Black Arts ( Jane Yellowrock 7 ) by Faith Hunter

Hello to all,

                  Already February.. time is litteraly flying while i'm trying to remodel  the house to make it easier for my mother so the January wrap up will be up but another day ( i do plan not to forget those in 2016^^;;).

Today i'm sharing my opinion on another sequel i had in my pile from a favourite series of mine: Jane Yellowrock series focusing on her witch friend ( which make this oen perfect for not only one but 3 challenges^^)

Happy reading!

Publisher: Roc

Publication: 2014

ISBN:  0451465245

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: gifted

Short description from goodreads :

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who always takes care of her own—no matter the cost...

When Evan Trueblood blows into town looking for his wife, Molly, he’s convinced that she came to see her best friend, Jane. But it seems like the witch made it to New Orleans and then disappeared without a trace.


Jane is ready to do whatever it takes to find her friend. Her desperate search leads her deep into a web of black magic and betrayal and into the dark history between vampires and witches. But the closer she draws to Molly, the closer she draws to a new enemy—one who is stranger and more powerful than any she has ever faced.

My opinion:

          Faith hunter really created a engaging world that you take pleasure to visit again and again....that being said  it also get more complicated with each installment so i do recommend to read this series in order.... i did and simply because  of the time i took between the book i was a little lost  a time or two during this story.

The plot was good and i really enjoying but there were a few things that got me disappointment with this installment.... first: the repetition... So far it has never been that repetitive and if the character Jane herself think it’s getting old i let you imagien what it is for the reader.... i can admit it was an important element but too much is too much. Speaking of “too much”.... i couldn’t stand Jane’s reaction to Rick anymore... after everything that happened  precedently i don’t see how she could be reacting like she is. I wanted to shake her until she found her mind again... and Beast wasn’t that efficient on that part^^. She can’t stay naïve like that it’s really too stupid!

That being said here were part i loved as well, Beast is as always funny and we want more of her remarks. I also really apreciated all teh allusion about jean Lafitte as you know i’ve learned a lot about him thanksto the series by Suzanne Johnson so having him cited here was a pure treat even if i’m not sure i would like to discover he is a vampire in Jane ‘s World... i don’t know why. Still the fact it played well with the New Orleans history was more than enjoyable ...and lastly...Angie...this littel girl isa real light in Jane’s universe but she is also giving her a lot of worries and it sound like it will only get worse as she master her powers more and more.

There were touching moments, some angsty one, some funnier so, when eveything is put together, it was a good read even if not my favourite and i definitively plan to continue the series.

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Blood Trade ( Jane Yellowrock 6) by Faith Hunter

HELLO!

                I'm so happy to be back  really i missed you!  Sorry to have disappeared last week, i had this review ready for you but my computer suddenly crashed so  i was put on hold until i got it back yesterday evening....worse...that cut my reading frenzy as well because since i was not sure if what i wrote was safe i did not dare to read something new in case i had to re read the book to write the review again ( i need to finish what i start before starting a new one^^;;)

So let get back on track and i will continue with my idea to alternate between new and following up series, today we continue with Jane Yellowrock and the sixth instalment.

Happy reading!

Publisher: ROC

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0451465067

Genre: urban fantasy, shapeshifter
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

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.

My opinion:

          I’m a little uncertain about this book…. Oh I did love it , it’s well written and fit the other instalment really well… even if I did want to go back rereading some of the precedents books as I seemed not to be able to recall what the character remembered. However that’s not what has me hesitant… you see…. I guess I fear what will happen next ^^;;

And it’s partially strange as this books come to a conclusion and there is no major deaths ( oki in jane yellowrock universe it means a lot of dead or/and true dead but not one of the main characters^^;;) ;)I mean it could even classify as an happy ending …or at least a teary moving one and I really liked but some elements make me fear

the worse like Bobby ‘s dreams ( those being prophetic),Soul unknown powers, Beast’s revelation and lastly Leo…

We don’t see a lot of the Master Vampire this time but we hear from him and… I don’t trust him at all…^^;; it’s strange all the reservations I have this character but really he ticks me off, he is so arrogant and so often plotting in Jane’s Back that I just want to strangle him…. The forced binding is adding to that feeling of course but I do understand how Jane must feel… the author really managed to makes us feel the same as her on that case think;)

Now don’t get me wrong… I’m not liking Rick Lafleur either…. Bruiser… has me feeling betrayed too….and while I Love Eli^^ he is family to Jane not a mate prospect…. So really her love life is problematic. ;)

 I did smile while reading this book because Eli and Jane work wonderfully together and Eli and Sylvia^^ those are really a match for each other…. I do wonder where Eli get all his weapon and could imagine him comparing them with Sylvia^^;;

The banter between those is simply too much to resist!

