Monday, April 11, 2011

Huntress by Malinda Lo

HuntressFrom Goodreads:
Nature is out of balance in the human world. The sun hasn't shone in years, and crops are failing. Worse yet, strange and hostile creatures have begun to appear. The people's survival hangs in the balance. 
To solve the crisis, the oracle stones are cast, and Kaede and Taisin, two seventeen-year-old girls, are picked to go on a dangerous and unheard-of journey to Tanlili, the city of the Fairy Queen. Taisin is a sage, thrumming with magic, and Kaede is of the earth, without a speck of the otherworldly. And yet the two girls' destinies are drawn together during the mission. As members of their party succumb to unearthly attacks and fairy tricks, the two come to rely on each other and even begin to fall in love. But the Kingdom needs only one huntress to save it, and what it takes could tear Kaede and Taisin apart forever. 
The exciting adventure prequel to Malinda Lo's highly acclaimed novel Ash is overflowing with lush Chinese influences and details inspired by the I Ching, and is filled with action and romance.
 I admit *hangs head in shame* that I have had Ash by Malinda Lo on my tbr (courtesy of Stephanie of the Misfit Salon) but haven't been able to get to the book. Every time I got the book out, a review book, I felt more compelled to read, jumped ahead of it (boy, those books can jump! ~it's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!). So, when I heard that there was going to be a prequel, I begged, pleaded and rolled over and showed my soft underbelly to the publisher to get a copy. Luckily I live with dogs as my begging was successful! So, I began the journey with Kaede, Taisin, Con, Po, and Tali to find out what the Fairy Queen wanted and hopefully find out what was plaguing the world in the meantime. 

As the blurb states, it does seem to have a lot of Chinese influences within the book but this story also seems to take place in a period and land of it's own. In this story what I did enjoy the most is that females and males are on a more equal footing than would be in the real world. Females still seem to have a bit less power, but are still able to argue with parents, become warriors, and live on their own. There is also the separation between those of wealth and power but those seem to travel a bit more along the lines we recognize. Political marriages still exist and are the norm and what is expected of those of a certain station. So, love isn't the reason for marriage. 

I really enjoyed the world that Malina Lo created. I really loved the characters. Kaede and Taisin, the two main characters, were lovingly and wonderfully written. You also felt for the secondary characters even down to the fay. Kaede, I'd have to say was my favorite character and I loved the way that she felt so deeply for everyone and everything around her. She was a true huntress and Taisin was her true mate. It was a sweet love story that does not have the typical HEA in the end. Also, I will say that the ending was not as complete as you might expect, but it does not matter. It is the perfect ending for this book. 

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I will be starting Ash ASAP and it will be the next review coming up. :) I have no excuse anymore.


I received this book from the publisher and no compensation for my review was given. 

17 comments:

  1. Yay! I'm glad you loved it. I did too!

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  2. I have Ash on my TBR too. I've heard so many great things about Ash and now, Huntress too; I have to read them soon. A love story without the typical HEA ending sounds refreshing!

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  3. I really must learn how to beg like this. A great review, I'm glad you enjoyed the book and look forward to your thoughts on Ash.

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  4. I loved Ash, it's so different than all the other young adult faity tales. I hope you will love it. ;) I really want to read this book. The cover alone makes me want to run to the bookstore and get it. ;) Great review.

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  5. I just won this book in a contest and was wondering if I should read Ash first... But since you didn't, I guess I'll be okay!

    I was having mixed feelings about this one so I'm totally glad you liked it!

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  6. It sounds like a wonderful YA read and one I will be recommending to my YA reading friends. It is a very interesting concept and unique is the key to wonderful books!

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  7. Oh, so now you read books in order when they don't necessary have to be read in order?

    One can hardly keep up with you Mel! LOL

    So, sweeping romances between true mates and a less than perfect, perfect ending. Yup, I'll be adding this one to the wishlist.

    Maybe I need to learn better beggin skills to help with that. ;)

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  8. Great review - I've not heard of either of these books but I do like the sound of them...epic quests and adventure? Great!

    And you do like to make up your own order for reading series don't you? ;)

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  9. So glad you posted this review Melissa, I just finished this one and was wondering what you thought! I agree on Taisin and Kaede, I loved them both and I actually liked that we didn't get your normal HEA. I love HEAs, but it was refreshing to have something a little different. I did think the conclusion was a bit rushed for all the build up, but the characters were fabulous:)

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  10. This book soudns great! For me, Ash I did not like. I was not happy with how the story went.

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  11. Tell me about it! Those review books are terrible jumpers ;)
    I am glad you enjoyed this one, perhaps you will go back to your TBR shelf then and get the other book

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  12. Maybe it worked out that you read the prequel before reading Ash. And I agree about the fantastic worldbuilding.

    Now get to it!!!

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  13. @LM... YaY! :D

    @Misha... You don't need to read them together at all! However, I still think you will like Huntress!

    @...Petty... Just imagine it's a nice juicy bone... uh... I mean... ice cream cone (yea.. that's it)... heh.

    @Nina...You will LOVE this one then. I enjoyed it more than Ash.

    @Bookish.. Nope. Don't have to read them in any order! Whee!

    @Felicia... This book might cross over to adults. Ash, tho is very YA to me.

    @Missie.. Hee hee! I can't keep up with me-self! :D

    Hey, some of my begging didn't pay off. They just chased me away with a broom. :(

    @Mel... I think you'll like this one. Oh and Order? Shmoder! lol Color outside the lines with me Mel!

    @Jenny... Now that you say that it was a bit rushed. I think it didn't bother me because I was so surprised that the ending didn't bug me and it really did seem perfect for the two main characters.

    @Savannah... If you try this one, you may like it. It was a lot different than Ash.

    @Blodeuedd... lol So true! They just jump in and demand attention! So glad you bought... uh... believe.. uh... agree with my excuse. ;)

    @Stephanie... Didn't need to, but it was still the perfect excuse for those jumpers. Oh and I did!! Tomorrow is Ash! :D

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  14. Aaaaa!!!! I think I want this book. :) It's been in the back of my mind since I first saw it, but was waiting to see what the story was about. Well, now I need it. Thank you!

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  15. You know, you must love dogs more than I - I can beg, roll over and show my soft underbelly but no one wants to give me a bone...er...I mean a book. And I agree - some books can jump at you better than a flea.

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  16. GAH I really want this! It sounds brilliant. Awesome review Melissa :)

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  17. Sounds interesting. I'll check out what others think on goodreads.

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