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Science Fiction & Fantasy |
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The Iron Hunt (Hunter Kiss, Book 1)
written by Marjorie M. Liu
Studio : Ace
by Ace
Publisher : Ace
Released : 2008-06-24
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780441016068
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 32 reviews)
List Price : $7.99
Our Price : $2.83
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Product Description |
First in a stunning new urban fantasy series from an author who “NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE.” (BOOKLIST, STARRED REVIEW)
Demon hunter Maxine Kiss wears her armor as tattoos, which unwind from her body to take on forms of their own at night. They stand between her and her enemies, just as Maxine stands between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment—and one man— changes everything. |
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It was good |
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I thought it was good, but it had a hard time catching my interest but when it did I got into the book okay. Once it did, it was a good book. I won't read the next one in the series, however, I like the author and enjoy her books. |
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Engrossing Urban Fantasy |
I've been a fan of Marjorie M. Liu's urban fantasy romances for a while, so I jumped on this new series. The Iron Hunt shows Liu's ability to keep the reader guessing and the intensity keeps the pages turning throughout. Although this book has been tagged by some as a paranormal romance, it's not a romance at all. If you're looking for love, go to her Dirk and Steele series.
I loved the action and that the plot was so unpredictable. Too many books follow expected paths, allow readers to figure out where the line is drawn beween the good guys and the bad ones. This book even questions the heroine in places. The people you ant to believe in are the people you're not sure you can trust.
I was dissappointed with some aspects of this book, though. One major difference between this title and Liu's previous books that I have read is this one is in first person and the perspective seems to limit descriptive elements. It's as if the character of Hunter (Maxine) doesn't feel the need to talk about things she already knows, which in turn leaves the reader in the dark on many things. As an example, she never gave a good description of her living tattoos, in fact I was left with conflicting mental images of traditional inked imaged covering her and her entire body being a solid black.
Another problem was the lack of definitions or explainations for the terminology used. Every fantasy book has it's own anguage and meaning. Readers need a clear definition of new terms to help build the alternate reality. This book had nothing. Many times I was left trying to figure out exactly what a given word meant in the context of the story and came up blank.
Her lack of description and explainaton left me floudering in several action passages. I had to go back and figure out what was happening and how we got to such a strange point. The reader will be yanked out of one strange situation and into another with little to no transition.
The book is the first in a series, and there are many situations left unresolved an waiting for the next installment. Don't look for any clean endings in this one. Hopefully some of the terminology questions will be resolved in the next book, too.
Overall, "The Iron Hunt" is a very exciting read and I recommend it with the warning that it's not a good book to put down and pick up later. It's not a light read and is best suited fo someone who wants to get lost in a book for a while, preferable someone who can read it in one to three sittings. Like her other titles it's also intense and not for the squeamish, so be prepared for a bit of an "eew" factor. |
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Weird |
If I had to sum up this book in one word, the word would be WEIRD.
During the whole book Maxine is confused, scared and clueless. I was pretty confused also. The author tried to be poetic & dramatic, but there is nobody in the book to really care about, they were are all so flat. |
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Hunter Kiss is my home girl! |
"Silver smoke winds around my torso, peeling away from my ribs and back, stealing the dark mist covering my hands and lower extremities...tattos dissolving into demon flesh, coalescing into small dark bodies. My boys. The only friends I have in this world. Demons.
"I am a demon hunter. I am a demon. I am Hunter Kiss."
These are the words on the back of the book to intrigue a potential reader into buying and reading. Plus, look at the cover illustration--the woman covered in tattos. Doubly intriguing. I bought the book and here I am reviewing this supernatural thriller or urban fantasy. Take your pick.
I am not particularly a fantasy fan, but when Maxine Kiss's tattos came to life and slithered off her body into their unique demon forms, I was totally mesmerized. Such imagination hooks me every time.
Several reviewers wrote about the confusing elements of the story. Indeed, things seems to be left out or unexplained, but I figured there must be sequels to carry forth. This first volume in the Hunter Kiss series is all about Maxine, the last Hunter. When the story begins she has already done major battle, but this story is about Maxine's developing powers. Long ago, demons were locked in this prison away from humans, but the veil is coming up and demons are escaping. It is a hunter's job to kill them.
Marjorie M. Liu, the writer, is a wonderful craftswoman of style and use of language. When Maxine's lover moves a stack on books on Mesopotamia, Liu is inserting a basic piece of information. The great epic about Gilgamesh plucking an eternal life-giving plant after an impossibly long swim references Maxine's equally long swim and gaining of the eternal ring so important to later events. Like Gilgamesh she "loses" it as well. The only reference to this ancient story is that stack of books. The reader must be well-read enough to know the story. I like that.
Some reviewers found the story confusing, as did I, but I liked that mix of story elements that didn't quite make sense. Oturu is a horrible demon with knives for feet, but he is also a friend and keeper of the ring. Maxine herself is a demon and demon hunter. No one is ever what they seem in this story which references real life. Are we ever really what we seem? The demons who live in her tattos keep life-threatening secrets from Maxine, but their job is to protect her. Contradictions.
The second most interesting character is Grant, a human--is he?--Maxine's lover, who can alter a being's personality and life flow by the music from his flute. We never learn why he limps.
I was fully engaged in this novel from beginning to end. At the conclusion, I thought how well-ended this is. It was satisfying as a book unto itself, or as an introduction to a whole series. Thank goodness there will be a Book 2. Can't wait! |
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The Iron Hunt |
Maxine Kiss has problems that most people wouldn't understand - what with her tattoos becoming demons at nightfall and her family legacy of demon hunting to protect humanity. But Maxine has broken a couple of rules that all the women in her line have lived, and been kept alive, by - don't settle in one place too long, no personal relationships, none, and constant practice to keep their deadly skills razor sharp. During the day, her "boys," the living tattoos, sleep within her skin, making her invulnerable to everything from cold to intense pain; but at night the "boys" peel themselves off Maxine's body and become the only constant in her life since her mother's death and her companions in the hunt.
However, these days Maxine lives in the homeless shelter her former priest boyfriend, Grant, runs while he attempts to reform zombies - humans possessed by demons; she is sadly out of practice in her hunting skills, relying almost exclusively on her "boys" for protection; and she is completely clueless as to her destiny as a hunter and the power she is destined to wield in order to save or doom humanity.
But the days of Maxine willfully ignoring her destiny have come to an end as she is slowly surrounded by other supernatural beings that she never even suspected existed and which will help or hinder her, as their interests demand, forcing Maxine to face her terrible destiny...
The Iron Hunt is an absolutely mesmerizing urban fantasy book that will suck you into it's universe and leave you wanting for more. Marjorie M. Liu does an outstanding job of creating a world parallel to the "known" world and infusing this universe she creates with enough mystery, action and danger to keep you glued to the pages well into the night to find out if, and how, Maxine will survive. Maxine is a compelling character as she is a mass of contradictions. Maxine, with her need for human contact - hence Grant, and her deadly potential against demons and other beings will keep you spellbound and on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Almost as interesting as Maxine is the collection of secondary characters that slowly, but inexorably, surround her and become involved in her fight against evil in the most unexpected ways and from the most unexpected sources. I was absolutely floored by The Iron Hunt from start to finish, especially during the most confusing times when I floundered along with Maxine to understand what was going on, and more importantly, why. This book has made me a fan of Marjorie M. Liu and I will be most eagerly waiting for the next installment of what is sure to become a legendary saga! However, it must be noted that the romance in this novel is really a secondary, supporting, storyline along with all the other people she unwillingly, and inadvertently, collects to aid her in her quest. Pick up The Iron Hunt when you are looking for a spellbinding urban fantasy read that will intrigue you and have you panting to catch your breath at it's action packed, fast paced plot!
Sabella |
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