WIJFR: Hidden Huntress by Danielle Jensen (ns)

Hidden Huntress is part 2 of the trilogy that began with Stolen Songbird.  I was thoroughly entertained, delighted even, by Stolen Songbird and preordered Hidden Huntress almost as soon as I finished reading it.  I just completed a re-read so that all of the twisty-turny plot details would be fresh in my mind. I was disappointed in Hidden Huntress. It suffers from a severe case of middle-book-itis. The plot must advance, but it's heavy with fear, dread, mortal peril - no humor, sarcasm, banter, no bright side. The characters just repeat over and over how their cares weigh on them, how they can't eat or sleep, how much they are terrified for their loved ones. The repetition is tiresome. Perhaps this truly is the author's point, that the main characters are stuck in this doldrum, can't move forward and their lives depend on them doing so, but it makes for tedious reading. Instead of picking up the novel and gobbling it as I had hoped, I found that I'd read a chapter here or there with indifference.

It picks up about 60% in, and soon thereafter, you can't put it down. The conclusion is very exciting, but let's be honest, probably every reader has guessed 'who' the evil witch is while reading Stolen Songbird - the satisfying reveal is 'how' she's been doing it and 'who' she's been using. Fortunately, Part 3 Warrior Witch is going to be kickass; unfortunately, you have to slog through about 250 pages of Hidden Huntress before your faith is restored.