Reviews of The Huntress by Michelle O'Leary
Fate deals a lucky hand to a tortured soul, but is it asking too much for him to start over?
Seth Terrik has escaped from the pits of inhumanity and is now imprisoned by an inability to let the human side of him override his survival instincts. He had been locked away for at least 15 years for several murders - many to fellow inmates. Malthat was a lightless cavern where criminals were left to become predators or prey to each other. Seth's ability to survive "the hole" had drawn the attention of authorities so he was being transferred to be executed. On board the spacecraft a man went berserk, killing everyone he could. Seth was able to save a girl, Regan, before shooting the madman. They escaped the craft minutes before it crashed into a small sun. Regan was now alone in the galaxy if not for the man, whom she idolises. She knows that she is defenceless and sticks by his side. It is possible that she has seen some of the humanity Seth thinks he no longer has.
Mea Brin, known as "The Huntress", is the most widely known enforcer in the Hunting Corp. She has been genetically modified and has metal alloys in her bones to enhance strength and speed. Her own senses have been honed to reach their peak during her rigorous training and experiences. Mea is searching a dingy moon bar for a small time criminal she believes has some information. She notices the girl first. A child in this part of the planet is likely to lead a short and painful life. As she reaches for the girl, Seth takes her unaware. Mea gazes into his eyes and can see the depths of his soul. She senses a kindred spirit, awakening a part of Seth that is long forgotten. Mea lets him leave but keeps a careful watch on him and the girl for a couple of days. She knows that he is a wanted man but needs to know more before she brings him in. Seth has decided to live a solitary life; he doesn't trust himself around people and needs to avoid recapture. He recognises by reputation who "the Huntress" is, so he is totally blown away when she says her aim is to get him on her spacecraft as a partner not a prisoner. There is no way he will ever put his trust or his worthless life in the hands of an enforcer, no matter how luscious.
The Huntress is an unforgettable, fast-paced action romance. Michelle O'Leary had this reader enthralled right from the gripping barroom opening scene. Her characters are intense. Both are solitary survivors. They are drawn to each other through lust but are aware that the other has a dark and dangerous side to be wary of. This creates a sizzling build up of sexual tension. The sexual content is more implied than graphic, but the chemistry and friction is made very clear to the reader. Regan, the tragic orphan, helps to keep Mea and Seth from tearing each other apart. She has found her new parents and will do everything she can to keep the pair together and remain with them. Most of the light-hearted moments and humour come from Regan. Michelle O'Leary is a very talented author. This reader would love to read a spin-off series based on some of the secondary characters. Readers who have enjoyed the books of CJ Barry and Robin T. Popp should not miss this book. Highly recommended reading!
Rated 4 Angels.
Naomi for Fallen Angel Reviews
ROSE AWARD NOMINEE
Panther-like Mea Brin is the best of the Hunters, part of a special interplanetary enforcement agency. When she happens to meet Seth Terrik, escaped convict, it's her responsibility to bring him in or kill him. But Terrik is accompanied by a little girl who tugs at Mea's heart, and Terrik himself makes Mea breathless with desire and the recognition of a soul mate. Unfortunately, Terrik knows it would be really, really stupid to get involved with a Hunter. This means that for Mea it is now a different kind of hunt.
Never before has any man successfully resisted the sizzling Huntress. Events drive Terrik toward her, his instinct for self preservation drives him away. In the middle is little Regan, the appealing orphan who has decided Mea and Terrik are her parents. When a job assignment turns into a crisis, Terrik has to decide between his old instincts and his new ones.
THE HUNTRESS is a crackling good time. The first chapter is a grabber, a bar fight with a cheerful ruthlessness and sexy overtones. Once you have read this far, you won't stop. You will be laughing, cheering, sweating, and exclaiming out loud as the characters mow down the opposition, hold off their allies, and push each other to the breaking point. O'Leary's vivid writing style guarantees that you will feel each situation along with Mea and Terrik.
The author's characterizations are compelling and in-depth. Mea is an irresistible Superwoman, but this is based on a troubled past which she still must work to overcome. Terrik has survived so many hells that he doesn't know heaven when he sees it. (If you like the casting game, think Vin Diesel.) Regan has shockingly lost her family and is trying valiantly to build another. Mea's crew, Warren and Ema, provide one entertaining surprise after another.
