The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low Chapter 209 Discussion

Easily: one of the BLs I enjoyed reading the most

Detailed? lower.

So, how would I shortly describe Hunter?

Imagine reading a BL? Now imagine reading a book.

This is it.

It is amazing how in the first part of the story (which I would be focusing now on, as second is yet not finished, although I would be taking some general non-plot reliant notes from it and keeping in mind) you read a story. What I mostly mean is not simply that this novel has a good plot. But even if it is, it doesn't stop at this point. It is not simply A to B approach, it's the "A to B, but make it C" what actually gets me. Author really takes time to emphasise the mood and trade the buildup for the end result. It's about setting hooks and then catching fish, AND I WAS CAUGHT ON A LOT OF.

More about the writing style:

As I already said, I believe that the structure of the plot (pt1) is excellent. Even now I can connect the plot points in head, as if something is written - it has a purpose behind it. not in a spontaneous "hey do you remember the man who had scissors? He's the killer" way, more of an author denying bumping you with unnecessary events and writing only something advantageous for the narrative. Of course, I do not mean that every little syllable connects into something greater or that every chapter is filled with action. What I mean is that even filler chapters prepare you for something to come next, and provide necessary details and build-up for future interactions. It might be done without such a clear intention in mind, but I usually found descriptions and action-detailing to be vivid and sensible too. It is able to intensify the central and most striking part of what's happening, when it's needed, instead of only giving everything at face-value. Once again, it is not a discovery, but I like the way descriptions serve as tools for telling a story and have meaning (being logical or experiencible? sorta) , if were spoken. For instance, the fact that ML's eyes is a recurring detail, as it's not stating an eye colour and that's all. Also, the way one arc flows into another is really good. It isn't the linear "we have to do A, then B, then C". Little things happen simultaneously at different time intervals and then combine in one big thing. Don't know if anyone had said that, but be aware that this whole novel is a huge emotional rollercoaster. Seriously, even if it has comedical tone/undertone most of the times. (don't trust it)

Characters:

Giggling grinning rubbing my hands. Let's begin with side characters. To be fair, I am not the person to read something for the side characters, as most of the times I find them being something which is "there", but never actually worthy of spending time on. I wouldn't say that it suddenly changed here. More, I think that the balance is just right, and they bring just enough on the table for them to be present. Every each of them isn't that casual "this character's purpose is to be this button with a certain function. Say hi to him, we'll see him again". And it's funny, because in reality what they tend to do is indeed that. You have a shield hunter, you have a government hunter, you have a hunter with a superpower to literally t e l e p o r t you. But, it doesn't stop at that point, as they exist separately from the main cast, and have their own lives & motives for everything they do. wow! So most of the times, even if character and what they do can be summed up to something relatively lazy or easy, they still have that spark which makes them interesting to unfold in the story, and their functionality in the plot - notable.

Now about the main characters:

First of all, they are absolutely astonishing. Now, I don't want to spoil, because it's so much interesting to go in without waiting for anything specific, so I'll try to keep it easy. Yes, ML is that common trope of an aloof and sarcastic person with cold aura. Even then, the most liked novel comment on ridi is literally that copypaste of "if <... > has one million fans then I am one of them", but with ML's name in it, what do you want me to say? The way his character unwraps from the first meeting onto the second and onto the next is so fascinating to see! He isn't static, he isn't perfect and inhuman, he has his in-universe flaws, and he doesn't show all the cards in his hands to MC. Speaking about... it's really obvious how heavily novel is centred around him. He is the number one, and the world sometimes really does revolve around him. Though, I genuinely would consider that as a positive side. As instead of being a one-dimensional character without any development, not only does he really??? have past??? which affects him, but every big plot moment gives him time to truly shine and show something exciting. It isn't "he is good" and then the same thought keeps repeating in the same form again and again. it is setting a prominent character trait and letting the trait be shown in different circumstances, often - resulting in something different in the process. So, he and the way his character develops throughout the story are surely worthy of spending time on.

Comedy:

Funny isn't it? I want to focus on this point as it's a part of a novel I mean, so it makes sense. The greatest comedy force of the book is situational comedy. It is about a place A, where action is set, character group (s) B, and the situation C. The book takes a simple premise which can be pretty comedic on its own, and then uses everything at its disposal to make the situation even worse than it already is (sometimes multiple times in a row). Why I especially liked this approach and the experience of reading, as the comedy uses character's unique traits and complexities in order to create specific-to-novel comedy. So, in the end you have a chapter of everything going exactly the only possible way it could've, only for it to turn out into insanity! yippee. As I mentioned, novel is really centered around MC, so it's a given that he would be one of the main reasons why. (mine too). Dialogue comedy is peak at times, just as are MC's thoughts and observations: SURPRISINGLY, exactly for the fact from whom they are coming from. He might come off sloppy at times but I believe that it is a great way to make his character grounded and balanced in regards to his power and responsibility (bc it's a permanent trait). And I don't know who more to blame - my incorrect translator who often can't translate a word chicken normally, or author, but I found myself enjoying book's humor a lot.

