The Great Hunt
3.5/5
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About this ebook
Wendy Higgins, the author of the New York Times bestselling Sweet Evil series, reimagines a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale with The Great Hunt, a dramatic, romance-filled fantasy with rugged hunters, romantic tension, and a princess willing to risk all to save her kingdom.
When a monstrous beast attacks in Eurona, desperate measures must be taken. The king sends a proclamation to the best and bravest hunters: whoever kills the creature will win the hand of his daughter Princess Aerity as a reward. The princess recognizes her duty but cannot bear the idea of marrying a stranger—she was meant to marry for love—until a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention. And while there’s no denying the fiery chemistry between them, Princess Aerity feels that Paxton’s mysteriousness is foreboding, maybe even dangerous.
Paxton is not the marrying type. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He is determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast—but the princess continues to surprise him, and the secrets he’s buried begin to surface against his wishes.
Wendy Higgins
Wendy Higgins is the New York Times bestselling author of the Sweet Evil series, The Great Hunt, The Great Pursuit, Flirting with Maybe, and Kiss Collector. Born in Alaska as an Army brat, she lived on five different military bases across the US. Wendy now lives on the Eastern Shore of Virginia with her husband and children, writing full-time. You can visit her online at www.wendyhigginswrites.com.
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Reviews for The Great Hunt
66 ratings14 reviews
What our readers think
Readers find this title to have weak character development and some chapters that lack purpose. However, it is still a great book with a good author and potential for a promising sequel. The ending leaves readers wanting more, although it may not be worth continuing for some. Overall, it is a book with promise and potential.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Received via Edelweiss and Harper Collins Children in exchange for an completely unbiased review.
Also posted on Silk & Serif
So whats the easiest way to describe The Great Hunt? Kill the dragon, get the girl.
The Great Hunt begins with a frightening beast terrorizing the kingdom of Lochlanach through death and mayhem. The king commissions a great hunt filled with the kingdom's best hunters to kill the best and end of beast's reign of terror. In exchange, a winner will marry his beautiful daughter and stand as next in line to the throne. Meanwhile, Princess Aerity struggles with the knowledge that instead of the marriage of love she has been expecting since she was a child, she must enter into a marriage contract of obligation. Unfortunately, in enters the devilishly handsome Paxton Seabolt who steals the Princess' heart who only complicates the young royal's obligation to her family and country.
Paxton Seabolt is a strong, mysterious boy with plenty of secrets to keep hidden, but when he hears the call for hunters to take down the beast threatening his family he cannot turn his back. He vows to kill the beast and doesn’t want to marry a princess or care about the proclamation. That is, until he meets Princess Aerity and realizes she’s more than what meets the eye.
Every time I read a Wendy Higgins book two things happen:- I end the novel properly satisfied or excited to read the next book in the series.
- Awed by the new leaps an already skilled author has made in her writing craft
I swear, Higgins can write any book well without relying too heavily on a formulaic plot. She's written novels about Irish faeries, demons, sins and now a story about a medieval princess in a tough situation.
The romance! What can I say? I rooted for Aerity and Paxton. I loved how stubborn Paxton was and how he strives to protect those he loved making him the stereotypical hero. Aerity was also the stereotypical strong, new age Princess, but largely these stereotypes helped to develop an enjoyable read. She gave up her chance to marry for love to save those she loved and honor her birth right with minimal complaining. I was a bit concerned once it became obvious Aerity was used to a very different life style, that a majority of the book would be wrought with complaints and self-pity. It wasn't. I also loved that I thought I knew how this novel would end based on the stereotypical nature of the characters..don't be fooled, you're in for a typical Higgin's ending!
It’s refreshing to see a romance that isn’t insta-love or based on attraction alone: Aerity and Paxton become friends before they seriously fall for one another!
True to Higgin’s usual style we are given a unique world of magic, intense world building and strong characters. I didn’t wallow in boredom while we worked through necessary but dull parts of the story. The Great Hunt is a one sitting read with plenty of fantasy elements and political struggle to keep you interested between Pax and Aerity's romance scenes. We get to see things from secondary character’s POV which is incredibly helpful in gauging other people’s understandings of event s and adding some really fantastic side stories to the mix.
Unfortunately, I feel this book doesn’t have the ability to garner wide appeal from the masses. The Great Hunt is primarily a true-blue young adult romance with fantasy elements. The entire story is about Pax and Aerity falling in love and the struggle to kill the beast. There isn’t a whole lot of deeper meaning in the scenes or in interactions beyond what is revealed, but it’s a wonderful novel if you’re in the mood for some emotional reading.
I cannot wait for book two! So many things have happened and there are still plenty of mysteries and massive plot developments to wrap up.
My biggest complaint is that all the characters began to pair off mid book which was rather annoying. I found that none of the female characters were strong enough to be on her own for long, looking for love in the hunters rather than being confident. I understand this is a period piece where women exist to marry off..but if its following a modern twist on marriage for love, we can have independent women as well.
Otherwise, The Great Hunt was a beautiful and fun read that took very little effort to read. It was extremely enjoyable and light-hearted regardless of a vicious beast terrorizing the kingdom and some brutal death scenes. This is a great example of why I cultivated a love for young adult because it is simple, enjoyable and in some ways following a formula that is comfortable like old shoes.
The book will appeal to readers of true young adult novels, slow burn romance lovers and fantasy enthusiasts. I wouldn’t suggest this to readers who are looking for more than a sweet, first love sort of romance because this theme permeates every aspect of this novel. I definitely recommend this as a must read for any Higgins fan, though. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5With a nice fast pace and interesting storyline, THE GREAT HUNT was an intriguing fantasy with plenty of action and romance to complement the darker elements throughout.Things I Liked: I actually really liked Aerity as a characters. She was willing to sacrifice her happiness for her kingdom. That isn't a small thing and I thought that she had a really good grasp on the reality of the situation her family and kingdom were in. Paxton was really moody, but he is loyal to his family and the kingdom he lives in. I can respect that.A few other likable things. THE GREAT HUNT had a good amount of mystery to it. I love a good mystery. There was a great cast of secondary characters that helped keep things interesting. The world was great and well built.The Issues: The romance ticked me off more than it made me swoon. Although I liked Paxton, he acted like a true arse to Aerity and did a lot of things to push her away even though he was attracted to her and wanted her. But the worst part was that Aerity actually liked it in some ways. Uggh, what is with that? Not cool. Another issue. There was a lot of sitting around the castle. Even with the neat action scenes there was an equal amount of 'nothing going on' moments.Even with the issues, I still enjoyed THE GREAT HUNT and wouldn't mind continuing with the next book to see how things work out for Aerity and Paxton. * This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Contrary to what the description says, this is not a retelling of the Singing Bone. In the original tale, the older brother (Paxton) was wicked and killed the younger brother (Tiern) after he killed the boar (terrible creature) and then the older brother (Paxton) took the boar and claimed the hand of the princess as his reward. Years later a shepherd sees a bone and uses it to make the mouthpiece of his horn, but whenever he plays the horn it sings a song about how the younger brother killed the boar, only to be killed by his older brother. The king eventually hears the horn singing and questions the older brother who doesn't deny that he killed his younger brother and is, himself killed and buried in unhallowed ground while the younger brother's bones are found and buried in the churchyard. Except the fact that there is an animal and whoever kills it will get the hand of the princess, and there are two brothers involved, there really isn't much in this book to claim that it was inspired by the Singing Bone. And granted this is only the first book of a duology, but given the fact that neither of the brothers killed the beast, and they are on good terms with one another, I find it extremely doubtful that the second book will be able to convince me that this story is a retelling of that story. The good: I thought that Aerity was a good character. Most of the time when female characters are faced with an arranged marriage they whine, sulk or run away. Aerity, for once looks at the problem, weighs the good an arranged marriage will do for her people to the pain it will cause herself, and chooses to accept the burden. I also liked Tiern. He was a sweet and unassuming character who genuinely meant well. Unfortunately, he had almost no reaction to learning that his brother was a lashed, and I didn't think that was normal character behavior. Speaking of the lashed, I found the idea very interesting, and it was the one world-building portion of the book that I thought worked well. I also thought that the first scene was very moving, and it made me feel as thought Wyneth had just lost the love of her life. The hunting scenes were enjoyable. I was convinced that the men knew what they were doing, and the boredom, followed by a few moments of action seemed believable.The bad: Wyneth spends a couple of weeks mourning for the man who, in only a few minutes (reading via audiobook) I had been convinced she loved deeply, then a pushy jerk of a guy admires her, and pushes a little to hard to convince her to be in love with him or start an affair with him. I would have thought that was an interesting twist in the story if she hadn't reciprocated, but because Wyneth is immediately cast into something of an America Singer (from The Selection series) character ("My heart is broken...but I'm in love with this guy who I just met who is a little too possessive of me...but my heart is broken,") and that kind of ruined both her character, and the good first scene. I hated Paxton. Yes, he is lashed, which is a difficult thing to be right now. No, he's not interested in having children and potentially giving them the magic that makes his life so difficult, but does he have to be such a blasted jerk? His first interaction with Aerity is to leer at her, and in almost every interaction after that he is a complete jerk, and she still falls in wuv with him. Given how unpleasant he is, but also how cute he's supposed to be, my only guess is that Aerity is deeply in lust with him, because even when people have instalove, the other person has to be at least a little bit nice first. Then Paxton spends most of the book being mean to Aerity, but then suddenly decides that he's in wuv with her too. The end was frustrating. Not because of the sequel setup or the fact that Aerity ended up being engaged to the creep who has fallen in lust with her cousin, and her cousin has fallen in wuv with, in fact I thought that was a good set up. Aerity was being forced to truly give up something she wanted for her people, rather than being just lucky enough to get what she wanted, and the premise of a man who was interested in someone else in the castle, and too pushy to be considered a gentleman, being the man Aerity married is, in fact, a very interesting one. But the end fight scene felt forced somehow. Aerity catches up to them, and manages to stab the beast in it's vulnerable spot, but it doesn't die, and instead bats her and knocks her out and breaks her ribs. Then it kills Tiern, and Paxton gives up killing the beast, and his chance to be with the girl he wuvs, who also wuvs him, to "save" Tiern, but Tiern is already dead and Paxton brings him back to life. If Paxton could bring his brother back to life, why wouldn't he have waited a little longer and killed the beast and then done it? It would have made so much more sense if Tiern had been almost dead, instead of dead. Also, for some reason, after all of the tracking and hunting, and fighting with the beast, the fight seemed too fast. It went from, even after having discovered the beasts vulnerable spot, a large group of hunters and warrior women still couldn't kill the beast to three men and one strong-in-character-and-body-but-not-very-practiced-in-fighting girl were able to kill it. And even though Tiern died and Aerity was knocked out, for some reason, the fight still didn't seem dangerous. I don't have high hopes for the romances, or the fairy tale this book was supposedly based after. Still I did enjoy parts of the book, so I'll give the second book a chance to prove me wrong.