The Drafter (The Peri Reed Chronicles Book 1)

Great idea, awkward execution.

Loved the Hollows books, but this book was a little off. It is told in an alternating viewpoint in third person between two different people. The descriptions were hard to follow and the plot-line repetitive. Love the idea though!

It took a while to get into but since it's a new series, I think the author was taking her time with world building and character development. Stick with it you'll like the story. Read the short story first it explains a lot.

WAS VERY HARD TO FOLLOW WITH ALL THE JUMPING BACK AND FORTH, SO IT WAS HARD TO TELL WHAT WAS REAL AND WHAT WASN'T. BEST DESCRIBED AS CLEAR AS MUD. WAS RATHER DISAPPOINTED SINCE I LOVED HER OTHER SERIES.

It took a while to get into but since it's a new series, I think the author was taking her time with world building and character development. Stick with it you'll like the story. Read the short story first it explains a lot.

WAS VERY HARD TO FOLLOW WITH ALL THE JUMPING BACK AND FORTH, SO IT WAS HARD TO TELL WHAT WAS REAL AND WHAT WASN'T. BEST DESCRIBED AS CLEAR AS MUD. WAS RATHER DISAPPOINTED SINCE I LOVED HER OTHER SERIES.

Loved Kim's Hollows Series, read every one. Slogged five chapters into this and lost all interest. Characters are not cool because you say the are. Plot is plodding and dull. I wish I could go back in time and not buy this book. Sorry for being this mean but really hated it.

IMHO, not up to Ms. Harrison's previous work. Who were the good guys and who were the bad guys changed so many times that I found myself confused to the point of having to write down which was which so I'd know where I was in the story. As a huge fan of the Hollows novels, I found this disappointing.

as a reader who w

The concept of traveling back in time for 15-20 seconds to change something drastically / interestingly was hard to get behind. It was boring, confusing at times, lacked the humor of the Hallows and the imagination. I appreciate the attempt at a new concept it just fell flat.

I am a huge, huge, huge fan of Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series. I’ve seriously read it at least three times, I’ve put off reading the end of that one because I don’t want it to end (and I need to re-read it again!). So I put off reading this one because I was a bit nervous that I wouldn’t like it or it wouldn’t live up to the love that I have for The Hollows series. But I really didn’t have anything to worry about. I really loved this series opener, it was a really great way to start a new series.

Peri is just as amazing as Rachel, in very different ways of course, but omg do I love them both. I’m not going to do a comparison of the two, because like I said they’re both awesome. Peri is a drafter, meaning she can go back in time, usually just seconds, and change time. Afterwards she usually has no memory of doing or what she’d been doing before doing it. This is why she needs an anchor, someone who is there and can help her remember what happens. At the start of the book Peri is confident and a little reckless. Then when her world is turned upside down and she isn’t sure who to trust we see a vulnerable side to her as she slowly learns how to stand on her own two feet. Then her confidence returns, in my opinion, it returns stronger than before, she is less cocky, and less reckless as well.

I felt that the story was just as much a mystery/thriller as it was science fiction. There were so many twists and turns that you were constantly guessing where people’s allegiances lied and who was really corrupt and who wasn’t. I’m still not sure who we should really be trusting and who we shouldn’t. Things are mostly told, not through Peri’s pov since it is in third person, but she’s the one the story follows so we basically see everything as she sees it. And with her memory, the fact that people can erase it and plant false ones, she’s not exactly the most reliable narrator. (Okay I’m just a skeptical and not easily trusting person!) It definitely makes for an interesting story and I am really looking forward to the next book!

Peri Reed is a drafter. She works for a government agency which stops terrorists and anyone who threatens freedom. She has her own anchor, Jack Twill. He's also her boyfriend. Besides being a drafter, Peri has two years of military experience and she knows how to defend herself. During the last five years, she has proven her worth bringing down her marks. But, lately something feels off. When she questions her latest assignment and she discovers there is a list of corrupt agents and her name is on it, she is determined to prove her innocence. The problem is that she doesn't know who to trust. Jack and Bill seem to be lying to her. Her only chance to learn the truth might be by trusting Silas, an agent for the Alliance.

Silas is determined to help Peri. He needs to find the list with the names of the corrupt agents. He knows he can help Peri since he's an anchor too. He wants to bring Peri's memories back although they might hurt her.

The Drafter was spellbinding. I. Couldn't. Put. It. Down. I didn't want to stop reading it in case I missed a very important detail. I love the feel of the story, the idea of bending time, lost memories, recreating them. It reminded in a weird way of Memento at times. Peri had to use her own type of code to remember things which I thought it was pretty cool. It was an action-packed book with all sorts of questions including who is really trustworthy.

I don't want to give anything else away. I do expect this trilogy to become a favorite for me. I'm already eager to read the next one. I hope the movie comes next.....

“You never forget, you just don’t remember.”

5/5 Fangs

Peri Reed is a female Jason-Bourne-type character with a twist: she loses her memories because she's a "drafter", turning back the last minute of time to rewrite mistakes. Drafters are rare, but she's an incredible secret ops agent for Opti even without her gift. As faults and holes in her memory begin to peel away the lies she's been told and has been telling, her confidence in who she is chips away. What isn't she remembering? How many times has she learned the truth, just to forget it again? Which memories are real, and which ones fake? How far back, and how far up the ranks of Opti, does the deception go?

After finishing the book, I think it's unfair to compare it to The Hollows series at all. I know you can't help it. Harrison spent a decade telling that story in 13 books. It would be like Robert Jordan branching off into the mystery genre after finishing the Wheel of Time (rest his soul). What I'm saying is this isn't paranormal. If you're not already a fan of mysteries with a touch of sci-fi, it's possible The Drafter will change your mind, but if you start it looking for Jenks and Trent, you're already doing yourself and the book a disservice. Take from The Hollows that Harrison is a great writer, who knows what she's doing, and she's sharing with us a story that she feels passionate about. But you MUST let go of The Hollows to give this a chance.

There are times when Peri's co-dependence seems weak. But then I remember that she's trained to be that way, and the intriguing question becomes "what's left of someone's personality when it's all stripped away?" And if someone chooses that weakness for the greater good, does it become strength?

There are layers here I'm only just discovering, as though, while I was focused on the action and Peri's dilemmas, the seeds of these lofty ideas were planted and took time to grow into my brain. I can't stop thinking about it, and the more I do, the more I like it. Don't be surprised if I eventually give it another star. Maybe The Drafter will become the fourth book in my life I reread.

Anyway. Read it if you love stories. And if you always wanted to see the lady version of Jason Bourne.

I really loved Kim Harrison's The Hollows series. I absolutely fell in love with the characters, the world it was set in, everything about it. The same thing with her Truth series (as Dawn Cook). I wanted to feel the same way about Peri Reed, but I just couldn't. It was ok. That's all I have for it. The writing itself was great, Kim Harrison/Dawn Cook is an excellent author, no question. Peri Reed's character was definitely interesting, and I felt like all the characters were fairly well developed.
**Spoiler Alert**
However, the storyline felt too contrived and forced to me. The odd style of third person viewpoint used for this novel felt awkward and at times annoying. Time travel isn't something I usually like at all, as it is often an all too convenient plot device and ends up being convoluted and over-used. I was intrigued by the premise of "drafting" and the mechanics of the drafter-anchor team, and I still find that to be an interesting dynamic. The thing that really started to grate at me was the multiple times the main character was "scrubbed" and reset back into compliance. Sure, it may have been done that way to set up her heightened level of pissed offedness at the end of the book and prepare us for the next installment, but I felt that it went way overboard. I was ok with the first reset, it gave us an idea of what she was going through and set up the corruption storyline. I was really annoyed with the second one, thinking "really? Another one? She JUST figured it out again and now I have to read through her confusion and paranoia all over again?". I almost quit the book after the third reset. The ONLY thing that kept me reading was how much I hate leaving a book unfinished, and how much I like the author's other books. It reminded me of the time I watched the movie Memento. The guy's memory kept resetting itself and it drove me insane. I absolutely hated that movie and in some ways, this felt like the book version.

It was not a terrible book, but I have finished it and am still not sure whether I liked it or not. I haven't decided yet if I'll read book 2 when it comes out, but if I do, I really hope there are no more Peri memory resets. Then I will have to quit for sure.

I really like this new character, and I find that her journey is really unique and very interesting. At first I thought I would get annoyed with the whole, ooh i remember I won't forget - oh I forgot now everything is hunky dory. She maintains a sense of when her gut is telling her something isn't right. I find this storyline interesting, but I am unsure of where this author is going to take this character, and if I am going to care if she takes down the organization in the end, you know? if she keeps being put on a mission, and then forgetting she was on a mission, I worry that will get old fast. We shall see! I really enjoyed the Rachel Morgan series so I am sure Kim won't disappoint!

Detroit 2030, The world has changed. What hasn't changed is the fact that it's hard to tell who the good guys and the bad guys are in this suspenseful ride into the future.

Peri Reed is gifted (or cursed) with an exceptional gift. She can alter time; but with all gifts there is a price to pay. For Peri, that's her memories.

Peri is a top operative for Opti. Her life it turned upside down when she finds her partner and lover betrayed her. She has to fight to remember what she can't remember, and knows she can only rely on herself. Doubt has her second guessing everything in her past, present and future.

This book is has a bit of everything for everyone. It combines Urban Fantasy with Sci-Fi, add in a political element along with betrayal and it keeps the reader engaged long after they put the book down. This is a glimpse of a future that brings to mind a hint of H. G. Wells, only with a very modern twist.

This is a new series for Kim Harrison. Ms. Harrison's Hollow's series is a hard act to follow, but this book is tightly written and is a adventure not to be missed!

I loved the Rachel Morgan series. Well written, creative and entertaining. The Drafter just doesn't meet that standard. Kim Harrison is a very good writer and obviously put a lot of thought into developing a new character for a series but this one falls short. It's repetitive. How many times do we have to read through her recovering her memory? And, what I also missed was the variety of supporting characters and humor that was in each of the "Witch" books. It evolved throughout the Morgan series but was there from the start. If there had been more of that in The Drafter, although I'm not sure how this plot could have been made humorous, I would have rated it higher. Don't think I'll be back for more.

Sorry, this post is much later than I intended.

What price would you be willing to pay if you could create an alternate timeline?
Kim Harrison, does it again, she creates a world where the impossible becomes reality. In this debut of The Peri Reed Chronicles, there are three type of people in the world. The normal human beings. Then there are the small percentage with amazing power, one can rewrite a timeline, the drafter. But the drafter’s ability comes with a high price, and part of that price is the dependence on The Anchor, who can handle two timelines and with training can keep a Drafter sane.
The government has found and trained these individuals to be used as agents of a sort. Ones who are unknown to the public and stay in the shadows. One of these agents, Peri Reed, a Drafter has her life turned upside when she is listed as a double agent…
This book soon grabs hold of the reader and leads them through a twisted maze, and by the time the exit of the maze is found, the reader cannot wait to enter the next maze and see where it goes.
Definitely, wanting to read book two. I first fell in love with Kim Harrison in her Rachel Morgan or also known as The Hollows series. If interested the first book is Dead Witch Walking.

Peri Reed works for the government entity “Opti” as a drafter. A drafter is one who has the ability to time travel, but only by a few minutes. Her anchor/boyfriend Jack connects with her in the sense that he is able to reconstruct lost memories in the drafted time line. Together they work for the good guys to catch terrorists. However, as with any well intentioned group, they tend to create corruption within, and that starts closer to home for Peri than she would have ever guessed.

Peri is a very young, naive, and driven woman. She's strong and smart, but blindly believes and follows like a good little sheep. Opti has taught their agents to never disobey them. They are never to be alone, to always trust and confide in their anchor, oh and of course to keep a detailed daily dairy as part of their routine in case they ever find themselves lost and without their anchor to recover their memories. But when Peri walks into some shady meeting, drafts, and then does the unthinkable, that's when things get serious. So lets talk about where this story went wrong...

I walked into Peri's life three years into her relationship with Jack. After only a few chapters into it is when the corruption starts and Peri goes on the run. I felt a total disconnect with the two main characters! Throughout the entire book, I never “feel” any connection with them, and then they jump to insinuate a hook up between Peri and Silas, a new guy to her now, but she knew him in the past, she just forgot. To put a twist and add to the total mind blow, Peri loses her memory again and again, we start all over with her discovering the corruption. This happens a few times, and really waned on my nerves. With each pass for Peri the characters relationships still did not connect with me. The chapters just repeated the same spiel over and over to fill space, but when we got out of that loop the action scenes were great! There were too many major no no's throughout that never drew me into the story fully. Unfortunate for me because I am a huge Kim Harrison fan, but I will not be continuing on with this series because although the story idea is genius, the delivery fell flat.

Then skipped to the end. Then read the teaser for the second book. Then read the reviews. Yep. The book sucks. For all the reasons the other 1 star reviewers have extensively listed.
I read a lot. A LOT and have learned (finally) that a book bad at page 70 rarely improves by page 400.
I'm old and there just isn't enough time left to waste being a diligent and hopeful reader, to the end, of bad writing.
Can we get a new Connie Willis? How about that Outlander author, Diane Galdbransomething?
Anybody writing quality like that I should know about?

Summary from Goodreads:

"Detroit 2030. Double-crossed by the person she loved and betrayed by the covert government organization that trained her to use her body as a weapon, Peri Reed is a renegade on the run.

Don’t forgive and never forget has always been Peri’s creed. But her day job makes it difficult: she is a drafter, possessed of a rare, invaluable skill for altering time, yet destined to forget both the history she changed and the history she rewrote.

When Peri discovers her name on a list of corrupt operatives, she realizes that her own life has been manipulated by the agency. She joins forces with a mysterious rogue soldier in a deadly race to piece together the truth about her final task, unable to trust even herself."

My Thoughts:

The Drafter is one of the most original science fiction/urban fantasy series that I've read in a long time. I loved the world that Harrison created with this book and am very eager for more. I always talk about those books that you can just sink down into and that is exactly what I found myself doing with this book. It wasn't one of those books that I could set down so instead I found myself reading and saying "one more chapter" for long stretches at a time. I really liked the fact that this book is so completely different from any other book that I've read. The idea of being able to alter time but then to just forget what they have altered while also losing stretches of time was so unique to any other books that I've read. The author used this to add such a thrilling layer of intensity to the book and it was just one of the reasons that I couldn't set this book down.

