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Hunters Unlucky
He's not bigger. He's not faster. He's not meaner. So he'd better be smarter.
Storm is born into a world of secrets – an island no one visits, names no one will say, and deaths that no one will talk about. The answers are locked in his species' troubled past, guarded by the fierce creasia cats. But when Storm's friends are threatened, he decides that he must act, pitting himself against the creasia to show that they can be resisted and outwitted. To prove his point, he must stay one step ahead of clever hunters, who have more to lose than Storm imagines.
Hunters Unlucky is an animal story for anyone who loved Richard Adams's Watership Down, Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, and Jack London's Call of the Wild. Kids who enjoyed Erin Hunter's Warriors books will also enjoy Hunters. The animals in this story do not carry swords, walk on two legs, or drink tea. They fight. They starve. Sometimes, they eat each other.
This 214,000-word novel is DRM-free and carefully formatted.
Storm is born into a world of secrets – an island no one visits, names no one will say, and deaths that no one will talk about. The answers are locked in his species' troubled past, guarded by the fierce creasia cats. But when Storm's friends are threatened, he decides that he must act, pitting himself against the creasia to show that they can be resisted and outwitted. To prove his point, he must stay one step ahead of clever hunters, who have more to lose than Storm imagines.
Hunters Unlucky is an animal story for anyone who loved Richard Adams's Watership Down, Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, and Jack London's Call of the Wild. Kids who enjoyed Erin Hunter's Warriors books will also enjoy Hunters. The animals in this story do not carry swords, walk on two legs, or drink tea. They fight. They starve. Sometimes, they eat each other.
This 214,000-word novel is DRM-free and carefully formatted.
25 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 8, 2014
25 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Abigail Hilton
66 books172 followersAbigail Hilton writes fantasy books, including Hunters Universe, Pirates of Wefrivain, The Prophet of Panamindorah, and the Eve and Malachi Series.
She also publishes under A. H. Lee, including The Incubus Series and The Knight and the Necromancer.
She also publishes under A. H. Lee, including The Incubus Series and The Knight and the Necromancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 27, 2025
HUNTERS UNLUCKY is a hard book to pigeonhole. You've heard a lot of stories that are a little bit like this one -- enough to see the similarities and point at them -- but very few books try to accomplish everything that this one does. Even fewer succeed so marvelously, on so many levels.
First of all, this is a talking animal story. You've seen that before -- The Jungle Book, Watership Down, and Redwall, to name a few. But most of Hilton's animals have interesting twists that make them different from anything you've read about, either in the real-world or in more standard fantasy fare. The most prominent species in HUNTERS UNLUCKY, the ferryshaft, occupy an interesting ecological niche: they're omnivorous, capable of subsisting equally well on meat and foliage. While they are prey to some other creatures in their world, they are capable of being fierce and brave in their own right. As one of their would-be hunters remarks at a key point in the story, "Ferryshaft are not deer." This moves them out of the Designated Victim category in the talking animal genre, so that their fate is much more in their own hands (err, hooves) than would typically be the case in a story like this.
Second, this is a Bildungsroman (a coming-of-age story). You've seen those more times than you can count: the hero who starts as a child and becomes an adult, finding his or her place in the world along the way. This may be the most conventional part of the story, as Storm makes the journey from persecuted youngster to proud, charismatic and dangerous adult. But here, too, Hilton surprises, not so much with Storm but with the characters around him: former villains become heroes, seemingly peripheral characters rise up to become leaders, seemingly-wise mentors reveal the ways they are foolish, and even Storm himself transitions from learner to an unlikely mentor and guardian.
Third, this is an epic story: the plot spans generations and affects the lives of thousands of beings, with grand alliances, betrayals, conspiracies, and the rise and fall of entire species. Of course you've seen that before: epics are all the rage in fantasy these days. But how many epics have you ever heard of that focused on beings with no hands, no swords, no armor, no buildings in the traditional sense (though some of them get clever on that front) -- beings whose motivations and drives boil down to "reproduce and try not to starve or get eaten"? Can you really tell a story of epic scope with creatures whose lives and needs are so simple? Oh, yes. Well, maybe YOU can't, but Hilton surely did. And the richness and depth of characterization that she brings to those "simple" beings puts most epic fantasies to shame.
It is my conviction that stories, ultimately, are about people, not events, and Hilton's characters are people in a deep and meaningful sense. They have layers, and flaws, and unexpected virtues, moments of great insight and great foolishness. As alien as their world is, they feel very real. Almost all of the characters are sympathetic and relatable, even when they are at odds with one another. Some of the characters who seemed terrible and threatening at the beginning of the story ended up becoming some of my favorites by the end. Seemingly messianic figures are revealed to have deep and significant flaws. Hilton repeatedly challenges your sense of who the good guys and the bad guys are, and even when you find a character's actions horrible, there is usually some understandable, even sympathetic reason for them. (The one notable exception is something I can't talk about here, for fear of spoilers -- but it, too, is compelling, in a horrific, alien way that actually makes sense within the setting of the story.)
One reason I particularly enjoyed this book is that it not only reached for an epic scope, it actually achieved a satisfying ending. This is something that many writers struggle with, particularly when attempting something this grand. Hilton herself, for all her virtues as a writer, has had difficulty tying things up in a satisfactory way in her previous work. Not so here. The lives of the characters go on -- most of them, anyway -- but by the end of the Epilogue, you have a very fulfilling sense of having reached the end of a complete and magnificent tale.
Finally, I must give my enthusiastic recommendation for the audiobook version of HUNTERS UNLUCKY. The narrator, Rish Outfield, is exceptionally skilled: not only does he affect different accents for each species, but there are even sub-types of each accent for high-class and low-class members of those species -- and somehow he STILL manages to give each character his or her own unique voice, full of emotion and dynamic range. That is a LOT to think about for a single book, especially one with this many characters, but Outfield handles it all magnificently. This is a story that was made to be listened to, and with this narrator, the result is a pure delight.
First of all, this is a talking animal story. You've seen that before -- The Jungle Book, Watership Down, and Redwall, to name a few. But most of Hilton's animals have interesting twists that make them different from anything you've read about, either in the real-world or in more standard fantasy fare. The most prominent species in HUNTERS UNLUCKY, the ferryshaft, occupy an interesting ecological niche: they're omnivorous, capable of subsisting equally well on meat and foliage. While they are prey to some other creatures in their world, they are capable of being fierce and brave in their own right. As one of their would-be hunters remarks at a key point in the story, "Ferryshaft are not deer." This moves them out of the Designated Victim category in the talking animal genre, so that their fate is much more in their own hands (err, hooves) than would typically be the case in a story like this.
Second, this is a Bildungsroman (a coming-of-age story). You've seen those more times than you can count: the hero who starts as a child and becomes an adult, finding his or her place in the world along the way. This may be the most conventional part of the story, as Storm makes the journey from persecuted youngster to proud, charismatic and dangerous adult. But here, too, Hilton surprises, not so much with Storm but with the characters around him: former villains become heroes, seemingly peripheral characters rise up to become leaders, seemingly-wise mentors reveal the ways they are foolish, and even Storm himself transitions from learner to an unlikely mentor and guardian.
Third, this is an epic story: the plot spans generations and affects the lives of thousands of beings, with grand alliances, betrayals, conspiracies, and the rise and fall of entire species. Of course you've seen that before: epics are all the rage in fantasy these days. But how many epics have you ever heard of that focused on beings with no hands, no swords, no armor, no buildings in the traditional sense (though some of them get clever on that front) -- beings whose motivations and drives boil down to "reproduce and try not to starve or get eaten"? Can you really tell a story of epic scope with creatures whose lives and needs are so simple? Oh, yes. Well, maybe YOU can't, but Hilton surely did. And the richness and depth of characterization that she brings to those "simple" beings puts most epic fantasies to shame.
