The Iron Hunt

By: Marjorie M. Liu

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Silver smoke winds around my torso, peeling away from my ribs and back, stealing the dark mist covering my hands and lower extremities...tattoos dissolving into demon flesh, coalescing into small dark bodies. My boys. The only friends I have in this world. Demons.

I am a demon hunter. I am a demon. I am Hunter Kiss.

By day, her tattoos are her armor. By night, they unwind from her body to take on forms of their own. Demons of the flesh, turned into flesh. This is the only family demon hunter Maxine Kiss has ever known. The only way to live---and the very way she'll die. For one day, her demons will abandon her for her daughter to ensure their own survival---leaving Maxine helpless against her enemies.

But such is the way of Earth's last protector---the only one standing between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment---and one man---changes everything.

©2008 Marjorie M. Liu (P)2008 Tantor

Vivid, visual, and compelling

An excellent story, beautifully written, vivid turns of phrase, highly visual, and with compelling likable characters you can cheer for. Not quite like any other fantasy I’ve read.
This is actually a reread for me, the first time was in print years ago, and all i remembered were hazy character sketches and that I loved it, so when I saw it on audio, I grabbed it. So glad I did. A fantastic series starter, a good story on its own, and absolutely gorgeously read. I hope they put the rest of the series on audio.

No vampires or werewolves for a change.

I picked this book only because I loved Marjorie M. Liu's Crimson City novel. Other than the Crimson City book, I knew nothing about Liu's work. Well, I'm very glad I gave The Iron Hunt a listen. Liu, unlike a lot of the women currently dominating the fantasy genre actually created a paranormal heroine that wasn't a vampire or a werewolf. I have no idea how that happened, since it seems like vampires and werewolves are almost all that gets published anymore in the paranormal genre.

Liu's heroine has tattoos of demons on her body that come to life and fight for her as well as protect her so that she can do her job as a hunter and executioner of demons that have escaped an extra-dimentional jail. Of course, these abilities comes with a price that will eventually have to be paid when she has a daughter.

There are a lot of interesting characters and things in Liu's novel, which is obviously the start of another paranormal series starring another tough, hard case, smart mouthed, female. While that in and of itself isn't anything new, the rest of The Iron Hunt is refreshingly different. I look forward to the next book.

LOVE this author and this series!

If you could sum up The Iron Hunt in three words, what would they be?

Chick Kicks Butt!

What other book might you compare The Iron Hunt to and why?

Anthony Francis Dakota Frost series due to strong female leads and powerful tats -- although these are better -- go Demons!

What does Marguerite Gavin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Gavin always delivers! Love her voice and the personality she gives the characters.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

n/a

Any additional comments?

Audible, please bring us more Liu books!!

Good pick but ended abruptly

I just picked this book kind of "at random". I didn't expect much but figured "Why not?" I found the content good and it held my attention. The narrator was a little over dramatic in the way that she made the characters' voices sound. Overall however I really liked the book. The author used imagery very well and I was able to "see" the story. Maxine Kiss is a very strong character and her little demons are very interesting as well. The only thing I thought the author should have done differently would be to have an ending with a little more to it. It kind of left me hanging.

Beautifully written, nicely narrated

What did you love best about The Iron Hunt?

I've read this whole series a while back, and was happy to find at least one of the books on Audible. The narrator uses just the right amount of drama and expression - I was struck at how evocative Marjorie Liu's writing is - something I didn't realize as I rushed through reading the books. Beautifully descriptive, brings a lot of depth.

What other book might you compare The Iron Hunt to and why?

I think this series is similar to the Jill Kismet series, but Maxine Kiss, the boys, and Grant all bring more humanity, and add an element of softer emotions.

What does Marguerite Gavin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Marguerite Gavin found the exact level of drama and adventure to provide a very satisfying read/listen. Her voice is perfect for this book's characters. I liked her in the Rachel Morgan series, but there were times where I felt her voice made Rachel sound a little wimpy. NOT the case with this book!! Sue wish more of the series becomes available on Audible. I don't have much time to read, so have to get my escapism on iPod.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I was drawn in almost immediately, and am torn between a marathon listening session, or ekeing things out since this is the only book available.