2008-09-27 Sherrilyn Kenyon is back on form with this one...

Firstly, I know the Dream Hunter novels are supposed to be a separate series from the Dark Hunters but if you look at the Official Sherrilyn Kenyon website the reading order for the Dark Hunter and Dream Hunter novels are not mutually exclusive . In fact with the build up to the long awaited 'Acheron' novel, every book SK has written in the two series so far have some little tit bits that keep you updated on all the characters you have met from previous novels. This is why I think I give a little leeway with the Dream Hunter Series. It is true that to date they have not been on a par with the Dark Hunter novels, but I feel with 'Dream Chaser' SK really has pulled it back from the last book in the series, 'Upon A Midnight Clear'. To say that it was disappointing would be an understatement. However, 'Dream Chaser' was very enjoyable.

This is the story of Xypher and Simone. Xypher is a misunderstood Skoti (a bad Dream Hunter) condemned by the Gods to Tartarus to live in eternal torment for his crimes. He has spent all his time plotting the destruction of the woman responsible for his fall from grace, Satara. He is granted a reprieve, 1 month to wreak his revenge before he is returned to Tartarus to continue his torture. For those avid SK readers you will recognise Xypher from Devil May Cry, and a few other characters will pop up in the back ground, the Peltier Were-Hunters, the Charonte demons, Katra, Acheron, Julian of Macedon, and Aphrodite.

Simone, is a coroner who can see ghosts and (rather conveniently) knows a Dark Hunter Squire. For people familiar with the Dark Hunter novels this means that less explanation of back stories is necessary on SK's part, but I could see that people new to SK might have difficulty accepting alot of the fast moving plot and would find it rather undeveloped. Which goes to say if you are new to SK, go back to the beginning ('Fantasy Lover'). Despite this, Simone is a character I really like. She is comical, engaging and just sarcastic enough. She is dragged into Xypher's quest by accident but fast becomes a welcome distraction in his eyes and has more to add to the story than a just a love interest.

There were enough familiar characters to keep any Dark Hunter reader interested and this Dream Hunter novel has more to add to SK world of immortals than you expect. I look forward to seeing the mysterious entity Jayden in future books.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.