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I received this free eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review. I was extremely excited to see this available on Edelweiss from HarperCollins! I'm a a big fan of Wendy Higgins with her Sweet trilogy, so I've been waiting for this book since I found out about it. I flew through this novel in one sitting, absorbed into the new world Higgins created. At first it was a bit confusing trying to figure out what character was who, but eventually it all came together. I felt for Aerity. Going 17 years knowing she could marry for love only to have that be ripped from her in order to kill the vicious beast that is killing her people. But she was very professional about it and took it with stride. I really liked Aerity. Paxton was pretty much everywhere when it came to his feelings. He has a reason for it, sure, but it was a bit of a roller coaster trying to figure out what he was thinking and doing half the time. The ending was bittersweet. I'm hoping things will change in the second novel to get the ending that everyone will sure to be wanting when they meet all of the hunters... I'm not giving anything away, but I have my favorite out of the bunch. I loved how Aerity's family does circus events - aerobatic talents! Even though they are royalty they can do things like that! Blows my mind!Intrigued to see what will happen in the second and final novel in this series! I think a lot of people will really enjoy this other world that Higgins created - especially if they are already fans of her work.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Once I got over the idea that a king would offer his daughter's hand in marriage to the hunter who managed to kill the great beast that was terrorizing his kingdom, I enjoyed this epic fantasy that seems to be the first book in a trilogy. Aerity has been raised to rule but she has also been raised as the daughter of a love match. Her mother was a circus performer before she married the king. But the king is desperate to save his kingdom and no one has been able to kill this beast who is roaming the land. The land is interesting too because it is inhabited by a despised minority called the Lashed who have the ability to do magic. Since an uprising in a nearby kingdom by a Lashed man who wanted to overthrow the government and murdered a number of people to try to get his way, all Lashed have been in danger. Whenever anything goes wrong, the Lashed are blamed and are often hunted down and killed. The exception in Aerity's kingdom is one Lashed who serves the royal family. Aerity hates the treatment of the Lashed but needs to follow her father's laws.Back to the hunt . . . after the king's proclamation goes out, a number of hunters from a number of kingdoms come to the castle to try to slay the beast and win Aerity's hand. Among the hunters are Paxton and Tiern Seabolt. Tiern is an open-hearted young man just Aerity's age. Paxton is his older, more serious brother. There was a love-at-first-sight moment when Aerity first catches Paxton's eye across the courtyard where the hunters have gathered. Despite his interest in her, Paxton needs to keep her at arm's length because he is a young man with a secret. The crowd of hunters is quickly winnowed down as the beast is very formidable. There are lots of scenes as the hunters try to find and slay the beast. There is natural rivalry among the hunters both because they are from different countries, and because only one man can win Aerity's hand. One of the good candidates would prefer to have a relationship with Aerity's cousin and another - Tiern - is smitten by Aerity's younger sister. I enjoyed this story despite the lack of a happily ever after ending. In fact, the ending leads me to believe that there are more books planned. Fantasy lovers will enjoy this story and be looking forward to more in the series.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5pretty predictable. ended in a cliff hanger but not really worth continuing. it had promise though. if I find nothing else I might read another but odds are I'm done
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It was a wonderful book! Such a good author.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Prob one of the worst books I’ve read in awhile. The characters were weak and I don’t think the author could decide who she wanted to play the main character because she jumped all over the place with character development. I felt like all of a sudden the princess was kissing the hunter she wanted and I was like whoa, where did that come from? Weak development overall and some of the chapters didn’t really have any purpose. I got bored.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Contrary to what the description says, this is not a retelling of the Singing Bone. In the original tale, the older brother (Paxton) was wicked and killed the younger brother (Tiern) after he killed the boar (terrible creature) and then the older brother (Paxton) took the boar and claimed the hand of the princess as his reward. Years later a shepherd sees a bone and uses it to make the mouthpiece of his horn, but whenever he plays the horn it sings a song about how the younger brother killed the boar, only to be killed by his older brother. The king eventually hears the horn singing and questions the older brother who doesn't deny that he killed his younger brother and is, himself killed and buried in unhallowed ground while the younger brother's bones are found and buried in the churchyard. Except the fact that there is an animal and whoever kills it will get the hand of the princess, and there are two brothers involved, there really isn't much in this book to claim that it was inspired by the Singing Bone. And granted this is only the first book of a duology, but given the fact that neither of the brothers killed the beast, and they are on good terms with one another, I find it extremely doubtful that the second book will be able to convince me that this story is a retelling of that story. The good: I thought that Aerity was a good character. Most of the time when female characters are faced with an arranged marriage they whine, sulk or run away. Aerity, for once looks at the problem, weighs the good an arranged marriage will do for her people to the pain it will cause herself, and chooses to accept the burden. I also liked Tiern. He was a sweet and unassuming character who genuinely meant well. Unfortunately, he had almost no reaction to learning that his brother was a lashed, and I didn't think that was normal character behavior. Speaking of the lashed, I found the idea very interesting, and it was the one world-building portion of the book that I thought worked well. I also thought that the first scene was very moving, and it made me feel as thought Wyneth had just lost the love of her life. The hunting scenes were enjoyable. I was convinced that the men knew what they were doing, and the boredom, followed by a few moments of action seemed believable.The bad: Wyneth spends a couple of weeks mourning for the man who, in only a few minutes (reading via audiobook) I had been convinced she loved deeply, then a pushy jerk of a guy admires her, and pushes a little to hard to convince her to be in love with him or start an affair with him. I would have thought that was an interesting twist in the story if she hadn't reciprocated, but because Wyneth is immediately cast into something of an America Singer (from The Selection series) character ("My heart is broken...but I'm in love with this guy who I just met who is a little too possessive of me...but my heart is broken,") and that kind of ruined both her character, and the good first scene. I hated Paxton. Yes, he is lashed, which is a difficult thing to be right now. No, he's not interested in having children and potentially giving them the magic that makes his life so difficult, but does he have to be such a blasted jerk? His first interaction with Aerity is to leer at her, and in almost every interaction after that he is a complete jerk, and she still falls in wuv with him. Given how unpleasant he is, but also how cute he's supposed to be, my only guess is that Aerity is deeply in lust with him, because even when people have instalove, the other person has to be at least a little bit nice first. Then Paxton spends most of the book being mean to Aerity, but then suddenly decides that he's in wuv with her too. The end was frustrating. Not because of the sequel setup or the fact that Aerity ended up being engaged to the creep who has fallen in lust with her cousin, and her cousin has fallen in wuv with, in fact I thought that was a good set up. Aerity was being forced to truly give up something she wanted for her people, rather than being just lucky enough to get what she wanted, and the premise of a man