Book Review: Shadow Hunter by Kait Ballenger

Shadow Hunter
Execution Underground #0.5
Author: Kait Ballenger
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Released: August 4th 2014
Review Source: Harlequin HQN | Netgalley

See where it all began in this exciting prequel to The Execution Underground, Kait Ballenger’s sexy paranormal series about the men who hunt evil and the women who love them.

Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s first assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family—and she works solo. But when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf, the line between good and evil blurs as they must decide between their lifelong beliefs…and their newfound desires.

This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.

Let’s be real. I sniffed this book out like a bloodhound. Being an over-the-top massive fan of Gena Showalter and J.R Ward, I was told I’d love this new series from debut author Kait Ballenger. I saw the chance to review Shadow Hunter and I took it.

Damon has one thing on his mind when arriving in Rochester, New York, and that's shoving a stake in the leech who murdered his best friend. But Damon didn’t anticipate seeing the one woman who pulls at his heart strings after the same guy...his best friend’s little sister. This should have been exciting for them both, finally they get to meet in person after years of exchanging letters, but that Tiffany knows Damon is responsible for her brother’s death dimmed the flame for her feelings for Damon. She hates him. Or she tries to.

Kait, why did you do this to me? I already have enough series to obsess over and now you’ve just added to the list. And that cliffhanger? My jaw literally dropped and I couldn’t have looked more shocked if I tried. Did NOT expect that. So a warning: if you don’t like cliffhangers then wait to read this series. Damon’s story doesn’t continue in Twilight Hunter or Immortal Hunter, no, we don't get Damon's full length book until book 6. I know, I nearly died when I found that out. Seems Ballenger is trying to kill me with the suspense.

Both Damon and Tiffany are strong characters. Maybe Tiffany was a little too stubborn for her own good but I understood why she was like that, it was all to avenge her brother. That was admirable and so was her willingness to dive nose deep into something she knew she might not make it out alive in. It was obvious that this was the “starter” book. Where all the drama brews and things go from okay to bad to worse, building everything up and setting the series up perfectly (Shadow Hunter was originally in the anthology “After Dark” but was re-released as an individual eBook). I’m gone for this series. It was insta-love.