Eli’s brother found a geek friend as well and I do hope he will get to stay as it’s a great team to have backing you up. Those two are gods with a computer.

The main investigation was also quite interesting and the author managed to surprise us. All while the author gave us a better insight into Jane as she is coping with the lost of her friends and the guilt (which she is always carrying by the way) it was interesting to learn more about her childhood and more precisely her relations with other children. Beast was also moving in her way to protect the kits^^;; and wanting to keep them for her.

All together it was a really captivating reads and only the dread I got building it at the end prevent me to give an higher note ( I don’t like being left with angst  after reading).

So if you love this series this is really a book not to miss but better have the next one ready to jump into ( and please don’t start with this one or you would be completely lost)

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Do you type your review on the computer directly or on paper first?

Death’s Rival ( Jane Yellowrock 5) by Faith Hunter

Hello to all,

                      I don't often post  review on Sunday but the week went too quickly and i didn't want to miss a week so here i am. My dog is still improving and you can imagine how happy i am to see him ask for food and having more energy, now i just have to be on par with him. On the reading side things like to get in the way to reduce my free time while there are several books i just want to jump into it. Hopefully things will calm down and my health stabilize so  i won't have to wait longer^^

Until that happen, i'm sharing with you what i though of book 5 in the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter.

Happy reading

Publisher: ROC

Publication: 2012

ISBN: 0451464850

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: bought
 

Short description from goodreads :

 Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…


For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a 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 is 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 and makes their masters easy prey.



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.

My opinion:

          I’m starting to wonder where the author wants to take us…. I still love the concept and it’s originality : a skinwalker with a beast soul joined to her…. I love the story in general but the romance part is starting to get on my nerves I guess.

I can stand a love triangle if it has some substance but in this case Jane  has exceeded the triangle a long time ago … first there were Leo, Bruiser and Rick, then you add Derek lee ( at least a minimum) now seems like the new character Eli is on the rank too…..  it’s a little too much in my opinion especially when Beast don’t want to choose and just take them all….

First she can’t trust Rick I don’t even think she trusted him once but since the last book he decided to join PsyLed which is opposite to Jane’s Camp…so he is out ( even without the fact he got were and could change her) Leo…. Arg I dislike him even more after this book, one book makes him more approachable the next shows how a jerk, arrogant and totally disgusting man he can be….. Bruiser….he was the one who had the more chances if he wasn’t Leo ‘s Pet… now it show how that come first before all the rest ( no I don’t forgive him) Derek Lee… they should get their fight to establish where each of them is and then perhaps though he sound a little too intolerant … now Eli….i guess he is the best placed right now: yes he is fully human but strong, loyal and protective and responsible ( and his brother just is a bonus since Beast likes Kit)

Now this book is urban fantasy not full romance so as long as this stays in the background I think I will continue to enjoy the story but simply…. I want to see Jane takes some decision and stick to them.

The story in Death’s Rival is an excellent new instalment in the story because we do learn more about Jane ‘s past and history which help to understand her better…and the investigation is really interesting with suspense and twist that keep you hooked and turning the pages.

After the events in the last book, Jane is alone mostly. Her relationship with Rick is in standby to say the least and her friendship with Molly broken (that part I really regret). Beast is more active and… in a sense more sentient that before she can hide things from Jane but we learn that she decided to stay with her and that speak a lot about Beast loves for Jane which she has come to consider like her kit.

