This was an amazing book with wonderful characters. Everything from the world-building to the mystery around things was brilliant. There isn't any romance in this book but there was a hint of future development. I was so hoping this would be a series, but looks like due to publishing issues the authors won't be continuing it. I was very saddened to hear that, because I would definitely read the sequel!

Mari finds herself in a bit of a predicament, because Tris isn’t exactly what she envisioned the enemy to be. Instead of steering steadfast in the direction of revenge she finds herself distracted by others in need, and by the realisation that Tris isn’t the cold-blooded murderer she thinks he is.

Then again perhaps he is one and she is just blinded by her constant need to be the one at the front of every single conflict. Mari is a Mondyalitko, a shape-shifting traveller. She runs head-first into any trouble that comes her way.

Tris appears to be able to control the dead, which is why he is known as The Dead’s Man. Perhaps a better description would be that he is capable of helping some of the more vicious spirits move on towards true death.

He also has his own set of baggage when it comes to his birthright and heritage and the choices he decided to make regardless of where he comes from. He is drawn to death and yet battles it at the same time. I think this is his own personal battle, the way he feels attracted to the more evil aspect of his gift. His birth defines his entire future.

Both the characters and premise are solid, but the world-building could do with a step-up. Overall I liked the read, however I did feel as if too much time was spent on the whole guards, ghosts and river malarkey. Probably because I was eager to find out more about Tris and Mari, and find out a few more answers to their secrets.

Mari has been on the hunt for the Dead’s Man for years since she watched her family slaughtered by his hand. But now that she has found him, he does not really match up to what she thought he was. Mari takes up the Dead’s Man’s offer to accompany him on a strange quest to try and gain more information before she kills him. Tris has always been different from everyone else, making him ostracized yet people seek him out for his “gift” with ghosts. Tris is hired to rid a village of a spirit, but what he finds is only a small part of a bigger plan that he intends to stop.

Reading this book really affirmed for me that I have really missed the Hendee’s books. The Dhamphire series is one of my absolute favorite and I forgot all about my love for the worlds and the people that these authors can create together until I sat down to read this book. This is the first in a new series so it is the perfect place to start for new readers and old reader alike. This is Fantasy at it’s best, and I loved every minute of it. I feel like the Hendee's are more approachable with their fantasy writing (unlike how I felt about the world created in The Hobbit and the like which I found to be overwhelming and caused me to disconnect from the book). But here, it is a completely fantastical world but I never felt left out or lost in any way, instantly a part of the story. I was carried away by the story, 100% engaged and eager for more.

The plot is just as important as the character development in creating a great book, and this was spot on. I loved the complexity of Mari and Tris, both very different yet compelling, and I liked how the reader learns tidbits along the way of who they are and why. Nothing is every easy with them, and the dynamic between then was no exception- I was not sure if they would be besties or try to kill each other. Not to be too spoilery, but I liked how relationship formed between Tris and Mari and I can’t wait to see where is will go next. It makes me wonder if the authors split up the characters where one will write the female and vice versa because Tris and Mari are unique yet mesh so well. Oh, and let's not forget Heil the Apothecary and his magic mixing, as well as his surprising knowledge of things such as Mari and ghosts... (I would like to be a fly on the wall with the banter between the three after the ending of the book, just saying).

The story was full of mystery, suspense and terror elements​ and I am desperate to get my hands on the next book (keep in mind this book was just released and I don't even know when the next one will come out). The mystery of this book wrapped up nicely, but there is still so much more to know about Tris and what Mari will do and about the shadow. I can't wait to see where the story will go next. I will just have to re-read the Dhamphir books to tide me over.

I received this title in return for my honest review.

The Dead Seekers, set in the world of the Noble Dead, is the first in a new series by high fantasy writing pair: Barb Hendee and J. C. Hendee.