O'Leary is a talented writer, with only a few edges left to work off. She doesn't always know when to quit, when she has already said everything she needed to. Occasionally her words jar against each other, when different word choices would have made them sound smoother in the mind. But I mention this only because she has so much potential to fulfill. This is a very enjoyable, fast-paced, and exciting read, in a style that promises even better for the future.
THE HUNTRESS will be enjoyed by both sexes: the boys will find Mea as attractive as women will find Terrik, and there is action enough for all. This book deserves a wider audience than most e-books find; some starting-up print publisher needs this book to help it jump into the eye of distributors. In the meantime, you can download it at http://www.dlsijpress.com. "Now Available, 264 pp., $6.85, ISBN: 1- 928973-97-3"
Joy Calderwood for The Word On Romance
Fans of the Sci-Fi genre will absolutely love this fantastic tale. Mixing two genres that are not normally put together, romance and science fiction, Ms. O’Leary has penned an excellent tale that will appeal to both genre lovers.
Mea Brin is a Hunter, (nicknamed ‘The Huntress’), one of an elite group of bounty hunters that search through the universe for criminals and renegades, with the sanction to kill or bring them to justice. She’s an incredibly strong woman, ruthless and dangerous, and her reputation as one of the ‘best of the Hunters’ precedes her --- striking deadly fear into any of those that are fleeing from her lethal justice.
The story opens with Mea entering a ghetto-moonbase bar looking for her assigned prey. What she finds is more than she expected. Seth Terrik, an escaped convict, captures her attention --- along with an eleven year old girl, Regan, who clings to his shadow like he’s the only thing she has to hold onto.
Mea has always gotten what she set out to get. And it doesn’t take her long to decide she wants Seth --- and Regan. Now all she has to do is make Seth agree to the bargain. Seth had survived fifteen torturous years in a darkly dangerous prison and he values his freedom more than anything. Mea’s proposition feels like another form of prison, albeit a more pleasant one, and he’s not immediately willing to agree to her terms. When she offers him a new identity and a chance at a new life, Seth finally agrees. But will he learn to trust her --- and the growing love that is developing between them?
This story is full of action, a fast paced read that pulls one into the story immediately and refuses to let go until the last page is read. It is also a story of second chances, learning to trust, compassion and passion, and a love that transcends every obstacle thrown at it. Readers will love Mea’s strength of character, her tough side, and her compassion. Seth will steal your heart as he slowly learns to love and heal. Readers will be left hoping that little Regan will one day have her own book.
Even though set in a Sci-Fi world of violence, betrayal, danger, and death, readers will enjoy both genres in this story. Ms. O’Leary brings the characters to brilliant life and shows they have many different facets in their personalities. The story unfolds with the action taking place on several different planets, and the author portrays the scenery and world(s) with rich detail. There is something for every reader in this story: love, sci-fi, suspense, danger, humor, passion. A definite recommendation and a keeper on this reviewer’s shelf!
Reviewed by Kari for Love Romances
Mea Brin is a bounty hunter for the Planetary Coalition. Known to everyone as The Huntress, she is the best at what she does. Michael Conley adopted Mea after her parents were violently killed by slavers. Uncle Mike, as Mea calls him, is a hunter himself and he went after the ones who killed her parents. It is this early experience that sets Mea on the path of being a hunter.
Mea finds her latest target in a sinister moonbase bar, but she also finds someone else. Mea is intrigued by Seth Terrik and the little girl he seems to be protecting. She watches them for a few days and finally introduces herself to the mysterious pair. She finds out that Regan's parents are dead and her sister, Kate, raised her. While on a starship, one of the passengers went crazy and started killing everyone and Kate took a hit meant for Seth. Seth now feels responsible for Regan, and Regan thinks of Seth as her "father". Mea knows she should take Seth in, but she can't bring herself to do so. She sees more in him than a convicted killer and devises a plan. She offers him the chance to become her partner and change his genetic trace to that of Baynard Stone.
Seth Terrik is a survivor. He grew up in a place where there were two kinds of people, predators and prey. To survive, he became a predator; he killed to stay alive. He spent the last fifteen years in a prison famous for its cruelty to its inmates. When he saw a chance to escape, he took it, but somewhere along the way he became responsible for Regan. He doesn't trust the offer that Mea makes to him, a chance at a new identity and a new life as Baynard Stone. All the emotions coming at him from all directions are new, something he's never felt before. He feels that he's not good enough to deserve the love that Mea and Regan offer him.
When Mea and Regan are taken captive by slavers determined to start a rebellion, Seth has to go in and save them, but will he be in time? Can Seth overcome his struggles with his feeling of unworthiness and accept Mea and Regan's love?
THE HUNTRESS is a fast-paced, well-written story with complex, believable characters. Mea is a strong, relentless, rear-kicking woman, who isn't afraid to show her softer side. Seth is desperate to accept the love of Mea and Regan, but compelled not to because of his past and the man he thinks he's become. It was great fun to watch these two come together. Their love scenes are some of the steamiest I've read, without the overt sexual descriptions of many other books. Regan, almost, steals the show from both of them and will trap your heart, too. If you don't buy another book this month, don't miss THE HUNTRESS. I don't have a problem recommending this book to fans of science fiction romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Reviewed by Brenda Gill for Timeless Tales
In the opening scene of The Huntress by Michelle O'Leary, we meet Mea, as tough as nails, independent and beautiful heroine.
"She's part of the Hunting Corp, best one they got. They're bounty hunters with a license to kill — the Coalition's top enforcers. They get a list of people to bring in and they go out and hunt 'em down."
She's spirited and defiant of her superiors when morality and safety of innocent people are put into danger. In The Huntress, written by Michelle O'Leary, forcible, corrupt criminals throughout the galaxy fear her tough fighting nature.
While on the hunt for an escaped murderer in a dingy bar, Terrik, Mea comes across an orphaned child, seems to belong to Terrik. Mea takes Regan under her wing, knowing that Regan could lead her to the escaped murderer.
"Friend of yours?" "He's my father," the girl said with an uptilted chin and shot a defiant glance into the shadows.
An obvious lie, but the man said nothing.
"Well your father should know better than to lead you to a place like this."
The huntress doesn't anticipate sparks to fly between her and Terrik, who assumes a new identity, Stone. She finds herself magnetically pulled to his gruff facade and the hunt quickly takes on a new purpose. Stone is reluctant to accept Mea's offer of a hunting partnership until he's faced with the prospect of losing Regan and the huntress. This is the exciting climax of the novel.
Michelle O'Leary's The Huntress is a fast-paced, action packed sci-fi romance, mixed with the innocence and heart that the orphaned child, Regan provides. The heated, electric sexual tension between Stone and Mea keeps you turning the pages long into the night. Colorful characters like Warren, the android and Ema, the ship's hologram doctor, add to the book's convincing sci-fi plotline.
Reviewed by Jessica Jones for Women on Writing
Terrific sci-fi! Very highly recommended
In a ghetto moonbase bar, Mea Brin searches for her quarry. Nicknames The Huntress, she is the best of the Hunter Corporation, bounty hunters sanctioned to kill. Temporarily distracted, she encounters the unexpected in Seth Terrik and the eleven-year-old Regan Freya who trails him. Soon she offers Seth a new identity, sanctuary on her ship, and to adopt Regan.
Suspicious, Seth refuses Mea offers, but accepts on behalf of the child. Fifteen years in a dark, dangerous prison turned Seth into an animal. His urge to survive is only surpassed for his desperation for freedom. Mea's too-good-offers simply feel like another form of prison, and he refuses to be bound again, even to a sexy woman who offers her heart, her body, and her life.
Author Michelle O'Leary pens a faced-paced, roller coaster ride in THE HUNTRESS. Mea creates an ethical dilemma that some readers will trip over, that being a woman honor bound to hunt the dregs of the universe and then rescues an escaped convict. However, O'Leary does step carefully through the ethics, and most readers will find her arguments convincing. Certainly readers will love this irreverent, wild duo with their steaming passion and fabulous chemistry. Mea's character lends a powerful presence to the novel, including her superhuman skills and fierce determination. Her relationship with young Regan develops quickly yet convincingly. Further, Seth's struggles with self-esteem and accepting love make for an endearing yet prickly hero. In addition, secondary characters sparkle, including the android, Regan and Mea's uncle. Unexpected humor, emotional impetuousness, and plot complexity result in a read that comes very highly recommended.
Cindy Penn, Senior Editor, wordweaving.com
Amazon top 50 Reviewer
eBook Specialist, Midwest Book Review
Mea Brin is an intergalactic bounty hunter. She’s professional; she’s ruthless; she’s lethal; and she never says anything even remotely resembling “gosh darn” when she’s mad. When she enters a seedy bar on a remote moonbase, tracking a criminal, she finds much more that she’d bargained for. She meets a mysterious man with whom she feels an instant bond, and the little girl he’s protecting.
Determined to make this man her partner, professionally and personally, she arranges to have his criminal past erased by trading his identity with another man’s. After several years in a brutal prison, Stone neither expects nor believes that anyone would offer him help or a partnership. He vows to stick around only until the little girl can be returned to her family. That vow is tested almost immediately, as Mea and the girl seem to attract trouble.
The action, and there is a lot of action, takes place on several different planets. Each one is fully imagined and richly described. The atmosphere in bars and clubs is almost palpable. In fact, the very first line, uttered by Mea, perfectly sets place, tone, and character. All of the characters, even those that are secondary, are given individual personalities, quirks, and detailed backgrounds. They all react to situations appropriately, given their past experiences. The emotions and attitudes expressed seem utterly real. The interaction between characters, and the dialogue is natural and believable.
This is an exciting, fast-paced read that also includes a real emotional component. There is violence and blood in the story; and that only makes sense. After all, these are Hunters: men, and a few women, who live or die by their wits. They inhabit a gritty, dangerous universe; charged with seeking out some of the worst, most vicious criminals in existence. The Hunters themselves are an interesting group. I hope to see more of them in the future.
Deborah Hern for The Romance Reader's Connection
Rating: (five flowers)
Let’s be blunt. This book is a winner. A keeper with not one thing that I could really pick on to balance out this review.
The characters are what drive this book, not that there's anything wrong with the plot, or the writing style, but the characters grab you and refuse to let you go. I’d be more than happy to see these characters in a series. They are that interesting.
Mea Brin is a Hunter. Think Texas Ranger/Bounty Hunter of outer space. You know how it's said that it only takes one Ranger to control a town, riot, mob, etc? Well, expand that to a planet and you have the Hunters. And Mea is the best of the best. So good in fact she's known as The Huntress, hence the title. And Mea is good. Very good. We get to see her in action from the very beginning. So from that very same beginning I knew I was going to enjoy this book.
Seth Terrik is an escaped convict. But he’s not Mea’s prey - at least not in the way one might think. You see Mea is a woman that knows what she wants and after staring into the light sensitive eyes of Terrik, all thoughts of the money she could make off him fly away. But the hunt is still on. Because Mea wants Terrik for herself. And she'll go to great lengths to have him.
For Terrik, having a Hunter after him isn’t something he’s pleased about. Regardless of the fact that this Hunter revs his engine like no one ever has before. Unfortunately, he’s unable to just slip away. He’s got Regan to think about now. Regan’s a young girl who’s latched on to Terrik as if he’s her last hope in the world. And he is. With her family dead, Terrik is the only person Regan can trust until Mea saunters into their lives. So, Terrik is bombarded on both sides by emotions he’s never known before. What’s a tough guy to do?
Well, I’m not telling. You’ll just have to read the book. It’ll be totally worth it. Fans of Pitch Black the movie will see a few similarities, as if the author saw the movie and was inspired to create something even better. And for this die hard Vin Diesel fan, that’s saying a lot.
One of the things I loved about The Huntres is Mea’s irrepressible sense of self and that you could see that she’d be teaching Regan to have the same. She’s confident in almost all things. As a result, Terrik who is a very strong character himself and stubborn as a mule, is a perfect match. Sadly, many other heroines would have had to resort to gaining his sympathy (think tears, depression, some tragedy of some kind) to get this man. But Mea was strong to the end. Even when crisis did strike and Terrik had to go in to rescue her and Regan, she was still strong. Not once did she fall into damsel in distress mode. And she did this all without coming across as a ball busting... well you know.
JaToya Love for Romance Review
Mea Brin is the best hunter in the galaxy. She's known far and wide as simply The Huntress. Criminals, n'er do wells, and the truly wicked hide whenever she arrives. While tracking her latest target, Mea sees a man who rocks her world. Unfortunately, he's an escaped convict and her duty is to capture and return him to prison for his execution. After watching him for a few days, she realizes she can't sentence him to death; there is something about him that calls to her deep inside. Besides, he has a young girl with him and she can't bring herself to hurt the girl by taking her "father".
Eleven-year-old Regan Freya has lost everything in her young life. Her parents, her beloved older sister, and nearly her life. The only person she has to cling to is the escaped convict who saved her. While the rest of the world shivers in fear when he enters a room, Regan sees only her hero.
