Rating: 2.75⭐️
I tried. I tried really hard. And I’ll get around eventually to writing my review for Midlife Fairy Hunter, book 2.
But this book, Midlife Demon Hunter is where I stop. With the series and the author.
I’m done.
And it’s not because there’s not some good elements here or creative aspects of the storytelling. But at its foundation, there’s some very problematic things that, imo, will keep me from going forward.
They circle around how the main character of Bree, her perspective on ageism and gender, and her relationship with men. Specifically the men in her life here in the series.
She’s in her forties but acts as though she’s someone who is in her sixties or seventies, viewing herself as elderly. Yet also excuses the “flirtatious/jump their bones “ way she interacts with men as due to her “hormones” acting up as though she’s in heat. Which is honestly offensive. Normal healthy (whatever you choose it to be) sexuality doesn’t seem to be part of the narrative here.
Don’t get me started on that poor gay werewolf. That’s another issue here.
Additionally, Bree is someone who, no matter what a man has done to her, against her, she’s excused their behavior and actions. This includes some really reprehensible actions. There’s three men, each of them have currently lied to her, been abusive physically and or mentally, and are involved in shady activities. But she’s highly aware and hot for them, physically engaging with them.
Here, Cody, who disappeared for a week without any communication (as has another one, Crash) reveals he’s the person responsible for her despicable ex-husband’s knowledge of the otherworld, which he then used to strip Bree of everything she had. But oh no, Bree says it’s not Cody’s fault. Even absolving Cody of his abusive behavior towards her because he’s related to her ex.
All this while cuddling. Just no.
Between the ageism, the excuses for abusive behavior and seemingly continuous support of patriarchal values (Crash , the Fae blacksmith “saves” a female character by making her his slave), this is a series, character, and author that I can’t go forward with.
The problematic outweighs the good here.
That might not be the case for everyone but it is for me.
There are many other authors and series that have the same elements but without the issues I’ve found here. I’m working my way through those.
The Forty Proof Series (9 book series):
Midlife Bounty Hunter #1
Midlife Fairy Hunter #2
Midlife Demon Hunter #3
Midlife Ghost Hunter #4
Midlife Zombie Hunter #5
Midlife Witch Hunter #6
Midlife Magic Hunter #7
Midlife Soul Hunter #8
Midlife Vampire Hunter #9
Buy link
Midlife Demon Hunter: A Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel (The Forty Proof Series Book 3)
Blurb
Goblins and ghouls and magic, oh my! Hang tight to your britches, this laugh out loud adventure is about to light you up!
Ousted from the Hollows Group, the shadow world has officially taken notice of me.
With loan sharks sniffing around and knocking on my door, I need to figure out how my ex-husband pushed all his debt onto me, because it stinks of black magic and back alley dealings.
Until I can get some answers there, I distract myself with a new job—working for a goblin. The job is as simple as hiding some paperwork for him. Only . . . someone else wants what he gave me. And they are playing dangerously dirty to get what they want.
Throw in a lovesick bigfoot, a siren going through menopause, a demon next door, and two hot guys vying for my attention, and you’ve got my life in a nutshell.
Well, that is if you don’t count on Robert showing up and saving my bacon again. Which he has to, because this time . . .this time I’ve really put my foot in it.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 