Review: Shadow Hunter by Kait Ballenger

Shadow Hunter
(Execution Underground, #0.5)
By: Kait Ballenger
Publisher: Harlequin HQN
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Rating:

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Vampire hunter Damon Brock’s first assignment with the Execution Underground is Rochester, New York, a city crawling with the undead. But he isn’t the only hunter in town gunning for vamp blood. Tiffany Solow is fierce and ruthless when it comes to slaying the monsters that destroyed her family-and she works solo. But being alone is no longer so desirable when she meets the mysterious hunter who wants more than just her turf. As they work to massacre the local covens, the line between good and evil blurs when they are forced to decide between their lifelong beliefs… and their newfound hearts.

Damon is on the hunt for the head vampire who killed his partner, Mark. However, when he tracks down the bloodsucker, he finds Mark’s little sister acting as a potential feeding host. She’s no longer the teenager he used to write letters to. She’s hunting her brother’s killer and will do anything to seek revenge, even if it means putting her life on the line.

I don’t know why but I’m always a fan of the best friend’s little sister stories. This one had a fun twist to it though. Damon and Mark were Hunters together and in an attempt to help Damon release some pent up emotions, Mark gets his little sister to start writing Damon. Pretty soon the two of them are close pen pals but neither of them have met. So fast forward to the present time, Mark was killed in action, Tiffany blames Damon for not saving him and Damon agrees with her assessment. When these two meet, she has no clue that her brother’s partner “B” is the same man standing in front of her and of course Damon isn’t going to be forthcoming with that information. However, they have a common goal and that is to take down the vampire responsible for Mark’s death. So they team up to try to take this vampire down, while becoming closer in the process.

Even though this is a novella that sets up the Execution Underground series, there was a lot going on. We got to understand the characters, the world that they live in as well as get a grasp for the stage that Kait is setting. This series isn’t going to revolve around just vampires, the EU handles all things supernatural and apparently there is a whole butt load of supes in Rochester, NY.

“I hate to tell you this, but Rochester is swamped with supernatural predators. There are reported werewolf sightings, possibly a full-on pack, there are demons lodged so deep the people they’ve possessed are pretty much done for, there are several small witch covens, loads of non-wereworlf shifters-oh, and that’s not even including all the poltergeists and ghosts reported in the old abandoned asylum.”

So with all the action taking place in Rochester, Damon finds himself appointed team leader and will soon be getting a team of Hunters to help him handle all the things that go bump in the night. If the prequel is anything to go off of, this is going to be an amazing series. I’m so glad I found out about this debut author. The whole story was captivating, from the intense fight scenes to the seductive bedroom scenes. If you are a fan of paranormal romance than this is an absolute must. I personally cannot wait to read more of not only the EU series but anything that Kait comes out with.

I was born & raised in Syracuse so of course I loved that this book takes place in Rochester.

“Not even 9:00p.m. and already he’d taken out one bloodsucker. Rochester seemed promising.”