Blood on the Earth (A Soulwood Novel) by Faith Hunter

In the backwoods of east Tennessee there was a woman who only wanted to be left to herself.  Just when she thinks she has found peace away from a family and religious  situation that was less to her liking, she has the (mis)fortune to run into our favorite (or at least my favorite) vampire bounty hunter, Jane Yellowrock.  The aftermath of that meeting is what brings us to the beginning of Blood on the Earth by Faith Hunter.  It is the first in a series that not only comes from a good pedigree but shows promise in its own right.

Faith Hunter brings into what some may think of as the 'Deep South', east Tennessee.  Having never really spent much time east of Chattanooga myself, I give Ms. Hunter credit for accuracy.  It is certainly a modern look at the more rural living conditions of some areas.  The South seems to be a favored setting for many stories like these.  The diversity of culture and the mixing of so many of the same makes for a rich treasure trove of mythologies to choose from and Faith does that very well in all stories including this one.

The people we meet this time around are mostly new with the exceptions of Rick (Ricky Bo) Lafleur and Nell Ingram.  We met Rick and some of his entourage throughout the Jane Yellowrock series while it's not until Off the Grid that we  meet Nell.  While getting reacquainted with Nell, we meet more of her family, friends and neighbors.  While there are some of the typical archetypes for this kind of story, they don't come off as 'cookie-cutter' or caricatures.  They all bring something to the story in ways that feel unique.

I like Nell and believe this is a good start to what may be a great series.  I cannot say I fell in love with Nell the way I did with Jane in her first book but, there is potential.  There is some harsh language and mature situations in this book.  None seem gratuitous but, I would still keep this out of the hands of those under 15 earning it a PG13 from me.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 contemporary, Deep South, Faith Hunter, Fantasy, Paranormal, Paranormal Detective, Penguin, Soulwood, Urban  Leave your mark

Shadow Rites: A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter

This is a review of the 10th installment to the Jane Yellowrock series.  A thus far intriguing and exciting series that I would not want to spoil for any of you who may not be current in it.  If that is you, stop reading this and start reading the first book right away, I'm sure you'll be hooked immediately.  When you've caught up, come back and read up on what's new with Jane.

The Big Cat is back!  Along with her partners Eli and Alex  and so many of her friends and acquaintances that we have grown to know and appreciate.  Still in the Big Easy and still Enforcer for Leo Pellissier and getting ready for the big meeting between witches and vampires.  The only problem is, two witches decide to visit Jane early and leave a mystery in their wake.

When it comes to stories about anything fantastical or paranormal in the U.S., it's hard to beat a New Orleans for the setting.  It is a city rich in cultures and the histories that surround them.  Faith Hunter makes good use of this setting every time she brings back to visit with Jane.  In this book, as well as the others, her use of scenery enhances the mood either by matching it or by contrast.  Well appointed offices, posh parlors and smelly swamps all do their parts to lull the reader into false security or to put the reader on guard for the next beastly attack.

One of the traps for a series of this depth is the possibility of a lack of growth in the characters.  At ten books into the series, the Jane Yellowrock series does not have that problem.  Jane herself continues to have enough mystique in both her future and her past that we may yet see a great deal more of her in books to come.  Her compatriots get similar treatment.  We still don't know much of Eli Younger's past and Alex Younger might be a future that bears watching.

The plot and pacing themselves are somewhat familiar but, don't feel forced or formulaic.  We have general ideas that conflicts will happen and resolutions reached.  Thing is, it may not happen in the order you expect.  Some resolutions may be from books past some conflicts remain in place.  Much like real life, you don't know when things will settle down.

Shadow Rites: A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter  maintains and actually boosts the momentum initiated by the previous installments of this series. Very entertaining though it lands comfortably in the PG13 rating for me.  There's very little in the way of language but, the violence and mature situations keep it there.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:00

 Faith Hunter, Fantasy, Jane Yellowrock, Netgalley, Paranormal, Penguin, Review, Skinwalker, Urban, Vampire, Witch  4 People left their mark

Dark Heir by Faith Hunter

I have a longstanding love affair with Faith Hunter's writing (see my DYTR... post for SKINWALKER, the first book) and DARK HEIR has only furthered my admiration for her writing. In the series' ninth book, Hunter has managed to expand the world Jane lives in, in so many ways.

In DARK HEIR, the stakes are incredibly high (if you'll pardon the vampire-related pun). Jane has to track down and subdue one of the original vampires: Joses, one of the Sons of Darkness. It's an incredibly daunting mission but one she has no choice to accept because her city and her friends are in serious peril. Jane has faced down some serious foes in previous novels but there's a real sense of danger and potential failure in DARK HEIR. As events unfold, I honestly couldn't figure out how Jane was going to get out of the pickle she's in this time around. Joses is seriously powerful and Jane is seriously outmatched.

As always, the fight scenes and action are beautifully written but what really resonated with me was the way that Hunter has developed the different relationships in Jane's life. The Youngers, for example, are such a great addition to Jane's world, adding a great sense of family and a lot of humour to the series. I'm particularly fond of Eli - he's such a great partner for Jane! We also get some lovely progress in her romantic relationship with Bruiser, which always makes me smile. Hunter writes Jane's baby-steps in the romance department with such talent and I really enjoy watching Jane adjust to being in a happy and accepting romance. And then, of course, there's the dicey dance she does with Leo, which is always Entertaining with a capital "E".

There are so many reasons to love the Jane Yellowrock series and I feel like I've gushed about it time and time again. I won't belabour the point here. I'll just say that I think this is one of the strongest and most consistent urban fantasy series out there and you're missing out if you've not given it a shot.

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Posted by Tynga at 01:35

 Ace, Adult, Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock, Netgalley, Penguin, Review, ROC, Skinwalker, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  6 People left their mark

Dark Heir blog tour: Guest post by Faith Hunter

Today I'm delighted to welcome Faith Hunter to the blog. Jane Yellowrock is one of the coolest cats in urban fantasy today and I'm also a huge fan of her Rogue Mage books, which you should totally try if you like post-apocalyptic fun. Or maybe "fun" is a better word, since it's not exactly a good time for everyone involved. In any case, we have an exclusive guest post from Faith as part of her blog tour for DARK HEIR, the ninth Jane Yellowrock book. Enjoy!

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A Day in the Week of Faith Hunter: Tuesday

The Hubs and the dogs and I go through our usual morning routine and by 10 a.m. I am at the grocery store with my youngest brother. He takes care of the groceries for his family and we visit while we shop. This lets us catch up on family stuff, like who is sick, what tests came back, how his business and my writing are doing. We shop and gripe and vent and then head home through a steady rain, with goodies in the back of our vehicles.

Today I finish the second draft of the novella’s outline that I worked on all day yesterday and when I am satisfied, I send it to my editor at Penguin/Roc for her suggestions and approval. They already paid me for it so I am happy to have something on paper. Also, today is “Dust-mop Floor Day”, so when I break, I clean and wash any clothes I didn’t get to yesterday.

I have a housekeeper who comes every four to six weeks to dig us out, but I do the light stuff on my own. If I won the lottery or something, I might have someone come in every two weeks, but the Hubs and I are hermits by nature and having people in the house is disruptive to the creative jobs we have.

Today I also start the new Jane Yellowrock novel. This will be book 10, and the outline was finished last week. My head is clear and I already know the first line, which helps getting started. I don’t begin every novel knowing that first line. Sometimes I write a hundred pages before it comes to me, and that requires bit of a rewrite to get everything to flow, but today it’s easy, a bit of dialogue that tells Jane someone has come back from the dead. Well, the supposed dead. As it turns out she wasn’t really dead at all.

Anyway, I am on page three before I think to take a break and I have to move a lot to get my body going again. I do bit of cleaning and thinking and then prepare a very late lunch with the Hubs. It rained a lot overnight and is still raining now, and he’s going paddling on a creek nearby with a Class V paddler. This will be the warmest day of the week, with another cold front on the way.

I have the house to myself and the writing is flowing nicely. No phone calls to interrupt me, the dogs are sleepy and not asking to go out quite so often. They don’t care for the rain. My little pampered babies.

I write a good five pages total today, and then revise a bit, adding in the necessary foreshadowing, which gives one more page. Today is also Cardio Day. I do cardio two days, then weights two days, then yoga-based stretches one day. The Hubs and I have a good supper. Tuesday is TV night, and I am ready for NCIS and NCIS-New Orleans, reading a story, and watching my shows.

