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The Hunter
New M/M steampunk fantasy from Amazon Bestselling Author Jordan Reece!
It begins with a mysterious package in the mail . . .
There isn’t much excitement to be found in the small farm town that Elario Repse calls home. But when a letter arrives from his deceased uncle, begging him to deliver a dangerous dragon’s eye to a man named Westen at’Inamon, Elario has no choice. With the military in pursuit, he flees across the country of Phaleros.
By the time he reaches his destination, he has a new problem. The dragon’s eye has attached itself to Elario, allowing him to see through time and even read minds. Westen has no idea how to separate them, but he does know the Crown will stop at nothing to kill Elario for bearing it. A dragon’s eye is the key to bringing down the greedy, corrupt upper class of Phaleros, if only Westen can keep Elario alive long enough to use it.
The attraction between them is undeniable. Westen is the most handsome man that Elario has ever seen, yet his quirky, secretive personality runs hot and cold. Still, he will do anything to protect Elario. They are falling in love at the very worst time . . . and with peril around every corner, there is no guarantee of a happy ending.
It begins with a mysterious package in the mail . . .
There isn’t much excitement to be found in the small farm town that Elario Repse calls home. But when a letter arrives from his deceased uncle, begging him to deliver a dangerous dragon’s eye to a man named Westen at’Inamon, Elario has no choice. With the military in pursuit, he flees across the country of Phaleros.
By the time he reaches his destination, he has a new problem. The dragon’s eye has attached itself to Elario, allowing him to see through time and even read minds. Westen has no idea how to separate them, but he does know the Crown will stop at nothing to kill Elario for bearing it. A dragon’s eye is the key to bringing down the greedy, corrupt upper class of Phaleros, if only Westen can keep Elario alive long enough to use it.
The attraction between them is undeniable. Westen is the most handsome man that Elario has ever seen, yet his quirky, secretive personality runs hot and cold. Still, he will do anything to protect Elario. They are falling in love at the very worst time . . . and with peril around every corner, there is no guarantee of a happy ending.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2018
29 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 14, 2018
4.5/5
This book marked the end of my latest reading slump. It smashed my reading woes to bits.
I adored this. I loved our MC/narrator, the plot, the world-building and steam punk elements, the adventure and magic, even the touches of romance and mystery. This book reminded me of many others, but still felt uniquely it’s own. That may have been what I liked most.
My only hesitation in giving it the full 5-stars was the conclusion. Without giving anything away, I simply wanted more depth. This does not mean a longer epilogue. It refers to the feeling I I had at the end of wishing for that extra piece.
Now, I am a glutton for logic. Having elements or events in a book that are illogical or nonsensical drives me bananas. Immediately when I started this, I noticed that our main character was encountering events/struggles/challenges that made sense, and also responded to each in a fair manner. I was delighted to see him (and clearly the author) make choices that were legitimate and allowed the story to progress with realistic drama rather than forced events due to a characters’ own stupidity or an author’s forced plot twists. I hate that. And this book felt so very free of it.
I cannot wait to read more by this author. It doesn’t seem like any of the other books take place in the same world which is a little sad, but I am curious what other worlds have fallen from JR’s mind.
This book marked the end of my latest reading slump. It smashed my reading woes to bits.
I adored this. I loved our MC/narrator, the plot, the world-building and steam punk elements, the adventure and magic, even the touches of romance and mystery. This book reminded me of many others, but still felt uniquely it’s own. That may have been what I liked most.
My only hesitation in giving it the full 5-stars was the conclusion. Without giving anything away, I simply wanted more depth. This does not mean a longer epilogue. It refers to the feeling I I had at the end of wishing for that extra piece.
Now, I am a glutton for logic. Having elements or events in a book that are illogical or nonsensical drives me bananas. Immediately when I started this, I noticed that our main character was encountering events/struggles/challenges that made sense, and also responded to each in a fair manner. I was delighted to see him (and clearly the author) make choices that were legitimate and allowed the story to progress with realistic drama rather than forced events due to a characters’ own stupidity or an author’s forced plot twists. I hate that. And this book felt so very free of it.
I cannot wait to read more by this author. It doesn’t seem like any of the other books take place in the same world which is a little sad, but I am curious what other worlds have fallen from JR’s mind.
