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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.

Monsters.

Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it's taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous monsters fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.

To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.

Joy soon realizes that the city's powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they're in—to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.

When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, Joy uncovers a terrifying conspiracy. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them.

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    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 13, 2015
      Lackey (the Shadow Grail series) successfully mixes dystopia and fantasy in this series opener. Sixteen-year-old Joy Charmand, endowed with strong magic and skilled in a variety of weapons, is an accomplished monster hunter in her mountain village, and her deadly pack of magical Hounds is one of the largest ever. Now she has been ordered to Apex City to join the corps of Hunters who protect the capital from increasing attacks by goblins, vampires, and other dangerous creatures. Joy’s hunting techniques are up to the task, but she discovers that Apex City’s internal politics are complex and dangerous. Additionally, her every move and word will be monitored, and because “Hunters are as much entertainment as protectors,” these recordings will be manipulated by the government to provide amusement and a sense of security for the residents of the city. Although not Lackey’s best work (the plot is predictable, and Joy’s quick rise from rookie to star too quick and easy), the novel is exciting, entirely entertaining, and sure to please her fans. Ages 12–up. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary Agency.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Amy Landon brings a measured intensity to her narration of this high-stakes adventure. She guides listeners through Joyeux Charmand's richly detailed world, in which civilization struggles to survive after the barrier to the mythical Otherworld was destroyed. Landon clearly conveys the fierce hunter Joyeux's fascination and unease with Apex City, where she has been called to defend some prominent citizens. Her growing determination to save her world from a twisted conspiracy brings her closer to the monsters she fears than she ever imagined. Landon ensures that each character, particularly Joyeaux's comrades, is distinct, and that the relationships she develops in the course of her mission are vividly portrayed. The result is a tense, engrossing tale that will keep listeners rapt. B.E.K. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine

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Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:910
  • Text Difficulty:4-5

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