Chantel Rhondeau: Stefanie J Pristavu

Book: Hunters
Author: Stephanie J. Pristavu
Genre: Paranormal/vampire/romantic elements
My rating: 3-4 stars - this one was tough to judge

Okay, I've been very on the fence about this review. I actually finished this book over a week ago, and I've been trying to decide how I felt about it overall. In truth, most of the book is very good. I love the story line, vampires being vampires who are actually scary dudes that are bad news. I mean, don't get me wrong, you all know some of my favorite books are Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series and I'm a pretty much in love with Eric Northman, but this was a nice change. Vlad is a bad dude who wants to kill humans, not love them.

I even liked the hunters, Rachel and Daniel. I liked the idea of a hunter - a human who was only partially changed to a vampire but saved by another hunter's blood giving them antibodies basically against the vampire poison. This gives hunters a lot of human qualities still (the ability to love, stay in sunlight--though it is a bit painful for them so they prefer the night--a beating heart and the need for food). Also, they get a bunch of neat vampire abilities (super strength, speed, fast healing). A hunter's main objective in life is to kill vampires. Pretty neat idea and something I hadn't seen before.

The parts I didn't like were actually the romance bits, which is weird for me. In the beginning, it was cute and funny and hot, the attraction between Rachel and Daniel. However, about 20% into the book, things got weird. Daniel would want Rachel and then push her away for no apparent reason. Rachel would be sad, mad, whatever. Then it all happened again. As a romance reader, I expect some of this stuff to happen, the characters fight, they have insecurities, whatever, but there is always a reason - something that triggers the change in the relationship. That wasn't the case here. There was never any explanation, just him pulling her close and pushing her away again and again. Nothing would happen to make him change his mind, he just did. The only explanation given was 'he must be bipolar.' I wouldn't have even minded that, but this went on for about 15% of the book with nothing else happening. I honestly started skim reading and decided I wasn't going to finish the book.

I put the book away for a few days, but wanted to give it another try because I did like the premise of this book so much, and had enjoyed the parts before the problem started. We finally got on to dealing with vampires, and it was a lot better. I really enjoyed the plot and I love the style of writing. Very clean and easy to read. Several parts that were funny. It was honestly only the romance part that turned me off. If I had skipped the romance parts, this would have been a definite 4 star for me. FYI - Daniel's odd behavior is eventually explained, but having the same thing over and over again was very frustrating, especially with no explanation at the time.

I would still recommend this book. The fight scenes are really good and the overall story is too. If you want bad vampires and also a little history of the true vampire, Vlad the Impaler, this story provides all of that. I think a lot of the problems I had about the romance was worked out throughout this story, and I do look forward to the next installment.

Happy reading everyone!
eeeChantelfff

Rachel and Daniel broke every rule in the Hunter book.

Don’t turn humans into Hunters. Daniel did that when he saved Rachel from becoming a vampire bride.

Don’t travel beyond your assigned area. Assigned area? They’ve traveled half-way around the world in search for Vlad, the vampire boss.

Report all hunting activity to the Hunters’ High Council. There’s a Hunters’ High Council?

Don’t tell humans about the existence of paranormal beings. Ooopsy, they kinda let that one slip.

Don’t resist arrest and escape from your death sentence. Well, about that… If they’re to go down, they’re taking Vlad with them, especially since he screwed up both their lives.

The Council has a valid reason to want their heads, but Rachel and Daniel have more pressing matters to worry about. Like the screechy voices inside Rachel’s head which sing of death and destruction and the creepy Banshee who predicts the coming of a Hunter – vampire war. A war which Daniel and Rachel must trigger to save their race from extinction.

And Rachel seriously doubts that a head-on battle between the vampires and the Hunters will be their ticket out of the death sentence.

Where to buy:

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008RTTOQ2

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hunters-ebook/dp/B008RTTOQ2

Publisher’s website, where you can find PDF, html and print: http://www.fireandiceya.com/authors/stefaniejpristavu/hunters.html

Thanks for visiting us today, Stefanie!

Lovely to be here, Chantel! Nice place you’ve got J

Haha - thanks, I cleaned up for you and everything!

First off, tell us a little about your book, Hunters. I’ve caught the vampire craze along with the rest of the world. However, I’m gathering the hunters aren’t quite human, but also aren’t vampires?

I wrote Hunters to be a fun, fast read. Before starting it, I worked on an YA series I’m still struggling with, so I poured all the nonsense I had in me inside this baby. There is silliness all throughout, but the plot itself is pretty serious stuff. Well, most of the time.

What I wanted was a book in which vampires would go back to being the bad guys. When’s the last time you’ve read and of that? So I’ve made up Hunters. They’re mostly still human – with the pumping blood, ability to reproduce and the fact that they die if you shoot them in the head… or any other deadly place. Fortunately, vampires don’t use modern weapons – but have some vampire venom in there as well (from mucked up vampire transformation) and it’s this venom that makes them strong and fast like the vampires, give them some other super powers vampires don’t have (like a psychic link). Unfortunately, it also gives them a sensitivity to sunlight and a thirst for blood once a month.

I am totally in love with the whole vampire romance type stuff going around (think True Blood with sexy Eric Northman, not Twilight). I understand your characters are a bit different. Have you ever been in love with or had the hots for one of your characters? Who and why?

In my world, vampires don’t love – so there’s no vampire romance. There is however hunter romance. Even if they have no trouble having relationships with humans, Hunters are weary of it. That could be because they’re potentially immortal. Who would want to see a loved one die?

My characters are a mess! Well, at least they were in the first draft. Ms. Whiny Pants and Mr. Aloof Jerk. Now, they’re a bit better (at least I hope so). What I did try was to make them equal. Rachel (the heroine) is kick-ass on her own. Daniel (the hero) is more kick-ass than her (stronger too), but he doesn’t do the whole overprotective thing with her. Probably because he knows she’d scream her lungs out at him. So they’re partners in the true sense of the word. And I love that about them.

Hmm… I can’t say I’ve ever had the hots for one of my characters, and that’s because, with my paranormal leads, I kinda know they’re not real. In my YA series, though there are hotties there (and 5 of them), I always kinda feel they’re out of my league, lol. Yeah, sad I know.

Do I get moments when I swoon over the word document? Well, yes, because they have moments of utter brilliance. I did kinda get a small crush on the hero of my latest project, and UF. He’s so self-sacrificing and fair, it just broke my heart. He was so much fun to write.

Ms. Whiny Pants and Mr. Aloof Jerk, huh? Well, that’s what the revision floor is for. They do sound interesting though! And, yeah, moments of writing brilliance get us all going. I have a feeling humor is a very important aspect of what you do. Your blog posts crack me up and even your book blurb made me laugh. Is this something you work hard at or are you one of those lucky people who are naturally funny?

Wow, that’s a huge compliment. Thanks. I love to make people laugh! Yes, humor is very important to me, because I can’t stand things that take themselves too seriously.

I’m a pretty cynical person and love sarcasm. It sorta comes with the territory, since you can’t really survive in my country without a sense of humor. You’d go nuts. So I’ve perfected the art of poking fun at everything, including myself. Well, especially myself.

I won’t lie, I do work at it (there can be a very thin line between funny and offensive – and I’m one of the awful people who finds racism and discrimination funny – because I don’t take it seriously. I think it’s silly that people don’t realize that everyone’s the same), but most of it is me J

I understand what you mean about everyone being the same so racism and discrimination shouldn’t happen. Unfortunately, some people don’t see the world that way. I’ve seen a lot of hatred first hand, and some people take that kind of thing too far. At heart, I'm a softy - I wish for world peace! And I'm probably a little too serious J

Ah, world peace. Who wouldn’t want that? I guess it would be easier if people took themselves a little less seriously. ;)

Well, and humor is so subjective. I’m always surprised when I try to write something funny and a critique partner tells me it actually is - :D I’m not so great at the whole humor bit.

Everyone’s sense of humor is different. So I always think you’ll find people there who believe that what you write is funny. Just like I’m sure there are tons of people out there my humor is lost on. But that’s life for you.

When did you start writing?

When I was nine or ten. Which is pretty funny. English is not my first language, so you can only imagine what my spelling was like. It was so much fun. I had these little notebooks, and I drew pictures to go along with the story. Of course, I couldn’t draw to save my life. Still can’t. Wish I could, though.

That’s when I started writing the YA series I’m still working on.

I think you do better with your English skills than many American’s I talk to J myself included. I’m always amazed by people who speak more than one language. I took French for two years… I can count to ten, but that’s about it.

I took French for seven years - not sure I could count to ten, but I can say, I’m hungry, I need the bathroom and ask where stuff is J Fortunately, I actually understand the language if spoken to. Even if I can’t say almost anything back. I speak Spanish and German waaaay better ;)

Wow! Talk about multi-talented. Three fluent languages? Plus, being able to say "I need the bathroom" is probably a lot more useful than counting - LOL. You're amazing.

So, tell us where the inspiration for your books comes from.

I have no idea. It can be a book, a dream or a song. I usually imagine a certain situation and wonder if it would be worth to turn it into a novel. If the answer is yes, and the idea sticks with me, I go for it. If not, I try to insert it into something I’m already writing. Sometimes a simple conversation with unaware people could give me an awesome idea.

What do you love about writing? What do you hate?

I love writing – the characters especially. I’m not very big on setting and description, but I love plot resolution, character evolution and dialogue.

I can’t say I really hate something, but I’m not very fond of editing and querying. Though the editing is imperative since it actually transforms your story, I wish someone else could do the querying for me so I could just write.

Ah - Revision Hell! LOL That’s my least favorite part too. I skipped the querying, going self-pub, but I can imagine what a headache that process must be.

What’s next for you? More books in the works?

I’m currently working on editing a huge 100k word Urban Fantasy, and get it ready to query in a month or so (I hope). It’s called Saving Grace and it has Angels and Demons is it. But, as usual, not what you’d expect – no human main characters in there. I like my MCs equal ;) This is my main focus now.

I’m also brainstorming about another series involving a Dream realm with many creatures in it.

More about my Projects here: http://stephacrosstheborder.blogspot.ro/p/other-writing-projects.html

Anything else you’d like to talk about?

If you get me started, I won’t shut up J

LOL - then I’ll just ask another question. Can you give us your favorite one-liner from Hunters?

Well, that depends. I haven’t read the thing in a while (I’ve proofed it so many times, I couldn’t stand reading it again for a long, long time). There might be some better lines in there, but I’ve always enjoyed this piece of brilliance.

I told you this one’s not right in the head. I just show her my killer weapons and all she wants to do is jump my bones. (Daniel on his fiancée)

J Yep, that one’s great! Thanks so much for visiting with us, Stefanie. I wish you great success in your writing. And I’m really looking forward to reading Hunters.

Thanks for having me. And I’m very looking forward to you reading Hunters as well. Okay, I’ll shut up now. :p