The Sevenfold Hunters
Rose Egal’s fantastical novel The Sevenfold Hunters follows the seven students who are humanity’s best hope against vampiric alien invaders, the Nosaru.
To casual observers, Carlisle Academy appears to be an elite boarding school located in London’s ritzy Notting Hill neighborhood. But within the Academy’s walls is a training ground for monster hunters. Artemis enters Carlisle after the tragic death of her boyfriend, who was a hunter-in-training. There, she encounters Abyan, the determined leader of the Sevenfold Hunters, a multiethnic group bonded by strong friendships.
Artemis is ordered to join Abyan’s team, but is ostracized at first. Thus Artemis works to prove that she has what it takes to be a Hunter. She also uncovers dangerous secrets about her own background. And she learns that Abyan, who comes from a modest Muslim background, is an outsider herself compared to her more well-to-do classmates. Abyan is also set on revenge against the Nosaru, who killed her family. Her agenda threatens to break the bonds that she’s formed with her friends.
Set in a distinctive world, the book establishes an immediate sense of mystery around the inner workings of the Academy. Interest is also generated regarding the Nosaru, who have their own warring factions. The Hunters don’t only have to contend with these aliens, though: they also navigate the Academy’s tricky inner politics. There are instances of intense action and unexpected twists, and the book’s final revelations have the effect of upending the Hunters’ worldviews, opening the door for more exciting adventures to come.
Celebrating its heroes’ courage and individuality, The Sevenfold Hunters is a heartfelt science fiction adventure set within a unique school.
Reviewed by
Ho Lin
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