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A Tale of the Sazi #1
Hunter's Moon
HER ONLY OPTION IS DEATHSue Quentin has reached the end of her rope-she's desperate, and there's only one way out. Her plan doesn't include falling for Tony, the mysterious hit man she hires. He listens when she speaks and somehow convinces her that maybe her problems aren't entirely insurmountable. He even thinks her little potbelly is sexy. So he's a werewolf--everyone has flaws!Sue enjoys being coddled by Tony, and, for his part, Tony likes the way Sue moans when he touches her. She begins to think she and Tony might have a shot at a future together, despite his unorthodox profession . . . and even though she doesn't know his real name.But when Tony's enemies-not all of whom are fully human-decide Sue makes a perfect target, will Tony risk letting his darker side out during the day to save her?At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Paperback
First published December 12, 2004
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About the author
C.T. Adams
34 books305 followersAlso known as Cat Adams, a dual-partnership writing team with Cathy Clamp.
She spent seventeen years in the Denver metro area and now resides in Texas with a large dog and pet cats. Office work provided a living while she pursued the goal of becoming a novelist. Forming the partnership with Cathy Clamp was the catalyst that led to publication and the two have enjoyed a long and fruitful collaboration, with two series published within the Tor Paranormal Romance line: The Sazi, and the Kate Reilly/Thrall books. In addition they have authored stand-alone novels and participated in several anthologies. Working both as a team with Cathy and individually, Cie plans to be involved in writing novels for years to come.
She spent seventeen years in the Denver metro area and now resides in Texas with a large dog and pet cats. Office work provided a living while she pursued the goal of becoming a novelist. Forming the partnership with Cathy Clamp was the catalyst that led to publication and the two have enjoyed a long and fruitful collaboration, with two series published within the Tor Paranormal Romance line: The Sazi, and the Kate Reilly/Thrall books. In addition they have authored stand-alone novels and participated in several anthologies. Working both as a team with Cathy and individually, Cie plans to be involved in writing novels for years to come.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
April 11, 2007
I only wish it were possible to give a book less than one star.
The one where the lottery-winning woman hires a hitman to kill ... her. Plus he's a werewolf. With Mob connections.
Perfectly, absolutely awful. I wish I could remember who recommended this dreck to me, so I could go scold them.
The premise (the first sentence above) is the only interesting thing about it. The heroine has, as far as I can tell, no redeeming characteristics; she's a weepy, not-too-intelligent pushover. And the cliches are piled knee-deep. He's a werewolf! The two of them can feel one another's feelings! She's a Size 14 (the book actually specifies this size) and he finds this attractive, so you, the reader, are also attractive!
Her family ... think of Eleanor's family in "The Haunting" and then imagine bumping everything up until it's utterly unrealistically over-the-top -- the mother is captured on film breaking her own hip and muttering 'Let's see her leave me behind now.'
Oh, and in the last chapter (I was skimming by then, mostly to see just how shameless they would be), he's brought into some great world of shapeshifters (introducing many sequels, no doubt); she fakes her own death and sees how her family is faithless to the last; I think he may infect her with werewolfism; and he surprises her with a marriage certificate in the box with the papers for her new identity.
The first sex scene is explicit but not sexy (and apparently women in this universe don't have clits); the rest sort of fade to black with a little purple emotion.
No redeeming features whatsoever.
The one where the lottery-winning woman hires a hitman to kill ... her. Plus he's a werewolf. With Mob connections.
Perfectly, absolutely awful. I wish I could remember who recommended this dreck to me, so I could go scold them.
The premise (the first sentence above) is the only interesting thing about it. The heroine has, as far as I can tell, no redeeming characteristics; she's a weepy, not-too-intelligent pushover. And the cliches are piled knee-deep. He's a werewolf! The two of them can feel one another's feelings! She's a Size 14 (the book actually specifies this size) and he finds this attractive, so you, the reader, are also attractive!
Her family ... think of Eleanor's family in "The Haunting" and then imagine bumping everything up until it's utterly unrealistically over-the-top -- the mother is captured on film breaking her own hip and muttering 'Let's see her leave me behind now.'
Oh, and in the last chapter (I was skimming by then, mostly to see just how shameless they would be), he's brought into some great world of shapeshifters (introducing many sequels, no doubt); she fakes her own death and sees how her family is faithless to the last; I think he may infect her with werewolfism; and he surprises her with a marriage certificate in the box with the papers for her new identity.
The first sex scene is explicit but not sexy (and apparently women in this universe don't have clits); the rest sort of fade to black with a little purple emotion.
No redeeming features whatsoever.