Before Jane wanted to leave New Orleans but we find her again in the service of Leo and really busy. A plague, an illness that can actually kill vampires has spread and some clan have sworn allegiance to another master than Leo after being infected…. Not believing in coincidences, Jane is investigating the case when she is nearly killed several times….Leo ‘s rival  is threatening him  under the pretence of a murder Jane would have committed. Things aren’t that simple though and Leo decides to take drastic measures to protect himself and his…. Which result in a trust completely broken… between him and Jane but also Jane and Bruiser ….yes he is an old vampire who  thinks with the laws of the past but  I was really put off by his actions and he dropped from my list of liked characters in matter of second… how Jane can still work for him I wonder. I hate even more Katie, Jane saved her, helped her and at the first occasion she turn against her, really disgusting.

Since the vamps can’t be trusted and Derek has started to add more member to his group, Jane decide to get her own team she could trust and then enter Eli, former ranger, good fighter and loving brother of a young adult Alex, on probation for hacking in official security system….the chemistry between them is instantaneous and really funny too since Jane act more as a mother than a boss bargaining junk food against shower^^;;. Both are really talented and a great addition to her team if she can win their complete trust and loyalty.

With a war on their door, trusting problems and some secrets to keep, Jane has really a lot on her plate.

If you don’t mind a girl that can’t make her mind, love actions, vampires as well as others creatures and humour too ^^ this is a series and a book for you ( to read in order)

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Raven Cursed ( Jane Yellowrock 4) by Faith Hunter

Hello!

           The weather is spoiling us right now with 7 degrees above the normal ( nearly 17°c) and a bright sun so i won't be long because i want to enjoy it as long as i can ^^, it way to early so we know it won't last but it's really good for the moral to savour it when we can.

Today i decided to pick a book from my pile that fitted several challenges and i opted for the fourth book in the Jane Yellowrock series since it got shifters and witches and is an older book too... i've enjoyed the book but strangely i had a little more difficulties to express my opinion on it so i can only hope i will be clear enough^^

 happy reading and i hope spring will come to enlight your days no matter where you live.

Publisher: ROC

Publication: 2012

ISBN:  0451464338

Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal, shifter, witches
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 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: Jane Yellowrock.


But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator. Unless she wants to face a very angry mast vampire, she will have to work overtime to find the killer. It's a good thing she's worth every penny.

My opinion:

          I have mixed feeling this time… oh I do have loved this book and it’s still as well written as the precedent and a great addition to the series. However I had some trouble to understand Jane this time or agree with her decisions….as a result I was quite angry at some moment even if I couldn’t put the book aside.

Jane finally reveals what she is at more people but that was what I felt wrong….she could have say the truth to her shaman Angie that I would have understood….Derek Lee too (until now he was my favourite) but she tells it to Ricky.. the unfaithful, lying, deceiving man of her life…. In my opinion It could have been the worse choice, not that I would have loved to see her tell all her secrets to the vampire but Ricky! Arg I don’t trust him for a second and he is tempted to go back to the enemy once again , with a special agency that is dangerous for all supernatural.. arg Jane think with something else than your body! Beast is perhaps thinking Ricky could be a great bed partner… but she doesn’t see herself bound to him for eternity so secret should be kept!

It’s true that I always preferred Derek the more responsible and one that’ seemed to understand Jane better….now it’s not exactly what happen in this story but I guess all friendship needs to be refreshed at a time or another, especially since they were more partner, colleague than friend to start with.Derek at least stay reliable in my opinion. We don’t see too much of Leo this time, even if we do hear a lot from him, since it’s Gregoire that Jane is tasked to protect and  that  outside New Orleans….I didn’t remembered Gregoire well I admit but I was delighted to see more of the B-Twins and they are working well with Jane all the while being more than simply colleague….when she needs understanding she didn’t think it would come from them nor did she think she would need it but they were there and I want more of them.

This story focus largely on the magical part since Evangelina, head of molly’s coven is practising illegal magic and… black magic too. I hated her and that feeling just grew stronger that woman is pure evil and completely out of her mind this time she even goes against her coven, yes we don’t know all her past but still….i don’t approve her at all. So magic is predominant this time even if the shifter part is still well built with the werewolves who escaped last time, the lack leopard who still need to be taught a lesson and Ricky which we still don’t exactly know the future..