Nitie-nite!

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For more Faith, check out the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tour Schedule

Here's the scoop on DARK HEIR:

Shapeshifting skinwalker Jane Yellowrock is the best in the business when it comes to slaying vampires. But her latest fanged foe may be above her pay grade…

For centuries, the extremely powerful and ruthless vampire witches of the European Council have wandered the Earth, controlling governments, fostering war, creating political conflict, and often leaving absolute destruction in their wake. One of the strongest of them is set to create some havoc in the city of New Orleans, and it’s definitely personal.

Jane is tasked with tracking him down. With the help of a tech wiz and an ex-Army ranger, her partners in Yellowrock Securities, she’ll have to put everything on the line, and hope it’s enough. Things are about to get real hard in the Big Easy.

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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Posted by Tynga at 01:20

 Adult, Faith Hunter, Guest Post, Penguin, Skinwalker  5 People left their mark

Off the Grid: A Jane Yellowrock Story by Faith Hunter

I know this is only a novella but, I had to review it as a prelude to the next installment of the Jane Yellowrock series.  This is the newest in that series and there may be some spoilers so, if you haven't started the series and intend on doing so, do so now!  It really is an excellent series in the genre especially if you like books with strong female central characters.  As usual, Faith Hunter does not disappoint us on that account with this story in the Jane Yellowrock saga.

In this story we see Jane continuing her arrangement with Leo Pellissier and goes to take care of one of the clans within his domain.  Of course, Jane sets out to take care of the clan's needs in her usual, no holds barred, style.  One of the things I really like about this book and, the series itself, is that it doesn't rely on the whole Monster of the Week trope.  Don't get me wrong, it is one of my favorite story lines.   The problem is that it gets over used by TV and movies to the point that it becomes predictable.  This is book tells a story about what I would think Jane would have to put up with between the big jobs.  You know, the everyday, hum drum life where hideous death or dismemberment lurks behind every door.

As usual, Faith Hunter does excellent work in weaving a tale, though briefer than most, is still filled with mystery and action.  There isn't a lot of connection with the overall storyline of the series but, one never knows what the future hold in store for Miss Yellowrock.  I have read short stories that have had major impacts on a books series.

Since this pick was an audiobook, I must comment on the talents of Khristine Hvam.  As always, she takes the characters that Ms. Hunter creates and breathes life into them.  Her delivery is clear, understandable and more than just somebody who's reading the text into a microphone.  She makes each character distinct and recognizable.

Off the Grid is a great addition to the series and a nice tease to the upcoming release of  her novel Dark Heir.  Considering most of the series has a more mature nature to it, I would still reserve this one for the more mature readers.

 

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Posted by Tynga at 02:00

 Action amp; Adventure, Amazon Publishing, Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock, Khristine Hvam, Purchased, Review, Skinwalker, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  1 Person left their mark

Easy Pickings by Faith Hunter and C. E. Murphy

When Dorothy and Toto are whisked out of Kansas, they are given a few guides to help along the way. When Jane Yellowrock and Joanne Walker get taken out of New Orleans close to Mardi Gras, they only get a man who’s all mystery and a rampaging demon. Dorothy and her dog also had the luxury of being from the same world. Jane and Jo seem to come from two different planes of existence. This is how we begin the crossover of two successful urban fantasy series (Jane Yellowrock Series and Walker Papers Series). I got this book as an audiobook and since there’s little question as to the abilities of the authors, I’ll talk a little about the performance and story.

Individually, Kristine Hvam and Gabra Zackman are excellent at their craft. I’ve always though Kristine Hvam’s voice was suited to the character of Jane Yellowrock. Gabra Zackman was a little different for me. She has a pleasant voice and reads well, putting emphasis and personality in all the right places. The only problem for me was that her voice gave a different mental image than the description in the text or the cover of the book. I know this is my perception and others may not see it that way. The difference is mild enough to not take me out of the story. My only real complaint was with the audio editing. There are spots where the levels were way off and did threaten to pull me out of the story.

