Huntsman (The Hunted Kingdom 1) by Naima Simone-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 21, 2025

The Huntsman is after me.
But he will be mine first.

Nine years ago, my aunt took everything from me.

My world. My throne. My mother.

I’ve bided my time since then, serving under her in the Mwuaji crime family, but she’s crossed another line. She put a price on my head, sending the legendary assassin the Huntsman, Malachi Bowden, after me.

The Huntsman’s never failed a contract before, but I know everything there is to know about him. It’s finally time for me to take my revenge and finish the war my aunt started.

The Huntsman might be my death. But Malachi Bowden?

He’s my weakness.

•••••

REVIEW: HUNTSMAN is the first instalment in Naima Simone’s contemporary, adult HUNTED KINGDOM dark, erotic, crime family, modern day fairy tale series. This is twenty-five year old, Eshe Diablo, and thirty three year old , hired assassin Malachi ‘Huntsman’ Bowden’s ‘Snow White’ retelling.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there WILL BE triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Eshe and Malachi) HUNTSMAN follows in the aftermath of the murder of Eshe’s mother Aisha, nine years earlier. As the oba or Queen, Eshe’s mother was the leader of the Mwuaji crime family but an assassin’s bullet ended her reign. Eshe’s aunt Abena took control of the Mwuaji, and in the ensuing years , Abena made it known she was in control. A contract to kill Eshe was issued, and our heroine found herself facing down the Huntsman, the man with whom Eshe would fall in love but our couple will quickly discover a common foe, a commonality between their need for revenge, and Eshe and Malachi will work together, towards a deadly ending.

The world building follows Eshe and Malachi as they uncover the family secrets buried beneath the rubble created by =Eshe’s Aunt Abena. Determined to end Abena’s reign of terror, Eshe and Malachi find themselves at a disadvantage when the woman in charge takes aim at our story line couple. The author uses Ebonics and cultural street slang as most of the characters are POC.

The relationship between Eshe and Malachi begins as a contract killing but from the outset Eshe was all too aware of Malachi’s weaknesses, and in this, our heroine is determined to take down the man with whom she would fall in love. Eshe likes to be in control, and in this, their sexual games are unconventional including knife and blood play. The $ex scenes are aggressive, haunting and intense.

There is a large ensemble cast of energetic and dynamic secondary and supporting characters including Eshe’s group of seven; Abena’s counsellor Mirror aka Ekon, assassin Poison, and the gift of an apple to mark someone for ‘death’.

HUNTSMAN is a story of dysfunctional family dynamics; betrayal and vengeance, secrets and lies, acceptance and love. The premise is intriguing, dark, and dramatic; there is no romance, it is a story of mutual attraction and fated love; the characters are desperate, determined and strong.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy