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The Voices #2
Hunted
The birds are flying. The birds are flocking. The birds know where to find her.
One man is driven by a Voice that isn't his. It's killing his sanity and wrestling with it over and over like a jackal with a bone. He has one goal.
To find the girl with a Voice like his own. She has no one to defend her now. The hunt is on.
But in an inn by the sea, a boy with no tongue and no Voice gathers his warriors. Albus must find Lacey . . . before the Other does. And finish the work his sister Ruby began.
Hunted is the second book in the highly acclaimed Voices series, where the battle between Good and Evil rages on. And on.
488 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2018
23 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
G.X. Todd
5 books137 followersAverage age.
Average height.
Average intelligence.
Excellent imagination.
Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/gemtodd
Website: www.gxtodd.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/g.x.todd
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gxtodd
Average height.
Average intelligence.
Excellent imagination.
Twitter/X: www.twitter.com/gemtodd
Website: www.gxtodd.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/g.x.todd
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gxtodd
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 28, 2019
So the first thing to say is, if you have not yet read DEFENDER then go do it now. Or at least schedule a day or so with no interruptions to do so sometime before May ’18 so we are ALL ready for Hunted. Those of you who have read Defender already – batten down the hatches people, you’ll need all your emotional stamina for the purely brilliant follow up that I guarantee will have you muttering into some kind of alcoholic beverage when you finish it, wishing that book 3 would just magically appear. *Glances around* No? DAMMIT.
Anyway – let’s talk about The Voices book 2 AKA Hunted and the one I just put down (it’s morning but the alcoholic beverage will definitely come later) and now cannot even think about without grumbling about annoying author types who think it is ok to mess with your head and make you weep. I think to give away nearly any plot detail would be to spoil it so I’ll be careful – suffice to say there are several strands to this tale that all come together in the end in a hugely nail biting finale that will have you tearing your hair out. The mythology deepens, the voices get louder and every step of the way you are alongside those amazing, eclectic and beautifully drawn characters that steal away little pieces of your soul every time bad things happen.
The writing is incredible, immersive, descriptive, all the good things that make the story unfold in your head like watching a movie – there is huge depth of perception here that I haven’t seen since early King – who I’m sure is an inspiration. This voice (yes I did that) however is unique and clever and simply stunning in it’s impact upon the reader. The plotting is divine – the tension ramps up slowly but surely until you’ve almost edged off the chair, then BAM you are hit with at least two jaw dropping moments, a fist pump the air moment plus all the rest – Finally, some of you will understand the compliment I’m about to pay here, an ending that affected me more than the ending of Golden Son by Pierce Brown did. Yes you heard me.
So what else is there to say? Erm read this? Read Defender? Said that already I think.
Masterful writing, intuitive character building, a world of reading anguish in the best possible way – G X Todd is a huge huge talent. Highly Recommended. HIGHLY.
Anyway – let’s talk about The Voices book 2 AKA Hunted and the one I just put down (it’s morning but the alcoholic beverage will definitely come later) and now cannot even think about without grumbling about annoying author types who think it is ok to mess with your head and make you weep. I think to give away nearly any plot detail would be to spoil it so I’ll be careful – suffice to say there are several strands to this tale that all come together in the end in a hugely nail biting finale that will have you tearing your hair out. The mythology deepens, the voices get louder and every step of the way you are alongside those amazing, eclectic and beautifully drawn characters that steal away little pieces of your soul every time bad things happen.
The writing is incredible, immersive, descriptive, all the good things that make the story unfold in your head like watching a movie – there is huge depth of perception here that I haven’t seen since early King – who I’m sure is an inspiration. This voice (yes I did that) however is unique and clever and simply stunning in it’s impact upon the reader. The plotting is divine – the tension ramps up slowly but surely until you’ve almost edged off the chair, then BAM you are hit with at least two jaw dropping moments, a fist pump the air moment plus all the rest – Finally, some of you will understand the compliment I’m about to pay here, an ending that affected me more than the ending of Golden Son by Pierce Brown did. Yes you heard me.
So what else is there to say? Erm read this? Read Defender? Said that already I think.
Masterful writing, intuitive character building, a world of reading anguish in the best possible way – G X Todd is a huge huge talent. Highly Recommended. HIGHLY.
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November 5, 2019If any new readers could find the time to transfer their Goodreads review over to Amazon, I would be very grateful. (And a big thank you to everyone who already has 🖤) It makes a huge difference to algorithms and such over there. CHEERS 🖤
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March 8, 2018
I absolutely LOVED first in the series, Defender, but this was so different it was practically unrecognisable and I struggled right from the beginning. It plods along, something other reviewers have enjoyed as a slow burn or time for character development, but for me it meant pages and pages stuck with new people I cared nothing about and who didn't have enough of anything to keep me interested. I had to repeatedly force myself back into the story, which flicked between three converging groups, and so much felt disjointed or unnecessary. I just couldn't get behind the new story in any way and it completely undermined my reading of the whole thing.
Others have really enjoyed it so I think it's one to try if you liked the first book- I'm more than a little disappointed in myself for not falling for this one like I did the original.
ARC via Netgalley
Others have really enjoyed it so I think it's one to try if you liked the first book- I'm more than a little disappointed in myself for not falling for this one like I did the original.
ARC via Netgalley
February 12, 2018
I finished Hunted last night in the small hours. I can't tell you how accomplished I thought it was. It works on so many levels - as a fast-paced thriller, as a sympathetic character study of a world in turmoil, as a large-cast fantasy novel. Todd's control of pace is superb, while her ability to capture multiple voices and characters is unparalleled in commercial fiction. There was something so authentic about it; it feels like a modern classic. I just thought it was such a smart, fast-paced, brave and classy thriller. It stands above everything else in its genre.
February 15, 2018
This review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
I received a free copy of the book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hunted is the second book in The Voices series and follows on from last year’s release, Defender. Which coincidentally is the debut novel from Todd and was also one of my Top Ten Books of 2017! – yes, it’s an accolade worth mentioning as obviously, I have outstanding taste in books.
The post-apocalyptic genre is one that I’m quite fussy about (yes, I’m male ergo I’m fussy). It’s a genre that generally incorporates a harsh landscape, dwindling amenities, enduring hardship and a struggle for survival. To make a book within the genre really standout you need to have characters whose lives and fates you care about. It’s not the sort of genre where you can just read about ‘characters‘ as come to the end what’s the point in finding out if they make it and survive if you don’t care about them?! Sure, you will get a good story and a well-realised world (Hunted has both) out of it but if you aren’t gripped by the characters throughout then you’re missing out on what for me, is an integral part of a book especially in a genre that is about enduring and survival.
Not to worry though as like its exceptional forebears The Stand by Stephen King and Swan Song by Robert McCammon (two of my all-time favourite books and yes, Todd’s work is fully deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as those two greats) The Voices series accomplishes this giving you a tremendous cast of characters that feel real, whose lives and struggles come alive in your mind, whose journey you want to follow and finally, whose fate you need to know.
Hunted picks up after Defender (you really need to read that book first) and what a fantastic continuation of the story it is but instead of carrying on the story with Lacey, Voice, Addison and Alex (who we return to later) we are instead introduced to a new set of characters. We have chapters that focus on Posey, the Other and their group searching for Lacey et al from Defender and joining them are the new characters of Sunny and Beck amongst a few other minor additions. Then, we have the completely new set of characters, story and chapters that focus on Albus and his group who are holed up at a secluded Inn which acts as their safe haven.
I’m not one for excessive details, what fun would that be if I went and ruined the story for you?! I’ll tell you, none! The reader needs to experience the book first hand and not have a review tell them the ins and outs of the story in every minutiae detail. Suffice to say that Hunted is a harrowing tale set in an unforgiving and brutal world that will take you through a range of emotions as you follow Todd’s cast of unforgettable characters on their journey.
For the first third 200 pages (approximately) of Hunted Lacey et al are only mentioned in passing as everyone ends up searching for the group. The good to help and the bad to capture and it’s a race against time who will find them first. It’s a great way by Todd to start the book as it widens the scope of The Voices series, you get some additional insights, new characters and it also serves to build the anticipation for the reintroduction of Lacey et al later in the book. When we do finally meet-up with Lacey et al again it is an absolute pleasure to be reacquainted with them all and pick-up the story as told from their perspective.
In Hunted we get to delve slightly deeper and learn some more about the voices component of the series but there is still much more to be revealed by Todd about the actual concept and I can’t wait to find out what’s still to come with the characters, story and the voices.
The world in Hunted isn’t sunshine and rainbows. It’s bleak, dark and the dangers radiate from the pages as Todd’s writing really brings out the harshness in both the setting and the often ruthless people who inhabit the world.
Todd has a writing style that really draws you in and you will find yourself eating up the pages as you devour the story she is telling. There is some occasional humour thrown in by Todd and Voice is just as snarky as he was in Defender (gotta love the snark). The new characters introduced all add to and aid the story and the previous characters continue to grow and develop. Add in frenetic action, stellar setpieces and some thoughtful and emotional moments with a last 50 pages that will leave you speechless and you have a masterpiece.
I said in my review for Defender that it was a ‘modern classic‘ and an ‘outstanding addition‘ to the post-apocalyptic genre and with Hunted which is an even better book than its predecessor Todd has firmly cemented both that belief and my love for this series. Defender is a modern classic and Hunted is too. This series is a must-read, remarkable and worthy of being heralded as something special.
Hunted, guaranteed is destined to be one of the top books released this year. The only negative I have is that I’m posting this review in February and the official release date isn’t until the end of May! That’s plenty of time for all of you to catch-up on the series read Defender and then pre-order Hunted!
For me, sigh, I already want the next one!
I received a free copy of the book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Hunted is the second book in The Voices series and follows on from last year’s release, Defender. Which coincidentally is the debut novel from Todd and was also one of my Top Ten Books of 2017! – yes, it’s an accolade worth mentioning as obviously, I have outstanding taste in books.
The post-apocalyptic genre is one that I’m quite fussy about (yes, I’m male ergo I’m fussy). It’s a genre that generally incorporates a harsh landscape, dwindling amenities, enduring hardship and a struggle for survival. To make a book within the genre really standout you need to have characters whose lives and fates you care about. It’s not the sort of genre where you can just read about ‘characters‘ as come to the end what’s the point in finding out if they make it and survive if you don’t care about them?! Sure, you will get a good story and a well-realised world (Hunted has both) out of it but if you aren’t gripped by the characters throughout then you’re missing out on what for me, is an integral part of a book especially in a genre that is about enduring and survival.
Not to worry though as like its exceptional forebears The Stand by Stephen King and Swan Song by Robert McCammon (two of my all-time favourite books and yes, Todd’s work is fully deserving of being mentioned in the same breath as those two greats) The Voices series accomplishes this giving you a tremendous cast of characters that feel real, whose lives and struggles come alive in your mind, whose journey you want to follow and finally, whose fate you need to know.
Hunted picks up after Defender (you really need to read that book first) and what a fantastic continuation of the story it is but instead of carrying on the story with Lacey, Voice, Addison and Alex (who we return to later) we are instead introduced to a new set of characters. We have chapters that focus on Posey, the Other and their group searching for Lacey et al from Defender and joining them are the new characters of Sunny and Beck amongst a few other minor additions. Then, we have the completely new set of characters, story and chapters that focus on Albus and his group who are holed up at a secluded Inn which acts as their safe haven.
I’m not one for excessive details, what fun would that be if I went and ruined the story for you?! I’ll tell you, none! The reader needs to experience the book first hand and not have a review tell them the ins and outs of the story in every minutiae detail. Suffice to say that Hunted is a harrowing tale set in an unforgiving and brutal world that will take you through a range of emotions as you follow Todd’s cast of unforgettable characters on their journey.
For the first third 200 pages (approximately) of Hunted Lacey et al are only mentioned in passing as everyone ends up searching for the group. The good to help and the bad to capture and it’s a race against time who will find them first. It’s a great way by Todd to start the book as it widens the scope of The Voices series, you get some additional insights, new characters and it also serves to build the anticipation for the reintroduction of Lacey et al later in the book. When we do finally meet-up with Lacey et al again it is an absolute pleasure to be reacquainted with them all and pick-up the story as told from their perspective.
In Hunted we get to delve slightly deeper and learn some more about the voices component of the series but there is still much more to be revealed by Todd about the actual concept and I can’t wait to find out what’s still to come with the characters, story and the voices.
The world in Hunted isn’t sunshine and rainbows. It’s bleak, dark and the dangers radiate from the pages as Todd’s writing really brings out the harshness in both the setting and the often ruthless people who inhabit the world.
Todd has a writing style that really draws you in and you will find yourself eating up the pages as you devour the story she is telling. There is some occasional humour thrown in by Todd and Voice is just as snarky as he was in Defender (gotta love the snark). The new characters introduced all add to and aid the story and the previous characters continue to grow and develop. Add in frenetic action, stellar setpieces and some thoughtful and emotional moments with a last 50 pages that will leave you speechless and you have a masterpiece.
I said in my review for Defender that it was a ‘modern classic‘ and an ‘outstanding addition‘ to the post-apocalyptic genre and with Hunted which is an even better book than its predecessor Todd has firmly cemented both that belief and my love for this series. Defender is a modern classic and Hunted is too. This series is a must-read, remarkable and worthy of being heralded as something special.
Hunted, guaranteed is destined to be one of the top books released this year. The only negative I have is that I’m posting this review in February and the official release date isn’t until the end of May! That’s plenty of time for all of you to catch-up on the series read Defender and then pre-order Hunted!
For me, sigh, I already want the next one!
February 27, 2018
Book one of this series, Defender, was my favourite book of 2017. I have been waiting for Hunted for what feels like a bloomin' lifetime, but oh my it's been worth the wait. Hunted starts to properly flesh out what is going to be a good old battle between Good and Evil, and everyone, it seems, wants to get hold of Lacey...
There's a lot going on in Hunted. Defender was the fast paced opening episode, and Hunted slows things down a little to develop the world Lacey finds herself in, and the people around her. The final chapters of the book are explosive! Left me wanting more, immediately.
I absolutely love this series. Can't recommend it enough.
There's a lot going on in Hunted. Defender was the fast paced opening episode, and Hunted slows things down a little to develop the world Lacey finds herself in, and the people around her. The final chapters of the book are explosive! Left me wanting more, immediately.
I absolutely love this series. Can't recommend it enough.
May 29, 2018
Hunted starts off with different characters to Defender, which left me a bit confused, trying to keep track of them.
There are three groups of people in this book and I just wanted to hear from ‘Voice’ again. This book starts off at a slower pace, and is a bit of a slow burner.
At one point I felt a little lost with the storyline but it does all come together at the end.
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book in this series but would say it’s ok, and I will give book 3 a go.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
There are three groups of people in this book and I just wanted to hear from ‘Voice’ again. This book starts off at a slower pace, and is a bit of a slow burner.
At one point I felt a little lost with the storyline but it does all come together at the end.
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book in this series but would say it’s ok, and I will give book 3 a go.
Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
September 20, 2018
I normally have a rule, I don’t read a series of books until all the volumes are available to read, this waiting for the next book, it KILLS me!!
Partly because I forget, a lot can happen in 12 months, a lot of books pass through my brain!! The other part is I’m in their world, I’m invested in the characters and then it just stops and I’m left in nowhere land! And this novel just stops - aaarrrghhh!!!
I wonder if Stephen King published the Stand today the publishers would have probably made it a trilogy?? And in the course spoilt the story completely- well I think so!!
Back to the review, this book is comparable to The Stand, it’s a tale of good and evil, a tale of the strong and the weak, a tale of hope and despair. It’s a great read, but I just wish it was one big satisfying read rather than 4 parts!!!
Partly because I forget, a lot can happen in 12 months, a lot of books pass through my brain!! The other part is I’m in their world, I’m invested in the characters and then it just stops and I’m left in nowhere land! And this novel just stops - aaarrrghhh!!!
I wonder if Stephen King published the Stand today the publishers would have probably made it a trilogy?? And in the course spoilt the story completely- well I think so!!
Back to the review, this book is comparable to The Stand, it’s a tale of good and evil, a tale of the strong and the weak, a tale of hope and despair. It’s a great read, but I just wish it was one big satisfying read rather than 4 parts!!!
June 1, 2018
Last year I read Defender by G X Todd and it is a worthy addition to my doomsday reading list. Todd’s debut novel is reminiscent of other classic cataclysmic novels – The Stand, Swan Song, The Ship and Blood Crazy to name but a few. The sequel, Hunted, has now been released and I am pleased to report it is just as good.
When we catch up with Lacey she is on the run. Sadly, Pilgrim is gone, and dark forces are gathering against the young woman. Her only option is to keep moving. Her internal companion, Voice, is constantly pushing her forward. Voice knows there is trouble on the horizon and wants to do whatever is necessary to avoid it. Elsewhere a young man called Albus brings together his own group of survivors. Rather than focusing on destruction they want to build something new, something better. Their task seems all but insurmountable. There are so few prepared to try and save others. Albus knows that their success hinges on a very special young woman. If only he can find her in time. Todd’s writing taps into that sense of urgency.
Hunted and its predecessor are primarily character driven, and the narrative does a fantastic job of letting these characters evolve. Each and every person that you meet is on their own unique journey. What may seem like the smallest details are actually tantalizing hints of what is going on in the grander scheme of things. These elements all weave together seamlessly, building towards an incredible conclusion. There are a handful of revelatory moments, towards the novels end, that caught me completely by surprise. I’m always pleased when an author manages to totally blind side me like that. It makes for a far more rewarding reading experience.
The horrific elements in Hunted are also handled well. Many of the characters are so ground down by their Voices that acts of violence have become commonplace. A shocking event must be genuinely shocking to elicit any sort of reaction. These violent scenes put the reader off balance, just as all good horror should. If you knew what was coming next, you could prepare for it. How dull would that be? The main antagonist is Posy, or more specifically, the voice controlling Posy. Known as “The Other” or “Not Posy” this character is as evil as they come. It feels like he views humanity almost as an inconvenience. As far as he is concerned we are like bugs under a microscope. He is quite prepared to experiment on individuals to better understand how they tick. If that means literally picking them apart to do so, then so be it.
Not Posy aside, the ultimate evil remains unseen throughout. Only ever spoken about in hushed tones, there is something greater, more malevolent out there in the ruins of the world. An even larger battle is still to come. You get the distinct impression that events are building towards a final, decisive confrontation. By the time I got to the end of this book I was baying for more. The characters that remain are hurtling towards a pivotal moment in human existence. The outcome of this reckoning will determine where humanity will go next. I cannot wait to find out. In fact, I’ll go further, I need to find out. The sooner book three arrives, the better.
Hunted is everything that a good sequel should be. If you enjoyed Defender, then I know you’ll enjoy this novel. If you haven’t experienced G X Todd’s writing, then I would suggest you get yourself a copy of Defender and start there. Hunted will be waiting for you when you are done, I can guarantee you’ll want to dive right in. Modern apocalyptic fiction doesn’t get much better.
When we catch up with Lacey she is on the run. Sadly, Pilgrim is gone, and dark forces are gathering against the young woman. Her only option is to keep moving. Her internal companion, Voice, is constantly pushing her forward. Voice knows there is trouble on the horizon and wants to do whatever is necessary to avoid it. Elsewhere a young man called Albus brings together his own group of survivors. Rather than focusing on destruction they want to build something new, something better. Their task seems all but insurmountable. There are so few prepared to try and save others. Albus knows that their success hinges on a very special young woman. If only he can find her in time. Todd’s writing taps into that sense of urgency.
Hunted and its predecessor are primarily character driven, and the narrative does a fantastic job of letting these characters evolve. Each and every person that you meet is on their own unique journey. What may seem like the smallest details are actually tantalizing hints of what is going on in the grander scheme of things. These elements all weave together seamlessly, building towards an incredible conclusion. There are a handful of revelatory moments, towards the novels end, that caught me completely by surprise. I’m always pleased when an author manages to totally blind side me like that. It makes for a far more rewarding reading experience.
The horrific elements in Hunted are also handled well. Many of the characters are so ground down by their Voices that acts of violence have become commonplace. A shocking event must be genuinely shocking to elicit any sort of reaction. These violent scenes put the reader off balance, just as all good horror should. If you knew what was coming next, you could prepare for it. How dull would that be? The main antagonist is Posy, or more specifically, the voice controlling Posy. Known as “The Other” or “Not Posy” this character is as evil as they come. It feels like he views humanity almost as an inconvenience. As far as he is concerned we are like bugs under a microscope. He is quite prepared to experiment on individuals to better understand how they tick. If that means literally picking them apart to do so, then so be it.
Not Posy aside, the ultimate evil remains unseen throughout. Only ever spoken about in hushed tones, there is something greater, more malevolent out there in the ruins of the world. An even larger battle is still to come. You get the distinct impression that events are building towards a final, decisive confrontation. By the time I got to the end of this book I was baying for more. The characters that remain are hurtling towards a pivotal moment in human existence. The outcome of this reckoning will determine where humanity will go next. I cannot wait to find out. In fact, I’ll go further, I need to find out. The sooner book three arrives, the better.
Hunted is everything that a good sequel should be. If you enjoyed Defender, then I know you’ll enjoy this novel. If you haven’t experienced G X Todd’s writing, then I would suggest you get yourself a copy of Defender and start there. Hunted will be waiting for you when you are done, I can guarantee you’ll want to dive right in. Modern apocalyptic fiction doesn’t get much better.
January 23, 2018
I can now say for sure that Defender, the debut from G.X. Todd, was no fluke.
This sequel is every bit as good as the first in the series, confirming Todd as a powerful, fresh new voice in genre fiction.
The Voices series is set in a post-apocalyptic world which went to shit thanks to the emergence of voices in people's heads - voices which convinced said people to kill themselves and others.
Book 2 continues the stories of the main protagonists we met in book 1 but also introduces some great new characters. The best of these is Albus, a man without a tongue or fingers but with a natural gift for 'seeing' voices.
The book also expands and deepens the mythology introduced in book 1 but still leaves plenty of mystery for books 3 and 4. There are twists, turns, shocks, action and emotion.
Hunted is a great 2nd entry in a great series. This author deserves a wider audience and I'm sure in time she'll get she'll have one.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
This sequel is every bit as good as the first in the series, confirming Todd as a powerful, fresh new voice in genre fiction.
The Voices series is set in a post-apocalyptic world which went to shit thanks to the emergence of voices in people's heads - voices which convinced said people to kill themselves and others.
Book 2 continues the stories of the main protagonists we met in book 1 but also introduces some great new characters. The best of these is Albus, a man without a tongue or fingers but with a natural gift for 'seeing' voices.
The book also expands and deepens the mythology introduced in book 1 but still leaves plenty of mystery for books 3 and 4. There are twists, turns, shocks, action and emotion.
Hunted is a great 2nd entry in a great series. This author deserves a wider audience and I'm sure in time she'll get she'll have one.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC.
June 13, 2018
Hunted offers up a great bit of escapism that is hard to put down. I have two disclaimers, though. 1: read Defender first and 2: don't worry about the confusion you feel at the start. It all makes sense in quick order.
I forgot how much I loved Defender's dystopian world and was swiftly reminded of its brilliance at the start of Hunted. I've never read anything that brought to mind The Stand more than this book. It's uncanny how Stephen King-esque this novel is. I simply ate it up and felt crushed when it was finished. I want to know what happens next! Cliffhangers are great but the wait for the next installment can be painful... especially after that ending! Oh my!
Hunted carries on where Defender left off but introduces a new group of survivors with an interesting backstory. Defender was brutal in its violence (be warned), Hunted much less so, but it's got all the classic suspenseful moments you've come to love from the previous book. This is my secret little vice. A smart, action packed end-of-world existence with plenty of mystery afoot. The Walking Dead without walkers. People struggling to survive whilst letting their primitive roots show. But there's so much more that is yet to be explained. Where did the Voices come from? What is their purpose? What is the meaning behind the colours Albus sees? And that ending... WHAT?!?! I'm incredibly excited for the follow up book! The Voices series is sure to be a cult classic much like Justin Cronin's The Passage.
I forgot how much I loved Defender's dystopian world and was swiftly reminded of its brilliance at the start of Hunted. I've never read anything that brought to mind The Stand more than this book. It's uncanny how Stephen King-esque this novel is. I simply ate it up and felt crushed when it was finished. I want to know what happens next! Cliffhangers are great but the wait for the next installment can be painful... especially after that ending! Oh my!
Hunted carries on where Defender left off but introduces a new group of survivors with an interesting backstory. Defender was brutal in its violence (be warned), Hunted much less so, but it's got all the classic suspenseful moments you've come to love from the previous book. This is my secret little vice. A smart, action packed end-of-world existence with plenty of mystery afoot. The Walking Dead without walkers. People struggling to survive whilst letting their primitive roots show. But there's so much more that is yet to be explained. Where did the Voices come from? What is their purpose? What is the meaning behind the colours Albus sees? And that ending... WHAT?!?! I'm incredibly excited for the follow up book! The Voices series is sure to be a cult classic much like Justin Cronin's The Passage.
June 6, 2018
DEFENDER was one of my top books of 2017 so I was super excited to get my grabby mitts on Hunted (The Voices 2) and dive back into the world of Lacey, Voice, Alex and Addison.
I'll admit to being a little lost at first as the book opens with a different group of characters from the first novel (including Posy) and we are also introduced to a new group featuring Albus. I'll put this confusion down to reading on a sun lounger in Cyprus and being easily distracted by cocktails and sunshine! This is a complex tale and you need your wits about you to keep up but once I got back into Todd's writing groove I was away and immersed into the post apocalyptic landscape of Hunted.
Posy/Not-Posy and The Other are the most horrifying villains I have come across in many years of reading and I read a LOT of horror and thrillers. The Other is a truly terrifying version of Voice and is hunting down Lacey, Alex and Addison. Albus and his group are also trying to find Lacey's group but are on a rescue mission rather than a search/torture/maim one!
There are so many shocks in Hunted and at the end my jaw didn't know whether to drop or my chin to wobble. I cannot wait for book three and can safely say G X Todd is one of my favourite authors in this genre.
I'll admit to being a little lost at first as the book opens with a different group of characters from the first novel (including Posy) and we are also introduced to a new group featuring Albus. I'll put this confusion down to reading on a sun lounger in Cyprus and being easily distracted by cocktails and sunshine! This is a complex tale and you need your wits about you to keep up but once I got back into Todd's writing groove I was away and immersed into the post apocalyptic landscape of Hunted.
Posy/Not-Posy and The Other are the most horrifying villains I have come across in many years of reading and I read a LOT of horror and thrillers. The Other is a truly terrifying version of Voice and is hunting down Lacey, Alex and Addison. Albus and his group are also trying to find Lacey's group but are on a rescue mission rather than a search/torture/maim one!
There are so many shocks in Hunted and at the end my jaw didn't know whether to drop or my chin to wobble. I cannot wait for book three and can safely say G X Todd is one of my favourite authors in this genre.
May 18, 2018
This review was originally posted on Strupag
I have been SO excited to read HUNTED, ever since I closed the final page of DEFENDER (see my review here). If you follow me on Twitter you are no-doubt aware of my love for that book. So when I was kindly sent a HUNTED ARC by Headling, I started it ASAP and proceeded to eke it out for as long as possible, because I wasn't ready to leave the world and Todd's writing for another year.
As you've probably gleaned from this first paragraph, HUNTED did not disappoint!
Todd has taken the world and characters we became familiar with in book one and expanded in the best possible ways - new characters, new concepts, new relationships, new dangers. I could easily have swallowed this book whole, but, like I said, I needed to savour it - every last word!
As ever, Todd strikes the perfect balance between action and character-building, allowing us to get to know those characters that she inevitably puts through the mill. I swear she took my heart and stomped on it at one point.
What's so delicious about this book is that, although we start to gain some information, some more understanding of this dystopian world, by the end we are hungrier than ever for more answers.
I know I've not mentioned much about the plot here but that's intentional. This is an action-packed sequel that absolutely lives up to the very high standards of book one, and is a story that you need to uncover for yourself!
Limited Edition SIGNED Copies
Before I go, let me draw to your attention the exclusive limited edition, signed copies available from Goldsboro Books. There are only 250 copies available and each will be signed and number with sprayed edges. I can't wait to see my copy!
I have been SO excited to read HUNTED, ever since I closed the final page of DEFENDER (see my review here). If you follow me on Twitter you are no-doubt aware of my love for that book. So when I was kindly sent a HUNTED ARC by Headling, I started it ASAP and proceeded to eke it out for as long as possible, because I wasn't ready to leave the world and Todd's writing for another year.
As you've probably gleaned from this first paragraph, HUNTED did not disappoint!
Todd has taken the world and characters we became familiar with in book one and expanded in the best possible ways - new characters, new concepts, new relationships, new dangers. I could easily have swallowed this book whole, but, like I said, I needed to savour it - every last word!
As ever, Todd strikes the perfect balance between action and character-building, allowing us to get to know those characters that she inevitably puts through the mill. I swear she took my heart and stomped on it at one point.
What's so delicious about this book is that, although we start to gain some information, some more understanding of this dystopian world, by the end we are hungrier than ever for more answers.
I know I've not mentioned much about the plot here but that's intentional. This is an action-packed sequel that absolutely lives up to the very high standards of book one, and is a story that you need to uncover for yourself!
Limited Edition SIGNED Copies
Before I go, let me draw to your attention the exclusive limited edition, signed copies available from Goldsboro Books. There are only 250 copies available and each will be signed and number with sprayed edges. I can't wait to see my copy!
August 7, 2018
4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2018/07/30/hu...
Hunted is the second instalment in the Voices series by GX Todd and is a gripping and tense follow up to Defender. Be aware that being a review for the second in series this may contain spoilers – I would also suggest that the Voices is not a series where you can pick the second book up at random – these need to be read in order imo so if you haven’t read Defender then you might want to stop reading this review about now – before you leave though, just know that this is a worthy second book and definitely a series that I will continue to read.
In terms of a brief recap. In Defender we were introduced to a character named Lacey. The world in which Lacey lived had gone to hell in a handcart to be honest. The short version is that many of the population found their headspace invaded by another voice – a voice that urged them to commit acts of violence and as a consequence murder, suicide and mass suicide resulted in a huge proportion of the world’s populating being killed off in fairly short order. The survivors fall into two groups – those with voices and those without. As you may imagine the people without voices are feeling none to friendly, and not a a little bit suspicious, of those with them. Consequently people try to hide their head guests if possible. Now, as if contending with ‘voices’ wasn’t enough civilisation has taken something of a nose dive with marauding gangs running amok in the cities. Places have become overgrown and services are none existent as you would expect from a post apocalyptic world. And, finally, it seems that the people with voices are being rounded up or gathered and there is talk of a ‘Flitting Man’ – tales of terror mostly involving disappearing bodies, and strange symbols – that have leant the character an urban myth type feel.
This isn’t going to be an easy book to review because the potential for spoilers is very real but what I can immediately say is that Todd doesn’t follow an easy path with this instalment. Instead of taking that easy route she veers away from the characters introduced in the first book and instead, initially follows a new bunch. At first, I admit, I found this a little jarring and wanted to return to Lacey and her companions, but, having finished the read I can really appreciate the way this story pans out. For starters the characters are given a lot more depth which in turn really helps to pump up the tension. There’s nothing like attachment to characters to give you that awful heart in your throat sensation when reading and Todd does make you care quite strongly about some of her cast. She also gives you a horrible look at the antagonist of the piece – not the Flitting Man – but another character called Posy, who now carries his own voice (known as Not Posy). Not Posy is a horrible piece of work, he’s just awful and it’s a testament to the writing here just how scary Todd manages to make him. Devoid of any compassion, he’s the sort of coldly calculating character who absolutely will not stop. In this instance he’s seeking a girl called Red or Ruby and unfortunately he believes her to be in the company of Lacey – so you can see how the story is going to develop.
Basically, there are three storylines, following slightly different timelines at first until eventually converging. We have Not Posy and his ever growing gang of wild and vicious characters. We once again meet up with Lacey and her two companions – who know tht they’re being followed and are making a good go of avoiding being caught and, finally, a character named Albus. Albus and his companions live in an almost surreal and happy go lucky bubble, in an otherwise savage world. It’s almost like they’ve escaped the events that are going on around them and found a little bit of bliss, living in an idyllic sounding Inn on the coastline. Things are about to change however. Albus also is guided to help people by his own internal hearings. He’s an unusual character who doesn’t talk and instead sees colours in some people. I won’t say more other than he is guided to search out these people and help them – which is where his companions at the Inn have all come from. He’s going to receive a strong message to help one particular girl and although this will involve putting some of his companions, and himself, at great risk he must follow his instincts.
That’s about all I can say really without ruining the read for others.
The writing here is really good. As I mentioned this is a tense story with very little let up in terms of room to breathe out and on top of that it’s unpredictable. I mentioned above that Todd doesn’t take the easy route and in that respect her characters are given a very hard time too. There is violence here and it might not be to everyone’s tastes, particularly the torture elements and the final chapters – so be aware.
Overall a very strong second in series, perhaps a little slower than the first in terms of pacing and also a little surprising in that it takes you away from the main character from the first book (at least initially), but, regardless, I think that the character building and wider scope that occurred as a result was worth the change in tack. A book that seems to move the story on and provide revelations whilst at the same time, on reflection, actually giving very little away in the process and therefore serving to push you yet further onto the hook of ‘desperately needing to know’.
I look forward to seeing how all these storylines will come together and more than that reading about whether or not the people in this world can survive – you never know, Ms Todd certainly isn’t shy of killing off a few people in order to keep things realistic, you were warned.
I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
https://lynns-books.com/2018/07/30/hu...
Hunted is the second instalment in the Voices series by GX Todd and is a gripping and tense follow up to Defender. Be aware that being a review for the second in series this may contain spoilers – I would also suggest that the Voices is not a series where you can pick the second book up at random – these need to be read in order imo so if you haven’t read Defender then you might want to stop reading this review about now – before you leave though, just know that this is a worthy second book and definitely a series that I will continue to read.
In terms of a brief recap. In Defender we were introduced to a character named Lacey. The world in which Lacey lived had gone to hell in a handcart to be honest. The short version is that many of the population found their headspace invaded by another voice – a voice that urged them to commit acts of violence and as a consequence murder, suicide and mass suicide resulted in a huge proportion of the world’s populating being killed off in fairly short order. The survivors fall into two groups – those with voices and those without. As you may imagine the people without voices are feeling none to friendly, and not a a little bit suspicious, of those with them. Consequently people try to hide their head guests if possible. Now, as if contending with ‘voices’ wasn’t enough civilisation has taken something of a nose dive with marauding gangs running amok in the cities. Places have become overgrown and services are none existent as you would expect from a post apocalyptic world. And, finally, it seems that the people with voices are being rounded up or gathered and there is talk of a ‘Flitting Man’ – tales of terror mostly involving disappearing bodies, and strange symbols – that have leant the character an urban myth type feel.
This isn’t going to be an easy book to review because the potential for spoilers is very real but what I can immediately say is that Todd doesn’t follow an easy path with this instalment. Instead of taking that easy route she veers away from the characters introduced in the first book and instead, initially follows a new bunch. At first, I admit, I found this a little jarring and wanted to return to Lacey and her companions, but, having finished the read I can really appreciate the way this story pans out. For starters the characters are given a lot more depth which in turn really helps to pump up the tension. There’s nothing like attachment to characters to give you that awful heart in your throat sensation when reading and Todd does make you care quite strongly about some of her cast. She also gives you a horrible look at the antagonist of the piece – not the Flitting Man – but another character called Posy, who now carries his own voice (known as Not Posy). Not Posy is a horrible piece of work, he’s just awful and it’s a testament to the writing here just how scary Todd manages to make him. Devoid of any compassion, he’s the sort of coldly calculating character who absolutely will not stop. In this instance he’s seeking a girl called Red or Ruby and unfortunately he believes her to be in the company of Lacey – so you can see how the story is going to develop.
Basically, there are three storylines, following slightly different timelines at first until eventually converging. We have Not Posy and his ever growing gang of wild and vicious characters. We once again meet up with Lacey and her two companions – who know tht they’re being followed and are making a good go of avoiding being caught and, finally, a character named Albus. Albus and his companions live in an almost surreal and happy go lucky bubble, in an otherwise savage world. It’s almost like they’ve escaped the events that are going on around them and found a little bit of bliss, living in an idyllic sounding Inn on the coastline. Things are about to change however. Albus also is guided to help people by his own internal hearings. He’s an unusual character who doesn’t talk and instead sees colours in some people. I won’t say more other than he is guided to search out these people and help them – which is where his companions at the Inn have all come from. He’s going to receive a strong message to help one particular girl and although this will involve putting some of his companions, and himself, at great risk he must follow his instincts.
That’s about all I can say really without ruining the read for others.
The writing here is really good. As I mentioned this is a tense story with very little let up in terms of room to breathe out and on top of that it’s unpredictable. I mentioned above that Todd doesn’t take the easy route and in that respect her characters are given a very hard time too. There is violence here and it might not be to everyone’s tastes, particularly the torture elements and the final chapters – so be aware.
Overall a very strong second in series, perhaps a little slower than the first in terms of pacing and also a little surprising in that it takes you away from the main character from the first book (at least initially), but, regardless, I think that the character building and wider scope that occurred as a result was worth the change in tack. A book that seems to move the story on and provide revelations whilst at the same time, on reflection, actually giving very little away in the process and therefore serving to push you yet further onto the hook of ‘desperately needing to know’.
I look forward to seeing how all these storylines will come together and more than that reading about whether or not the people in this world can survive – you never know, Ms Todd certainly isn’t shy of killing off a few people in order to keep things realistic, you were warned.
I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
February 24, 2018
Hunted is the thrilling sequel to Defender by G. X. Todd. If you haven’t read Defender, then I highly recommend you read it before you start reading this.
Read more of my review here: http://www.bookerworm.com/reviews/202...
Read more of my review here: http://www.bookerworm.com/reviews/202...
May 23, 2019
Gemma Todd is from my town. A local, Willenhall (not the Coventry one) resident. She drove the mobile library. She’s a salt-of-the-earth kinda gal, and I feel blessed to count her as a friend. And my friend writes bloody awesome books!
With her debut, best-selling novel, Defender, she blew me away, and if I’m honest, I didn’t think Hunted would hold a candle to it.
Well, I can tell you now that it did, and some! I’ve literally just “closed the book” on Hunted, and whilst it’s taken me a good couple of months to read (life has been crazy busy so I’ve read it in any spare moment I could muster), I can honestly say it was well worth the wait.
Even with all the new characters Todd has introduced us to in book two of this dark, dystopian thriller series, the story has stuck firmly in my head. Even with everything I’ve got going on at the moment, I’ve managed to slip right back into the world this amazing author has created.
It’s the perfect follow up to the debut. Todd has delved deeper into the core and pulled out a richer, more detailed, beating heart.
Some book bloggers/reviewers haven’t favoured the addition of so many, new characters, and at first, I have to admit, I thought the same. I thought it would confuse the heck out of me, but I honestly, truly believe that this book would be nothing without them.
I love the direction that the series is travelling in. It’s exciting and exhilarating, and I seriously cannot wait for Survivors.
With her debut, best-selling novel, Defender, she blew me away, and if I’m honest, I didn’t think Hunted would hold a candle to it.
Well, I can tell you now that it did, and some! I’ve literally just “closed the book” on Hunted, and whilst it’s taken me a good couple of months to read (life has been crazy busy so I’ve read it in any spare moment I could muster), I can honestly say it was well worth the wait.
Even with all the new characters Todd has introduced us to in book two of this dark, dystopian thriller series, the story has stuck firmly in my head. Even with everything I’ve got going on at the moment, I’ve managed to slip right back into the world this amazing author has created.
It’s the perfect follow up to the debut. Todd has delved deeper into the core and pulled out a richer, more detailed, beating heart.
Some book bloggers/reviewers haven’t favoured the addition of so many, new characters, and at first, I have to admit, I thought the same. I thought it would confuse the heck out of me, but I honestly, truly believe that this book would be nothing without them.
I love the direction that the series is travelling in. It’s exciting and exhilarating, and I seriously cannot wait for Survivors.
May 13, 2018
Hunted follows on from Defender, with tension mounting as some of the original characters continue along their journey, running from danger and trying to keep those around them safe. They are being hunted by new characters, some good and some bad - though it's not actually clear which are which until later on in the book. No one knows where the voices have come from, why they exist or what they want. But it's clear that some, if not all, have their own agenda, leading the characters along a twisty, and often dangerous, path until they all converge.
Hunted wasn't what I expected at first, I'm not going to lie. It starts off with different characters to Defender, which left me somewhat confused, trying to keep track of them. It also started off at a slower pace, setting the scene and introducing each of the character groups in turn. Yet despite feeling a little lost, I ploughed on and eventually couldn't put this book down either, as the tension and action reached full throttle. As with Defender, Hunted is filled with amazing descriptive writing, with plenty of sadness, humour, shocks and surprises amid the darkness. Eventually old and new characters collided, with plenty of sparks and an explosive ending. While Hunted doesn't necessarily answer many questions or tie up many loose ends, some things started to make sense, though this then led to more questions circulating around in my head.
Defender and Hunted have definitely left me wanting more, and I could certainly hear my own 'inner voices' by the time I turned the final page! I can't wait for the next instalment in The Voices series!
Hunted wasn't what I expected at first, I'm not going to lie. It starts off with different characters to Defender, which left me somewhat confused, trying to keep track of them. It also started off at a slower pace, setting the scene and introducing each of the character groups in turn. Yet despite feeling a little lost, I ploughed on and eventually couldn't put this book down either, as the tension and action reached full throttle. As with Defender, Hunted is filled with amazing descriptive writing, with plenty of sadness, humour, shocks and surprises amid the darkness. Eventually old and new characters collided, with plenty of sparks and an explosive ending. While Hunted doesn't necessarily answer many questions or tie up many loose ends, some things started to make sense, though this then led to more questions circulating around in my head.
Defender and Hunted have definitely left me wanting more, and I could certainly hear my own 'inner voices' by the time I turned the final page! I can't wait for the next instalment in The Voices series!
December 13, 2017
It's now 5:36am and I have given up on sleep! I put this book down several times and tried to sleep but my little brain just couldn't silence the voices!! :-) So i read a few more chapters, tried again, same result so now i have finished the book! My poor eyes are burning and feel like they are bleeding! A little over dramatic maybe but still true!
I have coveted this book for months after picking up a copy of the first book Defender and being completely sucked in by it, but now I kinda wish I had waited until the series was complete before reading them!! Hunted will be published on 31st May 2018 which means the wait for book 3 will now feel like an eternity!!
Other than to say how utterly brilliant this book is I don’t want to say too much about the story line as i don’t want to spoil it for anyone! ( I would be mad if someone let slip vital pieces of the story before id read it! ) There were several plot twists i didn’t expect which is always good and not an easy feat to accomplish as normally with some genre of books they follow similar paths. But this one has its own unique take on a apocalyptic world and the people left in it.
It is as good, if not better than the first book and that one was in a class of its own, so if you enjoyed Defender, Hunted will sweep you away. Honestly! It's that good!
Roll on book 3 as Hunted ends on an apocalyptic cliff hanger!
I have coveted this book for months after picking up a copy of the first book Defender and being completely sucked in by it, but now I kinda wish I had waited until the series was complete before reading them!! Hunted will be published on 31st May 2018 which means the wait for book 3 will now feel like an eternity!!
Other than to say how utterly brilliant this book is I don’t want to say too much about the story line as i don’t want to spoil it for anyone! ( I would be mad if someone let slip vital pieces of the story before id read it! ) There were several plot twists i didn’t expect which is always good and not an easy feat to accomplish as normally with some genre of books they follow similar paths. But this one has its own unique take on a apocalyptic world and the people left in it.
It is as good, if not better than the first book and that one was in a class of its own, so if you enjoyed Defender, Hunted will sweep you away. Honestly! It's that good!
Roll on book 3 as Hunted ends on an apocalyptic cliff hanger!
June 28, 2018
A brave and bold follow-up to the awesome Defender. Todd expands and develops her post-apocalyptic vision in Hunted. Whilst its first half is more deliberately paced and focused on world-building than its predecessor, the finale is intense and ferocious.
Hunted develops the lore of the Voices series, retaining the rich characterisation of the previous book and the delicate balance of darkness and warmth that is quick becoming a hallmark of the author. Todd creates a beautiful tapestry of moving parts, of persons visible and those less tangible, and revels in crashing these parties together in thrilling, unexpected and, dare I say it, heartbreaking fashion.
Like an early King or Koontz, there is no one better writing today when the intensity ramps up. As the narrative reaches its crescendo, Hunted becomes increasingly heart-pounding, thrilling and devastating.
If you wonder why I am not giving this book 5*, it is only because Defender is my favourite book of the last few years and my expectations for its sequel were simply impossible to meet. That said, Hunted is a truly worthy sequel and one that will undoubtedly benefit from a second read-through. It is a novel that surprises at every turn by refusing to follow the beaten path of innumerable sequels, and it is all the better for it.
Hunted develops the lore of the Voices series, retaining the rich characterisation of the previous book and the delicate balance of darkness and warmth that is quick becoming a hallmark of the author. Todd creates a beautiful tapestry of moving parts, of persons visible and those less tangible, and revels in crashing these parties together in thrilling, unexpected and, dare I say it, heartbreaking fashion.
Like an early King or Koontz, there is no one better writing today when the intensity ramps up. As the narrative reaches its crescendo, Hunted becomes increasingly heart-pounding, thrilling and devastating.
If you wonder why I am not giving this book 5*, it is only because Defender is my favourite book of the last few years and my expectations for its sequel were simply impossible to meet. That said, Hunted is a truly worthy sequel and one that will undoubtedly benefit from a second read-through. It is a novel that surprises at every turn by refusing to follow the beaten path of innumerable sequels, and it is all the better for it.
March 7, 2018
This is the sequel to Defender, the book I most wanted to read in 2017 and if you haven't read it - it was AMAZING! I was lucky enough to win a proof copy of Hunted, which was brilliant as I'd been itching to see what happened next to the characters I'd taken to my heart.
G X Todd is an extraordinary writer (it's hard to believe that this is only her second published novel because she has such talent, as if she somehow popped up fully formed as a storyteller). She has that ability to tell a story that makes you want to keep on turning page after page to find out what happens next, whilst at the same time, the inevitable catch 22 situation of trying to make it last, because the story is just so pleasurable, and it seems greedy to devour a carefully crafted book. I will absolutely compare her abilities to Stephen King and I hope she will be as prolific as him in her writing career.
The characters in these books are well drawn and immediately seem real, making you feel such affection for them, that you really care what happens to them. Many a good plot has been let down by one dimensional protagonists, not the case here. It's so easy to immerse yourself in the story, suspend all disbelief, and really live it. Some of the greatest plots are ruined by poorly drawn characters, these are just so real to me and it's an absolute joy to follow their path for a while, despite the grim apocalyptic world they live in.
Hunted is a little different from Defender in that I feel it's slightly less of a relentless roller coaster ride of adrenaline inducing events and more getting to know the characters better, along with some new ones. This is not in any way detrimental to the book, which has a slower pace but growing sense of menace throughout, pervading each chapter, inducing real anxiety for everyone's fate.
I don't want to include any spoilers as obviously it's not yet published (out in May) but I promise you won't be disappointed, especially the ending!
G X Todd is an extraordinary writer (it's hard to believe that this is only her second published novel because she has such talent, as if she somehow popped up fully formed as a storyteller). She has that ability to tell a story that makes you want to keep on turning page after page to find out what happens next, whilst at the same time, the inevitable catch 22 situation of trying to make it last, because the story is just so pleasurable, and it seems greedy to devour a carefully crafted book. I will absolutely compare her abilities to Stephen King and I hope she will be as prolific as him in her writing career.
The characters in these books are well drawn and immediately seem real, making you feel such affection for them, that you really care what happens to them. Many a good plot has been let down by one dimensional protagonists, not the case here. It's so easy to immerse yourself in the story, suspend all disbelief, and really live it. Some of the greatest plots are ruined by poorly drawn characters, these are just so real to me and it's an absolute joy to follow their path for a while, despite the grim apocalyptic world they live in.
Hunted is a little different from Defender in that I feel it's slightly less of a relentless roller coaster ride of adrenaline inducing events and more getting to know the characters better, along with some new ones. This is not in any way detrimental to the book, which has a slower pace but growing sense of menace throughout, pervading each chapter, inducing real anxiety for everyone's fate.
I don't want to include any spoilers as obviously it's not yet published (out in May) but I promise you won't be disappointed, especially the ending!
August 21, 2019
I really enjoyed the first book in the series Defender and was looking forward to how things would unfold. But unfortunately Hunted doesn't move on much at all. New not very interesting characters and a plodding pace that just doesn't develop on from the what we've already learnt in Defender. Half way through and we still know nothing more about what happened, who the voices are or what the deal is with the Flitting Man. Just not enough to keep me reading. I found it disjointed and had to force myself to pick up the book and continue reading. I'm not sure I'll be enticed to read more in this series.
March 11, 2019
I really enjoyed Defender and could not wait to read the second instalment. If anything I thought this book was even better. I am so invested in the characters and can't wait to find out where their journeys go next. I can't wait for the next book .... I wish it was out sooner.
March 27, 2019
Awesome book 😃
June 15, 2018
I'm grateful to the publisher for an advance copy of Hunted (and - full disclosure - the previous book in this series, Defender, quotes my review).
Todd's previous book, Defender, was an outstanding example of post-apocalyptic storytelling - scary, searing and convincing. Hunted manages - and I don't know how she did this - to be better still. The story corps effortlessly from passages of grim realism, almost miniature documentaries on the breakdown of society under the onslaught of the "Voices", to dreamlike sequences threatening carnage and pain or moving passages showing how even in an upside-down world, love still endures.
The Voices brought death and destruction because they urged killing or self-killing. Those affected, even if they didn't commit violence, are deeply mistrusted by the survivors, tracked down, tortured and murdered. If you have a Voice you try to hide it.
Across a landscape of a ruined United States, we follow three groups of survivors trying, in their different ways, to live in this new, changed world. Posy leads a group of hunters, tracking the elusive woman Red. There is something a bit... off... about Posy, about his relationship with his own Voice, and with the terrible Flitting Man. He drives his ragtag team unmercifully, but his goal is obscure.
Albus and his group of survivors live at the inn by the Sea, hinted at in Defender. His abilities allow him to locate and save the lost and wandering, building a team that can travel in the nightmare world of these books - but again, why and for what purposes?
Lacey, Alex and Addison featured centrally in Defender and are in a sense the hinge of the book, fleeing across a cursed landscape (but escaping what? And going where?) They have made enemies, their friends are dead, but the three (two women and a girl) are coolly competent, survivors. They take some time to make their appearance, Todd holding back these most familiar - and most relatable - figures from the first book almost till the middle of Hunted and dwelling instead on Posy and Albus.
The stories of these groups are woven together into a complex timeline that isn't afraid to dip backwards and forwards. As a result there's a somewhat mythic sense, a distancing effect, through much of the book - seeing the aftermath of an awful event before the event itself both reassures (you know that everyone survived) and appals (when the event itself begins you know it will be bad because you've seen the post-trauma). At the same time, the dreaminess and a creeping understanding of the Voices (not complete, not yet, by any means) adds to the overall sense of gathering dread.
Todd is a brutal author. She holds little back when it comes to heaping suffering on or killing off her characters. Even the ordinary lives depicted here - I use that word advisedly - are bleak; doomed, starved, hopeless people shuffling through a withered, hopeless world. It isn't a zombie apocalypse by any means but the depth of suffering, the wrongness depicted here, is much, much worse making that almost seem like a cosy genre.
And as we see in Hunted the madness and destruction is not over, rather it's getting worse. More akin, perhaps, to Lord of the Flies than anything else I've read, the story takes a dark view of a humanity released from social conventions and tormented by apocalyptic, teasing, haunting visions.
While there are grains of hope here, the book can make for hard reading at times, but it is also at these times it's hardest to put down.
I know this book will stick with me. I'd strongly recommend you read it.
Todd's previous book, Defender, was an outstanding example of post-apocalyptic storytelling - scary, searing and convincing. Hunted manages - and I don't know how she did this - to be better still. The story corps effortlessly from passages of grim realism, almost miniature documentaries on the breakdown of society under the onslaught of the "Voices", to dreamlike sequences threatening carnage and pain or moving passages showing how even in an upside-down world, love still endures.
The Voices brought death and destruction because they urged killing or self-killing. Those affected, even if they didn't commit violence, are deeply mistrusted by the survivors, tracked down, tortured and murdered. If you have a Voice you try to hide it.
Across a landscape of a ruined United States, we follow three groups of survivors trying, in their different ways, to live in this new, changed world. Posy leads a group of hunters, tracking the elusive woman Red. There is something a bit... off... about Posy, about his relationship with his own Voice, and with the terrible Flitting Man. He drives his ragtag team unmercifully, but his goal is obscure.
Albus and his group of survivors live at the inn by the Sea, hinted at in Defender. His abilities allow him to locate and save the lost and wandering, building a team that can travel in the nightmare world of these books - but again, why and for what purposes?
Lacey, Alex and Addison featured centrally in Defender and are in a sense the hinge of the book, fleeing across a cursed landscape (but escaping what? And going where?) They have made enemies, their friends are dead, but the three (two women and a girl) are coolly competent, survivors. They take some time to make their appearance, Todd holding back these most familiar - and most relatable - figures from the first book almost till the middle of Hunted and dwelling instead on Posy and Albus.
The stories of these groups are woven together into a complex timeline that isn't afraid to dip backwards and forwards. As a result there's a somewhat mythic sense, a distancing effect, through much of the book - seeing the aftermath of an awful event before the event itself both reassures (you know that everyone survived) and appals (when the event itself begins you know it will be bad because you've seen the post-trauma). At the same time, the dreaminess and a creeping understanding of the Voices (not complete, not yet, by any means) adds to the overall sense of gathering dread.
Todd is a brutal author. She holds little back when it comes to heaping suffering on or killing off her characters. Even the ordinary lives depicted here - I use that word advisedly - are bleak; doomed, starved, hopeless people shuffling through a withered, hopeless world. It isn't a zombie apocalypse by any means but the depth of suffering, the wrongness depicted here, is much, much worse making that almost seem like a cosy genre.
And as we see in Hunted the madness and destruction is not over, rather it's getting worse. More akin, perhaps, to Lord of the Flies than anything else I've read, the story takes a dark view of a humanity released from social conventions and tormented by apocalyptic, teasing, haunting visions.
While there are grains of hope here, the book can make for hard reading at times, but it is also at these times it's hardest to put down.
I know this book will stick with me. I'd strongly recommend you read it.
June 24, 2018
Sequel to the utterly brilliant Defender (one of my books of the year for 2017) we now have Hunted.
And boy, what a hunt it is. It’s going to be hard to talk about this book without spoiling anything, but trust me on this. If you read and loved Defender, you *need* to read this. Pick up a copy, set aside a day, stockpile the biscuits, take the phone off the hook and strap yourself in for the chase.
And if you’ve not read Defender (what’s wrong with you??), go pick up that too (along with extra biscuits), and brace yourself for some of the finest dystopian worldbuilding you’re likely to see this side of the apocalypse.
Hunted takes the beautifully realised world of Defender, with it’s panoply of fantastic (albeit unpleasant in some cases) characters and expands the mythos. Those voices grow louder, the dystopia grows even more widescreen cinematic in scope, and the ending? Holy moly.
You are not ready for that ending. It’s a proper Empire Strikes Back kind of moment. Bereft, yet with a glimmer of hope that some things might just come right in the end.
The tension ratchets throughout the book, but it’s a slow burn, taking its time to catch light, but when the fire starts to burn, you need to stand back. The plotting is intricately woven through multiple viewpoints, multiple strands and the characters, oh the characters we meet. They’re complex, layered, always fascinating, often frustrating, and sometimes infuriating, but so utterly believable, facing down challenge after challenge, and when you think they can’t possibly take any more…
You’re ready. Join the hunt. #HearTheVoices
Book three cannot come soon enough
And boy, what a hunt it is. It’s going to be hard to talk about this book without spoiling anything, but trust me on this. If you read and loved Defender, you *need* to read this. Pick up a copy, set aside a day, stockpile the biscuits, take the phone off the hook and strap yourself in for the chase.
And if you’ve not read Defender (what’s wrong with you??), go pick up that too (along with extra biscuits), and brace yourself for some of the finest dystopian worldbuilding you’re likely to see this side of the apocalypse.
Hunted takes the beautifully realised world of Defender, with it’s panoply of fantastic (albeit unpleasant in some cases) characters and expands the mythos. Those voices grow louder, the dystopia grows even more widescreen cinematic in scope, and the ending? Holy moly.
You are not ready for that ending. It’s a proper Empire Strikes Back kind of moment. Bereft, yet with a glimmer of hope that some things might just come right in the end.
The tension ratchets throughout the book, but it’s a slow burn, taking its time to catch light, but when the fire starts to burn, you need to stand back. The plotting is intricately woven through multiple viewpoints, multiple strands and the characters, oh the characters we meet. They’re complex, layered, always fascinating, often frustrating, and sometimes infuriating, but so utterly believable, facing down challenge after challenge, and when you think they can’t possibly take any more…
You’re ready. Join the hunt. #HearTheVoices
Book three cannot come soon enough
November 1, 2021
I loved Defender, the book prior to this one. I just loved everything about it – the characters, the concept, the plot, the setting, it was just brilliant. For me, Hunted has gone one step beyond. Even though part of me was still utterly devastated about Pilgrim (hopefully not a spoiler as I’m imagining if you’re reading this review you’ve already read Defender, the first book in the series) and I had absolutely adored his interactions with other characters throughout Defender, the new character relationships nearly made up for the lack of Pilgrim.
There were a few more central characters in this book than there was in the first, so it took me a bit more ‘mind power’ to follow this book because there were three separate storylines running alongside one another. A few of the characters were familiar from Defender, whilst some were completely new characters. I won’t lie, I missed Pilgrim, but I did love the old and new characters.
Also, let’s just talk about the voices for a second. These characters with absolutely no body, no defining physical features, no quirks with whatever body parts that indicate them feeling a certain emotion, no facial expressions. These characters that are limited only to their speech and a sense of certain feelings. I find it amazing how these voices are better developed as characters than 90% of characters in other books.
Be prepared to become completely and utterly immersed in this book. Schedule yourself a weekend to just sit down and read, no distractions, and then you won’t have to cancel plans when you inevitably realize you can’t put this book down. I was awake at 1am finishing off this book, roasting under the duvet where I was huddled with my Kindle so the light didn’t wake my boyfriend who was snoring his head off beside me with no idea of the crisis I was having at having just finished this book and knowing I’d be waiting an indefinite period of time for book number three.
I’m very wary about getting too into the plot for fear of getting carried away and unleashing some spoilers, so I’ll just settle for saying wow. What a book.
The ending was a roller-coaster. I went from sitting there with a sh*t-eating grin to feeling like I’d been punched in the guts. What a way to make sure the reader is desperate to pick up the next book. I’m so excited for part three, I quite literally cannot wait. (No, seriously, I needed part three like yesterday)
Overall I 100% recommend this book, obviously make sure you pick up Defender first if you haven’t already! I’m not only really looking forward to seeing where this series goes, I’m also really looking forward to see what else G.X. Todd writes, her writing style and imagination are both wonderful.
There were a few more central characters in this book than there was in the first, so it took me a bit more ‘mind power’ to follow this book because there were three separate storylines running alongside one another. A few of the characters were familiar from Defender, whilst some were completely new characters. I won’t lie, I missed Pilgrim, but I did love the old and new characters.
Also, let’s just talk about the voices for a second. These characters with absolutely no body, no defining physical features, no quirks with whatever body parts that indicate them feeling a certain emotion, no facial expressions. These characters that are limited only to their speech and a sense of certain feelings. I find it amazing how these voices are better developed as characters than 90% of characters in other books.
Be prepared to become completely and utterly immersed in this book. Schedule yourself a weekend to just sit down and read, no distractions, and then you won’t have to cancel plans when you inevitably realize you can’t put this book down. I was awake at 1am finishing off this book, roasting under the duvet where I was huddled with my Kindle so the light didn’t wake my boyfriend who was snoring his head off beside me with no idea of the crisis I was having at having just finished this book and knowing I’d be waiting an indefinite period of time for book number three.
I’m very wary about getting too into the plot for fear of getting carried away and unleashing some spoilers, so I’ll just settle for saying wow. What a book.
The ending was a roller-coaster. I went from sitting there with a sh*t-eating grin to feeling like I’d been punched in the guts. What a way to make sure the reader is desperate to pick up the next book. I’m so excited for part three, I quite literally cannot wait. (No, seriously, I needed part three like yesterday)
Overall I 100% recommend this book, obviously make sure you pick up Defender first if you haven’t already! I’m not only really looking forward to seeing where this series goes, I’m also really looking forward to see what else G.X. Todd writes, her writing style and imagination are both wonderful.
January 21, 2018
In book #2 of The Voices series, it seems everyone is searching for Lacey. Albus, a man with no voice of his own, is led by the voice of his lost sister with one goal: find and protect the martyr. He and his friends must find her, before anyone else does. Before Posy, and the evil voice inside him – The Other – can.
This series is so good, omg. I can’t even tell you. I’ve seen surprisingly few post-apocalyptic books around recently, and The Voices is based on a really scary and interesting concept: voices in our heads that caused humanity to break down and drove huge numbers of people to kill themselves. It is terrifying and super interesting.
But not only is the concept great, so is the story. I was a tiny bit disappointed at first that the story wasn’t being told from Lacey’s point-of-view (like book #1 is), but after a while, I realised that this was actually a good thing. Firstly, it gave the book a fresh angle. Secondly, I got a bit of a YA vibe from Defender, although it isn’t a YA book. This time, that vibe was gone. I think this was down to the story being told from the point of various adults so, as much as I love Lacey, that teen-vibe was gone – which, for this kind of book, was a good thing.
The characters in this book are just fantastic. Lacey and Voice in particular, but every single character (even the awful, mean ones) bring important something to the story. Also – no spoilers – but EEK big news regarding one of my other favourite characters! Book #3 right now please!!
Basically, you have to read this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This series is so good, omg. I can’t even tell you. I’ve seen surprisingly few post-apocalyptic books around recently, and The Voices is based on a really scary and interesting concept: voices in our heads that caused humanity to break down and drove huge numbers of people to kill themselves. It is terrifying and super interesting.
But not only is the concept great, so is the story. I was a tiny bit disappointed at first that the story wasn’t being told from Lacey’s point-of-view (like book #1 is), but after a while, I realised that this was actually a good thing. Firstly, it gave the book a fresh angle. Secondly, I got a bit of a YA vibe from Defender, although it isn’t a YA book. This time, that vibe was gone. I think this was down to the story being told from the point of various adults so, as much as I love Lacey, that teen-vibe was gone – which, for this kind of book, was a good thing.
The characters in this book are just fantastic. Lacey and Voice in particular, but every single character (even the awful, mean ones) bring important something to the story. Also – no spoilers – but EEK big news regarding one of my other favourite characters! Book #3 right now please!!
Basically, you have to read this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 26, 2018
I'm so torn about this book. On one hand it's sublimely written with great characterisation and has some truly heart breaking and heart in the mouth moments. But on the other hand it does sometimes meander a bit too much so rather than been a slow burn it's just slow. But its biggest problem is one of the author's own making. It's just not as good as Defender. That novel has really stayed with me and I can't begin to think how many people I have recommended it to. The big problem is the loss of an integral character from the first book, their absence feels like a massive hole through the heart of this. The new characters are slow to warm to. But saying that it does pull off one of those sneaky moves where you think you haven't engaged and then pulls a brutal move when you realise actually you have engaged and are left in a bereft crying jag or on the edge of your seat, fear for your suddenly favourite character!
So you see how I'm torn? There's so much right with this book but then it's not quite right. In my review of Defender I made reference to the author been compared to Stephen King but in my mind this was closer to Justin Cronin's Passage trilogy, one of my favourite series. The thing is The Twelve left me a bit cold, the new characters didn't gel etc etc but the last book brought it all together...it had to be seen as a whole. This novel has reinforced my opinion on this. Hunted is definitely G X Todd's difficult second novel but I'm left with a feeling that the next novel won't just be good - it will be brilliant and draw all three together to create a classic dystopian series.
So you see how I'm torn? There's so much right with this book but then it's not quite right. In my review of Defender I made reference to the author been compared to Stephen King but in my mind this was closer to Justin Cronin's Passage trilogy, one of my favourite series. The thing is The Twelve left me a bit cold, the new characters didn't gel etc etc but the last book brought it all together...it had to be seen as a whole. This novel has reinforced my opinion on this. Hunted is definitely G X Todd's difficult second novel but I'm left with a feeling that the next novel won't just be good - it will be brilliant and draw all three together to create a classic dystopian series.
September 5, 2018
EPIC in capital letters!
Defender was one of my favourite books of 2017 and despite having a review copy of Hunted on my Kindle I went out and ordered the hardback version so they could sit nicely side by side on the bookshelf!
The second in a four part series, Hunted carries on from the events of the first book and so it’s essential to have read that first. The story alternates between three groups of people, all driven towards each other by unseen Voices. There’s a lot going on in Hunted with new characters and relationships fighting for your attention and sympathy alongside the more familiar ones we came to know and love...or hate...in book one. But the complexity is what makes the series epic! Rather than a simple linear narrative told from the perspective of one or two main characters we have multiple viewpoints which you know are just going to come crashing together at some point!
We’re now officially halfway through the Voices series but there’s still so much to be revealed and if Todd has taught us anything it is that in the post-apocalyptic world she has created, nothing is as it seems! With twists and turns to rival a roller coaster ride the final few chapters of the book literally took my breath away.
Not for the fainthearted, the Voices series is a must read for all fans of post-apocalyptic, psychological thrillers and I can’t wait for book three! #HearTheVoices
Defender was one of my favourite books of 2017 and despite having a review copy of Hunted on my Kindle I went out and ordered the hardback version so they could sit nicely side by side on the bookshelf!
The second in a four part series, Hunted carries on from the events of the first book and so it’s essential to have read that first. The story alternates between three groups of people, all driven towards each other by unseen Voices. There’s a lot going on in Hunted with new characters and relationships fighting for your attention and sympathy alongside the more familiar ones we came to know and love...or hate...in book one. But the complexity is what makes the series epic! Rather than a simple linear narrative told from the perspective of one or two main characters we have multiple viewpoints which you know are just going to come crashing together at some point!
We’re now officially halfway through the Voices series but there’s still so much to be revealed and if Todd has taught us anything it is that in the post-apocalyptic world she has created, nothing is as it seems! With twists and turns to rival a roller coaster ride the final few chapters of the book literally took my breath away.
Not for the fainthearted, the Voices series is a must read for all fans of post-apocalyptic, psychological thrillers and I can’t wait for book three! #HearTheVoices
October 2, 2020
I loved the first book in the series but I'm afraid this was a case of "difficult second album" syndrome. We start with two new groups of survivors (clearly Baddies and Goodies, but a bit dull) before finally returning to the trio from "Defender" - Lacey, Alex and Addison. Characters are manipulated by "voices" but it's still v. muddled why/how. I really wanted to like this but struggled to finish the book.
Endless internal dialogues, premonitions, dreams and flashbacks just slow things down and confuse matters. Supernatural elements are best used sparingly: if everything is weird and portentous, then nothing is. Things also need things to stay consistent and credible. When an eight year old girl drags a comatose adult from under an avalanche of clutter, the full length of a basement -and up steps - this was a tipping point for me. Likewise the reappearance of another main character (again) stretches credulity just too far.
The "voices" concept didn't go anywhere and the Flitting Man is still just a shadowy villain at the edge of proceedings. There was little action until the end and the borrowings from "The Stand" just remind us what a great book that was. I might be tempted to see things through to the finish if there was just one more book but the prospect of two more in this vein is too much. Sorry, I'm out.
Endless internal dialogues, premonitions, dreams and flashbacks just slow things down and confuse matters. Supernatural elements are best used sparingly: if everything is weird and portentous, then nothing is. Things also need things to stay consistent and credible. When an eight year old girl drags a comatose adult from under an avalanche of clutter, the full length of a basement -and up steps - this was a tipping point for me. Likewise the reappearance of another main character (again) stretches credulity just too far.
The "voices" concept didn't go anywhere and the Flitting Man is still just a shadowy villain at the edge of proceedings. There was little action until the end and the borrowings from "The Stand" just remind us what a great book that was. I might be tempted to see things through to the finish if there was just one more book but the prospect of two more in this vein is too much. Sorry, I'm out.
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