who was interested in someone else in the castle, and too pushy to be considered a gentleman, being the man Aerity married is, in fact, a very interesting one. But the end fight scene felt forced somehow. Aerity catches up to them, and manages to stab the beast in it's vulnerable spot, but it doesn't die, and instead bats her and knocks her out and breaks her ribs. Then it kills Tiern, and Paxton gives up killing the beast, and his chance to be with the girl he wuvs, who also wuvs him, to "save" Tiern, but Tiern is already dead and Paxton brings him back to life. If Paxton could bring his brother back to life, why wouldn't he have waited a little longer and killed the beast and then done it? It would have made so much more sense if Tiern had been almost dead, instead of dead. Also, for some reason, after all of the tracking and hunting, and fighting with the beast, the fight seemed too fast. It went from, even after having discovered the beasts vulnerable spot, a large group of hunters and warrior women still couldn't kill the beast to three men and one strong-in-character-and-body-but-not-very-practiced-in-fighting girl were able to kill it. And even though Tiern died and Aerity was knocked out, for some reason, the fight still didn't seem dangerous. I don't have high hopes for the romances, or the fairy tale this book was supposedly based after. Still I did enjoy parts of the book, so I'll give the second book a chance to prove me wrong.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book was great. I can't wait to read the next book!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A book about some interesting career choices. Martinez started off at Goldman Sachs on the East Coast. He moved West and worked in Silicon Valley. Most of the drama in his book centered around his efforts with two other men to start up a software business. He offered some interesting anecdotes about various venture capitalists and investors including Chris Sacca. it was a long book ? ? I skipped around sections that did not interest me. Martinez's personal life was a bit interesting ? ? he had two children with a woman nicknamed BritishTrader. He also offered some interesting insights into his stint at Facebook ? ? especially as it relates to its culture.
I've read a couple books on working in Silicon Valley. My personality and energies would never fit in with a Silicon Valley business--- sounds like working within a slave camp. I also would never have had the balls to try to start a business and beg for money. I give Martinez a lot of credit for how he pulled off starting his company.
I agree with some reviewers who thought the book could have been shorter and more condensed. Like I said, I skipped a lot of the book. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I loved the Sweet series by Wendy Higgins. LOVED. So I knew I needed this book pronto.I’m not familiar with “The Singing Bone”, but now I need to read it to learn more about this tale!For a while there, I felt like it would never be going anywhere. It was monotonous castle life on every page, unless it was a POV of one of the Lashed.And I am glad for those alternating chapters, because I probably wouldn’t have stuck around had it been Aerity’s world all the time. I’m usually not a fan of the third person POV, but I didn’t mind it here.And once the story picked up, I was hooked. I fell in love with the charming kingdom of Lochlanach and all its residents (especially the hunters).The Lashed are my new favorite creatures. I’m incredibly intrigued. I loved Aerity instantly and adored Vixie just as much. What a cute little family!The Seabolt brothers. Paxton and Tiern are the perfect opposites and I loved their bond and what family meant to them. To choose family over honor or glory is a trait held by few.As always, Wendy Higgins crafted a highly dramatic tale, beautifully written and completely surprising.Once The Great Hunt finally got going, I couldn’t stop and quickly finished it. A consuming read full of twists and turns, romance and deception.You like forbidden magic and kickass women who aren’t afraid to get dirty? The Great Hunt is sure to leave you wanting more (and by that I mean you will be craving the sequel!)REVIEW AT YABOOKSCENTRAL.COM
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not bad but a little confusing at times
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: I was underwhelmed by this novel, unfortunately.Opening Sentence: A late summer breeze blew warm over the deep and wide Lanach Creek.The Review:A great beast plagues Princess Aerity’s kingdom. Hunters far and wide are invited to join the hunt: kill the beast, win the princess’s hand in marriage. Aerity finds herself attracted to a strong, silent hunter named Paxton, but he doesn’t seem to even like her. Killing the beast isn’t going to be as easy as it looks, however…I was a massive fan of Wendy Higgin’s Sweet Evil series. I adored her characters, her plot, and the rich world-building. That being said, I had high expectations for this new series, and was excited to receive it for review. For some reason, however, I really couldn’t get into this book, and was left disappointed. There wasn’t any huge problem with the characters or writing style. Mostly, I think I just got bored.Most of the novel is spent largely in pursuit of the beast and in the interest of letting the romance blossom. There is action, yes, but I didn’t find it largely satisfying. There were many times when the hunters would find the beast and engage with it, but it took quite a lot of the book before anything substansial actually happened to the plot. Most of the novel seemed to be world building; thankfully, at the end, it sped up considerably. Still, I found it hard to connect with the characters.I found the characters and romance sort of dull. Princess Aerity is built to look like this perfect character who has trouble thrown her way. She’s talented, beautiful, intelligent, and wealthy – but then she has to give up her freedom to the first hunter to slay the beast. I didn’t think her character was very complex, and she almost seemed too perfect – there wasn’t much that needed to change about her, so there was a lack of development. I almost would have preferred if she was a spoiled brat, because at least she would have had a character arc.The romance between Paxton and Aerity also felt unimpressive. In Sweet Evil, Kai and Anna have this incredible forbidden romance plagued by constant danger. It was probably the humor that got me so sold on them as a couple – they had the cutest one-liners. Paxton and Aerity lacked a spark, in my opinion. Sure, Aerity could talk about her consuming attraction all she wanted, but their conversations were filled with awkward silences and seemingly tension-filled gaps.Altogether, I liked the book. Yes, I did have quite a few problems, but it really wasn’t a horrible novel. I was just left feeling underwhelmed and unimpressed – maybe because my expectations were so high. The relationship didn’t seem to fit. Paxton was too moody, and even when reading from his point of view, I disliked his prejudices and unfair expectations. The characters weren’t my favorite, and I found myself slightly bored in the middle. That being said, I encourage any lovers of Sweet Evil to give it a try, because you never know if you will enjoy it more than me.Notable Scene:The truth of everything began to soak into her, like rain, each drop speaking to her…A stranger.A hunter.Your husband.Overwhelmed, she turned and gathered her skirts, forcing her chin to remain up as she walked steadily from the High Hall.FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of The Great Hunt. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Book preview
The Great Hunt - Wendy Higgins
Chapter
1
A late summer breeze blew warm over the deep and wide Lanach Creek. Moonlight caught the shock of Wyneth’s red-orange curls as she let her fiancé, Breckon, lay her back on the end of the dock. She could scarcely see his face in the dark of night as he hovered gently above her, but she knew every angle and plane by heart.
Another breeze crested down the creek from the nearby sea, but the couple’s combined heat warded them against it.
I don’t want you to leave,
Wyneth whispered.
If it were up to me, I’d stay right here with you. But it’s my duty.
He leaned down and kissed her gently at first, then deeper. Wyneth bent her knee, letting the silken layers of her dress fall back to expose her leg. Breckon’s hand cupped behind her knee, sliding up farther than she’d ever allowed him to touch before.
Just think,
Breckon said, his breaths coming faster, in three months, I’ll be back from the sea and we’ll finally marry.
Wyneth moaned, not wanting his hand to stop moving. I wish it were now.
She pulled his face to hers again, feeling brazen and greedy for his soft lips. She hated when he left for the sea; it always filled her with a pang of worry and longing. Wyneth urged Breckon closer.
A rustle sounded from the nearby dark woods. The couple stilled, listening.
The noise came again like a crackle of dead leaves and brush. Definite movement.
In a rush, they sat up, Wyneth pulling her skirts down. Breckon readied his hand over the dagger at his waist.
All was quiet except the warble of water bugs, frogs, and the splashing of tiny waves at the shore.
Do you think someone’s spying?
Wyneth whispered. She imagined her young cousin Prince Donubhan and his gang of trouble seekers, but the queen would have his hide if he sneaked out after dark.
No.
Breckon shook his head, a lock of hair falling across his worried brow. It’s most likely a deer.
But to Wyneth’s ear, he didn’t sound so sure.
He relaxed and gave Wyneth a smile, but the mood had been broken by thoughts of anyone witnessing their intimate time together. It was impossible to find privacy within the castle walls with the royal family, servants, and naval guards running about. The private docks at night had been their only hope without leaving royal lands.
Perhaps we should go back,
she said halfheartedly as Breckon leaned in to place a trail of warm kisses down her neck to her collarbone. We can fetch Harrison and wake Aerity and sneak down to the wine cellars again.
Breckon chuckled. The only matchmaking I’m interested in tonight is you and I.
But that noise—
You worry too much. We’re safe and alone out here, I assure you. I’d never put your safety or reputation at risk.
Or his own. As the youngest naval captain, Breckon Gillfin’s actions were under constant scrutiny. Gossipmongers said he’d risen the ranks quickly because of his long engagement to the king’s niece, but anyone who’d seen Breckon in action knew that wasn’t the case. King Charles Lochson did not play favorites. Breckon was brave, loyal, and driven. These were all reasons her family accepted Breckon’s courtship and offer of marriage when Wyneth was only sixteen. He’d waited patiently these two years since, working hard all the while, and after this next short stint at sea their long wait would at last be over. And if Wyneth had her wish, her cousin Princess Aerity would finally fall in love with Breckon’s cousin Harrison, and all would be right in the world.
Another abrasive rustle from the trees caused them to break away again. This time they both stood. Something or someone was surely out there. Wyneth looked to Breckon, who scanned the trees with a scowl.
In the darkness, a large shadow moved within the mossy trees as they swayed. Wyneth grabbed Breckon’s arm, and he stared intently into the trees. His dagger, which she hadn’t seen him unsheathe, glinted in the moonlight.
Who’s there?
Breckon called. Show yourself!
The trees stilled. Even the bugs and frogs stopped their chatter. It was too quiet. Wyneth’s heartbeat quickened.
What if it’s the great beast?
she asked, a tremor in her voice.
Breckon shot her a rueful smile and rubbed her hand, which was likely cutting off the circulation in his bicep. You know the great beast is only a tale among the commoners to impose a curfew on their youth. Besides, the royal lands are protected by the stone wall and the seas. It’s probably a buck. Wish I had my bow . . .
His voice trailed off as they stared into the dark woods.
Rumors of a great beast had arisen through the waterlands of Lochlanach over the summer. Four watermen villagers had been killed, all at night, leaving behind only scraps of bodies. Tale or not, the castle maids who did their shopping beyond the royal wall said they’d never seen such fear among the people.
Just as Breckon was about to sheathe his dagger, a deep snort sounded from the trees.
Oh, my lands!
Wyneth stiffened. What was that?
Breckon had tensed and lowered his voice. Wild boar, perhaps?
Wyneth had never heard of wild boars on royal lands. Only deer and small creatures.
Stay here,
Breckon ordered. I’m going to scare it off.
No!
She grabbed for his hand and he kissed her forehead, gently prying himself away.
Before he could take two steps from her, the dark shadow in the trees resolved itself into a gigantic creature on the sandy walkway. They both stared, not daring to move.
It was taller than any man, standing on its hind legs. Wyneth questioned her own sanity as she stared in disbelief. Its body was massive, the size of a bear, with wiry hair like nothing she’d ever seen. Its face was as ugly as a boar’s. Tusks curled up around a dripping snout, sharp teeth shining. Its beady eyes eerily caught the moon’s reflection. Everything about its stance and posture screamed feral. Deadly. Impossible.
The long length of the dock separated them from the thing, but it was not far enough for her. Not nearly far enough.
Wyneth couldn’t breathe. Her jaw hung open, poised for a scream, but not a sound escaped. She’d never known such crippling fear. Even Breckon made no move except the heaving of his chest from jagged breaths.
The great beast was not a carefully devised tale. It was real.
Stay behind me,
Breckon whispered without moving. If anything happens, swim for your life across the creek. Do you understand?
For a moment Wyneth could not respond. Then her voice broke as she frantically whispered, I can’t leave you! Come with me. We’ll swim together.
She wanted to reach for his hand, but she was stiff with terror and feared giving the beast reason to attack. Perhaps if they stayed very still and quiet it would go away.
When Breckon turned his head to her, insistence in his eyes, that small movement was all it took. The great beast let out a roar, forcing a startled scream from Wyneth. Breckon bit out a curse. The thing charged down the dock, its steps shockingly quiet, for Wyneth had expected the thunder of hooves, not large paws. But then she felt its heaviness shake the wood beneath her feet with each landing.
Go!
Breckon yelled.
At the same time, she grabbed for his arm and screamed, Jump!
But Breckon had no plans to run from the beast. He grasped Wyneth’s waist and pushed her backward with all his might. She felt herself flying through the air off the dock, all breath leaving her lungs as her body submerged with a crash into the cool water. All sound muted. Disbelief struck her once again.
This could not be happening. It couldn’t. It wasn’t real.
But when her wet face hit the air and she gasped for breath, it took only a moment for her to turn toward the growling sounds and see the monster reach Breckon, towering over him.
Skies above! Breck!
Swim!
He angled himself to avoid the beast’s mouth. Get help!
Breckon launched his strong shoulder into the beast’s abdomen and they began to grapple, sounds of grunting and snorting carrying over the water.
Finally Wyneth snapped from her fear-induced stupor and the instinct of flight kicked in. She couldn’t fight this thing with Breckon, but she could do what he’d commanded: get help. She turned and swam with all her might. She kicked and her arms sliced through the water as if the beast were right behind her. Indeed, she expected to hear the splash of the thing following at any moment, but it never came. Wyneth hardly heard her fiancé’s strangled screams as he fought for his life on the dock behind her.
Breckon was an excellent sailor and soldier. A fearless fighter. He had his knife. The beast was only an animal—no match for her betrothed.
He’ll be okay, Wyneth reassured herself with each quick stroke through the water.
After swimming nearly a hundred yards, her body was numb when she reached the dock on the other side of the creek. She pulled herself up, panting for air and cursing her wet, heavy garments. Her eyes scanned the water, but it moved at the same calm, slow speed as always. Then she allowed her eyes to seek out the dock beyond.
The great beast was nowhere in sight, and hope rose in her chest.
The dock was covered in patches of dark moisture that glinted in the moonlight against the dry wood—a sickening trail of it. All hope vanished as she comprehended what lay at the edge of the wooden planks. In the very place she’d been kissed only moments before, were the remains of her life’s great love.
Chapter
2
Paxton Seabolt sat on a wooden stool with his elbows on the beaten plank bar, sipping his ale and listening to the chatter of two excitable lasses at a table behind him. He felt their eyes on his back, but he wasn’t in the mood for flirtations. His thoughts were heavily weighted by one of their own watermen, who’d been killed two nights before by the great beast.
The man had worked with his father for years, hauling in oysters and clams. Paxton recalled his husky laugh, which always seemed too deep for his gaunt face and thin body.
Other men and women from the village of Cape Creek spilled into the dim pub straight from work, bringing marshy smells of salt water, morose faces, whispering rumored details.
It killed six others in water towns during the summer months, you know. . . .
Old man Pearl said he saw it with his own eyes . . . said it was a giant creature like nothing he’d ever seen before.
Paxton would doubt that statement if old man Pearl wasn’t as sound and respectable as they come.
As a couple of older women bustled in, Paxton caught sight of the notice that’d been nailed to the door the day prior—an official order from the royal army to stay indoors when the sun went down. A night curfew. Apparently the beast was nocturnal.
Did you hear?
asked one of the women to the people in the pub. They’re sayin’ royal lands were attacked by the beast last night!
Impossible,
said the barkeep. It’s fortified. Nothing can get past that wall or the navy.
I don’t know how the thing got in, but it killed one of their officers.
The barkeep grabbed a rag and scrubbed a wet spot. Well, if that’s true, perhaps they’ll finally do something about it.
Aye,
Paxton agreed gruffly. Perhaps they’ll finally believe us filthy commoners.
The barkeep glanced at Paxton’s nearly empty glass and filled him another without asking. How fared the hunting today, Pax?
Paxton shrugged, frustrated he hadn’t seen any deer that day. Only a rabbit.
Your mother will surely make something nice with it.
He set the ale in front of Paxton, then wiped his hands on his dirtied apron.
Just as Paxton lifted the full glass to his lips, someone jostled too close and bumped his arm, spilling ale down his chin and the front of his tunic. He glared at the grinning face of his younger brother, Tiern.
Oy, got a little something there, Pax.
Tiern pointed at his older brother’s dripping chin. The girls behind them laughed, and Tiern rewarded them with a smile.
Don’t make me snap you, clumsy twig.
Paxton wiped his chin with the back of his wrist, but Tiern was unperturbed by Paxton’s dark mood. The younger Seabolt brother appeared as put together as always, with his brown hair tied back neatly, in contrast to Paxton’s wavy strands hanging messily around his face.
Everyone’s right shaken up about this monster, aye?
Tiern pulled out a wobbly stool, scraping the hard dirt floor, and sat.
The barkeep peered down at Tiern’s boyish face. What’re you having today?
