fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsparanormal fantasy book review Lynsay Sands The Renegade HunterThe Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands

How I feel about The Renegade Hunter depends, in part, on whether I put on my “romance hat” or my “fantasy hat.” There is definitely some overlap between urban fantasy and paranormal romance, but this one falls on the romance side. This is not a bad thing, just something you might want to know, whether you’re seeking out paranormal romance or trying to avoid it. The focus is squarely on the relationship between Jo, a feisty marine biology student; and Nicholas, a brooding vampire who has been on the lam for fifty years, presumed guilty of a brutal murder.

Nicholas rescues Jo from a psychotic vampire, and an instant attraction flares up between the two. In short order, they realize that they are “life mates.” The rest of the plot follows Nicholas and Jo as they try to evade both the psychotic vampire and a group of good vampires who want to apprehend Nicholas for the 1959 murder. There’s plenty of suspense, and some steamy love scenes.

I really liked Jo. She’s funny, and stubborn in the best possible way. I have to love a character who refers to a vampire elder as “Captain Crabby,” and her determination to snap Nicholas out of his self-loathing and prove his innocence is touching. I liked Nicholas a little less, just because I’ve seen the angsty vampire with a heart of gold before, but he’s sure to appeal to readers who like that type of hero.

I’m not sure what I think of the vampire origin story that Lynsay Sands has created. I actually said “What?” out loud when I learned that the vampires were created in Atlantis using nanotechnology. It’s both too cliché (because doesn’t all the ubertech always come from Atlantis?) and too far-fetched (I’m having a hard time buying nanotech in the ancient world, Atlantis or no Atlantis). Then again,

  • Maybe it’s silly to look for realism in a vampire novel.
  • I have been saying I want twists on the standard vampire story, after all!
  • It may be meant as a parody of the super-enlightened-Atlantean cliché. I’ve gathered from
    poking around on the Internet that Sands’ earlier vampire novels are more comedic than
    The Renegade Hunter. I may be picking on something that was meant to be funny but
    isn’t coming off that way because this installment is a little on the dark side.
  • The nanotech is actually quite well-thought-out! Sands does a great job of tying her origin
    story into the pre-existing vampire mythos, and explaining how the nanos relate to vamps’
    aversion to sunlight, the ravenous hunger of newly-turned vampires, and so on.

I did find the ending a little disappointing. First, Sands brings a large cast from previous novels onto the “stage” to discuss Nicholas’ fate. This scene serves largely as a “where are they now,” and I think it would be better appreciated by someone who’d read the previous ARGENEAU VAMPIRES and ROGUE HUNTER books. Then, a major event occurs, but is never explained. I’m guessing that it will be clarified in a later novel.

Overall, The Renegade Hunter is a fun, exciting romantic suspense, but becomes slightly less satisfying as it draws to a close. The ending depends too much upon previous books and future books, when up until that point The Renegade Hunter could have stood on its own.

Argeneau Family — (2005-2015) Publisher: That hot guy tied to Lissianna Argeneau’s bed? He’s not dessert — he’s the main course! Lissianna has been spending her centuries pining for Mr. Right, not just a quick snack, and this sexy guy she finds in her bed looks like he might be a candidate. But there’s another, more pressing issue: her tendency to faint at the sight of blood… an especially annoying quirk for a vampire. Of course it doesn’t hurt that this man has a delicious-looking neck. What kind of cold-blooded vampire woman could resist a bite of that? Dr. Gregory Hewitt recovers from the shock of waking up in a stranger’s bedroom pretty quickly — once he sees a gorgeous woman about to treat him to a wild night of passion. But is it possible for the good doctor to find true love with a vampire vixen, or will he be just a good meal? That’s a question Dr. Greg might be willing to sink his teeth into… if he can just get Lissianna to bite.

Lynsay Sands Argeneau Family 1. A Quick Bite 2. Love Bites 3. Single White Vampire 4. Tall Dark and HungryLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 1. A Quick Bite 2. Love Bites 3. Single White Vampire 4. Tall Dark and HungryLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 1. A Quick Bite 2. Love Bites 3. Single White Vampire 4. Tall Dark and HungryLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 1. A Quick Bite 2. Love Bites 3. Single White Vampire 4. Tall Dark and HungryLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 5. A Bite to Remember 6. Bite Me If You Can 7. The Accidental Vampire 8. Vampires Are ForeverLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 5. A Bite to Remember 6. Bite Me If You Can 7. The Accidental Vampire 8. Vampires Are ForeverLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 5. A Bite to Remember 6. Bite Me If You Can 7. The Accidental Vampire 8. Vampires Are ForeverLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 5. A Bite to Remember 6. Bite Me If You Can 7. The Accidental Vampire 8. Vampires Are ForeverLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 9. Vampire, Interrupted 10. The Rogue Hunter 11. The Immortal Hunter 12. The Renegade HunterLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 9. Vampire, Interrupted 10. The Rogue Hunter 11. The Immortal Hunter 12. The Renegade HunterLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 9. Vampire, Interrupted 10. The Rogue Hunter 11. The Immortal Hunter 12. The Renegade HunterLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 9. Vampire, Interrupted 10. The Rogue Hunter 11. The Immortal Hunter 12. The Renegade HunterLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 9. Vampire, Interrupted 10. The Rogue Hunter 11. The Immortal Hunter 12. The Renegade Hunter, Born to Bite, Hungry For You, The Reluctant VampireLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 9. Vampire, Interrupted 10. The Rogue Hunter 11. The Immortal Hunter 12. The Renegade Hunter, Born to Bite, Hungry For You, The Reluctant VampireLynsay Sands Argeneau Family 9. Vampire, Interrupted 10. The Rogue Hunter 11. The Immortal Hunter 12. The Renegade Hunter, Born to Bite, Hungry For You, The Reluctant Vampirefantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsfantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsfantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsfantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsfantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsfantasy book reviews science fiction book reviews

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Author

  • Kelly Lasiter

    KELLY LASITER, with us since July 2008, is a mild-mannered academic administrative assistant by day, but at night she rules over a private empire of tottering bookshelves. Kelly is most fond of fantasy set in a historical setting (a la Jo Graham) or in a setting that echoes a real historical period (a la George RR Martin and Jacqueline Carey). She also enjoys urban fantasy and its close cousin, paranormal romance, though she believes these subgenres’ recent burst in popularity has resulted in an excess of dreck. She is a sucker for pretty prose (she majored in English, after all) and mythological themes.