Review of A HUNTER AND HIS PREY by Joshua Calkins-Treworgy

Review of A HUNTER AND HIS PREY by Joshua Calkins-Treworgy (see his MySpace page)

A Tamalarian Tale

BooksForABuck.com, September 2008

Jonah Staples wants to become a bounty-hunter for the most basic possible reason--bounty hunters make money and he needs money to buy the alchemy texts that will allow him to advance in his field. Being a good researcher, Jonah tracks down Tamalaria's best bounty hunter and applies to become an apprentice. Simpa (were-lion) bounty-hunter Portenda isn't looking for an apprentice. If he were, he certainly wouldn't be looking for a human with slow reflexes and poor powers of observation. Still, when Jonah somehow disarms the bounty-hunter, Portenda decides he's worth watching--even if that does mean letting the human into his home.

Jonah's plans to become a bounty hunter are disrupted when he receives word that his sister has been kidnapped. To his surprise, Portenda agrees to help search, as does Nareena, the sexy elf-woman Jonah has long held a crush on. None of them have any idea, however, of the powers that the kidnapper will bring against them. Even Portenda will be tested to the ultimate if he wishes to survive, let alone rescue the human girl. And then there's the matter of Jonah's subconscious programming--which just might turn against the three bounty hunters at any moment.

Author Joshua Calkins-Treworgy (see more BooksForABuck.com reviews of novels by Calkins-Treworgy) returns to the world of Tamalaria with a compelling story of magic, alchemy, and adventure. Portenda, in particular, is a fascinating character--with a unique background, a sort of spiritual adoption by Death himself, and his mixed feelings about solitude and friendship. A sweet romance between Jonah and Nareena adds to the enjoyment--and to the stakes. The mysterious and powerful alchemist, Genma, proves to be a dangerous and worthy foe--testing the three adventurers to the limit--and beyond. And Calkins-Treworgy's writing definitely draws the reader in.

Approximately 160,000 words.

Four Stars

Reviewed 9/04/08

This book is no longer available from BooksForABuck.com

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