Location: United States
Member Since:
April 30, 2011
Emily
Biography
I'm a teacher by day and a reader/reviewer of paranormal romance, urban fantasy, science fiction, fantasy, historical fiction, young adult, and whatever else strikes my fancy.
Where to find Emily online
Smashwords book reviews by Emily
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The Wild Hunt
on July 02, 2011
Content Advisory: This book addresses topics, specifically past sexual abuse, that may be triggering or uncomfortable for some readers. This book would be most appropriate for a mature reader. If there's an overlying theme in The Wild Hunt, it's that there are all kinds of monsters in the world. Some you can tell by looking, some reveal themselves much more insidiously. In 100 pages, the story packs a serious punch, and isn't afraid to unmask the monsters in all their many guises. The story begins innocuously enough- Allie and Erik Herne are on their way to the small town of Wodanfield to move into and renovate a house that was left to Allie by her late uncle. They figure it'll be a good way to earn some extra money from the eventual sale of the house plus regroup and make some plans for their future together. In addition, it's almost Christmas, and what's better than a white Christmas to really get the party started? What ends up happening to the young couple is unpleasant to say the least. While trying to come to grips with not only the abuse that Allie suffered at the hands of her uncle (yes, the one who left her the house) in the house where they're now living (it's graphic stuff- see the disclaimer at the start of the review) as well what implications that past history may have on their decisions to start a family, they're also confronted with the Furious Host, a murderous supernatural horde consisting of those who were killers when they were human. People are dropping like flies in Wodanfield; it's not a good thing. While trying to find a way to stem the carnage, Erik and Allie discover that there are layers and layers of secrets in Wodanfield, and nobody's looking to reveal them. When it becomes clear that the monstrosities aren't going to stop on their own, they dig deeper, and realize the sacrifice that will be required to finally send away the Furious Host. This isn't a story for everyone, and that's okay- this is a hybrid of many different genres, notably horror, but also historical fiction, Norse mythology, and drama. I enjoyed learning about the mythological components of the story and didn't see the ending coming at all. The focus on this story is on the surrounding myth and the battles between the Furious Host and the residents of Wodanfield; aside from details about the tragedies Allie has already had to overcome in her young life and the obstacles to her having a happy future, we don't get a lot in the way of characterization. This story is bloody, aggressive and raw, and makes no apologies. This is not a bedtime story for kids, nor is it an after school special. If you can handle the R-rated elements then this is a unique story worth exploring. Check out other reviews and more at whatbookisthat.com!