The story itself was very interesting and I thought they handled the crossover well. They were able to take to characters from two very different worlds and make it seem not only plausible but almost inevitable for them to meet. I also applaud the authors for being able to meld the styles. It’s not seamless but, I thought the seams were part of the texture of the story.  In that they helped illustrate the disparity among these characters and worlds.

I am a big fan of both Faith Hunter and Kristine Hvam and love the Jane Yellowrock series. This book has done its job and tempted me to check out the Walker Papers series. If you are likewise a fan of either of these book series’, I highly suggest reading or listening to this one.

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Posted by Tynga at 00:36

 Action amp; Adventure, C. E. Murphy, crossover, Faith Hunter, Fantasy amp; Magic, Fiction, Jane Yellowrock, mardi gras, Purchased, Review, shaman, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Walker Papers, yellowrock  Leave your mark

Broken Soul tour: Guest post by Faith Hunter + giveaway

Today we have a guest post from Faith Hunter, author of two amazing series: the Jane Yellowrock urban fantasy series and near-future apocalyptic Rogue Mage series. Faith is here today to promote her latest Jane Yellowrock book, BROKEN SOUL, and she's written us a great guest post about her life as a kayaker.

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THE LIFE OF A KAYKER

Kayakers are laid back adrenaline junkies. Yes, as a writer, I do recognize the apparent disconnect between being laid back and being an adrenaline junky, but kayakers (we often call each other paddlers, but only face-to-face, not in print, because when you do an Internet search for paddlers something very different from rivers comes up. Just a word of warning…) manage to be both.

There is nothing more soothing than being in a kayak on a slow-moving river, lost in nature among the flora and fauna, seeing seasonal flowers, deer, raccoons, great gray herons, snowy egrets, osprey, kingfishers, bald eagles, turkey, the rare wild boar leaping across river rocks, water fowl in dozens of varieties, muskrats playing in the water, and the occasional sighting of a beaver. Laid back floats with sporadic wave-train or class II runs are so much fun and so relaxing.



Then there are the class III and IV rapid runs, where the action is a bit wilder and the adrenaline starts to flow, often on the same river, sometimes only a few hundred yards apart. Where the river narrows and the terrain changes, dropping elevation, forcing the water to move faster, and to dodge around, over, and under rocks. Where the spray gets higher, whiter, colder, and the air starts to smell of ozone and freshness and all things wild and dangerous. Then the kayaker changes from this laid back, relaxed, feet-in-the-water paddler, into a strapped in, sharp, focused, heart-pounding, adrenaline junky. And yeah—that’s me. I’m a bit of both when I’m not writing. When I’m on a river.

I’ve used rivers and kayaking in thrillers under the name pen Gwen Hunter. I also wrote kayaking and rafting into the Jane Yellowrock book RAVEN CURSED. So I guess you can say that paddling is a big part of my life, and it’s a sport that I can participate in for many years, without the worry that aging will force me away. I’ve met paddlers in their 80s who are still taking rivers, having fun, and getting back the laid back, adrenaline-filled joy of nature.

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For more Faith, check out the following links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Tour Schedule

Here's the scoop on BROKEN SOUL:

Jane Yellowrock is a vampire killer for hire—but other creatures of the night still need to watch their backs....

When the Master of the city of New Orleans asks Jane to improve security for a future visit from a delegation of European vampires, she names an exorbitant price—and Leo is willing to pay. That’s because the European vamps want Leo’s territory, and he knows that he needs Jane to prevent a total bloodbath. Leo, however, doesn’t mention how this new job will change Jane’s life or the danger it will bring her and her team.

Jane has more to worry about than some greedy vampires. There’s a vicious creature stalking the streets of New Orleans, and its agenda seems to be ripping Leo and her to pieces. Now Jane just has to figure out how to kill something she can’t even see….

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

We're giving away one (1) copy of BROKEN SOUL to a lucky reader.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New York Times bestselling author Faith Hunter writes dark urban fantasy and paranormal thrillers, including the Skinwalker series, featuring rogue-vampire hunter Jane Yellowrock, and the Rogue Mage series, a post-apocalyptic, alternate reality series, featuring Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. She has a new series under wraps.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Faith Hunter, giveaway, Guest Post, Penguin  16 People left their mark

Broken Soul by Faith Hunter

Jane Yellowrock is back and Faith Hunter has hit another home run with BROKEN SOUL! I'm such a huge fan of this author and so I jumped on the opportunity to be a part of her blog tour, especially since it meant an early peek at BROKEN SOUL.

The Jane Yellowrock books are very much a series so you'll need to start with  SKINWALKER. [You can check out my Daring You To Read... post here.] Assuming you're caught up with the series, though, keep reading to find out what I thought of Jane's latest adventure.

BROKEN SOUL keeps us in New Orleans. Leo hires Jane to improve security for the inevitable visit from the European vampires, who want Leo's territory and secrets. Jane is transitioning out of her role as Leo's Enforcer (a role that Derek is stepping into) but she's still for hire and tied to New Orleans so she gets to work. Unfortunately for Jane, European vampires aren't the only ones looking to get their proverbial and literal claws into my favourite skinwalker since she's being stalked by a mysterious creature that no one else can see. The creature becomes less mysterious as the novel goes on and this reveal gives us a lot of new information about how the universe works in the Jane Yellowrock series. It's suddenly a lot bigger in Jane's world -- and a lot more interesting!

What I really love about this series is the way that Jane's relationships have developed. She was quite the loner with a duffel bag in SKINWALKER and now she has a mini family with her partners (Eli and Alex), Aggie, and even some of the people who work for Leo. And, of course, there's Bruiser. Their attraction has been heady since they first met but there are fewer obstacles between them now that Bruiser is Onorio and Rick is a part of Jane's romantic past. This plot thread gets a nice amount of attention in BROKEN SOUL, which should satisfy all of the shippers out there who have been waiting to see what might happen when there isn't as much baggage for Jane and Bruiser. Jane and Beast's relationship is also changing, as they move towards a harmonious partnership. As always, I love reading the chapters told from Beast's perspective because she's such a cat and her outlook at life is just so perfectly written.

The best scene in the book? Well, I won't say but it involves a closet. You'll see why I loved it so much when you get there. :)

Run, don't walk, to the store and get yourself a copy of BROKEN SOUL! It's the latest step in Jane Yellowrock's journey and one you cannot miss.

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Posted by Tynga at 02:30

 Adult, Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock, Netgalley, Penguin, Review, ROC, Skinwalker, Urban Fantasy, Vampire  Leave your mark

Black Arts by Faith Hunter

I was a few books behind on this amazing series until last month, when I went on a Jane Yellowrock binge. Jane's most recent outing, BLACK ARTS, builds on the awesome foundation that Hunter laid in SKINWALKER and then grew with each subsequent novel. The seventh novel in the series, BLACK ARTS takes all of the best elements from the series and puts it into one amazing, exciting package.

In case you're not a reader (yet), you can get the main ideas of the series from my Daring You To Read... post. But here's a quick catch-up on some of the things that have happened to Jane since SKINWALKER (which means spoilers abound from here out). Leo is still the Master of the City but Bruiser is no longer his primo. Instead, he's now Onorio, which means that he's more than human and no longer tied to Leo in the same way. Jane now has business partners, two brothers named Eli and Alex, who've added an awesome family dynamic to Jane's life, filling the void left by the absence of Molly and her family, who have distanced themselves from Jane since the incident with Evangelina. Jane's also now Leo's Enforcer in addition to being a contract employee, which has added some interesting and complicated elements to Jane's life. Rick's adjusting to his life with the were taint and as a member of the law enforcement agency PsyLed. Jane's learned a lot about herself and Beast, and she/they are extremely torn on a romantic level since Jane/Beast is drawn to Leo, Bruiser, and Rick for different reasons.

BLACK ARTS starts up shortly after the end of BLOOD TRADE. Jane is back in New Orleans after her job in Natchez, living  in her loaner of a house with Eli and Alex. The drama and action start on page 1, when Evan (Molly's husband and not Jane's Number One Fan) literally blows into town, looking for his wife. I love Big Evan and I just knew that it was going to be an amazing story once he stepped onto the page, full of desperation and confusion. The Everhearts have been out of the picture for a few novels so it was great to have Molly and the rest of her family as the focus of BLACK ARTS. We finally get to see what's been going on with them since everything with Evangelina happened and, wow, is it every crazy. I don't want to say too much so that you can get really enjoy it but I will say that BLACK ARTS will throw you for a loop. The developments with Molly and the reasons that she went missing truly surprised me and really tie up some lingering questions. BLACK ARTS also forces Jane and Evan to come to terms with each other and discuss the tensions between them. We also find out just how Angie is progressing with her powers (she's scary strong), which is something I've been very curious about.

