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Showing posts with label Jane Yellowrock Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jane Yellowrock Series. Show all posts
Friday, April 26, 2013
Review: Blood Trade by Faith Hunter
Blood Trade
Author: Faith Hunter
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: ROC
Jane Yellowrock Book 6
ISBN: #978-0451465061
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (368 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who’s always up for a fight—even if it means putting her life on the line…
The Master of Natchez, Mississippi has a nasty problem on his hands. Rogue vampires—those who follow the Naturaleza and believe that humans should be nothing more than prey to be hunted—are terrorizing his city. Luckily, he knows the perfect skinwalker to call in to take back the streets.
But what he doesn’t tell Jane is that there’s something different about these vamps. Something that makes them harder to kill—even for a pro like Jane. Now, her simple job has turned into a fight to stay alive…and to protect the desperately ill child left in her care.
What B is talking about:
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When a string of missing persons cases coincides with the rise of Naturaleza vampire attacks in Natchez, Mississippi, Jane Yellowrock makes a deal with the Master of the City to come in and fix the problem. But, when some of the missing turn out to be witches, and Jane has an encounter with a more deadly form of vampire than has ever been encountered before, the situation spins out of control fast, leaving Jane wondering if, this time, she’s really in over her head, and whether the events she’s set in motion will mean losing everyone she holds dear.
When I first began reading the Jane Yellowrock series, I wasn’t sure what to think of Jane, except that I always liked her strength and determination, even though it often got her, as well as anyone close to her, in trouble. Jane has always taken big chances in these novels, and the consequences for everyone involved have often been severe. But, over the last couple of novels, Jane has grown a lot and learned plenty, and I’ve found myself enjoying these tales far more than I anticipated I would.
In Blood Trade, Jane takes an outside job, seemingly against her boss’s wishes, and is quickly immersed in a battle that’s far more deadly than she was originally led to believe. On top of that, two former acquaintances from her childhood become involved, further upping the stakes. And, for the first time in as long as she can remember, Jane is surprised to find that she’s part of a family, one that’s certainly worth dying for, but, more importantly, one she desperately wants to keep. It’s a new world for Jane, but she’s determined to make it work out.
One of my favorite things about Jane is her dual nature, the lineage that makes her a “Skinwalker,” and divides her into two entities: the human part of herself, and her “Beast,” the mountain lion whose soul lives within her, and occasionally takes her over entirely. Jane is a remarkably stubborn, snarky woman who is at her best when she’s throwing herself into battle, and driving her boss, Leo Pellissier, completely insane. The latter is a lot of fun, because he really deserves it. Beast, on the other hand, is more primitive and direct, but is beautiful in both her sincerity and unfettered view of the world. She likes to fight and play and love, and it’s often highly entertaining to see Jane dragged along for the ride.
Jane’s support system has grown to include the Younger brothers, both of whom I like very much as well. A good deal of Blood Trade is spent letting Jane first adjust to, then be grateful for, then fight for the presence of these two in her life, giving a warmth to the story that I felt was lacking before. Theirs is a family chosen, not born, and I loved seeing their relationship evolve and settle into something humorous and comforting, as well as Jane’s repeated bouts of surprise at the changes that stealthily took place in her life without her really knowing. Moreover, I think Jane has simply become a better version of herself for it.
The suspense and action in Blood Trade is also some of the best I’ve read in the series yet. Jane is a vampire hunter, and it’s a deadly profession. Ms. Hunter’s enthusiasm for detail is evident in every description, be it of the arsenal Jane and Eli strap themselves into before each fight, or the battle to the death that seems to happen every time they leave their house. The language of these passages is rich and vivid, and even Jane’s visits to the spiritual realm are painted with a clarity that makes getting lost in the scene an easy thing to do.
Although it took me a while to warm to Jane, she’s easily one of the best female characters I’ve read in a long time. She is difficult, and a thorn in the side of the men around her, but I can’t imagine her any other way. Her curious mix of faith and heritage combine with a world filled with magics and mystical creatures to create a truly exciting backdrop for a story filled with action and mystery and just enough awkward romance to keep me hoping that Jane will find real happiness—and soon. The series continues to be pleasingly unpredictable, and while I have no idea what might be in store for Jane as the series progresses, I’m looking forward to continuing the journey.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Labels:
Friday, November 2, 2012
Review: Death's Rival by Faith Hunter
Death’s Rival
Author: Faith Hunter
Release Date: Oct. 2, 2012
Publisher: ROC
Jane Yellowrock #5
ISBN: #978-0451464859
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (336 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…
For a former vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and they’re not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane. But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires but leaves humans untouched, as carriers of the dread disease.
Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp plague, Jane will have to go to extremes…and maybe even to war.
What B is talking about:
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Jane Yellowrock, Skinwalker and descendant of the guardians of the Cherokee people, has faced many threats as a vampire hunter, especially since she started working for one. Headstrong and relentless, she likes to work alone, and can't allow herself to really trust anyone. Now, Jane is once again dealing with the aftershocks of a situation she inadvertently set in motion, and the body count is rising much faster than she can handle.
Although I liked this book, it wasn't an easy story to get through. Jane redefines complicated. Her most consistent relationship is with Beast, her inner “big cat,” and the bond they share leaves little room for other relationships. Jane seems to crave intimacy on several levels, but can't allow herself to trust anyone else enough to let them get close. For all her bravery and self-sufficiency, she is a very lonely woman.
Death’s Rival can’t be called a “romance.” Jane, and more specifically Beast, is a sexually animalistic being by nature. Jane has proven she is capable of loving another, but is more resigned to losing that love. Beast, on the other hand, judges their potential “mates” by their strength and fighting abilities more than any other quality. And she’s not opposed to claiming more than one of them as her own. Still, Jane is fairly ruthless in her self-denial, even though the sexual tension between her and their potential lovers is undeniably hot.
For all its seriousness, Death’s Rival is an action-packed and fast paced story. Jane doesn’t take much downtime for herself, and is more than capable of standing on her own. She takes multitasking to new extremes, being both sleuth and warrior, and I ended up feeling as anxious as Jane about what might be coming next. Ms. Hunter eradicates any notion of “comfort zones” and launches Jane into one adrenaline-fueled situation after another, adeptly taking the reader along on the journey.
While I think this is a fascinating series, it certainly cannot be considered light reading. Jane's world is filled with danger, dubious allies, and bloodthirsty vamps who are sometimes only barely leashed, if that. Jane wraps herself in guilt as much as pride, and both prove a disadvantage at the worst possible times. At one point, Jane boils her situation down to this:
“Something like pain cut through me, a steel blade of misery and grief, sharp and burning cold. But nothing in life was set in stone and nothing in life is promised us. Not happiness, not joy, not love. Everything was variable and mutable and inconstant. Perhaps Rick and I still could be together. Someday. But I couldn’t count on that. I couldn’t count on anything except God, death, and myself, and sometimes not even myself.”
But, Jane is no quitter. She is at once cynical and angry, resilient and determined, and sensual and mysterious. She is solitary and heroic, and there doesn’t seem to be an end to her potential. Though sometimes frustrating, I can’t resist this series, and would very much like to see where Jane goes next.
B’s Rating:
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Liked it - recommend (B+)
Purchase Info:
Reviews in the Series:
Friday, January 13, 2012
Review: Raven Cursed
Raven Cursed
Author: Faith Hunter
Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012
Publisher: ROC
Jane Yellowrock Series #4
ISBN: #978-0451464330
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (384 pgs), e-book
Book Source: Publisher
About the book:
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Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire. But lately instead of just slaying vampires, she’s been working for them.
The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: skinwalker Jane Yellowrock.
But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator. Is it a rogue-vampire, shapechanger, or witch? Or something else magical? Unless she wants to face a very angry master vampire, she will have to work overtime to find the killer. It’s a good thing she’s worth every penny.
What B is talking about:
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Against her better judgment, Jane Yellowrock has once again signed on to work for the Blood Master of the City of New Orleans, Leo Pellissier. This time, she’s in charge of security for talks between Leo’s representative and another master vamp who’s ready for territory of his own. With her crew of hired guns, and her inner Beast helping her along the way, the job should be fairly simple. But, as Jane’s learned time and again, with the vamps, nothing ever is.
