Meet Yvonne. One of the Hundred, sworn to help those in need. It’s not easy balancing that with raising her two adoptive children, keeping a roof over their heads, and dealing with an arrogant goblin lord.
The Hundred is set in an imagined world. A highly engaging story with memorable characters, thrilling adventure, and rich world-building. Plus, if you like your fantasy with plenty of mystery and magic, and a strong heroine, you’ll want to read this series.
Title: The Hundred
Author: Vanessa Nelson
Genres: Fantasy > High Fantasy > Adventure / Magic / Shapeshifters / Goblins
Read Format: Kindle Edition
Total Pages: 1,927
Reading Date: 02nd December 2025 – 29th December 2025
The reading order – How to Read The Hundred Series by Vanessa Nelson
- 0.5 One Dark Night
- 1 The Gathering
- 2 The Sundering
- 3 The Reckoning
- 4 The Rending
- 5 The Searching
- 6 The Rising
One Dark Night
Time is running out. Mid-Winter Feast is two days away. And Yvonne must complete her task before then.
The tavern she stops at might contain the answers she needs, and some surprises, like a high-ranking goblin lord whose attention she would rather avoid.
Welcome to the world of The Hundred, and Yvonne and Guise’s first meeting. This short prequel introduces the world, but does not contain spoilers for the main series.
My thoughts…
I want to thank Venessa for her kindness in responding to my email and for sharing this prequel with me. I was late to the party! Her response made me feel welcomed as a reader, and it added a lovely personal touch to my experience of the series.
I’m glad I read the prequel before diving into the main book, as it gives a great introduction to the world’s inhabitants and allows me to witness the first meeting between Yvonne and Guise. Currently, I have no idea what that signifies. Who is Guise to Yvonne? Could he become a love interest?
So, I’m eager to dive into the main story to find out more about this world populated by the goblins, Wulfkins, humans and the Sorceresses, especially the rare Hunar. It’s looking good so far.👍
The Gathering
Scarred by a brutal past, she has sworn to help those in need.
As one of the Hundred, Yvonne cannot ignore a plea for help, even if all she wants is a quiet life, somewhere safe for her adopted children to grow into adulthood.
Safety is in short supply. Young people, some of them children, are going missing in large numbers, leaving bewildered and grieving families behind. It’s not something she can ignore.
She finds an unexpected ally in an arrogant goblin lord, who seems intent on following her from place to place. With her skills in magic and his resources, can they track down the kidnappers and return the children home?
My thoughts…
Hunar is the term for a person who belongs to the Hundred. The Hundred is a group of people highly trained in magic, combat, and healing, sworn to help those in desperate need. Our main heroine, Yvonne, is one of the Hunar. She has also adopted two Wulfkin, which are similar to what we usually call werewolves.
Having come straight after finishing the Taellaneth series, I find myself imagining Arrow as Yvonne. The idea of a continuation in which Arrow is now powerful and respected feels comforting.
Compared with the Taellaneth series, which is set in a more modern world with guns and cars, the Hundred takes place in a less modern setting. There are no cars or mentions of guns, and transport relies on horses and wagons. At least, that is how it is presented in the first book, The Gathering.
What do I want to know?
When the Hundred is first introduced, I have many questions about the group. I want to learn how someone becomes a Hunar, what their powers are, what the initiation process involves, and how the hierarchy works.
I also want to know why Yvonne became a Hunar and how she came to adopt the two Wulfkin, Joel and Mariah. I am curious about her past, especially the scar on her neck.
As for the goblin Guise, I want to understand why he is always around Yvonne. Does he have an ulterior motive, and why does he call Yvonne “Mristrian”? What does that name mean?
Although I have answers to most of these questions, new ones keep arising as I read. Questions about the sisters, the bonds, the goblin territory, etc. It’s all very exciting, and I can’t wait to find out what awaits Yvonne in the next book!
The Sundering
Nowhere and no one is safe.
Stripped of her rank and her calling by some of her most trusted friends, Yvonne is left shocked and bleeding.
Worse is to come. Not only are children still going missing, but she learns that the death of an old friend might not have been natural.
With old friendships torn apart, Yvonne must work out who she can trust if she is to find the truth.
My thoughts…
Talking about underappreciation. Our heroine, Yvonne, faces a similar fate to Arrow in the Taellaneth series. While Arrow is exiled, Yvonne is demoted. She feels powerless without the Hunar symbol on her shoulder, and for a moment, she loses her sense of direction.
However, even without the title, her help is still needed. Children are still being abducted, and there is new evidence suggesting that her mentor, Elinor, was murdered, and Yvonne must uncover the truth.
Yet she is not helpless. People around her continue to respect her, and she has Guise, who is now bonded to her for life, AKA her husband. Which is another thing she is trying to process while her memory remains fuzzy.
Another great continuation in the series, full of action and adventure. I enjoyed following Yvonne as she uncovered secrets, and I laughed when she ran away as she couldn’t handle the foreign feeling. Toughen up, Mristrian!
I am curious, though, what Guise sees in Yvonne that makes him so smitten and devoted to her, despite her lordly title. His mother is the freaking Goblin Queen!!! So, what will the Queen do about Yvonne? Will she accept her?
Whatever challenges arise, whether from the Hunar’s ancient enemy or the Goblin Queen, I believe Yvonne can handle them, for the firebird is on her side👍.
The Reckoning
Missing girls. A plea for help she can’t ignore. An ancient enemy with plans of his own.
Nine-year-old girls are missing from across the lands. Yvonne has promised to find them, and she always keeps her promises. Even when she doesn’t know where to start looking.
There’s more trouble around. Mercenaries are disappearing. The ancient enemy has risen, more dangerous than anything she has encountered before. And an old ally wants her help.
Before she can set out to look for the girls, Yvonne has to survive the goblin court, where a wrong word could mean death.
My thoughts…
Book three of the Hundred series finally takes us into the Forbidden Lands, the off-limits territory mentioned in books one and two and the place where Hunar apprentices undertake their final test to become full-fledged Hunar.
Before the expedition begins, we read about Yvonne in fancy dresses, navigating Goblin politics where one wrong move can get her killed. The scenes in the Goblin palace are tense and compelling; Yvonne stands strong before the Goblin court and refuses to show weakness.
However, I was somewhat disappointed by the way the ancient enemy is defeated. After so much build-up, I expected a struggle and perhaps a meaningful sacrifice, but the resolution felt easier than I anticipated.
Nevertheless, many scenes and adventures are excellent and outweigh my disappointment. I very much enjoy Yvonne’s time in the Goblin palace, followed closely by her leadership of the team into the treacherous Forbidden Lands. Both parts highlight her courage and resourcefulness. A badass heroine indeed!👍
After finishing this third book, I still have several questions. Thankfully, the story continues in three more books, despite an earlier suggestion that this might be the end. So, I hope to get all the answers to the questions that I have in mind.
What do I want to know?
I want to know what Guise’s mother planned by inviting Yvonne to the spring festival in Abar al Endell, the wealthy city where Ulla the assassin is from. Ulla is an intriguing character who shares a history with Guise, and I hope we learn more about their past.
I am also curious who get the position of head of the house and whether Varati will cause trouble. Will the Forbidden Lands be restored to their former glory? Can Pieris create the communication device with the first Hunar?
Before the series ends, I hope Joel and Mariah find their paths in life, and I would love to see Yvonne train an apprentice, and perhaps Roa could be the one.
The Rending
The only place of safety for the desperate has been destroyed.
Yvonne has finally found a place to settle, where her children can grow, and she can think about her own future. Even as she celebrates, a shock rings across the world. Someone has attacked the Sisters in the Stone Walls.
The attack is devastating, taking away the one place of refuge in the lands, tearing apart everything the Sisters have built. Yvonne is determined to find out what happened, and why, and who is responsible, and will need all her skill and knowledge to follow the trail of a resourceful and ruthless opponent.
My thoughts…
Book four of the Hundred series takes us to the home of the Sisters, once protected by stone walls that no longer stand after a devastating attack. Yvonne’s mission in this instalment is to discover who perpetrated the massacre.
This adventure is an eye-opener, sending us to a place we have not visited before and revealing Yvonne’s original hometown. Meeting her parents is a big moment for me, as I had no idea how poorly they treated her until I read the story.
Fortunately, Guise remains at her side throughout the journey, but their relationship is tested by a secret he has kept. Can they move past it?
Many of my earlier questions remain unanswered, and new ones emerge. What is the tear in the world and the endless void that Yvonne felt? Who is empowering the villain this time? Could the ancient enemy left something behind before its demise?
The Searching
Oath-sworn to help those in need, Yvonne has been framed for murder.
Tracking down those responsible for the destruction of the Stone Walls was a difficult enough task, but someone has made it much harder. The King is dead, and Yvonne is accused of his murder.
With the peace of the lands in balance and separated from Guise, Yvonne is forced to flee, alone, and seek help from an unusual band of allies to try and clear her name.
Can she find the real killer and clear her name before the mastermind causes more devastation?
My thoughts…
The adventure continues in the Searching, where Yvonne and Guise are both tested mentally and physically. Accused of murder, the respected Hunar is on the run, and the proud Goblin lord is kidnapped and tortured.
Yvonne must rely on her allies, drawing strength in these most challenging times. It falls to her to find the missing Goblin, and if she collapses, all hope will be lost. The enemy will win, and the world could be doomed again because the power-crazed sorcerer risen from death is hell-bent on controlling the world.
Yvonne’s resilience, resourcefulness, and the friends she can count on are admirable. The book’s portrayal of helplessness and devastation, alongside moments of joy and courage, is beautifully written and takes me on an emotional rollercoaster. So I quite enjoyed it because it plays with our emotions.
I cannot wait to read the final book and see Yvonne finally get the happily ever after she deserves. I only hope all my questions are answered before the series concludes.🤞
The Rising
Can Yvonne stand against the darkness and win?
Yvonne is looking forward to spending time with her adoptive children and catching her breath after recent adventures.
But nothing goes to plan. Her journey home is interrupted by an unexpected attack, and when she does get back to the house, her son is missing.
Can Yvonne and the allies she has gathered stand against a new enemy who seems to have risen out of the dark?
My thoughts…
After finishing The Searching, I have no idea what awaits Yvonne in the final book since the mastermind we knew is dead; however, I remember the gem Will took, and I wonder whether Will will become the villain.
Finishing The Rising left me with a bittersweet ache. I was so hoping to witness the spring festival, and many of my other questions went unanswered. Still, I understand that these stories aren’t about tying up every loose end, but about confronting the larger forces shaping this world.
One moment that truly stole my heart was when the mythical creatures, the goblins, the Hundred, the rangers, and the Wulfkin stood side by side. Their unity to fight the villain was heartwarming, and the magical valley was breathtaking! It was pure magic, literally and emotionally ❤️.
I adore every character in this series. When Modig appeared at Yvonne’s doorstep, I felt giddy, almost able to smell his warm, spiced cooking. Saying goodbye to Grayling, Sephenamin, Jaalam, Ewan, Pieris, Mariah, Joel, Modig, Yvonne, Guise, and even Ulla feels like leaving behind a home. This world and its people will stay with me long after the final page ❤️.
