Hunters Unlucky

By: Abigail Hilton

Narrated by: Rish Outfield

Length: 24 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

Storm is born into a world of secrets - an island no one visits, names no one will say, and deaths that no one will talk about. The answers are locked in his species' troubled past, guarded by the fierce creasia cats. But when Storm's friends are threatened, he decides that he must act, pitting himself against the creasia to show that they can be resisted and outwitted. To prove his point, he must stay one step ahead of clever hunters, who have more to lose than Storm imagines.

Hunters Unlucky is an animal story for anyone who loved Richard Adams's Watership Down, Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book, and Jack London's Call of the Wild. Kids who enjoyed Erin Hunter's Warriors books will also enjoy Hunters. The animals in this story do not carry swords, walk on two legs, or drink tea. They fight. They starve. Sometimes, they eat each other.

©2014 Abigail Hilton (P)2014 Abigail Hilton

Enjoyed so much, had to listen to twice

Where does Hunters Unlucky rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The quality of this audiobook is very high, the story and narration are both excellent. I think this qualify as high fantasy as all of the characters are sentient animals, and there are elements of magic. There are several different and unique species, and this story is about the fall out of a war between two of them, with some interactions with the other five species. The story is complete as is, but I hope there will be more stories written in this world with these characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hunters Unlucky?

Would involve too many spoilers, as all my favourite moments were either big reveals, or when characters had reason to change their opinions of others.

What about Rish Outfield’s performance did you like?

All the characters have different voices, even accents. Even if the names were not mentioned you would have known who was talking.

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

Would have listened in one sitting if I could, but it took several due to the length.

Any additional comments?

I actually started listening to this story on the author's podcast and was unwilling to wait months for the conclusion so I joined audible for this book. It did start out a little slow, but once it got going, I got dragged into the story and had to know what happened. I found it strange that the villain of the first part of the story actually became my favourite character by the end.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Fantastic story! I loved it!

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

I would definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone. It is a rich tale of mythical creatures with an epic "Cinderella story" main character. If you like rooting for the underdog, then you will LOVE THIS BOOK!!!

What other book might you compare Hunters Unlucky to and why?

As I said above, it brought to my mind the situation of rags to riches type story of Cinderella. Although the actual stories are very different, the situation of the main character is what makes me think about the similarities.

What about Rish Outfield’s performance did you like?

Mr. Outfield did a fantastic characterization of the different voices and accents. They stayed true to themselves throughout the entire 24+ hours of audio. It was a monumental feat, and he did it exceedingly well.

Any additional comments?

You won't go wrong with this book. It is a fantastic story. The characters are very original and unique. Ms. Hilton is a master story teller.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Great Story For Lucky Reader

This YA title from Abigail Hilton is a massive, complex example of world bulding and the politics of predation. This is both good and bad for the reader.
The story skirts the line between fantasy and science fiction. All the characters are animals, some very similar to Earthly beasts and other made up out of whole cloth.
The good: Abby's characters are the best parts of her books. This book is no exeption. The characters are are real, complex multi-diminsional and sympathetic. Even the purported villains are likable, in a way. There are several cultures, including preditors, prey and scavangers, with with goals and needs to survive. Abby does a great job in creating these societies and thier dynamics, both internal and external. She shows teasing glimpses of the worlds history that makes me long for a sequel.

The bad: This is a LONG book. There are a lot of characters. The plot covers over a year and ranges across many lands. It is easy to get lost, lose track of where the action is happening, or to whom. All of the characters are talking animals, so identifying with them is difficult at times. The hero of the story, a member of a deer-like race, is able to defeat the preditory cats by successfully running away from them. And I would have liked a more detailed discription of the wholly imaginary races.

The best: Rish Outfield's narration is brilliant. Dozens of characters, from at least five different races and he makes each one unique and instantly identifiable. He compliments Abby's work perfectly.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Another Amazing Abigail Adventure!

I'd been listening to this book piecemeal on Abigail's "Worlds of Abigail Hilton" podcast for months. I finally decided I couldn't wait another week, and came here to buy a copy to give credit where it's due. I couldn't stop! I'm so sad it's over!

I already own "Guild of the Cowry Catchers" and loved "The Prophet of Panamindorah", so I knew that Storm's tale would be wonderful too. I'm a fan for life, and I hope you will be as well.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

An Epic Audio Story Lion King meets Watership Down

Where does Hunters Unlucky rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

An Epic audio book at over 24 Hours its really 3 books in one

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hunters Unlucky?

When Storm the main character escapes his pursuers by hiding under water.

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

The book is brought to life by Rish's naration although some of the voices are a little too Disney for my taste this may well suit the intended younger Audience.

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

In a land between lands and a time between times the Lion King meets Water ship Down.

Any additional comments?

May not be suitable for younger children due to some more graphic scenes, relating to deaths and the violence of the animal nature of these.

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

Fantastic creatures. Epic story. Masterfully told.

If you could sum up Hunters Unlucky in three words, what would they be?

Fantastic. Epic. Real.

Yes, I am aware that points one and three could be considered mutually exclusive. Just read it, already.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Hunters Unlucky?

"We have been Koss."

I had read the ebook several months before listening to the audio, but there is a particular moment when dozens of subtle hints fall together at this line and it still gave me chills. In fact, I think it was MORE chilling the second time around. Some of this was from knowledge revealed later in the story, but I think Rish Outfield's performance played a large part there, too.

Have you listened to any of Rish Outfield’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Rish Outfield always puts forth every effort to enhance the storytelling when he narrates or acts, and this is his best performance to date. Every species has their own accent. Every character has their own voice. When characters talk around prey in their mouth, Rish speaks with that impediment, managing to maintain character voice and perfectly understandable diction throughout.

I could not think of a better person to narrate this book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The book is full of emotion. Everything from abject misery to exquisite joy; desperation to exultation. I grinned in excitement, I shouted in delight. I groaned in frustration, and I chuckled in giddy relief.

I couldn't possibly pick out one moment from all of that.

Any additional comments?

It tickles me that after so many stories where a villain makes the metaphorical deal with the devil, it is a book about talking animals where this deal is made not because the villain is "evil," but simply because he is insatiably curious - and completely clinically psychopathic.

Hunters Unlucky has become one of my all-time favourite stories, and I recommend it to anyone bar the youngest of children.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Hunters Unlucky

Hunters Unlucky takes place on an island full of animals that are intelligent. The major conflict in this story surrounds two species called the Ferryshaft and Creasia who have been at odds with each other for a long time. The main character is an animal named Storm who is raised in a time of oppression of his kind. We are able to see an unjust world from the eyes as Storm must learn how to survive and work to make things better for himself and his species.

This isn't a child's book. There are some very brutal scenes. And a horrible "where's my mother?" part that might make you want to just slap your forehead. For the most part this was an entertaining listen. There were a few scenes I could have done without and I would have liked to seen the ending more wrapped up than it was if this is intended to be a stand alone novel. There certainly is enough here for a sequel, but maybe not with the same characters.

The audio recording wasn't that great of quality and I could hear background noise at times. However, I thought the voices were well done.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Absolutely Awesome

I am so very impressed by the writing of this story. I don't believe I've ever been so able to remember names of "characters" in a book as I
have been in this one. With herds and clutters and dens of the different breeds of so many talking "intelligent" animals, the author gave names that just fit into my picture of the story & I could remember them all. The story was spell binding. I loved Watership Down and when a friend told me about this one, I immediately wanted to read it. Now I'm trying to convince my son to read this. He introduced me to Watership Down and we have both called it one of our favorites. Now this one fits way up there among my favorites. I recommend to everyone. The narrator did a most outstanding job. Amazing the way he changed his voice for the different animals as well as from male to female and from young to old. Commendable. I will be looking for more of Abigail Hilton's stories and for others narrated by Rish Outfield.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Brilliantly Written and Narrated

Would you listen to Hunters Unlucky again? Why?

I would, and plan to. "Hunters" is captivating and set in a fascinating world you'll want to return to again and again.

What other book might you compare Hunters Unlucky to and why?

The author has compared it to Watership Down and the Jungle Book, and I would say I agree.

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

Rish Outfield gives every character a unique voice; so much so that you would know who's talking even if the text didn't remind you. He's essentially a one-man fullcast production.

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

Definitely, but I originally listened to it as a podcast. I was always dying to hear what would happen in the next episode.

Any additional comments?

Mature listeners who enjoy Hunters Unlucky should also check out Abigail Hilton's 5-part epic, The Guild of the Cowry Catchers.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this

A bit of a slow start, but once I got into the story I got totally wrapped up in it. Loved the characters and the direction the story took.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

amazing! I want a sequel!

I loved this book . the narrator was brilliant at giving each character their own voice.