Hunters: Book 1 The Wanderers’ War by Caity Schmidt

Depending on who you ask, teenage Jacquelyn “Jac” Torres either had a psychotic breakdown or visited another world, Braora. She clearly remembers having magic, training as a warrior with a strict but beloved teacher, and so many more details of life in an amazing other world, but now she keeps those memories carefully repressed with a cocktail of prescription meds. Now, Jac works as a bouncer, a reasonable job for someone always ready for fight, and tries not to think too much about how that other world felt more like home. 

Her latest shrink in an endless line of mandated therapists doesn’t seem interested in the usual journaling or talk therapy. Instead, he’s strangely interested in the world of Braora, and keeps prying into what Jac experienced there.  

The story of Hunters takes readers through Jac’s wandering adventures, introducing flawed and interesting characters, and then putting them in danger. Readers will empathize with Jac, in her discoveries, although sometimes I wanted her to give that annoying Finn a good smack. (She tells him very early on that her name is Jac, and he spends most of the book calling her too-sweet nicknames. and that’s one of the least annoying things he does!) 

The enemies encountered are dangerous, but also believable — the villains have a strong motivation for their actions, even if those actions mean that poor Jac has to defend herself in yet another fight.  

Hunters establishes a lively and developed multiverse, full of dangerous enemies, loyal allies and complicated companions. The conclusion of the novel pretty clearly sets up future adventures for Jac and the others.