Review: Hunted by DJ Desmyter

Book Description via Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Lily Atwater has always kept to herself, living a lonely life with her workaholic dad. Not the most thrilling life, but it’s quiet and ordinary, two things she’s come to expect from living in Victor Hills, Michigan.
 
When kind and mysterious Alex takes refuge in her home, she is suddenly thrown into his world of werewolves, a world he wants to keep her safe from. But while the two of them grow closer, a relentless hunter continues his search, stalking the woods with hopes of catching the wolf that got away…

Source: DJ Desmyter (Thank you!)

My Thoughts:

First and foremost, I loved the prologue and the beginning of the book. The scenes were haunting, intense and intriguing. It began with Alex waking up in a cage after being separated with the rest of his family. He was naked, wounded and utterly alone. Although he was beginning to heal, he was still weak. DJ’s version of a werewolf was one of the simplest and most human I’ve ever encountered. They turn into wolves, have super senses but are still undeniably human. I like that the humanity was preserved unlike in most novels wherein werewolves were more animalistic. The gene curse-slash-gift concept was maintained, as well as the formation of packs.

The story revolved around Alex and Lily’s lives. Their relationship was smooth-sailing, as if they were made for each other. I was reminded of Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater at times, with the couple lost in their own world near the woods, as well as with the inkling to art. They were cute, not too cheesy and not too clingy. DJ knew how to balance the romance. The alternating perspectives were successful in letting me see the whole picture. Their doubts, worries and likes all matched perfectly.

The reversal of the roles of hunter and prey – hunter and werewolf – was one of the things that I really liked about Hunted. Seeing a werewolf vulnerable to hunters and how their lives could be affected, ruined and even ended by these people sought revenge was saddening. But the way that Alex and Lily’s family coped and helped each other was touching. Their dedication and their strong family ties were admirable.

Hunted is a beautiful and romantic collision of the lives of two people in an unexpected moment. Filled with love, grief, revenge and hope, Hunted will appeal to paranormal readers and romance readers.

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