A review by xiacobolt
Hunter and Fox by Philippa Ballantine

2.0

The universe that this novel takes place in is a uniquely imaginative one; as vibrant as it is dangerous, it blends together many fantasy elements in a unique way, in a world that is far from the traditional medieval fantasy setting of castles and wizards that I'm more used to. At times, this world is brilliantly realized through the experiences of its characters; at other times, it's like trying to watch a video that won't buffer higher than 240p when it ought to be 1080p. Most of the characters are underdeveloped and therefore not very believable, making many of the more dramatic events seem somewhat shallow; in addition, some of the plot "twists" are laughably predictable, although to be fair, they are matched by a handful of twists that are almost revelatory. Overall, it's clear that Ballantine's world and story are deeply inspired, and I'm hopeful that the next book is better written, though I won't go out of my way to pick up a copy.