Having risen to the status of Elite Hunter (Hunter, 2015), Joy faces more complex enemies than ever. While trying desperately to keep up with increasing attacks from mythical Othersiders, Joy is commanded to take her 11 hounds and patrol the sewage system, where an alarming number of Psimons, the mind-reading forces, are found dead. Distractions abound, like Joy's boyfriend and Mark Knight's fiance, but relationships end up taking a backseat to the immediate danger that Apex City faces. Simultaneously, Joy's mortal enemy Ace vanishes, likely plotting his revenge against the Hunters. Readers will be tightly wound into the action as the Hunters anticipate a horrible battle. Lackey peppers the plot with Joy's observations, which draw distinct parallels between our world and hers: tensions between the outlying settlements and cities over protection and resources, and the idea that city-dwelling youth end up interacting mainly through screens and role-playing games rather than through real-life experiences. Another fascinating chapter in Joy's saga that successfully marries fantasy and science fiction for teen readers.--Howerton, Erin Downey Copyright 2016 Booklist

In the sequel to Hunter, even more dangerous Othersiders (predatory monsters) threaten Apex City. When newly Elite Hunter Joy's police-prefect uncle tasks her with patrolling the city sewers, she discovers potential threats from within. Despite an uneven narrative flow, readers will root for the Hunters' success as Joy's Elite team fights monsters, treacherous humans, and even a former Hunter. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.