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Hunter #3
Sleeper
When Neil’s past catches up to him, Kelsey must choose between her new family and an old love…
With tensions rising between the Council and demonkind, Kelsey finds herself investigating a series of murders that threaten the fragile truce between them. If she can’t stop these killings soon, they could ignite a fire sure to burn the supernatural world down.
Unfortunately for her, Kelsey’s problems don’t stop with a pile of dead halflings. Her connection with Marcus is frayed at best, and Gray hasn’t been heard from in months. Her only semblance of peace comes from a new man in her life. When Gray storms back into the picture, her love life goes from incredibly complicated to apocalyptic.
Just as Kelsey begins to unravel the mystery, the forces of Heaven decide to take an interest in her actions. Outclassed with these powers in play, Kelsey knows that one misstep could leave the human and supernatural worlds in ashes.
A A Thieves Series Novel by Lexi Blake
With tensions rising between the Council and demonkind, Kelsey finds herself investigating a series of murders that threaten the fragile truce between them. If she can’t stop these killings soon, they could ignite a fire sure to burn the supernatural world down.
Unfortunately for her, Kelsey’s problems don’t stop with a pile of dead halflings. Her connection with Marcus is frayed at best, and Gray hasn’t been heard from in months. Her only semblance of peace comes from a new man in her life. When Gray storms back into the picture, her love life goes from incredibly complicated to apocalyptic.
Just as Kelsey begins to unravel the mystery, the forces of Heaven decide to take an interest in her actions. Outclassed with these powers in play, Kelsey knows that one misstep could leave the human and supernatural worlds in ashes.
A A Thieves Series Novel by Lexi Blake
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2017
156 people are currently reading
1046 people want to read
About the author
Lexi Blake
185 books6,397 followersNY Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn't until she started writing romance and urban fantasy that she found the stories of her heart. She likes to find humor in the strangest places and believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome, or foursome may seem.
Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are five more books available in the series: Their Virgin's Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, and Their Virgin Secretary. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Mistress, is releasing this April.
In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. There are eight full-length novels and four novellas available now, with more coming in 2015.
In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first five are available now, with Ripper, a spin-off to the series, coming in 2015.
Sign up for Lexi's newsletter at http://lexiblake.net/contact.html#new....
For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).
Her first novel, Their Virgin Captive: Masters of Ménage, Book 1, was a collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Shayla Black. There are five more books available in the series: Their Virgin's Secret, Their Virgin Concubine, Their Virgin Princess, Their Virgin Hostage, and Their Virgin Secretary. The next book in the series, Their Virgin Mistress, is releasing this April.
In addition to the Masters of Ménage series, she is the author of the Masters and Mercenaries series. There are eight full-length novels and four novellas available now, with more coming in 2015.
In 2013, Lexi also began releasing her urban fantasy series, Thieves. The first five are available now, with Ripper, a spin-off to the series, coming in 2015.
Sign up for Lexi's newsletter at http://lexiblake.net/contact.html#new....
For more information about her books, her appearances and her wacky life visit her Facebook page (http://goo.gl/q2IHnJ) or her website (http://www.lexiblake.net).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 23, 2017
3.75 stars
July 17, 2018
As per the blurb, there is a crime to be solved, and Kelsey Owens wants to use her role as the Nex Aparatus and her PI skillset to solve it. She also has a vendetta going on with Nemcox - aka Stewart, aka Matthew - and I was on her side because that demon has just pissed me off throughout. Part of the vendetta means using magic to summon him, normally having a demon's name means you can call him to hand but demons have contracts with loopholes in them that the most aggressive contract lawyer would be proud of. So magic it is. Neil and Nemcox and the murders intertwine, and angels and the Heaven plane, specifically the Day family, add their two cents worth. Kelsey has her hands pretty full, but there is always time for a complicated and unusual romance.
I'm not sure how I feel about this addition to the series. It's Lexi Blake so there is her usual pizazz to the overall writing. I'm not ever going to fault her as an entertaining author because she has entertainment stamped all over her. I love Zoey and she got to have some strong moments in this book. She was pretty damn shiny to be honest, and I'm happy for that - but this isn't her book. Kelsey had moments that stood out, especially with Lee, but she didn't own this space like she should have. It's the third Hunter book... so come on, girl.
Once we got (mostly) past hormonal Kelsey that helped somewhat. Past the babies and the whole procreation thing - I must have my one Halfling demon baby and my one werewolf baby that I dream(ed) of it was better. Speaking of relationships, Gray and Trent are far too domineering and too macho for my liking. This book also felt more like a contemporary romance than a true paranormal/UF. I kept thinking Gray = money and first love. Trent = powerful and calls to the one part of her Gray can't. Both are super sexy, ripped "masculine" men - the word masculine does my head in. Then there is Kelsey who needs to be protected here and there in the guys' minds, so said guys team up in their alpha 'I am the protective man' way. It is so familiar. Been there, done that with the book I've read. Have the tee.
Trent is one hard core trouper. Phew!
The differences between men and women - Lexi Blake style - should be a reworked subtitle into this book. Look, I know we can be different in certain ways, but sometimes the author kind of stereotypes.
I feel there was so much catching up going on in Sleeper for readers because there are several years between the last book, Addict, and this one. Even after the 90% mark explanations tying in prior books were still happening. While the author does a good job of connecting the dots, meaning threads and those people attached to them, I just feel this series- within-a-series would be better served being separated with less names, contracts, and prior details. They can, and do, slow the pace down at times, stifling flow. Nothing for it now, it's the third book into this intra-series, but I can't help thinking that it would have to make life so much easier for Lexi Blake to have some things streamlined.
The prophesies = weird shit.
I also want to move ahead, and while I appreciate Neil Roberts' story having some extra details brought to light not everything was necessarily progressive. Although Neil and Chad's marriage and commitment to one another is definitely a lovely thing to see.
The next antagonist, one based off the last MCs and an older plot, one centred around why Lee died... well, I don't really know if I want to go there. I'm really not feeling any Arthurian bent reappearing.
Oh, and speaking of/going back to dear Lee - so sneaky - he really did shine. Weird stuff in a way but he, the situation, made for an emotional and humorous connection. Nine year olds and forty seven year olds... and the desire for some beer - fun times. I also think this aspect of the book would have answered some reader's questions.
Marcus went from being a significant character to being more of a shag on a rock. He also took things so well, but I guess it fits with him being a decent guy, and a man of his (original) time.
At least the right threesome is happening now, even if one of them is holding the strangest or (maybe) benevolent? grudge
I remain a complete and utter Zoey, Daniel and Devinshea devotee, and this book really rammed that fact home to me. I lamented during reading that they still weren't the series MCs. I liked the trouble and fun and loving they got into so damn much. I found them to be far more organic and believable as lovers and partners. I liked their professional and friendship team and the balance that gave to the Thieves (sans Hunter) books. ETA 17/08/2018: After re-reading the original Thieves too many times to count, I can unequivocally say I miss Zoey, Daniel and Dev so damn much. I want more of them. Having them as secondary characters in the Hunter series just isn't the same.
While I didn't have the same burning desire to pick this book up whenever I put it down, it still continues a mostly fun, sometimes gory, and quite action-packed paranormal/UF romance series.
I'm not sure how I feel about this addition to the series. It's Lexi Blake so there is her usual pizazz to the overall writing. I'm not ever going to fault her as an entertaining author because she has entertainment stamped all over her. I love Zoey and she got to have some strong moments in this book. She was pretty damn shiny to be honest, and I'm happy for that - but this isn't her book. Kelsey had moments that stood out, especially with Lee, but she didn't own this space like she should have. It's the third Hunter book... so come on, girl.
Once we got (mostly) past hormonal Kelsey that helped somewhat. Past the babies and the whole procreation thing - I must have my one Halfling demon baby and my one werewolf baby that I dream(ed) of it was better. Speaking of relationships, Gray and Trent are far too domineering and too macho for my liking. This book also felt more like a contemporary romance than a true paranormal/UF. I kept thinking Gray = money and first love. Trent = powerful and calls to the one part of her Gray can't. Both are super sexy, ripped "masculine" men - the word masculine does my head in. Then there is Kelsey who needs to be protected here and there in the guys' minds, so said guys team up in their alpha 'I am the protective man' way. It is so familiar. Been there, done that with the book I've read. Have the tee.
Trent is one hard core trouper. Phew!
The differences between men and women - Lexi Blake style - should be a reworked subtitle into this book. Look, I know we can be different in certain ways, but sometimes the author kind of stereotypes.
I feel there was so much catching up going on in Sleeper for readers because there are several years between the last book, Addict, and this one. Even after the 90% mark explanations tying in prior books were still happening. While the author does a good job of connecting the dots, meaning threads and those people attached to them, I just feel this series- within-a-series would be better served being separated with less names, contracts, and prior details. They can, and do, slow the pace down at times, stifling flow. Nothing for it now, it's the third book into this intra-series, but I can't help thinking that it would have to make life so much easier for Lexi Blake to have some things streamlined.
The prophesies = weird shit.
I also want to move ahead, and while I appreciate Neil Roberts' story having some extra details brought to light not everything was necessarily progressive. Although Neil and Chad's marriage and commitment to one another is definitely a lovely thing to see.
The next antagonist, one based off the last MCs and an older plot, one centred around why Lee died... well, I don't really know if I want to go there. I'm really not feeling any Arthurian bent reappearing.
Oh, and speaking of/going back to dear Lee - so sneaky - he really did shine. Weird stuff in a way but he, the situation, made for an emotional and humorous connection. Nine year olds and forty seven year olds... and the desire for some beer - fun times. I also think this aspect of the book would have answered some reader's questions.
Marcus went from being a significant character to being more of a shag on a rock. He also took things so well, but I guess it fits with him being a decent guy, and a man of his (original) time.
At least the right threesome is happening now, even if one of them is holding the strangest or (maybe) benevolent? grudge
I remain a complete and utter Zoey, Daniel and Devinshea devotee, and this book really rammed that fact home to me. I lamented during reading that they still weren't the series MCs. I liked the trouble and fun and loving they got into so damn much. I found them to be far more organic and believable as lovers and partners. I liked their professional and friendship team and the balance that gave to the Thieves (sans Hunter) books. ETA 17/08/2018: After re-reading the original Thieves too many times to count, I can unequivocally say I miss Zoey, Daniel and Dev so damn much. I want more of them. Having them as secondary characters in the Hunter series just isn't the same.
While I didn't have the same burning desire to pick this book up whenever I put it down, it still continues a mostly fun, sometimes gory, and quite action-packed paranormal/UF romance series.
September 1, 2020
2.5 Stars
Review:
I read this book and wrote this review in 2017, but I’m only now getting around to posting it because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. But I’ve enjoyed the next two books more, so I’ve decided to continue reviewing this series. That’s just my disclaimer as to why I’m reviewing a book three years after reading it :-P
*This review contains spoilers about which love interest Kelsey ends up with in this series.*
It hurts me to give another book in this series a less-than-stellar review since I absolutely LOVE the original Thieves books, but I’m really having mixed feelings about this spin-off series. I had issues with the first book, I loved the second book, but this one brought me back to having issues.
I feel like this was 80% sex and 20% “Oh yeah, Neil’s thing is supposed to be in this book too.” There weren’t that many actual sex scenes, but there was so much about Kelsey needing to get laid, thinking about all the different men she had feelings for, literally needing a man to keep her inner wolf under control, fantasizing about and getting turned on by everyone… At one point, her men were having a conversation about HER life, and she was too distracted to even join in because her breasts were being touched.
I was also bothered by something that I consider dub-con at the very least. *MILD SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Speaking of Kelsey’s men, she ended up with both Gray and Trent, but the shift from triangle to menage felt rushed and forced into the book, and I don’t feel like it’s brought anything to the story so far.
Some other issues I had: Trent and Gray kept calling Kelsey “sweetheart” in a way that sounded condescending. Men were literally making decisions about her life for her (e.g. no one even asked her if she was ok with being in a menage relationship, Gray and Trent moved into her place without asking). Kelsey brushed off Zoey’s past rape in an almost joking way in her thoughts. Kelsey’s sudden strong desire to have kids didn’t seem natural or in-character. And let’s not forget that Kelsey literally needed men to have sex with her in order to keep from going berserk and killing people.
I feel like this book was trying to be feminist but missed the mark entirely. Kelsey talked about how she never submitted except in the bedroom, and she was made out to be this strong female character because she could fight and drank beer and ate burgers, but that’s not what makes someone strong. Or maybe I’m wrong and the book wasn’t trying to be anything and this is just Kelsey’s character, and that’s that. But it was disappointing because I actually loved her character in the previous book.
There were a couple things I liked though! For one thing, I’m glad Marcus is no longer one of Kelsey’s love interests. I’m sad that he probably won’t be in the books as much now, but Kelsey wasn’t right for him, and he deserves to find someone who is.
My favorite thing was Neil and Chad’s relationship, even though there wasn’t much about it. I would love a book about them. They’re just so cute together, and although Chad is possessive and intense, he seems to always be there for Neil and really love him. And we haven’t seen much of Neil in this spin-off series, so I just wonder how he’s changed, how he’s been, etc. He’s a very lovable character. I was happy for him when he finally confronted his past in this book and seemed to start going back to his old, confident self because it had seemed like he had been haunted.
There was also a surprise character appearance that I enjoyed. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Last but not least, “‘The king has a tat?’ // Trent touched his right pec. ‘You know the symbol on the queen’s necklace? He’s got it right here.'” I loved that little tidbit so much. It makes me so happy to know that Daniel and Dev finally have something meaningful to tie them together, since they each already had something with Zoey.
Anyway, I know Lexi Blake can weave amazing stories, but this spin-off series just hasn’t been quite working for me, at least not when it focuses on the romance. I love the original characters and the world too much to stop though, so I’m still reading and seeing where things go.
*This is a spin-off series, and I highly HIGHLY recommend starting with Steal the Light. The original characters have a heavy presence, and I don’t think this spin-off series will be as enjoyable if you haven’t read the original one.*
Recommended For:
Fans of Lexi Blake's Thieves series and Books 1 & 2 in her Hunter series. Anyone who likes laugh-out-loud hilarity, heart-wrenching emotion, complex and flawed but still lovable characters, action, heists, sex, supernatural creatures (especially vampires), and lots of adorable relationships of all kinds (Thieves). Anyone who likes alpha males, menages, and paranormal/urban fantasy with significant romance and sex (Hunter). Anyone who likes feisty heroines, lovable characters, polyamorous romances, and complex, long-game plots (overall series).
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
I read this book and wrote this review in 2017, but I’m only now getting around to posting it because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. But I’ve enjoyed the next two books more, so I’ve decided to continue reviewing this series. That’s just my disclaimer as to why I’m reviewing a book three years after reading it :-P
*This review contains spoilers about which love interest Kelsey ends up with in this series.*
It hurts me to give another book in this series a less-than-stellar review since I absolutely LOVE the original Thieves books, but I’m really having mixed feelings about this spin-off series. I had issues with the first book, I loved the second book, but this one brought me back to having issues.
I feel like this was 80% sex and 20% “Oh yeah, Neil’s thing is supposed to be in this book too.” There weren’t that many actual sex scenes, but there was so much about Kelsey needing to get laid, thinking about all the different men she had feelings for, literally needing a man to keep her inner wolf under control, fantasizing about and getting turned on by everyone… At one point, her men were having a conversation about HER life, and she was too distracted to even join in because her breasts were being touched.
I was also bothered by something that I consider dub-con at the very least. *MILD SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Speaking of Kelsey’s men, she ended up with both Gray and Trent, but the shift from triangle to menage felt rushed and forced into the book, and I don’t feel like it’s brought anything to the story so far.
Some other issues I had: Trent and Gray kept calling Kelsey “sweetheart” in a way that sounded condescending. Men were literally making decisions about her life for her (e.g. no one even asked her if she was ok with being in a menage relationship, Gray and Trent moved into her place without asking). Kelsey brushed off Zoey’s past rape in an almost joking way in her thoughts. Kelsey’s sudden strong desire to have kids didn’t seem natural or in-character. And let’s not forget that Kelsey literally needed men to have sex with her in order to keep from going berserk and killing people.
I feel like this book was trying to be feminist but missed the mark entirely. Kelsey talked about how she never submitted except in the bedroom, and she was made out to be this strong female character because she could fight and drank beer and ate burgers, but that’s not what makes someone strong. Or maybe I’m wrong and the book wasn’t trying to be anything and this is just Kelsey’s character, and that’s that. But it was disappointing because I actually loved her character in the previous book.
There were a couple things I liked though! For one thing, I’m glad Marcus is no longer one of Kelsey’s love interests. I’m sad that he probably won’t be in the books as much now, but Kelsey wasn’t right for him, and he deserves to find someone who is.
My favorite thing was Neil and Chad’s relationship, even though there wasn’t much about it. I would love a book about them. They’re just so cute together, and although Chad is possessive and intense, he seems to always be there for Neil and really love him. And we haven’t seen much of Neil in this spin-off series, so I just wonder how he’s changed, how he’s been, etc. He’s a very lovable character. I was happy for him when he finally confronted his past in this book and seemed to start going back to his old, confident self because it had seemed like he had been haunted.
There was also a surprise character appearance that I enjoyed. *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Last but not least, “‘The king has a tat?’ // Trent touched his right pec. ‘You know the symbol on the queen’s necklace? He’s got it right here.'” I loved that little tidbit so much. It makes me so happy to know that Daniel and Dev finally have something meaningful to tie them together, since they each already had something with Zoey.
Anyway, I know Lexi Blake can weave amazing stories, but this spin-off series just hasn’t been quite working for me, at least not when it focuses on the romance. I love the original characters and the world too much to stop though, so I’m still reading and seeing where things go.
*This is a spin-off series, and I highly HIGHLY recommend starting with Steal the Light. The original characters have a heavy presence, and I don’t think this spin-off series will be as enjoyable if you haven’t read the original one.*
Recommended For:
Fans of Lexi Blake's Thieves series and Books 1 & 2 in her Hunter series. Anyone who likes laugh-out-loud hilarity, heart-wrenching emotion, complex and flawed but still lovable characters, action, heists, sex, supernatural creatures (especially vampires), and lots of adorable relationships of all kinds (Thieves). Anyone who likes alpha males, menages, and paranormal/urban fantasy with significant romance and sex (Hunter). Anyone who likes feisty heroines, lovable characters, polyamorous romances, and complex, long-game plots (overall series).
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
October 17, 2017
I'm not normally a fan of paranormal romance, but in the Thieves series, Lexi Blake sweeps the reader along in a tour de force of delightful characters, complex plots, and tender romance, sweetened with a sprinkle of humor. In addition, we have angels, demons, vampires, shifters, and possibly other out of this world creatures, living on different planes, but intersecting on earth. Sleeper is the third entry in the series that deals with Kelsey, the Hunter who protects the king of the vampires. Kelsey loves Grayson, a half-demon half human, but there are other men in her life. Can she and Grayson work out their issues and accept that Kelsey needs more than one lover to keep her grounded? And can Kelsey find a way to keep the secret about the king's son, while battling the forces of Heaven itself?
Kelsey is such a kickass person-agile, smart, and a fighter, but also someone who cares for others enough to protect them. Although this book is ostensibly about her and Grayson, he plays less of a role in this book than he did in the previous books. Marcus also plays less of a role, but we learn more about her other lover.
There are surprises throughout the entire book, including the secret about who Zoey, Kelsey and several of the other characters are descended from. It's hard to talk about the plot without spoilers, so I'm not going to say anything else about it.
Just know the characters are fascinating, the plot drives the story along to the point you don't want to put the book down, and although the sex scenes are hot, they don't take over the story-even with a menage. It takes a very talented author to carry off creating a new world order and making it believable and Lexi Blake has loads of talent!
December 3, 2018
After a rocky start to the Hunter spin off from Lexi Blake's Thieves series I have to say I'm now really enjoying Kelsey's story. Addict was the turning point for me but Sleeper ended up being even better and it definitely left me excited to read more about Kelsey and her ever more complicated life.
As the contract between demons and vampires is very close to running out completely tensions between the two groups are high, especially since vampire king refuses to allow the council to start to negotiate new terms. Kelsey has more reasons than most to have a grudge against the demons but she knows how precarious the balance is between the different supernatural groups and when a murderer starts targeting half-breeds she knows it's her job as Nex Aparatus to get to the bottom of it. Of course she's also busy with her side quest to find a way to destroy her nemesis Nemcox but he's turning out to be tricky to track down.
I've never been a big fan of Kelsey and Marcus as a couple, their connection always felt forced to me, more down to the bond because he is her trainer than any real, long lasting attraction so I was happy with the way their relationship started to change at the beginning of this story. I like them both as individuals and really, really want to see Marcus get his own book and a HEA, but I like Kelsey so much more when she's with Trent and Gray, either individually or as an eventual triad. Things have gotten really complicated with Gray since he was given his prophecy powers and walked away from her yet again but it's much easier when it comes to Trent and he is obviously willing to sacrifice a lot to be with her.
This story isn't just about the relationships though, there are some brilliant moments between Kelsey and Lee in particular but I'm also enjoying seeing the old gang now they're back to their old selves. We were left with a lot of questions about Neil at the end of the original Thieves series and it was great to finally get some answers here about what had happened to him all those years ago. I also think the next book is going to be even more exciting now that a certain wizard has decided to put in a reappearance, I suspect he's going to be causing all kinds of trouble and I can't wait to see how it all plays out!
As the contract between demons and vampires is very close to running out completely tensions between the two groups are high, especially since vampire king refuses to allow the council to start to negotiate new terms. Kelsey has more reasons than most to have a grudge against the demons but she knows how precarious the balance is between the different supernatural groups and when a murderer starts targeting half-breeds she knows it's her job as Nex Aparatus to get to the bottom of it. Of course she's also busy with her side quest to find a way to destroy her nemesis Nemcox but he's turning out to be tricky to track down.
I've never been a big fan of Kelsey and Marcus as a couple, their connection always felt forced to me, more down to the bond because he is her trainer than any real, long lasting attraction so I was happy with the way their relationship started to change at the beginning of this story. I like them both as individuals and really, really want to see Marcus get his own book and a HEA, but I like Kelsey so much more when she's with Trent and Gray, either individually or as an eventual triad. Things have gotten really complicated with Gray since he was given his prophecy powers and walked away from her yet again but it's much easier when it comes to Trent and he is obviously willing to sacrifice a lot to be with her.
This story isn't just about the relationships though, there are some brilliant moments between Kelsey and Lee in particular but I'm also enjoying seeing the old gang now they're back to their old selves. We were left with a lot of questions about Neil at the end of the original Thieves series and it was great to finally get some answers here about what had happened to him all those years ago. I also think the next book is going to be even more exciting now that a certain wizard has decided to put in a reappearance, I suspect he's going to be causing all kinds of trouble and I can't wait to see how it all plays out!
October 15, 2017
BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE SERIES OUT THERE!
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this INCREDIBLE SERIES! But, I will try...only for you. Please excuse my rambling, because there will definitely be excessive amounts of rambling on my part. You’ve been warned...
First of all, as you know, Lexi Blake is one of my FAVORITE AUTHORS - whether she is writing PNR, Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance - it doesn’t matter because she is queen of all things romance! She releases her PNR’s a little slower than the rest so I savor it that much more when I get my hands on it. I’ve read ANYTHING and EVERYTHING by Ms. Blake and she NEVER disappoints. Her writing is impeccable. Her character development is spectacular. She is just a master at her craft.
Next, let’s talk about her characters. I can’t go too much into it, story-wise, because I don’t want to give anything away but all of her characters, primary or secondary, are absolutely AMAZING! They have so much heart and so much complexity it just blows my ever-lovin’ mind! There are little nuances with each character that she brings to light that makes them that much more real. It’s hard to describe but I fell in love with each and every one of them in this series and when there is a new one introduced, there is nothing for me to do but to make room in my heart for them as well. Fans of this series will know what I’m talking about when I say Kelsey Owens is an absolute BADASS chick! She is the Hunter and one of the main characters in this story and I strive to be exactly like her, minus all the demon ass-kicking of course. Then there is Marcus, Gray, Neil, and the rest of the gang that make this series what it is - a breath-taking, emotional, intense, and passionate paranormal thrill ride of EPIC PROPORTIONS! It’s hard to give you quotes from this book without spoiling any of it, but I will give you a little tease from one of my favorite characters from this book...
”I’m a very clean wolf. Well, except when you want me dirty. Then I can get filthy for you, baby. I promise. I’ll dirty up real nice.”
And lastly, the story itself. SLEEPER is book #3 in Ms. Blake’s Hunter series, which is a spin-off of her Thieves Series. Are you with me so far? You don’t technically need to read her entire Thieves Series in order to devour the Hunter Series, but I highly recommend it. I think you will want the ENTIRE pictures (and it’s a big one!) to appreciate the complexity of Kelsey’s world. If you are a PNR fan then you should be used to complex series and this should be a piece of cake to you. Just know that this series has become a staple to my PNR desires. I don’t read a lot of PNR, but when I do, Lexi Blake is a GO-TO for me. Take that for what it’s worth and go out and buy the damn thing. Lexi Blake is a hero of mine in this genre and as long as she keeps writing...I will be first in line to devour anything and everything she has to offer.
I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this INCREDIBLE SERIES! But, I will try...only for you. Please excuse my rambling, because there will definitely be excessive amounts of rambling on my part. You’ve been warned...
First of all, as you know, Lexi Blake is one of my FAVORITE AUTHORS - whether she is writing PNR, Romantic Suspense, Erotic Romance - it doesn’t matter because she is queen of all things romance! She releases her PNR’s a little slower than the rest so I savor it that much more when I get my hands on it. I’ve read ANYTHING and EVERYTHING by Ms. Blake and she NEVER disappoints. Her writing is impeccable. Her character development is spectacular. She is just a master at her craft.
Next, let’s talk about her characters. I can’t go too much into it, story-wise, because I don’t want to give anything away but all of her characters, primary or secondary, are absolutely AMAZING! They have so much heart and so much complexity it just blows my ever-lovin’ mind! There are little nuances with each character that she brings to light that makes them that much more real. It’s hard to describe but I fell in love with each and every one of them in this series and when there is a new one introduced, there is nothing for me to do but to make room in my heart for them as well. Fans of this series will know what I’m talking about when I say Kelsey Owens is an absolute BADASS chick! She is the Hunter and one of the main characters in this story and I strive to be exactly like her, minus all the demon ass-kicking of course. Then there is Marcus, Gray, Neil, and the rest of the gang that make this series what it is - a breath-taking, emotional, intense, and passionate paranormal thrill ride of EPIC PROPORTIONS! It’s hard to give you quotes from this book without spoiling any of it, but I will give you a little tease from one of my favorite characters from this book...
”I’m a very clean wolf. Well, except when you want me dirty. Then I can get filthy for you, baby. I promise. I’ll dirty up real nice.”
And lastly, the story itself. SLEEPER is book #3 in Ms. Blake’s Hunter series, which is a spin-off of her Thieves Series. Are you with me so far? You don’t technically need to read her entire Thieves Series in order to devour the Hunter Series, but I highly recommend it. I think you will want the ENTIRE pictures (and it’s a big one!) to appreciate the complexity of Kelsey’s world. If you are a PNR fan then you should be used to complex series and this should be a piece of cake to you. Just know that this series has become a staple to my PNR desires. I don’t read a lot of PNR, but when I do, Lexi Blake is a GO-TO for me. Take that for what it’s worth and go out and buy the damn thing. Lexi Blake is a hero of mine in this genre and as long as she keeps writing...I will be first in line to devour anything and everything she has to offer.
May 10, 2021
I waited years for this follow up? I'm a bit let down. Waffling between a 3 and 4, I've decided on a 3.5. Kelsey is back and it's a train wreck. It's like everything she does is the bloody hard way. Why can't it be where she isn't so pigheaded? What is wrong with working with others? She takes lone wolf to a whole other level. And the men she is in love with. Marcus is the one who saved her and yet she aggravates him to a point that he has to walk away for their own good. I get it, but really does Kelsey have to behave like a juvenile? She is supposed to be a strong female who can kick butt. She's got the rage down. She's got the obstinate head butting down. As for a strong female... nope. She's disappointing falling into the #1stworldproblem "Daddy issues". Yes, she's had a terrible father. In the previous two books, it looked like she overcame her daddy issues. Not so.
The daddy issues which cause her to have extreme trust issues carries into her screwing up her relationship with Marcus. Then her dysfunctional love of Grey who can't return her love yet doesn't want to let her go. Seriously, reading how Grey is with her reminds me of the song Attention
You got me thinking 'bout when you were mine, oh
And now I'm all up on ya, what you expect?
But you're not coming home with me tonight
You just want attention, you don't want my heart
Maybe you just hate the thought of me with someone new
Yeah, you just want attention, I knew from the start
You're just making sure I'm never gettin' over you
EXACTLY GREY! Move back and leave a real man to give Kelsey what she needs. Let Trent do it. Seriously, Trent is the better man in so many different ways. I love Trent. He's the one who steps up and does anything for Kelsey, even placing his life on the line. Grey is just all about his bloody sob father. This complicated love tug of war, I'm so over. It looks like this story finally ends with a possible fix and then rips it out from under us. *Shakes fist at Ms. Blake*
This review is probably all over the place because the story is all over the place too. For those who are not sure what is going on the first few chapters, stick with it. Grid your loins and just plow through it. Because it does get better. The first part of the book forced me to really pull memories of the previous two books as well as what happened in the Thieves series. Do not read, I repeat. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK AS A STANDALONE. Unless you have a good memory recall, it might be good to re-read all the books prior to this one, in BOTH series. There are references that can throw a reader if they don't remember all the characters in the Vampire world under the Thieves with Zoey in them. It took a few chapters for my brain to finally get caught up and then the story became good. Really good because the precocious child of Zoey's, Lee, changes and it just about brought me down to my knees. If it is angst one wants, Ms. Blake deliveres. It's a nice and unique way to resolve daddy issues as well as reveal more in this mysterious agenda.
I'm really hoping the next book in either the Hunter or Thieves comes out soon. I want to know how this all ties together. I have my suspicions. We'll see if they are correct. I'm looking forward to a massive showdown as more is revealed in this book. The last half of this story tries to move fast and it does in some ways. The plot progresses. It is the delayed reveal of what Zoey and Kelsey really are that feels drawn out and overly dramatized. Still, it does bring in a new element to this story and enhances the world building. Love it.
Let's talk about the sex. The sex was good. Bloody good (pun intended). For those who like dark sex in graphic 300 Rise of the Empire style, this story will work for you. There is no sweet loving. It's brutal and intense. Just how I enjoy my sex. The chemistry between Kelsey, Grey and Trent is off the charts and I like it that way. Ms. Blake does an excellent job with the sexual tension.
Overall, this book was a page turner. I kept reading through the night until it was done. So I must have liked it. This is a 3.5 urban fantasy/paranormal romance recommended for fans of obstinate female leads.
The daddy issues which cause her to have extreme trust issues carries into her screwing up her relationship with Marcus. Then her dysfunctional love of Grey who can't return her love yet doesn't want to let her go. Seriously, reading how Grey is with her reminds me of the song Attention
You got me thinking 'bout when you were mine, oh
And now I'm all up on ya, what you expect?
But you're not coming home with me tonight
You just want attention, you don't want my heart
Maybe you just hate the thought of me with someone new
Yeah, you just want attention, I knew from the start
You're just making sure I'm never gettin' over you
EXACTLY GREY! Move back and leave a real man to give Kelsey what she needs. Let Trent do it. Seriously, Trent is the better man in so many different ways. I love Trent. He's the one who steps up and does anything for Kelsey, even placing his life on the line. Grey is just all about his bloody sob father. This complicated love tug of war, I'm so over. It looks like this story finally ends with a possible fix and then rips it out from under us. *Shakes fist at Ms. Blake*
This review is probably all over the place because the story is all over the place too. For those who are not sure what is going on the first few chapters, stick with it. Grid your loins and just plow through it. Because it does get better. The first part of the book forced me to really pull memories of the previous two books as well as what happened in the Thieves series. Do not read, I repeat. DO NOT READ THIS BOOK AS A STANDALONE. Unless you have a good memory recall, it might be good to re-read all the books prior to this one, in BOTH series. There are references that can throw a reader if they don't remember all the characters in the Vampire world under the Thieves with Zoey in them. It took a few chapters for my brain to finally get caught up and then the story became good. Really good because the precocious child of Zoey's, Lee, changes and it just about brought me down to my knees. If it is angst one wants, Ms. Blake deliveres. It's a nice and unique way to resolve daddy issues as well as reveal more in this mysterious agenda.
I'm really hoping the next book in either the Hunter or Thieves comes out soon. I want to know how this all ties together. I have my suspicions. We'll see if they are correct. I'm looking forward to a massive showdown as more is revealed in this book. The last half of this story tries to move fast and it does in some ways. The plot progresses. It is the delayed reveal of what Zoey and Kelsey really are that feels drawn out and overly dramatized. Still, it does bring in a new element to this story and enhances the world building. Love it.
Let's talk about the sex. The sex was good. Bloody good (pun intended). For those who like dark sex in graphic 300 Rise of the Empire style, this story will work for you. There is no sweet loving. It's brutal and intense. Just how I enjoy my sex. The chemistry between Kelsey, Grey and Trent is off the charts and I like it that way. Ms. Blake does an excellent job with the sexual tension.
Overall, this book was a page turner. I kept reading through the night until it was done. So I must have liked it. This is a 3.5 urban fantasy/paranormal romance recommended for fans of obstinate female leads.
October 22, 2017
Kelsey has accepted her role as King Daniel Donovan's Nex Apparatus though she has her own opinion on what her actual responsibilities and loyalties are and continually tests status quo. Coming into her own powers, Kelsey is determined to be her own person and do what she feels needs to be done despite what her superiors and handler tell her.
When her past love comes back into the picture Kelsey will find that problems of the past are nothing compared to what's about to happen. Angels, demons, and paranormals, oh my.
One last thing. Make sure to dot all i's and cross all t's in any contract and never ever forget to read the fine print.
* * *
First and foremost. It's not possible to read this book as a stand alone. Don't try to nor attempt to if you haven't read any of the previous Hunter installments and even then I suggest doing a re-read of those installments as Addict (Hunter, #2) was released Sept/2015. Personally, I read Addict very soon after release date and had a VERY hard time understanding the first 10% of this book. Totally lost in getting up to speed which is why I'd suggest doing a review before starting this one.
For fans of Lexi Blake I'm sure this story was very welcome and well received. It's jam packed with all the snarky fun, adult content erotica, and twist & turns this author is known for. Additionally, the author provides a platform for a strong female main character to shine while inserting a degree of vulnerability and angst that shows even strong characters have weak moments. It's how they deal with them that matter.
INHO I feel this story equates to a yummy artistically visual celebration cake. Beautiful to the eye and with the implied promise that you are about to receive a piece of ambrosia you will not soon forget. Unfortunately there's way too much frosting piled on and not enough cake for my tastes making it hard to isolate the different flavors and textures.
I can't stress enough that it's not a good idea to jump in and read this story if you haven't read previous installments. Characters, back histories, previous twists and turns that carry through to existing story, and world building are complex and integrated with the result new readers will be lost and confused. For those who have read previous installments, it's really up to individual preference whether or not to grab this book and continue the journey of Kelsey and discovering that the karma isn't done with Zoey, Daniel, and Dev.
When her past love comes back into the picture Kelsey will find that problems of the past are nothing compared to what's about to happen. Angels, demons, and paranormals, oh my.
One last thing. Make sure to dot all i's and cross all t's in any contract and never ever forget to read the fine print.
* * *
First and foremost. It's not possible to read this book as a stand alone. Don't try to nor attempt to if you haven't read any of the previous Hunter installments and even then I suggest doing a re-read of those installments as Addict (Hunter, #2) was released Sept/2015. Personally, I read Addict very soon after release date and had a VERY hard time understanding the first 10% of this book. Totally lost in getting up to speed which is why I'd suggest doing a review before starting this one.
For fans of Lexi Blake I'm sure this story was very welcome and well received. It's jam packed with all the snarky fun, adult content erotica, and twist & turns this author is known for. Additionally, the author provides a platform for a strong female main character to shine while inserting a degree of vulnerability and angst that shows even strong characters have weak moments. It's how they deal with them that matter.
INHO I feel this story equates to a yummy artistically visual celebration cake. Beautiful to the eye and with the implied promise that you are about to receive a piece of ambrosia you will not soon forget. Unfortunately there's way too much frosting piled on and not enough cake for my tastes making it hard to isolate the different flavors and textures.
I can't stress enough that it's not a good idea to jump in and read this story if you haven't read previous installments. Characters, back histories, previous twists and turns that carry through to existing story, and world building are complex and integrated with the result new readers will be lost and confused. For those who have read previous installments, it's really up to individual preference whether or not to grab this book and continue the journey of Kelsey and discovering that the karma isn't done with Zoey, Daniel, and Dev.
October 23, 2017
It is finally here! I binge read the rest of this series and have been itching to get my hands on Sleeper. This book doesn’t let down for a second.
Side note, I need to gush a little on how perfect Lexi’s titles for this series are. They are spot on. By the time you finish the book you have a huge BING moment where it clicks.
All the drama in this book. The romance heat up and while some relationships fare through it, others have run their corse.
I swear I though I had it all worked out and then I was totally wrong. Lexi tends to do this to her readers and it is the funnest thing about her books.
Well, second to the cast. I swear I could read a whole book of just them talking and I would be completely satisfied.
Throw in some murder, betrayal, and HUGE revelations and this books was as good as the rest.
Well, also, I have to mention the steamy scenes. You might need to fan yourself a bit because the swoon level is REAL GUYS. And it rocks!
Add To Goodreads
Buy On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2yuGm7Z
Synopsis:
When Neil’s past catches up to him, Kelsey must choose between her new family and an old love…
With tensions rising between the Council and demonkind, Kelsey finds herself investigating a series of murders that threaten the fragile truce between them. If she can’t stop these killings soon, they could ignite a fire sure to burn the supernatural world down.
Unfortunately for her, Kelsey’s problems don’t stop with a pile of dead halflings. Her connection with Marcus is frayed at best, and Gray hasn’t been heard from in months. Her only semblance of peace comes from a new man in her life. When Gray storms back into the picture, her love life goes from incredibly complicated to apocalyptic.
Just as Kelsey begins to unravel the mystery, the forces of Heaven decide to take an interest in her actions. Outclassed with these powers in play, Kelsey knows that one misstep could leave the human and supernatural worlds in ashes.
October 17, 2017
4.25 stars. This book was so much better than the first two books in the series! This is the continuation of Kelsey Owens story. In this book, Kelsey finally comes into her own. She is comfortable with who she is and what her purpose is. I really began to love her character. She has grown so much since book 1. Kelsey is badass and she fights for what is right, standing up for the little people and for herself. She has found her own friends and family to lean on. I loved her little circle. I loved that she finally found her perfect loves too! I can't wait to see how that all works out for her in the rest of the series.
I loved the story in this book. I won't give too much away. There are a lot of twists and surprises. It is best to go in blind. I will say that Zoey played a pretty big part at times. I almost wished that I could see her POV of some of the happenings. Maybe Zoey, Dev and Daniel will get another book in the series one day. Also, the overarching series storyline is really heating up. I can see what is coming for them in the future and I can't wait to see how it all plays out! I hope we don't have to wait for book 4 as long as the wait for book 3. Overall, this series is an exciting adventure, with kickass characters, sweet and sexy times, and the perfect balance of suspense and humor. I definitely recommend it!
*an arc was provided in exchange for an honest review*
I loved the story in this book. I won't give too much away. There are a lot of twists and surprises. It is best to go in blind. I will say that Zoey played a pretty big part at times. I almost wished that I could see her POV of some of the happenings. Maybe Zoey, Dev and Daniel will get another book in the series one day. Also, the overarching series storyline is really heating up. I can see what is coming for them in the future and I can't wait to see how it all plays out! I hope we don't have to wait for book 4 as long as the wait for book 3. Overall, this series is an exciting adventure, with kickass characters, sweet and sexy times, and the perfect balance of suspense and humor. I definitely recommend it!
*an arc was provided in exchange for an honest review*
October 11, 2017
This series is PNR perfection. This book....oh my lord....it had me on the edge. So much happens!! The action....the intrigue....the passion....all of it is jammed into this book. I dare you to try and not read this in one sitting. It's impossible to put down. Lexi Blake is a genius. I'm already salivating for the next book.
Reviewed by: A Bookseller
Reviewed by: A Bookseller
October 9, 2017
This series is PNR perfection. This book....oh my lord....it had me on the edge. So much happens!! The action....the intrigue....the passion....all of it is jammed into this book. I dare you to try and not read this in one sitting. It's impossible to put down. Lexi Blake is a genius. I'm already salivating for the next book.
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October 17, 2017Can't wait for this. Rereading Kelsey's story just makes me more needy for this one. Love it! Need it!
October 19, 2017
I'm very greedy for this series, to the extent that I did an entire series re-read last year and then bought the whole series from Lexi at the RT Convention. So I did a happy dance when I saw we had a new installment coming out this month. And, seeing as I got the ARC on my birthday... happy birthday to me!!!
As this is an urban fantasy series, you really need to read all the earlier books before embarking upon Sleeper. There are new storylines for each book, but there is also a continuing series arc that would be difficult to follow. Plus, all the books are awesome so... just read them.
Anywho, our heroine and Nex Apparatus, Kelsey Atwood, is still a slightly crazy kickass killing machine (a/k/a bringer of death). In this installment, Kelsey is investigating the deaths of halfling demons and continuing to stalk and try to eliminate her nemesis, Nemcox. We see factions from various planes getting in on the action, including Earth, Heaven and Hell. I liked this plot conflict and enjoy all the action. Kelsey is maturing as a character, stepping away from the crazy and settling into her powers. We learn something interesting and unique about the history of the Nex Apparatus and the Companions, and I'm interested to see how this changes the series dynamic in future books.
As for the romance, my favorite character of the series, Marcus Vorenus, has had to take a step back. We knew after the last book that, unfortunately, Kelsey was not going to be his happily-ever-after... and man, do I really want that for him. So now I am really really hoping for a spinoff series for Marcus. Especially if it includes the freaking magical painting!
Much of Kelsey's settling comes from accepting her wolf and her relationships, and getting her men on the same page. While I didn't expect to like Trent so much, he came out on top for me in this book. I loved his patience and understanding, and that he was the voice of reason so many times as the plot progressed. He was honorable and self-sacrificing, and I really wanted Kelsey (and Sloane) to be more open to him. Sloane came off as aloof and unreasonable at times, and I wish we had more character development for him. (Or maybe we have had it, and its just not registering in my mind.) It's weird to see Sloane's seeming devotion to his family given that they want to basically imprison him in Hell for the rest of eternity... but hey, family is family I suppose.
I continue to love all the children in the series, which is surprising to me as I'm not a kiddo person. Lee plays a larger part in this book and there are some things fate has in store for him that sound interesting. So overall there are lots of little threads out there to be tied up and I'm not worried about one of my favorite series going away anytime soon.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received as part of the blog tour with InkslingerPR.
October 14, 2017
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
I’m now totally obsessed with this series! In this third book, we see Kelsey continue to come into her powers as she attempts to prevent an apocalyptic war between heaven, earth and hell. This third book has a little less action and focuses a little more on the political maneuvering between various groups - though it ends with a spectacular battle.
In this story, Kelsey moves further away from monogamy as she becomes part of a menage of sorts. I feel like Kelsey’s personal development and her reason for needing multiple partners makes her a little too similar to Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake at times. However, Kelsey is a more pragmatic character who gets shit done with much angst. For much of this book, Kelsey is determined to sacrifice herself to save another character. While it’s a chivalrous decision, it also feels a little bit selfish and she becomes irritatingly unreasonable as this storyline continues.
I love the men in Kelsey’s life more and more with each book. Trent, the werewolf, Grey the demon and Marcus the vampire all bring unique strengths to Kelsey’s life. In this story, the women also come into their own. A new story arc opens up with Zoey, the Queen, and her daughter at the centre.
I really love this series. Like all the best UF, it makes me stop and consider the world around me. The world building gets more complex with each book - this one introduces angels- and I love the way the author draws on mythology and lore from various traditions to create her own unique world. I love the whole cast of characters and I like that the supporting characters grow develop alongside Kelsey and her men.
I’m now totally obsessed with this series! In this third book, we see Kelsey continue to come into her powers as she attempts to prevent an apocalyptic war between heaven, earth and hell. This third book has a little less action and focuses a little more on the political maneuvering between various groups - though it ends with a spectacular battle.
In this story, Kelsey moves further away from monogamy as she becomes part of a menage of sorts. I feel like Kelsey’s personal development and her reason for needing multiple partners makes her a little too similar to Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake at times. However, Kelsey is a more pragmatic character who gets shit done with much angst. For much of this book, Kelsey is determined to sacrifice herself to save another character. While it’s a chivalrous decision, it also feels a little bit selfish and she becomes irritatingly unreasonable as this storyline continues.
I love the men in Kelsey’s life more and more with each book. Trent, the werewolf, Grey the demon and Marcus the vampire all bring unique strengths to Kelsey’s life. In this story, the women also come into their own. A new story arc opens up with Zoey, the Queen, and her daughter at the centre.
I really love this series. Like all the best UF, it makes me stop and consider the world around me. The world building gets more complex with each book - this one introduces angels- and I love the way the author draws on mythology and lore from various traditions to create her own unique world. I love the whole cast of characters and I like that the supporting characters grow develop alongside Kelsey and her men.
October 17, 2017
Life as a Hunter is never easy. There are so many hurdles that face Kelsey. The biggest is dealing with the men that possess her heart. One is a demon and the other a vampire. What could be wrong with that? Apparently a lot when you are pulled from both directions. Kelsey can’t help feel for Gray and Marcus. Both have played such a huge part in her life…..well, up until now.
Heaven and Hell are at odds and Kelsey is doing her best to stop an apocalypse. Grey, Marcus, and Trent all are at the center of where Kelsey’s inner wolf lies. Its’ a wild ride that will definitely leave a lasting impression on the Hunter (and readers). As we have learned before, nothing in Kelsey’s life is ‘easy’ since she became a Hunter. The only question is how this paranormal trio will end up once the dust settles.
So - if you have followed my reviews of the Thieves and Hunter series….you know I LOVE them! Every single nuance of this paranormal world that Lexi Blake created calls to me. In Sleeper, I found myself pushing to come up with a review that didn’t just explode all over the page. Sound crazy? Well….the plot of this book makes me want to get vomit of the mouth and tell you EVERYTHING that is going on in Kelsey’s world!! Now ….you know you don’t want me to spoil it for you! However - I will tell you one thing….you MUST dive into this fantasy world and all of the layers of the characters. I am HOOKED and can tell you that this series is one that should not be missed!!