April 2, 2008
The day started out like any other for Tony Giodone. Tony is an assassin for hire and an adopted member of the Family, though he prefers to describe himself as a businessman who works the wrong side of the street. Today, Tony is meeting a client at Nick's Tavern.
At first, the meeting with the client, Suzi (Sue) Quentin, is pretty standard. That is, until Sue mentions that the hit is on herself. The reason for her suicide by hit man, is that she is being terrorized by her sisters Bekki and Mitzi and her mother Myra. Far from kind and loving, these three women treat Sue like a servant and make every effort to ruin her career and love life. Sue feels the only way out of this situation is death. Tony is both perplexed and intrigued by this woman.
Hunter's Moon has a little bit of something for everyone. There's romance. There's comedy. There's action, and there's intrigue. These aspects intermeshed to create a very entertaining action filled storyline. By far, however, the best part of this book is the characters themselves. How often does one read about a teenage assassin who still plays video games and is shy with girls but was incarcerated for his first murder conviction at age six; a mother who throws herself down the stairs so that her daughter has to take care of her; or a hit man who just happens to be a werewolf? These characters are highly original, hilarious, entertaining, and add a little extra flare to the story.
At first, the meeting with the client, Suzi (Sue) Quentin, is pretty standard. That is, until Sue mentions that the hit is on herself. The reason for her suicide by hit man, is that she is being terrorized by her sisters Bekki and Mitzi and her mother Myra. Far from kind and loving, these three women treat Sue like a servant and make every effort to ruin her career and love life. Sue feels the only way out of this situation is death. Tony is both perplexed and intrigued by this woman.
Hunter's Moon has a little bit of something for everyone. There's romance. There's comedy. There's action, and there's intrigue. These aspects intermeshed to create a very entertaining action filled storyline. By far, however, the best part of this book is the characters themselves. How often does one read about a teenage assassin who still plays video games and is shy with girls but was incarcerated for his first murder conviction at age six; a mother who throws herself down the stairs so that her daughter has to take care of her; or a hit man who just happens to be a werewolf? These characters are highly original, hilarious, entertaining, and add a little extra flare to the story.
June 21, 2017
Well this book was a perfect example of a story working for many but not for others. I really liked it. All from the guy's POV in an MF romance which is unusual. Well written, funny, fast-paced and if there were too many mentions of what he could smell, so what, the story was everything. Yes, the heroine was weak - for much of the story, yes, she let her family walk all over her BUT sometimes that happen, folks, it made the story more interesting for me. Not every heroine has to be kick-ass. I devoured this on one sun-drenched day and it was one of the best shifter romances I've read for ages.
December 20, 2015
3.5 stars. Just as good as when I read it 10 years ago. I was still new to werewolf stories back then so things that bothered me then I didn't even blink at it now. I have an urge to go back and reread the series, especially Tony's books.
August 1, 2009
I almost never decide not to finish a book--especially a mere 300 pager like this one. Sometimes I'll lose interest and--oops--it's due back at the library, and I never get around to renewing it again. I decided to abandon this book around halfway through.
I wanted to like it. I'm predisposed to love books about werewolves and shapeshifters, and Hunter's Moon seemed original. I haven't yet encountered a paranormal romance with a Mafia-connected assassin as the hero and a suicidal depressive as the heroine. Turns out there may be a good reason for this.
The two main characters were utterly disagreeable. The werewolf assassin hero doesn't seem to have much of a problem killing people for money--hey, he's not the one who wants them dead, he's just doing his job. He doesn't see anything wrong with some kid starting his assassin career at 6; what could be wrong with that--if he wasn't a killer for hire, he'd be a serial killer. The most redeeming characteristic of the hero is that he doesn't want to eat people. Be still my beating heart.
The heroine isn't much better. In theory, she is suicidal due to massive family pressures, not much love from her family, and a way overdeveloped guilt complex. I say "in theory," because the book didn't convince me that she was actually suicidal. She seemed too interested in staying alive and screwing for someone depressed enough to hire a serial killer to off her. Despite her supposed pathetic predicament, I couldn't find anything to like about her, either. If her guilt complex was due to feelings of compassion for others, she would be more sympathetic, but her guilt feelings seem to be all about not feeling bad about herself. She doesn't seem to care at all about anyone else.
So I'm done with this book. Life is too short to spend on characters that I would never want to meet in real life.
I wanted to like it. I'm predisposed to love books about werewolves and shapeshifters, and Hunter's Moon seemed original. I haven't yet encountered a paranormal romance with a Mafia-connected assassin as the hero and a suicidal depressive as the heroine. Turns out there may be a good reason for this.
The two main characters were utterly disagreeable. The werewolf assassin hero doesn't seem to have much of a problem killing people for money--hey, he's not the one who wants them dead, he's just doing his job. He doesn't see anything wrong with some kid starting his assassin career at 6; what could be wrong with that--if he wasn't a killer for hire, he'd be a serial killer. The most redeeming characteristic of the hero is that he doesn't want to eat people. Be still my beating heart.
The heroine isn't much better. In theory, she is suicidal due to massive family pressures, not much love from her family, and a way overdeveloped guilt complex. I say "in theory," because the book didn't convince me that she was actually suicidal. She seemed too interested in staying alive and screwing for someone depressed enough to hire a serial killer to off her. Despite her supposed pathetic predicament, I couldn't find anything to like about her, either. If her guilt complex was due to feelings of compassion for others, she would be more sympathetic, but her guilt feelings seem to be all about not feeling bad about herself. She doesn't seem to care at all about anyone else.
So I'm done with this book. Life is too short to spend on characters that I would never want to meet in real life.
December 23, 2025
Hunter's Moon by C. T. Adams and Cathy Clamp
I loved this book dearly. When it first came out, it was fresh and new, and I have never read something so gritty about the paranormal world. When I recently re-read it, I realized that it would be one of those books that, while not a classic, will become a book that stands the test of time.
The characters are written so vividly, the angst from Sue is so bleak. His job is unpleasant and illegal. Sue's family is horrid. The authors took great pains to show us this. Tony seems so evil and irredeemable, someone we can't quite get our brains wrapped around.
Well, that is because he isn't looking to be redeemed!
It is so darned refreshing to see someone play a bad guy who truly is happy with the way he is and with what he is. Tony being a hitman werewolf, taking money to kill people and extra to rape them, and that is horrifying to us in our insular worlds. However, on the pages of a book, it allows us to live in a world that we've only seen on TV or the movies.
This book allows us to see a hero that is a hero to the ones he loves and respects but has a life beyond that, which is his job. Sue can seem weak and whiney, but she shows her backbone soon enough.
The story is mesmerizing, the characters are realistic, it is easy to suspend your disbelief, and as much as this book seems to want to shy away from the romantic aspect, the love Tony and Sue eventually have somehow shows through
I loved this book dearly. When it first came out, it was fresh and new, and I have never read something so gritty about the paranormal world. When I recently re-read it, I realized that it would be one of those books that, while not a classic, will become a book that stands the test of time.
The characters are written so vividly, the angst from Sue is so bleak. His job is unpleasant and illegal. Sue's family is horrid. The authors took great pains to show us this. Tony seems so evil and irredeemable, someone we can't quite get our brains wrapped around.
Well, that is because he isn't looking to be redeemed!
It is so darned refreshing to see someone play a bad guy who truly is happy with the way he is and with what he is. Tony being a hitman werewolf, taking money to kill people and extra to rape them, and that is horrifying to us in our insular worlds. However, on the pages of a book, it allows us to live in a world that we've only seen on TV or the movies.
This book allows us to see a hero that is a hero to the ones he loves and respects but has a life beyond that, which is his job. Sue can seem weak and whiney, but she shows her backbone soon enough.
The story is mesmerizing, the characters are realistic, it is easy to suspend your disbelief, and as much as this book seems to want to shy away from the romantic aspect, the love Tony and Sue eventually have somehow shows through
September 16, 2009
One of the things I love the most about this book is the fact that the narrator is the hero instead of the heroine. He is flawed, as are all interesting heroes, but stands firm on his beliefs and values, even when they clash with the beliefs and values of the heroine. He doesn't change to please her, nor she him, instead, circumstances mold them both.
The sex is incredibly hot, but there are actually very few sex scenes in the book. Instead, it's crammed full of adventure and fantastic secondary characters. Even Sue's family, who are odious, are fun to read and hate.
I'm really glad this book held up so well on a second read. I'm about to dive into the rest of the series again to see if that holds true for all of them.
The sex is incredibly hot, but there are actually very few sex scenes in the book. Instead, it's crammed full of adventure and fantastic secondary characters. Even Sue's family, who are odious, are fun to read and hate.
I'm really glad this book held up so well on a second read. I'm about to dive into the rest of the series again to see if that holds true for all of them.