I really appreciated to get a little more of the Cherokee legends since Evangelina called one demon from them but Angie baby knows more than it seems and it was really wonderful to learn and it let so many possibilities open, I do want more .

However another part disappointed me a little: Molly…..we don’t often see strong female friendship so I was really happy to see Jane and Molly….despite her husband not liking her friend Molly stayed true to their friendship… until now. We discover that she doesn’t trust Jane near her children as before since she doesn’t go again Big Evan. Sadly it just got even worse….it’s something I regret, I do hope we will see the situation improving but I’m not sure. Jane has another friend prospect, on the vampire side but friendship needs time to grow so it’s too early to tell.

The story was fast passed and the humour vastly presents despites the violence and heartbreak so it’s really an excellent instalment in the series, I can’t wait to start on the next one either. I would recommend to read this series in order but at the same time, if one book could be read without having read the precedent ones it should be this one, the author gives the necessarily information and the story is focusing so well that you are immersed directly. 

If you love, magic, shifters, vampires, native American legends, history, humour and fast paced action, this series is right for you

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Mercy Blade ( Jane Yellowrock 3) by Faith Hunter

Hello to all!

              I decided to start the year slowly, oki the fact i've caught the flu helped but i want to avoid the stress, so i decided to start by reading some books i really want to because i loved the precedent so much i couldn't wait longer.... i picked the next in line for me in the Jane Yellowrockrock series by faith Hunter and while it was a good choice i could have done better. The best part is that this book works for all challenges i've entered so far.

Anyway let start with the first review of 2014, Mercy Blade by faith Hunter

Publisher: Roc

Publication: 2011

ISBN:  0451463722

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker--and a rogue-vampire hunter for hire. But lately she's found herself taking blood money from the very vamps she used to hunt.


Things are heating up in the Big Easy. Weres have announced their existence to the 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 crossfire.



When Jane is attacked by a pack of marauding werewolves, 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 young vampires who have gone insane. What Jane doesn't know is why this powerful assassin left New Orleans. And more troubling, why he's now returned. It's definitely not to make Jane's life easier.

My opinion:

          Faith Hunter is excellent as always but I must admit that so far this book is the one I liked the less in the series. It’s a good one don’t misunderstand me however I’m not fond of universes were werewolves are depicted as crazy beasts and sadly this story focus on them while their description is of savage beast without moral etc… now it’s not that radical they have rules but they don’t follow them and while we get their history it really doesn’t sound fair to them.

Now the great part is that the author makes difference between the different kind of shifters not all of them are so crazy and I guess I can hope for a remedy for the werewolves then^^ after all we all can dream. So I did get interested in the story but this one was a lot more complicated than the first 2 books. Hard to keep up with all the investigation but it was well worth it. I appreciated that Jane was one man- woman and didn’t want to sleep around even if I regretted the choice she made…. Rick isn’t stable and she need stability but beast won on the attractive part I guess^^^. Leo seemed really instable and I hate him more after each book ^^, the way he acts with Jane, how he push aside his most loyal followers… really he can’t be trusted and so far I can’t even respect him but it’s part of the vampire mentality I guess. Bruiser just can’t leave Leo and is too devoted to him to be good for Jane but I think he is the more interested anyway

Molly and her so sweet little girl make some phone interventions and as always I love those they are so funny and protective. I couldn’t stand Evangelina since the beginning and I found strange to see Jane trusting her so quickly and easily.

I really loved the idea of more feline shifters and then the specific creatures ( anzu or grindy) are really interesting and I hope to learn and see more of them even if my opinion on Gee is still hesitant. I need more to decide if I like him or not but for sure I didn’t approve of his actions in this books even if I understand his motivation.

The ending was a little too predictable for me and quite heartbreaking but also a form of cliffhanger so I’m glad I have the next book ready. If you love this series you will love this book even if it’s darker than the precedents and some descriptions are really not for sensitive soul, you will just want more.

Score:  3,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Blood Cross ( Jane Yellowrock 2) by Faith Hunter

Good Evening ( or day or night depending where you live when you are reading this ;) )


      Fall has started full force and thus raining and harsh winds are daily and it doesn't really help my mood i admit, i can tell i was glad to have a bunch of book i wanted to read to think about something else when i wasn't working on some gifts or trying to recover.

Today i'm sharing with you my opinion on the second book in the Jane Yellowrock series, i must say the Lousiana, New Orleans setting is starting to become a real favourite of mine;) .An addictive series, and you get addicted to Beast in priority^^. It's really a perfect series for this time of the year i think.

Happy reading!

Publisher: Roc

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  0451463072

Genre: urban fantasy,paranormal
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

 Jane Yellowrock is back on the prowl against the children of the night...

The vampire council has hired skinwalker Jane Yellowrock to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules — but Jane 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.

My opinion:

          I was quite impatient to go back in New Orleans to meet Jane and of course Beast after finishing “Skinwalker” book1, it didn’t end on a cliffhanger but the tension was high and Leo passably angry ^^;; ( euphemism I know). I needed more so what a pleasure this second book has been.  Beast is acting and speaking a lot more but still with cryptic sentence, still I love her more and more and she did save Jane and helped her to overcome the compulsion. Jane has found some part of her memory back and she is still meeting with the shaman to learn more but what I really loved this time is how she was more centered, the situation was chaotic, she once again didn’t understand the insinuation, secret message behind the veiled message of a vampire (exactly like in book 1 one ask her to come but no miss Jane forget and do everything but not that.) but at the same time she was focused and even better completely in symbiosis with Beast it was more than great.

We also see how sensible and vulnerable Jane is, how she doesn’t know how to react to a napping time and how emotional she gets when Angelina dress up. I enjoyed not seeing only her warrior side but also how she could react s a woman while pampered up and flatted^^. Another positive development is that she has chosen her partner, the romance is heating up, some competition for her attention exist she is tempted but she makes a choice. ( part of me was voting for the other side but I ‘m still happy with her choice^^). Her secret is also partly revealed, not her exact nature but the shifting part is out of the bag and it does have a big impact on Leo when he think she is a were… so I’m really curious on the story behind the opposition between vampire and were in this universe.

Now back to Leo, and Bruiser^^, he is still grieving and that affects him a lot. I was mostly angry with him this time he keeps trying to kill Jane then save her then threaten her  etc  worse than a girl with big level of hormones. He couldn’t stick to his choice more than a few minutes completely crazy but he is attracted to Jane the question is he is attracted because of feeling or because she would be a good tools to use. The question is worth some thinking because we see in this book how ruthless he is despites his good look, oh he keeps some honor but he is not above using other and killing to keep his status. Bruiser had more merit this time, he do take things in hands when Leo can and he tried to help and protect Jane when it was not against a direct order ( yes that’s the problem is first loyalty is to Leo and to stay alive perhaps it’s better staying that way ( not sure if Leo wouldn’t be a jealous one)

Now what I enjoyed even more was discovering Molly finally. She is so kind and open minded I love her!. I know we got some info on how she met Jane but I wouldn’t mind reading more about that to understand how deep their bond is because let’s be honest they are more than sisters despites the lack of blood sharing…they trust each other completely and while her children are abducted, Molly doesn’t accuse Jane and trust her to set things right. It was really interesting. I have more reserve about big Evans… he is against Jane from the start and I’m not 100%sure why… he is hiding something he knows about her? Is he afraid of her?  Angelina is so cute, quite like her mother and I enjoy how Faith hunter built her personality…. But  this time we see more of her power and I’m curious about why dark is her color after all Jane said that normally it’s blue for witch… I’m guessing it will become even more interesting in future books.

Oh I was also glad to see again Rick , Jodi and some folks from book one like  some security guards^^  and Derek lee too. I loved to see they didn’t change from book 1, it’s not always easy to keep the same personality for secondary characters but the author managed perfectly well and well as keeping the Louisiana atmosphere that give this series the perfect setting.

The tension was high, the action fast packed and really I couldn’t stop turning the pages, I loved learning more about the vampires history and beliefs it made everything even more intense. So It’s really an excellent dark urban fantasy that I recommend with pleasure if you love vampires, shifters, speaking hungry but funny beast, and of course New Orleans!

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges: