I received an eARC of The Hunter and the Mage by Kaitlyn Davis in exchange for an honest review. Kaitlyn sent this to me a couple of months ago and I finally got a chance to read it!

The Hunter and the Mage is the sequel to The Raven and the Dove – so if you haven’t read book 1, be sure to order a copy today! I’ll also link my review here if you want to check that out!

This will be a spoiler free review, but I cannot guarantee that this review will not include spoilers from The Raven and the Dove – so if you haven’t read it yet, you have been warned!

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Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:

Return to the world of The Raven and the Dove, where winged people rule the skies, a lost kingdom lives at sea, and two star-crossed lovers hold the fate of each in their palms. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Sabaa Tahir, and Leigh Bardugo!

A mage written in prophecy…

When Lyana wakes in the Sea of Mist, adventure is the first thing on her mind. But between her unruly new magic and an unyielding young king, the world below comes with more responsibility than she ever dreamed. An entire civilization exists within the fog, and its survival depends entirely on her.

A hunter forged in blood…

Adrift at sea on a ship full of strangers, Rafe fights to cope with his new reality. He’ll do anything to return to the sky and the people he left behind. When a surprising offer comes his way, he instantly accepts, sparing no time to consider the consequences.

Loyalties are tested and an ancient war begins anew…

With rebellion in her heart, Cassi defies her king and befriends the prince she’s been ordered to kill. Oblivious to the threat, Xander welcomes her into his inner circle, determined to rescue his mate. As one works to help and the other to hinder, an ancient enemy stirs, forcing Cassi to choose between trusting the man who broke her heart and turning her back on everything she’s ever known. 

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Let me start off by saying this: IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE RAVEN AND THE DOVE – STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING, BUY/BORROW THE BOOK, AND READ IT. 

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that off my chest, I can actually dive into the review!

As the sequel to The Raven and the Dove, which ended on a very intense note, I was so happy to dive in and find out what happens next. Kaitlyn has a way of easing the reader into her story, getting them comfortable, and then sending them off on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I’ve noticed that her pacing starts off slow then slowing rises as we get through the book, before catapulting us off the cliff. 

This book actually broke my heart. 

One thing I loved about this book is that we get to see more of the world below. While we got snippets and scenes in the first book about the mysterious fire king and his kingdom of the mist, we didn’t get to know much about the kingdom itself. While I missed the world above and all their nations, I enjoyed spending more time with the mages below and learning more about their world. 

One thing I love, love, love about this book is how people perceive each other. One character can come across as wonderful and kind, while someone else sees them as a hardheaded jerk. We get hints of both of these characteristics between the two POVs, but we view people so differently. I love that. 

Kaitlyn has such great world building, fun and diverse characters, and her plots are always so intense. While we have to work ourselves back into the world, it’s not a boring introduction. Since the start of the book I was on my toes, waiting to know what happens next. Especially with the betrayal we faced in the first book, I wanted to see how these characters reacted to the world below and to what brought them there. Poor Rafe having to deal with the loss of his wings. Lyana discovering that there is a whole world below the mist (and not just death). Cassie struggling with her role and who she should be loyal to. And Xander fighting for his kingdom, while still suffering the loss of the life he wanted. Everything about this book is just so, so good!

I love the characters, I love the plot, I love everything about this book! I could go into a huge rant about how much I adore this series, but I’m not going to. Instead – I’m going to leave you with this:

READ THIS BOOK. PREORDER THE HUNTER AND THE MAGE BECAUSE IT IS AN AMAZING SERIES THAT MORE PEOPLE NEED TO SCREAM ABOUT. 

I’m sorry for yelling, I’m just very passionate.

Anyways! Clearly, I adore this book. // 5 stars. 

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The Hunter and the Mage releases on September 21st, 2020 and I’ve linked my indie bookstore if you’re interested in preordering a copy!

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I have a Ko-fi account! If you like my content and want to help me fund my own domain or just wants to send me a gift, I’ve linked it here! Thanks to anyone who checks it out!