July 4, 2015
This was a story that was quite different than I was expecting to find. Unlike most times when I go to my local library, I only had a couple books on my list, because I wanted to just pick a couple random books to try out, and I grabbed this book up. I was intrigued by the set up, the heroine going to the hero to get him to kill her. I didn’t know why until I started reading, and when you learn I didn’t know why it was so necessary she wanted to kill herself, but her family is pretty crazy (literally), I mean some of the actions her mothers takes is outrageous and she should be put in a mental hospital, just so she can have some attention. The whole suicide over idiotic family members, is why my rating is lower than a 5, because I just couldn’t understand that her reasons were valid enough, but if I had a family like this one, I might think differently. I think what I admired most about this story was seeing how the hero and heroine develop a relationship with each other. This story was different in the way that it was from the hero’s POV. That was quite different, it is quite rare to see that. At times it threw me off, because I am used to reading third person or if its in 1st person its from the heroine’s POV. The paranormal element in this story is there, but it isn’t super strong like I was expecting it to be. In fact, in many ways it seemed to lean more toward a contemporary romance than a paranormal one. Both characters had their own unique set of handling situations, and boy was Tony great in how he handles Sue. He is patient and understanding, but at the same times doesn’t allow her to lean on him to much for help with her family, he tries to make her realize that she has to stand up to them. Toward the later half of the story, the plot accelerates and adds a bit of suspense/mystery aspects to the mix and it really gets intense. The ending was better than I expected, I was hoping it wouldn’t be a huge cliffhanger since the next book involves this pair too. But it was a short and sweet ending, I did feel it was a bit too abrupt for my tastes, but I am thinking it might have been done on purpose. But overall a fantastic story that kept me fascinated from page one, and now I can’t wait to get hold of book 2!!
July 10, 2010
"Whaaaaa..... I won the lottery and now my life sux! I have no control of my life so I might as well die! I can not take control of my life even enough to do the job myself so will you kill me please Mr. hit-man?"..... (internal dialog) "I am a werewolf now with an enhanced sense of smell... oh the smells, the smells the smells!!!" Ugh! Shut up! I can't take it anymore! Couldn't even finish!
May 13, 2008
there's basically a spectrum for these things classified as "paranormal romance" regarding quality/depth of plot. some are basically gritty modern urban fantasy novels, just with their sex scenes written more often and more juicy; others are standard harlequin romances where the main characters just happen to be not entirely human. i strongly prefer the former, this book is most definitely the latter.
written in first-person POV of the male character, a hitman who survived a werewolf attack some year or so before the story takes place, the book never manages to make you believe in the narrator. just stating "i'm billy bad-ass" every so often does not a hard-bitten realist make. the worst offense, though, is the unlikably weaky & whiny female main character. she's hired our narrator to kill her, since she can't stand the overbearing demands of her family. i kid you not, the most conflicty thing these authors came up with was insensitive inlaws dropping the kids off for a weekend. the hitman provides her with earth-shattering all-day sex and appointments with his friend the shrink.
in the very last few pages, an organized council of shapeshifters appears to mentor the pack-less werewolf, hinting at a far more interesting and complex world to come in future installations. they might well be worth it. but this one? not so much.
written in first-person POV of the male character, a hitman who survived a werewolf attack some year or so before the story takes place, the book never manages to make you believe in the narrator. just stating "i'm billy bad-ass" every so often does not a hard-bitten realist make. the worst offense, though, is the unlikably weaky & whiny female main character. she's hired our narrator to kill her, since she can't stand the overbearing demands of her family. i kid you not, the most conflicty thing these authors came up with was insensitive inlaws dropping the kids off for a weekend. the hitman provides her with earth-shattering all-day sex and appointments with his friend the shrink.
in the very last few pages, an organized council of shapeshifters appears to mentor the pack-less werewolf, hinting at a far more interesting and complex world to come in future installations. they might well be worth it. but this one? not so much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2008
This book was cheesy, sure, but it seemed okay until toward the end, then all the mob plus werewolf dynamics got out of control. The worst thing? Excessive descriptions of smell. Honestly, how many times did I have to read that the hero smelled "the clove burst of pride" or "the smell of happy tangerines" emanating from our hapless and wimpy heroine? I got it, I got it. He smells emotions. Okay. The other thing? Also, their whole mind-linking thing was a bit overdone too. I think maybe the authors considered doing his part/her part, and then decided it was too complicated, so they made the mind-meld sequences instead. I think I'll try another one of these. It was amateurish, but it held promise.
August 1, 2021
now have this in ebook format, supposedly the anniversary edition with the new cover image...
it is actually a badly scanned edition of the original paperback. Why, you ask, is it badly scanned? no editing! random ADAMs or CLAMP or HUNTER'S MOON, even PAGE # just stuck in the text, god-awful typos due to the scanning (rn showing up as m, stuff like that)
I highlighted most of them to send to amazon, but goodness only knows if they'll actually edit and correct the errors...
it is actually a badly scanned edition of the original paperback. Why, you ask, is it badly scanned? no editing! random ADAMs or CLAMP or HUNTER'S MOON, even PAGE # just stuck in the text, god-awful typos due to the scanning (rn showing up as m, stuff like that)
I highlighted most of them to send to amazon, but goodness only knows if they'll actually edit and correct the errors...
March 1, 2009
death is not the only way to solve your problems but on some cases yes...
August 25, 2010
Any book that can keep my interest so well that I can't put it down even to eat, gets 5 stars! I'll definitely be reading the rest of this series!
January 15, 2025
แม็กซ์ไม่ชอบหนังสือที่เขียนโดยคนแต่งสองคนเท่าไหรค่ะ เพราะเท่าที่อ่านมาในชีวิตก็ไม่รู้สึกว่ามีใครเขียนดี อ่านไปมักจะรู้สึกว่าภาษามันโดดชอบกล ทำให้ไม่แม้กระทั่งจะชายตาแลเรื่อง Hunter's Moon ของ C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp เลยแม้แต่น้อย
แต่แล้วรีวิวอันนึง (ที่ตอนนี้จำบ่ได้แล้วว่าอ่านเจอที่ไหน) ทำให้แม็กซ์เกิดความรู้สึกอยาก่อานขึ้นมาตะหงิด ก็แหมพล็อตเรื่องที่พระเอกมีอาชีพเป็นนักฆ่าที่บังเอิญถูกเหยื่อคนนึงซึ่ง เป็นมนุษย์หมาป่ากัด ทำให้ติดเชื้อกลายเป็นหมาป่าไปอีกคน แล้วถูกนางเอกจ้างให้มาฆ่าตัวเธอเอง ฟังแล้วมันเหมือนหนังในดวงใจของแม็กซ์เรื่องนึงอย่าง Groos Pointe Blank มา (ที่จริงแล้วเหมือนกัน แค่พระเอกเป็นนักฆ่าเท่านั้นเอง)
และ Hunter's Moon ก็กลายเป็นหนึ่งในหนังสือที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดเล่มนึง แต่คงต้องเตือนกันก่อนว่า เรื่องนี้ไม่ใช่สำหรับทุกคน หาคุณชอบเรื่องตลกร้าย และการมองโลกในสายตาที่ใส่แว่นเรย์แบน คุณน่าจะชอบเล่มนี้นะ
โทนี่เป็นมือปืนประจำแก็งค์มาเฟีย และเขามีความลับอันดำมืด นั่นคือทุกคืนพระจันทร์เต็มดวง เขาจะกลายร่างเป็นหมาป่า เขาต้องรับมือกับการเปลี่ยนแปลงอันนี้ตามลำพัง โทนี่ไม่ใช่พระเอกในทุกความหมาย เขาเป็นมือปืนที่รับจ้างฆ่า ไม่ได้เลือกว่าคนที่เขาฆ่าจะต้องเป็นคนชั่วเท่านั้น เขาให้เหตุผลง่าย ๆ ว่า ถ้าเขาไม่ฆ่า คนอื่นก็ต้องฆ่า ถ้าเขาฆ่า อย่างน้อยก็ตายสบายหน่อย ไม่ทรมาน
แล้วยังซูอีกล่ะ สาวน้อยร้อยล้านผู้ถูกล็อตตารี่รางวัลสูงสุดในเมกา ที่มีชีวิตต้องทรมานกะแม่และน้องสาวที่งี่เง่า ซูหาทางออกให้กับชีวิตอันโดดเดี่ยวด้วยการจ้างโทนี่มาฆ่าเธอเอง
แต่สิ่งที่ตัวละครที่เพี้ยนมาก ๆ ทางจิตวิทยาไม่คาดก็คือ พวกเขาจะเติมเต็มกันและกัน และนั่นเป็นสิ่งที่ดีที่สุดของเรื่องนี้
เพราะว่าไม่ใช่เฉพาะคนดีเท่านั้นนี่ที่จะมีความรักได้
ใน Hunter's Moon เป็นเรื่องราวของโทนี่และซู และเพื่อนพ้องนักฆ่าของเขา (แม็กซ์ชอบสก๊อตตี้ นักฆ่าวัยเยาว์ที่ถ้าไม่กลายเป็นนักฆ่า ก็คงต้องเป็นฆาตกรโรคจิตแน่นอน) แต่ในตอนท้ายของเรื่อง เราก็ได้รู้จักกับโลกของซาซี่ หรือโลกของพวกมนุษย์แปลงร่าง เมื่อโทนี่หมาป่านอกเผ่า (เพราะติดเชื้อโดยไม่มีใครรู้ และเขาปิดเรื่องได้ดีมาก) ถูกจัดการให้ไปเข้าร่วมกับหมาป่าจากชิคาโก้
Moon's Web เป็นการเดินทางก้าวตอนมาของโทนี่ กับหมาป่าเผ่าที่ชิคาโก้ แม็กซ์พบว่าหลังจากประสบการณ์อันน่าจดจำและตื่นตาอย่างยิ่งใน HM เล่มนี้น่าผิดหวัง แม้จะเป็นตอนจบอันสมบูรณ์แบบของความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างโทนี่และซู โลกของซาซี่ไม่ได้น่าสนใจ เท่ากับชีวิตนักฆ่าของโทนี่เลย
แต่แม็กซ์ก็ยังอันชุดนี้ต่อ เพราะแม้จะเทียบกับเล่มแรกไม่ได้ มันก็ยังดีกว่าหนังสือแนวพารานอมอลอีกหลายเล่มที่วางขายกันเกลื่อนในท้อง ตลาด
หลังจาก MW แล้ว เรื่องราวก็ไปเยือนตัวละครตัวอื่น ๆ เป็นเรื่องราวของมนุษย์แปลงร่างรูปแบบต่าง ๆ ใน Captive Moon และ Howling Moon ไม่ถึงกับเป็นหนังสือที่น่าจดจำ แต่ก็อ่านไป
ที่เอาซาซี่มาพูดในบลอกวันนี้ เพราะคิดได้ว่ายังไม่เคยพูดถึงโทนี่เลย เขาเป็นตัวละครที่น่าจดจำมากที่สุดที่แม็กซ์เคยได้อ่าน
ชายที่มองโลกด้วยสายตาเย็นชา โหดเหี้ยม แต่ในขณะเดียวกันก็มีแง่มุมและความคิดที่น่าสนใจที่สุด เขาตัวละครแบบที่แม็กซ์อยากอ่าน แต่ไม่อยากจะได้เจอในชีวิตจริง
แต่แล้วรีวิวอันนึง (ที่ตอนนี้จำบ่ได้แล้วว่าอ่านเจอที่ไหน) ทำให้แม็กซ์เกิดความรู้สึกอยาก่อานขึ้นมาตะหงิด ก็แหมพล็อตเรื่องที่พระเอกมีอาชีพเป็นนักฆ่าที่บังเอิญถูกเหยื่อคนนึงซึ่ง เป็นมนุษย์หมาป่ากัด ทำให้ติดเชื้อกลายเป็นหมาป่าไปอีกคน แล้วถูกนางเอกจ้างให้มาฆ่าตัวเธอเอง ฟังแล้วมันเหมือนหนังในดวงใจของแม็กซ์เรื่องนึงอย่าง Groos Pointe Blank มา (ที่จริงแล้วเหมือนกัน แค่พระเอกเป็นนักฆ่าเท่านั้นเอง)
และ Hunter's Moon ก็กลายเป็นหนึ่งในหนังสือที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดเล่มนึง แต่คงต้องเตือนกันก่อนว่า เรื่องนี้ไม่ใช่สำหรับทุกคน หาคุณชอบเรื่องตลกร้าย และการมองโลกในสายตาที่ใส่แว่นเรย์แบน คุณน่าจะชอบเล่มนี้นะ
โทนี่เป็นมือปืนประจำแก็งค์มาเฟีย และเขามีความลับอันดำมืด นั่นคือทุกคืนพระจันทร์เต็มดวง เขาจะกลายร่างเป็นหมาป่า เขาต้องรับมือกับการเปลี่ยนแปลงอันนี้ตามลำพัง โทนี่ไม่ใช่พระเอกในทุกความหมาย เขาเป็นมือปืนที่รับจ้างฆ่า ไม่ได้เลือกว่าคนที่เขาฆ่าจะต้องเป็นคนชั่วเท่านั้น เขาให้เหตุผลง่าย ๆ ว่า ถ้าเขาไม่ฆ่า คนอื่นก็ต้องฆ่า ถ้าเขาฆ่า อย่างน้อยก็ตายสบายหน่อย ไม่ทรมาน
แล้วยังซูอีกล่ะ สาวน้อยร้อยล้านผู้ถูกล็อตตารี่รางวัลสูงสุดในเมกา ที่มีชีวิตต้องทรมานกะแม่และน้องสาวที่งี่เง่า ซูหาทางออกให้กับชีวิตอันโดดเดี่ยวด้วยการจ้างโทนี่มาฆ่าเธอเอง
แต่สิ่งที่ตัวละครที่เพี้ยนมาก ๆ ทางจิตวิทยาไม่คาดก็คือ พวกเขาจะเติมเต็มกันและกัน และนั่นเป็นสิ่งที่ดีที่สุดของเรื่องนี้
เพราะว่าไม่ใช่เฉพาะคนดีเท่านั้นนี่ที่จะมีความรักได้
ใน Hunter's Moon เป็นเรื่องราวของโทนี่และซู และเพื่อนพ้องนักฆ่าของเขา (แม็กซ์ชอบสก๊อตตี้ นักฆ่าวัยเยาว์ที่ถ้าไม่กลายเป็นนักฆ่า ก็คงต้องเป็นฆาตกรโรคจิตแน่นอน) แต่ในตอนท้ายของเรื่อง เราก็ได้รู้จักกับโลกของซาซี่ หรือโลกของพวกมนุษย์แปลงร่าง เมื่อโทนี่หมาป่านอกเผ่า (เพราะติดเชื้อโดยไม่มีใครรู้ และเขาปิดเรื่องได้ดีมาก) ถูกจัดการให้ไปเข้าร่วมกับหมาป่าจากชิคาโก้
Moon's Web เป็นการเดินทางก้าวตอนมาของโทนี่ กับหมาป่าเผ่าที่ชิคาโก้ แม็กซ์พบว่าหลังจากประสบการณ์อันน่าจดจำและตื่นตาอย่างยิ่งใน HM เล่มนี้น่าผิดหวัง แม้จะเป็นตอนจบอันสมบูรณ์แบบของความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างโทนี่และซู โลกของซาซี่ไม่ได้น่าสนใจ เท่ากับชีวิตนักฆ่าของโทนี่เลย
แต่แม็กซ์ก็ยังอันชุดนี้ต่อ เพราะแม้จะเทียบกับเล่มแรกไม่ได้ มันก็ยังดีกว่าหนังสือแนวพารานอมอลอีกหลายเล่มที่วางขายกันเกลื่อนในท้อง ตลาด
หลังจาก MW แล้ว เรื่องราวก็ไปเยือนตัวละครตัวอื่น ๆ เป็นเรื่องราวของมนุษย์แปลงร่างรูปแบบต่าง ๆ ใน Captive Moon และ Howling Moon ไม่ถึงกับเป็นหนังสือที่น่าจดจำ แต่ก็อ่านไป
ที่เอาซาซี่มาพูดในบลอกวันนี้ เพราะคิดได้ว่ายังไม่เคยพูดถึงโทนี่เลย เขาเป็นตัวละครที่น่าจดจำมากที่สุดที่แม็กซ์เคยได้อ่าน
