Taken by the Hunter by Lynnea Lee

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

CONNIE

I have a purple stalker.
I don’t know what possessed me to hit the Xarc’n warrior with my bat, but now I have a stalker—a big purple stalker with fangs and horns. And to make things worse, I can’t go back to New Franklin.
After my first night out on my own, I wake up all wrapped up and cuddly with a certain possessive hunter. He purrs like a giant cat and vows to protect me. And to top it all off, he has a pet squirrel. A freakin’ pet squirrel!
The “Jerk” claims he can’t let go of me, but I don’t buy it. I’m no squirrel, and I don’t intend to be his pet. Not even when he claims I belong with him and promises to protect me forever.



JORG’K

Killing the scourge is my calling, and I revel in every violent encounter. Hunters are created with strong instincts to protect, but mine never fully manifested. I just wanted to fight. I never understood why some hunters wanted anything more. Until now.

I can’t get the little human out of my head. She attacks me with her wooden club, and I realize she’s all I ever wanted.
My brave female watches me as I fight the deadly scourge, so I give her a show of my strength and skills. I will convince her to be my mate. I have to. The mating bond has chosen, and it is never wrong!

Taken by the Hunter

Alien Bug Hunters on Earth

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💛💚❤️🖤
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂😁😉😍
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

Character Background and Plot Summary

Taken by the Hunter was another great addition to the Xarc’n Warriors series, and I think it may be my favorite so far. Connie immediately stood out to me because she is practical, independent, and refuses to accept the corruption happening inside the New Franklin settlement. As a forager, she spends her days scavenging outside the walls to meet the settlement’s impossible quotas, but she slowly realizes the rules are being manipulated against her. The fact that women who fail are forced into motherhood made the settlement feel just as dangerous as the monsters outside. I especially appreciated that Connie recognized she was being targeted after rejecting a powerful man’s advances, and instead of waiting for someone else to save her, she chose to run.

Jorg’K is another excellent Xarc’n warrior hero. The first time he rescues Connie from the deadly insects, he immediately recognizes her as his mate. Rather than trying to force the relationship, he understands why she doesn’t trust anyone and quietly follows her while she forages, protecting her from the shadows until she is ready to accept his help. That restraint made me like him even more. Their growing trust felt earned instead of rushed.

The danger also increases with the introduction of the Centicreeps, a horrifying new scourge variant. These enormous centipede-like creatures with venomous, blade-covered bodies created several genuinely tense action scenes. Every time Connie ventured out alone, I found myself wondering if one of these monsters would appear.

Highlights and Limitations

One of my favorite things about this series continues to be the setting. The bug apocalypse gives these books a completely different feel than the typical post apocalyptic romance. It reminded me of The Walking Dead, except humanity is trying to survive against giant alien insects instead of zombies. The descriptions of the various scourge species make the world feel dangerous without becoming repetitive, and the Centicreeps were an excellent addition that raised the stakes.

I also enjoyed how the romance developed alongside Connie’s escape from the settlement. Watching her slowly realize that Jorg’K respected her choices was much more satisfying than if she had trusted him immediately. The scenes where he silently keeps watch during her foraging trips said far more about his character than grand declarations ever could.

If I had one small criticism, I would have liked just a little more time spent dealing with the aftermath of Connie leaving New Franklin. The corruption inside the settlement was fascinating, and I was very invested in seeing those leaders eventually face consequences. Even so, it never distracted me from enjoying the romance or the action.

Narration

The dual narration continues to be one of this series’ biggest strengths. Troy Duran gives Jorg’K exactly the right combination of strength, patience, and quiet devotion. His performance made Jorg’K feel protective without sounding overbearing.

Keira Stevens does an equally wonderful job bringing Connie’s determination and growing confidence to life. She captures Connie’s frustration with the settlement, her fear while facing the scourge, and her gradual willingness to trust Jorg’K. Since the story is told through dual points of view, having both narrators fully commit to their characters made the emotional moments land even better.

Final Opinion

This series just keeps getting better for me. I came for the alien romance, but I’ve stayed because of the fantastic world building and the constant sense of danger. The giant alien insects are genuinely creepy, the post apocalyptic setting feels believable, and each new creature adds another layer to the survival aspect of the story.

Connie and Jorg’K were easy to root for, both individually and as a couple. I especially appreciated that their relationship was built on trust, patience, and mutual respect instead of instant perfection. Between the exciting action, the terrifying Centicreeps, and another excellent narration from Troy Duran and Keira Stevens, I finished this audiobook even more excited to continue the series. If you enjoy science fiction romance with memorable monsters, capable heroines, protective alien heroes, and excellent audiobook performances, I would definitely recommend Taken by the Hunter.

Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub



View all my reviews