Mari, orphaned in a horrific massacre at 10, believes she’s finally tracked down the one responsible for her family’s death. She’s a half-feral, vengeance minded young woman intent on tracking and killing her prey…until she meets him. Tris, is an unassuming, self-contained young man used to being feared due to his unusual, talents. Each exist as an outcast; living on the edges of comfortable society. A not-so-chance run in with bandits in the woods shifts the dynamic between the two as Mari make she presence known and Tris find he welcomes her company despite knowing there’s more to her appearance than happenstance. This pair move forward towards an adventure that further entwines each in the others life and exposes their weaknesses.

The Dead Seekers pulls you into the midst of dual mysteries thirteen years apart: what is to become a stillborn child who spontaneously returns from the other side of the veil initially born and what does the future hold for the child who’s the sole survivor of the brutal massacre of her family? The answers to these questions, told in a straightforward and relatable fashion, plunge you into the main mystery at the heart of this story: what do you do when you find the person responsible for your life being plunged into loneliness and misery.

This is a unique revenge tale that takes an abrupt turn when life and new enemies intrude. Hendee (squared) create a riveting and rich landscape and lay out an adventure at turns horrific and triumphant. The conclusion to the mystery the pair find themselves caught up in is both satisfying and simultaneously opening the door for further daring from this tentative and highly complicated partnership.

side-note: This is a world previous readers may be well acquainted with from the Noble Dead books; as such the descriptions of the surrounding landscape take a bit for granted. This is not to say, there is no world building merely that its presented as a familiar environment that the characters are accustom to. There’s a very “on the ground” feel to the details provided about the surrounding countryside, its cities as well as the secondary characters filling out this story. It is not necessary to read any of the Noble Dead Saga in order to enjoy The Dead Seekers this world will capture your interest all on its own.

If you’re looking for a riveting fantasy world with unusual challenges to fall into, I recommend giving The Dead Seekers a read.


Rating 3.5 out of 5 stars.

The Dead Seekers is the first book in a new series by the same name by Barb & J.C. Hendee. It is set in the same word as their Noble Dead saga, which I have not read. However, I think that readers with no prior knowledge of the world will be able to fully appreciate the story, as I did. Although I will admit that I am now intrigued to see what was written before.

In the dark reaches of the eastern continent, Tris Vishal travels from village to village, using his power to put unsettled spirits to rest. He works alone, having learned that letting people close only leads to more death. Still, he finds himself accepting the help of the Móndyalítko woman who saves his life—a woman whose gifts are as much a burden as his own. Mari Kaleja thirsted for vengeance since the night her family was taken from her. She has searched far and wide for the one she thinks responsible, known only as “The Dead’s Man.” But before she can kill him, she has to be sure. Mari hopes traveling with Tris will confirm her suspicions. But as they embark on a hunt where the living are just as dangerous as the dead, she learns the risks of keeping your enemy close. Because it’s no longer clear who is predator and who is prey.

The Dead Seekers is a book that is unique and captured my attention very quickly. I enjoyed learning about the world this takes place in, and how Tris and Mari fit into it. I liked the level of internal conflict for both Mari and Tris, as it made their pasts and current situation much more engaging. I could understand Mari's desire for vengeance, and her vulnerability. I think the duality of her nature- with the strength and vulnerability she tried so hard to hide- made her character so interesting that I could not help but become engrossed in her story. I also wanted to know more of how Tris came to be who and where he was- while most of it was explained, I think there must be so much more to his story that I do not know yet. It just makes me want to read more from the author to see if those moments are in another book. The danger and relationship development were very well paced, with enough surprises and intrigue to keep me reading happily.

The Dead Seekers is an intriguing read that left me satisfied, but still wanting more. To me, this is a sign of a well crafted book.

The Dead Seekers is the first in a new series from Barb & J.C. Hendee which follows in the same vein as their Noble Dead series with strong characters and a good storyline. The Dead Seekers follows Tris - or as he is known throughout the book The Dead’s Man – a ghost hunter with the ability to see, interact with and control the dead after he was stillborn; and Mari, a shape-changing gypsy/traveller (known as a Mondyalitko) whose parents were killed when Tris was a child outside of his ancestral home who is convinced that The Dead’s Man is responsible.