I'm trying very hard not to give too much away here but warning now for a slight spoiler. One of the things that I loved most about this book is that the author wasn't afraid to make difficult choices in regards to her characters and the overall plot. There were times that I was so frustrated but just made me want to keep reading even more. It felt like a must to see how this would all play out and end. Would Peri be able to figure everything out in time? That was the question and it is what kept me reading late into the night. I loved both her character and also Silas' character as well. I liked that there is a hint of something more there and am hoping that we get to see more of it in future books. I really don't think that we have learned fully all about Peri's abilities and that is also something that I'm hoping the author will explore more. Excellent secondary characters also helped to make this book stand out for me. The ending of this book left me unready to see it end. I am absolutely pining for the second book at this point. I'm also kicking myself a bit for waiting so long to read this one. I loved the way the author ended this book and won't say more than that (other than it fit perfectly with the book in my opinion).

Final thoughts can be summed up as "Read it!" A page turning read would be the perfect way to describe this book as well. Obviously I don't have anything but good things to say about it. I would love to find more books like this so I'm thinking that I need to stick my toes more in the science fiction genre. I'm also planning on reading this author's Rachel Morgan series while I wait for book two to release in this one. It is another series that I've always meant to read and put off but no longer. If that series is half as good as this book was, then I'm in for a real treat!

Bottom Line: A thrilling and great beginning to this new series! I need more!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for the publisher.

I love the Hollows series by Kim Harrison and she is a truly gifted writer.
In this new world she has created , it is a world where some people have the ability to jump back in time to change the outcome of an event or an action. Though the person doing the jumping afterwards loses memory: You don't forget what happened exactly, you have the memories but just can't remember them. Interesting concept and a new adventure for us fans.
There is a wealthy organization that wants to reduce the world's population and a US government agency employing time jumpers, called drafters, it is tasked with stopping the organization from achieving its goals. Unfortunately, some members of the agency are thought to be corrupted or gone over to the other side. Peri, our heroine finds herself on this list and has to prove her innocence. The problem is that she doesn't know who to trust. Jack and Bill seem to be hiding something from her and her only chance to learn the truth might be by trusting Silas, an agent for the Alliance.
Silas is determined to help Peri because he needs to find the list with the names of the corrupt agents. He's an anchor too. He wants to bring Peri's memories back although they might hurt her.
This is a fast paced story, detail rich to help you understand what is happening and has romance elements as well.
I look forward to reading the second one and more about this exciting new world Kim Harrison has created.

*******Listened to the Audiobook.

Let me start by saying, that I would read anything Kim Harrison writes. She is one of my favorite writers, and with this book I was not disappointed! This story is exciting, fast paced and heartbreaking. Perri is such a complex character. On one hand she's independent, strong and can hold her own in a fight, even when she's out numbered. Plus, if she gets fatally wounded, she can draft, or go back in time 30-45 seconds and prevent being killed. The only problem is when she goes back in time she only has seconds before she forgets both getting fatally wounded and the draft in which she avoided it. That's not all, she may loose days, months or even years making those in the know in a perfect place to make her believe anything they want her to. They can even purposely take time away, so if she catches on to them, they can just scrub her back to before she found out. This makes her incredibly vulnerable and unable to believe her own mind. Still, Perri has a job to do and it is worth it all since she works for the greater good. Or does she? What if she can't tell who is the villain, or if she is a good guy or a monster?
January LaVoy does a wonderful job narrating this story. She was a new narrator to me, and I am very happy with her performance. I very highly recommend this book!
Happy reading!

I recommend reading Sideswiped first, so you can get to know and understand the characters. I would have been lost in The Drafter without that previous read.

Let me say right at the beginning: This is NOT like any of the other Kim Harrison books you've read. Not just the genre. Her entire writing voice and style is different in this series. Is that a bad thing? I don't think so. But if you're expecting anything like her previous books, prepare to be disappointed.

I love the plot and the universe Kim Harrison has created here. Time travelers (drafters) NEED anchors to sort out their conflicting memories or their minds will go crazy from the inconsistencies. This requires a huge amount of trust for a pair's professional relationship to work. That level of trust naturally leads to most pairs being romantic partners as well. So what happens when that trust is questioned (and subsequently broken)?

The relationships in The Drafter are understandably complex. As if the trust issues weren't enough, we have one hell of an unreliable narrator in Peri, a woman who's memories (and life events themselves!) have been altered or deleted. The twisted, intricate relationships are what drive the story, not the shenanigans of Opti.

In spite of Peri's trust issues, I never felt she made any real connections to the other characters like she needed to do in order to move the story forward, which in turn made it pace feel too slow and felt like we kept repeating the same pattern of thoughts and behavior over and over (not related to time travel, that is). That's the reason I can't give it 5 stars.

I will be reading the next book just because I like Peri and Silas so much.

I'm glad the book I received had the prequel included. It was nice to read a little backstory before delving into the first Peri Reed novel of this series. Although, if you do have a copy of THE DRAFTER that doesn't include the prequel, you should still be fine. There may be a few small references to the past that is contained in SIDESWIPED but it's nothing that'll throw off your mental movie as you read THE DRAFTER.

When THE DRAFTER first begins, we come upon Peri and Jack on a job. They're looking for a file that is hidden on a computer in a businessman's office. For Peri, this is just another job and she's ready to get it over so they can do their after-job ritual of shooting pool and eating appetizers. While Jack is searching for the file, Peri hears the elevator start up putting her on alert. She leaves Jack, something she's not supposed to ever do, to go see who's coming off the elevator so she can stop them before they reach the office that Jack is in. Things go wrong, Peri starts suspecting the real truth, and shit just goes downhill from there.

The reason Peri isn't supposed to leave Jack's sight is because Peri is a Drafter and Jack is her Anchor. Anchors have to maintain a visual on their Drafter in order to be able to recreate their memory of what happened after they've drafted. Drafting is a person's ability to go back in time 40 seconds in order to correct a situation. Say, for example, Peri got sucker-punched by a guy. She can draft for 40 seconds and change the events so that she's not in the way of the punch the second time around. Drafting, though, causes the Drafter to lose bits of time, which is why the Anchor is so important. The Anchor is the Drafter's touchstone to reality - or, at least, they're supposed to be. Jack is Peri's Anchor, alright, but his motives leave something to be desired.

This novel is full of twists and turns so that you're not sure who's good, who's bad, who to trust, and who to kill. Even Peri's motives are questionable at times ... and I like that. I like to be kept guessing. I like it when the plot doesn't automatically reveal everything to you. This is definitely a suspense-filled novel.

And, if you're not sure whether you should give this a try because it seems too futuristic for you, ignore that. Yes, it is set in the future and there are gadgets the characters use that we do not have technology for yet, but there is enough of today's world in the setting that it feels like a very real and possible future for us. Ms. Harrison did such an excellent job of blending today's elements with futuristic ones that it was extremely believable.

I could not find fault with anything in this novel. I give it 5 stars and would recommend it to guys and girls alike.

The Drafter by Kim Harrison
Urban Fantasy -Sept. 1st, 2015
4 ½ stars

Like a tornedo, the Drafter will sweep you away. The book’s plot twists you around and keeps you exhilarated and edgy.

Peri Reed is a rare drafter. Part of a special ops team that can time travel to correct terrible tragedies. But once a drafter goes back in time their memories are lost. Thankfully she has Jack. He loves her and is her anchor. The one that brings her back from the trauma and helps her reconstruct memories of the time that she has lost. But trouble happens on their last mission when their target shows them a list of corrupt Opti agents. And Peri is one of them. Peri knows she would never use her abilities irresponsibly. The man must be wrong, because if it were true her past three years as an Opti agent are a lie. However, something the man says makes her think. But to save her life Peri must go back in time and forgets memories of the supposed corruption. Drafters aren’t supposed to remember the recent past when they go back in time. However, this time Peri is having vague feelings of discomfort about what Jack tells her before she time traveled. When she is brought in to be reexamined by the company she discovers the ultimate betrayal. Not only by the boss she trusted but Jack, the man she loves. To escape she makes a terrible deal and time travels again only to have her memory swiped, but this time years are erased. Scared, alone and confused. Peri finds herself on the run she and ‘bumps’ into man named Silas from the Alliance. He claims that Opti is evil and she is part of it. That they need to work together to uncover the truth. But Peri isn’t sure who she can trust.

This book is fast paced and will keep you guessing. There are so many holes in Peri’s memories that the reader isn’t sure what is a really the true past or one reconstructed by an anchor to keep her under their control. Peri is extremely valuable due to her rare skills and it seems everyone wants to use her. It is maddening to try to figure out with Peri what is the truth. Peri has a strong sense of justice and I loved that she knew deep down she could never be corrupt. But who should she believe when she knows everyone wants to use her? What exactly is the shadowy Alliance and how does Silas seem to know her? Did Jake really love her or really just love the money she could bring? The tension, twists and turns and harrowing danger make this book an adrenaline rush to read. The author leaves a lot unsaid and the ending is a shocker. However, the ending is not a cliffhanger but brings new possibilities and will keep you up wondering what the heck the heroine will do next!

Fantastic non-stop action and a trippy plot that will keep you on the edge of your toes. You will get addicted to the rush of the new urban fantasy series.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I am a huge fan of Kim Harrison/Dawn Cook. I absolutely loved her Hollows series, and was sad to see it end. Her new series, the Peri Reed Chronicles, is very different because it's more sci-fi and less urban fantasy. If you are expecting the Hollows 2.0, you will be disappointed by this book. However, if you like sci-fi or are open to reading something other than Urban Fantasy, then this is a book you should purchase. I loved the book and can't wait to read the next installment. The book is set in the near future, and is the story of Peri, who "drafts" time. She can go back a few seconds (upto maybe a minute) in time to right wrongs or save her life (or someone else's). Each time she drafts, she loses some of her memory. There's a great plot twist in the book, and the story has action, romance, and espionage set in a near future that seems plausible. The first few chapters were a bit difficult for me to get into because it's different than what I am used to when I pick up a Kim Harrison book, but by halfway through, I cared about what happened to Peri and felt empathy for her character for all she has endured and continues to endure.

Peri Reed has been lied to by a person she loved and it leads to her wanting to find the truth if she ever can. She is a drafter; having the ability to alter and change history she rewrote. Yet forget what she did. With her memory erased for three years she joins with a renegade to find the truth about herself and the agency she works for.

I picked this one up because I loved her previous series. It was a great one and I read it to the end leaving me wanting more. So I thought I would give her a new one a go. I am a fan of her writing.

The idea of drafters and their anchors who anchors a real timeline memory after a draft. The world-building of this government owned organization of drafters that have been altering things in their favor. The characters, with their real flaws, damage, baggage and difficult roles they have to play. The story line and plot is unique and fascinating. Peri is a fragile and hard character all at once. Fighting through gaps in her existence and conditioned training. Struggling to find any truth to hold onto but specifically if she was a bad agent on a list of corrupt agents. I was deeply into this book. Couldn't tear me from it. Sort of an action/fantasy. And it was badass.

I'm going to admit that I was a little nervous for the new series but not because it was a different genre. I like some Sci-fi, it was the fact that it was written in third person. I wasn't sure how I would like the switch.

I soon forgot it was written in third, the author still had all of the little details and action I love. Peri was much different from Rachel but I can see where there will be a lot of growth with Peri. Her entire world has been rocked, everything has been taken from her but Peri is one tough chick.

I honestly don't think it is such a huge jump from the Supernatural in the Hollows to Drafters in Detroit. Both aren't real but both were extremely entertaining. The characters were rich and I had a heck of a book hangover the next day.

I totally dug this book. Wow. Not only is it a complete departure from her Hollows series, it's really unlike anything I've read before. I'd classify it as more sci-fi than anything else. It's set in the near future and there's time travel involved, but that's where any similarities end. What a cool idea for a book! I love that sometimes the reader has behind the scenes knowledge and sometimes we're on the ride right along with Peri.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, that there are humans who can have do-overs for segments of recent time, but, unfortunately, this conceit is never explored beyond the first instance of time reconstruction. Kim Harrison has a vast imagination, as evidenced by the Hollows series, where she not only explores a coexisting reality within the present day world, but carries out endless plot twists and unique solutions to cliffhangers, all the while making it all seem perfectly normal.
So, the setup for The Drafter is another door to such a reality, but we are never allowed to go through that door. The protagonist is saved in the exact same way from each difficulty she encounters. Foreshadowed elements are emphasized then never explored, and at least three of the characters, Bill, Allen, and Silas, seem to be different versions of the same man. The largest problem is the heroine Peri herself. Whereas Rachel in the Hollows series was accessible and relatable, Peri Reid never transcends the sketchy original description of her character.
Having read all of the Hollows series and been fascinated by the vastness of Kim Harrison's exploration of her own imagination, it feels to me that this book was ghostwritten by someone attempting to develop a narrative voice. In short, The Drafter never gets off the ground.

As my first Kim Harrison read, I gave this book 3.5/5 stars

I did not know what to expect from Kim since I have not read her Hollows series, but the storyline was interesting nonetheless. I mean you have a kick-ass female heroine who is a drafter who can alter time and history but forgets that it even happened.

"TRUST NO ONE" is a serious theme in this book and it beyond fitting to the story. It seemed that everyone had secrets and could not be trusted. I mean she forgets big chunks of her life. How insane is that?

This book started off really good with crazy twists and gets right into the action and the mystery surrounding Peri's innocence. Then all hell breaks lose and Peri's life turns into a shitstorm. There were moments that totally had me shocked and anticipating what crazy revelation would occur next. Unfortunately that's where the excitement ended for me. I think the story just dragged on and became repetitious. I ended up disliking Peri halfway through this story. The whole drafting concept is what interested me in the story, but we actually didn't read about too many drafts while they were happening, only someone telling her that she drafted. I found Peri to be annoying, self-centered, egotistical, cocky, and severely naive. For someone to be as bad ass as she was, often got caught and made terrible decisions. If your on the run your supposed to do the unexpected, not be predictable. And I'm not entirely sure she's the good guy in this story.

The first half of the story was very interesting and gripping and then it just seemed to drag on with reoccurring elements. I am interested to read other books by Kim Harrison in the future.

First off let me just say I am an official "Super Fan" of Kim's work. I have the letter to prove it! ;-)
I absolutely loved the Hallow series, and was worried when I realized that Peri's story would be a different genre. I worried for nothing! Though it is a different genre, it is still told with the amazing skill that is Kim Harrison's gift to us all. If you haven't read it yet, and are interested in some great story telling, the kind that makes you feel as if you are a part of that world, give it a go. You won't be sorry!

The Drafter, the first book in Kim Harrison’s Peri Reed Chronicles, and what a beginning it is! Peri works for an agency called Opti with her anchor, Jack. Apparently, the ability to go back in time and change certain events is very useful in special missions. This is called Drafting, and it comes with an enormous price. First, a drafter can only remember one timeline, and when they draft, the potential to forget chunks of time is a probability. Second, they are always in the company of their anchor. As explained in Sideswiped (the prequel to the drafter), because of the amount of time a drafter spends with their anchor, and the way they come to rely on them, a personal relationship usually evolves, as we see with Jack and Peri in The Drafter. They have to trust that when they draft, their anchor will be there to fix the proper timeline in their head without losing too much of their past memories along with it. Third, it seems like a drafter’s anchor holds the key to their sanity.

The story is set in Detroit, 2030. It paints a fairly nice picture of Detroit, and it’s going to be all I think about next time I am in Detroit. I love stories that take place in a familiar city. ?

This story is told in third person, following not only Peri and Jack, but Silas at times as well. Silas works for the Alliance, and left Opti. WAS NOT FIRED! (seems to be a sore spot for him). The Alliance is an organization that opposed Opti, and does now believe the government should have control of the ability to travel time. Recruit drafters are usually pulled from the youth mental health ward, but Opti personnel, so I get the feeling that the general populace is not aware that Drafter’s and Anchors exist.

When Peri finds herself stuck between these two organizations, she has no idea WHO to trust, and without any help, finds herself struggling to maintain her grip on her sanity.

As I stated in my review for Sideswiped, this is not my normal genre of reading. In fact, I usually avoid these types of novels. However, Kim Harrison is so much fun to read. Her world building/dynamics and characters always come alive so well. I was so excited to read this when it released, I had to stop in the middle of my Hollows reread, but I am glad I took the time to read it. Very different, and a new Kim Harrison series is always exciting!

For more reviews visit Kickassurbanfantasy.ga

You won't see "verified purchaser" attached to this review because I read a library copy. Having just finished the book I'm very glad I didn't buy it. The author is playing with memories, illusion, and reality, with her story revolving around the question of how you tell them apart. That's all well and good but she goes on to spin the reader into the same confusion the heroine is experiencing. That approach takes a lot of skill to pull off and for me Harrison misses the mark by a mile. Repeatedly throughout the book I found myself wondering what the heck was going on. There is so much unexplained and/or missing back story that half way through I went online to see if this book was the latter part of a series. Nope, it's the beginning of the series and a very muddled beginning.

Then the plot, with it's repeated double and triple crosses and it's escape/recapture/escape pattern started getting tedious. I understand those plot twists were necessary to illustrate the problems the heroine was encountering. Unfortunately the twists were not handled well enough to keep my interest.

Beyond all that I simply didn't care for any of the characters in the book. I found myself repeatedly cussing out loud "How can you be so #@*% stupid!" Their behavior just irritated me and that's not a good basis on which to care about them. Harrison is a good writer and I've liked other books of hers. This series I'll just pass on though.

THE DRAFTER begins a new series set in Detroit in the year 2030. The main character is Peri Reed who is a drafter. She can change time but as a consequence needs an anchor to help her reconcile the two memories. She works for an organization called Opti which uses drafters and anchors to maintain political stability, fight terrorists, and do other things for the good of humanity. At least, that is what Peri believes is Opti's mission and she is proud to be one of their soldiers.

The Alliance is an organization of drafters and anchors who are trying to bring Opti down because they know that Opti is not working for the good of humanity but for the good of a handful of rich families. When Peri comes upon the Alliance in the person of Silas she comes to question the memories that she has.

This was a twisty story and, since it was told from Peri's viewpoint, we only know what she knows. Since her memory is being manipulated, what she knows keeps changing. I found it confusing at first but really came to like Peri who was trying so hard to find out what was real and to reclaim herself.

I will be eager to find out what happens next for her.

Kim Harrison takes us on an amazing ride in this first book of a new series. She introduces us to Peri Reed; Smart, graceful,sophisticated.....and deadly.

On top of all her skills Peri also possesses the uncommon ability to draft back in time and change the last few moments of an event that she just experienced. Her rule is that she has ever killed anyone who did not kill her first.

Kim's legendary whit is still shining through her characters in this series.
"But your tiny".
Peri " I prefer the term Fun Sized"

Each Drafter has an Anchor, a partner who helps them separate the changed past from the new reality.

As a member of a secret government organization, "Opti" , she and her partner travel the world, saving the day on covert missions. Peri' world is rocked to the core when she discovers she has been being used and Opti is corrupt.

This novel has it all -thriller action of assignation and espionage, heart break and grief of love and loss, and self discovery all wrapped up in a fantastic novel set 15 years in the future !

This series is completely different from The Hallows series. As a dedicated Hallows reader I was excited to see what new world Kim would introduce us to. I found The Drafter to be a fascinating read I could not put down!!!

Highly recommend for urban fantasy readers, sci fy readers and thriller readers!!!

A brand new direction for Kim Harrison and it did not disappoint. Peri Reed's extraordinary ability makes for a unique read since using this ability causes her to forget what happened. Throw in action-Peri's ability to get herself out of nearly any situation by wit or violence, add espionage and double agents and tris page turner will keep you up late into the night. Deep world building, twisty plot and intelligent writing will suck you in for the ride!

The Drafter will be coming out as a mass market paperback and the ebook price has dropped to $9.99
I loved The Drafter and really hope the publisher can market it successfully for Kim! To me it's more like "Fringe" with the political intrigue, espionage and multiple times lines and less like most typical urban fantasy. Her fantastical realities always require the reader to suspend disbelief and hang on for the world building. I'd be disappointed if she spoon fed us the backstory and plot!!!!

Hallows readers need to try it and give it a chance- fantastic weaving of the story. People who stuck with the Fever series being kept in the dark and having lots of questions should definitely enjoy The Drafter.

I want to read the rest of Peri's story!!!!

Overall I really liked this book. It had a great premise and was interesting twist on the whole time travel genre.
*potential spoilers ahead*
However I feel like the execution wasn't as well done as it could have been. Throughout the entire book there is written a sense of urgency that was meant to push the story forward but for me it seemed like it really wasn't that urgent or life threatening and I couldn't understand why it was supposed to be. The overall reason for everything that was happening (the list) really didn't seem that consequential.
The character of Peri, while interesting really seemed like a sort of pushover. She is supposed to be this high end agent/assassin and yet it seems like she is constantly being captured and pretty much removed from play. Especially as she is essentially reset to a compliant puppet about 3 times without really much of struggle, and is done so really easily. Sure she comes back in part but there wasn't really a sense of maybe she won't come out of this or not.
The other thing that bugged me about this was how we never came across a single other drafter other than her and we came across around 5 or so anchors. I don't know if that is just a tell about the state of her world and other drafters or a flaw.
An enjoyable story and I'll probably read the sequel, however it is not perfect and a bit predictable.

The Drafter is the first book in the Kim Harrison planned trilogy, Peri Reed Chronicles. While it isn't necessary, I do recommend reading the short story, Sideswiped. It is a quick introduction to the characters while they were still in university.

I adored Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan (the Hollows) series, so when this book was released I bought it without hesitation. It should be noted that the Peri Reed universe is more science fiction than urban fantasy which means you shouldn't compare this series to the Hollows. It's a completely different world. There were times where I found the plot to have some pacing issues but I think that is par for the course when introducing a new series; world building takes time. That being said the book had some great twists and I found the characters and plot to be exciting and fascinating. This book is so much more than someone who can adjust reality. It is about Peri's world crashing down and her journey to rebuild her life. It is a story told time and again by many authors and is successfully done with this series. I look forward to reading more about Peri's story.

My Thoughts On The Book:

'LIVE. DIE. REPEAT.'

The Plot Of The Story:
Following on after the prequel novella Sideswiped this time we get to fully meet the lady that's the star of this futuristic series, Peri Reed. Of course we met as a secondary character in Sideswiped but this time she takes centre stage as a drafter in her own right.
The time is 2030, the place is Detroit and Peri Reed is what is known as a Drafter, Drafters have the ability to go back briefly in time giving them the opportunity to alter something that's literally just happened.... with a little help from the drafters partner, their anchor who keep track of the time lines.
Peri is a top Drafter 'agent' but when she gets betrayed by those she trusts the most she finds herself on a list of corrupt agents and so begins the fight for her life, her career and even her sanity. During her fight she meets up with Silas, the focus of Sideswiped, a man she knew before but doesn't remember any longer but why and how has she forgotten him? Her life has been turned upside down in more ways than one leaving Peri hopelessly lost as she learns piece by piece about what her life truly is about, how much she has actually lost and what lies in store for her in future.

What Is There To Love?
This is my first proper and full on Kim Harrison novel but I was aware going into it that she has a reputation for writing strong, kick-ass female leads but I have to say that I was impressed with the way Peri has been put together as a lead character. She is a strong willed, talented and feisty little firecracker but she also has the soft feminine side that most women have too, the side that wants to find that one man in the world, to be loved and adored. She also has her little character flaws which humanise her and Harrison hasn't been afraid to make the girl very vulnerable at times, making her terrible fearful of what's round the corner at times that it's almost surprising that she's able to function at all, all added together it makes Peri into a complex and dramatically likeable character, one who is easy to root for even if you're confused as hell as to where her story is taking her at times as it take a while for the complicated story line to start falling into place. The Drafter has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster but Harrison does a phenomenal job of weaving all the various threads and ideas together in the end while still leaving a few loose for the next books to play with..
The overall plot of the story is something to admire too as just like Peri it is intense and deep and there is obviously a lot explaining to come in the future with regards to Peri, Silas and their shared pasts. The world-building is great with more scope for a greater expansion as the series progresses going forward and the overall characterisations are wonderfully created and examined by Harrison.

What Is There To Dislike?
There wasn't nothing that really struck me as a problem although after reading Sideswiped I was a little concerned about how useful Drafting and Anchoring could actually be in the real world but it doesn't take long to see the potential of the ability in the 'spy world' and when fighting against criminals and the like so don't worry it does make a lot me more sense in this book than it did in the novella.
Apart from that I did find some of the story a little slow-building but not necessarily in the best way, it was a mosaic of lots of tiny bits of the overall story that didn't always feel like they were entirely going to fit together in a neat and tidy way sometimes, if at all. I would have preferred it if the story had moved with a little more impetus for me personally and maybe had not been quite so 'entangled' as it were.

How's The Writing?
I have to say that I was very impressed with this book overall and I can why Kim Harrison has such a large fan base and why people love her characters and storylines. She has done a lovely job with this story even if I found it a little overly complex compared to what I was expecting but that is just me after all. The world building is great but there is still more room for more detail there and more depth to be discovered as time goes on.
The pacing felt a little slow to me, I felt I needed it to be a little more 'snappy' but that doesn't take away from how good this book really is, it's just personal preference after all and I can say with all honesty that the characters are all just wonderful, from the strong leads, to the secondary and through the background character, each are well created, well rounded and as real and true as you can hope for. Peri is the star of the book and is so carefully crafted that you can't help but be impressed.

Final Thoughts:
I am honestly quite impressed with both the beginning of this series and with the author too after reading both The Drafter and Sideswiped, and seeing as I've had The Hollows series in my collection for some time I really feel I must get on read them now seeing that there is nothing to be afraid of with a new author any longer.
If you're worried that this series may not be for you I would say give it go, it's got great potential for the future of the series and the plot line so far show glimpses of real promise, it's that promise and potential that will bring me back for book 2 and I can't wait for that time to arrive!

Yes, yes, and yes.

This is an urban fantasy with a unique and original time travel twist. Peri is a drafter, which means she can rewrite time in small chunks, but it costs her as she can’t handle having both timelines in her head. She relies on an anchor to help her sort out her memories and cement only the rewritten part into her head, which means she loses the original timeline. Bad side effect: she loses time from before the rewrite as well.

This premise takes a bit to comprehend, but once I understood it, the story was slightly easier to follow. I say slightly because there is so much corruption and wondering who is the bad guy, and who is the good guy pretending to be bad, and who is the bad guy pretending to be good. It’s seriously convoluted in the best possible way, making it almost impossible to guess what was coming next.

This was a very fast paced, feels like an action movie read. It was exciting and thrilling, and I want to dive right back into another adventure.

Talk about some twists and turns! THE DRAFTER is a great mix of scifi and thriller, and with each chapter a new depth and twist to the story was unveiled. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the rug was pulled out from under me. It made for an incredibly intense read that bordered on stressful to be honest. If I only had one word to describe this book, nail-biter would be the one that comes to mind. Once things took off I couldn't put it down. Frankly, I was a nervous wreck while reading the last half of this book, but in the best sort of way. I couldn't have put it down if I tried.

One thing I do wish is that I had read the prequel novella. It seems like it's more of a integral read to the series than I originally thought. I have to admit that the beginning of this book was a bit slow for me as I felt like I was scrambling to keep up and figure out what was going on. But after reading the description and the reviews for Sideswiped I think a lot of my early confusion wouldn't have happened. THE DRAFTER has a lot of world building, which is to be expected in a new series, especially a futuristic scifi thriller like this one. However when you add that heavy world building with the very secretive side of the thriller parts of the story, it just kept me from really sinking into the book quite as much as I had wanted to. Of course, things do pick up almost to a frenetic pace once more things are revealed, I just wish I had the prequel's knowledge to have balanced out the pacing overall.

All in all, THE DRAFTER is one heck of a nail-biting intense ride of a book. World building pacing and confusion aside that should be alleviated by reading the prequel, this is an utterly fantastic read that is sure to please fans of an intense read.

What a mess, a heroine who is supposed to be a super soldier and yet keeps getting captured. This entire book is this character who everyone is afraid of but in all honesty comes across as an incompetent nitwit. It was a slug fest getting through this novel.

Quick and dirty-Twisted Betrayals, Stolen Time and Forgotten Love all wrapped up in a tornado.
Did I love it ? No. Was I glued to the pages, yes. Will I re-read it, yes. This was a book with a lot going on in a very small world. Perhaps too small, so centered on Peri the main character. I didn't get a chance to know any of the other characters, it was very centered on the one girl. She was the eye of the storm. Dang she had more than enough messed up issues going on to carry three books but I wanted to know more on the others that blew into her sphere of timelines gone funky. Even if the story focused on her we still did't get any real knowledge of her or did we ? I just read 400 plus pages about Peri and i don't know a thing about her I don't think. It's all so confusing, nothing was solid. Did I just Draft ? Ha ! I need book 2, NEED I have to figure some of this stuff out. Ms. Harrison left everything hanging over the bottomless cliff. CLIFFHANGER
I think this would be an excellent audiobook I think I listen to it for my second reading

I very much enjoyed this novel. In fact, I lost a ton of sleep one night because I just couldn't put it down and go to bed like a sane person. I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. Praise doesn't get much high than that, right?

The concepts that Harrison plays with here - the ability to re-write time, sense of self, friendships and reliabilty, are fairly heavy ones, but this felt more like an action flick to me, so those concepts and ideas are touched with a light hand - even when they are central to Peri's development and understanding of what is going on. I found this to be a fun, easy read, I I'm looking forward to what follows in this series.