Another great aspect of BLACK ARTS is Jane's relationship with Beast. Things between them were so hostile at first (at least on Beast's side) but they've been progressing towards a more harmonious relationship as Jane now understands how she and Beast came together. Their interactions in this novel were so fraught with emotion and I love seeing Jane taking care of her spiritual side, not only because we get to see  Aggie One Feather, one of my favourite supporting characters in the series.

To be honest, BLACK ARTS was so good I'm finding it difficult to articulate what I liked most about the book. Everything is Faith Hunter at her finest: great dialogue, fast-paced action, emotional moments. There's no stand-out moment because the whole novel was just so incredibly satisfying. If you're a Jane Yellowrock fan, you definitely need to read this (but only after the others because you can't skip a book in this series). If you're not a fan yet (you crazy kid!), you need to dive into Jane's world. BLACK ARTS is a fine urban fantasy and I'm on the edge of my seat waiting for BROKEN SOUL.

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Posted by Tynga at 03:00

 Adult, Faith Hunter, Jane Yellowrock, Netgalley, Penguin, Review, ROC, Skinwalker, Urban Fantasy, Vampire, Witch  1 Person left their mark

Black Arts blog tour + giveaway

Today we are hosting Faith Hunter's BLACK ARTS blog tour! I'm a huge fan of this series for so many reason -- you can see why in my Daring You To Read... post for SKINWALKER, the first book in the series. The talented Ms. Hunter is now up to 7 books in the series now and it just keeps getting better and better. Needless to say, I need to send a big thanks to Faith and Let's Talk! Promotions for including us on the tour.

One of the cool things about this series is that each chapter has its own title. Faith is here today to share four chapter titles from BLACK ARTS and to let us know why she chose them. We have chapters 9-12 and now I'm really curious about this book. We also have a giveaway of BLACK ARTS, so if you're interested, be sure to stick around!

Welcome, Faith!

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Chapter Nine -- “Not Human,” I Said. “Deal with It.”
Jane admitting to who she is. The cat is out of the bag, so to speak. (koff koff)

Chapter Ten -- Le Petit Chaton Avec Les Griffes
Leo speaking. Now why would he call Jane French names? And … any French speakers here?

Chapter Eleven -- Decide. Now.
All I’ll say is this is dialogue. But … Who in the world is so dang bossy? Jane? Bruiser? Leo? Hmmmm…. And what is being demanded of whom?

Chapter Twelve -- Do We Call the Police?
Why would anyone call the cops when they have Jane around? Unless … Jane is in trouble? Or a human is in trouble and Jane has other prey to catch? Hmmm…

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FAITH HUNTER writes bestselling dark urban fantasy: Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock—Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death’s Rival & Blood Trade. Rogue Mage, a post-apocalyptic, alternate reality series, features Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage—BloodRing, Seraphs, Host, and Rogue Mage RPG and World Book.

Find Faith online on her blog, her website www.faithhunter.net, on Pinterest, goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Here's the scoop on BLACK ARTS:

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.

Pre-order: Amazon | Book Depository

And here's where it all began:

And here are some short stories and e-releases, including EASY PICKINGS, a crossover with C. E. Murphy's Joanne Walker:

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Penguin giving away one (1) copy of BLACK ARTS. Follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter!

US only.

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Posted by Tynga at 06:56

 Faith Hunter, giveaway, Guest Post, Penguin  13 People left their mark

Daring You To Read...Skinwalker by Faith Hunter

It's been too long since I caught up with Jane Yellowrock, the protagonist of this fantastic urban fantasy series by Faith Hunter. I'm a few books behind on this series but that's going to change by the end of the summer!

I first discovered Hunter's writing through her Rogue Mage series (a dare for another day) but I was recently overcome by the urge to get reacquainted with Jane, one of the most interesting and unique heroines out there. Why do I find her so fascinating? If you are familiar with the series, I'm sure you can guess but here's the lowdown for folks who might not be in the know. =)

Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker and freelance vampire hunter. The world knows about the latter since she has a website and everything, vampires having been outed in 1962 (it involves Marilyn Monroe!). The skinwalker part? That's a secret. As a skinwalker, Jane has the ability to shift into different animals but she usually turns into Beast, the big cat that lives inside Jane. Skinwalkers are rare -- so rare Jane might be the only one alive -- and if you want to find out how Beast and Jane ended up together, you'll get the answer in SKINWALKER. Jane's looking for answers too, since she can't remember her life before she was found wandering the woods at age 12. Despite this, Jane has a strong personality: she's smart, tough, and independent, she rides a motorcycle she calls Bitsa because it's made of bits of this and bits of that, she's got slick martial skills and smooth dance moves, and she's found a family in her best friend, Molly, who just happens to be a witch. How can you not root for a chick like this?

If Jane alone isn't enough incentive to get you to try SKINWALKER, you should know that there are vampires galore. Vampires have a strong presence in New Orleans, where SKINWALKER is set, and they've actually hired Jane to come in and find a rogue vampire. She learns a lot about the social structure of vampires over the course of the investigation, which means we do, too. There are clans, there are blood-servants, there are blood-junkies, and more, all led by Leo Pellister, the vampire in charge of the city. Every vampire Jane meets is intrigued by her because they can tell she's different but no one knows quite what she is, making her a mystery and a prize all at once.

Another great element in SKINWALKER is the prominence of Jane's Cherokee heritage. Hunter embraces Cherokee language and culture and it's cool to see Jane explore this side of herself. And cooler still to see Jane portrayed as a strong Native American woman on the cover!

If you're looking for a book with great writing, strong characters, and smart plots, get your hands on SKINWALKER!

Want more? I bet you do! Here's the scoop on SKINWALKER from Faith Walker's website:

A year ago Jane nearly lost her life taking down an entire blood family of deadly rogue vampires that preyed on the helpless local populace of an Appalachian town. Now, after months of recuperation, she’s back and ready to fight again. Except this time, she’s 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 vampires for a living. Back from hiatus, she’s hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katies’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps.

Amidst a bordello 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 just may be her own…

My thoughts

Audio book excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

And here's the rest of the series:

And here are some short stories and e-releases, including EASY PICKINGS, a crossover with C. E. Murphy's Joanne Walker:

Daring You To Read is a weekly feature here on Tynga’s Reviews where we dare you to read some of our favorite older releases (at least 6 months old). All the books/series we choose to feature are titles we adored and think you should give them a shot! We think it’s a super awesome way to discover that special book who might have slipped off your radar!

What do you think? Have you read this series? Are you willing to accept my dare?

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Posted by jenn at 06:24

 Daring You to Read, Faith Hunter, Penguin, Vampire  5 People left their mark

A Christmas With… Faith Hunter

Raven Cursed, the fourth book in the Jane Yellowrock series, releases at the beginning of January, and to celebrate the occasion, our Jenn interview the lovely Faith Hunter! Make sure you read on to discover some interesting Jane tidbits!

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1- What made you decide to take Jane out of New Orleans and into North Carolina for RAVEN CURSED?

Jane is from the mountains, in both her Cherokee life and her Christian Children’s Home upbringing. Beast is a mountain creature from the same area. Plus, I had to set up books five and six, which have their homes in the locale of Raven Cursed.

2- I love how you write from Beast's point of view when Jane transforms. Is it easy for you to shift from one head space to the other?

It was quite difficult in the first novel, Skinwalker, partly because it was a new concept for me, and partly because my editor had some fairly strong editorial suggestions about Beast’s voice—things that made the voice much easier to write and much easier to read, frankly. Now? It is so easy. And while I know Jane quite well, Beast is always surprising me. I never know what she will say or do.

3- You've been slowly revealing Jane's past over the course of the series. Is there more to learn about Jane's early days?

Yes. New things are revealed that show the reader why Jane does things the way she does, why she reacts with guilt at the oddest times, and why she is so often closed off emotionally. By revealing her past to the reader at the same time Jane discovers it, I’m able to let Jane evolve and grow and develop.

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Posted by Tynga at 06:03

 A Christmas With, Faith Hunter, giveaway, Penguin  28 People left their mark