The story begins with the birth/death of Tris and subsequent miracle of his rebirth and with the slaughter of Mari’s family a few years later. It then follows Tris as he performs his job as a ghost hunter and banisher of nasty spirits; Mari manages to track him down after a prolonged period of hunting him herself and follows him to his next job which involves the banishing of a spirit who has been kept on this plane against her will by her mother.

Mari saves Tris’ life the first night they are together as no one else can kill her prey and then continues to save his life on many occasions throughout the remainder of the book which is at odds with her nature to kill him as she believes he is the one responsible for murdering her family when she was a child – in a way, he is which is explained really well later on in the book at the end when their investigations into the spirit of the town take them further afield to a city barracks where several people are dying in odd manners.

The depiction of the ghosts were in themselves quite good, particularly how they weren’t depicted as what I refer to as basic ghosts but instead each one had a description of how they actually died – for example head wounds or missing limbs etc. which I quite liked. I also liked the tension between Tris and Mari which was eventually eased towards the end of the book once Mari realised who and what Tris actually was. The description of Mari as her other side was also written exceedingly well with a more animal personality at the forefront rather than the human side of her as with most shape-changers.

In all, it was an interesting concept with a couple of nifty little bits here and there that I liked. I look forward to the next installment.

As much as I enjoyed the first few Noble Dead books, this just didn't have the same hook for me. It's well-written, with a story that flows easily across the page, lending itself to a very quick read . . . but that's also the problem. The story was just too light for my tastes, without the kind of character depth, world-building, and atmosphere that I was looking for.

It opened strong, and I liked the characters of Tris and Mari, but I didn't care so much for the telling of the tale. It was very heavy on flashbacks and info dumps, and I found the character interactions a bit stilted.

I suspect I might have enjoyed this more, had I not previously read the Noble Dead Saga.

As a child, Mari's family was murdered in front of her. The only thing that has kept her going is vengeance. She has been looking for the one called "The Dead's Man" who she suspects is the responsible one. Mari thinks she has found the killer with Tris, she just needs to be sure. Tris travels from village to village helping put spirits to rest. After being saved by Mari, he asks for her help as he travels to the next village. What they encounter tests Mari's beliefs and gives her more insight to what really happened when her family died.

As my first book by authors Barb and J.C. Hendee let me just say Whoa! The Dead Seekers was such a awesome read. There's not a lot of world building here and I can only guess it's because it is a spin-off from a previous series. Nevertheless, I had no problem keeping up. Actually, what is lacking in world-building is more than made up for in Tris and Mari's history. That alone gave me plenty of info to understand this world. Then there is the mystery surrounding Tris. Sorry Mari, as much as I really liked her character, it was Tris that had my undivided attention. '...my Tris ...me Tris ...I Tris...' OMG! That is so creepy!

The concept of the book, the cover and the blurb is what initially drew me in. See normally I'm not into ghost stories nor am I a fan of anything that feels remotely historical. However, Tris's latest adventure hunting spirits in Soladran, Mari's connection to Tris, and the mystery around Heil has caught me and I want to read more. What is going to happen next to them, who and what lies beyond that black whirlpool, I am dying to know! Filled with all these twist and turns I had a hard time putting The Dead Seekers down and I'm sure lovers of paranormal stories are going to love this series.

reviewed by Jac

After witnessing the death of her entire family at the age of ten, Mari has spent more than half her life hunting the entity/person responsible. Her search as led her to the doorstep of a man known as the Dead’s Man.

When Mari finally meets up with the Dead’s Man she must be sure it is him who is responsible for the death of her family, so she hitches herself to his side while he performs his latest duty. The more time she spends with him the more she starts to understand the depth of his involvement with the dead, and begins to see that, like herself, there’s more to his story than meets the eye.

