All Hunter has ever known is a life on the edge of society.
The daughter of an outlaw father and a mother with forbidden magic, she’s lived for years in the mountains – away from the rest of the world and the rules that would see her mother executed.
When a band of hunting slave traders force her hand, she becomes their unwilling captive, headed to the Trand market as their newest, and least … Trand market as their newest, and least cooperative, product.
As she struggles to stay alive and escape the traders, she gets more and more entangled with Leon Swiftsight, a mysterious mage with ulterior motives and magic that both frightens her and draws her in. The closer they become, the more something hidden and dangerous wakes inside of Hunter.
With more at stake than she could have ever known, can her secrets keep her safe?
This is the first of a slow-burn series where Hunter will meet each of her men throughout the series and have her HEA with all of her partners.
Though it’s related to the Shadows & Shade world/series, it can be read on its own.
Trigger warnings for scenes of violence involving the FMC as well as chapters exploring non/dub con, abuse against women and story elements revolving around being held captive.
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You know when an author did an amazing job when you get sucked in the story and feel like you’re there with their characters. That is what happened for me with Hunters and Secrets. This was my first read with Amanda Cashure work don’t know where i was hiding all this time!! I will be picking up her Shade and Shadows series for sure.
I received a free copy of this ARC via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
I got started on Amanda’s books early on. Now I’m on her third series and I’m still hooked. I love not only the story, but the characters as well. And an extension to her other series universe. I’m so glad I get to read these books right now. If you’re looking to expand to a new author this series is it. (Hint hint… try shadows and shades first)
love this book!
Absolutely loved this book. Amazing characters and entertaining. Action packed and fun. Couldn’t put it done and now can’t wait for more!
Another amazing book by Amanda, I started reading and couldn’t put it down! You get a new aspect of a previous world from Shadows and Shade but it’s still new and interesting!! We get another smartass FMC and her awesome sidekick, her horse! This is one epic series in the making and If you’re a fan of Amanda’s Shadows and Shade series, you’ll love this story!! Definitely can’t wait to read the next book!!!
H&S is set in the same world as Shade and Shadows, but you do not have to have read S&S to follow along. Hunter is fierce. She is focused on taking care of her family, and ends up taken by slavers when trying to save them. Cashure does not shy away from portraying the humiliation and life a slave experiences, and some scenes could be triggering. This is an RH series, but slow burn, and we will meet her guys (and maybe girl(s)) along the way. I like that we get scenes from Leon’s perspective, because I’m not sure I would have really liked him otherwise. He is on his own mission, but is fascinated by Hunter. I can’t wait to see what happens next in Hunter’s journey 🙂
This book is in the same world as Shadows and Shade series. This book is darker than that series because it deals with some serious issues. It is a slow burn romance. The mc is stubborn and sometimes a bit reckless but has a good heart. It took me a little bit to get into the book but by the end I was ready for book two.
Welcome to the start of another AMAZING series by Amanda Cashure. Set in the same world as Shadows & Shade, we get a glance at a different aspect of life in the realms. We meet Hunter, a seemingly normal human with a unique connection to her horse. When she’s caught by a group of slave traders during an attempt to free her siblings, she meets Leon – a mage with more secrets than she can count. He isn’t all that he seems. As the group travels to the Trader’s Ball, Hunter struggles between listening to and trusting Leon or going with her gut. Most of the time her gut wins…until Leon proves he’s on her side. I mean, her horse trusts him so she can too, right? The start of their relationship may be rocky but it draws you in, hooks you and leaves you wanting more. The world is incredibly detailed – as Shade fans will already know – and makes it easy to fall into the story. Absolutely can not WAIT for the rest of this series!!!!
Amanda Cashure is such a weaver of worlds. I love her ability to truly transport you into a story. This book is a little of on dark side with some particularly horrendous villains who are slavers by trade. There is also a stubborn, spirited, and brave mc who is not in the business of letting others save her and a broody mage with all kinds of magic . I love that this series is connected to her Shade series and I can’t wait to see how the worlds will collide.
This was a fantastic darker story. It does have a few possible triggers but is most beautifully written and developed. This story drew me in from the very beginning. It is full of action, drama, suspense, and has a tiny bit of a mystery that needs to be solved in it. It is stunning in all of its development. The characters Hunter and Leon have these amazing personalities that they have you rooting for them to win at whatever they are doing. Yes, the story does end in a cliffhanger but my goodness is it so worth reading and waiting for the next book in the series. This is a must read!!!!!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this book so much! I am not normally a fan of slow burn, but Amanda always writes such amazing books. I found myself submerged in the story and the subtle growing connections betweem love interests. Then before I was ready the book was over. Hunter and Leon hold so many secrets and I can not wait to find them out.
*Spoiler Alert*
Stolen by slave traders to be sold Hunter (FMC) tries to find the strength of mind to survive. With a horse Lii that she can mind talk with that has plenty of wit and sarcasm. Made me laugh so much. As well as a slave trader – Leon who doesnt act like one but tries his level best to help her in every way but escape. Oh and he can mind read too so that complicates things a lot but it makes for some funny conversations. Its a flaming great joyride of a read. Yes its dark in places so its not a sweetness & light book but its a damn fine read. I really liked it & i cant wait for book 2
Once again it’s been an amazing start into a new series with incredible world building.
There’s some slight familiarity due to spinning off the same universe as Shade.
Taking time to get the world set up pulls some of the focus from the characters and progressing their story. It stalls a bit but definitely keep with it.
The characters are still a bit of a mystery at the end. Hunter’s end goal is survival. At all costs. Which could be things she isn’t prepared for. Leon is looking to save the many by sacrificing the few.
True slow burn. There’s a hint into the harem building but nothing really begins. Ready to see where this goes in book 2.
This newest installment by Amanda Cashure is a spin-off of my favorite series by Amanda the Shadows and Shade series. If you have not read the first three books in this series you might be better off starting from there, as there are some jokes and mentions to the other series in this first book. As far as potential triggers go this story this story is darker than the Shade and Shadows series but not quite on the level of her Dust series. All the same triggers from Dust are potentially there but this story is far less explicit (at least so far). But please read the warning before starting. This story starts far before the events in Shadows and Shade and follows a woman named Hunter and her being kidnapped by slavers from her home. She has a tumultuously building relationship with a man named Leon as the story progresses. The story is told from both their point of view with a talking horse as the comic relief. Lii (the horse) is honestly the best character. This series is different from other RH series I have read in that we do not meet all the people that will be in her harem in the first book. Leon is the only love interest right now, but we did see another character Dustin for five seconds who I believe will become another.
This story is fun and exciting, you get to watch Hunter stumble her way through life as she tries to be a badass but fails miserably multiple times. It was nice to see a heroine not be a complete badass without any training or previous knowhow. It definitely leaves a lot of room for character growth as the story progresses. There is lots of mystery surrounding Hunter’s magic and naturally some plot to overthrow the world. The story was highly entertaining and has so much room for growth I don’t see it getting boring anytime soon. I highly recommend this spin-off and unlike other spin-offs that can feel forced or flat this one shines. You can tell that this spin-off wasn’t done as a gimmick for more money and just from a place of pure love of this world and this series.
One of the things I love about Amanda Cashure’s storytelling is she always gives you something unique, something you’ve never seen before, and she sucks you in. She gives you a believable world and flawed, but powerful characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. This book absolutely did that for me too. I’ve never read about slavers. I’ve never come across a character like Hunter. I fell in love with her and Leon (and Lii) in the early pages and couldn’t bear not knowing what came next. I devoured this book and it left me both deeply satisfied and desperate for more. Another amazing book by Cashure that will stick with me.
I have fallen in love with another smartass FMC and her fantastic sidekick, her horse! This is one epic ride. If you’re a fan of Amanda’s Shadows and Shade series, it’s an absolute must read IMO. It gives you a glimpse into what’s happening in the broader world outside Silva in the mortal realm. Don’t be mistaken though, things here are just as dangerous if not more so. Be prepared to find new enemies to hate and new men to love and crush on (hello Leon and Dustin!)… You’re going to find another fabulous FMC who is more than she seems, and I have a feeling the world isn’t ready for her any more than they were ready for the wildness that is Shade! I’m going to LOVE it all the more for the fantastic craziness that ensues!
This is set in the same world as Shadows and Shade so some of the characters we have seen or heard of before. Hunter is quite different to Shade although both have had difficult childhoods, because she’s older for a start and has seen more of the world.
Loved all the world building and the slow burn between Leon and Hunter. Can’t wait to see who she adds to her harem and see more of her magic
Wow!! Ms. Cashure has done it yet again!!! This book is bloody brilliant. I LOVE the world that has been created for these amazingly badass characters. If you love fantasy, this book is for you! Hunter is no meek girl looking to be rescued, she is a woman who isn’t afraid to risk herself to do what’s right and to save herself. Hunters and Secrets takes place within the same world as Shadows and Shade. In this series, you get to meet a couple of the characters that have popped up within the Shadows and Shade series, BUT this series takes place BEFORE S&S so you do not have to have read that series first and you do not have to read this one to understand what’s going on in S&S. Now having said that, if you’ve read S&S, you’ll love Hunter’s story as much as Shade’s; and, if you are picking up this book as a first time reader of Ms. Cashure and you enjoy it, well you’ll love The Shadows & Shade series as well!!
Ms. Cashure is a master of building her worlds and giving her readers a full and complex story to follow instead of the wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am stories you get with a lot of RH reads. She is amazing at creating a slow and intense burn and this new series is not failing at providing the reader with any of the above. I think the best part of Hunter’s story is that we haven’t met the full harem yet and I love when it is built up throughout a series. Most RHs will throw everyone at you at once, but here, we’ve met one potential and have been in his head multiple times now to learn a lot about him without having to also keep tabs on multiple others.. SO NICE.
This book is NOT a stand-alone. I wouldn’t consider the ending a cliffhanger, but the story is far from complete and I definitely need more. I can’t wait to uncover all of these little secrets and mysteries surrounding these characters.
**Unfortunately, with her go-get-it attitude and that willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done, Hunter makes some very rash decisions that land her in some very dangerous situations. There are a few scenes within this story that could be a trigger for some readers. Hunter has been taken captive as a slave and acting out means punishments. If you are triggered by someone getting whipped, this book is not for you; there are also a couple of scenes that flirt with the edge of horrible things happening and one scene of being forced to drink something unpleasant. Again, we are dealing with slavers and they are show-no-mercy type men, so if you are triggered by that type of dynamic, please take note and read at your own risk.