Review: The Great Hunt

I received this book for free from FTC: Exchange for honest opinion, Publisher, Review in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins
Published by HarperTeen on March 8th 2016
Genres: Fairy Tales & Folklore, Young Adult -Fantasy
Pages: 416
Source: FTC: Exchange for honest opinion, Publisher, Review
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.

Hello everyone! Before I get started on this review, I like to apologize for my absence. I’m doing my best to juggle everything in my life right now so bear with me as I figure this out. – Savy.

Alright, when I got this book in the mail I knew it be one I would read for sure. Wendy Higgins is a name that if I see it, I want to know what book it is. So far, I have read all of her published work and man it is awesome. One of my favorite things authors do is re-telling of a classic. I love classic Brother Grimm stories so I knew this is something that I am interested in.

Plot: You should know that this is a inspired work of The Brother Grimm story, “The Singing Bone.” I love what Ms. Higgins has done with the story. Not only is it thrilling, but the way the story unfolds is genuine yet captivating. The plot moves at a steady pace, allowing the reader to move along with the characters. The plot starts off by pulling the reader in with a monster then moves to “tale-tells” then it all of the sudden becomes real. The way the story comes to life with the time era, honorable men, and following hard rules, this story deliveries a true, authentic setting.

Characters: One thing I enjoy about the characters is the growth of them. Many characters are introduced and really grow as the story moves along. They take chances they never thought they would and follow along paths that either make them or break them. I don’t want to get in too much of the characters because I might giveaway too much but yes, the characters are awesome. Characters are one part of the story that makes the story.

Ending: OMG! Let me just say that the ending left me speechless. Utterly speechless. I want more. I want to KNOW what happens. It not fair for the story to end like that! Okay, rant over. In all seriousness, this ending is epic. I love how it hooked the reader, leading them to want more. The ending answered questions but also left many unanswered. There were decisions made that I really want undone. But I definitely can’t wait to read the next story.

Overall, The Great Hunt is an magnificent tale of honor, love and and a heart that would do anything for the kingdom. The Great Hunt is extraordinary.

Happy Reading!