THE DRAFTER begins a new series set in Detroit in the year 2030. The main character is Peri Reed who is a drafter. She can change time but as a consequence needs an anchor to help her reconcile the two memories. She works for an organization called Opti which uses drafters and anchors to maintain political stability, fight terrorists, and do other things for the good of humanity. At least, that is what Peri believes is Opti's mission and she is proud to be one of their soldiers.

The Alliance is an organization of drafters and anchors who are trying to bring Opti down because they know that Opti is not working for the good of humanity but for the good of a handful of rich families. When Peri comes upon the Alliance in the person of Silas she comes to question the memories that she has.

This was a twisty story and, since it was told from Peri's viewpoint, we only know what she knows. Since her memory is being manipulated, what she knows keeps changing. I found it confusing at first but really came to like Peri who was trying so hard to find out what was real and to reclaim herself.

I will be eager to find out what happens next for her.

Kim Harrison takes us on an amazing ride in this first book of a new series. She introduces us to Peri Reed; Smart, graceful,sophisticated.....and deadly.

On top of all her skills Peri also possesses the uncommon ability to draft back in time and change the last few moments of an event that she just experienced. Her rule is that she has ever killed anyone who did not kill her first.

Kim's legendary whit is still shining through her characters in this series.
"But your tiny".
Peri " I prefer the term Fun Sized"

Each Drafter has an Anchor, a partner who helps them separate the changed past from the new reality.

As a member of a secret government organization, "Opti" , she and her partner travel the world, saving the day on covert missions. Peri' world is rocked to the core when she discovers she has been being used and Opti is corrupt.

This novel has it all -thriller action of assignation and espionage, heart break and grief of love and loss, and self discovery all wrapped up in a fantastic novel set 15 years in the future !

This series is completely different from The Hallows series. As a dedicated Hallows reader I was excited to see what new world Kim would introduce us to. I found The Drafter to be a fascinating read I could not put down!!!

Highly recommend for urban fantasy readers, sci fy readers and thriller readers!!!

A brand new direction for Kim Harrison and it did not disappoint. Peri Reed's extraordinary ability makes for a unique read since using this ability causes her to forget what happened. Throw in action-Peri's ability to get herself out of nearly any situation by wit or violence, add espionage and double agents and tris page turner will keep you up late into the night. Deep world building, twisty plot and intelligent writing will suck you in for the ride!

The Drafter will be coming out as a mass market paperback and the ebook price has dropped to $9.99
I loved The Drafter and really hope the publisher can market it successfully for Kim! To me it's more like "Fringe" with the political intrigue, espionage and multiple times lines and less like most typical urban fantasy. Her fantastical realities always require the reader to suspend disbelief and hang on for the world building. I'd be disappointed if she spoon fed us the backstory and plot!!!!

Hallows readers need to try it and give it a chance- fantastic weaving of the story. People who stuck with the Fever series being kept in the dark and having lots of questions should definitely enjoy The Drafter.

I want to read the rest of Peri's story!!!!

Overall I really liked this book. It had a great premise and was interesting twist on the whole time travel genre.
*potential spoilers ahead*
However I feel like the execution wasn't as well done as it could have been. Throughout the entire book there is written a sense of urgency that was meant to push the story forward but for me it seemed like it really wasn't that urgent or life threatening and I couldn't understand why it was supposed to be. The overall reason for everything that was happening (the list) really didn't seem that consequential.
The character of Peri, while interesting really seemed like a sort of pushover. She is supposed to be this high end agent/assassin and yet it seems like she is constantly being captured and pretty much removed from play. Especially as she is essentially reset to a compliant puppet about 3 times without really much of struggle, and is done so really easily. Sure she comes back in part but there wasn't really a sense of maybe she won't come out of this or not.
The other thing that bugged me about this was how we never came across a single other drafter other than her and we came across around 5 or so anchors. I don't know if that is just a tell about the state of her world and other drafters or a flaw.
An enjoyable story and I'll probably read the sequel, however it is not perfect and a bit predictable.

The Drafter is the first book in the Kim Harrison planned trilogy, Peri Reed Chronicles. While it isn't necessary, I do recommend reading the short story, Sideswiped. It is a quick introduction to the characters while they were still in university.

I adored Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan (the Hollows) series, so when this book was released I bought it without hesitation. It should be noted that the Peri Reed universe is more science fiction than urban fantasy which means you shouldn't compare this series to the Hollows. It's a completely different world. There were times where I found the plot to have some pacing issues but I think that is par for the course when introducing a new series; world building takes time. That being said the book had some great twists and I found the characters and plot to be exciting and fascinating. This book is so much more than someone who can adjust reality. It is about Peri's world crashing down and her journey to rebuild her life. It is a story told time and again by many authors and is successfully done with this series. I look forward to reading more about Peri's story.

My Thoughts On The Book:

'LIVE. DIE. REPEAT.'

The Plot Of The Story:
Following on after the prequel novella Sideswiped this time we get to fully meet the lady that's the star of this futuristic series, Peri Reed. Of course we met as a secondary character in Sideswiped but this time she takes centre stage as a drafter in her own right.
The time is 2030, the place is Detroit and Peri Reed is what is known as a Drafter, Drafters have the ability to go back briefly in time giving them the opportunity to alter something that's literally just happened.... with a little help from the drafters partner, their anchor who keep track of the time lines.
Peri is a top Drafter 'agent' but when she gets betrayed by those she trusts the most she finds herself on a list of corrupt agents and so begins the fight for her life, her career and even her sanity. During her fight she meets up with Silas, the focus of Sideswiped, a man she knew before but doesn't remember any longer but why and how has she forgotten him? Her life has been turned upside down in more ways than one leaving Peri hopelessly lost as she learns piece by piece about what her life truly is about, how much she has actually lost and what lies in store for her in future.

What Is There To Love?
This is my first proper and full on Kim Harrison novel but I was aware going into it that she has a reputation for writing strong, kick-ass female leads but I have to say that I was impressed with the way Peri has been put together as a lead character. She is a strong willed, talented and feisty little firecracker but she also has the soft feminine side that most women have too, the side that wants to find that one man in the world, to be loved and adored. She also has her little character flaws which humanise her and Harrison hasn't been afraid to make the girl very vulnerable at times, making her terrible fearful of what's round the corner at times that it's almost surprising that she's able to function at all, all added together it makes Peri into a complex and dramatically likeable character, one who is easy to root for even if you're confused as hell as to where her story is taking her at times as it take a while for the complicated story line to start falling into place. The Drafter has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster but Harrison does a phenomenal job of weaving all the various threads and ideas together in the end while still leaving a few loose for the next books to play with..
The overall plot of the story is something to admire too as just like Peri it is intense and deep and there is obviously a lot explaining to come in the future with regards to Peri, Silas and their shared pasts. The world-building is great with more scope for a greater expansion as the series progresses going forward and the overall characterisations are wonderfully created and examined by Harrison.

What Is There To Dislike?
There wasn't nothing that really struck me as a problem although after reading Sideswiped I was a little concerned about how useful Drafting and Anchoring could actually be in the real world but it doesn't take long to see the potential of the ability in the 'spy world' and when fighting against criminals and the like so don't worry it does make a lot me more sense in this book than it did in the novella.
Apart from that I did find some of the story a little slow-building but not necessarily in the best way, it was a mosaic of lots of tiny bits of the overall story that didn't always feel like they were entirely going to fit together in a neat and tidy way sometimes, if at all. I would have preferred it if the story had moved with a little more impetus for me personally and maybe had not been quite so 'entangled' as it were.

How's The Writing?
I have to say that I was very impressed with this book overall and I can why Kim Harrison has such a large fan base and why people love her characters and storylines. She has done a lovely job with this story even if I found it a little overly complex compared to what I was expecting but that is just me after all. The world building is great but there is still more room for more detail there and more depth to be discovered as time goes on.
The pacing felt a little slow to me, I felt I needed it to be a little more 'snappy' but that doesn't take away from how good this book really is, it's just personal preference after all and I can say with all honesty that the characters are all just wonderful, from the strong leads, to the secondary and through the background character, each are well created, well rounded and as real and true as you can hope for. Peri is the star of the book and is so carefully crafted that you can't help but be impressed.

Final Thoughts:
I am honestly quite impressed with both the beginning of this series and with the author too after reading both The Drafter and Sideswiped, and seeing as I've had The Hollows series in my collection for some time I really feel I must get on read them now seeing that there is nothing to be afraid of with a new author any longer.
If you're worried that this series may not be for you I would say give it go, it's got great potential for the future of the series and the plot line so far show glimpses of real promise, it's that promise and potential that will bring me back for book 2 and I can't wait for that time to arrive!

Yes, yes, and yes.

This is an urban fantasy with a unique and original time travel twist. Peri is a drafter, which means she can rewrite time in small chunks, but it costs her as she can’t handle having both timelines in her head. She relies on an anchor to help her sort out her memories and cement only the rewritten part into her head, which means she loses the original timeline. Bad side effect: she loses time from before the rewrite as well.

This premise takes a bit to comprehend, but once I understood it, the story was slightly easier to follow. I say slightly because there is so much corruption and wondering who is the bad guy, and who is the good guy pretending to be bad, and who is the bad guy pretending to be good. It’s seriously convoluted in the best possible way, making it almost impossible to guess what was coming next.

This was a very fast paced, feels like an action movie read. It was exciting and thrilling, and I want to dive right back into another adventure.

Talk about some twists and turns! THE DRAFTER is a great mix of scifi and thriller, and with each chapter a new depth and twist to the story was unveiled. Every time I thought I had things figured out, the rug was pulled out from under me. It made for an incredibly intense read that bordered on stressful to be honest. If I only had one word to describe this book, nail-biter would be the one that comes to mind. Once things took off I couldn't put it down. Frankly, I was a nervous wreck while reading the last half of this book, but in the best sort of way. I couldn't have put it down if I tried.

One thing I do wish is that I had read the prequel novella. It seems like it's more of a integral read to the series than I originally thought. I have to admit that the beginning of this book was a bit slow for me as I felt like I was scrambling to keep up and figure out what was going on. But after reading the description and the reviews for Sideswiped I think a lot of my early confusion wouldn't have happened. THE DRAFTER has a lot of world building, which is to be expected in a new series, especially a futuristic scifi thriller like this one. However when you add that heavy world building with the very secretive side of the thriller parts of the story, it just kept me from really sinking into the book quite as much as I had wanted to. Of course, things do pick up almost to a frenetic pace once more things are revealed, I just wish I had the prequel's knowledge to have balanced out the pacing overall.

All in all, THE DRAFTER is one heck of a nail-biting intense ride of a book. World building pacing and confusion aside that should be alleviated by reading the prequel, this is an utterly fantastic read that is sure to please fans of an intense read.

What a mess, a heroine who is supposed to be a super soldier and yet keeps getting captured. This entire book is this character who everyone is afraid of but in all honesty comes across as an incompetent nitwit. It was a slug fest getting through this novel.

Quick and dirty-Twisted Betrayals, Stolen Time and Forgotten Love all wrapped up in a tornado.
Did I love it ? No. Was I glued to the pages, yes. Will I re-read it, yes. This was a book with a lot going on in a very small world. Perhaps too small, so centered on Peri the main character. I didn't get a chance to know any of the other characters, it was very centered on the one girl. She was the eye of the storm. Dang she had more than enough messed up issues going on to carry three books but I wanted to know more on the others that blew into her sphere of timelines gone funky. Even if the story focused on her we still did't get any real knowledge of her or did we ? I just read 400 plus pages about Peri and i don't know a thing about her I don't think. It's all so confusing, nothing was solid. Did I just Draft ? Ha ! I need book 2, NEED I have to figure some of this stuff out. Ms. Harrison left everything hanging over the bottomless cliff. CLIFFHANGER
I think this would be an excellent audiobook I think I listen to it for my second reading

The Drafter by Kim Harrison is the first novel in the series The Peri Reed Chronicles. Peri Reed is a Drafter agent at a government-sanctioned organization, Opti, which completes secret special operations. The unique ability of the highly trained Drafter- Anchor pairs revolves around a Drafter’s ability to manipulate small sequences of time to adjust for any mistakes that are made during an op. Peri Reed has been working with her Anchor for three years completing their tasks successfully and basking in the glory of their successes. During one op, secrets about Opti and her Anchor are revealed, leaving Peri with the nagging pull of her intuition telling her that something is amiss even while she has no direct memory of the night and must rely on her Anchor. Drafters forget any changes in time that they make and must rely on their Anchor to supply them with the sequence of events. As events quickly spiral out of Peri’s control, she must try to figure out who she can trust as Opti and the Alliance, trying to bring Opti down, attempt to manipulate her.

I loved this novel. I had read the novella prequel to this first novel, which definitely changed how I approached the story. First, I didn’t need to spend additional energy trying to decipher how the time drafts work. This might take some time if this novel is the first time the reader is introduced to the mechanisms in place in this world. Another impact was that the novella included some of the same characters. I had met some of the characters in the novella, which is years before The Drafter and so it was fun to figure out what might have happened in that intervening time for the situation to be the way that it is in this novel.

Regardless, this novel is exciting! I could not stop listening to it. The characters are fun and believable for the most part, the plot is fast paced and winding. It’s got that maddening effect when the reader knows more than the characters and this just makes the reader groan and want to shout at the book. Throughout the novel, my heart ached for Peri. And I did not expect the end and even as it was happening I was thinking of what other explanation their might be. Finally, everything is neatly tied up at the end with no loopholes, but leaves the reader thirsting for what happens next with Peri Reed.

The narration by January LaVoy was much improved from the novella. However, one character had a nasally irritating voice that was unchanged, but in this novel it fit his character more. She did a great job with all of the characters in general. The production quality was good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes strong female characters, time travel stories, and stories involving government agencies. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.

Please find this complete review and many others at my review blog

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I very much enjoyed this novel. In fact, I lost a ton of sleep one night because I just couldn't put it down and go to bed like a sane person. I HAD TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN. Praise doesn't get much high than that, right?

The concepts that Harrison plays with here - the ability to re-write time, sense of self, friendships and reliabilty, are fairly heavy ones, but this felt more like an action flick to me, so those concepts and ideas are touched with a light hand - even when they are central to Peri's development and understanding of what is going on. I found this to be a fun, easy read, I I'm looking forward to what follows in this series.

I fell in love with this author reading The Hollows series. Peri Reed caught my eye with the mini-short on the author's blog, which was the old Hollows characters saying goodbye and meeting the Peri Reed crew in the Commons. The story line *really* caught my interest in the prequel, "Sideswept". I thought I knew where the story was going. I was wrong.

Every time I thought I saw which way the book was going, I found myself in a roundabout, never knowing where I was going to come out. Excellent story. Very fast paced. Excellent world building. Outstanding characters. I am chomping at the bit to read the next in series (and kind of sad there are only four scheduled for this series).

One minor nitpick, and it's more an editing one since the editors should have caught it, the word ya'll was used in the book. The character was supposed to be a Southerner. Ahem. Every Southerner reading that word immediately knew it was a northerner pretending to be a Southerner. The correct way to write it is, y'all, short of course, for "you all". Write it any other way, and We know (tiaw).

This was so bad I'm not quite sure where to start.

Everyone (with the exception of Taff), including the main character, alternates between good guy and bad guy . . . ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BOOK. Not kidding, this REALLY sucks.

Facts are mutable. What is set is stone isn't. Not kidding, this REALLY sucks. After the fifth or sixth time I wanted to bang my head on the wall.

The book is WAY too long for the story trying to be told. It could be half the length and it would be a better book but the book's so bad that's not saying much.

The ending sucks. REALLY sucks.

I paid 99 cents for the kindle version and that was about what it was worth . . . maybe.

If you get the audiobook (sadly, I did), the narration is good. Now if the quality of the story was anywhere near the quality of the narration . . . sadly . . . no.

A new series by one of my favorite authors, Ms. Harrison introduces us to intriguing characters, a complex world set in the future and a covert government operation that seems untouchable, yet a group of renegades plan to shut them down.

Peri Reed is a drafter, a highly trained operative who can change the future by hopping back in time a few seconds or minutes to rewrite history. The drawback is that she is unable to remember and so all drafters are assigned an anchor who fills in the blanks. She loves her job and the adrenaline she gets from performing her duties; she also loves Jack, her anchor, but when things start to fall apart she does not know who to trust.

Silas works for Alliance, a group of former Opti members who have their own agenda. They want to extract Peri from the Opti world to find out what she knows. Unfortunately things get so convoluted that it is hard for Peri to know who the good guys are and who is working against her, therefore she hampers Alliance’s progress, causing chaos, more drafting with memory loss and some missing key years of her life.

Oh what a crazy ride from beginning to end, this is the first in a trilogy from this amazing author and as you read to the end, this is something you will need to recite over and over again, because the ending leaves you with many unanswered questions as you weave through the twists, turns and betrayals. That being said, Ms. Harrison is a superb writer and leaves you wanting more.

Peri is a kickass heroine who I liked immediately; she seems to know what she wants in the beginning, enjoying her work, her anchor Jack and the perks she gets for getting paid well as she enjoys fast cars and expensive clothes. Unfortunately things unravel fast and she is hit with betrayal and lies. When she drafts, she loses her memories and others must rewrite them for her, yet they can do whatever they want creating the life of lies she is living. Throughout the book she must also face some truths, is she as corrupt and dirty as everyone else or is everything a façade, I felt so sorry for her at times, people manipulating her from the beginning, however I have found in this story that things are rarely as they seem.

Silas is a wonderful hero, but is he really? I still am unsure about what else he knows about Peri and if they have some past together. Ms. Harrison makes it seem like he is the good guy but things happen and Peri again becomes the pawn in everyone’s game. I also believe they have some feelings for each other, but there are so many twists that I am not sure what is real by the end.

Secondary characters play huge roles, there are Alliance members who seem to want to help Peri such as Tif and Howard, they are fun together and I like their personalities and how they treat Peri. Another is Allen, he is an enigma and I am not sure what to believe with him, and what of Jack? And then there are a host of others that come and go, both good and evil, but do we really know who to believe?

There are so many pieces and parts in this story, many time shifts and changes that it is hard to keep up, I did find that very frustrating at times, yet I must remember that this is only the beginning, I truly believe that the author will takes us on this wild ride but deliver us to a satisfying ending. Also good to note is that the book is not a true romance, yet there are romantic elements intertwined throughout and a hint of something to come? A great beginning to an intriguing story that will have me anxiously waiting until the next book is out.

Review also at Ramblings from a Chaotic Mind

Copy from the publisher for an honest review

I purchased this book from another retailer.

Like many other readers, I am a huge fan of Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series and was terribly sad when it ended. When I found out she was starting a new series I was intrigued, but unsure if I was going to check it out – mostly because I wasn’t sure if it was up my alley. Based on what I’d heard about it, it sounded a bit science fictiony, and while there’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not a genre I typically enjoy reading. But I finally picked it up and ultimately I’m glad I did.

Peri Reed is not Rachel Morgan. Some would say this is a given, but it was initially difficult not to compare the two heroines, I think because The Drafter came on the heels of a much beloved series and Rachel is fresh in my mind. But as the book progressed, I was able to set Rachel aside and let Peri stand on her own and she’s pretty kick-ass.

The Drafter does have spots where I asked myself WTH and had to go back and re-read (this isn’t unusual for me—I’m a fast reader and I miss things, especially when the narrative is fast-paced), but ultimately it made perfect sense, given Peri’s own questions as to what’s what and who’s who. I like that I had those questions because it gave me the chance to connect to Peri on an emotional level and really feel her chaotic state of mind. I don’t need an author to spoon feed me information and figuring things out is half the fun of reading anyway.

Given Peri’s constant state of confusion, I also found that Kim Harrison’s decision not to provide a whole lot of character information also made sense. This is a world where everything is topsy-turvy, and nothing makes sense. With Peri as its memory-impaired heroine, we find out information and sift through the disjointed pieces as she does, though I do think this would have been more effective had The Drafter been written in first person.

I view first books in a series kind of like pilot episodes for TV shows. Most of the time they don’t wow me (barring Pushing Daisies, that’s never happened) and I sit through another episode or two to let it settle in and find its footing. Though I don’t think its one of Harrison’s best offerings, The Drafter is a decent start to a new series, and I’m looking forward to discovering where Harrison takes it next.

Bitterly disappointing. Very contrived and even repetitive plot. Shallow and often not very believable characters and personalities. I'm actually angry with myself for forcing myself to complete the book even after it was obviously that it was terrible and showed little sign of improving. I bought the hardback and literally threw it in the recycle bin. Thank God I paid less than $6 shipped for a brand new hardcover copy. That should have warned me.
I loved the Hollow series. If Kim had written this book first, I don't think it would have been published.

An unusual blend of sci-fi, mystery, and romance, this book takes a little bit to get into, but it's worth the effort. When a drafter travels back in time, they lose parts of their memory, and need someone to help them remember what's real so they can forget the future they changed. Peri Reed is strong, and incredibly vulnerable. It kind of reminds me of Memento in that you don't get to understand the full extent of anything until all the pieces are put in place. A great read, can't wait for the sequels!

Fans of Kim Harrison should enjoy it, but will first have to get past how different it is from the Hollows series. Just remember: It's. Not. The Hollows. Completely different genre, different world, different types of characters. And that's a good thing!

The Drafter by Kim Harrison. Book 1 of the Perri Reed Trilogy.
This is a terrific start to a new series. The story is set in the future and deals with memory loss and how it defines a person and the interactions with other people and situations. The central character Perri has to navigate through her life with no clear indication that what she is told are her memories are true and how she copes with the realisation that maybe the people around her have a different agenda and what does this mean for her. Who is she and has her whole life been a lie?
I found the story fascinating and Kim Harrison stated on her website that the story is her commentary on Alzheimer's disease.
This book is a stand alone book and does not end on a Cliffhanger, but it did leave this reader with enough questions about where the story will take us in the next two books.I do look forward to Book 2
There has been a lot of talk that the book is disappointing;
Yes, it is totally different from The Hollows series but take a chance and read this. I gave it 4 Stars.

Drafter is a very different style and type of book from the authors renowned Hollows series. More sci-fi than urban fantasy, the story has all the same captivating writing we experienced in the Hollows. If readers where expecting a similar sort of tale then they will be disappointed, but it is a false disappointment, as the Drafter is an interesting and exciting book. It has intrigue, adventure, betrayal, romance and appealing characters. The total change that Kim Harrison has demonstrated in this book shows us that she is not just a one-horse show. This series promises to be just as good as her previous one and is well worth reading.

When I saw this book advertised as part of a giveaway, I jumped at the opportunity to put my name in the drawing. I never expected that I would win a copy. So I was really looking forward to reading this book. While I was not fully intrigued or invested in the book as a whole in the beginning, I went with it as I was still holding high hopes for it to get better. For a brief moment it did but then it was fleeting. After getting to chapter sixteen which is about almost walf way, I put the book down. I read some other readers thoughts to see what they thought of the book and most liked it. So I might go back and see if the book does get any better but for now, I have moved on to another book.

Kim Harrison is known for her urban fantasy series. The Drafter falls into more sci-fi territory but still features a group of powered or "special" people living among regular humans--in this case, living secret lives and doing secret spy/assassin work.

I was strongly reminded of ACID, a YA read, in that both books feature protagonists facing frequent memory loss/rewriting who help guys rebelling against the big, evil agency; and neither makes smart decisions. If I'm regularly losing large chunks of memory, am I a) blindly accepting whatever people tell me as gospel, or b) documenting everything so I can verify it later and checking out everything (including the science behind my condition and what should/shouldn't happen)? I'll give you one guess which one Peri picks and how it turns out. If she paid half as much attention to the facts and her life as she did fashion, instead of blindly trusting people she doesn't remember meeting, she wouldn't be in half as much trouble. And, while obviously the time-bending girl is special, is there any guy who doesn't want her? Seriously, 90% of the male cast has either slept with her or is dying to do so. Can I get just one guy who couldn't care less whether she lives or dies?

There were so many logic gaps. I wasn't clear on how/why this time stuff worked the way it did, particularly for the people altering time and then forgetting. A number of big decisions made no sense to me, which in turn made the plot feel ridiculous; and, no spoilers, but the ending felt like a deus ex machina combined with a forced plot direction that, again, didn't make sense. All the questions piling up pulled me out of the story and made it very difficult to connect with the characters and their motivations and decisions.

If you're looking for a quick easy read with a bit of romance, a bit of suspense and a bit of science fiction, you'll probably enjoy The Drafter. Just be prepared not to think too hard about anything.

The year is 2030 and Detroit has been reborn. Among it’s many residents there lives a group of secret agents working for a covert government agency. The most elite of Opti’s agents are known as Drafters. Drafters can go back in time to change the outcome of an event. Anchors help to keep them sane. Peri Reed is the best of the best, and when she finds out there is a list of corrupt Opti agents with her name on it, she is determined to find out the truth.
Fantasy writer, Kim Harrison, has branched out into the action thriller category, and I think she’s done really well. This story has themes of love and betrayal, characters who willingly sacrifice everything for the cause, and one heck of a gutsy heroine. Immensely readable, with a few surprises, you’re sure to enjoy this book.

O M G!! I have always loved The Hollows series and I love this series just as much already.

I just finished this book and wish the next one was in my hands already. Kim Harrison has hit it out of the park again.

The characters are well rounded and well written. The story had ups and downs, in and outs that had me wondering where it would go next.

This book should be on everyone's must read list for 2016.

Kim Harrison, an established author has written a series I was very fond of, THE HOLLOWS.This book, THE DRAFTER, was quite a bit different. The writing was very good but I had a little trouble with Peri Reed. I just couldn't like Peri Reed. I guess I got so hooked on THE HOLLOWS series that I'm expecting the same. These are different characters with different traits. I'm not used to third person views. It just felt uncomfortable. That isn't the book, it's me. I think the theme of drafting was different and interesting, although I'm not into time travel much. I believe the character Peri Reed kept being placed back, as though she got the message and she needed to straighten up. Wouldn't it be nice, if all your mistakes could be reset? It might make for some perfect people. After the second time of reading through her being paranoid and mixed up, I didn't want any more. It became boring. I had a hard time getting through the book. It was a struggle. This is just my own personal opinion. I just didn't find it as good as the other books the author has written. There is always Book Two. Might give it a try. Grab a copy and decide what you think? Everybody has their own opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, Kim Harrison and PUYB, in exchange for my unbiased review. No other compensation took place.

I loved Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series and so picked this up despite the negative reviews. Yes, it was a bit of a jump after being used to the fully fleshed out Hollows-world, but it had a good start and I expect the next to be even better. Even Rachel Morgan started out a bit jumpy.

If you loved The Hollows series and are expecting to see duplicates of Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, Trent, Al, etc in The Drafter, then hold that thought. Let it go. Open your mind to Kim Harrison's new world set in 2030 Detroit. This is a bit grittier, the feelings of danger faced a bit more immediate.

This new series' protagonist is Peri Reed. She is a drafter, someone who can go back and change events in time but in doing so, also loses her own memories of what she's changed. She relies on an anchor to rebuild new memories. Not only that but we also have to wonder- is she affiliated with the good guys or the bad guys? Is her whole life a lie or is she being manipulated? It's hard for her to discover and the fast-paced action of this book keeps you guessing. Along the way, we get to know Peri and quite a few other characters better. By the end, I was ready for more!

I read the short story Sideswiped first and though it's a short prequel to this novel, I recommend reading it first. You'll get a better idea of what's going on and get to meet a few key players and understand possible motives.

Pick up Sideswiped and the Drafter- you won't be disappointed!

Love Kim...love the concept...but the prequel was significantly better. The book would have been better shorter. It uses.chase capture escape as its only plot element way way way way too much...gets VERY repetitive...very frustrating and frankly boring in too long stretches. Also, it is generally one gigantic downer...I don't expect that from her books. I expect a mix of heavy with fun and endearing...this pretty much skips all or most of that. I would guess she was going through some heavy personal issues in the writing, and lost her focus...because the book simply isn't up to the quality and polish I expect from her. I would give a new title in the series a try...as I said, loved the prequel...love the ideas...but the plot, the execution need a lot of work

The Peri Reed Chronicles, although previewed in Kim Harrison's short Sideswiped, really don't get going until The Drafter.

In this new world, Drafters can reset time to correct an error. But this leaves them with two "fragments" of time, and would go insane if not for the assistance of their Anchors, whose job is to erase the mistake, and ensure the Drafter remembers the reset.

What happens if your Anchor erases more? or encourages you to do things "In the name of your Country" that aren't - exactly - sanctioned?

You must read The Drafter, and then, like me, wait impatiently for the next book.

The Drafter (2015) is the second volume in the Peri Reed series, following Sideswiped. It is set in Detroit, Michigan about fifteen year from now.

In this novel, Peri Reed is a drafter, She has lost many memories.

Jack is Peri's anchor. He has partially restored some of her memories.

Silas is an anchor. He is also a scientist studying drafters. He had worked for Opti, but is now an agent for the alliance.

In this story, Peri is on a mission within Charlotte, North Carolina. Jack has told her that they are searching computer files for a biological weapon. The company supposedly has created a virus like one used by Opti four years before to wipe out much of Asia.

Jack is having problems finding the file. Peri hears the elevator and becomes anxious. Jack tells her to stay where he can see her.

When the elevator stops on their floor, Peri goes to check it out. It wasn't the watchman that they had expected. He goes into an office and steals a bottle of whiskey.

Peri returns to tell Jack that they have a finder on the floor. Jack finds the file just as the watchman comes into the office. He sees Jack behind the desk, but Peri rises up and hits him.

The CEO comes into his office and tries to bargain with Jack. The list contains a list of corrupted Opti agents. Peri's name is on the list.

The watchman shoots Peri and she drafts. During the draft, she knives the man. When the draft is over, the watchman in dead on the floor. Yet she has forgotten most of the incident.

Meanwhile, Silas is arguing with the other alliance agents. They are trying to take Peri with a team of agents. Silas know that such an effort would only irritate Peri.

This tale reunites Peri and Silas. He is expecting her to have proof of the Opti corruption. She doubts his intentions and motivations.

Peri has the proof he needs, but has forgotten it. The next installment in this sequence has not yet been announced on the store.

Highly recommended for Harrison fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of strange talents, covert operations, and a bit of romance. Read and enjoy!

-Arthur W. Jordin

I’m so glad that I’ve finally read Kim Harrison and am able to see why she is so loved.

The Drafter is the perfect start to a great new series.

After reading Sideswiped, I was confident that I was in for a thoroughly enjoyable ride with The Drafter…and I was so right!

This was a wonderfully paced novel that accomplished everything I could hope for in the start to a new series. The world building was consistent and methodical…slowly building us a picture throughout the tale without feeling like there was any sort of information dump.

The character development was also spectacular…especially considering the fact that so many characters’ backgrounds, motivations, etc are ambiguous or shadowed due to the plot and the nature of drafting. I really loved Peri’s personality. She’s a take no nonsense sort of person stuck in a situation where she is left incredibly vulnerable much of the time. I loved seeing how she reconciled the two.

And the premise itself was incredibly fascinating. I love books with a little bit of a science fiction bend and The Drafter definitely has that. Although never fear it is not to the point that it bogs the pace down at all. Everything was easily explained and understood…it’s really just the implications and possibilities of it all that leaves one’s mind working…

I really enjoyed The Drafter and will definitely keep an eye out for book 2.

This world and these characters have immense potential!

Great Read! This thing that Peri is/does... Drafting in a way is a sad thing. To lose memories and time is violating, your heart goes out to her. But despite all that Peri is a kick ass character that I just love. The Drafter is unique, fast paced and action that keeps you turning the page. I love the futuristic setting. I think fans who loved Harrison's Rachel Morgan series, will love Peri Reed. I wasn't sure at first, but after a couple chapters I was hooked.

What an absolutely amazing story! The Drafter is not in my normal genre of reading, but is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2015!

The Drafter focuses on Peri Reed and Opti agent who can bend time. If you've read Sideswiped (the prequel to Drafter) then you've met Peri before. This book takes place in 2030 in the new Detroit. Things are quite different in the future, and Peri and her anchor Jack have a rough go at their last assignment. When they get back to headquarters, things definitely go wrong for Peri and Jack, and it opens us up to this absolutely amazing story.

This book is a definite mix of suspense and sci-fi, to make a story that I was unable to put down. Peri's character is unique, and I adored her character. She's been through so much, and she doesn't remember most of it. How would it feel to not know who in your life you can trust? That's how Peri feels throughout most of this book. Between forgetting major things in her life, and everyone trying to manipulate her, her life gets pretty crazy and dangerous. Throughout this book, Peri realizes what she has done and who she really is, and isn't at ease with any of it. She's made some bad choices, and since she has no memory, only bits and pieces, she doesn't know if she did things because she wanted to, or because she was trying to help others.

With the Alliance trying to get Peri, and Silas trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong, the suspense of this book is amazing. I was on pins and needles throughout this book trying to figure out who was bad, who was good, and who Peri really was. I did fall in love with Silas all over again (we met him in Sideswiped). His character really is a strong one in this book, and helps balance out a lot of the craziness. You can tell how hard it is for him to see what is going on with Peri, and him trying to help her.

There is a lot in this book that is awesome, but can't be written about for fear of spoiling this story for you. I will tell you that I loved Taf, Howard, and Silas. These three are awesome, and I hope we will get more of them, especially crazy Taf, in future installments of this series. Each main character in this book brought something to the table and weren't there for fluff. I am not a fan of Fran's or Bill's. I don't think either of them are good and one is not better than the other. Allen.... what can I say? I'm not sure how I feel about Allen. I hated him, I liked him, I definitely didn't trust him, but when this book ended, I was left with a feeling of contentment with his character. I'm not sure if I trust him yet, but I look forward to seeing how his story plays out as well.

Even though this book does have a defined ending, there is so many more questions left unanswered that will leave me waiting anxiously for the next book in the Peri Reed Chronicles. There is a bit of romance in this book, but it is not what makes this story. Peri and all her craziness, and figuring out the truth is what makes this story stand out above a lot of other books I've read this year. I am in love with this series and can't wait for more!

I have received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review.

When Kim Harrison’s new urban fantasy series The Peri Reed Chronicles popped up on Edelweiss, it immediately got my attention. It reminded me that Kim Harrison’s name is on the list of authors that were recommended to me numerous times. The fact that The Drafter was advertised as The Bourne Identity meets Minority Report (two of my favorite movies) sealed the deal.

LIKES

* Unusual time traveling ability. Time travel is popular plot device and a lot of novels (and movies) use it. Kim Harrison managed to make it unique, new and interesting.
Peri Reed can not really travel trough time in the usual sense. She can’t stop Kennedy’s assassination. Peri is a drafter: that means she can go back in time just a little bit, a minute at most, and change the events that happened then.
Catch-22 is that Peri won’t remember an original timeline anymore. Sometimes even bigger time periods get erased from Peri’s memory.

* Action. The Drafter is intense thrill ride. Something is always happening and you never know when the shooting is going to start.

* Intrigue. Spies, double agents and conspiracies… Until the very end I was not sure what is the truth and what is a lie. Peri Reed will often ask herself who to trust and question everything she believes in. In other books I can often guess which direction to plot is going to take, but in The Drafter I had no clue.

* Unreliable narration. Peri does not remember of all of her past. She learned to live with that fact, but I am usually suspicious when I read thrillers, so all she said I took with a grain of salt.

DISLIKES

* A bit shallow in character development. The Drafter is not too deep (like action packed movies). I felt that most of the characters had deeper layers that were unexplored. Hopefully, the sequels will let me learn more about them.

* Too much action. This is one of my weird quirks. I think I am the only person in the world who falls asleep every time during massacre scene in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. What can I say – too many fight scenes without pause make me bored.

IN THE END…

For once the advertisement did not lie, The Drafter is a delicious mix of action, intrigue and suspense that will make you say “Just another chapter” until the ending.

Although it didn’t end in cliffhanger, a lot of big issues are unresolved, so I can’t wait for the sequel. And in the meantime I might finally check out another Kim Harrison novel. What is your recommendation, where to start?

Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I cannot say this enough, read Sideswiped BEFORE you read The Drafter! Sideswiped is not a side story, it introduces the world and characters. I would have been a little lost in the character development and connections if I skipped it.

5 TIME TRAVEL

There’s not a Taris (sorry Dr Who fans) or kilts (sorry Outlander fans) but there are drafters and anchors. What the heck are drafters and anchors? Drafters are people with the ability to shift time. They can change a timeline by rewinding time by a few seconds or minutes. But the longer they draft the more of their memory is lost. Anchors work with drafters. They repair a drafter’s memory after they shift time, filling in their memories. Drafter must trust their anchors in order for their relationship (working or otherwise) to work.

4 PERI AND SILAS

Peri is a strong female character, that’s likable and relatable and I rooted for the whole time. She likes the finer things in life, like fashionable clothes, expensive cars but she’s no stranger to weapons. She favors a knife over a gun and she’s kick-ass with just her hands and feet. She’s head strong and likes to call the shots. She HATES being lied to and she only kills someone if they kill her first. And she does all of this with her 5’4″ stature.

Silas is seen as a lab rat since he’s a doctor. But he’s hulking frame is intimidating to a lot of people. While Silas is not a field agent like Peri, he can hold his own. He is a mystery to Pier and to this reader. He’s hiding things but he can be trusted. I believe he’s the real deal, the good guy. And the possible love interest for Peri before the series is over.

3 SCI-FI THAT NON-SCI-FI READERS CAN ENJOY

The Drafter is set in Detroit 2030 but that’s only 15 years from now. Sure there’s advanced technology but nothing too out there that I couldn’t picture us having in 5, 10 or 15 years. Much of it is model after things we already have but the next, next generation of that.
There’s not a lot of sci-fi terminology so don’t let that put you off if you’re not into SCI-FI. I really felt like I was reading an UF book with futuristic elements.

2 PLOT TWISTS

I’m pretty good at guessing early in a book what will happen and I’m 9 out of 10 times correct. But The Drafter keep me guessing. Just when I thought I had it figured out something would change or new information was shared that sent me back to the “drawing board”. After a while I stopped trying to figure it out and just enjoyed the ride. What a ride The Drafter was.

1 KIM HARRISON WROTE!

Need I say more?! No, it’s not The Hollows. Is it written as well? YES.

4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Francesca and posted at Under The Covers Book Blog

I shouldn’t be surprised that this new series by Kim Harrison is amazing. I mean, she created a world that I couldn’t get enough of as much as I disliked some of the paths she took in the Hollows. And she’s done it again! The Peri Reed Chronicles is a breath of fresh air! Packed full of non-stop action and many twists, all wrapped around a set of characters that I immediately fell in love with. Yeah, I’m hooked, again.

For fans of the Hollows like me, don’t go into this expecting that. THE DRAFTER is much different and completely unique. What you can be assured of is that the attention to detail in the world building that Ms. Harrison delivers here is outstanding! I do recommend reading the prequel so that you familiarize yourself with the world a bit better. I think that helped me jump right in understanding what was going on.

Peri Reed is the heroine of this series and the center of attention. She’s a drafter, meaning she can manipulate time to draft back. Her talents are being used by a government organization that may or may not be corrupt. After a draft, she loses memories that she can’t recover without an anchor. She now finds herself missing 3 years of memories and not knowing if she’s one of the good or the bad guys, and not knowing who to trust. What an exciting ride to be on with her this was!

Things are just never what they seem. I haven’t made my final decision on who to trust myself. We get to see Silas’ POV a few times and maybe that’s why I’m leaning towards trusting him. He’s definitely the type of hero I like to read about, and we first met him narrating the prequel SIDESWIPED. So I have a soft spot for him already!

There’s no shortage of hot alpha males, lies and betrayal. And even though she’s in such a vulnerable state, Peri is still determined to move forward and uncover the truth. You gotta love a heroine that can do that and I foresee Peri becoming a favorite of mine.

Just when you thought this book was going to end one way, at the very second things turn in a different direction. And that direction just leaves me itching for the next book.

If you’re a fan of the Hollows and you’re debating whether to pick up this very different kind of book from Kim Harrison, let me make it easy for you: do it. Of course, this recommendation isn’t only for fans of Rachel Morgan, but I have to admit that after loving those books so much, for so long, I was worried that I wouldn’t enjoy Harrison making such a big departure from Urban Fantasy. Instead of disappointment, this book left me feeling excited about the next installment and finally broke me free of an ongoing reading slump.

Before you start, there are a few things you need to know. Number One: I’ve seen this billed as a suspense/ thriller, but for me the futuristic/ sci-fi elements were bigger. The story is set in an alternative world Detroit in the year 2030. Our heroine can manipulate time. Two: There are romantic elements, but this is not a romance. Don’t expect an HEA. Which leads me to Number Three: Though this book has a clearly defined ending, this is only the first part of a trilogy. There are questions left unanswered and things left unclear. Get ready to burn for the sequel.

Peri, our heroine, is a drafter. She is highly trained as a covert government operative, who has the added juice of being able to skip back in time when a mission goes bad. She can’t go back far, just a minute or two. But it’s enough to make all the difference between success and failure. As cool as it is, the ability also has serious consequences. Living through two timelines can ravage the mind, and drafters need the help of an “anchor” to reconcile the events in their minds… and even then, sometimes memories are lost. But as the story begins, Peri believes what she’s doing is worth the sacrifice –and she couldn’t be more in love with her anchor, Jack.

Over the course of the book, Peri has to face some uncomfortable truths about what she does and who she does it for. And it’s made so much more difficult because she is missing her own memories and she doesn’t know who she can trust. Kim Harrison does so many things right here. I really felt Peri’s internal conflict. I believed in this crazy world she lives in and I was shaken right along with her every time Harrison dropped a new bomb in her lap.

There were so many parts where I didn’t know what to think –or who to believe. That could be frustrating at times, and even after reaching the end, I still don’t know what to make of some characters (yes, Allen, I am talking to you.) But then I remind myself that there are still two books to go. If everything tied up in a bow, what would be left to uncover? That Harrison leaves me wanting more means she did her job well.

So much happens here. It’s complex and dense, but I never wanted to put it down. The secondary characters are well drawn and compelling. I want to know everything about Silas. I want to see the connection he built with Peri play out. Heck, even the villains are fascinating and in some cases, alluring. Not that we know who all the villains are. That’s part of the mystery.

Bottom line: this book is fresh, original, engaging, fast, and just plain fabulous. I really kind of loved it.

Rating: A-/B+

It's been three years since I read a Kim Harrison book but now that I have read The Drafter, the first in a new series, I'm reminded again why I like her books so much. This book totally blew my mind. I loved it!

This story revolves around Peri. She is a drafter, she has the ability to alter time. The only drawback is that she forgets whatever it is she changed. When she gets betrayed by the organization she works with and the man she loves her, she is forced to go on the run, leaving her world forever changed.

I've always thought this author writes very interesting female characters. Strong yet they have a vulnerable side to them as well. Peri was no exception. I loved that she could kick some serious butt, even men who are twice her size but there was also her softer side with not knowing what was going on and forgetting important things whenever she drafted.

I was really impressed with how the author build up this world. It was extremely well written, in my opnion. The story takes place in Detroit 2030. It's 15 years into the future but I can totally see some of the futuristic things that were in this book happening eventually.

Although the story is mainly about Peri, there were a bunch of side fascinating side characters as well. Silas, being one of them. Actually, he also has a POV in the book. I loved reading about him and especially his interaction with Peri.

The thing with this book is, you don't quite know who the villains are and who the good guys are. Much like Peri in the book, you just can't know for sure. The lines are very blurred but I loved how suspenseful it all was. And I also have to mention that I although this book is 432 pages, I read it really fast.

Overall, The Drafter was a fantastic book. It was so good that I could hardly stop reading. My expectations were definitely met and even more than that! If you're looking for a fast-paced, futuristic, suspenseful read with a hint of time travel, you definitely need to read this book. Highly recommended!

My goodness!
This book is amazing!
Kim Harrison does it again!
Creating a world where kick ass women are the shapers of the future is something only she can do without being too obvious about it, she makes them human and relatable. With all the human pitfalls and flaws that just let's you fall in love with her characters all the more.

I also did a Booktube Review on it if you want to go watch it!
*Spoiler Free* of course!

https://youtu.be/XJHBL0wgJHo

First off for anyone whi is a fan of Ms Harrison's books before you start this you should know it is more of a Sci-fi book not paranormal romance.

I loved the Hallows books by Ms Harrison. And miss the series. So I of course really wanted to love Peri. But I don't not only not love it but I can't even say that I like the book. I bought this book and Sideswiped at the same time. I've read both so I've given the series a good chance but I wont be reading any more. And here is why .... The over all story is boring ! The characters are annoying, shallow and rather lame. I couldn't find a single one that I liked or even remotely cared to know what happens to them. What was really annoying was the never ending repeating of how everyone is in awe of and desires Glass technology because it's the 'it' thing yet at the same time it's repeated over and over that it doesn't work all that well. So basically everyone wants to be rich enough or important enough to be able to own a fancy looking piece of junk. Yeah that doesn't make these people sound stupid at all. Another thing that annoyed me was how Silas looked down on here for wanting the finer things in life yet he goes around in expensive clothes and Glass technology items. Can anyone say hypocrite? What was the most annoying part of the story was the time crap. First this happened then that happens, then this was changed so it didn't happen??? This book could lead a person to drinking trying to figure it all out. Don't get me started on labeling the good/bad guys. It got to the point where I just didn't care who did what and why because I wasn't really sure what it was they did to begin with. I would not recommend reading this at all !!!!

In short this series is just not for me. I don't like ANYTHING about it. Sad

L

I really enjoyed the beginning to this new series by the awesome Kim Harrison! Harrison did a great job of building this new world. The story took me on a fast thrill ride with tons of drops and turns. I had to catch my breath several times and my predictions changed with each chapter. I can't wait for the next book to find out what happens next in the world of drafters, anchors, and crooked operatives.

The first thing I have to say is this is not The Hollows. It is a new world and new characters. I like everyone else miss Rachel and the gang. But this new world is interesting too. I'm not as big a fan of Peri as I am of Rachel but I like the idea. What would any of us do if we were in this position? How would we feel? I really liked the book and am wondering where it goes from here? What happens next? Does Peri ever remember what all has happened to her? I want to know more about Sila and Peri and what lead up to her going in to take them down. I read Sideswiped too and was interested in the idea. I love Kim Harrison and her writing. I'm eager to see what comes next. I want to know more about the time between Sideswiped and The Drafter.

The Drafter is book one in The Peri Reed Chronicles series. I've been a fan of KHarrison for quite awhile now, and had to pick up the new series since her Rachel Morgan series came to an end last year. I haven't read the novella that takes place before this book, though I've heard it takes place 5 years before book one and the main character is different.

Peri Reed is a drafter, she's able to rewind a tiny bit of current time and change it how she deems fit. It's not all fun and games with this power though. When Peri drafts, she loses bits of her recent memory and relies on her anchor to rebuild those memories. The longer she drafts, the longer the memories that go missing. When the book opens, her anchor is her lover/boyfriend, Jack Twill. They're on a mission which goes a bit awry and Peri finds out that Opti, the government company she works for has corrupt agents that are doing unsanctioned jobs for the highest bidder. Her name is on that list, and she knows that even with missing memories, she can't be a corrupt agent. Her mission from that point forward is to clear her name and survive.

I liked that it wasn't just about the Opti agents in the book. There are also members of the Alliance that are set on taking Opti down. It added a bit more drama while reading and a ton of twists and turns that leads Peri along her journey. The Alliance's goal is to expose there are rogue drafters and/or anchors in the corporation. All they need is a list of the corrupt agents and they'd do anything to get their hands on it.

The Drafter is a promising start to a new series that I couldn't put down. I recommend it to anyone that likes slightly futuristic reads with strong female leads. Oh and if you like a book with people trying to take down the government that's a plus too.

This book is different than the Hollows. It takes a while to know what is going on. Sort of like coming in the middle of a movie. By the end , I had figgered out the story and was ready for the next book to see what was going to happen with Peri. Bad news is Kim blogged there may not be another book due to poor sales.

If you're looking for another chapter of The Hollows, you might be disappointed! But DON'T STOP READING! This book is outstanding as its own universe. Peri Reed is a wonderful protagonist - very believable, and very human. Bill is the perfect antagonist - you don't completely hate him, but you surely wouldn't want him for your boss! The writing is excellent and the story flows smoothly with no jarring moments. A must read!

I checked The Drafter out from my local library. This book had so many twists and turns, by the time I was three-quarters through the book, I was tempted to call it quits. But, I persevered, and I'm glad I did. The reading can be frustrating on this one-- cross, double-cross. Who can be trusted and who's the bad guy. The lines got so blurred, it was impossible to tell. I will say, a satisfactory ending, and I'm glad I stuck with it. I will read the next one, because I like the main character, Peri.

If your boyfriend is a bad dude, and you like bad men in general, does that make you a bad person? You'd think that a futuristic spy novel could come up with a better premise than that, but "good woman in love with a bad man" is about as thought-provoking as it gets in this lame thriller.

I like science fiction and urban fantasy, so I was excited when I heard good things about this novel. Unfortunately, it was a stale ripoff of every thriller and near-future science fiction cliche you can think of. Most of the science fiction elements - fancy electric cars, facial recognition software, etc. - were so much window dressing.

Every scene was pretty much the same - Peri, the time-erasing protagonist, vaults into a room, hits some guy with a gun and knocks it out of his hand, then points said gun at the guy. They have a heated argument with their jaws clenched - and their jaws clench a lot. Some stomachs clench, faces clench, a heart clenches, but mostly it's the jaws - the phrase "her jaw clenched" or "his jaw clenched" appears on nearly every single page. No, I'm not exaggerating - sometimes, multiple jaws clench on any given page. They sometimes clench a few sentences apart (the record, at least while I was counting, was three sentences from one clench to the next). There's nothing wrong with a good jaw clench, but that phrase is used literally hundreds of times.

That's pretty much it for this book - heated arguments with jaws clenched while people point guns at each other. And if you think I'm exaggerating, there's a scene about two thirds of the way into the book where two guys, Silas and Allen (who are sort of friends, but may or may not be on the same side) are having a heated, clenching argument. Silas is angry and pulls a gun on Allen - Silas is angry with Allen for a variety of reasons, but mostly because Peri pulled a gun on him earlier. "If she didn't shoot you the first second she saw you, she wasn't going to," says Allen. Silas replies "This isn't about her pointing a gun at me... You think she's never done that before?" In other words, they're having a gun-toting argument about previous gun-toting argument, and Silas's defense is that they've had so many gun-toting arguments that he's no longer phased by them. It also illustrates the point that Peri is constantly pointing guns at people, most of whom (like Allen) are aware that despite all the jaw clenching and gun toting, Peri rarely intends to actually shoot anyone, and they all know it. Almost every scene in the book is just angry, pointless posturing.

I also didn't like Peri as a character. Her constant waffling over "bad men" was tiresome. She's also probably the worst "Mary Sue" I've ever encountered in fiction. Despite the constant gun-pointing and jaw-clenching anger, almost every man in the book was in love with her. People she just met suddenly dropped everything in their lives to help her. When she wasn't actively in a scene, the people involved usually just talked about Peri, how awesome she was, and argued about who was really cared about her the most. If there's a Mary Sue reverse-Bechdel test, this novel failed miserably.

Is there a redeeming feature of this book? Well, the initial premise was interesting- the idea that a select group of people have the ability to rewrite time, & then used that ability to be secret agents. If you like the premise of rewriting time, I'd highly suggest "All You Need is Kill" (which was made into the movie alternately known as "Live. Die. Repeat" and "Edge of Tomorrow"). And the movie "Memento" already covered a lot of this ground. There's just nothing original or interesting enough in the book to overcome its many jaw-clinching flaws.

Very much enjoyed the story! It has an unique story line I've not read before and that's saying a lot since I soak up books like a sponge. I like it when a book has POVs from other characters in the story and while there's not a not of that, there's enough to keep me happy. It's definitely worth a read. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

Because I have given many a 4 star rating to books in The Hollows series, I must rate this book as a 3. Although Peri Reed is an interesting main character, she is no Rachel Morgan. The Drafter reminds me of a pilot episode of a new television show: introducing characters and setting usually leaves not a lot of room for plot. This book has possibilities and will probably be an amazing series, but there was just not enough plot to anchor it firmly in place.

I am one of the rare individuals who could not get into the Rachel Morgan stories. Maybe it was my mood or the cycle of the moon or bad karma but I just was shocked that I didn't like those books. Imagine my surprise when I liked The Drafter! This book is about time shifting, memory and corruption.

Harrison did a very good character portrayal in Peri Reed. The unrealistic time shifting or drafting was balanced out by the very realistic feelings portrayed by Peri Reed. My favorite character was Taf. It was interesting to see the relationship with her mother. Howard also was an interesting character. His loyalty and guts contradicted his initial or perhaps secondary description.

There is action and intrigue and some confusion regarding just who are the "bad" guys.

I enjoyed the book.

You know I was really bummed to see the end of the Hollows series and having to say goodbye to Rachel and all ofthe gang so I was a bit hesitant at first to pick up this book since it's completely different but I am so glad I did! Peri Reed didn't suck me in at first,I'd describe it as a slow burn that hooks you in and leaves you eanting more. Her story is so completely different from anything I have read and it was really refreshing considering I read all the time and pretty stick with the same genres. Please be open minded when you crack open this book,no it's not Rachel and Trent but Peri has her own story to tell that is completely unique and sucks you in. I can't wait for the rest of her story! Thanks for another first book in a new series Kim Harrison. :-) I am forever a faithful reader!

Listened to this on audible. Excellent performance!
Wow that was an exhaustive story omg what an ordeal. This book was fast paced & filled with twists. It's told by The Doctor & Reed's POV. It truly an entertaining read. I would recommend it. I will be continuing the Drafter series. Five stars I would award more if I could.

This is a tricky review to put into words. It’s not that I didn’t like the book, it’s just that I didn’t really like it all that much either. I found the concept to be interesting but it also felt . . . not real. One of the things I look for in a fantasy or paranormal genre is the ability of the author to create a world that I can get lost in and believe that it actually exists. The Drafter world felt very isolated. The only part of world that exists is where the characters are at, and even then the characters are completely wrapped up in their own world and had nearly zero interaction with anyone outside their group. Overall, the world building felt very shallow. I just wasn’t able to get caught up in The Drafter. I slowly read it over a 2 week period, reading other books in between.

I did get my husband to read The Drafter since he has always enjoyed the fantasy, sci-fi genres. He read the book in a single weekend and seemed to enjoy it more than I did. There was something he said while we were discussing the book that I agree with 100%. He said “I would be interested to read the sequel, but it’s not a title where I would be anticipating it’s release.” This pretty much sums up my thoughts on The Drafter perfectly. I found The Drafter to be interesting and I am curious as to what happens next but I won’t be counting down the days to read more.

Even though other reviews made it sound like there were too many characters to keep track of I did not have a problem. There are a lot of characters but they seem to all mesh somehow for me. It was a fun book with time a travel twist, sort of a lot "groundhog" day type moments but so much more.
I did not read the short story that was an intro to the series first as other reviewers recommended however I am interested enough now that I plan to read it too. It may help some readers to start with the short story to get into this unique world where people have the power to rewrite events.

The book was a fun read and not the same as the other PRN books on the market. The only thing that did get annoying a few times and I found myself skimming a little was when Peri "re-lived" a time period she had forgot.

I do recommend this book. I think that we'd all like to borrow Peri's power to rewrite events in our own lives or in the world.

I knew going into this that the book would be quirky and different than Harrison's Hallows series. I can understand why some authors use different pen names after reading some of these other reviews. People see the author's name, and seem to expect it to be like the rest of her work. I think I didn't have as much of an issue because I'd also read her YA trilogy. So I didn't have as many expectations for another Rachel Morgan. What I did get were some twisty conspiracies, a quirky heroine with a bad memory who knits (YAY!), and some great world-building.

The first thing I'd like to say is: I strongly recommend reading Sideswiped first. It gives you a back story, and a little insight to the characters, and what drafting is. It's a short story, so it won't take long, but it'll make The Drafted much easier to follow. It's thought provoking, and forces you to pay attention.
Secondly: if you're a fan of The Hollows (like me), don't go into this book thinking it'll be anything like that, because it isn't. At all. This is a completely different feel; totally unique. If you go into it with a Hollows mindset you'll be disappointed, so just don't. Give it a chance.
I really loved this book, and read it within about two days. Did not want to put it down.

The Drafter is the first book in author Kim Harrison’s science fiction series, The Peri Reed Chronicles. I suggest you read the novella Sideswiped as an introduction to the characters and world. I’m glad I read Sideswiped because if I would have been lost with The Drafter. The book has a slow beginning but midpoint it picks up with exciting action. Overall I thought The Drafter was good but it could have been better.

The Peri Reed Chronicles is a world filled with time travelers (called drafters) working for the secret government agency Opti. Peri Reed was the youngest time traveler to be discovered thus being Opti’s favorite drafter. But with each draft (aka travel in time) some memories are lost therefore they need to rely on their anchor, a partner that can guide them back from a draft. This story is a mix of The Bourne Identity movie with a kick-ass female agent. I loved Peri, the action and the mystery of the story. I just wished there was more in the beginning of the book to draw me in.

The Drafter is the first book I’ve read from author Kim Harrison. I do like her creativity and the characters. There are more books to come for this series and depending on the reviews I might read them. Since The Drafter was the set up for this world I’m hoping the next book would jump right in to the story and action.

I received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review. Visit XOXOAfterDark.com for the best in romance, urban fantasy and women’s fiction.

I love Kim Harrison and was not disappointed in this book. This is nothing like her Hollows series and is an excellent addition to anyone's sci-fi collection. The book is full of twists and turns that the reader has to take in stride with the main character, and just like Peri Reed, we're never quite sure what is what. The emotions in this book are captured perfectly and one can't help but sympathize with both Peri and Silas as they try to accomplish their mission. I definitely recommend this book and am waiting not so patiently for the rest of the series.

I'm not going to give a review as there are plenty. What I will suggest is read the short story first as it adds to this terrific tale. Very different than The Hollows, but it has the makings of being something much better.