Heaven and Hell are at odds and Kelsey is doing her best to stop an apocalypse. Grey, Marcus, and Trent all are at the center of where Kelsey’s inner wolf lies. Its’ a wild ride that will definitely leave a lasting impression on the Hunter (and readers). As we have learned before, nothing in Kelsey’s life is ‘easy’ since she became a Hunter. The only question is how this paranormal trio will end up once the dust settles.
So - if you have followed my reviews of the Thieves and Hunter series….you know I LOVE them! Every single nuance of this paranormal world that Lexi Blake created calls to me. In Sleeper, I found myself pushing to come up with a review that didn’t just explode all over the page. Sound crazy? Well….the plot of this book makes me want to get vomit of the mouth and tell you EVERYTHING that is going on in Kelsey’s world!! Now ….you know you don’t want me to spoil it for you! However - I will tell you one thing….you MUST dive into this fantasy world and all of the layers of the characters. I am HOOKED and can tell you that this series is one that should not be missed!!
August 27, 2018
Okay. There are a lot of things that are great about this installment. We finally learn more about Neil and his problems. This was something left unsaid about three book ago and it was much over do for some explaining. Zoey is more active in this and we get to see our lead in more action.
What I don’t really care too much for is the relationships in this book. We go from Asshat to Teacher to falling out of love to getting into a relationship we never saw coming. This new additional switch up felt extremely disingenuous to me. It felt force, completely wrong; in fact you don’t even get a little bit attraction from the guy until this book. I just didn’t feel it and the new trio just doesn’t fit for me. I literally skipped over the make out sessions because I just didn’t care. I get that Lexi Blake/Sophie Oaks only seems to write ménage stories, but I think this one could have been the exception.
I still love the kids in this book. They never disappoint. Daniel was less than his normal personality but it was believable. Dev, you barely see him.
Over all, it’s just a meh read for me.
What I don’t really care too much for is the relationships in this book. We go from Asshat to Teacher to falling out of love to getting into a relationship we never saw coming. This new additional switch up felt extremely disingenuous to me. It felt force, completely wrong; in fact you don’t even get a little bit attraction from the guy until this book. I just didn’t feel it and the new trio just doesn’t fit for me. I literally skipped over the make out sessions because I just didn’t care. I get that Lexi Blake/Sophie Oaks only seems to write ménage stories, but I think this one could have been the exception.
I still love the kids in this book. They never disappoint. Daniel was less than his normal personality but it was believable. Dev, you barely see him.
Over all, it’s just a meh read for me.
October 13, 2017
Sleeper (Hunter #3) by Lexi Blake
5 stars
M/F/M Shifter Romance Mystery
Triggers: Murder, Body take over,
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This series just keeps getting more and more interesting! I love all of these characters!
You still have the main character, Kelsey who is trying to figure out how to save her plane as well as protect her father's soul. That mystery is compelling and intriguing, if not slightly frustrating too. I want to know the answer to the mystery, but it has been relegated to the next book (hopefully).
Then you have Gray and Trent too. They come together to help Kelsey become more grounded. Not only are the scenes between these three sexy, it shows that both men are willing to do whatever they can in order to have Kelsey with them. And, even when Gray and Trent don't always see eye to eye, they still try to put Kelsey first, which is amazing.
Gray has a lot of drama in this story, but the twists and turns throughout made this story fantastic.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
5 stars
M/F/M Shifter Romance Mystery
Triggers: Murder, Body take over,
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
This series just keeps getting more and more interesting! I love all of these characters!
You still have the main character, Kelsey who is trying to figure out how to save her plane as well as protect her father's soul. That mystery is compelling and intriguing, if not slightly frustrating too. I want to know the answer to the mystery, but it has been relegated to the next book (hopefully).
Then you have Gray and Trent too. They come together to help Kelsey become more grounded. Not only are the scenes between these three sexy, it shows that both men are willing to do whatever they can in order to have Kelsey with them. And, even when Gray and Trent don't always see eye to eye, they still try to put Kelsey first, which is amazing.
Gray has a lot of drama in this story, but the twists and turns throughout made this story fantastic.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
October 19, 2017
I like the first two Hunter series books, but not as much as I enjoyed Thieves. Well, with this book (Sleeper) I can say it is up there as equal favourite for me with the Thieves book #3 in this whole series. What a great read!!! I couldn't put it down, even reading it at work and at 2am. I can't wait to see where the story goes in book #4!!! I love Kesley and her men, and I love Zoey - she can totally be my Queen :D
November 30, 2022
I love this series. Totally addicted and running out of credits but that's ok!
Lexi is one of my favorite authors because she keeps the storylines interesting and always exciting.
Moving on to the next book in the series!
Kitty Bang is sheer perfection for this series!
Lexi is one of my favorite authors because she keeps the storylines interesting and always exciting.
Moving on to the next book in the series!
Kitty Bang is sheer perfection for this series!
January 28, 2025
5 stars for Sleeper by Lexi Blake
Another amazing read for such an amazing series. Love Kelsey, Gray and Trent. What a great storyline. There are so many twists and turns. Love all the mythology storylines. Can't wait for the next installment of the Thieves series.
Another amazing read for such an amazing series. Love Kelsey, Gray and Trent. What a great storyline. There are so many twists and turns. Love all the mythology storylines. Can't wait for the next installment of the Thieves series.
May 16, 2018
So many things happened in this book!
First off, Kelsey and Marcus broke up. I was waiting for it, expecting it and yet it was sad. That moment when she goes into his arms for comfort and can't find it, was very sad. I'm happy they parted as friends though and he was always there when Kelsey needed him. I like that Marcus confided in her too, talking to her about the girl in the painting. They are friends, they care for each other. It's bittersweet that Marcus had to give Kelsey up so soon though, he spent years half in love with Zoey and when he finally finds a sort of relationship, he already knows it has an end date. Sigh. I want to hug him. Hold on sweetie, Summer is almost there!
I struggled a bit warming up to Trent and Kelsey together. I don't know why but them being together didn't really looked right until Gray was with them as well. I don't know, the feelings weren't so strong to me. While I never struggled to see the connection between Zoey and Daniel and Zoey and Dev, it was harder with Kelsey and Trent. By the end I loved them together though :)
I loved the plot, the attempt of disrupting the balance of the planes and also the fact that Daniel was basically ready to war the entire Hell plane out of love for Neil. Poor Neil, thirty years of abuse? I can't even think about it. But I loved that Oliver pulled strings to free him. He wants to look like he's so stern, but he has a heart of gold! Of course that made it hard for Daniel in the end, because he couldn't call the Satan, but that's the problem with secrecy: you try your hardest, but something always comes up to disrupt the plans.
Nemcox finally died, although it was faster than I would have liked. Well, I'll just dream up some terrible torture for him, although dying when he was certain he was winning, must have hurt. I wished it was Neil who executed him though.
What I didn't like was Trent's (apparent) demand that he was the one to kill Nemcox because "he couldn't trust anybody else to do it". Seriously? That's a biiiiit arrogant on his part, not to mention that he had to be an idiot to think Gray would just accept it. I mean, what did he think would happen? "You know buddy, your brother wanted to kill our woman and steal her soul and torture her for all eternity, I had to kill him. Yes, of course I know you loved him. No, I didn't really consider other options because only Kelsey matter and I'm the only being in the universe who could pull this off. No, I didn't trust that you could make him change his mind, or find a way out. I didn't want to waste time to give you a shot. Let's go drink something and you'll forget about this."
I wanted Nemcox dead and I'm happy he is (and I agree that Gray could have never changed his mind), but Trent was absolutely the last person who should have done the job. From a reader point of view, I'm gleefully waiting for the drama to unfold in the next book, but from a character point of view it didn't make sense for Daniel to allow it. He knows the intricate relationship and love a menage requires, he knows Kelsey needs the stability, he knows she needs both Gray and Trent. By allowing Trent to kill Nemcox, he unbalanced that triad because there was no way Gray wouldn't have reacted to it. Also, he considered the possibility of something going wrong and that he would need to banish Trent, further destabilizing Kelsey. I don't know, it just looked like poor reasoning on his part and I'm surprised Zoey went along with it. I'm sure there must have been some discussion, but she should have put her foot down on that one because she's the center of her triad and she knows how Kelsey would feel with one of her men hating the other one. The only explanation that I can think of is that Daniel also knew Gray wouldn't kill Trent, once he was over the initial rage. Gray knows Kelsey loves Trent and wouldn't hurt him because of that, while he would probably hunt down and kill anybody else who killed his brother, no matter how much said brother deserved it. So Trent was relatively safe from Gray's revenge.
As much as I loved the plot Jude cooked up, to me this book revolved around three big revelations/events: Lee, Merlin and the Amazon.
- The story about the Amazon was fascinating. I loved the concept of a female tribe of warriors and their "deal with the devil" that lead to their slavery. I suppose that when Gray said "the crown is twofold" this was what he intended: Daniel and Zoey both have powers and Zoey's were long overdue. I'd be very interested in a tale about how the Amazons and Vampires first met, how the Sword of Light was taken from the Amazon, how their relationship slowly turned from one of equality and love and trust, to one of submission for the Amazons. Apparently both companions and Hunters were Amazon, all parts of the same tribe. Did this mean that the Amazon went actively seeking lone wolves to breed new Hunters? And those Hunters were the Queen's chosen warriors? As I said, fascinating. I sure hope we'll know more, but it looks like the Vampires buried the information, so it could be hard. Oh, and I didn't miss that when Raphael asked Kelsey if she would pledge herself to the sword, he didn't actually mentioned the Sword of Light. Kelsey just assumed it. So what exactly did she pledge herself to? Maybe "sword" as "life of a chosen warrior?"
- Lee. I can't express how much I loved that Lee temporarily came back and was able to meet Kelsey. And that Kelsey knew her father would have loved her with everything in his heart, that she would have always been protected and cherished. Their moments together were a shiny precious gem in this book. I always wondered in what ways Lee was changed when Zoey died in Steal the Night and that has finally been mentioned again. So, he's not entirely human. Maybe because his soul is a wolf? He's half human, half fae (possibly a Green Man? Or maybe a Storm Lord? *wink wink*), with a wolf soul. A lone wolf soul, and lone wolves are very, very strong. And when he was a wolf, Lee wouldn't be influenced by Merlin.
- Merlin. Since Nemcox said Merlin was behind his betraying them all to Marini because he was afraid of Lee, I went back to Steal the Night to read those chapters again. Merlin is weird: on one side he's obviously thirsty for power, but in a covert way. He wants to use Daniel like a puppet, disguising his orders like "advices" and keeping Daniel apart from everybody who could influence him: he tried to push Daniel to get rid of Bris and when that didn't work, he blackmailed Zoey into keeping Bris occupied at critical times. Isn't it interesting that he had no problems in keeping Dev but he wanted Bris gone or turned the other way? I bet whatever magic he has, it doesn't work on gods or ascended gods. And I haven't forgotten the metaphor about playing chess and thinking several moves ahead. On the other hand he goes through the whole "don't hate me my queen" when he leaves. And "something" inside him told him to shut up when he was talking to Zoey about what was about to happen with Marini. What was it? His demon half? Is he conflicted in some way?
Also, I find it curious that Merlin and Daniel had an instant connection, something that caused Daniel to be respectful of his opinion even though they just met. It reminded me of the instant connection Kelsey and Marcus had. That was between Academic and Hunter. Maybe Merlin and Daniel had a weird Magician-King kind of bond? Or, more simply, they are tied together by Excalibur? I wonder what would happen if Daniel got rid of it. Would Merlin still influence him?
The really interesting part is of course Merlin being afraid of Lee and "another magician" who wasn't yet born. Who is this woman he sent fleeing to another plane? Have we met her before? (uhm, could it be Nimue? They left together, after all, and they are both magicians. Their child would probably be one as well and the woman being Nimue would explain why Merlin didn't kill her. He still cared.)
