It has been fifty years since a terrible war destroyed the world, leaving only a solitary city surrounded by terrifying magical creatures in its wake. Twelve-year-old Octavia has only known the town of Vittoria, its bells, and its rules for her entire life, and she is determined to become a hunter to protect her town from harm. Ever since the death of her sister Hana the previous winter, though, all of Octavia’s formal plans to become a hunter have dissolved—but that does not stop her from continuing to practice the training Hana began while she was alive. One such practice session draws Octavia farther from Vittoria than she planned, and she finds herself directly in the path of a fearsome monster. Octavia’s very survival is in question, and when the dust settles, she begins to realize that the truths she has always believed may not be as substantial as she once thought.

This gripping fantasy adventure is ideally suited to older middle grade readers who are on the precipice of young adult literature. Octavia herself is twelve-years-old and much of the plot focuses on her discovery of the wider world, just as the target audience is sharing similar experiences. The story itself can be read as a metaphor for the protection children receive in their youth falling away as those children become teenagers, and the plot beautifully investigates this inevitable time of growth in an engaging way. Throughout the novel, secrets and lies are presented and dispelled in a pattern that keeps readers guessing from one chapter to the next. It is important to note that readers are given ample opportunity to come to their own conclusions even as the truth is carefully revealed within the narrative; this balance provides readers with a profound sense of satisfaction by the end of the novel.

From world-building to character development to overall storytelling, the writing in this novel is exquisite and helps readers fall head first into the fictional land in which Octavia resides. Each element blends elegantly into the next, and subtle moments of emotional connection enhance the primary mystery being solved. Strong backstories make the moments within the narrative realistic and believable, and readers mirror the characters in wondering where the truth really lies. Like much of history, the truth is found somewhere within the stories that have been passed down, and it requires dedication to dig to its roots. Octavia has the tenacity to do just that, and her story is one that will resonate with older middle grade and newer young adult readers long after the final page is turned. This is a highly recommended addition to fantasy collections for early teen readers.

Middle grade adventures are great fun! I loved everything about this book: the characters, the setting and the plot twists! This is middle grade for more advanced readers and of course for readers of all ages who enjoy great adventures 🎉

I loved some elements of the premise of Hunters of the Lost City, and the first quarter definitely had me completely hooked. The idea of a little community sheltered from the truth of the world, is the type of story I normally really enjoy. However, I thought it slowed down a little too much in the middle, and it lost my attention a little more than I had expected.

HUNTERS OF THE LOST CITY is my favorite brand of fantasy. Dark, atmospheric, beautifully written, and oozing with adventure!

It follows Octavia, a tenacious girl living in the last city in the world (or so they think), surrounded by a monster-infested forest. Octavia is determined to be a hunter -- but her plans are derailed when she meets another girl from *outside the city* in the woods one night.

I've read Kali Wallace's MG before, and gah, can she ever WRITE. I felt totally immersed in this exciting, evocative world from the very first chapter and my attention never wavered. Perhaps the second half was slightly weaker than the first, but nevertheless -- this is a MASTERFUL piece of children's fiction. It's fresh and familiar at the same time, and never underestimates its readers.

A hit for sure! I'm already bursting to see what Wallace comes up with next.

The city of Vittoria is the last habitable place in the world after the sorcerers' wars 50 years ago destroyed everything... or at least, that's what Octavia has been told. Despite warnings from her parents and the city council and the threat of monsters ready to tear her apart as soon as the sun sets, Octavia can't help but wander outside the walls, but what she finds there leads her to question everything she's been told.

What a gripping read! The first part of the book was carried beautifully on clever world-building, vivid imagery, emotional moments, and the force of Octavia's character, and just when it was beginning to flag, a mystery crops up that left me scrambling to turn the next page. I liked everything about this book and highly recommend it for middle grade readers who enjoy wizards and mystery, but I suspect it would be perfect for anyone who is intrigued by concepts like power struggles, forbidden magic, and questions of what really is right and wrong.

This book was a fantastic fantasy read! The world building was complex and definitely meant for older middle grade readers. I loved the descriptions of the ferox and the setting! The magic system was very interesting and the twists and turns kept me guessing what would happen. I love the strength and intelligence that Octavia showed. Sima and Rufus were excellently constructed characters. There were definitely tense and violent moments, which is why I would suggest this only for older middle grade readers, but they will enjoy the journey of Octavia and the city of Vittoria. I loved the voice of this story and loved every moment of the journey of reading it.

Initially, I found this book a little difficult to get into, and to get a handle on the characters, however the main character, Octavia, was interesting from the start. The book encourages questions from the start- what happened to Hana? The repetition of the fact that theirs is the only village that survived the war and of the mysterious creatures which threaten their lives lurking in the dark draw you in and give hints of the mystery that the children are going to experience. This is an exciting, fast moving read suitable for middle grade readers and those in KS3.

I really enjoyed this middle school/YA book, and read it in one sitting. Octavia,a young girl mourning the death of her older sister, is chafing against the restrictions now placed on her by her grieving parents. Determined to be a Hunter like her older sister, Octavia ventures outside the walls that protect Vittoria from the monsters outside in order to practice her hunting skills. There she meets Sima, the first person she's ever seen outside her town. When Octavia brings Sima into town and the council seizes her, claiming she is a monster in disguise, Octavia starts to realize that nothing she has believed her whole life is true.

The two girls go to find Sima's missing family, encountering more and more people that Octavia never knew existed. They wind up in the magical ctiy and Octavia meets a healer who is much more than a healer. The war from fifty years ago is not really over, and the walls that surround Vittoria may be more to keep people in than to keep monsters out.

I liked the characters of Octavia and Sima although I got a bit tired of their bickering at the beginning of their relationship. I also thought Octavia's mother's stance on being a Hunter to be too stereotypical; a trope of a parent overreacting to someone's death and crushing another child's dream.

The world building is very good, and I the diverse groups of people are realistic. Every town and clan has their own ways of doing things, and it was nice to see that through Octavia's eyes as someone who never imagined other people even existed.

The ending comes a bit too quickly and wraps things up a little too neatly. The villian needs to be handled more firmly, and we need to see a bit more.of how Octavia and her parents rebuild their relationship. It would also be good to see some of the anger from the people of Vittoria that have basically been imprisoned their whole lives.

Overall, I recommend the book, and will buy it for my library.

This is a middle grade novel because of the age of the characters, but had they been just a few years older this could easily have been a YA novel. Because of this I would recommend it for young readers at the older range of middle grade. Hunters of the Lost City draws you in right from page one. The world created here is rich and full of detail and intrigue. Octavia is a well-developed character and I think young girls will love reading about her. The relationship between her and Sima is so subtle it will probably go over the heads of some readers. There are some good twists and turns that will surprise readers as well. I would have liked just one extra chapter from Rufus's POV to find out what happened when he needed to separate from Octavia and return to Vittoria. Other than that I wouldn't change a thing about this novel. The pacing is perfect and the supporting characters all add something to the story. This is a must-have for all school libraries!

This was a good MG adventure. For an adult reading it, it was fairly predictable, but there were a lot of enjoyable moments, and it felt like a story nine to twelve year olds would absolutely love to read. There was plenty of heart and hope along with danger and obstacles to overcome. I loved the family relationships and friendships and the unique magic system.

I really enjoyed this book and is if defiantly one I will recommend to my middle grade students as a fun, interesting read.
The story is executed well and I think it is a good book to encourage younger readers to get into more advanced writing. It would be a good cross over between middle school and YA books.
The story was gripping and I was invested in all of the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Kali Wallace for giving me an advance reader copy in exchange for an honesty review!

This book is about 12yr old Octavia who lives in the walled city of Vittoria, the last city and home to the only survivors from the mass destruction of a Sorcerer's war 50 years ago, and is loathing her 13th birthday when she will have to pick up an apprenticeship with a local crafter instead of becoming what she really wants: a hunter. Despite the dangers of traveling alone outside of Vittoria's walls alone, Octavia escapes the city one afternoon to practice her hunting skills her recently missing-and-presumed-dead sister, Hana, taught her only to be faced with the largest Ferox she has ever seen. Ferox, created by an unnamed Sorcerer, are monsters made up of wood, metal, soil, and EVIL that lurk outside of Vittoria killing unlucky residents caught outside the walls at night. Octavia tries to escape, but is unable to lose the large Ferox that is seconds away from eating her alive when an arrow strikes the Ferox down. An arrow belonging to someone Octavia doesn't recognize...a stranger...someone not from Vittoria. Octavia is suddenly faced with the truth that the world after the war is bigger than she knew, but not everyone in Vittoria is wants this truth to get out.

Wallace's world building is masterful, full of diverse people, experiences, cultures, environments, and magic. The book did not end like a sequel is the plan, but the world is expansive enough that I think it is a possibility.

Super rewarding twist throughout that put some of the thrillers I have read to shame. Some of them were predictable, but the timing of each was perfect and there were no loose ends.

Octavia is lovable, so is Sima, but Rufus...Rufus must be protected at all costs<3

By developing morally grey characters, providing a host of truths and lies, and leaving the ending realistically open, Wallace invited her young readers to consider complex topics such as power, good and evil, and freedom in a magical landscape.

All in all, such a fun, fast-paced middle-grade fantasy that I will likely purchase for my high school library!

Brilliant for readers young and old, this would light up any vivid imagination and inspire new generations of readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

First of all, thank you to Kali Wallace and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Octavia has grown up in Vittoria, the last populated city after the rest of the kingdom was decimated in a horrific magical war. Outside the city walls, ferox roam and will attack anyone outside the city gates after dark. Octavia longs to be a hunter of ferox, but is being forced into another path after the death of her sister and the injury of her mother at the hands of a ferox. That doesn't stop Octavia roaming outside the walls though and is then that she encounters a girl who claims she is from another city. Who is telling the truth in this world?

I really enjoyed reading this novel and I know that a lot of my KS3 students would enjoy this too. It reminds me of a YA version of <i>The Village</i> and I think it is executed really well. All the characters are believable and you become really invested in the story. I highly recommend it.

I love when a book feels familiar but new at the same time. This book is a great adventure with plenty of surprises!

A quick middle-grades dystopian story. Filled with magical creatures, healers, and sorcerers, the plot moved quickly. The author’s story telling hooked me from the beginning and kept my attention throughout. My one complaint is the use of the word “stupid” - not my favorite word for middle-grades readers to see used over and over again.

Full review on Goodreads. What a fresh idea this is with a strong female character and a sense of adventure and good over evil struggles. I thought there were some loose ends in the ending but nothing that was a deal breaker for me. Enjoyable and one I’ll recommend to students.

A haunting middle grade novel about the last village in the world, a tiny community that is hemmed in on all sides by monsters born from magical war in a world left desolate due to a deadly magical disease. The plot isn't exactly all that surprising, particularly the unveiling of the central mystery, but the tension builds well and the characters are intriguing. The pacing is a bit unsteady with sudden rush at the end and I would have liked more times with the other clans in exchange for perhaps less time setting up the overall plot.

The first thing to say about this book is how great I found the vocabulary choices. Kali Wallace really describes settings and the events in the story well – meaning you can clearly imagine the world that has been created. That said, I didn’t enjoy the book. I think the main reason I found it hard to get into the story was because, although it was told from a 3rd person perspective, for some reason I felt the voice of the main character – Octavia – was really trying to tell the story. So, particularly at the start of the book, I was constantly having to remind myself that it wasn’t Octavia’s voice I should be hearing in my head, which meant re-reading parts of the story again. However, I really enjoyed the concept of the story; Octavia and her family have lived inside the walls of their town for years thinking there was no-one else left apart from the people of Vittoria. But, Octavia soon comes to realise that this isn’t true. And so starts an adventure.

Octavia lives in a village where everyone thinks they are the only people left in the world. It isn't until she meets a girl in the forest that she realizes that her little world isn't the only one out there. I was on the edge of my seat while enjoying reading about Octavia's adventures. This was a fantastic page turner that was difficult to put down! I felt like I knew the characters well and I genuinely cared about them and their well being. The plot was one that kept me up at night because I wanted to finish! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.