot wait!
Kaderyn has re-joined the Wild Hunt but there are memories of his love pulling him back.
This is the third book in The Wild Hunt series and it was just as exciting as the previous two as we read about Kade, Val, Jair and Teal's journey.
Val must fight her way from the Winter Court and the curse that the King has put on her which has devastating consequences.
There was more about Deryn and her forge this time as she fights her fear of the evil Lady Fede.
Kade seeks out those who turned him into a fae at the beginning. Have to wait for the fourth and final book. Cannot wait!
September 7, 2024
.....what happened?
Did I get a defective book with chunks missing from it?
It seems like all of the important stuff happened while reading boring stuff about Deryn, leaving only summaries in conversations that things took place; like Kade breaking the world.
This was so disappointing. Valentina was set up for some serious trauma and then didn't even confront it through the read. This was horrific and had the potential to really slam home the feels, but it felt like nothing.
It was so disjointed, I really feel like I missed half a book or something. Every emotional element fell flat. None of it was handled right. It was kind of glossed over, and it ruined everything. Especially Deryns interactions with Avika.
There's a bad guy monologue just to add icing on the cake for a very flat, rushed explanation for the motive behind the entire series. I'm not sure I will bother with the final book after this. It's that bad.
Did I get a defective book with chunks missing from it?
It seems like all of the important stuff happened while reading boring stuff about Deryn, leaving only summaries in conversations that things took place; like Kade breaking the world.
This was so disappointing. Valentina was set up for some serious trauma and then didn't even confront it through the read. This was horrific and had the potential to really slam home the feels, but it felt like nothing.
It was so disjointed, I really feel like I missed half a book or something. Every emotional element fell flat. None of it was handled right. It was kind of glossed over, and it ruined everything. Especially Deryns interactions with Avika.
There's a bad guy monologue just to add icing on the cake for a very flat, rushed explanation for the motive behind the entire series. I'm not sure I will bother with the final book after this. It's that bad.
June 28, 2024
3.5 stars.
I was so excited for this book, but boy did I seriously dislike almost every character in this book except for Kade, Jair, & Helle of all people!!!!!
The plot was twisting and turning, & maybe I should have reread book two, but I got a bit lost. I would have loved some internal processing of our characters to help fill in that gaps - from the torture in Winter, the chaos of the underworld, to cracks and craters in the world - so freaking much happens with little to no discussion and processing. Maybe this is my Towers of Dawn equivalent in this series? 😅
I wanna know what happens, so I’ll read the next book (I also totally thought this was a trilogy so surprise lol). Future self, maybe reread the series first?
I was so excited for this book, but boy did I seriously dislike almost every character in this book except for Kade, Jair, & Helle of all people!!!!!
The plot was twisting and turning, & maybe I should have reread book two, but I got a bit lost. I would have loved some internal processing of our characters to help fill in that gaps - from the torture in Winter, the chaos of the underworld, to cracks and craters in the world - so freaking much happens with little to no discussion and processing. Maybe this is my Towers of Dawn equivalent in this series? 😅
I wanna know what happens, so I’ll read the next book (I also totally thought this was a trilogy so surprise lol). Future self, maybe reread the series first?
August 6, 2024
omg
Look, I love fae books. They’re my favorite genre. But I have NEVER read one where the MFC was so freaking weak! I kept waiting with bated breath for her to unlock some mystery strength, and nothing! Super disappointing.
The further this book goes, the worse the editing got. Some parts I was guessing at what happened bc it didn’t quite make sense. Nonetheless, I hate unfinished stories. So I’ll read the next one if I remember it when it comes out.
Look, I love fae books. They’re my favorite genre. But I have NEVER read one where the MFC was so freaking weak! I kept waiting with bated breath for her to unlock some mystery strength, and nothing! Super disappointing.
The further this book goes, the worse the editing got. Some parts I was guessing at what happened bc it didn’t quite make sense. Nonetheless, I hate unfinished stories. So I’ll read the next one if I remember it when it comes out.
June 30, 2024
5 Star worthy!!
Just wow!!! Once again HJ Reese has killed it (in a good way)!!! The story started right back in from the ending of the last book and had me completely immersed from page one. I love Kade and Vals story and even the Dareyn, Rhett, and Adrian mix. And who don't love a crazy pirate pixie!!! I can't wait for the next book!!!
Just wow!!! Once again HJ Reese has killed it (in a good way)!!! The story started right back in from the ending of the last book and had me completely immersed from page one. I love Kade and Vals story and even the Dareyn, Rhett, and Adrian mix. And who don't love a crazy pirate pixie!!! I can't wait for the next book!!!
May 19, 2025
2.5 stars
The writing keeps getting more confusing (AI or just lazy writing?) and the plot isn't good enough to keep up with my frustration. And don't even get me started on adding an entirely new POV for a character who was mentioned once or twice in the first two books and who wasn't a particularly compelling character for most of the book (yes, I know she appeared in one of the novellas for the series, but I don't want to read them and I don't think you should have to to enjoy the series).
Heat index: several brief sex scenes.
Profanity meter: frequent harsh profanity.
The writing keeps getting more confusing (AI or just lazy writing?) and the plot isn't good enough to keep up with my frustration. And don't even get me started on adding an entirely new POV for a character who was mentioned once or twice in the first two books and who wasn't a particularly compelling character for most of the book (yes, I know she appeared in one of the novellas for the series, but I don't want to read them and I don't think you should have to to enjoy the series).
Heat index: several brief sex scenes.
Profanity meter: frequent harsh profanity.
dnf
March 25, 202536%
July 7, 2025
Really enjoyed the new characters in this series book 3 and looking forward to the final book 4!
December 8, 2024
I will admit that initially some reviews had made me hesitant to continue this series. Yet, I am quite glad I did. It is clearly obvious that some of those people did not actually read the entire book. If they had I don’t think they would be confused by the storyline. Granted I don’t claim to be an all wise one but I followed the story quite easily.
I am looking forward to King of the Courtless and have enjoyed the banter of pixies immensely.
Teal has helped lighten the darkness surrounding me and is turning it to shadows.
I will say that there are some obvious spelling errors in a number of places. Pantherfae written as panterfae and a couple places where Teal was written as Teel. Are just a couple examples.
Hopefully the next book will have a closer editing before publication for spelling errors.
I would recommend this series and am glad I stumbled upon them. When I was looking for a change of scenery and stories. I enjoyed all of them so far.
I am looking forward to King of the Courtless and have enjoyed the banter of pixies immensely.
Teal has helped lighten the darkness surrounding me and is turning it to shadows.
I will say that there are some obvious spelling errors in a number of places. Pantherfae written as panterfae and a couple places where Teal was written as Teel. Are just a couple examples.
Hopefully the next book will have a closer editing before publication for spelling errors.
I would recommend this series and am glad I stumbled upon them. When I was looking for a change of scenery and stories. I enjoyed all of them so far.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews