The Dead Seekers

Dead Seekers #1

by Barb Hendee, J.C. Hendee

In the New York Times bestselling Noble Dead saga, Barb and J.C. Hendee created an engrossing mix of “intrigue, epic fantasy, and horror.”* Now, they present a bold new series set in the same world, where the destinies of two hunters shaped by the shadows of their pasts are about to collide...

In the dark reaches of the eastern continent, Tris Vishal travels from village to village, using his power to put unsettled spirits to rest. He works alone, having learned that letting people close only leads to more death. Still, he finds himself accepting the help of the Móndyalítko woman who saves his life—a woman whose gifts are as much a burden as his own.

Mari Kaleja thirsted for vengeance since the night her family was taken from her. She has searched far and wide for the one she thinks responsible, known only as “The Dead’s Man.” But before she can kill him, she has to be sure. Mari hopes traveling with Tris will confirm her suspicions. But as they embark on a hunt where the living are just as dangerous as the dead, she learns the risks of keeping your enemy close...

Because it’s no longer clear who is predator and who is prey.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Mystery, Ghosts, Fiction, Thriller

328 pages, Hardcover

First published January 3, 2017

About the author

[See barbhendee.org]

Like most writers, I've worked at many jobs in my life, including teaching pre-school until I completed my master's degree in Composition Theory. Between 1993 and 2006, I taught college English while writing fiction on the side, some independently and some with my husband and life-long partner J.C.

Over the years, we've lived in Washington State, Idaho, Colorado, and now moved just south of Portland, Oregon. I love the Northwest, and it's a great place to write.

We have a lovely and talented daughter, Jaclyn, who lives in Houston, Texas along with our wonderful and talented son-in-law, Paul.

J.C. and I sold Dhampir in 2001, which changed our lives considerably. It was published in January 2003, and we've published a book in the Noble Dead Saga every year since. In May of 2006, we were both able to quit our teaching jobs and move into full time writing.

Recently, I've begun writing romance/suspense novels, beginning with: Alone with a Soldier. I am so glad my books have found an audience because I love to write fiction more than anything else in the world... and I'm not really good at anything else.

Reviews

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantasy about a man, basically a ghost hunter who can drive murderous spirits out of his realm and give them true death. People call him the Dead’s Man. They fear him, avoid him, till they need him, then he comes and wrangles the dead. He hunts the dead but Mari, hunts him and plans on murdering him for, well she has good reason.. There is a small doubt that drives her to be sure before she he is the one. She decides to travel with him and gather her proof just to make sure.
There is a lot of deaths, nasty vengeful ghosts, someone dark and pure evil, and no sex, no romance. Yes, you heard right, none. They stick with the program and concern themselves with the deaths, ghosts and the other thing about to kill them instead of desire. I almost got down and kissed the ground in thanks. Yes, I do hope there is a little something in the future.
There was another big thing for me to be thankful for. The main female character didn’t gasp a hundred times. This overused emotional burst of breath has been a trend lately that makes me, gasp. Ha ! Mari, is strong, even after her life was mangled and tossed, she is above gasping. Thank you again. I really should kiss the ground now. She is focused, a bit hyper focused at times but she deserves to be a little wacko here. Oh and she has one really cool talent. Read the story, you see.
I really enjoyed unique twist on the ghost hunter story. Tris, is a fascinating characters that has a lot more to do and I need to know more about his other half. Gasp, his other half ? Read the story, you’ll get no more here.

[Kimberly Laurel (Trusty Bookmark Editorial Services) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the last of him faded in the dark up the road beyond the town, Mari slipped silently out of the shack to follow. Her hand grew sweaty inside her glove where her grip tightened on the narrow-bladed dagger. (21)

I absolutely loved the Hendees’ Noble Dead Saga, and The Dead Seekers is a great start to another series that I cannot wait to obsessively follow. It falls under the paranormal fantasy genre, involving dead spirits, alchemists, and shape shifters, and is placed in the same world as Hendees’ previous series, so it’s probably safe to assume that vampires, elves, dwarves, and their like may eventually make an appearance.

This book’s POV is split between its two main characters, Mari and Tris, whose paths have unknowingly overlapped for over a decade. Mari’s entire family was slaughtered by ghosts when she was ten, and she has been hunting for the murderer who directed the spirits ever since. Tris is escaping his own past experiences by hunting spirits lingering among the living and banishing them back to the dead. Hearing of Tris’s work controlling the dead, Mari is convinced her search has finally come to an end but begins to lose confidence after unexpectedly joining his quest.

I loved that Hendee revealed an almost complete history of the main characters throughout the novel (literally back to Tris’s birth); it really helped fuel events as Tris and Mari began to discover their connected past. Their shared background also created the perfect roadblock to a straightforward love story that they’ll have to overcome if Hendee builds this relationship in the next book (yay for no instalove!). Mari, in particular, spent far too much of the book questioning Tris’s involvement in her parents’ death to fall in love. It’s just as possible that both begin a love story with a new character not yet introduced, which creates the perfect amount of suspense for the later books.

The dual POV was somewhat of a drawback at times to the story. I typically love reading from multiple character’s perspectives, and for most of this book it was fascinating to see both Mari and Tris's viewpoints. However, Mari’s obsessive internal debate over whether Tris was her “Dead’s Man” throughout the entire book made her POV tedious to hear by the halfway mark. The alternative scenario (where Mari instantly trusted Tris) would not have been in line with her previously established character, but even a slight progress in her mindset would have been better to read than her constant half-convinced, half-questioning thought process.

This is placed in the same world as the Noble Dead Saga and having devoured all fourteen books in that series, I went into this book with a very solid understanding of the setting ahead of time. I’m therefore probably biased, but overall I felt the world was very thoroughly constructed, both in its rural and urban settings. Hendee doesn’t utilize unnatural info dumping when setting the scene and quite a lot is actually built through the characters’ interactions with their surroundings, which helps to create this incredibly rich and believable environment. I feel like anyone with experience reading books set in fantasy worlds, from tiny villages to fully guarded cities, will easily immerse themselves in this book.

Overall, I definitely recommend this book and I absolutely cannot wait for the next one. It was a solid build to the beginning of a series, and left both the love line and general direction of the story open-ended which is great for suspense. I’m also selfishly hoping for interactions with characters from the Noble Dead Saga. There are some flaws and it is clear this is the first novel of a few as there was only one major event / accomplishment, but overall a satisfyingly good book from these authors and the start of a series I am incredibly excited about.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tris is a known as the “Deads Man”, he is hired to remove ghost/spirits of the dead to rest. They pay him and he moves on.

Mari wants vengeance for her family’s death and she blames the “Deads Man”.

A chance encounter in the woods makes Mari question want she thought about the “Deads Man”, so she decides to stay with him until she has proof of his evil deeds. What she discovers is more shocking than she could have ever imagined.

The Dead Seekers was a quick and enjoyable read without complex, mind boggling detailed world building that can bog down the storytelling. Team Hendee focuses on the tale and building the character connections. Classified as dark fantasy, I have to say that this is a lighter fantasy, even with "Dead" in the name. Of course you have the blood and gore but the overall flow of the story is a fast, clear tale.

For me, the best part of the book was Mari and Tris, completely likable and compelling characters.

I received this ARC copy of The Dead Seekers from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication January 3, 2017.

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dead Seekers is the first book in a new series and that is something that I'm bloody happy about since I really loved this book! And, now I will try to write a review about a book I love which I hate to do since I just want to say read it, it's brilliant. But, I will try to be a bit versatile than that.

The book starts off with Tris Vishal being born. But, he never breaths and the midwife has to tell his poor parents that the baby is stillborn. Then, the midwife notices that he starts to breathe when she carries him away, but there is something strange about him that will mark him as different from others. He has the ability to send spirits back to where they come from. But, he also risks the lives of everyone who is close to him. Mari Kaleja learns this the hard way as a child when her whole family is slaughtered by spirits. Now she first for revenge, and it's The Dead Man she is after. But, when she finally finds Tris must she be certain that he is the right one. But, traveling with him may not be the best idea. She watches him, and he is not as she had expected. Could this really be the man she has been chasing all these years?

I found myself really enjoying this book, both the setting and the characters. Trish whose gifts are a burden for him and Mari who has spent years looking for revenge. I'm usually not much for romance in books, but one can't really say it's any romance in this book since it's more two lonely people getting to know each other (with a hint of romance). And, that's probably one of the reasons I love the book so much. There is no lusting or instalove.

As for the story itself. I loved getting to know more about Tris power, and Mari's own secret is interesting and very handy. It was also great reading about how their relationship developed from an uneasy alliance to more of a worry about each other, although Mari still wanted to kill him. But, she is a bit conflicted. The last part of the story is the best when they have to figure out who is killing soldiers. Is it a spirit or a revengeful man/woman?

I loved the ending of the book. It's the kind that put a smile on my face and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Seekers is told by our two main characters, Mari Kaleja and Tris Vishal. We also get a little perspective from Tris's mentor, an alchemist which I found equally fascinating. Mari is a cat-shifter whose family was wiped out in the woods by a dark shadow in her youth. Since then she has sought revenge. Tris Vishal a noblemen by birth but lives atop an alchemist's shop and travels from village to village using his powers to remove spirits from this world.

I quickly slipped into this world and story. I appreciated that we were given both perspectives. The world building isn't overly complicated and allows you to enjoy the fast-paced tales. Tris was a bit of mystery with his rare talents and the darkness surrounding it. He is a bit of a loner and keeps people at arm's length, so his interactions with Mari became interesting. Mari is a character seeking revenge and believes that Tris is the one she seeks. Despite her anger and thirst for revenge, she needs to be sure. Thus she follows him, and an incident soon has them traveling as companions. The more Mari learns, the more confused she becomes.

It appears as if each book will feature encounters with unsettled spirits. I loved the cases they encountered. We deal with one minor and one major case. Dead Seekers reminded me a bit of the Greywalker series by Kat Richarson. The Hendee's managed to create suspense and a level of darkness with these spirits and Tris's ability. I loved the added element of alchemy and enjoyed the character of Heil. He added some tension, snark, and banter to the mix.

The tension between Tris and Mari was fun, suspenseful and had me guessing. We aren't sure if Tris is truly a hero. As I said, he is troubled, and his gift comes with equal parts darkness. Wrong or not I pictured Benedict Cumberbatch as Tris. I think these two work well together. Despite the questions, we see a certain level of trust and companionship build. Could there be a romance? It is hard to say at this point, although there is the potential for one as their friendship/partnership grows.

All in all Dead Seekers was a sound beginning to this series and has me curious about other works by this writing team.

Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2017/01/05/...

For so long I’ve been wanting to read something by Barb and J.C. Hendee, and with The Dead Seekers being the first of a new series, I figured there’s no better time and place to jump onboard! Better yet, later I was even more excited to learn that the book is set in the same world that was made well-known by the authors’ popular Noble Dead Saga.

Things kick off with a prologue which introduces readers to the story’s two protagonists. What should have been a happy time instead turned to sorrow as Tris, the baron’s only son and heir, was born without breath. But even when the baby was revived, the disturbing circumstances around his apparent miraculous recovery only causes more fear and unease. Thirteen years later in another time and another place, young Mari was in the woods with her family making camp after a long day of travel when they were suddenly ambushed by violent spirits. Being a shapeshifter, Mari was able to take her cat form and escape, but everyone else was killed. Ever since that day, she has been searching for the one she believes is responsible for her murdered family—the mysterious figure known as the Dead’s Man who is said to have the ability to command spirits.

When the main story starts in earnest, both Tris and Mari have grown to adulthood and are living very different lives, though without knowing it, the two are linked by their tragic pasts. Tris had experienced something very similar to what Mari saw in the woods all those years ago, and now he travels to wherever he is called, banishing spirits for a living. While a close encounter with a spirit would usually mean death to any normal person, Tris however possesses a remarkable power enabling him to touch ghosts and destroy them. It is this ability that initially makes Mari suspect that Tris may be the Dead’s Man she is looking for, though at their first meeting she has to admit he is nothing like she expected. Wanting to make sure she has found the right mark before killing him, Mari decides to stick around and observe Tris as he makes his way to his next assignment to banish a particularly troublesome spirit.

The Dead Seekers is perhaps best described as a mystery in three distinct parts. First Tris and Mari travel to a small village, where the ghost of a girl who died under peculiar circumstances has been coming back to haunt the people she knew. But this humble intro soon leads our protagonists to uncover an even bigger conspiracy in the middle section, requiring them to travel to a border garrison where they realize their spirit problem isn’t so simple anymore. The last third of the book is the resolution where everything ties together and ends in a satisfyingly explosive way. As plotlines go, it’s a pretty straightforward and “on-rails” experience even if the story is no less enjoyable because of it. However, this also meant the authors had to rely mainly on flashbacks and memory sequences to explain anything that took place in the past, and these weren’t always integrated very smoothly.

This also might not be a terribly deep or sophisticated fantasy novel, but it will hit the spot if you’re simply looking for a light and fun read. Most notably, I found the book weaker in the areas of world-building, though to be fair I am a newcomer to the Hendees’ work and the bulk of this novel’s audience will probably know the world already from the authors’ previous series. That said, I don’t want to make is sound like world-building aspects are completely lacking though, because I definitely saw enough to make me care and want to know more. I also loved the characters. Mari and Tris are fascinating and memorable, and so easy to root for. I’m really enjoying their dynamic so far (they are a good example of an amazing non-romantic male/female team-up!) and the story even leaves plenty of room for their alliance to grow.

The Dead Seekers is a great introduction to a new series that’s all about ghostbusting, fantasy-style. What the story lacks in impact, it makes up for with pure, fantastic fun. There’s an addictive quality to it that will make you want to pick up the next book and dive straight back into this world to spend time with Tris and Mari. Already I’m looking forward to see what our protagonists will be up to next.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mari Kaleja has spent her life seeking revenge on whatever creature had killed her entire family when she was only ten years old. Having watched the attack and being the only survivor Mari had been pushed away and told she was cursed so revenge is the only thing she ever focused on since the incident in the woods. Mari has heard tales of the Dead's Man and has followed the path to his doorstep seeking her revenge but before she kills him she must know for sure that he is the one that stole her family's lives.

Tris Vishal is the one who is known as the Dead's Man. He was born stillborn but regained life only to grow up knowing there was something completely different about him. Tris has the ability to control and vanish ghosts that have a hold still on this plain so he has put his abilities to use traveling from village to village helping those in need. When Tris meets Mari he asks her to accompany him on his latest task but he can see the hatred in her eyes and only wonders why.

The Dead Seekers is the first book in a new series but it is set in the world from the authors previous series the Noble Dead saga. I have not read the other series myself but one of my biggest concerns with this read was the lack of world building in the story so perhaps it would have helped to read the other books. This story however is different in the fact that those contain vampires and Tris has the ability of controlling the dead so they don't seem connected otherwise.

Other than the world building I was also left with wanting more of an explanation to Tris and his abilities in the story. We do get to slowly know more about Tris and his upbringing and how he came to do what he does currently in the story but there was still more explanation that could have taken place to understand who or what he is. However, Tris himself does not really know about his powers so I think this is why there isn't a better explanation.

Overall, not too bad of a start to the new series, I would be interested to see what happens with Mari and Tris in the later books after the ending of this one.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5

*My Thoughts*

The Dead Seekers is the first installment in authors Barb & J.C. Hendee's new series called Dead Seekers. This is a series that is set in the same world as the Noble Dead saga. You don't have to have read the previous series to enjoy this book. The Dead Seekers is told by two main characters: Mari Kaleja and Tris Vishal. This book is different from the Nobel Dead in that it doesn't feature vampires which has been a staple of the duo's previous series.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

Expected publication: January 3rd 2017 by Ace Books

[SnoopyDoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

rather enjoyed this fast paced fantasy book it makes you keep turning the page and before you know it you are done.

I liked the world building that was rather enjoyable and easy to follow. The same goes with the characters.

The characters are easy to relate to and follow, but you really never know who you can trust up to the end.

I enjoyed the suspense we get throughout the book that keeps you guessing.

Please find my full review here:
http://snoopydoosbookreviews.com/dead...

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: He puts the dead to rest, and she has been hunting for her families killer for a long time.

Opening Sentence: “One more, my lady,” the midwife urged a woman before her on a bed.”

Excerpt: Yes

The Review:

Tris was born dead, the midwife was on her way to bury his body when he suddenly began to breathe. As a result of that, he has always been able to see ghosts. When he is 13 a ghost goes rogue and begins attacking everyone inside the castle, and unbeknownst to him outside in the forest is a family of Mondyalitko camping. Mari is the sole survivor of that attack. As she grows up she is passed from one family to another because they consider her cursed.

Tris has learned how to control his ability and ghosts, he now spends his time going to places and helping lay the dead to rest. He is on his way to a particular village when Mari saves his life, and he lets her join him. Mari knows almost at once that this is the killer of her family. But she needs proof before she can kill him. So as she joins him on the journey and begins to the learn about the dead and Tris’ abilities.

The lines become blurred as they save each other lives more than once. When they end up in a situation outside of their control and Tris must call for help, Mari wonders if she will be able to go through with her vengeance? Will they be able to get rid of the ghost? Will they survive?

I was sucked in from the start, couldn’t stop reading this. It was so good. Like a cross between urban fantasy and plain old fantasy, this was worth every minute I spent reading it. Those two characters, hardly spoke, almost everything they relaid to each other was through actions and not words. The ghosts and that twist….Wow! The world building was amazing, I had read somewhere that they have another series set in this world.

I think I might have to check that out because I loved this world. It was interesting, different and yet enough similarities between things that it didn’t take hefty explanations about it. Mari was amazing, she was a fighter and so much more. Tris was so quiet, observant and so invested in getting rid of all the ghosts. Of course, by the end of the story we begin to understand why he feels that way and it ties in with Mari in such a heartbreaking way. If you are looking for a new fantasy read, look no further, seriously!

Notable Scene:

The girl had not come back for love of a man. Her mother had done this somehow. But now that Brianne’s spirit was here, all she wanted was to return to the man she loved. Tris pulled back, a chill in one eye and on his face from peeking through the shutters. He needed to catch daughter and mother unaware-and quickly- to banish one and save the other. This time, however there might not be a need to risk that opening to the realm of the dead.

FTC Advisory: Ace/Penguin provided me with a copy of The Dead Seekers. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Alisi ☆ wants to read too many books ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. I read this in one day, even though I'm really sick and took breaks. Albeit, it's not long but still. xD I loved the fantasy and ghost hunting combo.

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child, Mari's family was murdered in front of her. The only thing that has kept her going is vengeance. She has been looking for the one called "The Dead's Man" who she suspects is the responsible one. Mari thinks she has found the killer with Tris, she just needs to be sure. Tris travels from village to village helping put spirits to rest. After being saved by Mari, he asks for her help as he travels to the next village. What they encounter tests Mari's beliefs and gives her more insight to what really happened when her family died.

As my first book by authors Barb and J.C. Hendee let me just say Whoa! The Dead Seekers was such a awesome read. There's not a lot of world building here and I can only guess it's because it is a spin-off from a previous series. Nevertheless, I had no problem keeping up. Actually, what is lacking in world-building is more than made up for in Tris and Mari's history. That alone gave me plenty of info to understand this world. Then there is the mystery surrounding Tris. Sorry Mari, as much as I really liked her character, it was Tris that had my undivided attention. '...my Tris ...me Tris ...I Tris...' OMG! That is so creepy!

The concept of the book, the cover and the blurb is what initially drew me in. See normally I'm not into ghost stories nor am I a fan of anything that feels remotely historical. However, Tris's latest adventure hunting spirits in Soladran, Mari's connection to Tris, and the mystery around Heil has caught me and I want to read more. What is going to happen next to them, who and what lies beyond that black whirlpool, I am dying to know! Filled with all these twist and turns I had a hard time putting The Dead Seekers down and I'm sure lovers of paranormal stories are going to love this series.


I received this book from the JeepDiva for the express purposes of an honest review. The opinions and rating of this review are solely mine.
Stars - 4.5

[Nick Borrelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

***I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***

Barb and J.C Hendee's Noble Dead series has always been a favorite of mine. That is why I was so sad to see it end a while back. Well I'm happy to say that Barb and J.C. are at it again, this time with a brand new series set in the same world as the Noble Dead. These books are always a lot of fun and are a blend of vampire fiction/fantasy. In the first book of the series we are introduced to two new characters - Mari and Tris. Both have a mysterious and potentially otherworldly past that we get glimpses of through flashbacks in the story. We also get hints that their pasts may be tied together in some way. Mari's family was brutally murdered by a vampire when she was a child and she is still hunting for the undead murderer to this day. Tris and Mari are eventually thrown together as travelling partners while the whole time Mari wonders whether or not Tris is the brutal killer who wiped out her family. The tension never lets up as we don't really know whether Tris is a hero or villain. This tension leads to the final conclusion where most but not all is revealed (hey, there are going to be sequels) and the ending is quite satisfying to say the least. I will read whatever this writing duo puts out. They never fail to disappoint and I highly recommend The Dead Seekers as I do all of The Hendees' books. Read it, it's a fun trip!

[Kari Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I disliked this book. I found one of the main characters so one dimensional in her focus and just an idiot. The other main character was boring. I cannot think of one thing that really stands out. While the book is fast paced it is forgettable and the characters ruined anything I could have enjoyed about this book.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author knows how to write a good tale but this is still a very bland telling. Medivel Ghost Busters without any humor. Thrown in a gypsy shape shifter for romance.

[Mal ✨ | Tales Of A Bookbug · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing book with wonderful characters. Everything from the world-building to the mystery around things was brilliant. There isn't any romance in this book but there was a hint of future development. I was so hoping this would be a series, but looks like due to publishing issues the authors won't be continuing it. I was very saddened to hear that, because I would definitely read the sequel!

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: 4.75/5

[Suzyq · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but was a bit frustrated by the inconclusive story and character development. I liked semi-feral Mari a lot, but spooky Tris was much less well-developed, and much less engaging as a result. This is clearly the start of a new series, but I feel I've already been down this road with the Noble Dead saga. Come to think of it, that series never resolved in a satisfying way, even after seven or eight books. Hmmm.

[Cardyn Brooks]

As other reviewers have remarked, The Dead Seekers offers enjoyable light fantasy fare in the context of a believably detailed imaginary world of powerful spirits and humans with conflicted motives. This first entry is a strong hook for reading this author's back list while anticipating the next title in this new series.

[BibliofiendLM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review: http://tinyurl.com/j8al8v6
_______________

Loved it! Excellent world-building and the introduction of dynamic character for a new epic fantasy series.

[Fernanda Bomtempo-Marzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good start to a new series. Good world building without excessive info dumping. Can't wait till the next book.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

***3.5 out of 5 stars***



Yes, there are ghosts all over the place in this book, and, no, they don't look quite like the example above, but I couldn't resist.

This is my first time reading anything by the Hendee's, and I am happy I took the time to check them out. In The Dead Seekers there isn't a lot of world building, but there is enough done in this book in order for book 2 of this series to go to interesting places.

The creep factor was actually present, because, in this world, the ghosts can actually hurt you. In fact, just being touched by one most likely means you'll be dead within a day. The only person who can touch them without running the risk of winding up dead is Tris, commonly known as the Dead's Man, who spends his time banishing ghosts wherever he is asked to assist. Tris is somewhat of a lonely, brooding, sort of main male lead. His ability has left him on the outside for his whole life, since most people are terrified of him.

The second main character is Mari. She's a shifter driven by the desire to avenge her family, who were all killed by spirits when she was only a child. Mari believes that the Dead's Man is responsible, but she needs proof before she can kill him. And, thus, Mari and Tris wind up travelling together.

What I liked about The Dead Seekers was the mystery element to the plot. Tris, and Mari would often have to discover more about the ghost they were hunting, in order to track it down, or save it's targets. Also, since the ghosts in this world aren't exactly the friendliest, there was real tension in the plot, because you were always wondering who might die next.

The thing I didn't like so much was not a lot of character growth. I do get that this is a series, so I shall make allowances, but Tris started the story dark, and brooding, and at the end, he seemed just the same, if not more. Meanwhile, Mari's constant questioning of whether or not she actually wanted to kill Tris got incredibly annoying. Having a character's motivation in life be only vengeance is a slippery slope. She just kept droning on and on about needing to kill the Dead's Man, and I just wanted to tell her to shut up. She also didn't fully clue in to the fact that Tris wasn't the one who killed her family until the last bloody chapter. So, yes, her need for retribution got old quick.

But, I did enjoy the addition of Heil, Tris' mentor, and father figure. There was just so little of him, since he didn't make a proper appearance until the last quarter of the book. I would love to see more of him in the next book.

Over all, The Dead Seekers has somewhat shaky main characters, but an engaging enough plot, so you can ignore the issue as you read. I will probably be picking up the next book whenever it releases, because I am interested to see what happens next, so this one is going in my recommendation pile. Hurrah for a good, solid start to a fantasy series!

[Barb Lie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Seekers by Barb and J.C. Hendee is the 1st book in their new Dead Seekers series. We meet our hero Tris Vishal very early on, when he was first born. Shall we say he was born dead, but within minutes he came back to life. From then on, Tris life has been all about death. His mother adored her miracle child, and his father hated and feared him. When he reaches the age to move on, Tris lives up to his nickname “The Dead’s Man”, as he is the only one who can force the dead to move on into the next world. Tris keeps to himself, talking very little. He has a mentor, Heil, who teaches him how to handle the different types of ghosts he must face.

Mari Kaleja has spent all her life seeking vengeance against the man who killed her family. Mari was only a child when she saw the strange apparitions (ghosts) viciously kill everyone in her village. She grew up in different homes, not staying long anywhere. Mari meets Tris one night when he is summoned to remove a ghost. She suspects he is the man who has been looking for, and to confirm her suspicions, Mari agrees to help him on another case. As they travel together, Mari has mixed feelings about Tris. She worries that though he seems like the right person, something is too nice and quiet to be that vicious killer.

As they end up in the town where multiple deaths have occurred, with sightings of ghosts like apparitions doing the killings. Both Tris and Mari work together to set up traps, and just when they think they have removed the threat, all hell breaks loose with many more. Tris desperately calls for his friend to join him, as the threat as escalated beyond his ability. The three will team up to help the soldiers and town eliminate the many threats to all the humans, and in doing so, Mari sees a dark apparition trying to come through the portal…..this dark vision is the one who killed her family. What does Tris have to do with this dark ghost? Will Mari trust Trish and continue to help him?

What follows is an exciting, action filled fantasy that does start off a bit slowly, in order for us to understand this new world. It is a different type of story line, and an interesting one. Though there is a resolution to this case, we are left open as to who is the dark one who Tris fears, and who Mari wants to complete her vengeance against. I look forward to the next book, and find out more about what the Hendee’s have in store for us.

Barb

[Krissys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Barb Hendee
Title: The Dead Seekers
Series: Dead Seekers
Cover Rating:
Silver Star


Book Rating:
4 Stars



About the Book:
In the dark reaches of the eastern continent, Tris Vishal travels from village to village, using his power to put unsettled spirits to rest. He works alone, having learned that letting people close only leads to more death.

Still, he finds himself accepting the help of the Mondyalitko woman who saves his life a woman whose gifts are as much a burden as his own.
Mari Kaleja thirsted for vengeance since the night her family was taken from her. She has searched far and wide for the one she thinks responsible, known only as The Dead s Man.

But before she can kill him, she has to be sure. Mari hopes traveling with Tris will confirm her suspicions.

But as they embark on a hunt where the living are just as dangerous as the dead, she learns the risks of keeping your enemy close...
Because it s no longer clear who is predator and who is prey.



My Thoughts:
The Dead Seekers is the first book in the Dead Seekers series and a fantastic introduction to this world.

Hendee's stories are so much character driven - that's what I love most about her work her cast feels alive and jumps out of the pages at you.

I loved that our leads are two people who appear to be bound without really knowing for sure what took place in the past or how they connect other than their pasts that keep them moving forward.

I have to admit that I was surprised by the twist - which I love because I hate stories being predictable.. I do however anticipate more intense plotting in the second installment. I enjoyed the sort of innocent until proven guilty theme that carried through this book and how the truth isn't as cut and dry as people would like to believe.

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the story, I love the cast and I love the cover art. Win one for Hendee!



Disclaimer:
Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

Note:
If any of Krissy's Bookshelf Reviews has been helpful please stop by to like my post or leave a comment to let me know what you think. I love hearing from you!

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Seekers is the first book in a new series by the same name by Barb & J.C. Hendee. It is set in the same word as their Noble Dead saga, which I have not read. However, I think that readers with no prior knowledge of the world will be able to fully appreciate the story, as I did. Although I will admit that I am now intrigued to see what was written before.

In the dark reaches of the eastern continent, Tris Vishal travels from village to village, using his power to put unsettled spirits to rest. He works alone, having learned that letting people close only leads to more death. Still, he finds himself accepting the help of the Móndyalítko woman who saves his life—a woman whose gifts are as much a burden as his own. Mari Kaleja thirsted for vengeance since the night her family was taken from her. She has searched far and wide for the one she thinks responsible, known only as “The Dead’s Man.” But before she can kill him, she has to be sure. Mari hopes traveling with Tris will confirm her suspicions. But as they embark on a hunt where the living are just as dangerous as the dead, she learns the risks of keeping your enemy close. Because it’s no longer clear who is predator and who is prey.

The Dead Seekers is a book that is unique and captured my attention very quickly. I enjoyed learning about the world this takes place in, and how Tris and Mari fit into it. I liked the level of internal conflict for both Mari and Tris, as it made their pasts and current situation much more engaging. I could understand Mari's desire for vengeance, and her vulnerability. I think the duality of her nature- with the strength and vulnerability she tried so hard to hide- made her character so interesting that I could not help but become engrossed in her story. I also wanted to know more of how Tris came to be who and where he was- while most of it was explained, I think there must be so much more to his story that I do not know yet. It just makes me want to read more from the author to see if those moments are in another book. The danger and relationship development were very well paced, with enough surprises and intrigue to keep me reading happily.

The Dead Seekers is an intriguing read that left me satisfied, but still wanting more. To me, this is a sign of a well crafted book.

[Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Barb and J.C Hendee have an extensive backlog of books, but I’ve never had the pleasure of reading their books till now. And I must say it didn’t disappoint. The world building is pretty much straightforward and simple; there wasn’t a magical system or hierarchy that needed explanation. The only thing that was complex was the characters; Mari and Tris.

Tris is known as The Dead’s Man, banishing spirits wherever he is called to. He goes from town to town working his gift (or curse) for a fee and moves on. For most of his life he has lived a life of solitude, people and animal alike fear him. That is until he meets Mari, a woman that saved him life. Mari specializes in a wide array of languages and he’d figure she’d be helpful when it comes to translating.

Mari has been hunting The Dead’s Man for years, the one that murdered her entire family. And she’s finally found him, and gotten enough of his trust to travel with him but before she enacts her revenge she has to be 100% sure he did it. However, the more they travel together she begins to have doubts and starts seeing him as a person and not prey.

Whether Mari likes it or not, she and Tris work well together. Tris is this antisocial guy and barely knows how to interact with others while Mari is this headstrong woman who’s always ready to get into the muck of things. I really liked Mari and Tris, the dynamics between the two is great. I thought it was funny that she's there to 'kill' him yet she's always saving him over and over.

The Dead Seekers is a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to see where the authors take it. If you’re looking for a light fantasy read, then this book is for you! I highly recommend it.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mari finds herself in a bit of a predicament, because Tris isn’t exactly what she envisioned the enemy to be. Instead of steering steadfast in the direction of revenge she finds herself distracted by others in need, and by the realisation that Tris isn’t the cold-blooded murderer she thinks he is.

Then again perhaps he is one and she is just blinded by her constant need to be the one at the front of every single conflict. Mari is a Mondyalitko, a shape-shifting traveller. She runs head-first into any trouble that comes her way.

Tris appears to be able to control the dead, which is why he is known as The Dead’s Man. Perhaps a better description would be that he is capable of helping some of the more vicious spirits move on towards true death.

He also has his own set of baggage when it comes to his birthright and heritage and the choices he decided to make regardless of where he comes from. He is drawn to death and yet battles it at the same time. I think this is his own personal battle, the way he feels attracted to the more evil aspect of his gift. His birth defines his entire future.

Both the characters and premise are solid, but the world-building could do with a step-up. Overall I liked the read, however I did feel as if too much time was spent on the whole guards, ghosts and river malarkey. Probably because I was eager to find out more about Tris and Mari, and find out a few more answers to their secrets.
*I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.*

[Steven Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my library. I enjoyed the Noble Dead series. This book starts in a similar vein as the Noble Dead series with a man and woman meeting under difficult circumstances. At first they don't like each other but to survive work together.

Good suspense through the book although the story was a little predictable given the author's previous works. No real plot surprises or twists, typical of this author who writes fairly straight story lines.

I like the main female character as you do not see very many Gypsy characters shown in a good light. I like the fact that the Gypsy woman is a lycanthrope, which is not something you see often in fantasy unless she is evil and out to kill the MC.

My complaints with this book is the same ones that I have with every one of this author's books:
(1) No pronunciation guide. If you are going to name characters and races with an alphabet soup, please include a pronunciation guide.
(2) The female MC is a damn Gypsy, call her a Gypsy which is simple and easy to pronounce. Why does this author have to create races and names with such complicated names? I commend the author on her creativity, but damn I cannot wrap my mind around some of the names and races. I just substituted "gypsy" every time the female MC's race was mentioned.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mari Kaleja survived an attack on her family and has been hunting down the killer for years. She is looking for The Dead’s Man and thinks she has found him. But she wants to make sure he is the correct person before she exacts her revenge. Tris Vishal has the ability to put restless spirits to rest. He travels the land helping people, getting paid, then leaving. After being saved by Mari, Tris asks Mari to help him investigate the death of a young girl and settle her spirit.

I have been planning on reading the Noble Dead series for a while but have never gotten that far. When I was offered the chance to review The Dead Seekers I jumped at the chance. This is a start to a new series and quickly drew me into the story.

Mari’s life is consumed by her desire for revenge. Thankfully she is not so far gone that she decides to follow Tris and determine if he was the killer she is hunting for. Tris has his own demons that he is working with and I couldn’t help feeling bad for the guy.

This is a great, straight forward story. I really liked the character development and this whole world. I am excited to see what happened in the next book.

I received The Dead Seekers from the publisher for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Ozsaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tris is a ghost hunter. Mari is the lone survivor of a massacre. How are their lives connected?

Mari has been searching for answers since the deaths of her people. Does Tris have the answers? As Tris goes to a village to dispatch the ghost of a dead woman, Mari joins him, planning to find out once and for all if Tris might have been involved in the massacre.

Both Tris and Mari are intriguing characters, both with painful pasts. Them figuring out the mystery of the ghost woman was excellent. The story went much deeper than I expected. And I really enjoyed all the ghost scenes.

The author has a very long series, but this book might be a good way to get a taste of this world without committing to a fourteen book series. This book closes the mystery, but is still open for the next book.

NOTE: There is zero romance. Actually, I'd put the romance level in the negative numbers. But there is the possibility for romance in later books. If that happens, then this would be a good example of the enemies to lovers trope done right. Not insta-love, no insta-attraction. Not a single ounce of them having the hots for each other in spite of SERIOUS reason they shouldn't. Refreshing!