Tris was born under the cowl of death and from a young age he’s been able to see those who have passed. Typically, he finds those that he can see are the spirits who need to be vanquished and he now makes his living traveling from village to village doing such work. He not quite sure what to make of the woman who has decided to aid him on this hunt, but her mysteries make it hard for him to send her away. This time out, the shadows of his ability are not far behind and it’s only a matter of time before Tris’ work takes its final toll.

Having never read any book by the Hendees before, I was happy with the fact that I found the story very easy to follow along and understand, especially given that this is apparently a spin-off from one of their long running series. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I liked the ghost-hunter storyline.

The way that Mari and Tris come together was a bit too haphazard for my tastes. It just kind of happens and then we’re supposed to go along with the idea of these two strangers traveling together. Okay, I’ll go along. I did like the way that both Tris and Mari’s pasts have shaped/influenced their actions in the present.

On that note, besides the fact that I really just wanted Mari and Tris to have a conversation about Mari’s suspicions where Tris is concerned, I liked what it says about her character that she didn’t just immediately act upon her vengeance. It would have been so easy to just kill Tris and move on. Even though it would have ended years of her torment, she waits and tries to fully understand who Tris is, which is not an easy task.

Tris’ ability has made him somewhat of an outcast in society. Even those who come to him for help either secretly or outright fear him. But when he meets Mari he recognizes someone who has similarly been considered an outcast, and because of this he begins to open up, even minutely. I really wanted a bit more out of the obvious connection between Mari and Tris, but I guess I’ll have to settle for something that comes along slowly. Without that instant hit of chemistry, however, the story just didn’t hook me in as much as I would have liked.

Overall, I think The Dead Seekers is a promising start to a new series. I would definitely pick up the next book to see where things lead Mari and Tris.

This is a fantasy about a man, basically a ghost hunter who can drive murderous spirits out of his realm and give them true death. People call him the Dead’s Man. They fear him, avoid him, till they need him, then he comes and wrangles the dead. He hunts the dead but Mari, hunts him and plans on murdering him for, well she has good reason.. There is a small doubt that drives her to be sure before she he is the one. She decides to travel with him and gather her proof just to make sure.
There is a lot of deaths, nasty vengeful ghosts, someone dark and pure evil, and no sex, no romance. Yes, you heard right, none. They stick with the program and concern themselves with the deaths, ghosts and the other thing about to kill them instead of desire. I almost got down and kissed the ground in thanks. Yes, I do hope there is a little something in the future.
There was another big thing for me to be thankful for. The main female character didn’t gasp a hundred times. This overused emotional burst of breath has been a trend lately that makes me, gasp. Ha ! Mari, is strong, even after her life was mangled and tossed, she is above gasping. Thank you again. I really should kiss the ground now. She is focused, a bit hyper focused at times but she deserves to be a little wacko here. Oh and she has one really cool talent. Read the story, you see.
I really enjoyed unique twist on the ghost hunter story. Tris, is a fascinating characters that has a lot more to do and I need to know more about his other half. Gasp, his other half ? Read the story, you’ll get no more here.

I was a fan of the authors’ Noble Dead series, which I read way back in the day (2003, probably before you were born). Now this book, the first of a planned series, has come along, set in the same world they created for the Noble Dead, but with new and exciting characters.

And I liked it. The book introduces us to Tris, unwanted son of a noble lord and able to control and banish spirits; and Mari, a mondyalitko (gypsy) shifter (think were-lynx) looking to avenge the deaths of her entire family. When Mari saves Tris’ life, she is inadvertently drawn into his business of ridding the world of violent spirits. But there is more lurking out there than meets the eye: what should have been a routine job in a remote village becomes a greater mystery when it seems that the spirit of the dead woman plaguing the village may herself have been killed by a vengeful ghost. And, as Mari begins to learn more about Tris, it seems more and more likely that he may have had something to do with the slaughter of her family.

