The Shadow Rises

by K.S. Marsden

A Witch Hunter VS A New Evil!

George “Hunter” Astley is a unique man.  He’s a 7th generation witch hunter who takes his job very seriously.  He is employed by the MMC (Malleus Maleficarum Council) and his job is simple.  Apprehend and bind each practicing witch’s powers or kill them.  While on Holiday, he witnesses a young woman by the name of Sophie almost killed by three witches.   Upon his return from his Holiday, Sophie tracks Hunter down and asks him to mentor her since her current mentor died in a house explosion.

Hunter finds himself having feelings for his friends and Sophie – so much so that his life and his mission are jeopardized by his attachment when a new and a far deadlier threat comes to light.  Having been persecuted for so long, the witches have a new supporter that will take things to a higher level.  Hunter is caught between a rock and a hard place! 

The characters were well developed, and the plot had some very interesting plot twists.  I enjoyed hearing how “Hunter” evolved when his new-found abilities are discovered. The story was intriguing and held my attention.  It’s not a thriller or overly scary but it has a solid foundation that keeps one engaged. I look forward to hearing the continuing story of Hunter!  The author, K.S. Marsden, used rich descriptions and details to tell the story. The dialog was well done and moved the story appropriately forward. When an author does this well, they keep the listener more engaged.  Marsden is skilled at this. This book is one of those that keeps the listener hooked and guessing.

The narrator, Jonathan Ip, gave an excellent performance. He sounded just as I pictured Hunter.  He gave a clear and succinct performance that moved the story along through tonal inflections and enthusiasm.  IP was definitely Hunter!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.

There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.  It was clear and well done.

Disclaimer: This Audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator, and/or publisher in exchange for a non-bias, honest review.