I hadn't planned on reading this book. The summary just held no interest to me. I was needing a new book to read and wasn't eager to play chance with a new author this week, so I played chance with the short story. It was good enough to have me curious, which lead me to purchasing this. I'm glad that I did.

A book that is leaving room for mystery and possibility the entire time verses the telltale storyline of so many that are in print today is such a delicious surprise. Thank you, KH, for keeping me guessing. I look forward to seeing where this goes. Though if you take it back to yhe short, I'll have to laugh and shake my fist at you. Stay imaginative!

Kim Harrison is an excellent author. I have all of The Hollows books. This book is well written and by most standards would be considered an excellent UF story. I just went through all stages of a relationship with Peri. First I got to know her. Then I adored her. But then she negated all of my expectations. Thus I grew to despise her. Finally I was left feeling nothing at all for her. So much so that after listening to 14 of the 16 hour CD, I couldn't even muster the energy to put the next disc in. Sorry.

This review is for the Audible version of this book.

I'm a major Kim Harrison fan and I miss Rachel Morgan more than I can say. It pains me to write this review.

The problem with writing from Peri's perspective is that the book starts over every single time her memory gets re-written. No doubt the story continues to progress behind the scens with Silas, Allen, Taff, Bill, etc. but we don't get to hear about that. I was so sick of hearing her say, "I won't forget this," and then in the next chapter - you guessed it - Peri forgets! The book goes in a never-ending circle of discovering Opti's betrayal, escaping, being caught, and forgetting, to start all over again.

Peri whines quite a lot and gets carried, drugged, cajoled, taken shopping and comforted far more than I would like. There is an endless supply of panel vans. Everyone tells Peri how awesome she is. We meet no other drafters so this may indeed be true.

January LaVoy is as wonderful as Peri is supposed to be. Her characters are varied and natural and she brings a lot of life to an otherwise disappointing book.

I think the book would be really good if Ms. Harrison wrote it from the perspective of one of the other characters and treated Peri like the chess piece she is. Silas, or even Allen, have the continuity of story and the continued management of Peri's growing awareness that would make for a suspenseful story with a beginning, middle and end.

Until she makes that change, don't waste your credit.

I. Want. More. Peri! This is a completely different book than The Hollows but it is still written by a great author with incredible insight to characters! I feel just as confused as Peri but I know something Peri doesn't - Ms. Harrison has a plan! I know Kim Harrison has this story planned out and, even though not everything goes according to that original plan, the story continues in a natural and fluid manner. I don't know what's coming but I can't wait to see what's next!!!

I loved the new world Kim is creating. It is a big departure from The Hollows series but it is still very good. If you are a fan of Kim Harrison you owe it to yourself to get his book. It is a good mix of Sci-fi and Fantasy.

This book was great. Kim Harrison doe's great world building in her stories. To be honest, like many others, I probably wouldn't have chose this genre (spy story) but because I loved the Hollows Series I gave it a chance and it was well worth it! I do hope we get to see the second book in the series!

I am a huge fan of Kim Harrison's The Hollows series and when I saw THE DRAFTER I wasn't quite sure what to think. For those in the same boat let me tell you, THE DRAFTER was an exciting, unique, fast-paced and mind-blowing experience.

Peri think she knows who she is, but she couldn't possibly be more wrong. When I thought I knew who Peri was, I was wrong. She is a huge mystery that is unraveled a little bit at a time as the book unfolds. She has the crazy ability to draft and it comes with huge downfalls. Not only does she lose her memory (and never knows how much she will lose until its done), but she has to let another person in her mind to help her regain the memories that she lost. Some out of her control things happen and she ends up losing YEARS of her life and doesn't know who she can trust. I can honestly say that I couldn't even tell who she could trust most of the time. She loses a lot in DRAFTER and I could feel her struggles as she faced the many challenges thrown at her.

Although Peri definitely steals the show there are some great secondary characters in THE DRAFTER. Two in particular I am really excited about seeing in book 2 and 3. I truly loved every minute and every twist and turn that THE DRAFTER threw at me and trust me, there are a LOT. I could never quite guess what was going to happen and when I had an idea, the story threw out another twist to make my head spin. Although there are plenty of answers in THE DRAFTER the end threw up new situations and questions that have me yearning for the next installment in the Peri Reed Chronicles.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

First let me say I adore Kim's work. Both the Truth series and The Hollows are among my favorites. While The Drafter was a lot of fun to read and the story was something new and different, I had some problems identifying with Peri. As the main character she seemed so vulnerable and I found myself drawn to the side characters instead. I'm fairly certain that with the next book Peri will become more independent and just a stronger character all around. In the end I did like the book I just hope we get to see Peri become the kick butt agent she has forgotten that she is.

Kim Harrison wove an amazing series with The Hollows. The connection between Rachel and Kisten was especially captivating. That said, this new series has fallen very flat. I was lost from the beginning. Not a horrendous read, but I struggled a lot at understanding what was going on, keeping the characters in line, relating, etc. I've given up 70% through (Kindle book, no page number). Here are a lot of excellent ideas here, but I think the author got caught up in the world and didn't execute the storytelling well.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. The premise was interesting, but it was... weird? Dramatic irony is fine, but reading when something happens and then watching the main character forget and deal with it is really frustrating, and in this novel it's also sort of confusing. I want to say I liked it anyway, but I'm not sure that's true.

Confusing and hard to follow & keep straight. I wanted to like this book, and the new series, but unfortunately I don't. I think the concept is intriguing, but this book is just too ... all over the place.

Loved it! I absolutely love her writing style and world building. The Hollows series was my first ever paranormal series and not only is it still one of my all time favorites but it also gave me Kisten. Like the hollows I already care about all of the characters in The Drafter. I can't wait to read what happens next!

Already a Hollows fan, I dove straight into The Drafter finding another complex and enjoyable character. A true page turner with me rooting for the character thru the end and feeling a true sense of empathy for those that may actually have memory loss and even individuals manipulated for others' purposes. I want to see how Peri's adventures continue! Read the book. Fall in love with the true artistry of a Kim Harrison's universe all over again!

Having read previous Harrison novels, I held high hopes. I was a bit disappointed. Although the characters are likeable and the plot is good, it felt very muttled through most of the book. I'm not sure if the chaotic, confused writing was meant to mimic the chaos in the main character's mind- but if it was, it was over done. In the end, it wasn't a bad novel and I'm curious to see where the next installment goes.

It took me nearly a week to read this book. I just did not want to go back into that hot mess of a story. I have always enjoyed this authors books inspite of her obsession with clothing and fashion. But no matter how hard I tried I couldn't like this one. She loved Jack, no she hated Jack. She loved Allen, no she hated Allen. She loved Silas..... then there was the plot. Somewhere I was sure there was a plot. No world building to speak of. Just changing in and out of high fashion clothes or complaining about lack there of. While on the run, and trying to be killed, this was most important. Oh and did I fail to mention that she always had boots with a knife sheath, no matter who dressed her. Sheesh. Inconsistent characters ( if they are alone with the heroine and really a good guy they shouldn't be thinking such evil), bad story, time shifters who forget, and many outfit changes does not make a good book. I forced myself to finish it because of the author, but even she can't force me to buy the next in the series.

I must say moving on to a new series from a reader point of view is usually mixed with anticipation, hope and small amount of longing for the previous characters you love so well. I was in no way disappointed, none what so ever. I am already hooked and can't wait for the next installment.

Loved the Hollows series, loved the characters, the sarcasm, the power, all of it. But I just can't say the same for this new Peri Reed series. It was flat, long winded. It's a shame. Hope she can capture that spark with another series but I won't buy the next book in this series.

I loved this book. I hope everything comes together and we get more from this world. It starts a bit slow but picks up about a quarter way in. The Drafter is more scifi but don't let that scare you. Please give this book a try if you like Kim Harrisons writing stile, you wont be disappointing.

LOVE Kim Harrison!!! And so looking forward to reading more about these characters as the story develops. She has an amazing way of building story & character that always leaves you wanting more!
Takes time travel & conspiracy theory and gives it a new, more interesting twist!

The Drafter delivered an exciting introduction to the Peri Reed Chronicles. The world and plot felt plausible and I easily became invested in the key players. The world of drafting and anchors had my geeky side smiling and the dangers that accompany it made me shiver. I felt the story was well paced with twist and turns that kept me engaged. Harrison added humor and banter creating a nice reprieve from the intense scenes. A few twists and revelations added to my overall enjoyment and the tale ended in such a way that it left me eager for the next installment. Copy provided by publisher, full review at caffeinated book reviewer

Fantastic story that caught me up and would not let me go. This book had me returning to it at every spare moment and staying up to the wee hours to finish it. I usually do not care for futuristic settings, usually perferring fantasy... but I adore Kim Harrison's writing and decided to give it a shot. Others have gave you the story line, what I will share is that the book is suspenseful, thrilling and very emotional. There are several different paths the plot could have taken, leaving us guessing what would happen next, through the entire story. Actually with the time jumping factor, I suppose it could change in future books as well. We have lost/found memeories, lost/found love, heartaches, the terror of the unknown and a not quite happy ending (though it does have some closure, I despise open ending books) that leaves us waiting with bated breath for the next book. Bravo Ms Harrison! Well Done!!

I listen to this on audible.com. The person reading this book read it so breathlessly the entire time it was distracting and made it impossible to get into the story. Don't know if it would be less confusing to actually read the book as opposed to listening to it, but I do not recommend the audio version.

I love sci fi and I love the Hollows series so I seriously wanted to love this book. ...or at least like it. I haven't finished it yet but I'm stubbornly optimistic that there will be a fab ending as my payoff for sticking with it. Kim, in the next book write less Peri or give her a likable personality please. The plot also needs to progress even if constant memory loss and recall is your main plot device. I'm can't help being disappointed.

Very frustrating book. The execution is horrible. ***SPOILER*** She is a spy / assassin yet she will not kill her enemy who is trying to kidnap and erase her memory. She is supposed to be an ace fighter yet gets distracted by stupid stuff in the middle of her fight and so gets killed. She gets killed because Ms. Harrison needs her to get killed all the time. Very poor decisions all over this book. The main character is so stupid all the time and makes decisions that makes no sense except because the author needs her to be put back in danger so she can use her special skills. Very disppointed.

I actually really loved it! It was fast paced and I loved the whole story line, how ever I'm a hopeless romantic at heart so I hated the ended I really wanted her to end up with somebody or something. I really didn't like the ending but the book in general was really good

I was really hurt and disappointed at the racist description and portrayal of the one Asian character in the book. An Asian American psychologist in the future still has a heavy and singsong accent? Really??! So colossally lame.

Sometimes an author leaves a character too helpless, and Kim Harrison over does it. I stop reading after the third draft because it got ANNOYING. It one thing when a character struggles to find out what's going on, but to have the character go back to square one every seven chapters was stupid. I don't know how the book ended, I don't care. Soon as the main character was put right back where she started I rolled my eyes and asked for my money back. I like stories that move forward. Constantly resetting to a beginning was just dumb. And I wish Kim Harrison was stop writing female leads that whose dialogue is always set to constantly whining.

Awful, awful book from an author who wrote so beautifully in the Rachel Morgan series. I'm at page 301 and nothing has happened to (a) make me want to like any of the characters or (b) bother finishing this book. Kim Harrison should be ashamed of herself for perpetrating this poorly written and poorly edited book on her fans.

This book is beyond terrible. Hard to follow, story jumps around, can't figure out what is going on. Glad I borrowed this from the library instead of buying a copy. Won't be reading any of the following books in the series. My time is valuable and I don't want to waste it on garbage like this.

I'm a big fan of Kim Harrison and was incredibly disappointed in this book.

Very intense and action-packed new series with all kinds of twists, double-twists, and mayhem going on. The story opens explosively, and from there it's one roller coaster after the next. While I feel like the story dragged out at some points, I was never bored, always invested, and eager for the next shock. Poor Peri––she's a fantastic, strong character (and one hell of a fighter), but that girl couldn't catch a break any more than she could eat. She never knew who to trust, was always looking over her shoulder, and was consistently betrayed. That's why the ending made me so happy! Silas is also a fantastic character, constantly warring between duty and honour. The world-building is cool though I wish there'd been a little more. The dialogue was well written and believable and as I hinted at earlier, the action scenes were vivid enough to be in any action movie. I had a great time reading this book and will definitely be back to check out the second novel and both novellas.

The Drafter by Kim Harrison is the first novel in the series The Peri Reed Chronicles. Peri Reed is a Drafter agent at a government-sanctioned organization, Opti, which completes secret special operations. The unique ability of the highly trained Drafter- Anchor pairs revolves around a Drafter’s ability to manipulate small sequences of time to adjust for any mistakes that are made during an op. Peri Reed has been working with her Anchor for three years completing their tasks successfully and basking in the glory of their successes. During one op, secrets about Opti and her Anchor are revealed, leaving Peri with the nagging pull of her intuition telling her that something is amiss even while she has no direct memory of the night and must rely on her Anchor. Drafters forget any changes in time that they make and must rely on their Anchor to supply them with the sequence of events. As events quickly spiral out of Peri’s control, she must try to figure out who she can trust as Opti and the Alliance, trying to bring Opti down, attempt to manipulate her.

I loved this novel. I had read the novella prequel to this first novel, which definitely changed how I approached the story. First, I didn’t need to spend additional energy trying to decipher how the time drafts work. This might take some time if this novel is the first time the reader is introduced to the mechanisms in place in this world. Another impact was that the novella included some of the same characters. I had met some of the characters in the novella, which is years before The Drafter and so it was fun to figure out what might have happened in that intervening time for the situation to be the way that it is in this novel.

Regardless, this novel is exciting! I could not stop listening to it. The characters are fun and believable for the most part, the plot is fast paced and winding. It’s got that maddening effect when the reader knows more than the characters and this just makes the reader groan and want to shout at the book. Throughout the novel, my heart ached for Peri. And I did not expect the end and even as it was happening I was thinking of what other explanation their might be. Finally, everything is neatly tied up at the end with no loopholes, but leaves the reader thirsting for what happens next with Peri Reed.

The narration by January LaVoy was much improved from the novella. However, one character had a nasally irritating voice that was unchanged, but in this novel it fit his character more. She did a great job with all of the characters in general. The production quality was good. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes strong female characters, time travel stories, and stories involving government agencies. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Audiobook purchased for review by ABR.

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A very well-written story about a strong female secret agent whose corrupt government that has been using her ability to time travel to make her do horrible things that she cannot remember. The government lying to her and erasing her memories has left her tottering on the edge of independence but also insanity.

I had to quit before Chapter 7. Bad editing, boring characters, and I couldn’t get into how their talents manifested. Returned for refund.
I love Kim’s other books, she’s a fav author. This one just didnt work for me.