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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
3.5
The plot was creative with the mystery, and I loved their bond and the differing personalities. Sweet ending. One of the villains wasn't a surprise, but it was kind of sad and multi-layered. I loved seeing some of the old gang again, although I'm confused on the timetable for the couple I've been waiting for most (next book, Isaac and Bill). I do with Ferguson and Athene would have played a little more into the story, including seeing the new bond and realizing their connection, but ah well. The familiars in this society are treated so abysmally.
The plot was creative with the mystery, and I loved their bond and the differing personalities. Sweet ending. One of the villains wasn't a surprise, but it was kind of sad and multi-layered. I loved seeing some of the old gang again, although I'm confused on the timetable for the couple I've been waiting for most (next book, Isaac and Bill). I do with Ferguson and Athene would have played a little more into the story, including seeing the new bond and realizing their connection, but ah well. The familiars in this society are treated so abysmally.
The excitement level at the end made me cry out at work! I love this series..
Being a pathological reader can sometimes put me at a disadvantage, that disadvantage being the challenge of finding something fresh and new that not only entertains but impresses upon my jaded reality an inventiveness or a twist that sets the book apart from the usual. Jordan L. Hawk is not only an author who strives, and succeeds, to offer readers unique stories set in some sort of fresh-hell mystery and dangerous dramatic arc, but she also continues to deliver those stories through characters who are charming, flawed, cheeky, otherworldly, every so often a bit broken, and manages to make me fall in love with them. I know there are more than a few Whyborne & Griffin fans out there who’ll vehemently disagree with me on this, but I have to say that the Hexworld series is my favorite, hands down, of this author’s overall outstanding body of work.
Nick is a character I’ve wanted to know better since the moment he was first introduced as Rook’s rather caustic older brother. Nick’s status as an unbonded horse familiar means he’s a feral who was always somewhat at risk of being force-bonded with a witch against his will, and it’s at his saloon, Caballus—what a great name. Yeah, I googled it—that his trouble begins in this novel. Nick isn’t above breaking the rules when it comes down to protecting other ferals from a new Public Safety and Security Act that makes being unbonded against the law, and he’s taken to running a sort of underground railroad that puts him in even greater danger if he’s caught. The implications of being a feral has some real-world connotations to it too, in the systemic discrimination against and indiscriminate mistreatment of unbonded familiars and their being gathered up and sent to the Menagerie. Part Alcatraz and part Azkaban, as I pictured it in my imagination, it’s a horrendous place where the unbonded go in and never come out. Or, if they do, it’s not because they’ve been paroled.
When Jamie is introduced, it doesn’t take long to realize that he’s of one mind with the law in regards to the new Pemberton Act, which makes him Nick’s foe by default. Jamie is also a witch (strike two) who works for the Metropolitan Witch Police (strike three), and he’s nephew to the head of the Dangerous Familiars Squad (he’s out). Things are bound to be antagonistic between them, but it’s familiarity that breeds a growing empathy for Jamie. And it’s a serial killer that breeds a growing terror among familiars, sending Nick straight into enemy territory to work with an MWP that’s been, by and large, ordered to focus on a bigger case. It’s only ferals dying after all… And this sends a reluctant Nick straight into Jamie’s arms as their investigation into the murders and the dark hexes carries on.
Once again, Jordan L. Hawk makes the setting and atmosphere of this novel come to life, as if it is itself a character that shifts and sets the tone and mood of each scene simply by being present in the narrative. It’s some powerful good scribing when you can ‘feel’ a scene through the author’s choice of words, and it’s one of the things that makes this author’s books so much fun to read—the ability to disconnect from reality amidst the sights and sounds and smells of another world, and then emerge on the other side of it with more characters to love. I always love the animal mannerisms that emerge from the human side of her familiars, as well. It’s such a fun method of layering their characters with distinction.
Jamie’s backstory lends a note of heartbreak to the storyline, one that made me wish we’d got to know his ex-lover a bit more intimately before he died. We also get a much clearer picture of the overall series arc in Hexslayer, which promises to be exciting, compelling and will surely breed more death and mayhem before Hawk types The End on this series.
