Review: The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins

The Great Hunt

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: -

Pages: 416

Publisher/Source: HarperTeen

Release date: 8^th March 2016

Synopsis: (Goodreads) 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.

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 stars

The Great Hunt is a book that kept me entertained from the very beginning but fantasy can either be hit or miss for me and despite enjoying it mostly there were aspects that I didn’t enjoy so much but I was fascinated by the interesting world Wendy Higgins has created.

When a strange beast terrorizes Princess Aerity’s kingdom, hunters are invited by the king to kill the beast and have a chance at winning Aerity’s hand in marriage but killing the beast isn’t quite as easy as expected and as the hunt progresses we are taken on a thrilling adventure.

The plot is fast paced and mostly follows the hunter’s pursuit of the beast terrorizing the lands of Lochlanach and the king being forced to seek help from other kingdoms beginning the great hunt. There was action aplenty which I liked.

I was a huge fan of Wendy Higgin’s Sweet Evil series, I thought the characters were the highlight of the series but unfortunately this aspect fell flat for me when it came to the The Great Hunt. Princess Aerity was seemingly without fault; she was overly perfect, I liked her, she was kind and thoughtful but she didn’t truly stand out as a kick-butt heroine. Paxton Seabolt, a skilled hunter and the love interest I liked a little more, he could be broody and mysterious but I found myself looking forward to his page time. I was intimidated by the large cast of characters, but they were each introduced well.

What I did really enjoy was the backstory of the lands and the links between the kingdoms and the battle between the Lashed and the Unlashed, it made for an interesting and exciting read.

Another aspect I enjoyed was the slow burning romance between Aerity and Paxton, she agreed to the arranged marriage for the good of her kingdom and out of loyalty, Paxton agreed to participate in the hunt for monetary purposes so he could take care of his family; the chemistry was obvious between them, their interactions were great.

I couldn’t fault Wendy Higgins writing, it was rich in detail, creative and highly entertaining; I feel if I had of connected more with the characters then this book would have been a 5 star read.

Thank you to HarperTeen via Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this title.

About the author: Bio:
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. 

Review: Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Reckoning

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy

Pages: 379

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release date: 29^th April 2014

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

It’s time. 

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom

Review: 3 out of 5 stars

My feelings for this book are quite conflicted, in one instance I am pleased with the resolution but on the other hand I feel it was quite anti-climactic and I expected and wanted more.

In this instalment we are anticipating the Dukes attack, I was eager to see how it would all play out but I found a majority of the book was spent following Anna in her search for Nephilim allies. A lot of the plot was quite unpredictable and lacking in intensity which I feel was needed for the big finale and showdown which had been built up to this point.

The biggest surprise for me was the person who was sent to work against Anna – Kaidan Rowe. Kaidan was missing for the most part in book two but I am pleased he made a big presence in this book and showed how dedicated he was which I hadn’t felt previously; his relationship with Anna was kicked up a notch and we are given more smexy moments but there were also a few cheesy cringe-worthy moments too.

The Dukes/Nephilim moments were done well; the stakes were a lot higher in this book and in order for Anna to remain pure of heart there was no smex allowed at all so she could fill a prophecy allowing the Nephilim to be free of the dukes; I liked the overall concept but the whole ‘virgin’ aspect I think was way over emphasised.

I was waiting for the moment where Anna realised her full potential and seriously kicked some butt and there were a number of moments where I thought she’d come through but never truly shone. The added wow factor I feel was missing.

The book had a number of interesting moments but I wasn’t hooked on this one like the past books.

Overall, Sweet Reckoning is a satisfying conclusion to the Sweet trilogy but didn’t leave me feeling all gushy and wowed.

A companion novel told from Kaidan's POV will be released in 2015.

 

About the author: After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, I taught high school English until becoming a mommy. I've always had a heart for teens, and writing YA stories gives me the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal years before adulthood.
I live in Virginia with my husband, daughter, son and doggie Rue.

Interview & G!veaway - Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1) by Wendy Higgins

I am so pleased to feature the wonderful Wendy Higgins on my blog today for an interview and a giveaway of Sweet Evil, which is the first book in the Sweet trilogy.

Follow Wendy: Twitter – Goodreads – Facebook – Website

My Review

Author: Wendy Higgins
Series: The Sweet Trilogy
Pages: 447
Genre: Young Adult – Paranormal
Publisher: HarperTeen

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – The Book Depository

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Interview:

Welcome to Obsession with Books Wendy, I have recently read and thoroughly enjoyed Sweet Evil, are you able to tell us a little about The Sweet Trilogy and yourself?

Hi! Thanks for having me! There’s not much to say about me. I was a high school English teacher for a couple years, and now I stay home with my children and write full time. It’s my dream job! :)
The Sweet Trilogy is ultimately a love story about two children of demons who have a lot going against them. They have to choose between their love and their safety.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing in elementary school as soon as I learned how. I was always lost in my own imagination, and writing down those stories was the only way I could get them to stop looping through my head.

Where did the inspiration for your book Sweet Evil come from?

I’m not certain. Many things in my life led up to writing this story: the relationships I’ve had, friendships, heartbreak, family issues, my spirituality, books I’ve read...it all sort of came together and hit me when the time was right.

Each of the characters in Sweet Evil are so very different, was there anyone you found particularly challenging to write?

