Review: Stalking The Others by Jess Haines

Stalking The Others by Jess Haines (H&W Investigations #4)

won from Jess Haines and Nicki-Ann

Synopsis from Goodreads
Vampires, werewolves, mages–the Others are very real, and wreaking havoc in Shiarra Waynest’s life. But now, she’s returning the favor…

Once, she was one of the good guys–or as close as a New York P.I. can get. Then Shiarra Waynest was drawn into the world of the Others. Every faction has its own loyalties and agenda. And Shia’s recent betrayal by her ex-boyfriend means that she may be on the verge of becoming a rogue werewolf at the next full moon.

Of course, with all the threats against her, Shia’s not sure she’ll live long enough to find out. The enigmatic vampire Royce wants her back in his clutches, as do two powerful werewolf packs, along with the police. Instead of going into hiding, Shia is enlisting the aid of her enchanted hunter’s belt and every dirty P.I. trick she knows. If she’s going down, she’ll take out as many of her enemies as she can–and hope that in the process, she keeps whatever humanity she has left…

 Amazon  US/UK | Amazon kindle US($5.38)/UK(£4.22) | The Book Depository US/UK(£4.90) 

9/10

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Wow, what a wild ride that was! I still think that Deceived by The Others is the strongest book in the series, because there is so much pain, shock and betrayal in it. However, Stalking The Others is behind it only by half a point.

Shia's got so much rage in her, so much anger. This is truly gritty urban fantasy, full of action, bitterness, tethered emotions and total self-absorption with delivering vengeance to those who wronged the main heroine.

Partly the change comes over Shia because of the magical belt she's wearing. If you remember previous books, the belt gave her a much needed edge over supernatural creatures at night, but by day its strength waned.

However, the darkness she absorbs every time she wears that belt is welcomed, so whatever has been happening from the very beginning of Miss Waynest's involvement with vampires and werewolves  reached its critical point which broke her and molded her into something new.

Stalking The Others is turning the tables, and Shia becomes a hunter instead of being hunted. The plot is violent, action-packed and gritty with the ending that made me reminisce about Anita and Jean-Claude when it was all still fresh and new.

Not sure what to think of the ending, but it's clear that Jess Haines has quite a few aces up her sleeve, and I can not even predict the direction Shia's life will take from now, but I'm very much looking forward to finding out...

Fabulous read!

Hunted by The Others - 8.5/10

Taken by The Others - 8.5/10

Deceived by The Others - 9.5/10

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Фантастически написано, да ещё с такой концовкой, что понимаешь - у Джесс Хейнс полно тузов в рукаве и предугадать как дальше сложится жизнь Шии практически невозможно.

Книга вышла очень яростная, полная экшна и насилия. Шиа полна гнева и жажды отомщения, из жертвы она превращается наконец-то в охотницу. Да конечно, на неё очень сильно влияет магический пояс, который она постоянно носит, но даже и без него её психологический портрет очень меняется.

Ночами она практически также сильна как и остальные паранормальные существа, но днём сила пояса угасает и все её ушибы и раны чувствуются вдвойне.

Шиа ищет предателя - бывшего бойфренда и его прихвостня, который заразил её  ликантропным вирусом, и отсчитывает дни до полной луны. Она также просит помощи  у Белых Шляп - охотников за паранормальными существами и их комнадира, Джима.

Концовка мягко говоря удивила и напомнила Аниту и Жан-Клода в начале их отношений. Я не думаю, что идиллия продлится в следующей книге, потому как Шиа слишком уж непредсказуемая и тёмная лошадка, которая очень скоро взбрыкнётся. Посмотрим, а пока всем любителям городского фэнтэзи - читайте! Советую.