Hunting Julian

Gatherers, Book 1

By: Jacquelyn Frank

Narrated by: Xe Sands

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

As a guardian for his colony, Julian Sawyer travels to Earth to bring back the Chosen: women who possess energy potent enough to help revitalize his people. The stunning, silver-clad beauty who strides into his club one night radiates a sensual magnetism unlike any he's encountered, and Julian realizes that Asia Callahan is not just Chosen, she is his kindra: his one true mate.

For months, Asia has tracked the beautiful and mysterious Julian across the country, convinced that he's behind the disappearance of her sister and a dozen other women. She's prepared to believe he's a ruthless killer, but when she presents herself as bait, she discovers that the truth is far more shocking. Taken to a strange, hazardous realm she never knew existed, Asia will face the ultimate choice-between abandoning the life she's always known and forsaking a passion as dangerous as it is powerful.

©2010 Jacquelyn Frank (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Frank's world-building is exceptional, and the fast-paced plot never lets up." ( Publishers Weekly)

Exciting world! Swoonworthy Hero! Heroine.....meh.

I gave this book a 5 based on the world building creativity alone. I loved the MC of Julian. He's one of those MCs that you wish you could jump into the story and becone his "kindra" ..his ohsomuchmore than soulmate.. I"ve read some of Ms. Frank's other books and she really is a excellent writer and. comes up with some really interesting worlds and fresh concepts that are breath of fresh air. I love the paranormal romance genre but after 20 in a row of "YOU MINE.!!!! I MUST X YOU" on the first page of the book, it gets tiring. There is more depth in the worlds Ms. Frank creates and it the whole "insta love" thing becomes a little more palatable.
I personally did not like the heroine, Asia. It was fine at first...she's tough as nails, world weary, controlled emotionally, self-described as cold and bitchy to others. But she pretty much remained this way throughout the book which made me feel like she sje reallty didn't appreciate who Julian was, what he felt for her, what he was offering her etc... By the end I was thinking "Why is Julian fighting so hard for her. If she doesn't want him or the life he offers, I'll take him! If the timeline had been drawn out more and she had softened earlier, it might have worked for me.
That being said, I am looking forward to the second book. I noticed there are only 2 books in this series and she hasnt published any work since 2018 . I really hope Ms. Frank is ok and will add more to this series. It's an amazing concept.

Fell Short of 5 Stars

Before you read my take on this book, there's a couple of things about me you should know. I love paranormal romances, but I am not a huge fan of the super tough chick heroines that are rampant within the genre. Sometimes it can be done right, when the author gives them certain vulnerabilities, needs or longings that only the hero can fulfill. For me, though, it seems to be done badly more often than well. Such was the case with Asia, the heroine in this book, and in this case, it was done so badly that the more you listen, the harder it is to separate the really good world building and storyline in this book from the really bad portrayal of the heroine. Other reviewers have summed Asia up fairly well, so I won't go on about that. I will say though, it tarnished what is otherwise a wonderful bit of genre fiction.

I would still recommend the read for those who love J.Frank and those who love paranormal romance. It is the first book in a series that features some really great world building, and enormous potential for some great plots, twists and turns.

Better than I expected!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I'd recommend this book. I'd also say buy you a hard copy. This is one I'd read over and over again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hunting Julian?

I liked finding out that Julian had never had sex with any of the girls he's taken. It was the one surprise I didn't see coming.

What does Xe Sands bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She does a wonderful job with the male voices! I like that she makes you "see" them as well as feel and hear them.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This whole series made me rethink how I see other's who are "different" from me. If you let your mind go...you can read between the lines and see how we are all prejudice and bias toward other races, creed, colors and classes.

Great start to another great series!

What made the experience of listening to Hunting Julian the most enjoyable?

Great start to another great series by Jacquelyn Frank

What other book might you compare Hunting Julian to and why?

I'm not sure you can compare franks books, they're in a class all their own

Which character – as performed by Xe Sands – was your favorite?

Hard to say they were all good but i guess id choose Julian

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

In a realm far far away....

Hunting has possibilities

This is an interesting leap into a new paranormal realm. The environment built for this story is clever and challenging. This is not a typical underworld or otherworld. The female lead Asia is a strong and interesting character and despite her troubled past and she manages to give the hero a run for his money. Julian for all of his honor does need to loosen up and that's what makes the relationship between the two spark. It is that spark that carries you through the story. There is the hot and steamy romance between the two that will keep you inthralled. If you enjoyed the NightWalker series than you will enjoy the start of this new series. Yes I think it is worth a credit.

A short and sexy PNR read

This book is a signature Frank novel in that the construction of the story and world in which it is set in is unique and clever. Imagine a place that exists along side of our world in which strong emotional feelings can be harvested and used as fuel for a humanoid species. Sexual release or rage can be used as energy for an entire village if it can be harvested correctly and this is what our main character, Julian, does. He is a Gatherer.

There is a lot to like in this story. Julian is a selfless male, serving his starving colony by gathering energy from human females. Asia is a prickly, rough and tough female who doesn't take crap from anyone. Put them together and see anger rise, tensions build-up, and sparks fly. These two characters start off on the wrong foot and it will take time to ease the mistrust and skepticism between them. I know many readers have commented about how Asia annoyed them with her brutish attitude towards Julian and normally that would annoy me too, but in this case, I believe she was justified in her feelings and actions. There are also some interesting characters that make you want the series to continue so you can learn more about them. However, I believe this series only has two books out and no more are in the pipelines. So after reading both books and jonesing for more, I suggest Frank's Nightwalker series, if you haven't read them already.

I gave this book a three star because it did fall short in a few places. The villains in this story are ruthless, but their actions seemed more out of a selfish and misguided nature rather than pure evil as compared to Frank's other novels. Also, the story moved quickly even though the characters and the world building needed time to truly flourish and in a 5hr and 15min audiobook (roughly 200+ pages) it was difficult to get the full impact of what Frank intended. The ending was also rushed, IMO, ending in a way that was more convenient rather than insightful.


Narration
Narrator: Xe Sands
Performance: 4/5
Speed: 1.5x

Sands reads for the majority of Frank's novels, if not all of them. You have to get used to her voice especially when she reads for female characters because she tends to sound broken when she does a distressing scene. It sounds almost whiny and quivering which can be really annoying and hard to understand what is being said. I gave her a higher rating because she has improved. In other recordings, she would not only have that quivering voice, but she would drop her tone down and then have it rise abruptly which would be painful to my eardrums. Now she keeps her tone consistent which is helpful.

Soulmates

Story of multidimensional planes in or within Earth, what a wild storyline but it works! KUDOS TO JACQUELYN FRANK (AGAIN) PLUS I LOVE XE SANDS READING HER BOOKS!

I almost didnt finish.

It was a struggle to finish. I have finish all of the Nightwalker and World of Nightwalker series. This by far has the most annoying Heroine in all of them combined. I wanted to throw her of the cliffs myself.

Novel With a Twist

Would you listen to Hunting Julian again? Why?

I really enjoyed this book so chances are good I’ll listen to it again at some point. It makes me want to listen to Stealing Katherine, the second book in this series.

What did you like best about this story?

Several things appealed to me. The setting was very fresh and nightmarishly vivid, and there were paranormal elements which gave this book a unique spin. The narrator did a terrific job portraying the characters, who were both endearing and exasperating at times. Both romance and humor interspersed with the darker subplots in this book was refreshing.

What about Xe Sands’s performance did you like?

She did a great job with all the different voices and the narration.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really. It took me a few days to listen to it. But it wasn't boring. I was invested throughout

Any additional comments?

I'm glad I downloaded this book. It's worth a credit.

Jaded Much?

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Ugh, I don't know. Asia is too Jaded I just felt like I wanted to beat her up through the whole book. Then the epiphany of love dawns on Asia at the end and the book and then the book is pretty much done.

Would you ever listen to anything by Jacquelyn Frank again?

Yes I love her nightwalker series Jacob is my favorite by Jacquelyn Frank

Which scene was your favorite?

I guess Asia fighting Chloe

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

no I don't think this would make a good movie, needs more substance then just a really pissed off jaded woman becoming a savior to a race of people....There is already a movie like that...its called "Hancock"

Any additional comments?

I am noticing a pattern of Franks novels...all of the Villians are women (Ruth,Chloe, Kendra Dea ) that are taken down with a righeous group of men and their mates...what is the deal with that?