Just water for him,
Paxton said. When Tiern frowned, he continued. We don’t need you getting silly off one ale.
I don’t get silly.
The barkeep chuckled and poured water from a jug. Aye, you do. You start hugging everyone and telling them all the things you love about them.
Tiern pulled a face and took his water, muttering, It’s no crime to be friendly.
He abruptly set down his water. Oh! Did you hear about Mrs. Mallory?
His face turned uncharacteristically serious.
Paxton’s ears perked. Is she in labor?
Already?
asked the barkeep.
Aye, she is, and it’s too early. Mum was running to their cottage to help when I left.
Paxton’s stomach soured. The barkeep shook his head and looked away. It was never a surprise when pregnancies failed, yet each time felt like a blow to the village. The birthrates in Lochlanach were at an all-time low—only four children under the age of five in their entire village. It was said to be that way through all of the lands of Eurona, having declined drastically in the past hundred years, though nobody could say why. Many blamed the Lashed Ones, as if it were some sort of magical curse. Paxton knew the truth, but he could not voice his theory without being seen as a Lashed sympathizer.
At that moment the oak door to the pub flew open with a bang and Mallory’s husband ran in, his face ashen and his eyes red. People made a quick path for him as he moved to the bar, peering around frantically as if lost.
Mr. Sandbar,
the barkeep said. What do you need?
I . . . alcohol. To stave off infection.
He looked about wildly, shoulders stooping. There were two. Twins . . . boys. Both gone.
The entire bar gasped as a wave of sorrow passed through the room. Mr. Sandbar lifted a shaking hand to his disheveled hair. Mallory’s bleeding too much.
Okay, man. Stay calm for her.
The barkeep filled a cup with clear liquid and thrust it forward.
I can’t pay you right now. I—
Don’t worry about that. I know you’re good for it.
Before Mr. Sandbar could take the cup the door opened again and everyone went still. In the doorway stood Mr. Riverton, an ordinary-looking man in his early thirties. But to the village he wasn’t ordinary at all—he was their one and only registered Lashed. He rarely came out except to pick up a bottle of mead from the bar now and again. Paxton felt himself go tense all over as his fellow villagers glared at the man. Mr. Riverton hadn’t fared well in the last few years, but the Lashed never did. They seemed to age faster than normal people, dying decades sooner than they should. It didn’t help that most couldn’t find jobs and had to support themselves on the land or starve.
Paxton had caught his own mother sneaking food to Mr. Riverton’s lean-to porch early one morning, but he’d never told her he saw.
Mallory’s husband began breathing fast and ragged as he took in the sight of the Lashed man.
Mr. Riverton looked about at the staring faces, landing on Mr. Sandbar’s. S-sorry, I was only picking up something to go . . . I’ll just . . .
His hand fumbled for the door handle to exit, but Mr. Sandbar flew across the room in a rage, brandishing a knife from his pocket that he shoved to the Lashed man’s throat, pressing him against the wall. Everyone crushed forward to see. Paxton and Tiern leaped from their stools, pushing through the crowd.
What did you do to her?!
Mr. Sandbar shouted.
Mr. Riverton kept his hands up, his eyes closed. I didn’t do anything, I swear!
I saw you look at her two days ago. You stared at her stomach! What did you do?
I was glad to see how well she was progressing—that’s all!
Lies!
Mr. Sandbar pressed forward, denting the Lashed man’s throat, causing a trickle of blood to flow. You’re a filthy murderer! Just like your hero, Rocato!
Mr. Riverton’s panicked eyes shot open. Rocato was a madman! I’m nothing like him—
More lies!
Mr. Sandbar’s shout came out a sob as tears began to seep from his angry eyes. You took my boys, just by looking at her!
Mr. Sandbar!
Paxton shouted. He grabbed the mourning man by the shoulder. He can’t hurt her with his eyes. You know this. He has to touch with his hands to work magic, and I’m certain he’s never gotten that close. Am I right?
Paxton looked at Mr. Riverton, who whispered hoarsely with his hands held high, Aye. I never touched her.
Come on,
Paxton said. Let’s get you back to Mallory.
He gave the man a gentle tug to pry him away from the frightened, cornered Lashed.
Tiern, who’d had the good foresight to grab the cup of alcohol, took the hand of Mallory’s husband and pressed the cup into it. His knife arm dropped and his eyes cleared, seeming to remember why he’d come.
I’ll go with you,
Tiern said. He led the stricken man out of the bar.
The people continued to glare at Mr. Riverton, who lowered a shaking hand to his bloodied neck. He took one last glance around at the hostile faces before turning and rushing out, not bothering to get what he’d come for.
Good riddance,
a woman whispered. Their kind shouldn’t be allowed in here.
Paxton clenched his teeth as a roar of familiar anger clawed inside him. He pushed his way back through the people and slid two copper coins across the bar. This should cover Mr. Sandbar’s bill and my drink. Keep the rest.
The barkeep nodded, pale faced, and took the payment.
When Paxton turned to leave, the two lasses stood in his path, pretty in long braids and cotton skirts. He knew them to be sixteen, a year younger than Tiern.
That was generous of you to pay his debt,
one of them said, tilting her head demurely up at him. The poor man.
When he looked at the girl, all he saw was future heartache and loss—the same fate that awaited all who wished to start families—not the kind of future he wanted for himself. Paxton didn’t plan to remain in Cape Creek forever.
Get yourselves home before nightfall,
Paxton said.
He sidled past the girls and left the suffocating pub behind him.
Chapter
3
Princess Aerity could not sleep past daybreak. She woke and stared from her vast arched windows at the sea and the far creek that split through thick woods at the northwest end of the gray stone castle.
In all of her seventeen years, Aerity had never seen her father, King Charles, so focused on a foe. The entire castle was on edge. And for good reason.
The great beast was real.
Her cousin and dearest friend, Lady Wyneth, had seen it with her own eyes mere days ago, and the kingdom had lost one of its best and brightest naval officers. Breckon had been the pride and future of Lochlanach.
Since that attack, the entire castle seemed to be covered in a suffocating blanket of grief and fear.
Her maid knocked once gently, and entered her chambers with an armful of clean laundry. The girl set Aerity’s pale dresses, petticoats, chemises, and corsets across the dressing table and began putting the items in their proper places.
Staring back out the window, Aerity asked her maid, Are you well this morning, Caitrin?
Aye, Princess. Thank you.
Any happenings during the night?
Aerity’s stomach clenched in anticipation of bad news.
No beast sightings, Your Highness.
Her maid hung up the last dress of light green silk, and then ran her hands down her apron. The girl’s cheeks were pink from exertion. But there are rumors. . . .
Aerity raised her eyebrows. She wasn’t allowed to wander the grounds on her own since Breckon’s death, so she relied on her maid to carry news to her from the royal market, where citizens from local towns came to sell and trade their wares.
What sort of rumors?
Caitrin glanced around the room, as if making certain they were alone, then lowered her voice to a whisper. People are saying the great beast is a monster created by the Lashed.
Aerity felt her brow tighten. That’s preposterous. They can do many things, but not something of this magnitude.
Caitrin gave a small shrug. Would you like a fire in the hearth, Princess?
No, thank you.
It was chilly, but not cold. Her shawl was enough for now.
Breakfast is nearly ready in the informal dining room.
Her maid gave a curtsy and turned to leave.
Caitrin,
Aerity called, and the girl stopped. Please don’t pay any mind to the Lashed rumors. They’re unfounded.
The maid gave a smile and nod before leaving her.
Aerity sighed and leaned against the window. The Lashed were always blamed when something went awry in Lochlanach, even though it’d been more than a century since they were permitted to openly use their magic. Lashed had once been revered like royalty for the amazing things they could do with their hands. They could cure illness and heal minor wounds, even cause a living being to sleep and plants to grow or die. But Lashed Ones also had the ability to kill by paralyzing the heart.
All it took was one wayward Lashed, the now infamous Rodolpho Rocato of the hotlands, to change all that. He’d killed the king of Kalor over a hundred years ago in an attempt to take over the kingdom. And he hadn’t been alone. A handful of power-hungry Lashed from each kingdom followed his lead, rising up and attempting to overthrow the thrones throughout Eurona.
Aerity shivered when she thought of the old tales. It must have been a horrid time to have lived. So much war and death. Lashed from all five kingdoms, innocent or not, were rounded up and killed—men, women, and children—anyone who bore the telltale signs of magical use under their fingernails. Each time a Lashed One used their power, the magic manifested as a horizontal purple line under their nail. Like a bruise. A lashing.
Were they capable of creating something like this? She shook her head against the notion and went to her wardrobe to retrieve a drab, gray gown. She would mourn the loss of her cousin’s fiancé until Wyneth was up and about again. Only then would Aerity don dresses in soft colors.
Before the great beast, breakfasts in the informal dining room were warm and filled with laughter. Now, even the bright tapestries and colorful foreign rugs seemed as dull as the wooden tables. Her father sat next to her mother, Queen Leighlane, and absently stroked her hand with his thumb. Aerity recognized their lost-in-thought expressions, their plates still full. Even under duress their love was palpable.
She adored the story of her parents. As a young king, Charles ignored his adviser’s warnings and married the commoner girl he’d fallen in love with. Leighlane was the daughter of traveling acrobats who’d come to entertain the Lochlan royalty. After only a week at the castle, at the young king’s urging, Leighlane stayed behind while her parents took to the road again. Three months later they were married. The oft-repeated tale of their love was a steadfast comfort.
Since the death of Breckon, the king’s face was lined with the pain of guilt, robbing some of the confident light from his eyes. As much as her father respected his queen, he still scoffed at commoners’ superstitions. Many of them were silly, meant to frighten children into good behavior. But these recent mysterious attacks had left mutilated bodies in their wake.
Before Breckon was killed, her father and his advisers had tried to reason these away as the attacks of a madman, or a resurgence of wild wolves that had once roamed the waterlands before being chased into the ridgelands by floods decades ago. Their explanations weren’t perfect, but the holes in their reasoning were easier to deal with than the existence of a monstrous predator.
They’d been wrong on this one, and they had chosen to do nothing. All the royals had had their doubts about the tales, though deep down Aerity had known something strange was happening in Lochlanach. Something that couldn’t be so easily explained away. Caitrin had appeared more shaken each morning as she relayed information to Aerity about the great beast’s attacks.
Now there was no denying its existence.
Soldiers and castle commanders were running about, shouting orders of a massive hunt, and a royal decree had been issued for people to remain inside with doors bolted at night.
The princess hoped they caught and killed the great beast soon, because this was no way for anyone to live. Since Breckon had been killed three days ago, they hadn’t been allowed out of the castle, day or night, and she hadn’t seen her cousin Wyneth or her dear friend Harrison. Breckon had been buried at sea, a sailor’s ritual, with his family aboard the mourning ship.
Aerity’s father stood and silently left the dining room with her mother at his side. Aerity shared an awkward moment of quiet glances with her aunts and uncles before they all stood to retreat to their quarters of the castle as well. It was strange not to receive a good-bye or well wish for the day from the king and queen.
Aerity didn’t want to return to her chambers. She decided instead to visit someone in the castle she hadn’t seen in a while. Heading toward the east halls, she spun around when she heard light footsteps on the stone behind her.
Vixie stood there, holding up her navy blue skirts, and watching her older sister with wide, hopeful eyes. Aerity sighed. Vixie’s hair was a wild state of dark red curls. It was a sign of their mother’s preoccupied thoughts that she hadn’t insisted Vixie have her hair tamed. In Aerity’s opinion it would do well for her sister