by H.D. Lynn
Book: Stand Alone
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Pub Date: Sept 2014
Genre: Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Author
Book Links: Goodreads Amazon
Sixteen-year old Toby was trained by a family of hunters to kill shape-shifters — but he has a unique weapon in his arsenal. With a touch of his hand, Toby can lift the magical protection shape-shifters use to disguise themselves as human. It’s an unusual skill for a hunter, and he prefers to kill monsters the old-fashioned way: with a blade.
Because of his special skill, Toby suspects he may be a monster himself. His suspicions deepen when William, a jackal-headed shape-shifter, saves him from an ambush where Toby’s the only survivor. And Toby doubts William helped him for purely altruistic reasons. With his list of allies running thin, Toby must reconcile his hatred of shifters and the damning truth that one saved his life. It’ll take both of them to track down the monster who ordered the ambush.And Toby needs his unlikely alley because he has a vicious enemy — the infamous Circe, who has a vendetta to settle against the hunters. Toby has to unravel the mystery of his dual nature. And he has to do it on the run — before Circe finds him and twists him to her own ends.
My Review: What happens of a monster hunter is a monster himself? Well its something interesting! Toby has been training to hunt shape-shifters and kill them. Plus he has this cool trick where he can find them and reveal who they are. Magical shields aren't going to fare well against Toby, but he doesn't really care about that. Hes more into the old fashion type of killing. Just him and his blade against the shifter, well mostly because that's how his mother wanted him to be trained.
Seems like something teens are doing, and then an ambush comes along and Toby survives. Now things are going to change for him. He wonders about why Will helped him. Pure goodness? Evil intentions? Well Will turned out to be better than I thought and I didn't end up hating him. I didn't hate Toby either, he was a pretty good main character and has a good head on his shoulders for his age. Usually he should be off driving and going on date, but instead he looks for shape-shifter.
Overall I enjoyed this book. A nice read, great writing and the story will keep you interested throughout. The fantasy was done well and the author didn't over do it on the genre. I liked that, and would read more from the author!
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