Then, the final piece, Gray's prophecies:
- "If you protect the man, you protect the child and the king." This already came to pass when Kelsey protected her father.
- "The crown is twofold" Daniel and Zoey?
- "but one will come who thinks to unite the lower planes." I guess Merlin? He has ambitions.
- "A trick and a trap. It’s already in place but if he ever knows how Heaven tricked him, his fury will be a thunderstorm, punishing and never ending." Eh, I guess Merlin won't be happy to know Lee was given another chance. Also, I have my suspicions about this... Zoey dies, one of her unborn babies is injured and suddenly she gets to be saved and Lee is the soul chosen for the baby? A baby that was changed by his injury? Lee was still alive when Zoey got pregnant. His soul was still firmly in his body. So, he was given to Zoey specifically to make him be born again. Sneaky angels, I guess they don't like Merlin either.
- "Convince the king. Save this world.” Well, she did convince the king. Saving the world is still work in progress, I guess!
And the other one:
- "A trick and a trap. You’ll solve the mystery and never see the evil coming for you." Gray is really fond of this trick and trap thing. I wonder if this refers to the events of this book or something in the future.
- "The world will fold and bend in on itself and you will be left on the wrong side." Uhm, this scares me. Some kind of apocaliptic events that will separate Kelsey from Trent and Gray sending her (or them) to another plane?
- "Years will pass." Time jump! So the kids can grow up? Or, more probably, to get to the point where Gray has to return to Hell?
- "Your wolf will howl but he will remain steadfast." Eh... Trent isn't coming home anytime soon, I fear :(
- "Hell will come and you will weep, but never leave the path." Yep, Gray is totally going back to Hell. And Kelsey isn't going to follow him.
- "Hold fast. The magician will rule but you can win. Take back the plane." Freaking Merlin. He's coming back with a vengeance. Does this mean he will really subjugate Daniel, Dev and Zoey?
- "Don’t believe the myth that there can be only one. There is strength in numbers. So much strength in the blood. Don’t let them forget." Right, so the first thing I thought of was the last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer when she says something like "In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule." What if Kelsey can find other Hunters? What if they can all share the Sword of Light's powers? What if the Companions can claim that too? They would make a powerful force, one to be reckoned with.
- "History plays itself out again and again, mothers and fathers giving more than mere advice to their children. They give blood so the story continues." And right now we have Lee, Rhys and Evangeline who are children of the Queen of the Amazon, a Green Man and a fertility god. We have Mia, who is a companion, daughter of an angel and a witch. We have Sean, who is the son of a Seelie prince and an Unseelie princess. And finally....
- "The path is set. Summer is almost here.” Yes, we have Summer. A child born by Fae magic, daughter of a Vampire King and a Companion and Queen of the Amazon.
It's for sure an exciting cocktail. Given the premises, the next book is going to be explosive. Why isn't it here yet? What I'm supposed to do with my nights now? Sleep? Sigh.
First off, Kelsey and Marcus broke up. I was waiting for it, expecting it and yet it was sad. That moment when she goes into his arms for comfort and can't find it, was very sad. I'm happy they parted as friends though and he was always there when Kelsey needed him. I like that Marcus confided in her too, talking to her about the girl in the painting. They are friends, they care for each other. It's bittersweet that Marcus had to give Kelsey up so soon though, he spent years half in love with Zoey and when he finally finds a sort of relationship, he already knows it has an end date. Sigh. I want to hug him. Hold on sweetie, Summer is almost there!
I struggled a bit warming up to Trent and Kelsey together. I don't know why but them being together didn't really looked right until Gray was with them as well. I don't know, the feelings weren't so strong to me. While I never struggled to see the connection between Zoey and Daniel and Zoey and Dev, it was harder with Kelsey and Trent. By the end I loved them together though :)
I loved the plot, the attempt of disrupting the balance of the planes and also the fact that Daniel was basically ready to war the entire Hell plane out of love for Neil. Poor Neil, thirty years of abuse? I can't even think about it. But I loved that Oliver pulled strings to free him. He wants to look like he's so stern, but he has a heart of gold! Of course that made it hard for Daniel in the end, because he couldn't call the Satan, but that's the problem with secrecy: you try your hardest, but something always comes up to disrupt the plans.
Nemcox finally died, although it was faster than I would have liked. Well, I'll just dream up some terrible torture for him, although dying when he was certain he was winning, must have hurt. I wished it was Neil who executed him though.
What I didn't like was Trent's (apparent) demand that he was the one to kill Nemcox because "he couldn't trust anybody else to do it". Seriously? That's a biiiiit arrogant on his part, not to mention that he had to be an idiot to think Gray would just accept it. I mean, what did he think would happen? "You know buddy, your brother wanted to kill our woman and steal her soul and torture her for all eternity, I had to kill him. Yes, of course I know you loved him. No, I didn't really consider other options because only Kelsey matter and I'm the only being in the universe who could pull this off. No, I didn't trust that you could make him change his mind, or find a way out. I didn't want to waste time to give you a shot. Let's go drink something and you'll forget about this."
I wanted Nemcox dead and I'm happy he is (and I agree that Gray could have never changed his mind), but Trent was absolutely the last person who should have done the job. From a reader point of view, I'm gleefully waiting for the drama to unfold in the next book, but from a character point of view it didn't make sense for Daniel to allow it. He knows the intricate relationship and love a menage requires, he knows Kelsey needs the stability, he knows she needs both Gray and Trent. By allowing Trent to kill Nemcox, he unbalanced that triad because there was no way Gray wouldn't have reacted to it. Also, he considered the possibility of something going wrong and that he would need to banish Trent, further destabilizing Kelsey. I don't know, it just looked like poor reasoning on his part and I'm surprised Zoey went along with it. I'm sure there must have been some discussion, but she should have put her foot down on that one because she's the center of her triad and she knows how Kelsey would feel with one of her men hating the other one. The only explanation that I can think of is that Daniel also knew Gray wouldn't kill Trent, once he was over the initial rage. Gray knows Kelsey loves Trent and wouldn't hurt him because of that, while he would probably hunt down and kill anybody else who killed his brother, no matter how much said brother deserved it. So Trent was relatively safe from Gray's revenge.
As much as I loved the plot Jude cooked up, to me this book revolved around three big revelations/events: Lee, Merlin and the Amazon.
- The story about the Amazon was fascinating. I loved the concept of a female tribe of warriors and their "deal with the devil" that lead to their slavery. I suppose that when Gray said "the crown is twofold" this was what he intended: Daniel and Zoey both have powers and Zoey's were long overdue. I'd be very interested in a tale about how the Amazons and Vampires first met, how the Sword of Light was taken from the Amazon, how their relationship slowly turned from one of equality and love and trust, to one of submission for the Amazons. Apparently both companions and Hunters were Amazon, all parts of the same tribe. Did this mean that the Amazon went actively seeking lone wolves to breed new Hunters? And those Hunters were the Queen's chosen warriors? As I said, fascinating. I sure hope we'll know more, but it looks like the Vampires buried the information, so it could be hard. Oh, and I didn't miss that when Raphael asked Kelsey if she would pledge herself to the sword, he didn't actually mentioned the Sword of Light. Kelsey just assumed it. So what exactly did she pledge herself to? Maybe "sword" as "life of a chosen warrior?"
- Lee. I can't express how much I loved that Lee temporarily came back and was able to meet Kelsey. And that Kelsey knew her father would have loved her with everything in his heart, that she would have always been protected and cherished. Their moments together were a shiny precious gem in this book. I always wondered in what ways Lee was changed when Zoey died in Steal the Night and that has finally been mentioned again. So, he's not entirely human. Maybe because his soul is a wolf? He's half human, half fae (possibly a Green Man? Or maybe a Storm Lord? *wink wink*), with a wolf soul. A lone wolf soul, and lone wolves are very, very strong. And when he was a wolf, Lee wouldn't be influenced by Merlin.
- Merlin. Since Nemcox said Merlin was behind his betraying them all to Marini because he was afraid of Lee, I went back to Steal the Night to read those chapters again. Merlin is weird: on one side he's obviously thirsty for power, but in a covert way. He wants to use Daniel like a puppet, disguising his orders like "advices" and keeping Daniel apart from everybody who could influence him: he tried to push Daniel to get rid of Bris and when that didn't work, he blackmailed Zoey into keeping Bris occupied at critical times. Isn't it interesting that he had no problems in keeping Dev but he wanted Bris gone or turned the other way? I bet whatever magic he has, it doesn't work on gods or ascended gods. And I haven't forgotten the metaphor about playing chess and thinking several moves ahead. On the other hand he goes through the whole "don't hate me my queen" when he leaves. And "something" inside him told him to shut up when he was talking to Zoey about what was about to happen with Marini. What was it? His demon half? Is he conflicted in some way?
Also, I find it curious that Merlin and Daniel had an instant connection, something that caused Daniel to be respectful of his opinion even though they just met. It reminded me of the instant connection Kelsey and Marcus had. That was between Academic and Hunter. Maybe Merlin and Daniel had a weird Magician-King kind of bond? Or, more simply, they are tied together by Excalibur? I wonder what would happen if Daniel got rid of it. Would Merlin still influence him?
The really interesting part is of course Merlin being afraid of Lee and "another magician" who wasn't yet born. Who is this woman he sent fleeing to another plane? Have we met her before? (uhm, could it be Nimue? They left together, after all, and they are both magicians. Their child would probably be one as well and the woman being Nimue would explain why Merlin didn't kill her. He still cared.)
Then, the final piece, Gray's prophecies:
- "If you protect the man, you protect the child and the king." This already came to pass when Kelsey protected her father.
- "The crown is twofold" Daniel and Zoey?
- "but one will come who thinks to unite the lower planes." I guess Merlin? He has ambitions.
- "A trick and a trap. It’s already in place but if he ever knows how Heaven tricked him, his fury will be a thunderstorm, punishing and never ending." Eh, I guess Merlin won't be happy to know Lee was given another chance. Also, I have my suspicions about this... Zoey dies, one of her unborn babies is injured and suddenly she gets to be saved and Lee is the soul chosen for the baby? A baby that was changed by his injury? Lee was still alive when Zoey got pregnant. His soul was still firmly in his body. So, he was given to Zoey specifically to make him be born again. Sneaky angels, I guess they don't like Merlin either.
- "Convince the king. Save this world.” Well, she did convince the king. Saving the world is still work in progress, I guess!
And the other one:
- "A trick and a trap. You’ll solve the mystery and never see the evil coming for you." Gray is really fond of this trick and trap thing. I wonder if this refers to the events of this book or something in the future.
- "The world will fold and bend in on itself and you will be left on the wrong side." Uhm, this scares me. Some kind of apocaliptic events that will separate Kelsey from Trent and Gray sending her (or them) to another plane?
- "Years will pass." Time jump! So the kids can grow up? Or, more probably, to get to the point where Gray has to return to Hell?
- "Your wolf will howl but he will remain steadfast." Eh... Trent isn't coming home anytime soon, I fear :(
- "Hell will come and you will weep, but never leave the path." Yep, Gray is totally going back to Hell. And Kelsey isn't going to follow him.
- "Hold fast. The magician will rule but you can win. Take back the plane." Freaking Merlin. He's coming back with a vengeance. Does this mean he will really subjugate Daniel, Dev and Zoey?
- "Don’t believe the myth that there can be only one. There is strength in numbers. So much strength in the blood. Don’t let them forget." Right, so the first thing I thought of was the last episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer when she says something like "In every generation, one Slayer is born, because a bunch of men who died thousands of years ago made up that rule." What if Kelsey can find other Hunters? What if they can all share the Sword of Light's powers? What if the Companions can claim that too? They would make a powerful force, one to be reckoned with.
- "History plays itself out again and again, mothers and fathers giving more than mere advice to their children. They give blood so the story continues." And right now we have Lee, Rhys and Evangeline who are children of the Queen of the Amazon, a Green Man and a fertility god. We have Mia, who is a companion, daughter of an angel and a witch. We have Sean, who is the son of a Seelie prince and an Unseelie princess. And finally....
- "The path is set. Summer is almost here.” Yes, we have Summer. A child born by Fae magic, daughter of a Vampire King and a Companion and Queen of the Amazon.
It's for sure an exciting cocktail. Given the premises, the next book is going to be explosive. Why isn't it here yet? What I'm supposed to do with my nights now? Sleep? Sigh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2025
I fell head first into Lexi Blake’s Hunter/Thieves series about 3 weeks ago when I agreed to review an ARC of her latest book, Sleeper. With Sleeper book 3 in the Hunter spin-off series and most definitely not a standalone, I had to catch up. Honestly, I couldn’t read them fast enough once I got started. And, to say I had no idea what I was getting myself into is an understatement.
First, I think it’s important to recognize that this book and series is not really paranormal romance as much as it is urban fantasy/mystery. At the heart of the series is Kelsey Owens, a young private investigator who isn’t what she seems. While there is romance, it takes a backseat to Kelsey’s story, which has evolved in delicious ways across the first three books of this series. If you haven’t read the earlier books, be warned that there are bound to be spoilers no matter how hard I try not to give anything away.
Okay…
I’m crazy in love with this series. Seriously. I haven’t felt this way about a paranormal series since I first read JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. In recent years I’ve shied away from the paranormal stuff, except for BDB, because I found it to be a little boring and redundant. Not so with the world Blake’s brought to life. She’s created this expanded world of vampires, werewolves, shifters, demons and angels that feels real (and I say this having missed the 4 original books). This secret world makes sense and the characters are so engaging-both with the reader and each other-that I fell into their lives effortlessly. There’s mystery and action, some reminiscent of the TV show Supernatural, which keeps me turning pages as fast as I can. More importantly, when I do have to put the book down I literally miss the characters and the world they live in.
Kelsey has become one of my favorite book heroines ever. There’s so much about her that I can relate to: her snarkiness, her willingness to put herself on the line for her family and friends, and even the way she falls in love with more than one guy at a time. As she slowly realizes that she’s more than what she thought she was, she grows in ways that make her shine. Watching her not just fall in love, but learn to love those around her was so gratifying because she was such a loner. She can kick some serious ass while making me laugh out loud.
Sleeper is a great addition to the Hunter spin-off series, which started with Ripper, followed by Addict. There’s a new mystery for Kelsey to solve when demon half-lings start showing up dead. Throw in a few angels, a back-from-the-dead character, and yet another pickle that Kelsey finds herself in and we’ve got a heck of a book. As I found with the previous two, Sleeper is just plain fun. And, I haven’t even mentioned the newish man in Kelsey’s life.
Like the books in the Thieves series, the Hunter books evolve into a ménage romance. I’m not a fan of ménage romances. I’ve not read one that made sense in my mind. But, Blake not only makes it work, she convinces me that this is the only path for these three people, even when it’s complicated (and it’s complicated). Watching this unfold was exciting and breathtaking. And, this arrangement finally convinced me that Gray was the right guy for Kelsey. Truthfully, I’ve not liked him, there was always something off about them together… then you add in an unexpected lover and Bam! It works.
Before this book, I could honestly say that it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the Thieves series, but with Neil, Zoey, and the demon, Nemcox so vital to the plot in Sleeper I was left confused more times than I would’ve liked. As I scrambled to fit all the pieces together, it slowed the pace and made me a bit sad that I missed so much. (of course, this just means that I’ll go back and read all 7 books in order)
4 stars for Sleeper. Heat level: 4
5 stars for both Ripper and Addict, which I can’t recommend enough!
I received a copy of Ripper, Addict, and Sleeper in exchange for honest feedback.
First, I think it’s important to recognize that this book and series is not really paranormal romance as much as it is urban fantasy/mystery. At the heart of the series is Kelsey Owens, a young private investigator who isn’t what she seems. While there is romance, it takes a backseat to Kelsey’s story, which has evolved in delicious ways across the first three books of this series. If you haven’t read the earlier books, be warned that there are bound to be spoilers no matter how hard I try not to give anything away.
Okay…
I’m crazy in love with this series. Seriously. I haven’t felt this way about a paranormal series since I first read JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. In recent years I’ve shied away from the paranormal stuff, except for BDB, because I found it to be a little boring and redundant. Not so with the world Blake’s brought to life. She’s created this expanded world of vampires, werewolves, shifters, demons and angels that feels real (and I say this having missed the 4 original books). This secret world makes sense and the characters are so engaging-both with the reader and each other-that I fell into their lives effortlessly. There’s mystery and action, some reminiscent of the TV show Supernatural, which keeps me turning pages as fast as I can. More importantly, when I do have to put the book down I literally miss the characters and the world they live in.
Kelsey has become one of my favorite book heroines ever. There’s so much about her that I can relate to: her snarkiness, her willingness to put herself on the line for her family and friends, and even the way she falls in love with more than one guy at a time. As she slowly realizes that she’s more than what she thought she was, she grows in ways that make her shine. Watching her not just fall in love, but learn to love those around her was so gratifying because she was such a loner. She can kick some serious ass while making me laugh out loud.
Sleeper is a great addition to the Hunter spin-off series, which started with Ripper, followed by Addict. There’s a new mystery for Kelsey to solve when demon half-lings start showing up dead. Throw in a few angels, a back-from-the-dead character, and yet another pickle that Kelsey finds herself in and we’ve got a heck of a book. As I found with the previous two, Sleeper is just plain fun. And, I haven’t even mentioned the newish man in Kelsey’s life.
Like the books in the Thieves series, the Hunter books evolve into a ménage romance. I’m not a fan of ménage romances. I’ve not read one that made sense in my mind. But, Blake not only makes it work, she convinces me that this is the only path for these three people, even when it’s complicated (and it’s complicated). Watching this unfold was exciting and breathtaking. And, this arrangement finally convinced me that Gray was the right guy for Kelsey. Truthfully, I’ve not liked him, there was always something off about them together… then you add in an unexpected lover and Bam! It works.
Before this book, I could honestly say that it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the Thieves series, but with Neil, Zoey, and the demon, Nemcox so vital to the plot in Sleeper I was left confused more times than I would’ve liked. As I scrambled to fit all the pieces together, it slowed the pace and made me a bit sad that I missed so much. (of course, this just means that I’ll go back and read all 7 books in order)
4 stars for Sleeper. Heat level: 4
5 stars for both Ripper and Addict, which I can’t recommend enough!
I received a copy of Ripper, Addict, and Sleeper in exchange for honest feedback.
June 22, 2018
Check out our
Sleeper Blog Tour
post on Wicked Reads.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F/M Shifter Romance Mystery
Triggers: Murder, Body take over,
This series just keeps getting more and more interesting! I love all of these characters!
You still have the main character, Kelsey, who is trying to figure out how to save her plane as well as protect her father's soul. That mystery is compelling and intriguing, if not slightly frustrating too. I want to know the answer to the mystery, but it has been relegated to the next book (hopefully).
Then you have Gray and Trent too. They come together to help Kelsey become more grounded. Not only are the scenes between these three sexy, it shows that both men are willing to do whatever they can in order to have Kelsey with them. And even when Gray and Trent don't always see eye to eye, they still try to put Kelsey first, which is amazing.
Gray has a lot of drama in this story, but the twists and turns throughout made this story fantastic.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I’m now totally obsessed with this series! In this third book, we see Kelsey continue to come into her powers as she attempts to prevent an apocalyptic war between heaven, earth, and hell. This third book has a little less action and focuses a little more on the political maneuvering between various groups – though it ends with a spectacular battle.
In this story, Kelsey moves further away from monogamy as she becomes part of a ménage of sorts. I feel like Kelsey’s personal development and her reason for needing multiple partners makes her a little too similar to Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake at times. However, Kelsey is a more pragmatic character who gets shit done with much angst. For much of this book, Kelsey is determined to sacrifice herself to save another character. While it’s a chivalrous decision, it also feels a little bit selfish and she becomes irritatingly unreasonable as this storyline continues.
I love the men in Kelsey’s life more and more with each book. Trent the werewolf, Grey the demon, and Marcus the vampire all bring unique strengths to Kelsey’s life. In this story, the women also come into their own. A new story arc opens up with Zoey, the Queen, and her daughter at the centre.
I really love this series. Like all the best Urban Fantasy, it makes me stop and consider the world around me. The world building gets more complex with each book – this one introduces angels – and I love the way the author draws on mythology and lore from various traditions to create her own unique world. I love the whole cast of characters and I like that the supporting characters grow and develop alongside Kelsey and her men.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Sleeper (Hunter #3) by Lexi Blake to read and review.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F/M Shifter Romance Mystery
Triggers: Murder, Body take over,
This series just keeps getting more and more interesting! I love all of these characters!
You still have the main character, Kelsey, who is trying to figure out how to save her plane as well as protect her father's soul. That mystery is compelling and intriguing, if not slightly frustrating too. I want to know the answer to the mystery, but it has been relegated to the next book (hopefully).
Then you have Gray and Trent too. They come together to help Kelsey become more grounded. Not only are the scenes between these three sexy, it shows that both men are willing to do whatever they can in order to have Kelsey with them. And even when Gray and Trent don't always see eye to eye, they still try to put Kelsey first, which is amazing.
Gray has a lot of drama in this story, but the twists and turns throughout made this story fantastic.
I can't wait to see what happens next!
Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I’m now totally obsessed with this series! In this third book, we see Kelsey continue to come into her powers as she attempts to prevent an apocalyptic war between heaven, earth, and hell. This third book has a little less action and focuses a little more on the political maneuvering between various groups – though it ends with a spectacular battle.
In this story, Kelsey moves further away from monogamy as she becomes part of a ménage of sorts. I feel like Kelsey’s personal development and her reason for needing multiple partners makes her a little too similar to Laurel K Hamilton’s Anita Blake at times. However, Kelsey is a more pragmatic character who gets shit done with much angst. For much of this book, Kelsey is determined to sacrifice herself to save another character. While it’s a chivalrous decision, it also feels a little bit selfish and she becomes irritatingly unreasonable as this storyline continues.
I love the men in Kelsey’s life more and more with each book. Trent the werewolf, Grey the demon, and Marcus the vampire all bring unique strengths to Kelsey’s life. In this story, the women also come into their own. A new story arc opens up with Zoey, the Queen, and her daughter at the centre.
I really love this series. Like all the best Urban Fantasy, it makes me stop and consider the world around me. The world building gets more complex with each book – this one introduces angels – and I love the way the author draws on mythology and lore from various traditions to create her own unique world. I love the whole cast of characters and I like that the supporting characters grow and develop alongside Kelsey and her men.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Sleeper (Hunter #3) by Lexi Blake to read and review.
April 28, 2021
Unfortunately this book was kind of a let down for me. I'm not really sure why...but I just wasn't feeling it. To me, Kelsey got whiny and her inner monologue was just a bit too much. Because of that, this book dragged and seemed to go on FOREVER. When I start paying attention to page numbers and start wondering how much time is left in a book....that is NEVER a good sign. Her one sided determination to have her revenge on Nemcox never felt truly right. It felt forced, and it was annoying at times.
Thankfully, we finally start to see progress with Trent. For some reason, I liked him right away. There was no waffling, which I felt with Gray (only for a little while, but I did go back and forth at the beginning).
There was a wonderful Easter Egg with the character of Lt. Dereck Brighton from the Dallas PD. showing up at a crime scene (LOVE to see the overlap of characters from other series).
I also have completely fallen head over heels for Lee. Seriously, how can you NOT love a nine year old who has the soul of her dead father in him? He is such a character.
A little stinker who seems to be always in the middle of the action, especially in this book.
I felt like the plot lost something in this book. The thing with the heavenly folks didn't feel right in the context and setting of the story. It ...well, I'm not sure what was wrong with it but I just couldn't buy into it. And...just when I think Gray has gotten over being a jerk, he pulls that crap all over again.