Hunter doesn’t shy away from complex storytelling, leading both her heroine and her readers through a maze of subplots and conflicts. Raven Cursed and its predecessor, Mercy Blade (review HERE), are two of the busiest stories I’ve read to date. The cast of species/creatures alone is a lot to take in: witches of all sorts, a sorcerer, weres, Mithrans (vampires), blood-servants (and slaves), a grindylow, angels, demons, and humans. There is so much going on, it almost makes me dizzy to think how Jane manages it all.
But, that’s part of what makes Jane such a relatable heroine to me: she doesn’t handle it all. Not always well, anyway. She makes mistakes, and in her line of work, those mistakes are often irreversible and deadly. Sometimes, through a certain amount of vanity over her abilities, or a dogged focus on the bigger picture facing her, Jane misses things. But in Hunter’s writing, the inconsequential doesn’t really exist.
For a woman who eagerly denies that she’s beautiful in any way, Jane’s personal life is astonishingly crowded. Her relationship with Rick LeFleur is still somewhat confusing, although I found him much more likable in this story. Not that he’s the only one making her an offer these days. Her boss, Leo, wants her. As does his primo blood slave, George Dumas (aka “Bruiser”). And Leo’s number two Mithran, Grégoire, would gladly seduce her as well. As would Grégoire’s two blood slaves, who happen to be twins. Of her many potential bedmates/suitors, the one Jane considers a real candidate is Rick.
Hunter is an admirably clever storyteller, taking one small detail from the previous novel and, like an explosion, letting it burst into many separate spokes, all spreading out in a rush, intertwining intermittently, then coming back together into a seemingly cohesive ending. Except for the next small seed she plants at the end for the next novel, of course, which I’m eagerly anticipating already.
B’s Rating:
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Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
Purchase Info:
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Review: Mercy Blade
Mercy Blade
Author: Faith HunterRelease Date: January, 2011
Publisher: ROC/Penguin Group
Jane Yellowrock Series, Book 3
ISBN: #978-0451463722
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format(s): Paperback (320), ebook
I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.
From Goodreads:
Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker − and a vampire killer for hire. But lately she’s found herself taking blood money from the very vampires she used to hunt...
Things are heating up in the Big Easy. Weres have announced their existence tot he world, and revived the bitter tensions that run between them and their old enemies: vampires. As a trusted employee of Leo Pellissier, Blood Master of the City, Jane finds herself caught in the cross fire.
When Jane is attacked by a pack of marauding were-wolves, she is thankful for the help of a mysterious stranger named Girrard. He explains that he used to be Leo’s “Mercy Blade,” a sacred position charged with killing vampires who have gone insane. What Jane doesn’t know is why this powerful assassin left New Orleans − or, more troubling, why he’s now returned. It’s definitely not to make Jane’s life easier...
What B is talking about:
Jane Yellowrock is a “Skinwalker,” and the last of her kind. At the beginning of the book, she and her boyfriend have packed up her belongings from her home in the Appalachian Mountains and are preparing to move her back to New Orleans where she will continue in the employ of Leo Pellissier, Master Vampire of the City. Were cats and wolves have announced their presence to the world, and some of them are looking for revenge. Throw in a new, mysterious player with abilities Jane’s never encountered before, and things quickly become more complicated and dangerous than Jane could possibly be prepared for.
Mercy Blade is the third in the Jane Yellowrock series, but the first in the series that I’ve read. It’s also decidedly not a romance. Hunter does a good job introducing all the key players, as well as providing adequate background, early in the story so I felt invested in the novel fairly quickly.
Hunter also uses the first person narrative form to full advantage, and kept me right with Jane as she navigates her way through what turns out to be a very intriguing whodunit. I was stumped most of the way through the narrative, but I’m not sure if I’d have been quite as surprised if I’d read the previous two books in the series, Skinwalker and Blood Cross. The revelation was a somewhat disappointing, but I thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns the story took to get me there. Jane’s relationship with her boyfriend also left me a little cold, but that’s due to my familiarity with paranormal romance, rather than anything lacking in Hunter’s storytelling.
Mercy Blade is a well-constructed urban mystery that was fun to read. It’s fast-paced and intelligently written, and Hunter is pleasantly stingy with her breadcrumbs throughout the novel. If you’ve already read the first two Jane Yellowrock novels in the series, I believe you’ll enjoy this one just as much. As a new reader, I will definitely go back and pick up the first two as soon as I get the chance.
My Rating:
Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)
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