Reviews

The Hunted and the Hind by A.L. Lester

elementarymydear's review

adventurous hopeful medium-paced

4.0

I was a bit surprised at the start of this book that we have switched main characters, from Lew and Alec, to Will and Fenn. Changing protagonists in the final book of a series is always a risky move, but in this case it absolutely paid off!

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The developing relationship between Will and Fenn (to call it just a romance feels like a disservice) is the emotional heart of this book, and had me invested from the very start to the final moments of the book. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: A. L. Lester knows how to create characters and relationships in just a few lines that many authors struggle to create across a whole book.

The paranormal mystery aspect wasn’t as strong in this book as it was in the previous one, although I didn’t mind so much given the strength of the character arcs. I think if you’re reading this one to discover the conclusion of the big fight you might be a little bit disappointed, but if you’re here for the characters you definitely won’t be!

Once again, there was excellent narration from Callum Hale. He’s particularly good at being Will, so it was a very immersive listening experience.

I received a free copy for review. All opinions are my own.

 

ally_lester's review

The final book in the 1920s London, queer, historical, Lovecraftian, Lost in Time trilogy.

Gay and non-binary romance! Pining! Hurt-comfort! Magic! Monsters! 1920s Englishmen being all repressed whilst trying to deny they're in love with a not-quite-elf and running away from baddies who want to squish them!

otterpebbles's review

hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

I received a free ARC from booksprout in return for a unbiased review.

This was a really lovely, low angst conclusion to the Lost in Time series. It is essential to have read the earlier books, as the story looks to resolve the big cliffhanger from the earlier book. Fenn was one of my favourite characters before and I enjoyed them a lot here, seeing them both in their relationship with their family and with Will. The whole book felt very low angst, despite the peril Fenn and Keren are in, probably because unlike the earlier stories, all of the characters are being more honest with each other rather than hiding their motives or identities, and the outside threat brings them closer together rather than threatening them apart. Similarly the
relationship between Fenn and Will was a low angst romance that felt inevitable, in a good way, and developed organically and gently through the book.
It was very good to see Alec and Lew again, to see how they are still working well together, and it was an absolute delight to meet Will's mother who was exactly the kind of older fiercely caring, no-nonsense woman I am very fond of.
I would have liked to have seen more of Wills time in captivity, and more in general of Fenn's world as the small glimpses I got were very tantalising.
Overall this was a lovely read, a very reassuring and gentle story that left me very content with the conclusion to the series.