The Hunt, by author Chloe Neill, is the third installment in the authors Devil Island series. This is a series that is being called a Urban Fantasy / Post-Apocalyptic genre mash-up. The Hunt picks up 5 weeks after the surprising ending to The Sight. As a summary, Claire Connolly, along with Liam Quinn, fought and helped win the battle of Devil's Isle while also exposing a radical magic hating group known as Reveillon. Claire should have been praised as a hero for saving the world and stopping Paras from entering her world. 

But, instead, there is a fairly high bounty out for her arrest for violating the Magic Act. Claire is a sensitive, or a human who was touched by magic that seeped in from the Beyond 7 years ago. Claire's abilities include telekinesis. But, she also has to worry about turning into a wraith if she uses too much magic. Claire and her ally Moses have spent the past 5 weeks sneaking around New Orleans gathering supplies, and working for the group known as Delta sending messages to Containment and others.

Claire's world has twisted and turned and gone in several different directions since meeting bounty hunter Liam Quinn. But, after getting hit by magic during the Devil's Isle battle, Liam decided to run away with his tail between his legs leaving Claire behind to deal with the aftermath. I wouldn't necessarily say that Claire is alone. She has Malachi who has tried to help her with her magic, she has Moses as her bounty partner, and she also has Gavin Quinn, Liam's brother. She's also found her father's stash of magical goods and is trying to deal with his refusal to tell Claire anything.

Things quickly change after Liam is named the number one suspect in the murder of a government agent Liam didn't exactly get along with. Now, both Claire and Liam are wanted for different things. But, who is setting up Liam for the fall? Can Claire avoid both hungry bounty hunters & Containment while she searches for answers?  There are so many curiosities in this story. From Claire and Liam's attempt at reconciliation while also attempting to clear his name. From Claire discovering the identity of someone she thought was dead. To finding out that her father kept so many secrets that it feels a bit like betrayal.

Without going any further, I will say that this is NOT the final book in the series. I will also say that the author is a cruel, cruel writer who did something that probably didn't need to be done. I will also say that I am looking forward to the fourth installment, especially since the author definitely upped her game for what Claire, Liam, and her allies not only have faced, but will face in the next installment as well.

Bounty hunter Liam Quinn helped Claire Connolly find her footing in the magical and paranormal influenced world that is now post-apocalyptic New Orleans. Now, the hunter has now become the hunted. Liam left immediately after the battle where he was magically infected at the end of THE SIGHT, book #2 in the Devil’s Isle series. So besides dealing with her losses from having to leave her beloved store and home, the Royal Mercantile, Claire feels abandoned by the man she loves. Most of Claire’s time is spent learning more about how to work her magic safely from Malachi, the handsome para-general, and helping Moses, the quirky para-geek, and other friends while hiding from the Containment authorities who would take her in. She aids the magical community in an effort to win rights for Sensitives such as herself as well as the incarcerated paranormals still in Devil’s isle.

Unknown to Liam, he is accused of killing a government agent so Claire hunts him down with the help of his brother, Gavin and Malachi. They need to find out who would frame Liam and what for purpose. The answer turns out to be something that could once again throw the world into the chaos of the previous supernatural war. Claire and Liam have much to work out as well as tracking down who set Liam up while figuring out which forces are working against them. The once torn Veil, the only barrier keeping back the paranormals from the other side who would bring war again given the chance, seems to be under attack from the humans as well.

Claire spends a lot of time in emotional turmoil over Liam, secrets she finds out about her father and someone else very important, and what she can do the make changes in the world for the paranormals who are treated little better than slaves. Liam’s stubbornness and issues with his own magical ability leads to some challenging dynamics between them. Overall, this is a good read although I was expecting this to be the end of a trilogy. While some things come to conclusion, the door is left open for much more which will please fans of this series.

Fun, romantic, urban paranormal.. Would recommend to those who like Patricia Briggs.

In this third book in the Devil’s Isle series, Claire Connolly leaves New Orleans for the Bayou, despite her dislike of snakes and water and gators, in order to warn Liam that he’s been framed for a murder he couldn’t have committed and the bounty that is on him.

But there’s still that issue of the five months between them. The five months where Liam just disappeared without a word to Claire, leaving her not knowing how to feel or what to expect. She knows what she wants from Liam, she doesn’t know if he feels the same way, however.

The Hunt is a gripping novel that divulges a lot of secrets, shows Claire as a resourceful survivor, and ends on a note of impending catastrophe.

Claire and Liam are extremely likable and possess that sometimes elusive essential chemistry that makes their interactions sensual.

The supporting cast of characters is also entertaining, especially the paranormals, Malachi and Moses, and Liam’s young brother, Gavin.

This series just keeps getting better and better.

If you like paranormal novels and haven’t yet read this series, you might want to give it a try. With The Hunt being available on September 26, you have plenty of time to catch up with the previous two novels.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 1/2 stars

THE HUNT was more balanced plot/character-wise, but the story did little to distinguish itself from other books in this genre. The focus was on who framed Liam for murder, and even though I did enjoy that aspect, the series arc and relationship between the two leads fell kinda flat. It was something that we’ve seen countless times before, and wasn’t much of a stretch from Chloe Neill’s usual stomping grounds. I liked it for what it was: frivolous entertainment.

There was quite a bit of angst in this novel, and for a couple that was just on the cusp of being an item in the last installment, I had some difficulty grasping why either of them was willing to put in the effort. There was a lot of “what’s he thinking / non-verbal communication / mind-reading / he-says-she-says” mumbo jumbo going on, and frankly that’s no way to start a romantic union, if there are this many problems in the honeymoon stage it doesn’t bode well for their long-term prospects.

Unearthing who killed Broussard was the most compelling element however, even it was rather meh. I mean, the protagonists go to the scene of the crime, discover a clue that leads them directly to the culprit who still has the victim’s blood on their hands. Ok, yes, I’m dumbing it down a tad, but that doesn’t change the fact that a child playing detective could have solved this case in an afternoon. The events in this volume did NOT keep me guessing until the very end.

My favourite part was the brotherly banter between Gavin & Liam. They bicker the way family should, and their dialogue brought some lightness to an otherwise uninspired tale. Considering the objective of this title’s antagonist, I felt as though it could have used more of a build-up. The progression from identifying the offender, to uncovering their plan, to the hook for book 4 was too abrupt. You don’t go from small cheese to supervillain overnight.

After three blah installments, I’m declaring THE HUNT as the time of death for the DEVIL’S ISLE series.

Liam Quinn was hit with a magical weapon and infected with magic in the previous book in this series. This was life-shattering for a man who made a career of hunting down paras and Sensitives and bringing them to Devil's Isle prison. He has disappeared on his girlfriend Claire Connolly who is left to survive in New Orleans as a hunted Sensitive.

When Claire learns that Liam is suspected in the death of a government agent named Broussard, she knows he was out of town and travels into the bayous with Liam's brother Gavin and a winged Para named Malachi to warn him - and to find out why he left her. Finding Liam only uncovers the tip of the iceberg for the large conspiracy that is threatening to bring war back to New Orleans.

Claire has come to terms - sort of - with the knowledge that her father kept her ignorant of lots of things to protect her. But now she is faced with one more lie he told her: her mother is not dead but chose to abandon her husband and daughter. Worse yet, she is a scientist who is perfecting a virus to wipe out all of the paranormals who are on this side of the veil. 

Claire, Liam and their allies have to stop these plans and other even more sinister plans before the world they know, already battered, is destroyed.

This was an excellent episode in an engaging urban fantasy series. I like the world building. I like the relationships especially Claire's with Moses and with Liam. Claire is a great character who is dealing with a magical ability she didn't ask for and that she is just learning to use.

Full review to be published online in late September.

THE HUNT picks up shortly after the end of the previous book ‘The Sight’ ends. There is a war brewing for the survival and freedom of humanity itself; by way of an invading army of magical beings from Beyond the Veil. The ‘Zone’ is where the magic of the ripped open this Veil has changed the Earth itself as well as some people with a genetic disposition to being affected by Magic. 

All those with Magic are rounded up with the invaders and changed humans both imprisoned together. Not all with Magic are the Enemy. Despite this, the world is not safe for anyone. Not all Magical beings who fought did so willingly, they were conscripted. And, the humans with magic can be saved from a life as miserable wraith gone mad. A post-apocalyptic life, a band of friends. Bounty Hunters. Changed humans who have magic. Changed members of "the other side." Delta, the underground group who want Change, who want the Truth out there. 

Bounty Hunter Liam and Sensitive Claire are continuing their quest to stop this paranormal/human war, hopefully before it starts. Very good series, quite different from Chloe Neill’s “ChicagoLand Vampires” world. This is not recommended for a standalone read, the world and plotline builds from previous books.

Love the author. Love the series. I will read anything by Chloe Neill and am never disappointed. I am only sad that her books read so fast because I want to stay in the worlds she creates. The books just get better and better. More please.

Gah! I need more! I'm a huge fan of Neill's writing and this series captured me just as her Chicagoland Vampires series did.

Clever novel! Chloe Neill once again builds a flawlessly addictive world.

Love anything by Chloe Neill and this was another great novel!  I hope she continues this series - can't wait for more adventures with Claire, Liam & the gang!!

I wish I had read books 1 and 2 first, somehow I didn't get the memo this was a #3. 
This makes my early discouragement explainable. Once I pushed past that, I found it all pretty compelling. I felt like I just joined a little late... 

A war for the survival and freedom of humanity itself.  A  post-apocalyptic life, a band of friends. Bounty Hunters. Changed humans who have magic.  Changed members of "the other side."
The writing flows freely and like all great writing, you hardly notice you are reading-- you're witnessing.

Props to author Chloe Neill, I am glad to make this acquaintance.

I do love a good paranormal. I totally loved Claire. She reminded me a lot of a magic-wielding Katness, with her will to survive. I loved following her as she searched for Liam. Her story was powerful and raw, keeping me enticed through the whole book. I wish there was a little more description of the surroundings,  but I'm guessing that came in the two previous books (That I'm totally going to read). Loved this book.

This is the latest in the Devil's Isle series which is a brilliant urban fantasy series and this one has elements of a murder mystery and plenty of magic mixed in.  I'm already looking forward to the next one.