helenkat's review
5.0
Really enjoyed seeing Joanne get more in tune with her powers, even though she's still stumbling along. Love the cast of characters.
lalabristow's review
3.0
My rating: 3 & 1/2 stars out of 5!
*No spoilers!
I’ve been planning on reading this series for a long time and when I got Demon Hunts, which is the fifth book the series, from NetGalley, i figured it was the perfect time to start. However because of time constrains I ended up reading this book before I got to read the previous 4. It was a huge change for, since I really don’t like reading book series out of order, ever.
That said and even though I did feel like it would have been more exciting for me if I had read the four previous books, Demon Hunts was a very good read and it definitely got me interested in reading the other four books and looking forward to the next book in the series.
Joanne is a reluctant Shaman that is finally coming to grips with her Warrior destiny, even though she is still stumbling through her new skills and trying to figure out what her role is in the world.
I loved Joanne, specially that the book is told in first person and it was much easier to get a feel of who she is and relate with her on a personal level. Joanne Walker’s mental voice felt so real that it was impossible not to feel for her.
In Demon hunts we find Walker trying to solve a series of gruesome killings alongside her partner, Holliday. The killing are baffling and to get to the bottom of it, Joanne needs to dig deeper into her shamanic powers and ends up having to deal with some ghosts from her past that she has been running from, for a long time.
I really enjoyed Demon Hunts, but I do believe I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read the previous books in the series. I felt that I should have been ecstatic about some things in the book and I really do thing I would have been so much more excited about it if I understood where all the emotions were coming from.
The world Murphy has created is extremely interesting and Joanne’s friends bring so much color to it. I loved Gary, Morrison, Coyote and I just want to read more about them. Walker’s powers are based on Native American myths and legends and they made for a very interesting read.
Demon Hunts is a great Urban Fantasy novel with a lot of mystical native American elements, a lot of adventure and non-stop action. If you are an UF fan, The walker paper series is definitely one for you, though I do recommend reading the books in order.
*No spoilers!
I’ve been planning on reading this series for a long time and when I got Demon Hunts, which is the fifth book the series, from NetGalley, i figured it was the perfect time to start. However because of time constrains I ended up reading this book before I got to read the previous 4. It was a huge change for, since I really don’t like reading book series out of order, ever.
That said and even though I did feel like it would have been more exciting for me if I had read the four previous books, Demon Hunts was a very good read and it definitely got me interested in reading the other four books and looking forward to the next book in the series.
Joanne is a reluctant Shaman that is finally coming to grips with her Warrior destiny, even though she is still stumbling through her new skills and trying to figure out what her role is in the world.
I loved Joanne, specially that the book is told in first person and it was much easier to get a feel of who she is and relate with her on a personal level. Joanne Walker’s mental voice felt so real that it was impossible not to feel for her.
In Demon hunts we find Walker trying to solve a series of gruesome killings alongside her partner, Holliday. The killing are baffling and to get to the bottom of it, Joanne needs to dig deeper into her shamanic powers and ends up having to deal with some ghosts from her past that she has been running from, for a long time.
I really enjoyed Demon Hunts, but I do believe I would have enjoyed it much more if I had read the previous books in the series. I felt that I should have been ecstatic about some things in the book and I really do thing I would have been so much more excited about it if I understood where all the emotions were coming from.
The world Murphy has created is extremely interesting and Joanne’s friends bring so much color to it. I loved Gary, Morrison, Coyote and I just want to read more about them. Walker’s powers are based on Native American myths and legends and they made for a very interesting read.
Demon Hunts is a great Urban Fantasy novel with a lot of mystical native American elements, a lot of adventure and non-stop action. If you are an UF fan, The walker paper series is definitely one for you, though I do recommend reading the books in order.
alexrambles's review
3.0
As with all the other Walker Paper books, this one is a great read. I just don't find it lives up to its predecessors. I loved the inclusion of Coyote, but I somehow find him a little too... mild? Especially when he is compared to his spirit realm self in previous books. I did enjoy the story however, and Gary is just as much of a hoot as he was before. All in all I have mixed feelings. Joanne does dissolve a bit into girly bubbles in this book and I think that throws me off as well.
colls's review
5.0
I talked about this series before. It's an enjoyable urban-fantasy set in Seattle. The main character is a mechanic-turned-cop who's also a reluctant shaman. She also kinda kicks ass and I kinda like her.
bookstuff's review
4.0
I liked reading a snowy, cold mystery in the middle of a record-breaking heat-wave. Joanne displays a lot of maturity and is even more likable in this one. And let's hear it for awesome septuagenarians! Can't say too much without being spoilery, but we get to meet some interesting characters face-to-face.
minor spoilage
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Team M vs. Team C ?
minor spoilage
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Team M vs. Team C ?
acidraineburns's review
3.0
To be honest, it took me awhile to get into this series. After a failed attempt at reading the first book, Urban Shaman, I decided to give it another try when a friend suggested that I read it. And, like the Dresden Files, I liked the book the second time around! Even though Joanne was a little annoying and extremely predictable, I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the book. After that, I ended up tearing through the series! However, this book just ended up sitting on my shelf for a year. I think I lost steam and found some other book I as interested in. However, in an attempt to start reading through my TBR pile, I decided to grab this one on a whim.
After Joanne's adventure in the previous book, she is still dealing with the aftermath. Letting everything loose and the imbalance of power, a cannibalistic killer is drawn to her for some unknown reason. To me, the nature of the killer was extremely predictable. I figured it out long before it was stated to the audience. For the sake of not spoiling it, I'm not saying it here.
Sheesh, I don't know how many times I have rewritten this section over and over again! Really, all I have to summarize the book is that someone who was thought lost returns; Corvallis continues to put her nose where it doesn't belong and they end up in a better place; Joanne being confronted with her true role; more angst between her and Morrison; a new spirit guide; and that's about it.
Unfortunately, even though this book is nearly 400 pages, it doesn't feel as though it had much substance. Granted, I wanted to know what happened and how things played out, but I found myself struggling to finish the book. It took all my effort to finish it this afternoon. It took me the greater part of the day to read less than a 100 pages!! Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed.
I felt the story just took too long. I enjoyed parts, I was curious to see how the book would end, etc. It just drug on and on and on . . . For example, the ending took a little too long. Yes, yes, I always complain that the ending is always too rushed, but this ending took too long! Also, bringing Sara into the story seemed rather pointless. Granted, it got her to open up to Gary about her past, but I didn't really see the point in adding her into the story. Aside from Sara confirming Joanne's dream training by Coyote and telling her to return to North Carolina, she didn't offer anything more than an obstacle and possible cannon fodder.
That being said, it wasn't a terrible book, but it didn't really hold my attention. Due to the fact that I wanted to see how it ended, I'm going to give the author a break. However, I'm not sure how badly I want to read the next book in the series.
After Joanne's adventure in the previous book, she is still dealing with the aftermath. Letting everything loose and the imbalance of power, a cannibalistic killer is drawn to her for some unknown reason. To me, the nature of the killer was extremely predictable. I figured it out long before it was stated to the audience. For the sake of not spoiling it, I'm not saying it here.
Sheesh, I don't know how many times I have rewritten this section over and over again! Really, all I have to summarize the book is that someone who was thought lost returns; Corvallis continues to put her nose where it doesn't belong and they end up in a better place; Joanne being confronted with her true role; more angst between her and Morrison; a new spirit guide; and that's about it.
Unfortunately, even though this book is nearly 400 pages, it doesn't feel as though it had much substance. Granted, I wanted to know what happened and how things played out, but I found myself struggling to finish the book. It took all my effort to finish it this afternoon. It took me the greater part of the day to read less than a 100 pages!! Needless to say, I wasn't too impressed.
I felt the story just took too long. I enjoyed parts, I was curious to see how the book would end, etc. It just drug on and on and on . . . For example, the ending took a little too long. Yes, yes, I always complain that the ending is always too rushed, but this ending took too long! Also, bringing Sara into the story seemed rather pointless. Granted, it got her to open up to Gary about her past, but I didn't really see the point in adding her into the story. Aside from Sara confirming Joanne's dream training by Coyote and telling her to return to North Carolina, she didn't offer anything more than an obstacle and possible cannon fodder.
That being said, it wasn't a terrible book, but it didn't really hold my attention. Due to the fact that I wanted to see how it ended, I'm going to give the author a break. However, I'm not sure how badly I want to read the next book in the series.
sewcialist_librarian's review
4.0
The series seems to get stronger with every book. The character development and world building keep pulling me back, every time!
rachelking's review
5.0
This was my favorite book in the series without a doubt, because I finally get to see Joanne in love! While it is not with her boss, Morrison, whom it is obvious she has an attraction to, it is still a very satisfying romance. Her bubbly happiness is quite enjoyable to read, and it does not get on my nerves despite how sickly sweet Joanne is in the descriptions. At times, her love interest really does seem like the perfect man, and I am thrilled that she gets to have this in the midst of the chaos of her shamanic lifestyle.
I think what keeps bringing me back to this series is that Joanne's narration is both unique and comical. She is refreshingly honest about herself and her quirks and abilities and keeps a running commentary behind the scenes, even as she solves supernatural-size problems while balancing a social life and a job as a detective. Even though I still understand very little of the role of a shaman and all of Joanne's world-jumping, there is something very likable about Joanne Walker.
The other half of Joanne's romance is a man that was assumed to be dead. Aside from the romance, I love that he shows up in this book, as I get to see more of what he can and cannot do and what his personality is really like. Plus, the tension between him and Morrison is quite interesting, as it brings to the forefront the chemistry between Morrison and Joanne and makes her admit to a few things about herself.
The wendigo is the "big bad" for this book, but the final battle ends differently than what I assumed. In a way, the wendigo teaches Joanne that some flaws are acceptable and even useful. I look forward to the next book, Spirit Dances.
I think what keeps bringing me back to this series is that Joanne's narration is both unique and comical. She is refreshingly honest about herself and her quirks and abilities and keeps a running commentary behind the scenes, even as she solves supernatural-size problems while balancing a social life and a job as a detective. Even though I still understand very little of the role of a shaman and all of Joanne's world-jumping, there is something very likable about Joanne Walker.
The other half of Joanne's romance is a man that was assumed to be dead. Aside from the romance, I love that he shows up in this book, as I get to see more of what he can and cannot do and what his personality is really like. Plus, the tension between him and Morrison is quite interesting, as it brings to the forefront the chemistry between Morrison and Joanne and makes her admit to a few things about herself.
The wendigo is the "big bad" for this book, but the final battle ends differently than what I assumed. In a way, the wendigo teaches Joanne that some flaws are acceptable and even useful. I look forward to the next book, Spirit Dances.