Hunter (Hunter, #1) by Mercedes Lackey

Narrated by Amy Landon

Synopsis (via Goodreads): They came after the Diseray. Some were terrors ripped from our collective imaginations, remnants of every mythology across the world. And some were like nothing anyone had ever dreamed up, even in their worst nightmares.

Monsters.

Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and it’s taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake of the catastrophe. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous creatures fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.

To Joyeaux Charmand, who has been a Hunter in her tight-knit mountain community since she was a child, every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people.

Joy soon realizes that the city’s powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. Yet the Cits have no sense of how much danger they’re in—to them, Joy and her corps of fellow Hunters are just action stars they watch on TV.

When an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy in the city. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop them… 

“If you don’t look after your fellow man, if you think that what you want is always more important than what anyone else wants or needs, you’re not human, and that’s that.”

There were other quotes I really liked from this book, but since it was an audiobook I couldn't dog-ear the pages. I can usually find quotes on Goodreads, but there were only three. I really want a physical copy of this book, so I might be able to add more eventually.

Short version: I cannot stop thinking about this book! Joyeaux and her story have stayed with me for days. I was deeply saddened when I went to downloaded the next audiobook and there were none available. I've placed a hold, but that could take up to three weeks. 

I love the world Mercedes Lackey has created. There is so much amazing detail and world-building. She manages to tie in different mythologies and religious practices, magic and the otherworld. If you're not a huge fan of lengthy descriptions, you might say this book has a lot of "info-dumping," but I enjoyed it immensely. I was captivated by the story and was enthralled with the depictions of the creatures and scenery. The author paints a beautiful picture that easily played out in my head.

I have my theories about this book and Joy's multiple problems. I'm curious to find out if I'm right! *highlight to view spoiler» I think there are Hunter's working with the Folk and letting in more and more monsters. The one she ran into on the train said he wanted her to work for him, and that there were others. People, too. I want to know if the Folk are going to end up playing a larger role and helping Joyeaux in some way. 

I do wish we had been able to see what her life had been like on the mountain with the monks. She tells us all about it, but I would have really liked to experience that with her and not as a memory. It would have been an interesting perspective to see.

Now, I wait...

Edit 12-10-17: Elite became available at my library yesterday! It wasn't available when I wrote this post, and I am so very happy I do not have to wait three weeks for it.