An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt

Title: An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt
Author: Kari Gregg
Publisher: Loose Id
Buy Link:
Genre: Sci-fi M/M, Paranormal
Length: 95 pages
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

A guest review by Lasha

Summary Review: Kari Gregg delivers a fun sci-fi paranormal m/m book. Did I mention the shifter has barbs on his penis?

THE BLURB

On Mariket, the strongest competitors win…by losing.

Narone native and former heir of Class II shipbuilder Denbo-West Industries, Shane West surrendered his perilous birthright to compete in the Hunt and tried his luck with the lusty cats of Mariket. Shane’s mastery of survival craft in the untamed forest made him an early favorite among gamblers, fans, and arena officials. When he lured a cat into an arousing chase the first night, mating with Lore to become the season’s first victor seemed guaranteed.

Then news from Arena 4 slowed to a trickle. Rumors emerged about cats who’d gone feral as well as shocking breaches in security. Unconfirmed reports of assassins and rogue predators circulated before off-world communications screeched to a halt.

In this unprecedented glimpse inside the arena, Shane peels back the veil of secrecy. What does it take to tempt a sexy cat? How does being marked as prey by a feline lover feel? Experience the wanton pleasures of the heat with Shane and his mysterious mate—and discover which of last season’s scandalous rumors are true.

Run, pounce, fuck.

Mate?

Welcome to the Hunt.

THE REVIEW

Ignore the blurb. In my estimation it doesn’t properly describe the story. 😉

I was looking for something a little bit different than regular wolf shifters and found it in Kari Gregg’s An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt. Part Hunger Games, part shifters in space, the premise is wonderful. Shane, trying to escape a murderous family back on his home planet goes to Mariket to compete in the Hunt. His goal? Not to win, but to lose just enough to make him irreplaceable to his family so they won’t kill him. What he doesn’t expect comes in the form of Lore, his own personal alien protector (and lover) during the Hunt.

Ms. Gregg has all the typical shifter tropes: cats in heat, mating and bonding, but puts a very unique twist on those tropes which I thought was lovely. Plus, who can argue with blistering hot sex scenes throughout the book? Not me! Did I mention Lore the shifter-cat has a barbed penis? Fans self. :sex2:

I really enjoyed Shane’s characterization which to me was a cross between Vin Diesel’s Riddick, dark and mysterious with a hidden agenda, and Ripley in Alien, fierce and strong. While the first chapter does have a Hunger Games-ish feel, the rest is all sci-fi paranormal world building. I think fans of both genres will really like this book. My only regret and why I didn’t give it a higher rating was I wanted just a little more back-story on Shane’s past. The reader got to see a lot of Lore’s history since the story was told from his home planet of Mariket, but Shane’s background wasn’t as forthcoming. Perhaps the author is waiting for a sequel?

In the end, An Unauthorized Field Guide to the Hunt was a welcome change to the typical shifter fare I read. With strong characterizations, excellent world building and sex scenes so hot it might melt your Kindle, I’m recommending this different take to the paranormal genre.