Ever The Hunted – Erin Summerill (Review) + Buddy Read with Jasmine @ Howusefulitis

Title: Ever The Hunted (Clash of Kingdoms #1)
Author: Erin Summerill
Publisher: Harcourt Childrens Book, 2016 (Dec 27)
Genre: YA Fantasy

**I received a copy of this book free from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

This review can be found on my Blog, TeacherofYA’s Tumblr, or my Goodreads page

My Review:

This is not a traditional review in the sense that this was my first buddy read ever! I joined up with Jasmine @ Howusefulitis and we read rhe book at the same time, then we each came up with a set of questions. 

But first, the blurb, as usual…gotta stick with the traditional format at first, lol!

Britta Flannery’s father has been murdered. He was the legendary bounty hunter for the king of Malam. When he was around, Britta was protected…since her mother was Shaerdanian (from a neighboring country that Malam distrusts) and some Shaerdanians practice the art of Channeling, a magic forbidden in Malam. She sits in her house, practically starving during the two month required mourning period. When the two months are over, and no neighbors brought food (since now her father is gone and she is considered an outcast without his protection), she needs to poach in the King’s Ever Woods, or she will starve to death.

When Britta is caught, she is taken in to face Lord Jamis, the right hand man to King Aodren. He makes a deal: Britta is a well-trained tracker, and if she can track her father’s killer, she will own the title to her father’s land and go free. Britta can hardly believe she will be let go…until Lord Jamis reveals that her father’s killer is Cohen McKay. 

Cohen McKay, the boy she’s loved since she met him as an apprentice to her father. Cohen McKay, the boy who left Britta alone after her father’s death, and her declaration of her feelings. Cohen McKay, the boy she kissed before he disappeared.

Britta is shown evidence that cannot be disputed. So she agrees. She’ll catch her father’s killer and tamp down her feelings for Cohen. But when she finds Cohen, things get complicated…fast.

Can she believe Cohen when he protests his innocence? Who does she believe? And if for some reason she believes him, then who killed her father? 
NOW IT’S TIME FOR BUDDY READ QUESTIONS!! (See Jasmine’s post for my answers/her answers to MY questions)

Jasmine’s Review for Ever The Hunted

Jasmine’s questions:

• Why did you request a copy of this ARC?

Jasmine: I requested it because I see a few bloggers talked about being excited to read this book. 

Me: Because the description sounded like something I would like and the cover…gasp! The cover is so beautiful and I am a major coverwhore! #coverlove all day long! 

• What do you love most about the story?

Jasmine: I love that the characters discuss their strategies before taking on a new challenge. 

Me: I loved Britta’s connection to her emotions. Most girls are so “strong” in a book that they refuse to love someone or try to push away their feelings. Though it hurts Britta to think that Cohen doesn’t love her, since he disappeared, she doesn’t deny how he makes her feel and I think that is super-realistic. She falls for every move and every “mistake,” and though she insists she won’t again, she always does. Reminds me of me. Also, I liked the plot including magic: the Channelers were a cool addition and it wouldn’t be true fantasy without some magic, right?

• Are you excited to read book 2? 

Jasmine: No. I don’t think I want to read it.

Me: Honestly, when have I not been excited to read book 2? I still will read Stealing Snow‘s sequel because I read sequels. It may not have been the greatest book in the world, but I would def read book 2. I gotta see what happens next, especially since the cliffhanger ended on a weird note that hints at some love triangle stuff going on, and I hope that’s not the case! I am ready to read it now, Summerill!

Is It Classroom Appropriate?

I’d say so. It’s got elements of fantasy, an adventure, and a mystery. Boys may not like the constant worry Britta feels over Cohen’s feelings…so I’d say it’s aimed more towards a female market. It could be used, but I’m not seeing any educational value in using this book besides giving the students a wilderness adventure to read with strong male and female characters. I think this would work better as an outside the classroom read. Especially since the story is not a standalone, though it doesn’t end on such a cliffhanger that it can’t be read by itself (which is always a good quality in series novels). 

Age Range:

As an ARC, this book won’t be on Lexile.com yet, so I didn’t even look. But I would suggest ages 12 and up would be all right. There’s no swearing and no sex…nothing reallly objectionable here. I’d feel comfortable letting my 12 year old niece read it if she liked this kind of fantasy (but she’s too busy reading Peregrine books to care about my suggestions, lol). 

End Result:

Giving this book ★★★★☆. I think it’s a decent read, it’s fun, and it makes me want to continue the series. I know Jas wasn’t as excited about it, but I’m easy to please. I like a Britta and think she’s strong while still being not hardened, and I love Cohen (possibly my new book bf because he is muy caliente! Those eyes, that hair, that sexy scar…sigh.) Though I don’t think everyone will love it (hence Jasmine’s dislike), I think enough people will enjoy it. 

I feel four stars is about right to say how I feel. I love the cover and would love to own a copy. It’s so pretty. And I think many more adventures are coming our way. So I’m eager to see what happens next. 

And here’s the key until I can make it bigger…someone want to help me with this? I am so stuck…as you can see on the sidebar, the font is too tiny and I don’t know how to size things when I make them (500×500? Bigger? Smaller?). Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Any of you got this on your TBR? Or any of you eager to read this when it comes out? Or maybe you already read it and think my opinion ia crap? Let me know! You know I love to hear from you!

Do you want to do a Buddy Read? I’m game! School is out and I’m ready to read! 

Happy Reading, y’all! 

*Oh, almost forgot…just won on Twitter a SIGNED COPY of Truthwitch! Yay!! I love Twitter giveaways! 

So beautiful! Coverlovin this one!