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Darkblade #2
Protector
The Hunter's legend conceals cold, dark truths.
Half-demon bastard. A butcher with the blade, assassin, monster.
For millennia he has stalked the world, conquering all in his path and wading through rivers of his enemies' blood.
But he remembers none of it.
Now, an oath made in bitterness and regret thrusts him into a new role to which he is entirely guardian of a young boy touched by gods and hunted by demons.
The Hunter sets off into desolate wastelands and deserts to seek out answers with blade and brutal skills honed by centuries of violence. At his side rides the boy, an ever-growing inconvenience and testament to his past failures.
But as the legions of his enemies close in around him, the child he protects may not only hold the key to his past, but become his very hope for salvation.
Half-demon bastard. A butcher with the blade, assassin, monster.
For millennia he has stalked the world, conquering all in his path and wading through rivers of his enemies' blood.
But he remembers none of it.
Now, an oath made in bitterness and regret thrusts him into a new role to which he is entirely guardian of a young boy touched by gods and hunted by demons.
The Hunter sets off into desolate wastelands and deserts to seek out answers with blade and brutal skills honed by centuries of violence. At his side rides the boy, an ever-growing inconvenience and testament to his past failures.
But as the legions of his enemies close in around him, the child he protects may not only hold the key to his past, but become his very hope for salvation.
592 pages, Paperback
Published November 25, 2021
725 people are currently reading
710 people want to read
About the author
Andy Peloquin
89 books1,289 followersI am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
August 25, 2022
The Hunter is back!
Very small backstory:
The Hunter has left his city of Voramis and has gone out into the wilderness as he needs to protect a young boy, Hailen. The Hunter keeps having visions of a woman and he wonders who she is and why she keeps appearing in his dreams so he sets out to find out who she might be. What he eventually finds is beyond his wildest dreams and he will soon learn more about himself as he journeys onward towards the destination of this vision. Along the way the Hunter finds himself in many tense situations as he journeys with the young boy and he meets some interesting characters on his journey.
That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers, so if you want to know more then you will need to read this book and series.
Thoughts:
The pacing of the story was great in the beginning - the world building was just right as there was not much left to build in the world considering all that had played out in book one. However, this book could have been a five star read but I came up against some small irritable struggles. There was in this story
So with that being said I felt that this book being that way for over 800+ pages was just too much for me. I feel that the action was great when there was action, but then the only other struggle I had was the story having more political intrigue which also seemed to slow down the story. So that is why the drop in star ratings. Giving this book three "Intriguing Quest" stars.
Very small backstory:
The Hunter has left his city of Voramis and has gone out into the wilderness as he needs to protect a young boy, Hailen. The Hunter keeps having visions of a woman and he wonders who she is and why she keeps appearing in his dreams so he sets out to find out who she might be. What he eventually finds is beyond his wildest dreams and he will soon learn more about himself as he journeys onward towards the destination of this vision. Along the way the Hunter finds himself in many tense situations as he journeys with the young boy and he meets some interesting characters on his journey.
That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers, so if you want to know more then you will need to read this book and series.
Thoughts:
The pacing of the story was great in the beginning - the world building was just right as there was not much left to build in the world considering all that had played out in book one. However, this book could have been a five star read but I came up against some small irritable struggles. There was in this story
So with that being said I felt that this book being that way for over 800+ pages was just too much for me. I feel that the action was great when there was action, but then the only other struggle I had was the story having more political intrigue which also seemed to slow down the story. So that is why the drop in star ratings. Giving this book three "Intriguing Quest" stars.
July 22, 2025
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders.
4.5 stars rounded up
On paper, there are book concepts that just work. And when you take the concept of a half-demon assassin constantly trying to suppress the darker voices in his head, all the while his demonic blade lusts for blood and death, you can just sign me the eff up.
With Protector, the second book of the Darkblade series, Andy Peloquin ups the ante on the story of the Hunter of Voramis and further cements him as one unstoppable killing machine worth rooting for.
The Hunter’s eyes have long been closed to the millennia of blood and carnage that covered his past, but slowly, his eyes are opening. After swearing an oath to someone he failed to guard a demon-hunted boy named Hailen, the Hunter finds himself in the uncomfortable and unfamiliar position of playing protector. But there is something special about the boy, something that stretches beyond his naïve innocence toward the world, something that chases the two across desolate wastelands. Something that may be the Hunter’s key to not only his past, but also his future.
I was already enthralled by the Hunter after the first book in the series—a feat that stood against the odds of the body count lying at his feet. Right from the start, Peloquin has perfectly shown the balance of man and monster with the Hunter, and that continues wonderfully in Protector. By putting Hailen at his side, and forcing the Hunter into a more fatherly role, we get to see our (anti-)hero thrust into a position of struggle. As an assassin, the Hunter is death incarnate, but as a guardian, he must be anything but. There’s an excellent dynamic between the Hunter and Hailen that flies off the page, where our protagonist is doing all he can to shield this young and innocent youth from all the darkness and horrors of this world—including the Hunter himself. It’s a well-worn trope, but Peloquin wears it well here.
In contrast to Assassin, Protector is much more of a slow burn in the first half while the Hunter and Hailen travel across the desert wastes in a large caravan, all the while the Hunter must suppress his demonic urges to kill, but when this powder keg finally ignites, hoo boy was the wait worth it. This book is a masterclass in how best to nail a slow build-up and make it worth the reader’s time. The second half of the book flies by with twists and turns, betrayals, high action, and an ever-growing body count that shows the Hunter has not lost his touch. Even with the first and second halves feeling a bit disparate from one another, it does little to hinder how good the plot is overall.
And that’s not even taking into account how well Protector sets up the next books in the series. While all the action on the page had me on the edge of my seat, a second story slowly begins to open to us as the mystery of just who the Hunter is gets revealed bit by bit, slowly leading us along a breadcrumb trail, thousands of years of memories trickling in and leaving us wanting even more answers. Going into this series, I did not expect as much depth and lore from a story of a nigh-immortal assassin, but with what’s been shown so far, I’m chomping at the bit for more.
If you’re looking for an assassin series with pulse-pounding action, then Darkblade should grip you on that criteria alone. But if you’re also down for a deep character study about the balance between man and beast, light and darkness, gods and demons, and the lesser evil rising above it all, then Darkblade is gonna dig its teeth even further into you—and Protector will send you hurtling to read the next book. Peloquin has captured me two books in, and I can’t wait to see where this massive epic series goes next.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, my dinner knife won’t stop screaming at me, so I think I need to go eat something.
4.5 stars rounded up
On paper, there are book concepts that just work. And when you take the concept of a half-demon assassin constantly trying to suppress the darker voices in his head, all the while his demonic blade lusts for blood and death, you can just sign me the eff up.
With Protector, the second book of the Darkblade series, Andy Peloquin ups the ante on the story of the Hunter of Voramis and further cements him as one unstoppable killing machine worth rooting for.
The Hunter’s eyes have long been closed to the millennia of blood and carnage that covered his past, but slowly, his eyes are opening. After swearing an oath to someone he failed to guard a demon-hunted boy named Hailen, the Hunter finds himself in the uncomfortable and unfamiliar position of playing protector. But there is something special about the boy, something that stretches beyond his naïve innocence toward the world, something that chases the two across desolate wastelands. Something that may be the Hunter’s key to not only his past, but also his future.
I was already enthralled by the Hunter after the first book in the series—a feat that stood against the odds of the body count lying at his feet. Right from the start, Peloquin has perfectly shown the balance of man and monster with the Hunter, and that continues wonderfully in Protector. By putting Hailen at his side, and forcing the Hunter into a more fatherly role, we get to see our (anti-)hero thrust into a position of struggle. As an assassin, the Hunter is death incarnate, but as a guardian, he must be anything but. There’s an excellent dynamic between the Hunter and Hailen that flies off the page, where our protagonist is doing all he can to shield this young and innocent youth from all the darkness and horrors of this world—including the Hunter himself. It’s a well-worn trope, but Peloquin wears it well here.
In contrast to Assassin, Protector is much more of a slow burn in the first half while the Hunter and Hailen travel across the desert wastes in a large caravan, all the while the Hunter must suppress his demonic urges to kill, but when this powder keg finally ignites, hoo boy was the wait worth it. This book is a masterclass in how best to nail a slow build-up and make it worth the reader’s time. The second half of the book flies by with twists and turns, betrayals, high action, and an ever-growing body count that shows the Hunter has not lost his touch. Even with the first and second halves feeling a bit disparate from one another, it does little to hinder how good the plot is overall.
And that’s not even taking into account how well Protector sets up the next books in the series. While all the action on the page had me on the edge of my seat, a second story slowly begins to open to us as the mystery of just who the Hunter is gets revealed bit by bit, slowly leading us along a breadcrumb trail, thousands of years of memories trickling in and leaving us wanting even more answers. Going into this series, I did not expect as much depth and lore from a story of a nigh-immortal assassin, but with what’s been shown so far, I’m chomping at the bit for more.
If you’re looking for an assassin series with pulse-pounding action, then Darkblade should grip you on that criteria alone. But if you’re also down for a deep character study about the balance between man and beast, light and darkness, gods and demons, and the lesser evil rising above it all, then Darkblade is gonna dig its teeth even further into you—and Protector will send you hurtling to read the next book. Peloquin has captured me two books in, and I can’t wait to see where this massive epic series goes next.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, my dinner knife won’t stop screaming at me, so I think I need to go eat something.
October 15, 2022
3.5 rounded up. Such a great storyline and plot. Amazing characters and really cool world building. Only downfall for me is a lot of repetition, could have been a bit shorter. But still super excited to read the next one!
July 29, 2022
A great sequel to the adventures of the Hunter! This one gives us some backstory of the world and of the Hunter himself. The pacing of the worldbuilding is spot on. It's written in along with the story progression as opposed to a large information dump.
The Hunter has made a promise to protect a boy named Hailen with whom he finds out has a unique connection.
The fight and action sequences are a blast to read. There is a lot suspense written in because of what and who is at stake.
This is a really great series and I can't recommend it enough.
Keep up the great work Andy!
The Hunter has made a promise to protect a boy named Hailen with whom he finds out has a unique connection.
The fight and action sequences are a blast to read. There is a lot suspense written in because of what and who is at stake.
This is a really great series and I can't recommend it enough.
Keep up the great work Andy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2025
As another reader pointed out, this is a tiring read, which is unfortunate because the story is fascinating. However, the pace is relentless, and the near disasters and narrow escapes are overwhelming. Then there's Hailen — I can't shake the feeling that his future looks grim.
The Hunter—and his author—make it hard to root for his success! Besides being a villainous anti-hero, he can be incredibly infuriating.
1. "Repetitious" isn't a strong enough word! We encounter the same sentiments, phrases, arguments, and questions ad nauseam. We get it! There are other words in the English language!
2. While it's entirely reasonable to distrust his inner demon, doesn't he have any sense of self-preservation? Hunter, there are moments when you should listen! How do you not learn from your past assumptions, misunderstandings, and mistakes? (And why did you let those two live?!)
3. For someone hell-bent on protecting innocence, you can sometimes be surprisingly selfish! Also, please stop dwelling on the same memories and repeating the same inner dialogue. It's getting old—learn from it!
4. How do you manage to give up so easily until some deus ex machina intervenes, only to then fight against ridiculous odds just moments later? And why does this happen so frequently?
I want to enjoy this saga and see how it all plays out, but my goodness, it's exhausting. I think I'll have to limit myself to one book a month to have ample breaks in between!
I rate this installment at a 3.5
The Hunter—and his author—make it hard to root for his success! Besides being a villainous anti-hero, he can be incredibly infuriating.
1. "Repetitious" isn't a strong enough word! We encounter the same sentiments, phrases, arguments, and questions ad nauseam. We get it! There are other words in the English language!
2. While it's entirely reasonable to distrust his inner demon, doesn't he have any sense of self-preservation? Hunter, there are moments when you should listen! How do you not learn from your past assumptions, misunderstandings, and mistakes? (And why did you let those two live?!)
3. For someone hell-bent on protecting innocence, you can sometimes be surprisingly selfish! Also, please stop dwelling on the same memories and repeating the same inner dialogue. It's getting old—learn from it!
4. How do you manage to give up so easily until some deus ex machina intervenes, only to then fight against ridiculous odds just moments later? And why does this happen so frequently?
I want to enjoy this saga and see how it all plays out, but my goodness, it's exhausting. I think I'll have to limit myself to one book a month to have ample breaks in between!
I rate this installment at a 3.5
February 27, 2022
Good story
Smitty.GNS@gmail.com
Descriptions tend to get repetitive and I find myself skipping while paragraphs that detail the hunters internal struggles. The same language is used every time and nothing is any different. The story and the world are great
Smitty.GNS@gmail.com
Descriptions tend to get repetitive and I find myself skipping while paragraphs that detail the hunters internal struggles. The same language is used every time and nothing is any different. The story and the world are great
June 23, 2022
Tiring read
Every where the poor guy turned, he met obstacles. There was no relief for the reader. It is frustrating to keep reading the same battles, different days. The book could have been shorter by 3 or 4 chapters with editing and produced a satisfactory story.
Every where the poor guy turned, he met obstacles. There was no relief for the reader. It is frustrating to keep reading the same battles, different days. The book could have been shorter by 3 or 4 chapters with editing and produced a satisfactory story.
July 30, 2023
So much repetition. Need a break to decide if I want to continue this series.
November 8, 2023
This was an excellent follow up to Assassin.
In this novel, the Hunter takes on the persona of Hardwell. While in this guise, he begins to gain an understanding, respect, and appreciation for the bonds of friendship and love.
However, the gruesome violence and power that we loved in Assassin, is also seen throughout this novel.
We have intrigues and betrayals, and interesting plot twists that keep the reader guessing what is happening and what is coming next.
The pacing and storyline are both immersive and enjoyable.
The combat is brutal and intense, while keeping the reader engaged and invested.
Additionally, some of the curtain is peeled back on the Hunter's history, memory loss, and past experiences.
I am excited to see where this story goes and learn more about the Hunter and see if my personal assumptions about the providence of one of the characters is correct, close, or way off the mark.
I will be diving straight into Slayer and can't wait to see what new challenges, surprises and Abiarazi await the Hunter.
In this novel, the Hunter takes on the persona of Hardwell. While in this guise, he begins to gain an understanding, respect, and appreciation for the bonds of friendship and love.
However, the gruesome violence and power that we loved in Assassin, is also seen throughout this novel.
We have intrigues and betrayals, and interesting plot twists that keep the reader guessing what is happening and what is coming next.
The pacing and storyline are both immersive and enjoyable.
The combat is brutal and intense, while keeping the reader engaged and invested.
Additionally, some of the curtain is peeled back on the Hunter's history, memory loss, and past experiences.
I am excited to see where this story goes and learn more about the Hunter and see if my personal assumptions about the providence of one of the characters is correct, close, or way off the mark.
I will be diving straight into Slayer and can't wait to see what new challenges, surprises and Abiarazi await the Hunter.
August 19, 2025
Dark - Descriptive - Emotionally Gripping - Intense Action
Andy Peloquin writes in a way that scratches my brain just right. His descriptions of action, settings, and characters are detailed and immersive. It allows me to ground myself in the world of the Hunter, an expansive world with a long complicated history.
We get some back story for the Hunter, which left me with more questions than it answered. I don’t mind this though, because his past and who he had been is just one of the many plots moving this story forward. The glimpses into his past keep me curious and wanting to hop into the next book!
I was on the edge of my seat so often! Everyone was dying. No one is safe in these books. At every pinch point I was ready to have my heart ripped out. I needed a Valium.
The relationship between Hailen really shows us the Hunters mentality. He isn’t a step dad, he is the dad who stepped up.
Andy Peloquin writes in a way that scratches my brain just right. His descriptions of action, settings, and characters are detailed and immersive. It allows me to ground myself in the world of the Hunter, an expansive world with a long complicated history.
We get some back story for the Hunter, which left me with more questions than it answered. I don’t mind this though, because his past and who he had been is just one of the many plots moving this story forward. The glimpses into his past keep me curious and wanting to hop into the next book!
I was on the edge of my seat so often! Everyone was dying. No one is safe in these books. At every pinch point I was ready to have my heart ripped out. I needed a Valium.
The relationship between Hailen really shows us the Hunters mentality. He isn’t a step dad, he is the dad who stepped up.
September 22, 2024
Reread
Because of an oath made without a lot of clear thinking the Hunter is forced to travel outside his city to protect a child. This cause is not as easy as it sounds.
There are multiple dangers involved which means there is a lot of violent action that can be quite dark. He is also suffering dreams of an unknown woman as well as pressure from his dagger to kill more.
As the journey continues, the Hunter seems to get more humane, not quite as quick to kill and actually sort of makes friends. It is a learning experience all around.
Again, this is a long book with the great action, characters and story. The more the book goes on the more you want to know.
I found it a quicker read this time around and loved every minute.
This is a great series.
Because of an oath made without a lot of clear thinking the Hunter is forced to travel outside his city to protect a child. This cause is not as easy as it sounds.
There are multiple dangers involved which means there is a lot of violent action that can be quite dark. He is also suffering dreams of an unknown woman as well as pressure from his dagger to kill more.
As the journey continues, the Hunter seems to get more humane, not quite as quick to kill and actually sort of makes friends. It is a learning experience all around.
Again, this is a long book with the great action, characters and story. The more the book goes on the more you want to know.
I found it a quicker read this time around and loved every minute.
This is a great series.
March 5, 2023
Dark fantasy tale of The Hunter, demon-spawned master assassin
Book Two moves the series forward to a new set of promised adventures in the next book. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but it's best to start in order. I see the Hunter as a Solomon Kane figure, I imagine him as James Purefoy in the SK film. The writing shows the influence of RE Howard, Lynn Flewelling, and the Elric of Melnibone character and Dormamu from the Marvel film featuring Benedict Cumberbatch. I read this novel on my Amazon Kindle HD 10 Fire Tablet.
Book Two moves the series forward to a new set of promised adventures in the next book. Each book can be read as a stand-alone but it's best to start in order. I see the Hunter as a Solomon Kane figure, I imagine him as James Purefoy in the SK film. The writing shows the influence of RE Howard, Lynn Flewelling, and the Elric of Melnibone character and Dormamu from the Marvel film featuring Benedict Cumberbatch. I read this novel on my Amazon Kindle HD 10 Fire Tablet.
December 1, 2021
Give it a read
I must say that this was a fine read. I sure as hell do anything to help the Hunter. I do it all just to be by his side. The read follows from page to page and keeps you on the edge of your set. He really gets himself into a lot of trouble. The only thing I found upsetting is that the writer did have a tendency to repeat himself an the telling. Other than that it was "ONE HELL OF A DAMN FINE READ"!!!!!
I must say that this was a fine read. I sure as hell do anything to help the Hunter. I do it all just to be by his side. The read follows from page to page and keeps you on the edge of your set. He really gets himself into a lot of trouble. The only thing I found upsetting is that the writer did have a tendency to repeat himself an the telling. Other than that it was "ONE HELL OF A DAMN FINE READ"!!!!!
October 28, 2022
I was not as impressed with this book as I was with the first one. That being said, I am still looking forward to the next one. I did really like this one. I was just not as impressed as I was with the first one.
September 13, 2025
Goddamn, the Hunter really got on my nerves this book, like how are you gonna make the same mistake over and over and over again?? He needs to stop trying so hard to be good or to prove that his demon blood doesn't make him wholly evil. BRO JUST BE WHO YOU ARE!! Too many times has he made a decision in an attempt to be good and merciful and then said decision comes back and (deservedly) bites him in the ass. I get that he hates the demon voice in his head, I do, I hate it too, but that doesn't mean he needs to be making dumbass decisions JUST to spite that voice and convince himself there's some goodness in him. Where has his intelligence gone? It seems to have fled him after seeing the trainwreck that is his mind. Buddy I like you but if you don't pull yourself together and stop constantly failing and making stupid mistakes, I'm gonna stop reading this series.
Also if I have to see him lose one more fight I'm going to blow a gasket. It's obviously important for an author to write a 3 dimensional character that has ups and downs and successes and failures to give the character depth and make them feel more real but this is excessive, my man is practically losing every important fight he's ever in or he only wins by sheer luck. Plot armor is legitimately struggling to keep this man alive, it doesn't even really seem like it's trying to, honestly I think it might be actively working against him.
Side note: the first 400ish pages of this book were an absolute drag. There was almost no main plot action and it was just chapters and chapters of the Hunter arguing with the demon in his mind and being in utter emotional turmoil broken up by small scenes of fighting or random insignicant stuff. It wasn't until the story caught up with where we started in the prologue that the real action began and it got interesting then the last half of the book was a whirlwind. I'll admit the second half was great but really? HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF MEANINGLESS DOGWATER?! I'm not saying that exploring the Hunter's emotions and stuff isn't important, it is very important for his character development, but it was genuinely overpowering the main storyline and that's just not good.
Ihated loved this and I'm gonna read the next one.
Also if I have to see him lose one more fight I'm going to blow a gasket. It's obviously important for an author to write a 3 dimensional character that has ups and downs and successes and failures to give the character depth and make them feel more real but this is excessive, my man is practically losing every important fight he's ever in or he only wins by sheer luck. Plot armor is legitimately struggling to keep this man alive, it doesn't even really seem like it's trying to, honestly I think it might be actively working against him.
Side note: the first 400ish pages of this book were an absolute drag. There was almost no main plot action and it was just chapters and chapters of the Hunter arguing with the demon in his mind and being in utter emotional turmoil broken up by small scenes of fighting or random insignicant stuff. It wasn't until the story caught up with where we started in the prologue that the real action began and it got interesting then the last half of the book was a whirlwind. I'll admit the second half was great but really? HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF MEANINGLESS DOGWATER?! I'm not saying that exploring the Hunter's emotions and stuff isn't important, it is very important for his character development, but it was genuinely overpowering the main storyline and that's just not good.
I
May 30, 2025
Peloquin contrasts the immediate and longer-term moral impact of actions, creating fantasy that is not about good vs evil but about whether it is right to disdain immoral behaviour if it means allowing evil to happen unchallenged.
This novel is the second in the Darkblade series. The past may be revealed beyond this point.
Defeating the three demons who had infiltrated Voramis cost the lives of everyone the Hunter cared about and threw the city into chaos. Determined to keep his promise to protect the young orphan Hailun, the Hunter has fled the city in search of a woman from a fragmentary memory of happiness. However, as those who consider his existence a threat close in, new fragments of memory suggest the vision of a contented past might have been very different, and his demonic legacy howls for him to feed its bloodlust, the Hunter finds it harder and harder to reconcile his promise to Farida to keep Hailun safe and his promise to Hailun not to leave him.
Where the first volume was a fantasy thriller in which the Hunter discovered an evil conspiracy within a city that wanted to use him and claimed his freedom, this volume has the shape of a road trip in which there is an intended destination but some of the challenges to getting there are situations the Hunter happens into rather than obstacles created by someone who is actively seeking to hinder or harm him. However, as with the state troopers/biker gangs/debt collectors/&c. that feature in many road movies, there are also groups who do pursue the hunter—either from the start or from when they encounter him. This combination of running from, seeking toward, and dealing with avoids the sense of the book merely being multiple unconnected things that happen one after another without creating the implied sense the stated goal will be reached that exists in the classic fantasy quest narrative.
In parallel with the physical journey, the Hunter faces a mental one triggered by his discovery that he is a half-demon created centuries ago to fight in a war against the gods, who has had his past taken away. Thus, he is both drawn toward his past, strives toward being a decent person, and must deal with the calls of his demonic side.
Peloquin makes good use of the conflicts between the Hunter’s goals: those who wish to kill or control his kind, so should be killed before they can, are also those who might have the answers he seeks to his past and full abilities, so should be left alive for as long as possible; refusing to be the ruthless killer he is capable of is a victory over his demon side but also leaves Hailun in greater danger. Perhaps the greatest of these is that each kill with Soulhunger, the magical dagger bonded to him, floods him with energy that can purge poisons, heal wounds, and overcome almost any weakness—and so can seem the only way to avoid failure in dire circumstances—but also slightly loosens the bonds preventing the Great Devourer from breaking free of the imprisonment imposed by the gods—so the next kill could doom the world. Thus, rather than a clear choice between the difficult and moral and the immoral but easy, many situations are a struggle between which right is worth doing which wrong.
The Hunter’s situation is further complicated by only having a few vague fragments of his life before Voramis combined with what he has heard about the rest of the world coming from groups who were potentially tainted by the demons’ infiltration and their own desire to use him for their ends; thus, every choice to trust or not is made in the active knowledge that he doesn’t know and could be deceived—a tension that gets greater as new fragments of memory suggest a different interpretation for things he thought he knew.
While the heart of this book is the struggles within the Hunter’s head, the story is filled with fast-paced combat and dangerous situations rather than extended introspective meditations on the nature of existence and morality.
In addition to the challenges it adds to the Hunter’s life, his amnesia means he comes to much of the world as if he has not encountered it before, giving Peloquin a way to describe more of his setting to the reader without the implausibility of people thinking at length things about things they already know.
The denouement resolves the immediate challenges of the journey but leaves broader arcs unresolved and adds new goals. Thus, while this novel does not end on a cliffhanger, it has a strong feel of an intermediate volume in a series.
The Hunter is an engaging protagonist, definitely not a shining paragon but highly sympathetic in his inability to stand by while innocents suffer even if violence will also feed some future evil. His behaviour is marked by a pattern of attempting moderation before finally taking extreme action and dwelling on the same fragments of his past; depending on reader preference, this might feel like a little too much reactivity and repetition, or a powerful evocation of the struggle to be good rather than merely efficient, and the horror of rootlessness.
The supporting cast display complexity and nuance, both creating the sense they are real people who might be good in some areas and flawed in others, and supporting the feeling of tension that comes from the Hunter’s worry he is being manipulated or deceived.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking fantasy about characters facing situations in which there is no clear answer and might be no good answer.
This novel is the second in the Darkblade series. The past may be revealed beyond this point.
Defeating the three demons who had infiltrated Voramis cost the lives of everyone the Hunter cared about and threw the city into chaos. Determined to keep his promise to protect the young orphan Hailun, the Hunter has fled the city in search of a woman from a fragmentary memory of happiness. However, as those who consider his existence a threat close in, new fragments of memory suggest the vision of a contented past might have been very different, and his demonic legacy howls for him to feed its bloodlust, the Hunter finds it harder and harder to reconcile his promise to Farida to keep Hailun safe and his promise to Hailun not to leave him.
Where the first volume was a fantasy thriller in which the Hunter discovered an evil conspiracy within a city that wanted to use him and claimed his freedom, this volume has the shape of a road trip in which there is an intended destination but some of the challenges to getting there are situations the Hunter happens into rather than obstacles created by someone who is actively seeking to hinder or harm him. However, as with the state troopers/biker gangs/debt collectors/&c. that feature in many road movies, there are also groups who do pursue the hunter—either from the start or from when they encounter him. This combination of running from, seeking toward, and dealing with avoids the sense of the book merely being multiple unconnected things that happen one after another without creating the implied sense the stated goal will be reached that exists in the classic fantasy quest narrative.
In parallel with the physical journey, the Hunter faces a mental one triggered by his discovery that he is a half-demon created centuries ago to fight in a war against the gods, who has had his past taken away. Thus, he is both drawn toward his past, strives toward being a decent person, and must deal with the calls of his demonic side.
Peloquin makes good use of the conflicts between the Hunter’s goals: those who wish to kill or control his kind, so should be killed before they can, are also those who might have the answers he seeks to his past and full abilities, so should be left alive for as long as possible; refusing to be the ruthless killer he is capable of is a victory over his demon side but also leaves Hailun in greater danger. Perhaps the greatest of these is that each kill with Soulhunger, the magical dagger bonded to him, floods him with energy that can purge poisons, heal wounds, and overcome almost any weakness—and so can seem the only way to avoid failure in dire circumstances—but also slightly loosens the bonds preventing the Great Devourer from breaking free of the imprisonment imposed by the gods—so the next kill could doom the world. Thus, rather than a clear choice between the difficult and moral and the immoral but easy, many situations are a struggle between which right is worth doing which wrong.
The Hunter’s situation is further complicated by only having a few vague fragments of his life before Voramis combined with what he has heard about the rest of the world coming from groups who were potentially tainted by the demons’ infiltration and their own desire to use him for their ends; thus, every choice to trust or not is made in the active knowledge that he doesn’t know and could be deceived—a tension that gets greater as new fragments of memory suggest a different interpretation for things he thought he knew.
While the heart of this book is the struggles within the Hunter’s head, the story is filled with fast-paced combat and dangerous situations rather than extended introspective meditations on the nature of existence and morality.
In addition to the challenges it adds to the Hunter’s life, his amnesia means he comes to much of the world as if he has not encountered it before, giving Peloquin a way to describe more of his setting to the reader without the implausibility of people thinking at length things about things they already know.
The denouement resolves the immediate challenges of the journey but leaves broader arcs unresolved and adds new goals. Thus, while this novel does not end on a cliffhanger, it has a strong feel of an intermediate volume in a series.
The Hunter is an engaging protagonist, definitely not a shining paragon but highly sympathetic in his inability to stand by while innocents suffer even if violence will also feed some future evil. His behaviour is marked by a pattern of attempting moderation before finally taking extreme action and dwelling on the same fragments of his past; depending on reader preference, this might feel like a little too much reactivity and repetition, or a powerful evocation of the struggle to be good rather than merely efficient, and the horror of rootlessness.
The supporting cast display complexity and nuance, both creating the sense they are real people who might be good in some areas and flawed in others, and supporting the feeling of tension that comes from the Hunter’s worry he is being manipulated or deceived.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking fantasy about characters facing situations in which there is no clear answer and might be no good answer.
March 25, 2022
Still good
Often repetitive but still holds my attention and makes me want to know what happens next. Even though you feel like you know the inevitable conclusion, you still want to know all the unanswered questions and how to get there.
Often repetitive but still holds my attention and makes me want to know what happens next. Even though you feel like you know the inevitable conclusion, you still want to know all the unanswered questions and how to get there.
June 16, 2023
Death dealing badass
A forgotten past. A life filled with staggering violence. Voices within demanding lives & dominance. A newfound sense of connection will forge a new bloody path.
An action packed intense sequel! Ever dark & mysterious in untrustworthy land! Great series.
A forgotten past. A life filled with staggering violence. Voices within demanding lives & dominance. A newfound sense of connection will forge a new bloody path.
An action packed intense sequel! Ever dark & mysterious in untrustworthy land! Great series.
October 2, 2021
The Hunter is my very favourite assassin ever, so maybe my review is biased in that I think this series is awesome and this book in particular takes us away from Voramis and travelling with the Hunter and Hailen across the desert and into many dangerous adventures. Hunter leaves Voramis to protect Hailen and he takes on the role of a protector of the child who is touched by the Illusionist, to honour a promise he made to Farida, the child he loved as his own, and a priest of the beggar god. However hunter is not used to caring for anyone let alone a child like Hailen, naïve and innocent and a non-stop talker who jarred on his nerves. Hunter travelled North in search of the woman from his visions of the past, a past which had mainly been wiped away but were sometimes surfacing slowly. Hunter was also being hassled all the time with the voices in his head, those of soulhunger, his bucelarii blade, and the abiarazi, the demon who dwelt in him always craving for blood and deaths to feed Kharna, the destroyer, their god. He discovered that when in the presence of Hailen the voices were stilled, so hunter benefitted too from their relationship. Yet he still kept trying to foist him off, thinking he would be better off with someone else, but he found out that he was the only one who could defend this special child. The Hunter falls into the hands of the Cambionari, Imperious and the woman of scarves who sought to wipe his memories once again in the name of their god and the hands of Il Seytani and his whirlwind horde, the might of the Advanat desert. This book is heart stopping and edge of the seat reading with very beautiful descriptions of the desert and it's cities. One thing I hated was the hunter's need to be good and act in a humane way because every time this came back to bite him in the arse and other good people lost their lives when he refused to kill but this is what made the reading such a heart stopping read. I cannot wait to read book 3 in this very gripping series.
May 24, 2023
CW: death, gore, violence, some others
The Hunter of Voramis has left Voramis…and he’s not alone. He’s sworn to protect Hailen, and he will, but something is pulling him north. Something that smells like jasmine and honey. His memories are trickling back in, but centuries of lost information don’t just come back easily, especially with a demon and a dagger screaming in your head.
Despite the fact that this book was every bit as bloody and lethal as the last, it somehow felt nowhere near as heavy. Maybe I just knew what to expect, but the impending doom and overarching gloom weren’t nearly as suffocating. As in book 1, Peloquin has taken a character who should, by all rights, be the monster of the story, and has made him horribly, deliciously understandable. Watching the growth and development as the Hunter learns how to interact with a changing world is fascinating, and you come to cherish those moments of light and happiness in the story almost as much as the Hunter himself. Which, of course, makes it all the more devastating for all parties involved when that light is inevitably ripped away right as you settle into it. The Hunter’s having a hell of a time (pun fully intended) and the author’s skill drags you right along with him.
The plot itself is fairly straightforward, with an overarching theme lurking somewhere behind the scenes. I’m 100% certain that lurking bit is going to show up at a highly inconvenient time and wreck everyone’s plans. It’s well-paced, entertaining, and engaging, and I found myself incredibly unwilling to set my book down to do normal, real-life things because I absolutely *had* to know what was going to happen next. The characters are solid, complex beings that feel almost too real. Almost all of them feel 3-dimensional, which is something I haven’t seen in many books. Put all of this over the richly detailed backgrounds and locations, and you’ve got a fantastic addition to a wonderful dark fantasy series. Clear your calendars and add this one to the TBR list; you can thank me later.
The Hunter of Voramis has left Voramis…and he’s not alone. He’s sworn to protect Hailen, and he will, but something is pulling him north. Something that smells like jasmine and honey. His memories are trickling back in, but centuries of lost information don’t just come back easily, especially with a demon and a dagger screaming in your head.
Despite the fact that this book was every bit as bloody and lethal as the last, it somehow felt nowhere near as heavy. Maybe I just knew what to expect, but the impending doom and overarching gloom weren’t nearly as suffocating. As in book 1, Peloquin has taken a character who should, by all rights, be the monster of the story, and has made him horribly, deliciously understandable. Watching the growth and development as the Hunter learns how to interact with a changing world is fascinating, and you come to cherish those moments of light and happiness in the story almost as much as the Hunter himself. Which, of course, makes it all the more devastating for all parties involved when that light is inevitably ripped away right as you settle into it. The Hunter’s having a hell of a time (pun fully intended) and the author’s skill drags you right along with him.
The plot itself is fairly straightforward, with an overarching theme lurking somewhere behind the scenes. I’m 100% certain that lurking bit is going to show up at a highly inconvenient time and wreck everyone’s plans. It’s well-paced, entertaining, and engaging, and I found myself incredibly unwilling to set my book down to do normal, real-life things because I absolutely *had* to know what was going to happen next. The characters are solid, complex beings that feel almost too real. Almost all of them feel 3-dimensional, which is something I haven’t seen in many books. Put all of this over the richly detailed backgrounds and locations, and you’ve got a fantastic addition to a wonderful dark fantasy series. Clear your calendars and add this one to the TBR list; you can thank me later.
October 22, 2021
Andy Peloquin does it again! The Hunter sure doesn’t disappoint. This book is dark with lots of action and blood and gore. The Hunter is a ruthless killer. But he doesn’t love killing. Maybe his demon side does, but his humanity shines through in his care for the poor, weak, and downtrodden of the world. He cares for the people no one else notices. But he has to fight his demon side at every turn in order to protect Hailen, the boy he swore to take care of. What I love about these books is that they are dark and exciting but not completely grim and hopeless, the Hunter has heart and humanity despite being a killing machine. I also love the world Peloquin has created. It is rich with all the sights, sounds, and smells given vivid detail. This series is apparently going to be many books long and I can’t wait for them all to see where the Hunter’s story will go! The Hunter may very well be my favourite assassin, he’s certainly right up there with Durzo Blint! So go ahead everyone, read this now, and thank me later!
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from the author and I’m voluntarily leaving an honest review.
January 5, 2022
Horribly brilliant!
The Hunter, a man (?) known by many names. Actually, he’s a bucellari, half man, half demon but always struggling to be human. A good human who protects the weak. But he is constantly fighting the voice in his mind and the pressure of Soulhunger, his dagger. He exists on very little sleep and the sleep he has is filled with nightmare memories that he cannot access during his waking moments.
Then their is Hailen, an eight year old orphan boy who he was chosen to protect by the ghost of a little girl, Farida, and a dying priest. This boy is special and Hunter comes to need him as much as Hailen needs him.
The wonderful world building takes you deeply into this story. You feel what Hunter feels and see the horror and the beauty of his life. You have to wonder how you would stay sane under the burden that Hunter Carrie’s. The descriptions of the city of Aghzaret and the desert camp. The caravan and the people that Hunter tried to protect.
It’s difficult to do justice to such a book. I can only say that this is epic fantasy that stands with the best.
The Hunter, a man (?) known by many names. Actually, he’s a bucellari, half man, half demon but always struggling to be human. A good human who protects the weak. But he is constantly fighting the voice in his mind and the pressure of Soulhunger, his dagger. He exists on very little sleep and the sleep he has is filled with nightmare memories that he cannot access during his waking moments.
Then their is Hailen, an eight year old orphan boy who he was chosen to protect by the ghost of a little girl, Farida, and a dying priest. This boy is special and Hunter comes to need him as much as Hailen needs him.
The wonderful world building takes you deeply into this story. You feel what Hunter feels and see the horror and the beauty of his life. You have to wonder how you would stay sane under the burden that Hunter Carrie’s. The descriptions of the city of Aghzaret and the desert camp. The caravan and the people that Hunter tried to protect.
It’s difficult to do justice to such a book. I can only say that this is epic fantasy that stands with the best.
February 10, 2025
Read chapter one and never bothered to read the next three words in the next chapter. Set the book down for almost a year because it seemed to me the protagonist was almost always on the brink of death after every fight. The first half of the book was extremely slow and I was questioning whether or not I wanted to continue reading even though I love the setting and world building that has been established so far. I’m glad I continued because once the caravan was raided the book sucked me in and I was reading with every spare minute I had. Il Seytani was a very well written antagonist and genuinely made me loathe him and his men. I was very eager to read their of their demise. Finding out more about The Hunter’s past was very satisfying to find out about even though it was tucked away in the second half of the book with all the action.
All in all, I’m glad I decided to finish the book but I feel like I could’ve skipped the first half and not really missed anything. Hoping the next book doesn’t follow the same formula of as this and is better paced. As mentioned earlier, the world building is awesome and I’m intrigued to find out more about it and The Hunter & Hailen.
All in all, I’m glad I decided to finish the book but I feel like I could’ve skipped the first half and not really missed anything. Hoping the next book doesn’t follow the same formula of as this and is better paced. As mentioned earlier, the world building is awesome and I’m intrigued to find out more about it and The Hunter & Hailen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2025
Long!
Honestly, I skimmed most of this, and it still took me 4 days to read it.
While this writing style fails to hold my attention well, the story, when it stays on track, is really good. I didn't skim it because it's awful, I skimmed it because it's so repetitive with circular thinking, which happens regularly.
Realistically, this book could have had a good 20% chopped out, and the pacing would have improved immensely.
I'm not overly fond of the back and forth with the inner demon. It's the same old same old every time, and you learn little from it. Also, it seems to hinder the Hunter in the midst of battle, which kind of seems at odds with its desires to achieve a bloodbath.
I'm not a fan of the structure. The battles feel empty to me. This whole thing reads as if there's another narrator alongside the author, which interrupts my immersion. This makes it easy for me to put down. I'm kept outside the read rather than pulled into it. But that's a personal preference. I know lots of people enjoy this style.
