Hunter • Mercedes Lackey

Centuries ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were slashed open allowing hideous fantastical monsters to wreak havoc; destroying entire cities in their wake. Now, people must live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the evil creatures constantly trying to break in. Only the corps of teen Hunters with lightning reflexes and magical abilities can protect the populace from the daily attacks.

Joyeaux Charmand is a mountain girl from a close knit village who comes to the big city to join the Hunters. Joy thinks she is only there to perform her civic duty and protect the capitol Cits, or civilians, but as cameras follow her every move, she soon learns that the more successful she is in her hunts, the more famous she becomes.

With millions of fans watching her on reality TV, Joy begins to realize that Apex is not all it seems. She is forced to question everything she grew up believing about the legendary Hunters and the very world she lives in. Soon she finds that her fame may be part of a deep conspiracy that threatens to upend the protective structure built to keep dark magic out. The monsters are getting in and it is up to Joy to find out why.

So, as a lover of fantasy, Mercedes Lackey is one of the more egregious holes in my reading. Alas. ALAS. This bums me out so much. HOWEVER, now that I know all about HUNTER, I’m stoked to get started on her catalog. The reality TV angle in this one sounds interesting, and it’s not usually something that I enjoy reading about since I don’t really like reality TV. I’m more than willing to look past it, though, because of the “fantastical creatures” that are sneaking their way into this world, mysteriously. Also, conspiracies? Another check. Love reading about those. It sounds a little like a dystopian fantasy! WUTTTT! I’m really excited for HUNTER.

HUNTER comes out on September 1, 2015 from Disney-Hyperion