This book, like the Noble Dead series, isn’t high literature, but it doesn’t have to be: it’s fun. One of my favorite features of the Hendees’ work is the setting. This book takes place in Stravinia, a medieval, remote country of scattered villages and larger towns hiding behind thick walls. The picture the authors paint is gothic and dark: deep, foreboding forests, poor villages consisting of hovels huddled together against the predatory creatues that lurk in the darkness. Vampires, ghosts, and werewolves roam the land, and superstition and fear permeate everything. Think of the Solomon Kane stories by Robert E. Howard (you know, the guy who wrote the original Conan stories). The world created by the Hendees breathes with malicious intent, and I enjoyed stepping into it again.

I would recommend this book for those who read and enjoyed the Noble Dead saga. Likewise, anyone who likes dark fantasy would probably enjoy this book.

An advance copy of this book was provided by the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Dead Seekers will be available for purchase on January 3rd, 2017.

Set in the same epic fantasy world as the Noble Dead series, Barb & J.C. Hendee treat readers to a new adventure.

Noble born Tris Vishal has left his title and lands in order to travel from village to village using his unique gift to put unsettled spirits to rest. Orphaned Mari Kahleja, a Mondyalitko shapeshifter, has thirsted for vengeance ever since her family was seemingly slaughtered by violent spirits. She's devoted her life toward tracking the one she believes responsible--the Dead's Man.

When their paths finally cross, Mari cannot fathom that this young and solemn loner could be the one responsible for her pain. Before she kills him, she must be sure. Traveling as his companion to learn more, they begin a journey where those living are just as dangerous, if not more so, than the dead.

The only question remaining for them is just who is the predator and the prey?

The Hendee's continue to do what they do best--write interesting and unique characters who discover themselves as they journey throughout a well crafted fantasy landscape. The world building is stellar as are the emerging character relationships. I like both Tris and Mari and am interested to see what develops between these two as the series continues. In some ways they remind me fondly of how Magiere and Leesil might have been like before readers met them in Dhampir (Noble Dead #1).

In general, the plot and overall mystery adventure was entertaining and kept my interest throughout. I breezed through the book since it had good pacing.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Follow the authors on Twitter: @NobleDeadOrg @BarbHendeeOrg



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The Dead Seekers is the first book in a new series and that is something that I'm bloody happy about since I really loved this book! And, now I will try to write a review about a book I love which I hate to do since I just want to say read it, it's brilliant. But, I will try to be a bit versatile than that.

The book starts off with Tris Vishal being born. But, he never breaths and the midwife has to tell his poor parents that the baby is stillborn. Then, the midwife notices that he starts to breathe when she carries him away, but there is something strange about him that will mark him as different from others. He has the ability to send spirits back to where they come from. But, he also risks the lives of everyone who is close to him. Mari Kaleja learns this the hard way as a child when her whole family is slaughtered by spirits. Now she first for revenge, and it's The Dead Man she is after. But, when she finally finds Tris must she be certain that he is the right one. But, traveling with him may not be the best idea. She watches him, and he is not as she had expected. Could this really be the man she has been chasing all these years?

I found myself really enjoying this book, both the setting and the characters. Trish whose gifts are a burden for him and Mari who has spent years looking for revenge. I'm usually not much for romance in books, but one can't really say it's any romance in this book since it's more two lonely people getting to know each other (with a hint of romance). And, that's probably one of the reasons I love the book so much. There is no lusting or instalove.

As for the story itself. I loved getting to know more about Tris power, and Mari's own secret is interesting and very handy. It was also great reading about how their relationship developed from an uneasy alliance to more of a worry about each other, although Mari still wanted to kill him. But, she is a bit conflicted. The last part of the story is the best when they have to figure out who is killing soldiers. Is it a spirit or a revengeful man/woman?

I loved the ending of the book. It's the kind that put a smile on my face and I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.