So, while I'm not really invested, this is a very good dark fantasy read that fantasy lovers would likely enjoy.
Honestly, I skimmed most of this, and it still took me 4 days to read it.
While this writing style fails to hold my attention well, the story, when it stays on track, is really good. I didn't skim it because it's awful, I skimmed it because it's so repetitive with circular thinking, which happens regularly.
Realistically, this book could have had a good 20% chopped out, and the pacing would have improved immensely.
I'm not overly fond of the back and forth with the inner demon. It's the same old same old every time, and you learn little from it. Also, it seems to hinder the Hunter in the midst of battle, which kind of seems at odds with its desires to achieve a bloodbath.
I'm not a fan of the structure. The battles feel empty to me. This whole thing reads as if there's another narrator alongside the author, which interrupts my immersion. This makes it easy for me to put down. I'm kept outside the read rather than pulled into it. But that's a personal preference. I know lots of people enjoy this style.
So, while I'm not really invested, this is a very good dark fantasy read that fantasy lovers would likely enjoy.
December 4, 2021
I was tempted to give this book 3 stars instead of 4, however the last 40% of the book saved it in my opinion. To start with, this book is not as good as the first one. Period. It seemed like almost half of this book wasted time on the main character going back and forth, back and forth. It grew tiresome very quickly. Further more I feel like the countless chapters spent on travel, could gave been put to better use advancing the plot more. And finally my biggest gripe with this book is the indecision
of the MC. It just got annoying and tedious. I found myself, several times, just wishing I could shout at the main character to actually make a decision, instead of having a boring and repetitive internal monologue. But like I said the last 40% or so of this book helped redeem it in my eyes. All I can hope for is that book 3 portrays the MC as a more decisive and focused person.
of the MC. It just got annoying and tedious. I found myself, several times, just wishing I could shout at the main character to actually make a decision, instead of having a boring and repetitive internal monologue. But like I said the last 40% or so of this book helped redeem it in my eyes. All I can hope for is that book 3 portrays the MC as a more decisive and focused person.
August 13, 2023
Hunter is back and setting off on a journey that might twist lead to the answers about his forgotten past. But he also must protect a young boy whose care was entrusted to him along the way. Which is not nearly as easy for him as you might think since he has just lost pretty much everyone he has allowed himself to care for all at once and is hesitant to start caring again. I love both learning more about his past and seeing him slowly becoming more human as he is no longer pretty much separated from other people by choice. Putting him and the, Halien, boy he is charged with protecting, in a caravan where there isn't a lot of space to get away from everyone moves that second part along nicely. I also like what we have learned of Halien so far and can't wait to learn more about his full destiny.
July 22, 2025
Things are moving from the smaller, personal scale to epic really fast! This action-packed second instalment following the Hunter, half-demon assassin, in his quest to find answers about his forgotten past while keeping the extraordinary boy, Hailen, safe (or at least as safe as he is able) certainly kept me intrigued and turning those pages.
The hints for the wider worldbuilding and the unfolding recollections of a past when gods and demons roamed the world are definitely tantalising, and have me curious to not only find out what the Hunter and Hailen will get up to next but also equally driven to know more about the Hunter’s past.
While the opening scene, which is out of chronological order didn’t work for me, the rest of the book is structured well and kept me intrigued from start to finish.
The hints for the wider worldbuilding and the unfolding recollections of a past when gods and demons roamed the world are definitely tantalising, and have me curious to not only find out what the Hunter and Hailen will get up to next but also equally driven to know more about the Hunter’s past.
While the opening scene, which is out of chronological order didn’t work for me, the rest of the book is structured well and kept me intrigued from start to finish.
September 26, 2021
This new volume of the adventures of the Hunter of Voramis is as action-packed as anything I've read. There is not a dull moment as the Hunter races against time to save the child who has come to mean so much to him. As the demon and the human battle for supremacy in his nature, his ultimate redemption is foreshadowed in his love, although he does not yet recognise it as this, for the child - yet, the child himself has undergone a strange transformation.
Younger readers may take this series as a chain of swashbuckling adventures, yet to me it is a dark and dreamy voyage of self-actualisation, centring around the Hunter's quest to redeem himself and stand in the light. Seen in either light, though, it is unputdownable.
Younger readers may take this series as a chain of swashbuckling adventures, yet to me it is a dark and dreamy voyage of self-actualisation, centring around the Hunter's quest to redeem himself and stand in the light. Seen in either light, though, it is unputdownable.
December 12, 2021
Compelling, brutal and interesting
Book 2 felt heavier than book one. The stakes are clearly rising and the story keeps getting more interesting.
My lone criticism is that, at times it felt as if the author lost “touch” with who the Hunter is. Some of the fight scenes ( in the palace for example)felt clunky and repetitive. The hunter went from a brilliant assassin and master swordsman with intricate plans and thoughts to almost a “thug”. He felt dumbed down at times. Unable to connect dots when people are explaining things. Spoiler alert: for example he has a memory of being taught how to defeat the voices in his head… then proceeded to have an argument with his “inner demon” about ever being able to find peace from it? His character felt like a “dull blade” at times.
Overall a very good read. Looking forward to book (3)!
Book 2 felt heavier than book one. The stakes are clearly rising and the story keeps getting more interesting.
My lone criticism is that, at times it felt as if the author lost “touch” with who the Hunter is. Some of the fight scenes ( in the palace for example)felt clunky and repetitive. The hunter went from a brilliant assassin and master swordsman with intricate plans and thoughts to almost a “thug”. He felt dumbed down at times. Unable to connect dots when people are explaining things. Spoiler alert: for example he has a memory of being taught how to defeat the voices in his head… then proceeded to have an argument with his “inner demon” about ever being able to find peace from it? His character felt like a “dull blade” at times.
Overall a very good read. Looking forward to book (3)!
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