Tag Archives: Faith Hunter

Blood Cross by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

blood-cross

Title: Blood Cross
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: That was low.

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Synopsis

As a vampire hunter and skinwalker, Jane Yellowrock is public enemy number one in the vampire community – even though she’s also the key to their survival. Now she’s about to learn that working for the enemy can be just as dangerous as hunting them.

The Vampire Council of New Orleans has hired Jane to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules. But she quickly realizes that in a community that is thousands of years old, loyalties run deep.

With the help of her witch best friend and local vigilantes, Jane finds herself caught between bitter rivalries – and closer than ever to the secret origin of the entire vampire race. But in a city of old grudges and dark magic, Jane will have to fight to protect both sides, even if no one will protect her.

Thoughts

The second full novel in the Jane Yellowrock series was a great, fast paced read and a fantastic follow up to the first story. Set not long after the explosive ending of Skinwalker, Jane is thrust further into the intriguing world of vampires and their politics. Molly’s presence in the story brings a much wanted layer of softness to the story to balance out Jane’s strong and unyielding presence.

There is nothing like some saucy love interests and sexual tension to boost the octane of a plot, and Hunter has done this beautifully. With three potential interests in Skinwalker, Jane falls further into the laps of these men. These raunchy scenes are a great, pulse-quickening way to further the storyline and raise the stakes. It is also a fantastic way to highlight Jane’s independence – she is attracted and interested, but not willing to fully commit.

My favourite thing about this story is the love and care that Jane shows towards the children. They gain her protection and care above all else. Hunter shows Jane’s stunning ability to care for others, but she also reminds us of Jane’s own isolated upbringing. Her inability to believe in a positive future for herself plucks at the heart strings as she fights for the future of others.

<- First SightMercy Blade ->

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First Sight by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , , ,

Overview

Blood in Her Veins

Title: First Sight
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #1.5
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter & Jane Yellowrock World Companion by Faith Hunter
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: And I smelled the scent of burning flesh, remembering only then the cross in her hand.

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Synopsis

It is in Skinwalker that Jane Yellowrock first meets George Dumas (Bruiser) and Leo Pellissier. Now, in “First Sight”, that encounter is revisited – only this time from Bruiser’s point of view.

Thoughts

Many of the Jane Yellowrock short stories are written from the point of view of other characters in the series, which is very enjoyable. First Sight is the first story that divulges the first impressions of another character within the stories. Especially when this first impression is that of a man who is interested in her.

Molly reminds us of Jane’s vulnerability, and Beast and We Sa show the animalistic side of her skinwalker nature, but Bruiser’s retelling of their first meeting places her in the context of an attractive woman. Something I hadn’t considered previously.

Reading of Jane and Bruiser’s first meeting also helped to further explain the relationship between himself and Leo. The potence of the blood bond between vampire and servant is incredibly strong, and learning about it from the point of view of one who is bonded was incredibly insightful.

<- SkinwalkerBlood Cross ->

Image source: Goodreads

Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , ,

Overview

skinwalker

Title: Skinwalker
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Fine.

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Synopsis

Last year Jane nearly lost her life taking down a deadly family of vampires who preyed on the helpless local populace. Now, after months of recuperation, she’s back and ready to fight again. Except this time, she’s been hired by those she’s trained to kill – vampires.

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind – a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires – and hunts the undead for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fonteneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps.

Amidst a bordelllo full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission… or else the next skin she’ll need to save may be her own.

Thoughts

I have never read anything like this novel. I’ve heard of skinwalkers before, and I have read a plethora of books about vampires, but nothing like this novel. And that is saying something! Books that have a supernatural spin and are based in some form of mythology usually focus on the European mythos, so it was really exciting to read about Native American mythos. It is an area that I find fascinating, and I love the uniqueness of such a tale.

The tone and language throughout this book is very adult, definitely not good if you want to read something less mature. Some of this is because of the sexual content, but it is more than that. The voice is that of a woman who is independent, strong, and mostly alone in the world. This translates beautifully in the point of view of the story. It also gives a slightly darker spin to a world, that, quite frankly, can be treated a little too light-heartedly in some novels. There was also a stark contrast in the way that sections were written – when Beast is in charge, the sentences are shorter, the explanation of the surrounds much more visceral.

Jane is a truly dual-natured heroine. She incorporates Beast and her human embodiment, basal-predator and human-hunter. There is an uneasy truce between the two sides, and for me, this is a great reminder of the constant war between our desires (what we want) and our responsibilities (what we need).

<- Make It SnappyFirst Sight ->

Image source: Amazon

Signatures of the Dead by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , , , ,

Overview

Blood in Her Veins

Title: Signatures of the Dead
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.7
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter, Have Stakes, Will Travel by Faith Hunter & Strange Brew edited by P.N. Elrod
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc, Roc & St Martin’s Griffin
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: It could only be used in clear life-and-death situations.

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Synopsis

Jane Yellowrock, her best friend Molly Trueblood, an earth witch, police detective Paul “Brax” Braxton, and Molly’s husband Evan go after a blood-family of rogue-vampires who killed a local family.

Thoughts

Molly is a fantastic contrast to Jane, and telling the tale of Jane’s most successful vampire hunt through her eyes was refreshing and a very unique way to tell a new tale. Likewise, such a horrifyingly difficult hunt and journey was softened through Molly’s voice. Her ability to sense the dead and feel what they felt made the tale more tender and the deaths of the victims more tragic.

I read this short story after reading Skinwalker, so finding out more about the battle that put Jane on the map (so to speak), was fascinating and enjoyable. It also drove home the prowess and power of Jane in battle; she isn’t soft and is completely fearless and ruthless in battle.

<- HaintsMake it Snappy ->

Image source: Goodreads

Haints by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , , ,

Overview

Have Stakes Will Travel

Title: Haints
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.6
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter & Have Stakes, Will Travel by Faith Hunter
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: She’s making those little puffs of breath that she does when we just can’t wake her.

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Synopsis

Molly Everhart Trueblood and Jane Yellowrock try to discover if a local house is indeed haunted. But the problem that they discover is far worse than a ghostly haunting, and far more difficult to solve.

Thoughts

Changing the point of view of a story is always a nice change and a breath of fresh air, and Haints was no different. The Jane Yellowrock series allows us to delve into Jane’s experiences and her feelings about the Everheart family, but Haints tells of Molly’s motherly and caring attachment to Jane.

Throughout the stories Molly is often seen to be the one requiring protection, but Haints highlights her own brand of steely protectiveness. She is soft and motherly where Jane is hard and unyielding. The combination of these two personalities is a beautiful way in which friendships can thrive on diversity and the acceptance of this.

<- Kits Signatures of the Dead ->

Image Source: Goodreads

Kits by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Blood in Her Veins

Title: Kits
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.5
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Storm fell apart.

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Synopsis

When Molly Everhart Trueblood doesn’t show up for her shift at Seven Sassy Sisters Herb Shop and Café, Jane Yellowrock goes to the house to check on her. There Jane discovers a black cloud of wild, out of control magic attacking the small home. How can Jane save the small family?

Thoughts

Kits further highlights two aspects of Jane’s life; her love for children, especially the Everhart girls, and the simple and honest friendship between Jane and Molly. The previous short stories have focused on Jane’s early life and her isolation from everyone else. Finding Molly and her small family is a beautiful moment in which Jane is able to have family and loved ones – people that she wants to protect.

This pivotal moment in Jane’s life is beautifully retold and plucks at the heart strings – a vulnerable and maternal side to the vampire hunter is highlighted. The potency of Angela’s powers are also a great foreshadowing for potential future storylines and the difficulties that Molly and Evan are forced to face.

<- Cat Tats Haints ->

Image source: Goodreads

Cat Tats by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Blood in Her Veins

Title: Cat Tats
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.4
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: She was dressed in white, the bodice close fitting, pushing up her breasts like a corset might.

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Synopsis

In this story from the Jane Yellowrock universe, undercover agent Rick LaFleur has been working on gaining access to Leo Pellissier, Master of the City of New Orleans. But he wakes up naked and bound in an old barn, at the mercy of a magic-working tattoo artist and an insane vampire.

Thoughts

Rick’s tatts in Skinwalker are a great source of fascination and intrigue. The story behind this provided a small insight into this fateful moment is both tragic and left me with a feeling of an unfinished future together. I love this idea of fate and future, and the ways in which Jane and Rick seem to have ties to each other and each other’s lives.

Reading a story from Rick’s point of view changed the way that I perceived him. He becomes far sweeter and less of a pompous character when explaining his choices and movements. His journey into the police force and subsequent undercover work is beautifully explained, and many of his actions throughout the following storylines become far less insidious.

This short story was not at all what I expected, and it was such a pleasure to read. The change from Jane’s story was refreshing, and I thoroughly enjoyed finding more about Rick.

<- Snafu Kits ->

Image source: Goodreads

Snafu by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , , , ,

Overview

Black Water

Title: Snafu
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.3
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter & Black Water by Faith Hunter
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc & Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: I said, “Anton Jevers and Wayne Roles Junior.”

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Synopsis

Fans are always asking about Jane’s early life and training, about how she went from the children’s home to rogue-vamp hunter. Well, here’s a small insight into how.

Thoughts

I love this short story – it takes us on a journey into Jane’s first job. It was so fun finding out more about Jane’s first day as a PI, and the way in which she had to prove herself to her new employer. The run down locale and shop front perfectly suits Jane’s persona, and it is incredibly easy to see her put in such a position. If Hunter had placed her chief protagonist in a place of good standing and a tidy, respectable front, it would be far more difficult to envisage.

Jane is beginning to come to terms with her dual nature in this story, and I love how she refers to Beast as the “crazy part”. Beast represents the id within us all – that part that just seeks pleasure and sustenance, without any real consideration for the future. We all have that inner voice in our head, but the presence of Beast makes it all the more real and to the fore. An aspect of Jane that she is constantly forced to negotiate with.

<- The Early Years Cat Tats ->

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The Early Years by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , ,

Overview

Blood in Her Veins

Title: The Early Years
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.2
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: I have been here.

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Synopsis

On her 18th birthday, Jane Yellowrock leaves the children’s home where she was raised, and heads north to her first job. But she makes a detour and discovers where she came from, who she is, and what she is.

Thoughts

I loved revisiting Jane’s first modern day experience of skinwalking. Reading Skinwalker, I had always wondered how she had discovered her paranormal capabilities, and this short story provided a great insight into this journey. It also provided more information about the importance of Jane’s gold necklace and the reasoning behind her name (Jane Yellowrock). I love that every detail about the protagonist’s life prior to the beginning of the first book was carefully planned and thought out by Hunter – an intricate reality that has layers upon layers, with more discoveries every time I read the story.

Jane is displayed as an outcast in the first few Jane Yellowrock books, and The Early Years gives us insight into the beginnings of these feelings. Her protective, Beast instincts also come to the fore in her protection of other outsiders. The feeling of inadequacy and loss of self echoes throughout the story until she literally finds her inner self.

<- We Sa and the Lumber King Snafu ->

Image source: Goodreads

We Sa and the Lumber King by Faith Hunter

Book Review, , , , , , , , ,

Overview

Blood in Her Veins

Title: We Sa and the Lumber King
Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock #0.1
In: Blood in Her Veins by Faith Hunter & Have Stakes, Will Travel by Faith Hunter
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Animagus, Dark fantasy, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Roc & Roc
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: After long time, shadows began to stretch upon the ground.

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Synopsis

Beast, with Jane Yellowrock in the background of her mind, observes the lumber camp of white men who are destroying her hunting grounds. She decides to take revenge on the leader of the lumberjacks.

Thoughts

It was incredibly interesting to read a little more about some of Jane’s first years. Not only is it a great way to gain insight into her first transformations, but it also gave me a glimpse into the desecration of the land by white man when they first arrived in the Americas.

This short story was beautifully written – it was structured from the Bobcat / We Sa’s point of view, and the difference in language was both startling and enjoyable. Where Beast is strong and always willing for a hunt and fight, We Sa is aware of her limitations and fearful of the consequences of her actions.

Throughout the other Jane Yellowrock stories, Jane’s connectivity with nature is alluded to, but never highlighted. This short story beautifully ties this intricate relationship into her story and illustrates that although her victims may have changed, Jane is still sassy and uses slightly obscure tactics to get the job done.

<- More Faith Hunter The Early Years ->

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