May 22, 2020
4.0 out of 5 - Good Mix of Steampunk & Paranormal
I'm a sucker for good steampunk, and with the paranormal mixed in, Jordan Reece showed she had a "knack" (pun purposely related to these skills in the story) for telling an engaging story, and building a nice m/m romance along the way.
I'm a sucker for good steampunk, and with the paranormal mixed in, Jordan Reece showed she had a "knack" (pun purposely related to these skills in the story) for telling an engaging story, and building a nice m/m romance along the way.
February 26, 2020
A great adventure! The world is beautifully detailed, with very little extra explanation -- it helps to have a character who's been around for a while to let both the MC and the reader know what really happened, not just the legends that have been passed down (very clever!) -- and I was completely pulled into the intrigue. I don't think I've read much by this author, which I obviously need to change in the near future!
June 12, 2018
This was a great story with wonderful world building. Elario had no idea of the kind of adventure he would go on when he decided to deliver the dragon's eye to Westen at'Inamon, but for Elario and the reader it was quite a horrific experience as he ran for his life from monsters and the military, and as he learned the real truth about his history and the evil that the upper classes committed in order to keep their privileges. I loved the steampunk elements of the book and would have liked more of life after the fall of the dervesh.
July 21, 2018
3.75 stars
August 6, 2019
Every now and then, I run into a self-published book that I cannot believe isn't a traditionally published one. This was one of those happy cases.
Set in a world that's a cross of fantasy and steampunk, the plot reminded me a lot of Lord of the Rings (in a good way, not like it was just a copy of that book). The main character, Elario, is a simple farmer and a man with a very weak power to heal. All he wanted to do was farm and tend to the health of the people in his little village, when an Object of Power falls into his lap. Trying to do the right thing with that object leads him on a quest from one end of his country to the other, and had an impact on the whole country.
Though this book is labeled M/M, that's kind of an odd thing. The romance is just a minor part of the story (we don't even meet the love interest until well after the halfway point of the book). I did like their relationship a lot, but this wasn't a romance book, so seemed like it really didn't need to be labeled as M/M. (Though, admittedly, that did help me to want to pick the book up, so I guess maybe it could be considered an advertising tactic...)
This book was really long, but unlike other long books I have enjoyed, I never got bored at any point, and I never got into that mindset where I kept checking how much more I had to read. I just kept enjoying it from the first page to the last.
It seems so rare nowadays that a book isn't just a part of a trilogy or a series, but as far as I can tell, this book is going to be stand-alone. It wrapped up perfectly, no loose ends. That's quite a refreshing change.
Set in a world that's a cross of fantasy and steampunk, the plot reminded me a lot of Lord of the Rings (in a good way, not like it was just a copy of that book). The main character, Elario, is a simple farmer and a man with a very weak power to heal. All he wanted to do was farm and tend to the health of the people in his little village, when an Object of Power falls into his lap. Trying to do the right thing with that object leads him on a quest from one end of his country to the other, and had an impact on the whole country.
Though this book is labeled M/M, that's kind of an odd thing. The romance is just a minor part of the story (we don't even meet the love interest until well after the halfway point of the book). I did like their relationship a lot, but this wasn't a romance book, so seemed like it really didn't need to be labeled as M/M. (Though, admittedly, that did help me to want to pick the book up, so I guess maybe it could be considered an advertising tactic...)
This book was really long, but unlike other long books I have enjoyed, I never got bored at any point, and I never got into that mindset where I kept checking how much more I had to read. I just kept enjoying it from the first page to the last.
It seems so rare nowadays that a book isn't just a part of a trilogy or a series, but as far as I can tell, this book is going to be stand-alone. It wrapped up perfectly, no loose ends. That's quite a refreshing change.
October 6, 2019
This was a really good book, thoroughly recommended. The world building was detailed and extensive and deserving of many stories to be told within the setting - it would be a pity never to return there.
The beginning is reminiscent of Lord of the Rings or the Wheel of Time (or so many other stories in the genre), with Elario, a young farmer with a little bit of healing magic, setting out on a long and potentially perilous journey - but this journey is unique and certainly rewarding!
It is a cross over between fantasy and steampunk, with magic powering technology akin to that of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries but with the addition of robots.
There was one very brief particularly explicit memory of anonymous sex, which while well written was particularly noticeable because of the complete absence of anything remotely similar up to that point, and it leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination for the likely consequences of powerful stamina pills that put Viagra to shame. Otherwise the m-m theme is secondary to the setting, plot and action and should be fine for any audience.
There is a great deal of action and constant danger, the violence not being explicit for the most part, which I appreciate - there is no body-count for titillation's sake and the heroes are not killing everyone in sight.
The characters were believable and given the right amount of depth, everything being seen through Elario's eyes, and the reader is introduced to much of the world at the same time as Elario is, his own familiarity being with an undeveloped backwater and not the industrial cyberpunk north.
Well worth reading, especially for the excellent world building!
The beginning is reminiscent of Lord of the Rings or the Wheel of Time (or so many other stories in the genre), with Elario, a young farmer with a little bit of healing magic, setting out on a long and potentially perilous journey - but this journey is unique and certainly rewarding!
It is a cross over between fantasy and steampunk, with magic powering technology akin to that of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries but with the addition of robots.
There was one very brief particularly explicit memory of anonymous sex, which while well written was particularly noticeable because of the complete absence of anything remotely similar up to that point, and it leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination for the likely consequences of powerful stamina pills that put Viagra to shame. Otherwise the m-m theme is secondary to the setting, plot and action and should be fine for any audience.
There is a great deal of action and constant danger, the violence not being explicit for the most part, which I appreciate - there is no body-count for titillation's sake and the heroes are not killing everyone in sight.
The characters were believable and given the right amount of depth, everything being seen through Elario's eyes, and the reader is introduced to much of the world at the same time as Elario is, his own familiarity being with an undeveloped backwater and not the industrial cyberpunk north.
Well worth reading, especially for the excellent world building!
August 12, 2019
Where do I start? Steampunk is not my thing, I just find it silly. However, this book is written as if it were sci-fi or good fantasy. The foreign world is described and explained completely. There is imagination on display that one rarely sees and it’s quite exhilarating at times. Somehow, the silliness that usually accompanies steampunk for me never arises in this novel. The characters are really fully developed. I feel that I know them by the end. Their reactions are believable and there is an air of authenticity about them. The story is exciting and creative. While I was pretty certain that there would be a happy ending, I wasn’t quite sure how it would be achieved. There were some expendable characters and I didn’t have confidence that they would all make it. Finally, the writing. I think that’s it’s sublime. Often when I read I have to repeat a paragraph to figure out what they are trying to say. Here, I reread paragraphs because I thought they were so well written, they were worth reading again. If you read any kind of fantasy, I highly recommend this novel. I think that you will be entertained and impressed.
July 2, 2023
An enjoyable if slightly too long fantasy/adventure with an embedded love story, not a genre romance. There's some good suspense around why Westen wants the dragon's eye so badly, but I'm not sure I quite followed the explanation of how dervesh knackers worked. Also don't know whether I was confused because I was too focused on the relationship between Elario and Westen, or whether the setup was overcomplicated, or some combination thereof.
I did really appreciate the treatment of immortality as a curse -- it was emotionally credible, and a refreshing change (for me) from PNRs in which one of the MCs is immortal for whatever reason and that somehow isn't a source of distress.
Oh, and the derveshes were genuinely terrifying! And I liked "Dagen's boys" and "Kaliope's girls" for people drawn to their own sex. But I use the word "sex" deliberately because there's an unfortunate assumption of gender dichotomy and also of lesbian&gay/straight dichotomy. Seemed a little old-school for something published just 5 years ago, and I would have taken off another half star if it had been foregrounded more.
3.75 stars, rounded up.
I did really appreciate the treatment of immortality as a curse -- it was emotionally credible, and a refreshing change (for me) from PNRs in which one of the MCs is immortal for whatever reason and that somehow isn't a source of distress.
Oh, and the derveshes were genuinely terrifying! And I liked "Dagen's boys" and "Kaliope's girls" for people drawn to their own sex. But I use the word "sex" deliberately because there's an unfortunate assumption of gender dichotomy and also of lesbian&gay/straight dichotomy. Seemed a little old-school for something published just 5 years ago, and I would have taken off another half star if it had been foregrounded more.
3.75 stars, rounded up.
May 14, 2020
This proved a great fantasy road adventure, set in a post-apocalyptic world with magic, steam-punkish and mild horror elements. I really enjoyed traveling the length and breadth of Phaleros with likeable MCs Elario and Westen, as well as their mechanical man travel-companion. What I mean by 'traveling' is escaping from government troops, hiding in haunted cities, fleeing flesh-eating monsters of all-kinds, trekking to bleak mountains to unearth a mystery that may well bring society and power-classes as they know it to an end. Much of the historical back-story of the land is told initially through myths, songs and legends ... but increasingly through the memories of someone who has lived through hundreds of years and also via terrifying psychic visions which come unbidden to poor Elario. The plot pace is relentless, the action brutal/gory, and the showdown finale explosive ... which segues into a satisfying (if all too brief!) ending for our MCs. A very worthy 4 star read.
June 23, 2021
This book has a very slow start as the world dynamics are very elaborate and building blocks are laid as the plot develops. We begin with Elario who is a simple farm boy in essence and we follow him through the tale learning more about the world that has always been around him but hidden, it's origins lost to time and the subtle obscuring of facts by the Crown. The story grows exponentially until Elario finds himself allied with Westen, an immortal man, trying to rid the world of the monster that were unleashed by the Corpse King, five hundred years before. The action intense and fraught right up until the last page, and while I worried that were would not be enough time for a suitable and satisfying resolution, I was relieved to find I was wrong. Don't worry, HEA is included. Truly an amazing book filled with magic, monsters, and a smattering of angst. Slow burn love story with only one love scene, but so worth it.
August 30, 2019
I loved this book. It was more about the plot than the romance, but the romance wasn't completely ignored either. I want more in this universe. The book had a great ending for these two characters, but I'm not ready to let go of this world yet!!
December 10, 2025
Never thought I’d yearn for a fantasy world map at the beginning of a book but here I am. Lots of geography in this one that was hard for me to keep straight.
All that aside a proper fantasy novel that I very much enjoyed. Very rich world building. It takes place hundreds of years after a cataclysmic event that led to the slow degradation of the kingdom. So there’s a mix of technology and fantasy. There’s some gender essentialism in the magic which is what it is.
Queer relationships are treated as relatively normal here. The romance is a good, slow burn. I grew fond of both MCs (and even their friendly robot companion) The plot is definitely more of the focus but what an exciting plot it is! Would very much recommend!
All that aside a proper fantasy novel that I very much enjoyed. Very rich world building. It takes place hundreds of years after a cataclysmic event that led to the slow degradation of the kingdom. So there’s a mix of technology and fantasy. There’s some gender essentialism in the magic which is what it is.
Queer relationships are treated as relatively normal here. The romance is a good, slow burn. I grew fond of both MCs (and even their friendly robot companion) The plot is definitely more of the focus but what an exciting plot it is! Would very much recommend!
July 31, 2023
I read this m/m romance as part of a challenge to read the books that have been on my TBR the longest, and I spent the first half wondering why it's so under-read. The fantasy world-building is great, but then the author gets pretty bogged down in the minutiae once the initial setup is complete, so it's a little too long in the end.
The romance takes a back seat to the point that it almost comes out of nowhere, so this one's definitely more for people wanting a fantasy than romance, but I enjoyed it.
The romance takes a back seat to the point that it almost comes out of nowhere, so this one's definitely more for people wanting a fantasy than romance, but I enjoyed it.
April 29, 2023
Great storytelling and fantastic world building. This is a fun blend of steampunk and fantasy, adventure and romance. Like any fantasy world made entirely out of whole cloth, the terminology and names and places and made-up words are a bit overwhelming in the beginning, but I never felt too far behind. It took me ages to read because I was savoring it as I went.
November 16, 2019
Great world building and characters, I felt totally immersed. Highly recommended!
January 11, 2024
Enjoyed but found it slowed and dragged a bit at around 70%. Expected the final outcome bit pleased nonetheless.
December 25, 2018
Lots and lots of unknown names on the first few pages almost made me put this book away. After reading some more reviews I continued - glad I did.
Fantasy adventure story with just a hint of romance, situational convenience is more like it.
Fantasy adventure story with just a hint of romance, situational convenience is more like it.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews