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Philippa Ballantine
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Hunter and Fox (The Shifted World Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Philippa Ballantine (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 25 ratings
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The world of Conhaero is in constant flux; mountains can change to plains and then to lakes in a matter of weeks. It is a place where only the most adaptable can survive, but also a refuge to people from other worlds seeking peace—but nothing is as it should be. The native protectors of the realm, the Vaerli are scattered and cursed. The Kindred, the spirits of the land, who once held a pact with them, have disappeared. Now the Caisah, and his own alien magic rule the land, controlling the peoples and hunting the Vaerli. He also holds the leash of Talyn. With the promise of freedom for her people, Talyn has become his hunter. She seeks out her enemies because she thinks it is the only way to save the remainder of the Vaerli, but she is a wreck of a once-proud person. When she is given the task of hunting down Finn, she cannot know the changes that will follow. As teller of tales, Finn carries his own dreadful secret and has his own mission. For the Kindred are finally moving, and the Vaerli have a chance at redemption and freedom. If Talyn and Finn can find a way back through the past, and into the very heart of this shifting land, then perhaps old wounds can be healed, and the Caisah defeated. Maybe Conhaero and its people can find a new kind of peace. ================================ This edition now includes the never before published short story, Dragonsoul, set before the events of Hunter and Fox. ================================
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Shifted World
  2. Print length
    270 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    August 24, 2016
  6. File size
    4781 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

...a fascinating new sword and sorcery fantasy using the metaphor of chaos to explore questions of human identity....Writing in a rich prose style, Philippa Ballantine has created some memorable characters who must explore who they are and decide what they can become.
--Tulsa Book Review

Weaving a tale of a world on the cusp of physical and social upheaval, Ballantine tells a story of mighty magics, pacts made and broken, betrayal, sacrifice and redemption. Hunter and Fox is a worthy feat of world-building, with Ballantine cleverly giving new clothes to old fantasy tropes...
- The Miami Herald

...she has more to offer than the usual fantasy author. A very complex back story is partly revealed in this book...and the characters have more nuance than in most stories set in pre-industrial worlds with plenty of magic...it's possible Ballantine will continue to take her characters, and readers, in unexpected directions...
-Mercury News

I find Ms. Ballantine characters to be some of the most believable, memorable, driven characters in fiction today. She is a harsh mistress and one should never become too attached to any of her creations as I personally believe that none of her characters are sacrosanct. Hunter and Fox is no different in this regard.
-View From Valhalla

Ballantine draws readers into a fascinating new world, peopled by characters you will genuinely care about. In this first volume of the Shifted World series, she draws from classic fantasy traditions but makes them wholly her own. This world is literally alive, mountains shifting up out of plains with little warning...Talyn is a heroine to cheer for and treasure.
-RT Book Reviews

About the Author

Philippa Ballantine, who also used the pen name Pip Ballantine, is a contemporary New Zealand author of speculative fiction and an avid podcaster. She now lives in Manassas, Virginia, with her husband and collaborator Tee Morris.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01L0FLAZW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Imagine That! Studios; 2nd edition (August 24, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 24, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4781 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 25 ratings

About the author

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Philippa Ballantine

Philippa Ballantine

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Originally from New Zealand, Philippa Ballantine, is a horror, fantasy, and steampunk author.

Her most recent novel, Inferno's Fall, is set in the world of Alien.

She's won an Airship, a Parsec, an RT Book Review Readers Choice, and a Sir Julius Vogel Award, as well as appearing in the Locus Bestseller list, and been in the Goodreads Top Science Fiction books.

She currently resides in Manassas, Virginia with her husband, her daughter, and a mighty clowder of cats. Visit her online at pjballantine.com or follow her on Twitter @PhilippaJane.

Customer reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
25 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the characters interesting and emotional. They describe the storytelling as enticing and expert. Readers also appreciate the depth and detail of the fantasy world.

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Character developmentStorytelling
5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters interesting and emotional.

"...series as in other works, she has given us fully developed, interesting characters...." Read more

"...of "Wizard's First Rule," but with a wealth of new themes and interesting characters...." Read more

"...Every chapter was enjoyable and this book lacks uninteresting characters and sub-plots...." Read more

"Interesting magic, characters, and world, but I rather wish I had highlighted all the typos so they could be easily found and fixed...." Read more

4 customers mention "Storytelling"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the storytelling in the book enticing, intriguing, and expert. They appreciate the depth of the fantasy world created, the wealth of new themes, and the fresh and unique characters. Readers also mention the outlook is not human and somewhat mystifying.

"...The world in each of those series is different and she makes it so real regardless how strange some of the inhabitants or happenings...." Read more

"...I liked the depth of the fantasy world created, and it was very clear from the writing that there were no dangling plot holes, no blurry areas; it..." Read more

"...The setting is very exciting and the characters a very fresh and unique...." Read more

"...Philippa's expert storytelling had me at page one and delivered on every page after." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Ellen
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful New Series
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2012
Verified Purchase
I have really enjoyed all of Philippa Ballentine's books. The Books and Braun series is one of my favourites, but I also love the Order. The world in each of those series is different and she makes it so real regardless how strange some of the inhabitants or happenings. Now we have this series. Once again she creates a whole new world that is fascinating. Perhaps of even more importance, in this series as in other works, she has given us fully developed, interesting characters. They are heroic, flawed, haunted, and people I love spending my time getting to know.