Kaidan was my challenging character. He likes to keep things to himself, so many of his feelings needed to be portrayed through gestures and actions. I found myself rewriting his scenes many times to try and get it right.

What is your ideal day as an author?

Ideally I write in snatches of stolen time alone. If I can wrangle a babysitter, or during the few hours each week while both kids are in school/preschool, I dive into my story and try to make the most of every second I have in solitude. Mostly I write at night when everyone’s sleeping.

Do you mind telling us how long it took for you to write Sweet Evil?

The first draft took seven weeks, but it was terrible. The beauty was in revision. I’m a constant reviser/tweaker/editor, so in total it took a year to get the story to a point where it was publishable.

Is there anything about you that would surprise your readers? Any quirks, habits, routines etc.

I’m very boring at this point of my life, and it’s surprisingly fun! I made the most of my teen years and early twenties. I partied and lived a wild life. Actually, I’m lucky I made it through those years, lol. I was even a flight attendant for a short while. I was always boy crazy (I still am, though I now safely obsess over book boys and celebs like Channing). Oh, and I’ve survived two house fires.

Are you able to describe what your writing process is like?

It’s insane. I try to outline...I really do, but I’m bad at it. I write scenes as they come to me, and then I try to fit it all together. I end up needing to revise A LOT. I’m horrid at introductions/1st chapters, and tend to rewrite them over and over before getting it right.

Do you have a favorite character from Sweet Evil?

No...in all honesty I love them all. I guess my huge soft spots would be for Anna and Kaidan since everything centers around them.

Are there any books or authors that have most influenced you?

I’ve always leaned toward commercial fiction (though I’ve read and enjoyed plenty of thoughtful literary pieces over the years—it’s just not my fave). Growing up I loved the works of Beverly Cleary and R.L. Stine. Then Richelle Mead and her Vampire Academy.

Is there a book you are reading at the moment? And do you tend to favor a particular genre?

I used to gravitate to chick lit, but lately it’s YA or adult paranormal romance. It changes, of course. I have a huge TBR pile. At the moment I’m actually beta reading for an unpublished friend, and next
I’m reading My Heart Be Damned by my blogging buddy Chanelle Gray.

If Sweet Evil were to be made into a movie, who would you chose to play the roles of your main characters Anna and Kaidan?

Anna is hard. Maybe Chloe Moretz? And I could definitely see someone like Ben Barnes for Kaidan. I’d love to have an actual English guy play him.

What is up next for you?

I need to revise my Irish story, SEE ME, and send it to my agent. And this fall I plan to start my third and final Sweet book! Eeek! I’m hoping to hear news from the publishers about the rest of the trilogy very soon. :)

Quick Questions:
 
Fave band / television series / movie? Currently loving The Wanted/no TV for me/love Josh Hartnett movies like Lucky Number Slevin

Coffee or tea? Coffee

E-reader or hardcopy? Hardcopy

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

Ideal travel destination? The UK!!! Especially Ireland

Thank-you so much Wendy for taking time to talk to us today!

It was my pleasure. Thank you so much for having me!

Follow Wendy: Twitter – Goodreads – Facebook – Website

Giveaway:

I am giving away 1 x paperback copy of Sweet Evil

This giveaway is open to: Everyone as long as The Book Depository ships to you

Ends: September 28^th

Please enter via the Rafflecopter below!

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REVIEW: Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1) by Wendy Higgins

 

Author: Wendy Higgins

Series: The Sweet Trilogy

Pages: 454

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: HarperTeen

Amazon: Sweet Evil

Synopsis. (Goodreads)

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

REVIEW: 4 ½ out of 5 stars

Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people; she is different from her peers who see her as weird and unusual. As her 16^th birthday approaches, she is finding out more about who and what she is.

Anna was an all-round good girl except when she felt the pull towards drugs and alcohol, but she was always strong enough to avoid the temptation. As the story unfolds, we find out Anna is in fact a nephilim and the daughter of the demon/duke of Substance Abuse and will need to meet up with not only her father who is now in prison but also the nun who bought her into the world to learn more of her purpose.

The love interest in Sweet Evil is Kaidan Rowe, a popular drummer from a boy band and also the son of the demon/duke of lust. Whilst Kaidan at times came across as snarky and cocky, he had hidden depth which I really appreciated and I liked that he was so willing to take Anna on a road trip to get her to see her dad and the nun although I initially questioned his motives. We learnt a lot more about both of these characters during their travels and I came to feel quite sorry for both – nephilims are more or less pawns who are trained to do their demon fathers work. Anna and Kaidan couldn’t have been more different but they complimented each other well.

Each of the secondary characters were developed perfectly, I loved the relationship Anna shared with her adoptive mother Patti, her best friend Jay, her father and the nephilim she came to meet; I thought there would be a love triangle with Kopano in this book but it didn’t eventuate which I was relieved about.

Sweet Evil is well paced and engaging and Wendy Higgin’s captivating writing kept me thoroughly engrossed, entertained and wanting to know more. The world she has created was fascinating and unique and her take on Angels and Demons different to anything I have read to date. It was an exciting, thrilling read.

Overall, Sweet Evil is a wonderful debut for Wendy Higgin’s. I was completely mesmerized from the very first page and was so saddened by the ending so I am quite eager to read the next book in the series.