ชายที่มองโลกด้วยสายตาเย็นชา โหดเหี้ยม แต่ในขณะเดียวกันก็มีแง่มุมและความคิดที่น่าสนใจที่สุด เขาตัวละครแบบที่แม็กซ์อยากอ่าน แต่ไม่อยากจะได้เจอในชีวิตจริง
May 8, 2017
Interesting concept. Sue wants to die, so she hires Tony, an assassin to off her. Told in first person, Tony's POV, also different. What came next was also interesting.
At first I wondered why Sue was a well known face, didn't have to wait long, it's found out in chapter 2. I was a little disappointed in both Sue and Tony. Neither are that sympathetic or likeable. Sue was such a pushover and doormat. Instead of contemplating suicide, there were so many other ways to get away from her dreadful family! Tony is unapologetic for what he does for a living.
What worked for me is the support each gave the other and acceptance for who they were, without changing. I liked that Sue went into therapy. For 2 characters that I didn't like at first, I liked them both by the end and was entertained by their journey.
The "Sazi" are brought up in the last part of the book, could have used more info about them. Good start to a new series. (That's been out for awhile now, but new to me).
At first I wondered why Sue was a well known face, didn't have to wait long, it's found out in chapter 2. I was a little disappointed in both Sue and Tony. Neither are that sympathetic or likeable. Sue was such a pushover and doormat. Instead of contemplating suicide, there were so many other ways to get away from her dreadful family! Tony is unapologetic for what he does for a living.
What worked for me is the support each gave the other and acceptance for who they were, without changing. I liked that Sue went into therapy. For 2 characters that I didn't like at first, I liked them both by the end and was entertained by their journey.
The "Sazi" are brought up in the last part of the book, could have used more info about them. Good start to a new series. (That's been out for awhile now, but new to me).
August 8, 2019
A nice quick read! Tony was an interesting character and the way him and Sue meet was definitely unique. This book was very well written. I loved how the characters grew on each other while still remaining themselves. There was also lots of drama going on in Sue's life. Personally I wish she would have had just a bit of a back bone. But Tony will always be there for her. Tony went from a tough as nails, turns furry once a month, assassin and turned into a love struck mated man who is willing to, and has to, change for the woman he loves. No longer is he willing to kill Sue, rather he wants her to stick up for herself and hoowe to survive. Sue eventually does grow somewhat of a backbone as she sticks it to her family. Overall a great read with a great premise! Cant wait to read the next one!