It is my conviction that stories, ultimately, are about people, not events, and Hilton's characters are people in a deep and meaningful sense. They have layers, and flaws, and unexpected virtues, moments of great insight and great foolishness. As alien as their world is, they feel very real. Almost all of the characters are sympathetic and relatable, even when they are at odds with one another. Some of the characters who seemed terrible and threatening at the beginning of the story ended up becoming some of my favorites by the end. Seemingly messianic figures are revealed to have deep and significant flaws. Hilton repeatedly challenges your sense of who the good guys and the bad guys are, and even when you find a character's actions horrible, there is usually some understandable, even sympathetic reason for them. (The one notable exception is something I can't talk about here, for fear of spoilers -- but it, too, is compelling, in a horrific, alien way that actually makes sense within the setting of the story.)
One reason I particularly enjoyed this book is that it not only reached for an epic scope, it actually achieved a satisfying ending. This is something that many writers struggle with, particularly when attempting something this grand. Hilton herself, for all her virtues as a writer, has had difficulty tying things up in a satisfactory way in her previous work. Not so here. The lives of the characters go on -- most of them, anyway -- but by the end of the Epilogue, you have a very fulfilling sense of having reached the end of a complete and magnificent tale.
Finally, I must give my enthusiastic recommendation for the audiobook version of HUNTERS UNLUCKY. The narrator, Rish Outfield, is exceptionally skilled: not only does he affect different accents for each species, but there are even sub-types of each accent for high-class and low-class members of those species -- and somehow he STILL manages to give each character his or her own unique voice, full of emotion and dynamic range. That is a LOT to think about for a single book, especially one with this many characters, but Outfield handles it all magnificently. This is a story that was made to be listened to, and with this narrator, the result is a pure delight.
October 9, 2021
There is nothing better in the world than a long delicious book with a marvellous plot and wonderful engaging complex characters.
At a very high level, this book can be compared with Martha Wells' Raksura books - that is to say, a world with many different people and societies, who are not humans.
They can be considered similar in the same way a curry and a pizza may be considered similar in that both can be eaten for dinner.
Reading this book is one of the good things about 2021 for me.
At a very high level, this book can be compared with Martha Wells' Raksura books - that is to say, a world with many different people and societies, who are not humans.
They can be considered similar in the same way a curry and a pizza may be considered similar in that both can be eaten for dinner.
Reading this book is one of the good things about 2021 for me.
September 15, 2014
HUNTERS UNLUCKY is a fantasy novel about intelligent, speaking animal-like creatures co-existing in a land of forests, rivers, plains and a large lake. I say co-existing because there is persistent fear and hatred between the species living there. The ferryshaft have lost a war to the cretia cats, who keep them in submission by periodically attacking them to limit their numbers. Members of each group hate the other group, and all fear the other creatures - telshees, lishties, and curbs. The protagonist is a ferryshaft named Storm, who as a foal is rejected by the others because of his size and lineage. Storm, though, is fast and courageous. He disrupts a cretia attack by running to places where they cannot go. This simple act upsets the world order and sets in motion a series of events that changes things forever.
This is not a black-and-white world, and these are not simple characters. There are reasons behind the cretia's murderous treatment of the ferryshaft. The other species are not simply predators. The author reveals the story from multiple points of view, and by the end of the book I felt sympathy for characters that I never would have expected to at the beginning. In the same vein, the oppressed ferryshaft are not uniformly good. Even Storm shows his dark side in one brutal act that continues to haunt him throughout the book.
The descriptions are richly detailed. I found the world maps and the drawings of the creatures (especially the chart that shows how they compare to each other in size) made it much easier for me to visualize the action. My one relatively minor quibble is with the reaction one character has to Storm's "dark side" act. This character has every reason to hate Storm for what he did and to vow vengeance, yet he seems to get over it pretty quickly. I will grant you that the character is young and has an attachment to Storm, but the ease with which they got past it felt a little unrealistic to me. That's just me, however; other readers may have no problem accepting this.
That issue aside, I found this book to be captivating. In my mind, one of the marks of a good story is when I catch myself wondering what happens next during those times when I'm at work or doing something else that prevents me from reading further. This is one of those books. It's not a quick read (the author states at the beginning that it clocks in at 210,000 words,) but for fans of the genre, it's well worth the time you will spend. I highly recommend it.
This is not a black-and-white world, and these are not simple characters. There are reasons behind the cretia's murderous treatment of the ferryshaft. The other species are not simply predators. The author reveals the story from multiple points of view, and by the end of the book I felt sympathy for characters that I never would have expected to at the beginning. In the same vein, the oppressed ferryshaft are not uniformly good. Even Storm shows his dark side in one brutal act that continues to haunt him throughout the book.
The descriptions are richly detailed. I found the world maps and the drawings of the creatures (especially the chart that shows how they compare to each other in size) made it much easier for me to visualize the action. My one relatively minor quibble is with the reaction one character has to Storm's "dark side" act. This character has every reason to hate Storm for what he did and to vow vengeance, yet he seems to get over it pretty quickly. I will grant you that the character is young and has an attachment to Storm, but the ease with which they got past it felt a little unrealistic to me. That's just me, however; other readers may have no problem accepting this.
That issue aside, I found this book to be captivating. In my mind, one of the marks of a good story is when I catch myself wondering what happens next during those times when I'm at work or doing something else that prevents me from reading further. This is one of those books. It's not a quick read (the author states at the beginning that it clocks in at 210,000 words,) but for fans of the genre, it's well worth the time you will spend. I highly recommend it.
September 28, 2025
i think this may be one of my favourite books ever honestly . im really excited to read the next parts <:^)
id start listing every character i enjoyed but i feel like the list would never end . what cool characters and a fun story, i cant believe i got through this book in a week
definitely wanna get a physical copy of it someday
id start listing every character i enjoyed but i feel like the list would never end . what cool characters and a fun story, i cant believe i got through this book in a week
definitely wanna get a physical copy of it someday
January 2, 2017
I finished this audiobook with a contented smile: satisfied with the tale I experienced and comfortable letting the characters take it from there. I very much enjoyed the story and must hand it to the author that, though I felt frustration at times because of seeming inadequacies in characters' thinking, in the end I think it all made more sense and was more acceptable, and I imagine more thought out, than I believed. I love that the main character is not the main character. And that various types of friendships play such huge roles. I suppose in a way that's what it is: a study in friendship. Or at least, that's one part of its many great aspects. I think this book sits just fine on its own, but could easily be a mere fragment in a grand world and history. I recommend.
As a side note, the narration grew on me too. My respect for the narrator was non-existent at first, but grew and grew throughout. Well voiced.
As a side note, the narration grew on me too. My respect for the narrator was non-existent at first, but grew and grew throughout. Well voiced.
May 14, 2015
Ahhhhhh this was wonderful. It was LONG, in a wonderful way. There is time for character development and for specific scenes and events to play out onscreen, which was lovely. The world-building is exquisite. I already knew I loved Ms. Hilton, but after this I think it's safe to say I'm now a devoted fan. I very much look forward to more stories in this setting.
May 4, 2024
I suspect this will be one of the best books I read all year. It’s a lengthy standalone that definitely takes a hot minute to get into, but as soon as the world, the story, the characters, capture you— it’s game over. All of these characters are multi-faceted, in a world with no true good or evil, just people forced into impossible decisions, and each character has a valuable role to play. The world, one of the more unique fantasy settings I’ve encountered in a while, is a blend of the harshness of nature and the complexity of politics, and the past is a big mystery that takes the whole book to fully become clear. The final battle is so well done and had me completely unable to put down the book. The characters I expected to hate I grew to love, and each one surprised me in more ways than one. I mean, what more does one really want out of a story?
If you’re looking for a book that’ll pull you along relentlessly, tug at your heartstrings, and show just how complex people are, I cannot recommend Hunters Unlucky enough!
If you’re looking for a book that’ll pull you along relentlessly, tug at your heartstrings, and show just how complex people are, I cannot recommend Hunters Unlucky enough!
February 21, 2021
story : ⭐️5⭐️
Narration by Rish Outfield : ⭐️5 ⭐️
Narration by Rish Outfield : ⭐️5 ⭐️
November 28, 2025
Brief Introduction
Abigail Hilton's Hunter's Unlucky is a rare chimera of xenofictional political epic full of gut-wrenchingly compelling characters—but what makes it so special is its utterly unapologetic specificity. It is a doorstopper of a tome, the author has been working with the world and characters for 30 years.
On the island of Lidian, seven fantastical and intelligent species struggle out of their histories and into uncertain futures. Dark seas wormed with holes to distant worlds, a carnivorous forest where the dead are said to go, to the living forest where intelligent lionlike cats war. There are plains where herds of fleetfooted hooved carnivores forget, repeat and make history, and carve into the stones so that they might not repeat again. Two species of thylacine battle in conflicts that span ice ages—one sprinting on the blades of mountains and the other sewing vines with clever, clever paws. Glaciers crack open the empire of eagles and house sleeping, dubiously dead dragons…to say nothing of those oldest who wake.
It is a world beautiful, and monstrous—a mirror of the violent beauty of our own planet earth frankly depicted. It's impossible not to feel strangely nostalgic for this magical place never yet visited.
And if you want to experience xenoficion, speculative biology, epics, and truly some of the most multilayered characters on four legs (or no legs, in some cases), you will want to visit Lidian.
Brief Summary
Storm ela Ferry, the reviled runt of an outlawed bloodline reignites a war by surviving a cull by his people's oppressors. But while nature is red in tooth and claw, the moral high ground in war is rarely black and white. Storm's continued survival becomes the eye of a political hurricane that threatens to drag the secrets of kings, dragons and elders out into the light of day—his heartbeat the catalyst of generations of conflict crashing into unsteady resolution.
Themes and Genres
Cultural isolation, inflicting healing from generational and cultural trauma, belonging and identity, survival and atrocity, hero/monstrosity identity complex, war story, political epic, revenge, reconciliation, generational drift, cultural shifts, queer fantasy, neurodivergence
Who is it For?
Adult Readers: These books are intended for adult readers, although precocious or older teens will probably read these pretty gleefully (I certainly would have). They are challenging, morally complex, and the questions presented in the narrative don't have easy answers. Additionally, as this book is about war, there is genuine atrocity in this story—brutal violence, social violence, devastating choices that change characters in ways that they can only move forward from. With that also comes some cathartic and powerful growth and change but I do think ultimately these are the things that tip this very firmly into "mature reader" territory.
Xenofiction lovers: People who enjoy books from the perspectives of mythical creatures like dragons, unicorns or aliens.
Low Fantasy Readers: Honestly I'd actually recommend this book to even curious people whose normal tastes run more towards genre fantasy, particularly low fantasy sweeping political narratives.
Furries: Enjoyers of furry fiction, long known for creative idiosyncrasy and stories that center complex identity as well as the focus on animal protagonists would enjoy this!
Animal fiction: There is some overlap here with xenofiction as a whole, but if you liked Watership Down, Firebringer or the Sight, or Warrior Cats as a kid you'd probably enjoy this book—although note that this tale is decidedly more adult in is presentation, style and content.
What am I Getting Into?
Standalone?: No, but it can be enjoyed like one!
Series count: 5 (going on 6)
This book is an epic by definition. It's a long story literally following legends amongst animal protagonists as they—willingly, wittingly, or not—drag their societies forward at the risk of destroying them. As with basically anything, this process is limping, bloody, and complicated, and in the case of this narrative it's deliciously written.
The first book in this series, Hunter Unlucky, is a saga presented in five acts. It is absolutely worth the investment of time, and can 100% be enjoyed as a standalone, so if you're leery of huge series-long commitments don't worry too much. However, as someone who was incredibly reluctant to get into another Big Fantasy Series, I was hopelessly captured by this one and have been devouring every installment since like a starving fruit bat.
The other books in the series with the exception of the immediate follow up of short stories, bounce around to different character point of views, and spend a long time with the craesia—the lion-like species in this world before eventually circling back to ferryshaft in the yet-unreleased novel Hilton is currently working on at the time of writing.
What Makes it Special
The characters really make you love the world. The narrative is replete with a clear picture of how much the author loves nature, but is also insightful of the vastness of individual change. It is hard to transform from one stage of life to the next, to hear about a hero from one person's mouth only to hear about their irredeemable villainy from another. These are tough topics full of pain and hope and this is I think one of the things that Abigail Hilton does spectacularly, and with confidence, in her text. That itself is utterly moving, and is the kind of story that has the power to change minds. But there is another aspect that always lingers when I think about these books:
There is a particular experience of childhood where imaginative kids get down on all fours and run around pretending to be a fantasy creature. You're a firebreathing dragon, a unicorn, or some completely inexplicable thing you made up and have a lot of smeary doodles in a sketchbook. These things fade away like dreams in most cases.
But Hilton has lived and worked with this world and these characters for a long time, and she made fantastic speculative fiction by combining the best of "how would this work based on my deep knowledge of biology and natural history" with "this rules and I like it". It’s the shirtless joy of a Renaissance Faire. It's the shameless idiosyncrasy of an individual. These books are, in the way of many underrated speculative fiction stories: they too creative, too specific, too interesting, too weird.
God damn does the world need more of it.
How Do I Enjoy This?
This book is available in beautiful text editions with stunning artwork from @ikrutt. Many editions have a world map as well as character sketches.
If you like audiobooks however, sweet Jesus are you in for a treat. Audiobooks run the gamut of "someone reading a book to you" to "someone acting out the reading" to "basically a radio play". The audiobooks for a lot of Hilton's work, including Hunter's unlucky, runs a little closer to the latter two.
These books are narrated by Rish Outfield, who is a consummate professional with a distinguished career. Different species and even specific groups within species get their own accents, and every character has a distinct and memorable voice. He gives a lot of thought to each of the major characters, and as someone with a great appreciation for the craft of professional voice work, listening to 24 hours of this tale was a genuine delight. The acting is gripping and high quality.
If you purchase the books directly from the author you can also purchase additional audio content such as interviews and behind the scenes!
Where Can I Get it?
The best place to purchase Abigail Hilton's work is directly from her, as the author can often charge less and keep more. This has the most complete catalogue of the products and editions available such as signed copies. It's important to note that books in this series following Hunters Unlucky and its immediate successor Lullaby are ONLY available from her website.
However, it is possible to obtain copies of Hunters Unlucky from Amazon and other major digital retailers!
HELP I'm Obsessed! Where do I find fans to talk about this with?
If you need more Hunters Unlucky and Lidian (and more), the first place I'll recommend is Patreon! There is also a Hunters Unlucky Tumblr Community to enjoy.
We’ll see you all on the Otherside :)
Abigail Hilton's Hunter's Unlucky is a rare chimera of xenofictional political epic full of gut-wrenchingly compelling characters—but what makes it so special is its utterly unapologetic specificity. It is a doorstopper of a tome, the author has been working with the world and characters for 30 years.
On the island of Lidian, seven fantastical and intelligent species struggle out of their histories and into uncertain futures. Dark seas wormed with holes to distant worlds, a carnivorous forest where the dead are said to go, to the living forest where intelligent lionlike cats war. There are plains where herds of fleetfooted hooved carnivores forget, repeat and make history, and carve into the stones so that they might not repeat again. Two species of thylacine battle in conflicts that span ice ages—one sprinting on the blades of mountains and the other sewing vines with clever, clever paws. Glaciers crack open the empire of eagles and house sleeping, dubiously dead dragons…to say nothing of those oldest who wake.
It is a world beautiful, and monstrous—a mirror of the violent beauty of our own planet earth frankly depicted. It's impossible not to feel strangely nostalgic for this magical place never yet visited.
And if you want to experience xenoficion, speculative biology, epics, and truly some of the most multilayered characters on four legs (or no legs, in some cases), you will want to visit Lidian.
Brief Summary
Storm ela Ferry, the reviled runt of an outlawed bloodline reignites a war by surviving a cull by his people's oppressors. But while nature is red in tooth and claw, the moral high ground in war is rarely black and white. Storm's continued survival becomes the eye of a political hurricane that threatens to drag the secrets of kings, dragons and elders out into the light of day—his heartbeat the catalyst of generations of conflict crashing into unsteady resolution.
Themes and Genres
Cultural isolation, inflicting healing from generational and cultural trauma, belonging and identity, survival and atrocity, hero/monstrosity identity complex, war story, political epic, revenge, reconciliation, generational drift, cultural shifts, queer fantasy, neurodivergence
Who is it For?
Adult Readers: These books are intended for adult readers, although precocious or older teens will probably read these pretty gleefully (I certainly would have). They are challenging, morally complex, and the questions presented in the narrative don't have easy answers. Additionally, as this book is about war, there is genuine atrocity in this story—brutal violence, social violence, devastating choices that change characters in ways that they can only move forward from. With that also comes some cathartic and powerful growth and change but I do think ultimately these are the things that tip this very firmly into "mature reader" territory.
Xenofiction lovers: People who enjoy books from the perspectives of mythical creatures like dragons, unicorns or aliens.
Low Fantasy Readers: Honestly I'd actually recommend this book to even curious people whose normal tastes run more towards genre fantasy, particularly low fantasy sweeping political narratives.
Furries: Enjoyers of furry fiction, long known for creative idiosyncrasy and stories that center complex identity as well as the focus on animal protagonists would enjoy this!
Animal fiction: There is some overlap here with xenofiction as a whole, but if you liked Watership Down, Firebringer or the Sight, or Warrior Cats as a kid you'd probably enjoy this book—although note that this tale is decidedly more adult in is presentation, style and content.
What am I Getting Into?
Standalone?: No, but it can be enjoyed like one!
Series count: 5 (going on 6)
This book is an epic by definition. It's a long story literally following legends amongst animal protagonists as they—willingly, wittingly, or not—drag their societies forward at the risk of destroying them. As with basically anything, this process is limping, bloody, and complicated, and in the case of this narrative it's deliciously written.
The first book in this series, Hunter Unlucky, is a saga presented in five acts. It is absolutely worth the investment of time, and can 100% be enjoyed as a standalone, so if you're leery of huge series-long commitments don't worry too much. However, as someone who was incredibly reluctant to get into another Big Fantasy Series, I was hopelessly captured by this one and have been devouring every installment since like a starving fruit bat.
The other books in the series with the exception of the immediate follow up of short stories, bounce around to different character point of views, and spend a long time with the craesia—the lion-like species in this world before eventually circling back to ferryshaft in the yet-unreleased novel Hilton is currently working on at the time of writing.
What Makes it Special
The characters really make you love the world. The narrative is replete with a clear picture of how much the author loves nature, but is also insightful of the vastness of individual change. It is hard to transform from one stage of life to the next, to hear about a hero from one person's mouth only to hear about their irredeemable villainy from another. These are tough topics full of pain and hope and this is I think one of the things that Abigail Hilton does spectacularly, and with confidence, in her text. That itself is utterly moving, and is the kind of story that has the power to change minds. But there is another aspect that always lingers when I think about these books:
There is a particular experience of childhood where imaginative kids get down on all fours and run around pretending to be a fantasy creature. You're a firebreathing dragon, a unicorn, or some completely inexplicable thing you made up and have a lot of smeary doodles in a sketchbook. These things fade away like dreams in most cases.
But Hilton has lived and worked with this world and these characters for a long time, and she made fantastic speculative fiction by combining the best of "how would this work based on my deep knowledge of biology and natural history" with "this rules and I like it". It’s the shirtless joy of a Renaissance Faire. It's the shameless idiosyncrasy of an individual. These books are, in the way of many underrated speculative fiction stories: they too creative, too specific, too interesting, too weird.
God damn does the world need more of it.
How Do I Enjoy This?
This book is available in beautiful text editions with stunning artwork from @ikrutt. Many editions have a world map as well as character sketches.
If you like audiobooks however, sweet Jesus are you in for a treat. Audiobooks run the gamut of "someone reading a book to you" to "someone acting out the reading" to "basically a radio play". The audiobooks for a lot of Hilton's work, including Hunter's unlucky, runs a little closer to the latter two.
These books are narrated by Rish Outfield, who is a consummate professional with a distinguished career. Different species and even specific groups within species get their own accents, and every character has a distinct and memorable voice. He gives a lot of thought to each of the major characters, and as someone with a great appreciation for the craft of professional voice work, listening to 24 hours of this tale was a genuine delight. The acting is gripping and high quality.
If you purchase the books directly from the author you can also purchase additional audio content such as interviews and behind the scenes!
Where Can I Get it?
The best place to purchase Abigail Hilton's work is directly from her, as the author can often charge less and keep more. This has the most complete catalogue of the products and editions available such as signed copies. It's important to note that books in this series following Hunters Unlucky and its immediate successor Lullaby are ONLY available from her website.
However, it is possible to obtain copies of Hunters Unlucky from Amazon and other major digital retailers!
HELP I'm Obsessed! Where do I find fans to talk about this with?
If you need more Hunters Unlucky and Lidian (and more), the first place I'll recommend is Patreon! There is also a Hunters Unlucky Tumblr Community to enjoy.
We’ll see you all on the Otherside :)
February 20, 2023
I found out about this book through tik tok and the author was very kind and offered me a free PDF to read since I was unemployed at the time (thank you again!) And I am so glad she did. This was a wonderful read, and I am placing it up with some of my favorite novels/series such as Watership Down, The Sight/Fell, and Age if Fire. The characters and moral systems are rich and complex, as well as the world building. I haven't had a novel pull me in quite like this for about 3 years now and it felt so good to be genuinely deeply invested in the characters and tensions. I'm looking forward to purchasing a physical version to add to my library, as well as the other smaller stories in the same world.
July 10, 2020
This is one of the best books I've ever read, so I will try my best to summarise what makes it so great without spoiling anything.
It's a monstrously huge epic fantasy, taking place on a strange island where humans do not exist. It chronicles the power struggles between the various species of the island, and how they relate to history and legend. The book begins with the birth of our main character, Storm, and we see him grow and learn throughout the story, from orphaned outcast to a figure of legend.
It's a fantastical adventure, although there is very little magic to speak of. Raw, and gripping, with a tightly woven plot from beginning to end. The characters in this book are fantastically written, every single one of them is believably flawed, and a lot of time is spent on developing their relationships with each other. Throughout the course of the story, former rivals will become friends, mentors will become the students, and motivations change.
The one flaw I can think of is that, whilst it is tightly woven and packed, the earliest chapters of the book start off slightly slow. However, I feel that this is a necessary part of the story Abigail Hilton wishes to tell.
It's a monstrously huge epic fantasy, taking place on a strange island where humans do not exist. It chronicles the power struggles between the various species of the island, and how they relate to history and legend. The book begins with the birth of our main character, Storm, and we see him grow and learn throughout the story, from orphaned outcast to a figure of legend.
It's a fantastical adventure, although there is very little magic to speak of. Raw, and gripping, with a tightly woven plot from beginning to end. The characters in this book are fantastically written, every single one of them is believably flawed, and a lot of time is spent on developing their relationships with each other. Throughout the course of the story, former rivals will become friends, mentors will become the students, and motivations change.
The one flaw I can think of is that, whilst it is tightly woven and packed, the earliest chapters of the book start off slightly slow. However, I feel that this is a necessary part of the story Abigail Hilton wishes to tell.
August 3, 2020
I read the omnibus version so I will review it as one book.
Book theme song: Rise by Skillet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk0Sr...
Content warnings: lots of violence and about as much gore as a typical nature documentary.
Phenomenal worldbuilding and characterization. The only species I found confusing was the telshees.
I like that the audience learns along with Storm, and that he relies on his friends. The side characters are definitely not forgotten, and every character is very likeable. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes the "yes it's about animals but it's about wild animals not cute fluffy cartoons" kind of story, like Warrior Cats and Watership Down, and anyone who likes high fantasy, adventure, and mystery.
(Spoiler part)
I like that the reader's vision of who is the bad guy keeps changing throughout the series as more information is revealed.
I also really like the theme of "if you don't learn from the past you repeat it." It's not seen very often in stories (at least the stories I read and watch) and it's done very well here.
The lishties are a fascinating and gruesome take on zombies.
Each species has their own culture and society that are well-developed, though I don't think it was quite necessary to include humans in the history, but now that's nitpicking.
The chase scenes are very well written. Usually fast-paced scenes like that are hard for me to follow, but with the amount of detail and the word choice I could easily tell where the characters were and what they were doing. The chases read like chess games.
I also like that the villains (Arcove, and later the creasia defector whose name I forget, and the lishties) are smart, and they adapt as the situation changes to stay one step ahead of the protagonist at all times until the very end. It made the book very unputdownable.
Book theme song: Rise by Skillet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk0Sr...
Content warnings: lots of violence and about as much gore as a typical nature documentary.
Phenomenal worldbuilding and characterization. The only species I found confusing was the telshees.
I like that the audience learns along with Storm, and that he relies on his friends. The side characters are definitely not forgotten, and every character is very likeable. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes the "yes it's about animals but it's about wild animals not cute fluffy cartoons" kind of story, like Warrior Cats and Watership Down, and anyone who likes high fantasy, adventure, and mystery.
(Spoiler part)
I like that the reader's vision of who is the bad guy keeps changing throughout the series as more information is revealed.
I also really like the theme of "if you don't learn from the past you repeat it." It's not seen very often in stories (at least the stories I read and watch) and it's done very well here.
The lishties are a fascinating and gruesome take on zombies.
Each species has their own culture and society that are well-developed, though I don't think it was quite necessary to include humans in the history, but now that's nitpicking.
The chase scenes are very well written. Usually fast-paced scenes like that are hard for me to follow, but with the amount of detail and the word choice I could easily tell where the characters were and what they were doing. The chases read like chess games.
I also like that the villains (Arcove, and later the creasia defector whose name I forget, and the lishties) are smart, and they adapt as the situation changes to stay one step ahead of the protagonist at all times until the very end. It made the book very unputdownable.
September 8, 2015
This book left me with the magical feeling of sad-happy - sadness because it was over and happiness because it was such an amazing, touching, lip-biting and engrossing story. I love everything about this book. The characters are interesting, likable yet not perfect. The story is intriguing, filled with a variety of emotional moods, incredible settings and a plot that keeps you wondering what will happen next.
The illustrations add depth and impact to the narrative with height charts compared to a human, a map of the island on which the story takes place and stunning art of the creatures. So much thought, care and effort has gone into this entire work that I cannot express enough how happy I am to have had it recommended to me.
If you love adventure, suspense, plots that keep you guessing and strong characters this is a must read.
The illustrations add depth and impact to the narrative with height charts compared to a human, a map of the island on which the story takes place and stunning art of the creatures. So much thought, care and effort has gone into this entire work that I cannot express enough how happy I am to have had it recommended to me.
If you love adventure, suspense, plots that keep you guessing and strong characters this is a must read.
March 17, 2020
Another great book from Abigail Hilton set in a world with a whole different set of critters. It's a good long read and builds to terrific climax at the end.
May 11, 2020
I really like the whole concept and uniqueness about "Hunters Unlucky," especially since it is about made-up animal species which adds more depth to the fantasy genre. This book is unlike anything else I have ever read, and I cannot recall the last time I found such a compelling book that I never wanted to end. The story never got dull for a moment or became predictable, and it is complex in a good way that makes it thrilling to read and memorable in the creativity of the character development and plot. I wish the author would write a sequel or at least short stories featuring these characters. It is among my top favorite books, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy books featuring animal characters.
December 5, 2017
Hunter's Unlucky is a grand story about friendships, loyalty, and standing up for others. It is engaging, exciting, and emotional. The characters are not absolute in terms of who is good and who is evil. Some of the antagonists are interesting, three-dimensional, and sympathetic characters that you'll find yourself wanting to know more about. You may even find yourself rooting for them along some with the protagonists. The character bonds are deep and heartfelt. Give it a try!
December 31, 2023
I bought this book for two reasons: The story and genre really interested me, and I needed to see if all the "hype" that I saw in the reviews were worth it. Most of the reviews seemed to have been written by people who were following the author for a while, and I figured the reviews were biased and overhyped. I was determined to see if this book was actually a 2/3 star story vs the 4/5 star ratings. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised.
Pros:
1) Character development was well done. Especially for one of the antagonists that becomes an ally.
2) I can clearly see the love and care in building the story and characters.
3) The author has a good talent for writing adventures. I was intrigued with learning and exploring the world that the characters lived in and discovering the mysteries along with them.
Cons:
1) I listened to the audiobook version which had errors such as delayed sound or skipping in the audio. There was also poor enunciation of some words at times that I had to give up on what phrase was being said by the narrator.
2) The beginning of the story had a character giving a small introduction of the circumstances of this world. It was done mostly through exposition and unfortunately, it contained a long-winded monologue of thoughts that dragged out far too long. I started to consider, maybe this story isn't that great. Having finished the book, this monologue still hasn't left my mind and gave this book a stain for me.
3) Another problem I had was the fact that I didn't have a clear description of what a Ferry Shaft looked like. I just imagined a long tailed llama based on the novel. If you are depending on the book cover to do the describing for me, then we should written a visual novel. Tsk tsk.
4) The main story is about one character but the book was meant to tell the life story of many other characters, so you start to think that this isn't our main character's story, it is all of the characters' stories which can be a bit distracting. I also could not help but feel that the author was more interested in writing the story of the characters that were mentioned in the past. If that is how you feel, write that story! It sounds pretty interesting to me. I felt like as she wrote this story, she was really thinking about the other one. So I got distracted by that too.
5) If you came in the fighting, there will be some, but more of the book focuses on history of the world, stories, diplomacy/politics, and character stories.
6) There was possibly a pseudo-homoerotic relationship between two characters.....maybe. She has written more mature and LGBTQ themed books before. It doesn't destroy the story nor was it any huge focus. It was actually kind of sweet and well written. However, I felt like something was trying to be snuck past me and, totally subjective opinion, but I do not want something snuck past me or anything too subtle because then, I missed the point. And then, I'm annoyed (like I said, very subjective thought but this was how I felt).
7) The climax at the end was a bit rushed. A lot of the action or the resolution to the fighting was handled "off-screen". The fighting descriptions definitely took a back seat. Do not expect any Warrior Cats level of detail for the action at the end of the story.
8) It took longer for me to finish the story overall, and I think it wasn't fast pace enough near the ¾ of the story. I didn't have the mood to put in that gear to speed through the book.
9) I do not plan on reading the other books in the series. The author explores more mature themes and to fulfill the other story she wanted to write about, the Cressia. Though, there is one short book that focuses more on the characters from this book (Ferry shaft and Cressia), some of their history in more detail, and doesn't have the mature themes, but I'm still not interested.
So despite the number of cons being larger than the number of pros, why would I give this story a 4 star rating? The pros were executed that well. I read the patience, love, attention to detail, and time that went into crafting this world. This isn't Tolkein type of writing (Tolkein wasn't on mortal level if you ask me when it comes to world-building), but excellent writing was there. The story was not perfect, but I definitely was in their world and I enjoyed the time there. This is a treasure that is becoming harder for me to find as time goes on. I always try to highlight excellent stories and share those gifts to others. It was definitely the author's goal, to share a well crafted treasure.
Pros:
1) Character development was well done. Especially for one of the antagonists that becomes an ally.
2) I can clearly see the love and care in building the story and characters.
3) The author has a good talent for writing adventures. I was intrigued with learning and exploring the world that the characters lived in and discovering the mysteries along with them.
Cons:
1) I listened to the audiobook version which had errors such as delayed sound or skipping in the audio. There was also poor enunciation of some words at times that I had to give up on what phrase was being said by the narrator.
2) The beginning of the story had a character giving a small introduction of the circumstances of this world. It was done mostly through exposition and unfortunately, it contained a long-winded monologue of thoughts that dragged out far too long. I started to consider, maybe this story isn't that great. Having finished the book, this monologue still hasn't left my mind and gave this book a stain for me.
3) Another problem I had was the fact that I didn't have a clear description of what a Ferry Shaft looked like. I just imagined a long tailed llama based on the novel. If you are depending on the book cover to do the describing for me, then we should written a visual novel. Tsk tsk.
4) The main story is about one character but the book was meant to tell the life story of many other characters, so you start to think that this isn't our main character's story, it is all of the characters' stories which can be a bit distracting. I also could not help but feel that the author was more interested in writing the story of the characters that were mentioned in the past. If that is how you feel, write that story! It sounds pretty interesting to me. I felt like as she wrote this story, she was really thinking about the other one. So I got distracted by that too.
5) If you came in the fighting, there will be some, but more of the book focuses on history of the world, stories, diplomacy/politics, and character stories.
6) There was possibly a pseudo-homoerotic relationship between two characters.....maybe. She has written more mature and LGBTQ themed books before. It doesn't destroy the story nor was it any huge focus. It was actually kind of sweet and well written. However, I felt like something was trying to be snuck past me and, totally subjective opinion, but I do not want something snuck past me or anything too subtle because then, I missed the point. And then, I'm annoyed (like I said, very subjective thought but this was how I felt).
7) The climax at the end was a bit rushed. A lot of the action or the resolution to the fighting was handled "off-screen". The fighting descriptions definitely took a back seat. Do not expect any Warrior Cats level of detail for the action at the end of the story.
8) It took longer for me to finish the story overall, and I think it wasn't fast pace enough near the ¾ of the story. I didn't have the mood to put in that gear to speed through the book.
9) I do not plan on reading the other books in the series. The author explores more mature themes and to fulfill the other story she wanted to write about, the Cressia. Though, there is one short book that focuses more on the characters from this book (Ferry shaft and Cressia), some of their history in more detail, and doesn't have the mature themes, but I'm still not interested.
So despite the number of cons being larger than the number of pros, why would I give this story a 4 star rating? The pros were executed that well. I read the patience, love, attention to detail, and time that went into crafting this world. This isn't Tolkein type of writing (Tolkein wasn't on mortal level if you ask me when it comes to world-building), but excellent writing was there. The story was not perfect, but I definitely was in their world and I enjoyed the time there. This is a treasure that is becoming harder for me to find as time goes on. I always try to highlight excellent stories and share those gifts to others. It was definitely the author's goal, to share a well crafted treasure.
December 28, 2021
Complex, rich and thrilling from page one!
'Xenofiction' is broadly defined as a story told from the perspective of a non-human. In wider literature, this perspective is often that of an animal. Within sci fi, the perspective is often an alien, AI being, or nanoswarm that has taken over a human.
An important criterion is that the non-humanness must add something to the plot.
For example, stories about Mickey Mouse is not considered true xenofiction, since he acts, thinks, speaks and responds to his environment like a human.
However, sapience and thinking and talking animals isn’t a dealbreaker, and is actually one of the things that makes this genre so attractive to me. Few authors truly knows how to write well from a non-human perspective.
Examples of xenofiction or xenofiction-adjacent works featuring animals: The Jungle Book, Black Beauty, Plague Dogs, Watership Down, Felidae, Raptor Red, The Firebringer trilogy, and The Song of the Summer King.
The reason I mention this in the review, is despite my love for this genre, decent novels featuring non-human POVs are few and far between.
One of the biggest faults of authors trying their hand at writing non-humans, are the clumsy disregard and lack of research into the biology of their chosen non-human. Or that they do the opposite, by creating a detailed world of speculative zoology, but one lacking in plot.
That is not the case in Hunters Unlucky. In fact, rarely have I seen the speculative biology treated with so much respect. And the plot kept me engaged from page one and never got boring.
Not only did Abigail Hilton do some thorough research on existing natural phenomena, she also used this knowledge to craft a very believable set of new animals.
From omnivorous herd-animals called ferryshaft to carnivorous plants, from the crafty marsupial curbs to the mysterious, singing telshees.
Hilton has also created cultures and histories to go along with each species, and this kicks off the plot of this novel.
It is a story told from multiple angles and things are rarely black and white, or as simple as they might seem at first glance.
At its core, this is a fantasy novel about war and political intrigue. What leads up to a war and how the participants handle it from their individual positions.
It’s an expansive novel with well over 20+ active characters, but it never got confusing to me.
Instead, the change of perspective helps the author weave complex storylines into a rich tapestry, leading up to a satisfactory conclusion.
It has talking animals, and coming-of-age elements, but do not mistake it for a children’s book.
The tone and the plot of it are every bit as mature as most novels meant for adults. There is considerable physical violence and psychological trauma, for one. There is also a bit of moral and philosophical discussion.
They are animals, they fight and kill and eat each other. If these are themes that make you uncomfortable, consider staying away from this book.
If this is NOT a dealbreaker and you enjoy complex stories with nuanced characters, do give it a shot!
Novels like Hunters Unlucky are rare, and I feel privileged to have stumbled upon it. Since I first stumbled upon this book, I have read it multiple times.
'Xenofiction' is broadly defined as a story told from the perspective of a non-human. In wider literature, this perspective is often that of an animal. Within sci fi, the perspective is often an alien, AI being, or nanoswarm that has taken over a human.
An important criterion is that the non-humanness must add something to the plot.
For example, stories about Mickey Mouse is not considered true xenofiction, since he acts, thinks, speaks and responds to his environment like a human.
However, sapience and thinking and talking animals isn’t a dealbreaker, and is actually one of the things that makes this genre so attractive to me. Few authors truly knows how to write well from a non-human perspective.
Examples of xenofiction or xenofiction-adjacent works featuring animals: The Jungle Book, Black Beauty, Plague Dogs, Watership Down, Felidae, Raptor Red, The Firebringer trilogy, and The Song of the Summer King.
The reason I mention this in the review, is despite my love for this genre, decent novels featuring non-human POVs are few and far between.
One of the biggest faults of authors trying their hand at writing non-humans, are the clumsy disregard and lack of research into the biology of their chosen non-human. Or that they do the opposite, by creating a detailed world of speculative zoology, but one lacking in plot.
That is not the case in Hunters Unlucky. In fact, rarely have I seen the speculative biology treated with so much respect. And the plot kept me engaged from page one and never got boring.
Not only did Abigail Hilton do some thorough research on existing natural phenomena, she also used this knowledge to craft a very believable set of new animals.
From omnivorous herd-animals called ferryshaft to carnivorous plants, from the crafty marsupial curbs to the mysterious, singing telshees.
Hilton has also created cultures and histories to go along with each species, and this kicks off the plot of this novel.
It is a story told from multiple angles and things are rarely black and white, or as simple as they might seem at first glance.
At its core, this is a fantasy novel about war and political intrigue. What leads up to a war and how the participants handle it from their individual positions.
It’s an expansive novel with well over 20+ active characters, but it never got confusing to me.
Instead, the change of perspective helps the author weave complex storylines into a rich tapestry, leading up to a satisfactory conclusion.
It has talking animals, and coming-of-age elements, but do not mistake it for a children’s book.
The tone and the plot of it are every bit as mature as most novels meant for adults. There is considerable physical violence and psychological trauma, for one. There is also a bit of moral and philosophical discussion.
They are animals, they fight and kill and eat each other. If these are themes that make you uncomfortable, consider staying away from this book.
If this is NOT a dealbreaker and you enjoy complex stories with nuanced characters, do give it a shot!
Novels like Hunters Unlucky are rare, and I feel privileged to have stumbled upon it. Since I first stumbled upon this book, I have read it multiple times.
November 9, 2025
Hunters Unlucky was unknown to me previously, but I am glad to have been given its recommendation; I thoroughly enjoyed it. Animal Xenofiction is a rarely seen genre to begin with, and fewer still are ones not written just for young children.
Seeing Storm find his way through the many trials thrown at him was welcome adventure to start with, and the rising stakes do well to keep things interesting. There are portions where danger feels used slightly too often or predictably and loses its teeth, but they are few enough that I never felt it disrupted the book too much, and it's also difficult to suggest suitable alternatives; the protagonist does have to survive for there to be a story.
Coming with this, the world building was something to delight in, and it is deeply appreciated to have a series where while the animals are intelligent (some of them, at least), they are still animals; distinctly non-human characters unshackled by the need to make them more like humans. Hunting, fleeing, migration, death from the cold and lack of food. No houses, no building, tools barely constituting more than rocks. Wonderful!
Furthering that, the relations animals have to each other feels appropriate for what they are, heightened by intelligence but not washed away into anything too sterile, and having them form and break apart in expected an unexpected ways leads both to happiness and tragedy. It's a harsh world, though despite it the characters are not wasted and offed just to instil that brutality; that is to say, death felt appropriate when it came, meaningful in what was lost.
There are a few more things that I felt missed the mark, however. The inclusion of humans took me out of the world a bit, admittedly; they do not (at least in this book) serve any purpose other than having once existed in their world. The fortress at the end counts somewhat, but it could easily have been anything else unrelated to humans; there was nothing necessitating or improved by their involvement, however slight, and I wish more books like this neglected to include them. At the end of the day however, this is a matter of taste, and though I am not a fan of it, I remain a fan of the work as a whole
Additionally, there is the matter of the ending. The lishtees are fascinating, but at least from my initial reading felt lacking in foreshadowing and involvement, leading to the sudden influx at the end not getting quite enough words to feel sufficiently explored. Complete mystery to knowing everything about them in far too little time; I wish there had been more of them earlier.
I hope this has been at least somewhat coherent, but the important part is this; I really liked it! Read over the course of three days, I never once felt bored by it, and its strengths overcome any weakness to a point I'd recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in the genre. Onwards to the next book <3
Seeing Storm find his way through the many trials thrown at him was welcome adventure to start with, and the rising stakes do well to keep things interesting. There are portions where danger feels used slightly too often or predictably and loses its teeth, but they are few enough that I never felt it disrupted the book too much, and it's also difficult to suggest suitable alternatives; the protagonist does have to survive for there to be a story.
Coming with this, the world building was something to delight in, and it is deeply appreciated to have a series where while the animals are intelligent (some of them, at least), they are still animals; distinctly non-human characters unshackled by the need to make them more like humans. Hunting, fleeing, migration, death from the cold and lack of food. No houses, no building, tools barely constituting more than rocks. Wonderful!
Furthering that, the relations animals have to each other feels appropriate for what they are, heightened by intelligence but not washed away into anything too sterile, and having them form and break apart in expected an unexpected ways leads both to happiness and tragedy. It's a harsh world, though despite it the characters are not wasted and offed just to instil that brutality; that is to say, death felt appropriate when it came, meaningful in what was lost.
There are a few more things that I felt missed the mark, however. The inclusion of humans took me out of the world a bit, admittedly; they do not (at least in this book) serve any purpose other than having once existed in their world. The fortress at the end counts somewhat, but it could easily have been anything else unrelated to humans; there was nothing necessitating or improved by their involvement, however slight, and I wish more books like this neglected to include them. At the end of the day however, this is a matter of taste, and though I am not a fan of it, I remain a fan of the work as a whole
Additionally, there is the matter of the ending. The lishtees are fascinating, but at least from my initial reading felt lacking in foreshadowing and involvement, leading to the sudden influx at the end not getting quite enough words to feel sufficiently explored. Complete mystery to knowing everything about them in far too little time; I wish there had been more of them earlier.
I hope this has been at least somewhat coherent, but the important part is this; I really liked it! Read over the course of three days, I never once felt bored by it, and its strengths overcome any weakness to a point I'd recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in the genre. Onwards to the next book <3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
This is a special story that I think would be extremely well appreciated by anyone who enjoys the xenofiction genre. I never finished the Warriors series - I read the first few but grew out of it promptly, right around the time this story was published. I wish someone had pointed me in this direction, because this is what I actually wanted.
It does everything that I think good xenofiction should do - it challenges assumptions, forces new and unusual perspectives on its characters and on the reader by proxy, and ultimately manages to be very, very human while still fully delivering on the delight of reading about people with totally different body language, limitations, advantages, instincts, and values than yourself. It does all this with familiar but speculative species, adding an additional layer of joy as you come to understand the ecology of the world created, and how it is reflected in the political sagas of its people. It is technically a coming of age as it follows the life of a specific character, but where it shines is in the world building, the larger conflict, and the believability of the difficult choices made by leadership under dire circumstances.
Might be mild spoilers below….
These species feel incredibly real. When we meet them in this story, they have burgeoning intelligence and culture. They are only just beginning to understand themselves and thus break free from limitations of that ecology. They are at a crucial moment in their own history, one which I wonder about in humans all the time, as our ancestors too once had to look into the intelligent eyes of animals undeniably different from themselves and decide if mercy was worth the risk. It is ultimately a story about crabs in a bucket.
This story is also undeniably queer. The queerness arises from the scenario created so naturally, in so unforced a manner, it truly feels essential to the story. It is incredibly meaningful. The author demonstrates that the blossoming of different kinds of queerness is an inevitable result of the ascension of an intelligent species. Excellently done.
November 23, 2025
I'll leave this one spoiler free!
Knocking down a star because as someone who is ESL at some point the naming choices for the different Animals (capital A) started to get jumbled besides the main two factions. Same with the different languages or what not, but this is a very much personal issue with the bit of language barrier.
Its very much a slow start, but I don't consider that particularly a bad thing. The world itself is very charming and so are the different animals. However since I got the Audiobook, I had a really hard time following which was which besides the main two (Creasia/Ferryshaft -- I didn't even know the spelling for these until I got around reading the annex included with the audiobook) I think the action sequences were very well written and I had a very clear image of what was happening (sans confusing the smaller lowland/highland guys and the bird ones at times- oop)
This is on the Audiobook side of things: The mess of accents was extremely distracting and even uncomfortable at times with the choice of accent chosen. The Creasia had at least 4 different accents and it was very strange, outside of two specific characters for Story Reasons.
I think I will give this book a proper read vs listening to it, since the accent thing really soured me on this (sorry!)
Knocking down a star because as someone who is ESL at some point the naming choices for the different Animals (capital A) started to get jumbled besides the main two factions. Same with the different languages or what not, but this is a very much personal issue with the bit of language barrier.
Its very much a slow start, but I don't consider that particularly a bad thing. The world itself is very charming and so are the different animals. However since I got the Audiobook, I had a really hard time following which was which besides the main two (Creasia/Ferryshaft -- I didn't even know the spelling for these until I got around reading the annex included with the audiobook) I think the action sequences were very well written and I had a very clear image of what was happening (sans confusing the smaller lowland/highland guys and the bird ones at times- oop)
This is on the Audiobook side of things: The mess of accents was extremely distracting and even uncomfortable at times with the choice of accent chosen. The Creasia had at least 4 different accents and it was very strange, outside of two specific characters for Story Reasons.
I think I will give this book a proper read vs listening to it, since the accent thing really soured me on this (sorry!)
May 19, 2021
I picked this book up and started it on a whim — thank you, Kindle Unlimited — and I just found myself hooked. Storm and his exploits were a great intro, hooking me into the story and getting me to care so much that when we flipped to other characters I was cool with it. They are literally talking fantasy animals, and yet the story is quite compelling. Hilton knows how to write a caper.
The last one-third of the book floundered a bit. I had difficulty tracking what was going on and actually lost interest in some of the proceedings. It does come together in a fairly satisfactory conclusion.
I love Storm a lot, especially in the beginning when he was matching wits against Arcove’s lieutenants. He does become more complicated later on, which was also kind of interesting.
I have more complicated feelings about Arcove, Roup and Keesha. Hilton crafts them cleverly so they’re not just cardboard villains, and I do like Arcove and Roup a lot, but when I think about it, Arcove did a lot of shitty things. In trying to escape the ~tyranny of the ferryshaft, he became a tyrant himself. That said, I can’t help but like him.
My true sadness is for Eyal, my little curb friend. He was true and brave. Sob.
The last one-third of the book floundered a bit. I had difficulty tracking what was going on and actually lost interest in some of the proceedings. It does come together in a fairly satisfactory conclusion.
I love Storm a lot, especially in the beginning when he was matching wits against Arcove’s lieutenants. He does become more complicated later on, which was also kind of interesting.
I have more complicated feelings about Arcove, Roup and Keesha. Hilton crafts them cleverly so they’re not just cardboard villains, and I do like Arcove and Roup a lot, but when I think about it, Arcove did a lot of shitty things. In trying to escape the ~tyranny of the ferryshaft, he became a tyrant himself. That said, I can’t help but like him.
My true sadness is for Eyal, my little curb friend. He was true and brave. Sob.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2025
I wasn't quite sure what im picking up honestly, usually my method of choosing fantasy books is "does it have dragons" or "is it already highly regarded. I was pretty pleasantly surprised though, the creatures are an enjoyable mix of personable aaand also /animal/, it's not a cushy homely place out there, sometimes you go out of your way to help someone risking your own well being, sometimes you look away and focus on your own survival.
The characters are multidimensional and imperfect, which I always appreciate.
This is a good self contained read, though the drip of background lore and mystique makes you want to know more what the hell is going around these parts, what's the history of this place and the world. But it does also leave you feeling warm inside despite what's only just recently happened technically.
I was teetering between 4 and 5 stars, there were occasionally some slower parts, but the relatively small detail of attention to body language made me pick the higher one because I have to pick one hah.
The characters are multidimensional and imperfect, which I always appreciate.
This is a good self contained read, though the drip of background lore and mystique makes you want to know more what the hell is going around these parts, what's the history of this place and the world. But it does also leave you feeling warm inside despite what's only just recently happened technically.
I was teetering between 4 and 5 stars, there were occasionally some slower parts, but the relatively small detail of attention to body language made me pick the higher one because I have to pick one hah.
October 25, 2022
High quality animal books are hard to find (Watership Down, for instance, is one of my favorites). I feel like Hunters Unlucky is exactly the kind of story I’ve been looking for. It has excellent characters and world building, and a balance of epic scope and grounded, almost gritty realism that I love. Also, there’s sapient thylacines in it, which I also love.
If you like books like Warrior Cats, Guardians of Gahoole, or Watership Down, but are interested in something with quality writing and a *consistently* good plot, please, go read Hunters Unlucky! Or listen to the audiobook, the voice acting is great. I have listened to fully twice, (and am starting another listen from the beginning today, hence the review.)
I love this book so much my blog now has a small collection of fanart I've drawn for the series
If you like books like Warrior Cats, Guardians of Gahoole, or Watership Down, but are interested in something with quality writing and a *consistently* good plot, please, go read Hunters Unlucky! Or listen to the audiobook, the voice acting is great. I have listened to fully twice, (and am starting another listen from the beginning today, hence the review.)
I love this book so much my blog now has a small collection of fanart I've drawn for the series
April 15, 2025
Absolutely up there as one of my favorite books. This one's going to stick with me a long time, and it should be FAR more known than it is.
I've described this to friends as similar to if Warrior Cats was written like Arcane. And I now have a hunger for more mature xenofiction like this. This is a complex story- the more you read, the deeper everything becomes. This is a war with no "right" side, and you feel deeply for characters you once thought of as mere villains. It got tears out of me, which to me is the mark of a wonderful book. It's length is entirely justified, giving it the time and space to flesh out its world and it's stakes. At the end, I found myself wishing it was even longer, and I am excited to explore what else exists in this universe. I loved Hunters Unlucky, and you will too.
I've described this to friends as similar to if Warrior Cats was written like Arcane. And I now have a hunger for more mature xenofiction like this. This is a complex story- the more you read, the deeper everything becomes. This is a war with no "right" side, and you feel deeply for characters you once thought of as mere villains. It got tears out of me, which to me is the mark of a wonderful book. It's length is entirely justified, giving it the time and space to flesh out its world and it's stakes. At the end, I found myself wishing it was even longer, and I am excited to explore what else exists in this universe. I loved Hunters Unlucky, and you will too.
July 13, 2025
DNF 64%. 5/10.
This is not for me. It’s not a bad book by any means but I don’t want to read it anymore. The story takes way too long to get going, I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters, the prose and dialogue are very bland and dry, and I feel like there are a lot of scenes that could’ve been cut or shortened. The worldbuilding and plot are interesting and creative but I need characters to care about and 500 pages in I had yet to find one character I gave a damn about.
I’m growing more and more bored reading this. I have to give up at some point. I want to read other books this year. I can’t waste another month reading a book I stopped liking at 20%. Sunk cost fallacy be damned.
Wrote a short review that you can read here
This is not for me. It’s not a bad book by any means but I don’t want to read it anymore. The story takes way too long to get going, I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters, the prose and dialogue are very bland and dry, and I feel like there are a lot of scenes that could’ve been cut or shortened. The worldbuilding and plot are interesting and creative but I need characters to care about and 500 pages in I had yet to find one character I gave a damn about.
I’m growing more and more bored reading this. I have to give up at some point. I want to read other books this year. I can’t waste another month reading a book I stopped liking at 20%. Sunk cost fallacy be damned.
Wrote a short review that you can read here
March 22, 2025
A sweeping epic about a fictional island of intelligent animals that don't exist and you've never heard of before, and it absolutely pulled me in. I was gasping over revelations in the history of the water ... snake .... dragon .... things, deeply invested in the personal growth of this foxdeerwhatever, and rooting for the highland rodentdogsomethings
It's essentially a story about how war is bad and conflict involves a bunch of people that have personal stories, so you're not going to leave with a new understanding of literature or anything, but the world building is super compelling and it definitely feels like a second generation story of building something sustainable after your typical hero's journey.
It's essentially a story about how war is bad and conflict involves a bunch of people that have personal stories, so you're not going to leave with a new understanding of literature or anything, but the world building is super compelling and it definitely feels like a second generation story of building something sustainable after your typical hero's journey.
July 29, 2025
Got a tiny bit shaky in the final resolution of one aspect of the plot, but overall? This is a new favorite book for me.
I don’t really know what I expected when I first picked up this book, except that I’ve been wanting to read more xenofiction for a long while. I can say that I did not expect a coming of age story with fascinating characters against a backdrop of A Game of Thrones-style political fantasy and gray morality with the CONSIDERABLE added joy of xenofictional speculative biology and culture and exciting sequences of action and strategy… but that’s what I got, and it was a delight.
(Disclaimer: I’ve only ever read the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire, which is A Game of Thrones. The comparison is specific. :P)
I don’t really know what I expected when I first picked up this book, except that I’ve been wanting to read more xenofiction for a long while. I can say that I did not expect a coming of age story with fascinating characters against a backdrop of A Game of Thrones-style political fantasy and gray morality with the CONSIDERABLE added joy of xenofictional speculative biology and culture and exciting sequences of action and strategy… but that’s what I got, and it was a delight.
(Disclaimer: I’ve only ever read the first book of A Song of Ice and Fire, which is A Game of Thrones. The comparison is specific. :P)
January 31, 2025
Absolutely phenomenal!
I have been searching for a book like this, and Hunters Unlucky has really scratched the itch. Highly recommend to anyone who likes xenofiction, or, even anyone who likes an immersive, well paced adventure. Perhaps you've tired yourself with typical fantasy. Not to knock on any classic adventure book, but this puts a new spin on the genre while still keeping the book exciting and easy to follow. I believe this book can be enjoyed by any age, if you're considering reading, give it a close look! I personally loved every single second of this story.
I have been searching for a book like this, and Hunters Unlucky has really scratched the itch. Highly recommend to anyone who likes xenofiction, or, even anyone who likes an immersive, well paced adventure. Perhaps you've tired yourself with typical fantasy. Not to knock on any classic adventure book, but this puts a new spin on the genre while still keeping the book exciting and easy to follow. I believe this book can be enjoyed by any age, if you're considering reading, give it a close look! I personally loved every single second of this story.
November 2, 2025
Abigail Hilton is a vastly talented writer, and Hunters Unlucky reflects this both in its prose and in the development of its world and how it’s presented to readers.
Xenofiction, particularly xenofiction directed towards an adult audience, tends to struggle much with capturing my attention and holding it: Hunters Unlucky continually introduces characters and concepts while simultaneously unfolding and intertwining conflicts deeper and further, making a vastly compelling story to follow.
Xenofiction, particularly xenofiction directed towards an adult audience, tends to struggle much with capturing my attention and holding it: Hunters Unlucky continually introduces characters and concepts while simultaneously unfolding and intertwining conflicts deeper and further, making a vastly compelling story to follow.
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