I loved this book, it’s right up there with Hexbreaker as my favorite so far, and it was great, as always, to get glimpses of Rook and Dominic, Cicero and Tom, and Mal and Owen. Isaac and Bill Quigley also get a scene or three as the investigation into the murders continues, and I’m so excited to see how they’ll feature in their own novel. Which I’m hoping is a thing. It’s a thing, right? It must be a thing.
Watching Nick’s reluctant feelings for Jamie emerge, and Jamie’s eventual awakening, a quite rude awakening at that, which highlighted how, albeit unintentionally, he’d been contributing to the bitter inequalities and harsh truths of life as an unbonded familiar, and how the laws which are presented as protection are the false face of laws that allow the persecution of peaceable ferals, was the romantic affirmation that love prevails over even the most twisted evil.
Hexslayer is yet more conclusive proof that fiction is better than reality, and I hope it never gets old for this author to hear praises sung for her characters and the extraordinary worlds she creates. It doesn’t seem as if that’s going to end anytime soon. Leastwise, not by me.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
Nick is a character I’ve wanted to know better since the moment he was first introduced as Rook’s rather caustic older brother. Nick’s status as an unbonded horse familiar means he’s a feral who was always somewhat at risk of being force-bonded with a witch against his will, and it’s at his saloon, Caballus—what a great name. Yeah, I googled it—that his trouble begins in this novel. Nick isn’t above breaking the rules when it comes down to protecting other ferals from a new Public Safety and Security Act that makes being unbonded against the law, and he’s taken to running a sort of underground railroad that puts him in even greater danger if he’s caught. The implications of being a feral has some real-world connotations to it too, in the systemic discrimination against and indiscriminate mistreatment of unbonded familiars and their being gathered up and sent to the Menagerie. Part Alcatraz and part Azkaban, as I pictured it in my imagination, it’s a horrendous place where the unbonded go in and never come out. Or, if they do, it’s not because they’ve been paroled.
When Jamie is introduced, it doesn’t take long to realize that he’s of one mind with the law in regards to the new Pemberton Act, which makes him Nick’s foe by default. Jamie is also a witch (strike two) who works for the Metropolitan Witch Police (strike three), and he’s nephew to the head of the Dangerous Familiars Squad (he’s out). Things are bound to be antagonistic between them, but it’s familiarity that breeds a growing empathy for Jamie. And it’s a serial killer that breeds a growing terror among familiars, sending Nick straight into enemy territory to work with an MWP that’s been, by and large, ordered to focus on a bigger case. It’s only ferals dying after all… And this sends a reluctant Nick straight into Jamie’s arms as their investigation into the murders and the dark hexes carries on.
Once again, Jordan L. Hawk makes the setting and atmosphere of this novel come to life, as if it is itself a character that shifts and sets the tone and mood of each scene simply by being present in the narrative. It’s some powerful good scribing when you can ‘feel’ a scene through the author’s choice of words, and it’s one of the things that makes this author’s books so much fun to read—the ability to disconnect from reality amidst the sights and sounds and smells of another world, and then emerge on the other side of it with more characters to love. I always love the animal mannerisms that emerge from the human side of her familiars, as well. It’s such a fun method of layering their characters with distinction.
Jamie’s backstory lends a note of heartbreak to the storyline, one that made me wish we’d got to know his ex-lover a bit more intimately before he died. We also get a much clearer picture of the overall series arc in Hexslayer, which promises to be exciting, compelling and will surely breed more death and mayhem before Hawk types The End on this series.
I loved this book, it’s right up there with Hexbreaker as my favorite so far, and it was great, as always, to get glimpses of Rook and Dominic, Cicero and Tom, and Mal and Owen. Isaac and Bill Quigley also get a scene or three as the investigation into the murders continues, and I’m so excited to see how they’ll feature in their own novel. Which I’m hoping is a thing. It’s a thing, right? It must be a thing.
Watching Nick’s reluctant feelings for Jamie emerge, and Jamie’s eventual awakening, a quite rude awakening at that, which highlighted how, albeit unintentionally, he’d been contributing to the bitter inequalities and harsh truths of life as an unbonded familiar, and how the laws which are presented as protection are the false face of laws that allow the persecution of peaceable ferals, was the romantic affirmation that love prevails over even the most twisted evil.
Hexslayer is yet more conclusive proof that fiction is better than reality, and I hope it never gets old for this author to hear praises sung for her characters and the extraordinary worlds she creates. It doesn’t seem as if that’s going to end anytime soon. Leastwise, not by me.
Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach
A fantastic continuation of the series. There was high adventure, thrilling action and fantastic f**cking. The Hexworld series has continued to grow and I am so glad I started reading the series. You will too, once you start. The continued growth of the characters individually and as a cast seems to get better with each book. The relationships seem to get stronger and more well rounded. I hope we get to a point in the books of having all the cast having their povs shown in one book. Like a adventure for the ages. The history integrated into the books was spot on, which for the history buff in me, I love to see. I would recommend this book and this series to anyone who likes historical action adventure with lots of hot man on man sex. Pick up this book and series today!!
The world building is still interesting, and the plot kept me reading.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is by far my favourite in the series.
In this book we finally get to Nick. Nick has principles! He wouldn't even let a witch into his bar nevermind a witch cop! Nick is very angry! Nick doesn't need this witch showing up and being sweet and brave and generally wonderful! I love Nick in case you can't tell.
The relationship is surprisingly sweet but the fictional witch politics throughout are strong and interesting and give things a little edge.
My favourite thing though relationship wise was Rooks constant teasing of Nick. The strained and estranged but affectionate sibling relationship was just very good. I wanted them to make up and hug it out! I also wanted Rook to shut up and mind his own business already! It's happy and embarrassing and wonderful!
Only thing I was just missing MORE mwp crew interactions.
In this book we finally get to Nick. Nick has principles! He wouldn't even let a witch into his bar nevermind a witch cop! Nick is very angry! Nick doesn't need this witch showing up and being sweet and brave and generally wonderful! I love Nick in case you can't tell.
The relationship is surprisingly sweet but the fictional witch politics throughout are strong and interesting and give things a little edge.
My favourite thing though relationship wise was Rooks constant teasing of Nick. The strained and estranged but affectionate sibling relationship was just very good. I wanted them to make up and hug it out! I also wanted Rook to shut up and mind his own business already! It's happy and embarrassing and wonderful!
Only thing I was just missing MORE mwp crew interactions.
I read this book just after two previous ones and in the beginning I wasn't sure that I would like it as much as the previous ones. Nick is so different from Ciciero and Mal. But fortunately, it's a great read.
Nick, Rook's brother, runs a bar that provides shelter for ferals. The events in the second book of the series led to a tightening of the law against familiars. When Nick's co-worker's body is found in Cenral Park, he decides to find the murderer. He finds an ally finds in Jamie, his witch. Jamie came back from a war without a leg and as a war hero, but he can not find his place in the new reality. He will temporary bond with Nick to solve the case of death of his former lover.
The relationship between Nick and Jamie has a slightly different dynamics than with the previous couples, which I like very much. It is nice to watch them, especially Jamie who is easy to like. The criminal part here is also very interesting and is equal to that in the previous books. The only thing I can complain about after reading the three books in this series is a somewhat tendentious ending. In each book, the couple argues about something that one of the lovers hid from the other and they part before the culmination of the criminal part. I would prefer that there would be more diversity here.
I will definitely read another book in this series.
Nick, Rook's brother, runs a bar that provides shelter for ferals. The events in the second book of the series led to a tightening of the law against familiars. When Nick's co-worker's body is found in Cenral Park, he decides to find the murderer. He finds an ally finds in Jamie, his witch. Jamie came back from a war without a leg and as a war hero, but he can not find his place in the new reality. He will temporary bond with Nick to solve the case of death of his former lover.
The relationship between Nick and Jamie has a slightly different dynamics than with the previous couples, which I like very much. It is nice to watch them, especially Jamie who is easy to like. The criminal part here is also very interesting and is equal to that in the previous books. The only thing I can complain about after reading the three books in this series is a somewhat tendentious ending. In each book, the couple argues about something that one of the lovers hid from the other and they part before the culmination of the criminal part. I would prefer that there would be more diversity here.
I will definitely read another book in this series.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had to stop myself from reading Hexslayer too fast, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It was sad and uplifting and very tense at some points and I honestly wasn't expecting to be so affected by one of the side characters but I was. Nick and Jamie made a very cute and believable couple and I was sad to end the book so soon.