Half City, Kate Golden (Review by Skylar Wetzel)

Rating: 5.0/5 Stars

If you’re looking for the next big romantasy book that will consume you, look no farther. Viv, a secret deviant hunter (aka demon killer), is trying to survive the world as normal 21-year-old her age would while also keeping her innate biological hunting skills hidden from everyone she knows. Viv’s father, the only person who knew of her skill, was killed right before her eyes. This causes her to feel misunderstood by most of her peers and family who don’t know her secret, and casts her into a snarky, antagonistic character role that I couldn’t help but love. Sign me up for any female main character who has a strong personality and backbone!

While she is out hunting one night, she quickly learns she isn’t as alone as she thinks. There is a whole school of hunters who train together and she’s invited to join. Of course, any good romantasy isn’t complete without a forbidden steamy love interest who also happens to be the school’s battle instructor. As she begins her studies, dangerous circumstances continue to pop up around her that leave questions unanswered about her father’s death and why they started occurring once she joined the school.

Throughout this book, there were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. The world building and pacing of plot were completely captivating to the point where I forgot I was even reading at times. I could see every piece of imagined mythical scenery painted in my head. Many answers are slowly revealed throughout the chapters that weaves a bit of mystery into the book. It does cruelly end on a cliff hanger that makes me question what Viv’s hot demon love interest is hiding and of course, how she will save the world. All the theories are brewing in my head.

This was a refreshingly new take for the romantasy genre, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read an academy setting, Buffy the vampire slayer-esque book.