Romance:

It is rather slow-paced combined with characters interacting a lot (also important thing to note, as instead of going in the 'attraction causes actions which later build relationship' between characters root, it is the reverse when the relationship between characters deepens thanks to their actions, and sequently, romantical part does too). Though with a bit of small moments here and there (btw characters actually show affection!), that keep everything fresh and not boring. If you are looking for something really hardcore on love mode (clarifying: mainly straight-up romantical actions and words from characters. the focus on it) and aren't ready to wait for it, then unfortunately, you'll be dissatisfied. but if you enjoy good relationship handling in books and two complex equals having many (deep) bonds (not necessarily only romantically) then it's a good choice! The relationship between MC and ML doesn't linger in one static place for too long and there's always something more to come, or a way for it too grow. Just in general, romance here is not "what" action was done, but how, in thoughts/words/intentions characters have while handling anything regarding each other. So, it might not always be as straightforward, but as soon as a new detail from the interaction kicks in, you know there's something going on beneath, and it probably will result in something later.

The consequences:

To be honest I thought a lot how to name this part and what is the core reason for me liking the series as much as I do. Because it's kinda hard to name exactly. Maybe it's my speedreading to blame (as I could ran through 15 chapters a day) but for me a chapter could easily start with ":D" and end with "😕", and so for multiple times. I think when speaking about Hunter especially it's important to note that emotions transmitted by author through text are a huge contribution to the novel. As are characters' traumas and personal feelings. I mean, the MC literally appears after 8 years and if you try to see through the light tone, his first response is "I need to hide" ??? Do you really think it all would've stopped here? Cooking soup? Live, laugh, love? And as I've already told before, many aspects of writing are more or less subtle, instead of being front-loaded. What do you get by combining it with this ominous sense of characters suffering even if they don't say it out loud? It's you who suffers now for them, congratulations. Spoiler

The second part of the novel is not that

bad? FOR NOW. as emotional focus is put into romance more, yeehaw!

[collapse] (Spoiler of part 2 for brave, as I didn't provide anyth specific regarding it before. I do not insist on opening it's just a small notice I want to share if I hadn't sold you on it yet lol.) In part 1 I voluntarily cried once, thought "wow, it's so good!" and then was mentally annihilated 10 chapters later. I hate this thing get it away from me (I need more). It's hard to talk about the depth of fiction, as it can mean different things for different people, but here even if what characters experience isn't so difficult to explain in the concept, the execution of how they get through it IN DETAILS never fails to leave me speechless. You can write "I became sad" and you can write "I remembered the bad things". Technically they state the same thing, but the second approach hurts lol. It is the second one.

Worldbuilding:

What genre is it? Well, it's action. But without action. Hey but soupless soup is water? Not until you have a couple more ingredients floating (what had this book made me?) It's kinda like a comic about an artist or a sport-story. The focus is not on the sport or the art, but on the funny company surrounding the main character, emotions, moments spent together... do you get where I am going? On the one side, it isn't the situation where you can replace guild-leader with duke of the north and everything would stay the same, as author doesn't have interest in what specifically is what that duke does and how it's important to the fictional reality. On the other side, it isn't the situation where author believes that people want to see blood, so every situation should lead to an epic, but meaningless and useless fight. The novel takes the concept of hunter fantasy and adapts it for whatever it wants to say. Hunter in this reality is a celebrity, a fighter, a model, an icon, a policeman, like a lot of possible roles for one person. So, "hunter" isn't a tag signalling "that person will fight in the plot in a certain way", it's a way to describe what character is. And the reality around them functions the same way. Same modern world, a bit more whimsy. Hence, say goodbye to useless explanations of what is guild-leader as we already know it, don't we? Oh, and we also know about a giant crack in the sky and what is a weapon and inventory. It all makes the world flow really organically, as we discover both the present via MC's gaze, and the past, seeing his memories. The structure of the world isn't unique, but the way it is used - is, just as the different hunter worlds created by it.

So, to summarise

- Notably good storytelling

- Conscious and logic writing

- Emphasis on emotional part

- Good to amazing characters

- Pretty detailed and nuanced

with the reasons to read:

- Interesting modern fantasy

- Trope independency

- Genuinely emotional

- Comedy is funny

- Main couple (fr)

I tried to provide some minuses in the review, but I'll state here that of course, there are a lot of logical and minor discontinuity troubles (sorry for wording it that way - basically when things come out of nowhere, wrong pacing, actions not really having explanation later outside of speculation, etc) when you think too much about the situations in logical terms - but doesn't it happen to literally any medium until it was created to be perfected, though? So, I don't find it unfortunate that something of lower priority might be loosen this thought-out track of. Because at that point it is really about attention, and I can see that the author just had it directed towards different aspects (and it's obvious that it's possible to notice the things which weren't paid as much attention to). Not every little thing might be <the best‼️🔥🔥😈> tm, but I love that there are some, which I don't really find that much in other novels and how they are being executed! It might be not a masterpiece, but It feels really interesting what it gets to achieve at times - intentionally or not.

Spoiler

I swear to God it's all, but I am considering translating series at this point. IDK how many years it's gonna take. Just a note, bc this review is already unreasonably long lol... don't promise anything.

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[it's not a spoiler; hiding text]

So that's finally it with this review. If you are interested, I managed to read this up to date on ridi and it's technically free + involves some magic tricks usage, but is not impossible. Hope I got scary enough with the amount of words, so I could manage somebody to give it a try. Have a nice day!! :D