Strong female characters, bickering siblings and edge of your seat excitement! This is a rip-roaring ride of a story with multi-povs in a western style setting. David Wragg has created a range of diverse and interesting characters, his writing is highly entertaining, edged with dark humour, in this tale about family, found or otherwise.

Ree is living in the arse-end of nowhere with her niece, keeping a low profile and trying to keep mischievous niece Javani in check. What with the local politics, a visiting prince and mercenaries on her trail, it seems she can't just rest easy on her farm, particularly when all is not as it seems. Is her past about to catch up with her?

The main points of view are Ree and Javani with a number of smaller, recurring parts, including antagonist povs. Of the smaller POVs my favourites were Siavash, Anashe & Aki, and their scenes were in some ways the most amusing. The third person narrative style is close and engaging, which really makes you feel as if you're in the story and at times, it felt filmic with the action flipping between POVs to great effect.

The plot conceit, without giving to much away, was quite simple, but highly effective and twisty-turny never quite going in the direction that you might think. A very fun and satisfying read.

Having loved and enjoyed the authors debut series I wanted to get ahead of the rest by reading an advanced copy of this one so thanks so much to netgalley for a copy.

Our main character in this one was everything, she was fantastic and made the novel for me. I loved the writing style, the other characters, the plot and all of the rest that made this book what it was.

Wregg is one of the best fantasy writers in my library of reading and i will literally read anything he publishes. Cant wait for the next installement in this series.

5 stars

So I love the first two books in the Articles of faith duology so when I heard this book was coming out I knew I had to get my hands on it let me see it's everything I wanted and more
So the same world it takes place in just 13 years later and we have a new protagonist her name is Raa she's a little older but she still has it all she's still a killer she's basically taking care of her charge that she's trying to protect from the bad guys of the book what's their View I'm not one to give away spoilers this is an action-packed romp Adventure for lovers of the first series and hopefully new readers,I want to Thank Netgalley and HarperVoyager for the Free ARC for an unbiased and Honest review

A completely out of the mind bonkers read. Really enjoyed it. Absolutely love the "badass character retired and forced to come back out and save everyone" trope and it's been done brilliantly here.

The book is rich in worldbuilding and colorful to completely take our my imagination. Following Ree was a adventure in itself. her relationship with a perfect foil in Javani was fun to read and really appealed to me. It wasn't as dark as hi s earlier series, but more of a open hearted adventure, which I absolutely liked. The writing is smooth and characters interesting. Overall one of the best books I've read this year.

Definitely recommended.

The moment I saw the cover for The Hunters on Netgalley, I knew I had to read it. Firstly, the cover is gorgeous and, secondly, I loved David Wragg’s previous two novels so I was certain I was going to enjoy this. I was right.

The story follows Ree, a woman with a mysterious and violent past, who has retired with her niece, Javani until she gets dragged back into the fighting world when some killers start trying to end the life of Javani. A violent pursuit commences.

I loved Ree as a character. If you’re familiar with The Black Hawks and The Righteous, you will already know that Wragg is very good at creating characters. They’re sympathetic, tough and quite often hilarious. Ree’s determination to keep Javani safe adds a real weight to a character whose backstory you still don’t completely know by the end of the story. She will also make up differing stories and you about something and you’re never quite sure which version is the truth which I really enjoyed. Of the other characters, I also loved the siblings, Anashe and Aki. Their interactions with each other were frequently hilarious, especially when there was a part of the story that was particularly tense, and I completely believed they were siblings. Javani was very much a teenager but she was a rather endearing character.

The story was rather fast paced and there was always something happening. The characters work very well together and I was completely rooting for them to save Javani and defeat the assassins sent to kill her. There’s been quite a number of books recently about old soldiers/mercenaries/pirates coming out of retirement because of a new threat and, not only do I love that particular plot device, but I think this might be one of my favourites so far. I had a lot of fun reading it and it got rather emotional towards the end. I was quite choked up at one point.

"Well, here's my offer kid: if you want, you can decide your own truth. Choose your story the way you want it, and I'll be with you all the way. You've earned the right. How does that sound?"

An epic journey of a novel! With exquisite characterisation (Ree and Javani will be living in my mind rent free for a while now). a high stakes adventure and intriguing backstory mysteries, I thoroughly enjoyed The Hunters and will be recommending it for sure.

Ree, a woman with a violent past, and her niece Javani are building a quiet, peaceful life at the edge of the known world. Jostled by unfairness, they nevertheless hold themselves up strong. Until one day, Ree's past - coupled with professional assassins! - starts to catch up to them, and threatens the little world they were building for themselves. Ree and Javani have to go on the run, setting off a desperate chase through mountains and deserts. Ree has to find her old self - and some new friends - along the way, if she is to survive and protect all that she holds dear. And Javani has some truths to confront. A fast paced novel of political intrigue that nevertheless holds beautiful reflections on the meanings of friends, found family, and grief, this book will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

I love a good fantasy story about a rag tag group of characters. I've been wanting to read Wragg's other books and I'm so glad I got approved for this one. It's fantastic!

For a while I've been interested in reading the Articles of Faith books by David Wragg, but haven't yet got around to them. When I saw The Hunters on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read something from this author to help me decided if I should invest in the other series. And based off the Hunters I will be definitely starting The Blacks Hawks asap! I loved how Wragg writes the relationships between the different characters and the way he's written the world feels so fleshed out. If I love the Articles of Faith books as much as the Hunters, Wragg will be a new auto buy author for me!

The plot occasionally veers into predictable territory, with some elements of the story feeling familiar to avid readers of the thriller genre. Additionally, certain aspects of the political intrigue could have been more thoroughly explored to provide a deeper understanding of the world in which the characters operate.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and suspenseful read that will captivate fans of thrillers and adventure novels. With its fast pace, engaging characters, and desert backdrop, this book offers an exciting escape into a world where survival is paramount and secrets lie just beneath the surface. While it may not break new ground in the genre, it provides an entertaining journey filled with tension and intrigue.

Wragg's writing is masterful, effortlessly drawing readers into a richly imagined world. The vivid descriptions paint a picture so immersive that readers will feel the heat of the sun and the grit of the sand beneath their feet. At the heart of the story is Ree herself, a compelling and complex protagonist. Her past haunts her, and as the danger escalates, she must confront her former self to protect the ones she loves. Ree's resilience and determination make her a true heroine, and readers will find themselves rooting for her every step of the way. The pace of the novel is relentless, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. The action sequences are expertly choreographed, filled with tension and adrenaline. Wragg's skillful plotting ensures that there is never a dull moment. The Hunters is the first installment of a thrilling trilogy, and it sets a high bar for the rest of the series.

Ree has been on the run with her young niece Javani. Running from a violent past that may have just caught up with them. Strangers have arrived in town and are asking questions about a lone woman and child.
As Ree and the kid flee across the deserts and mountains, chased by diehard and greedy mercenaries, can she escape her past one more time?

I loved The Black Hawks and The Righteous by David Wragg, so I jumped at the chance to read this book, which is the first in a new series. It's a gritty, bloodthirsty fantasy with some superb characters. I especially loved the banter between brother and sister, Aki and Anashe. The White Spear was another favourite, too.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the ARC.

The hunters
Release date 20th July
Rating 4.5 stars
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to review this book.

Last year I fell in love with the black hawks and I knew that I was going to love David Wragg writing and I was not wrong with this book. This book was impactful when looking at the family dynamic and what actually does a family make as well as the same fun side, action that you have come to expect from the the black hawks. I was so excited to read this book that I made it the first arc I read in May. I cannot wait to share in the love of the characters the setting and then to enjoy everyone’s thoughts. If you loved the black hawks you will not be disappointed in this and you will fall in love with the characters again and begin rooting for the unlikely band of comrades which so many books have but not many have the wit of David wragg. He has a way of making a story hit you but also make you laugh at the same time and feel . I cannot wait until the next one because David Wragg is now an auto buy author to me.

Thank you to Harper Collins for providing an arc in exchange for a review.

Ree, a middle-aged horse farmer with a chequered past, and her 12 year-old niece Javani are living at the very edge of the ‘civilised’ world, in the hot, desert, mining country.
In an explosive start, Ree and Javani find themselves the sudden target of extremely dangerous groups, and run for their lives – but as for why they’re being hunted, and by whom… that’s what Javani is desperate to pry from Ree.
Just because you’re a thousand miles from royalty and palaces doesn’t mean you can leave the political machinations and intrigues behind.

As might be expected by David Wragg, if you are familiar with his other works, this book is funny. We have a sassy, think-she-knows-it-all teenager, a grumpy, done-with-the-world, middle-aged woman, and two adult siblings who would either kill for each other or kill each other.

’Ree, we need to have a talk.'
I thought we had that talk already. Did that Peri girl tell you something odd? Her mother has some funny ideas about anatomy, I can -‘
'Ree! Not about that.'

This felt very Western, with gunpowder, gambling, a protectorate, and mercenaries for hire. My throat was parched, my lips chapped, and my body aching right along with the characters courtesy of Wragg’s vivid descriptions and atmosphere building.

Thematically, whilst this book is a fun, action-packed adventure, it also pays attention to exploring relationships and what family and labels can mean to someone. The idea of how expectations attaches to a simple word and how this can dictate your life - be that brother and sister, charge, loyalty, or job.

Occasionally, I felt there was too much emphasis on these deep and meaningful themes, especially considering our motley crew are literally running for their lives, but it offered depth to an otherwise run-of-the-mill adventure story.

‘People put too much stock in "parents", in "family". Expectations and lies. Words not deeds.' Javani felt as if Ree was no longer talking to her, but to herself. 'A family is what you make, not what you're born to.'

If you enjoyed this, I would recommend Kings of the Wyld, the Sword of Kaigen, and Queens of the Wyld.