April 5, 2019
Assassins, werewolves, and the Mafia? This book had a couple of my big buzzwords and yet it ended up falling a little flat for me. There was nothing wrong about it, it just didn't blow my socks off. I will give it props for having a clear and positive discussion breaking down some of the initial negative reactions towards a bisexual character (especially as this book was first published back in 2004 were positive rep for bisexuality was less mainstream from what I remember)
Overall, not a bad book, just kinda middle of the road.
It was however, interesting reading a romance book written in first person from the male love interest.
Overall, not a bad book, just kinda middle of the road.
It was however, interesting reading a romance book written in first person from the male love interest.
January 6, 2022
Paws up for a great series
If you like were-creatures and steamy romance with thrilling action as well as funny moments this series is for you. As unbelievable as it seems both authors created a beautifully articulated world where humans and sazi live side by side but don't know that they do. The rules of the sazi are very strict and yet when someone stumbles on their world from the human side depending on the individual is either eaten for the discovery or (as in Sue's case) accepted within the world thats cloaked in smoke , shadows and mirrors for a very good reason. Id recommend readers picking up the series if you love a good book "run" .
If you like were-creatures and steamy romance with thrilling action as well as funny moments this series is for you. As unbelievable as it seems both authors created a beautifully articulated world where humans and sazi live side by side but don't know that they do. The rules of the sazi are very strict and yet when someone stumbles on their world from the human side depending on the individual is either eaten for the discovery or (as in Sue's case) accepted within the world thats cloaked in smoke , shadows and mirrors for a very good reason. Id recommend readers picking up the series if you love a good book "run" .
January 25, 2025
This is a re-read. I read this, man, I don't even know how long ago now, it must have been at least 10 years, but it was when I was a book junkie and it was one of the first stories I got hooked on. I loved it then, and I love it now. I love Tony's personality, bold and unapologetic and in your face and wild and dangerous. It meshed so well with Sue's more reserved hesitancy. I remember that these two grew and developed over the series, but I don't think I read the last book.
This book definitely questioned my morals, but it would be stranger if it didn't, and the fact that it did, and I was still cheering for the assassin worked tells of the authors' writing abilities.
This book definitely questioned my morals, but it would be stranger if it didn't, and the fact that it did, and I was still cheering for the assassin worked tells of the authors' writing abilities.
January 26, 2019
DNF @ 50%
This book started off very well but unfortunately, the surrounding characters are deliberately dumbed down too much to make the hero of the story more "competent" or badass but...it just didn't work for me. I got too tired of rolling my eyes at the idiocy of the side characters.
March 27, 2023
3.5/5
I read this over a decade ago so I must rely on my notes.
Tony is an assassin for hire and a werewolf with connections to the mob. Sue wants to hire him to kill herself. She won the lottery, but hates life as her sister, and especially mother, are awful and suck her dry. She doesn't know how to say no. Tony becomes her bodyguard and needs to stop others from trying to kill her.
I read this over a decade ago so I must rely on my notes.
Tony is an assassin for hire and a werewolf with connections to the mob. Sue wants to hire him to kill herself. She won the lottery, but hates life as her sister, and especially mother, are awful and suck her dry. She doesn't know how to say no. Tony becomes her bodyguard and needs to stop others from trying to kill her.
January 19, 2025
This is actually one of my favorite books. I was not expecting the turn of events that took place in this book. I felt bad for her. To think that ending it all was what she felt was right but being shown what love and protection is by the man she hired to kill her but without being overly sappy. I read this book years ago and still pick it up to read, because to me, it never gets old.
March 18, 2025
This was my very first book in romance. I love this book for the way the world is built and the way the authors make you feel when you are reading. I felt like I was there. It is such a sweet story with Tony and Suzi.
May 22, 2018
The bad boy with his moon challenges hooked me in and I read the first 3 books in this series in a few short weeks. I have to get the rest and pick up where I left off.
January 27, 2019
Love the main male character. A lovable bad guy. The main female character could do with some more development. The ending seems forced for her.
March 30, 2019
I like sue's and Tony's relationship. The assassin angel was interesting. The book could get a little boring and repetitive at times. The main thing that redeemed it was the action at the end
June 30, 2019
Struggled to get into at beginning of book. But enjoyed once I got about half way through.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
Read
January 7, 2021Loved it! One of my favorites. Have read it multiple times, and probably will again at some point.
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