The Dead Seekers

The Dead Seekers is the first book in a new series and that is something that I'm bloody happy about since I really loved this book! And, now I will try to write a review about a book I love which I hate to do since I just want to say read it, it's brilliant. But, I will try to be a bit versatile than that.

The book starts off with Tris Vishal being born. But, he never breaths and the midwife has to tell his poor parents that the baby is stillborn. Then, the midwife notices that he starts to breathe when she carries him away, but there is something strange about him that will mark him as different from others. He has the ability to send spirits back to where they come from. But, he also risks the lives of everyone who is close to him. show more Mari Kaleja learns this the hard way as a child when her whole family is slaughtered by spirits. Now she first for revenge, and it's The Dead Man she is after. But, when she finally finds Tris must she be certain that he is the right one. But, traveling with him may not be the best idea. She watches him, and he is not as she had expected. Could this really be the man she has been chasing all these years?

I found myself really enjoying this book, both the setting and the characters. Trish whose gifts are a burden for him and Mari who has spent years looking for revenge. I'm usually not much for romance in books, but one can't really say it's any romance in this book since it's more two lonely people getting to know each other (with a hint of romance). And, that's probably one of the reasons I love the book so much. There is no lusting or instalove.

As for the story itself. I loved getting to know more about Tris power, and Mari's own secret is interesting and very handy. It was also great reading about how their relationship developed from an uneasy alliance to more of a worry about each other, although Mari still wanted to kill him. But, she is a bit conflicted. The last part of the story is the best when they have to figure out who is killing soldiers. Is it a spirit or a revengeful man/woman?

I loved the ending of the book. It's the kind that put a smile on my face and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! show less

This is a fantasy about a man, basically a ghost hunter who can drive murderous spirits out of his realm and give them true death. People call him the Dead’s Man. They fear him, avoid him, till they need him, then he comes and wrangles the dead. He hunts the dead but Mari, hunts him and plans on murdering him for, well she has good reason.. There is a small doubt that drives her to be sure before she he is the one. She decides to travel with him and gather her proof just to make sure.
There is a lot of deaths, nasty vengeful ghosts, someone dark and pure evil, and no sex, no romance. Yes, you heard right, none. They stick with the program and concern themselves with the deaths, ghosts and the other thing about to kill them instead of show more desire. I almost got down and kissed the ground in thanks. Yes, I do hope there is a little something in the future.
There was another big thing for me to be thankful for. The main female character didn’t gasp a hundred times. This overused emotional burst of breath has been a trend lately that makes me, gasp. Ha ! Mari, is strong, even after her life was mangled and tossed, she is above gasping. Thank you again. I really should kiss the ground now. She is focused, a bit hyper focused at times but she deserves to be a little wacko here. Oh and she has one really cool talent. Read the story, you see.
I really enjoyed unique twist on the ghost hunter story. Tris, is a fascinating characters that has a lot more to do and I need to know more about his other half. Gasp, his other half ? Read the story, you’ll get no more here. show less

Today, I retreated from this world into a book. I dove into this book this morning, and finished it this afternoon. It follows two protagonists in a medievaloid world, who may or may not kill each other on their journey.

Tris Vishal has is introduced first, as a still-born child who revives several minutes after birth, but is forever linked to a shadow self. Mari is introduced next, but several years later, as the child of travelers, basically a gypsy family, who is the only survivor of an unfortunate encounter with ghosts out to kill everyone they meet.

The descriptions are very tactile and rich, but not overdone. The dangers are as believable as pursuit of the undead allows, and their distrust of each other believable as well. This is show more Not a romance fantasy, it is an adventure fantasy.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. And as this is the first of a series published 3 years ago, I plan to pick up the next book(s) in the series. show less

I was a fan of the authors’ Noble Dead series, which I read way back in the day (2003, probably before you were born). Now this book, the first of a planned series, has come along, set in the same world they created for the Noble Dead, but with new and exciting characters.

And I liked it. The book introduces us to Tris, unwanted son of a noble lord and able to control and banish spirits; and Mari, a mondyalitko (gypsy) shifter (think were-lynx) looking to avenge the deaths of her entire family. When Mari saves Tris’ life, she is inadvertently drawn into his business of ridding the world of violent spirits. But there is more lurking out there than meets the eye: what should have been a routine job in a remote village becomes a greater show more mystery when it seems that the spirit of the dead woman plaguing the village may herself have been killed by a vengeful ghost. And, as Mari begins to learn more about Tris, it seems more and more likely that he may have had something to do with the slaughter of her family.

This book, like the Noble Dead series, isn’t high literature, but it doesn’t have to be: it’s fun. One of my favorite features of the Hendees’ work is the setting. This book takes place in Stravinia, a medieval, remote country of scattered villages and larger towns hiding behind thick walls. The picture the authors paint is gothic and dark: deep, foreboding forests, poor villages consisting of hovels huddled together against the predatory creatues that lurk in the darkness. Vampires, ghosts, and werewolves roam the land, and superstition and fear permeate everything. Think of the Solomon Kane stories by Robert E. Howard (you know, the guy who wrote the original Conan stories). The world created by the Hendees breathes with malicious intent, and I enjoyed stepping into it again.

I would recommend this book for those who read and enjoyed the Noble Dead saga. Likewise, anyone who likes dark fantasy would probably enjoy this book.

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Dead Seekers will be available for purchase on January 3rd, 2017. show less

A dark and gritty high fantasy setting with rich and scary supernatural plot. Set in the same book world as the Noble Dead series, but involving no vampires, this book starts off a new series involving killer ghosts and a man with a destiny mysteriously intertwined with the realm of the dead. If you like fast-paced, action-packed stories... this isn't really for you. Full of detail, and moving at a leisurely pace, this book immerses you and carries you along deeper into its mysteries. Highly recommended to lovers of supernatural fiction, high fantasy, and detail-oriented tales.