Seth Terrick has spent the last fifteen years in the darkest hell of prison. A prison that would have destroyed most men, but Terrick's will to survive is unbroken. When the chance to escape his death sentence is presented he takes it ... with no thought but to survive. However, during his escape he acquires a small follower. Unable to feel any emotion beyond the will to survive, he still can't abandon the young girl to her fate. When he is tracked and cornered by The Huntress, he believes it's the end, but this beautiful and uncanny woman offers him the chance at a new life, and a new identity as her partner, Bayard Stone. Will Terrick learn to trust, something he's never known, or will he continue to run for his life, giving up the possibilities of a future he could never have envisioned?
Adventure, betrayal, passion and love fill the pages of THE HUNTRESS. A tale of second chances and new beginnings, it's fraught with heartache and danger. An incredible cast of well-developed characters fills the pages and brings the fictional world of Mea, Regan and Seth/Bay to vivid life. Fast moving and exciting, the story moves quickly, with danger at nearly every turn.
THE HUNTRESS is a character driven story and engages the reader's interest from the first page. Mea is a tough and sometimes violent woman, but her passion for Bay and her love for young Regan make her human and more approachable. Even with her demanding job, she retains a refreshing sense of humor. Regan is delightful. At first timid and fearful, she quickly grows into an inquisitive and loving child under the loving influence of Mea.
Terrick/Bay is a more complex character. With a dark past filled with pain and anguish only hinted at, he is slower to accept Mea's caring and love. He fights it with everything in him, just as he fights the feelings of protectiveness and warmth that Regan brings him. Unlike Regan and Mea, Terrick/Bay's past is a dark mystery and one I would like to have known more about, however, that is my only complaint about this incredibly exciting and emotional story. Each element is very well done, from character interaction to dialogue and scene setting. For a truly enjoyable read (and this is saying something since generally I don't like Sci-Fi) get a copy of THE HUNTRESS for your collection. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Terrie Figueroa for Romance Reviews Today
Mea Brin is a Huntress, part an elite band of tracers who chase down and capture renegades in this future universe. To become a Hunter or Huntress the candidate goes through severe mental and physical training. After the training, they are fitted with physical enhancements that allow them to run faster, see better and have more strength than the average person. Not only is Mia a huntress, she is the best Huntress to come out of the J P Masterson Hunter's Academy in years.
After both Mia's mother and her father were killed, Mike Conley, later to become the head of The Hunters organization, adopted Mia and raised her as his own. At that time Uncle Mike, as she called him, was a hunter so Mia learned how to hunt first hand. Uncle Mike is very protective of his prodigy even to the point of assisting her when she falsified record to protect a friend and was instrumental in the death of another Hunter.
As the story opens, Mia is on the trail of prey in a seedy bar on some forgotten moon when she sees Seth Terrick, an escaped murder from Malthat, a maximum-security prison. Terrick has Regan, a girl of about ten with him. Like Mia, Regan lost both of her parents at an early age. Her sister, Kate, raised her until Kate was killed during a riot on board a starship. One of the starship passengers started to kill the crew then he turned the helm so the ship would fly into a star. During the melee, Kate took a bullet meant for Seth. From that time on, Seth felt responsible for Regan. Mia feels that the girl is in danger in the bar, so she attempts to get the girl out but Terrick reacts with close to hunter speed to defend the girl. Mia becomes so taken with Terrick's she almost forgets her prey. After she extracts the needed information from the prey, Mia leaves the bar but she can't get Seth or the girl out of her mind.
When Mia checks in with Uncle Mike, she discovers another Hunter had been sent to get Seth. She decides to help Seth and the girl by getting rid of the other Hunter and changing Seth's records to give him a new identity. Seth, on the other hand, can see no reason why Mia should want to help him. He remains extremely suspicious of Mia. He reluctantly goes along with her plans to give him a new identity and he agrees to let Mia take Regan but he can't accept Mia's interest in him.
Mia and Seth's bumbling relationship straddles the galaxy. Seth wants to believe in Mia, but he fears she is using him. Mia, on the other hand, understands Seth's reluctance but finds herself passionately drawn to the rugged renegade anyway. The ultimate climax is believable and exciting.
THE HUNTRESS had me drawn in from the first page. It transports the reader to fascinating new worlds. While set in the future, it is more of a love story than a Sci-fi thriller. Mia is fantastic and the tools they use are interesting from the android, Warren, who fusses over Mia to the AI, affectionately called Ema who serves as the ship's doctor. Still, the story could be set in a number of locations or ages. It's a rip roaring good adventure/romance novel to be savored.
Five moons out of five
Doris Pannell, WEN Online book reviewer