Anyway, this is definitely NOT a stand alone book. There is no way someone could come into this series at this point and have any idea of what's going on. Well, they could figure things out, but 50% of things would be hard to understand without the proper context.
So, it's okay to have an off book. I'm going forward because I'm invested in this new world and am dying to find out what happens next.....
Thankfully, we finally start to see progress with Trent. For some reason, I liked him right away. There was no waffling, which I felt with Gray (only for a little while, but I did go back and forth at the beginning).
There was a wonderful Easter Egg with the character of Lt. Dereck Brighton from the Dallas PD. showing up at a crime scene (LOVE to see the overlap of characters from other series).
I also have completely fallen head over heels for Lee. Seriously, how can you NOT love a nine year old who has the soul of her dead father in him? He is such a character.
A little stinker who seems to be always in the middle of the action, especially in this book.
I felt like the plot lost something in this book. The thing with the heavenly folks didn't feel right in the context and setting of the story. It ...well, I'm not sure what was wrong with it but I just couldn't buy into it. And...just when I think Gray has gotten over being a jerk, he pulls that crap all over again.
Anyway, this is definitely NOT a stand alone book. There is no way someone could come into this series at this point and have any idea of what's going on. Well, they could figure things out, but 50% of things would be hard to understand without the proper context.
So, it's okay to have an off book. I'm going forward because I'm invested in this new world and am dying to find out what happens next.....
August 26, 2021
This is the 8th book in the Thieves series and they need to be read in order.
I am starting to understand why this series is many peoples favorite from Lexi Blake.
* How did the book make you feel?: My emotions were all over the place. I enjoyed this book. My normal books that I read from her are from her BDSM side. This series has very little. I almost stopped reading this series after the first couple of books because it didn't have any erotica in it. I'm glad that I stuck with the series.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: The whole Thieves series is told from a single point of view. In the Hunter series it is from Kelsey's view. Each book makes me like this style of writing more. I don't know what anyone else is thinking or feeling. I have to wait to see how Kelsey perceives the people around her.
* What did you think about the main characters?: Lexi writes great female characters. Kelsey doesn't take sh*t from anyone and she lets you know what she thinks. Trent is great in this book. I loved finding out his secrets and how they pertain to Kelsey. Gray bugged me. I didn't care for him in this book. This is what makes Lexi so great. She knows how to write her characters in different ways and pull out different feelings in her readers. Or at least that's what she does for me.
* What did you think about the ending?: The ending was so good and I can't wait to start the next book. There were no loose ends. The story was complete.
* What is your impression of the author?: What an amazing author. I love how she writes her stories.
I saw these questions on another reviewers post and thought I'd use them.
Serial Romance Librarian
I am starting to understand why this series is many peoples favorite from Lexi Blake.
* How did the book make you feel?: My emotions were all over the place. I enjoyed this book. My normal books that I read from her are from her BDSM side. This series has very little. I almost stopped reading this series after the first couple of books because it didn't have any erotica in it. I'm glad that I stuck with the series.
* How do you feel about how the story was told?: The whole Thieves series is told from a single point of view. In the Hunter series it is from Kelsey's view. Each book makes me like this style of writing more. I don't know what anyone else is thinking or feeling. I have to wait to see how Kelsey perceives the people around her.
* What did you think about the main characters?: Lexi writes great female characters. Kelsey doesn't take sh*t from anyone and she lets you know what she thinks. Trent is great in this book. I loved finding out his secrets and how they pertain to Kelsey. Gray bugged me. I didn't care for him in this book. This is what makes Lexi so great. She knows how to write her characters in different ways and pull out different feelings in her readers. Or at least that's what she does for me.
* What did you think about the ending?: The ending was so good and I can't wait to start the next book. There were no loose ends. The story was complete.
* What is your impression of the author?: What an amazing author. I love how she writes her stories.
I saw these questions on another reviewers post and thought I'd use them.
Serial Romance Librarian
November 7, 2018
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
The dynamics between Kelsey and those around her are quickly changing and not even Kelsey is able to keep up with all the drama.
She's determined to find out what is happening to the halfling demons that are being murdered. She can only theorize that someone doesn't want the vampires and demons to continue their uneasy truce. Not only that, she's got Marcus, her lover, pressuring her to do the one thing that's against her nature, to walk away from this fight. Gray is in her dreams by the power of the Sword of Light and with Trent as a conduit. She's not sure how she feels about that, only that it felt good to have both men comfort her.
A witches spell goes haywire and gives Kelsey the opportunity to talk to her father, to get to know the man she is alike. Determined to protect him and all those she cares about, Kelsey makes her mission to solve the riddle of who's behind the killings.
I adore Kelsey's strength in that she always tries to do what is right, regardless of what it means for her. Her heart is torn between two men but she knows that in order for her to be truly happy, both Trent and Gray will have to come to terms that she needs both of them in life. Gray is not used to sharing but Trent is all about what makes Kelsey happy.
I can't wait for the next book to see what adventures that Kelsey, Trent and Gray take us on.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
The dynamics between Kelsey and those around her are quickly changing and not even Kelsey is able to keep up with all the drama.
She's determined to find out what is happening to the halfling demons that are being murdered. She can only theorize that someone doesn't want the vampires and demons to continue their uneasy truce. Not only that, she's got Marcus, her lover, pressuring her to do the one thing that's against her nature, to walk away from this fight. Gray is in her dreams by the power of the Sword of Light and with Trent as a conduit. She's not sure how she feels about that, only that it felt good to have both men comfort her.
A witches spell goes haywire and gives Kelsey the opportunity to talk to her father, to get to know the man she is alike. Determined to protect him and all those she cares about, Kelsey makes her mission to solve the riddle of who's behind the killings.
I adore Kelsey's strength in that she always tries to do what is right, regardless of what it means for her. Her heart is torn between two men but she knows that in order for her to be truly happy, both Trent and Gray will have to come to terms that she needs both of them in life. Gray is not used to sharing but Trent is all about what makes Kelsey happy.
I can't wait for the next book to see what adventures that Kelsey, Trent and Gray take us on.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
November 28, 2017
MY REVIEW:
It been awhile since I had read a Thieves novel, but as I began to read SLEEPER, I was happy to say I had some, "Oh yeah" moments.
There are things with ARCS that can bug you and you don't know whether to make note of them or not. I had one of those with this book. It was a word. I hadn't remembered it from before, which tells me it is either a word used by Blake for editing to fix, or something she wanted Kelsey to think/say. I am hoping for the first scenario.
Kelsey is definitely who I want to be when I am forced to grow up and stop living in the world of books. She lives in the real world yet not. Has two sexy, handsome men who love her and are willing to share her to meet her emotional and physical needs. She doesn't have to cook, clean, do the laundry or anything else she doesn't feel like doing all in exchange to be the Nex Apparatus. I think I could handle it. Yep. Bring it on. A psychic told me I had an angry beast hidden inside. I'd let it loose not to have to do dishes or laundry. I'd stand up and pledge my loyalty to Queen Zoey too. Hell YEAH! Bring the Amazon's back.
Yes, the one word drove me crazy. At times so did the pace of the story, however, would I recommend this book to a friend? Absolutely! I'd have them start at the beginning, though.
*I received a copy of this ARC from the author via InkslingerPR for an honest review.
It been awhile since I had read a Thieves novel, but as I began to read SLEEPER, I was happy to say I had some, "Oh yeah" moments.
There are things with ARCS that can bug you and you don't know whether to make note of them or not. I had one of those with this book. It was a word. I hadn't remembered it from before, which tells me it is either a word used by Blake for editing to fix, or something she wanted Kelsey to think/say. I am hoping for the first scenario.
Kelsey is definitely who I want to be when I am forced to grow up and stop living in the world of books. She lives in the real world yet not. Has two sexy, handsome men who love her and are willing to share her to meet her emotional and physical needs. She doesn't have to cook, clean, do the laundry or anything else she doesn't feel like doing all in exchange to be the Nex Apparatus. I think I could handle it. Yep. Bring it on. A psychic told me I had an angry beast hidden inside. I'd let it loose not to have to do dishes or laundry. I'd stand up and pledge my loyalty to Queen Zoey too. Hell YEAH! Bring the Amazon's back.
Yes, the one word drove me crazy. At times so did the pace of the story, however, would I recommend this book to a friend? Absolutely! I'd have them start at the beginning, though.
*I received a copy of this ARC from the author via InkslingerPR for an honest review.
October 21, 2017
I am a huge fan of Lexi Blake and her paranormal books. The Thieves series is hands down on of my favorite. Sleeper is the best book of Hunter series. Kelsey really comes into her own. She seems to find her groove and gets her place in the world. She is comfortable with who she is and what her purpose is for everyone involved. I really began to love her character. She has grown so much since book 1. Kelsey is a true badass and she never stops fighting for what she believes is right. She has a tight group of friends and family that she is beginning to rely on and love.
You really can’t talk about the plot without giving out away too much. But I’ll tell you holy hell this book was rolling along way too fast. There were a million storylines going and every single one of them was fantastic. Zoey and Lee. Those two names resonate throughout this book in the best ways. Trent and Grey were both everything I wanted them to be in this book and Kelsey’s interaction with both was some of my favorite moments. There is so much more story to tell in this series and storylines to finish up. I can’t imagine where Lexi is going to take Kelsey and the crew. I definitely recommend Sleeper but make sure to read the entire Thieves series to really immerse yourself in this world.
You really can’t talk about the plot without giving out away too much. But I’ll tell you holy hell this book was rolling along way too fast. There were a million storylines going and every single one of them was fantastic. Zoey and Lee. Those two names resonate throughout this book in the best ways. Trent and Grey were both everything I wanted them to be in this book and Kelsey’s interaction with both was some of my favorite moments. There is so much more story to tell in this series and storylines to finish up. I can’t imagine where Lexi is going to take Kelsey and the crew. I definitely recommend Sleeper but make sure to read the entire Thieves series to really immerse yourself in this world.
November 25, 2018
Sleeper is the 3rd book in the Hunter series & the 8th book in the Thieves series. I started with the Hunter Series & haven’t read the beginning of the Thieves series.
I am not sure where to start. I love this series it is very gripping and has had me at every word written. I wanted to sit and just read but, life does have a way of interfering. Like family demanding their time with me too. I think I already stated that I love this series and this book!
I started reading this series because I have an ARC Outcast to read and found out that I probably needed to read the books before it. Now I think if you love paranormal, fantasy or sci-fi whatever, genre you call books that have witches, shapeshifters, demons & the supernatural world is a must read series. These books are intense and edge of the seat worthy books to read.
Sleeper is a continuation of Kelsey (the Nex Aparatus), Gray (half demon) & Trent’s (Wolf & head of the King’s security) story. Gray is now back in the picture & Marcus takes a step back. I really don’t want to give anything away and I did say this book is a must read! I give Sleeper 5+ Stars and fortunately I have Outcast on my Kindle. I'm going to start reading it now! I love this series and this book!
I am not sure where to start. I love this series it is very gripping and has had me at every word written. I wanted to sit and just read but, life does have a way of interfering. Like family demanding their time with me too. I think I already stated that I love this series and this book!
I started reading this series because I have an ARC Outcast to read and found out that I probably needed to read the books before it. Now I think if you love paranormal, fantasy or sci-fi whatever, genre you call books that have witches, shapeshifters, demons & the supernatural world is a must read series. These books are intense and edge of the seat worthy books to read.
Sleeper is a continuation of Kelsey (the Nex Aparatus), Gray (half demon) & Trent’s (Wolf & head of the King’s security) story. Gray is now back in the picture & Marcus takes a step back. I really don’t want to give anything away and I did say this book is a must read! I give Sleeper 5+ Stars and fortunately I have Outcast on my Kindle. I'm going to start reading it now! I love this series and this book!
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