Many years ago the Vaerli were apparently defeated by Caisah who now rules with god- like power. He has stripped the Vaerli of most of their magical powers. He has cursed them so that a Vaerli cannot come near another Vaerli without being destroyed. They are extremely longed lived, so this condemns them to centuries of loneliness and pain. The other races don't trust them and are frequently violent toward them.

The story is told from three points of view. Talyn the Dark who is an assassin/bounty hunter for Caisah. She is a Vaerli and hates Caisah, but believes she will find out secrets from Caisah to help restore the Vaerli. Most of the remaining Vaerli despise her as a traitor. Next we have Finn the Fox. He is a storyteller who risks his life telling the forgotten tales about the Vaerli. Then there is almost obsession about Talyn. Finally there is Byrenko who is Talyn's brother. Because of the curse he and Talyn haven't seen each other in centuries. He is trying to find his place in the world and is on a journey he doesn't quite understand. Since he was a child when the Vaerli lost their power, he has little memory of what being a Vaerli meant.

Then there are the Kindred. They are perhaps my favourite beings in this book. Their outlook is not human and somewhat mystifying. I can't wait to read more about them in the next book and to find out what happens to our three narrators.

I highly recommend this book as well as her Ministry of Peculiar Occurences Series, Books of the Order series and Chasing the Bard (Shakespeare and faeries, oh, my!).
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Moira Katson
4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing and with wonderful depth
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2012
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"Hunter and Fox" is a book I would certainly recommend. For those who read and enjoy fantasy, especially, it will appeal: reminiscent, stylistically, of "Wizard's First Rule," but with a wealth of new themes and interesting characters. The book steers itself well clear of cliches, and the races and religions are well thought out.

WHAT I LIKED:

As stated above, I liked that I could not predetermine, from the start of the book, who might be allied with whom, by what means things might be resolved, nor could I identify easy fantasy tropes. In a very realistic way, almost every character's motivations were varied and uncertain over time - every main character was torn by opposing forces. I liked the depth of the fantasy world created, and it was very clear from the writing that there were no dangling plot holes, no blurry areas; it was clear that the world was well fleshed out.

WHAT I WISHED WE COULD HAVE SEEN:

This book imparted a strange longing in me. I said above that the world had great depth and detail, and this is true. However, at times, this almost backfired, and I felt drowned in detail, struggling to understand the numerous terms, descriptions, and names. I almost wish that the book could have been slowed down and expanded a bit so that different aspects could be explored in more detail - but more slowly!

IN CONCLUSION:

Heartily recommended, but definitely a read to slow down and take your time with; else, you might get overwhelmed! I am looking forward to the sequels!
One person found this helpful
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Joshua Robert Matrone
5.0 out of 5 stars Inticing story in a unique setting
Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2012
Verified Purchase
After reading the first two Books of the Order I felt compelled to give this book a try and I wasn't disappointed. This book, which is the first in what will be a new series by Philippa Ballantine, is gripping almost from the very first page. The story revolves around Talyn, a female assassin who is one of the last of her kind. The level or torment that Talyn has been through, and goes through in this book forge her into an unforgettable character. The setting is very exciting and the characters a very fresh and unique. For a first book in a series there is a lot going on here, which demonstrates how Ballantine has grown in talent over the years. Every chapter was enjoyable and this book lacks uninteresting characters and sub-plots. This is a series that I will be adding to my must-buy list for sure!
One person found this helpful
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Hallaspinner
3.0 out of 5 stars Rough ride
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2016
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Interesting magic, characters, and world, but I rather wish I had highlighted all the typos so they could be easily found and fixed. I suppose that's possible with Kindle editions. There were enough to make this a far less enjoyable read than it should have been, given how much I have liked her other works. It also ended abruptly, but I presume that's intended to make you want to go on the the next book. I'm not sure that I will. I didn't read the short story at the end.
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Brandy Walchuk
1.0 out of 5 stars I would suggest her other novels, but not this one.
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2012
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Not her best book. I love Phillipa Ballantine's work, but this one left me cold. The story is a hot mess, the characters are somewhat unlikable and very nearly unsympathetic. I wouldn't suggest it.
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Just wOnderful
2.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to be confused and frustrated
Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2015
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I didn't get this book at all. I thought it was going to be a stand alone novel but after reading it, it can't be. The author introduces a lot of different character races and events in the world that are never explained. For example, the main goal of the characters in the book seemed to be ending this thing called the Harrowing, but I still don't know what that is. I thought the book was going to be about Talyn doing cool huntress things but most of the book she's at court being annoyed. It just wasn't at all what I expected, and about halfway through I was ready to give up on it. Sometimes stubbornness doesn't pay off...
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Top reviews from other countries

Mc Ellis
4.0 out of 5 stars Good solid Fantasy Fare
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2013
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Give it a read. Its pretty good, the world is interesting and the characters pretty good. At it's heart there is of course a love story, but that's alright.
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