Hardcover, 416 pages
Expected publication: March 8th 2016 Publisher: HarperTeen
Author: Wendy Higgins
Kill the beast. Win the girl.
A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.
Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.
Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.
Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.
Wendy Higgins is the USA Today and NY Times bestselling author of the SWEET EVIL series from HarperTeen, the high fantasy duology THE GREAT HUNT, and her independently published Irish Fantasy SEE ME.
After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until achieving her dream job as a full-time writer.Wend lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her husband, daughter, son, and little doggie Rue.
"The truth of everything began to soak into her, like rain, each drop speaking to her.....
A stranger.
A hunter.
Your husband.
Overwhelmed, she turned and gathered her skirts, forcing her chin to remain up as she walked steadily from the High Hall."
Where do I start? Wendy Higgins is by far one of my most favorite authors that I have ever read. Her writing is beautiful, intricate, and holds my attention until the last page. Every book that she has ever written has just been phenomenal. I open the first page and literally cannot put the book down until the very last page. Another thing that makes me love Wendy Higgins so much is that she is all about her fans! She is a hands-on author that responds to reader questions and keeps in touch with all her fans thru her fan pages. I have such high respect for authors that show love to their fans!!!
So when I saw that Wendy was coming out with a new duology....I literally screamed I was so happy!! and that cover??? I mean seriously?? What a perfect cover to reflect a high fantasy themed story. Absolutely love it.
The Great Hunt is a high fantasy story with intense action scenes, swoon-worthy romance, and spell-binding magic intertwined into this exceptional story about a kingdom being attacked by a great beast that cannot be killed. The king of the lands has almost given up all hope of the beast being killed until he decides to offer a proclamation that whichever hunter kills the beast....will get the hand of his eldest daughter in marriage. Hunters come from all over to compete and kill the beast and win the hand of the beautiful Princess Aerity.
"Its face was as ugly as a boar's. Tusks curled up around a dripping snout,
sharp teeth shining. Its beady eyes eerily caught the moon's reflection.
Everything about its stance and posture screamed feral. Deadly. Impossible."
One of my favorite parts about this book is that the story does not solely focus on one or two characters but yet several relationships are forming and they are all equally fascinating and mesmerizing.
Although there are several relationships building within this story....Paxton and Aerity are my favorite. Aerity is so innocent and full of heart and love ....and Paxton has such a rough exterior with a protected heart and will let no one in.
"Aerity was overwhelmed and could only cling to him, her eyes stinging with
emotion as she soaked in all he'd held back, all he'd tried to keep hidden. She
hadn't been a fool after all---he'd felt this thing between them as much as she
had."
I absolutely loved the world-building..... the lush forests and surrounding waters that made me think of Ireland in the times of Kings and Queens.
The Great Hunt is such a fascinating story filled with magic and breath-taking romance. There are people throughout the kingdom whom are called "the Lashed" because they have magical powers which make them dangerous in the eyes of the King. The people of the kingdom that are "lashed" have to keep themselves secret in order to live within the kingdom and not be exiled.
The Great Hunt has it all......secrets, magic, royalty, betrayal, romance, and evil. I was completely and utterly obsessed with this book from the first page to the last. Wendy Higgins writing is so enthralling and beautifully written that I felt as though I was in the book living each moment with these fascinating characters!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on the conclusion and get all the answers to my questions!!!!
Where did this Beast come from? Who will kill him and win the Princess's hand? What are the secrets behind the mystery of the beast? Who will truly win Aerity's heart?
**The quotes from this book have been taken from an Advanced Reading Copy and are subject to change when the final book is printed. Please refer to the final, finished copy for exact quotes!**
**I want to say Thank You to Harper Teen for the opportunity to review this book!!**
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