The Hunt by Stacey Kade Series: Project Paper Doll #2
Published by Disney Hyperion on April 22, 2014
Pages: 400
Format: ARC
Source: Borrowed From A Friend
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Ariane Tucker has finally escaped GTX, the research facility that created her. While on the run, Zane Bradshaw is the only person she can trust. He knows who-and what-she is and still wants to be part of her life.
But accepting Zane's help means putting him in danger.
Dr. Jacobs, head of GTX, is not the only one hunting for Ariane. Two rival corporations have their sights set on taking down their competition. Permanently. To protect Zane and herself, Ariane needs allies. She needs the other hybrids. The hybrids who are way more alien and a lot less human. Can Ariane win them over before they turn on her? Or will she be forced to choose sides, to decide who lives and who dies?
You can check out my review of the first book in this series, The Rules, here.
I’m just going to address Zane’s character first because he is so epic-ally SWOON WORTHY.
Honestly, I couldn’t say if I preferred reading from his POV over Ariane’s because it was wonderful being inside both of their heads, but Zane just melts me. Every.Single.Time.
The complexity of his thoughts and the candidness of his steam of consciousness is so utterly satisfying. Zane is a thoughtful and brave accomplice, and ever so loyal to Ariane. He’s basically Clark from Smallville. But a thousands times better. The intimate scenes between him and Ariane from his POV are so worth every moment spent reading this novel.
Zane’s POV:
She curled her fingers hesitantly in the collar of my shirt, and keeping her gaze fixed on me, she leaned in.
Her lips brushed lightly over mine. So light, in fact, it felt more like one of those accidental mouth brushes when you go to kiss someone on the cheek and miss.
It was still electrifying, oddly enough, ramping up the tension and anticipation I could feel building between us, but I didn’t understand it.
…
I slid my hand to the back of her head, my fingers tangling in her hair, and angled my mouth against hers, tasting her deeply, showing no hesitation, no fear. It was easy. I didn’t feel any.
Ariane clutched at my shoulders, her breath escaping in a quiet gasp, sending a gratifying thrill through me.
Then she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled herself into my lap.
Blood rushing away from my head, I promptly forgot about pretty much everything except for her tongue in my mouth and her body against mine.
Ariane’s character is equally complex and candid, and while her confidence is increasing regarding her abilities and what course she is going to take to set things right, she is still struggling with insecurities about how she stands with Zane. Ariane still finds it hard to believe that Zane could like a strange breed like her, and there were so many moments in this story that I wished she had been reading Zane’s thoughts at the right time. Ariane’s character is so conflicted but ultimately courageous and considerate. I really enjoyed her struggle in this book.
And, OF COURSE, I have to include a steamy scene from her POV with Zane as well.
Ariane’s POV:
His hands were gentle on my face, at the back of my head under my hair, and then tracing a line down from my jaw down my neck, under the collar of my shirt and the T beneath it.
His fingertips skidded to a stop on the first button of my shirt, and I shivered in anticipation.
“Okay?” he whispered.
“Yes,” I whispered back, trying not to sound as breathless and desperate as I felt.
He released the button slowly and then moved to the next, again so slowly. Giving me time to think, to object.
But I didn’t want that. Didn’t need it.
I pushed his hands out of the way and he froze, an apology written across his face. I got my remaining buttons open in seconds, and I was struggling with my sleeves before he caught on enough to help me pull the cuffs free over my wrists.
…
I pulled at the front of his shirt and he needed no further encouragement, releasing the buttons as efficiently as I’d dispensed with my own.
There’s a lot of action in this book (romantic and otherwise *snickers*), and I was on the edge of my seat the whole time Ariane and Zane were running for their lives. In The Hunt, Kade addresses the complex question: Is it okay to sacrifice one person for the greater good? To lay down one life, to save multiple lives? And a question for anyone to ponder- Which part of yourself do you identify with most? And which side do you let win- the good or the bad?
Stacey Kade’s writing has such a hypnotic cadence, and I just cannot express enough how much I enjoy her writing. Her characterization and descriptive prowess are like kryptonite to me. I’m destroyed by their expressive power. Okay, I’ll stop reviewing before I get any more cheesy. Just know- I flippin’ LOVE this series and Stacey Kade’s writing, and I think EVERYONE should read her books.
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