Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock Series #2)
I just finished this sequel to Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock Series #1). This latest installment was both enjoyable and frustrating. I gave it 3 stars. (Perhaps a 3.50 rating would be more accurate.) Anyway, here's my review:
Like its predessor 'Skinwalker', this book engages the reader with sultry descriptions of New Orleans and a fascinating portrait of predatory but civilized vampire society. Unfortunately, the plot-line, (which involves identifying and killing a master vamp who's creating uncontrolled rouge vamps), is periodically abandoned in favor of 'softer scenes' which have nothing to do with the hunt. In addition, Jane's character is dumbed-down and weakened. No self-respecting bounty-hunter would pursue her Cherokee roots and/or entertain house-guests, (including very young children), in the middle of a hunt for a dangerous vamp maker. Nor would anyone with a modicum of intelligence keep house guests around after they were marked for death by the most powerful vampire in New Orleans and/or after they became aware of an imminent vamp war. In addition to being brainless, Jane is just too ineffectual and sentimental. I wasn't interested in her tear-filled emotions and was downright disappoint by her inability to fight back. She's supposed to be a vamp killer not a vamp victim who needs rescuing. I was also disappointed by this novel's failure to predominantly feature Big Cat. I truly enjoyed the alternating perspective between Jane and her inner mountain lion in first book. I also loved the skin-walking hunts. In this novel, Big Cat is reduced to a secondary character with very little dialogue and there's only one or two skin-walking hunts. In sum, this story is interesting with a dark detective-like plot, several action sequences and a complex/fascinating vamp world. However, the story's flow is periodically slowed by unnecessary/irritating distractions, and the main characters, (Jane and her inner mountain lion), are diluted.
Hi everyone! I am new to the board but wanted to share some of my recent fave reads!
1st and foremost - the Southern Arcana series by Moira Rogers. Its a great mix of Urban Fantasy and PNR. Crux is out now and Crossroads comes out on Tuesday.
Next - Mark Henry's Amanda Feral series... its disgusting but laugh out loud funny.
Next, Karen Marie Moning's Fever series.The cliffhangers are killer tho.
And obviously, Keith Melton's Blood Vice. How can one not love mobsters and vampires?
Lots of great suggestions in this post, thanks for adding to my TBR pile! 
dalnewt wrote:
Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock Series #2)
I just finished this sequel to Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock Series #1). This latest installment was both enjoyable and frustrating. I gave it 3 stars. (Perhaps a 3.50 rating would be more accurate.) Anyway, here's my review:
Like its predessor 'Skinwalker', this book engages the reader with sultry descriptions of New Orleans and a fascinating portrait of predatory but civilized vampire society. Unfortunately, the plot-line, (which involves identifying and killing a master vamp who's creating uncontrolled rouge vamps), is periodically abandoned in favor of 'softer scenes' which have nothing to do with the hunt. In addition, Jane's character is dumbed-down and weakened. No self-respecting bounty-hunter would pursue her Cherokee roots and/or entertain house-guests, (including very young children), in the middle of a hunt for a dangerous vamp maker. Nor would anyone with a modicum of intelligence keep house guests around after they were marked for death by the most powerful vampire in New Orleans and/or after they became aware of an imminent vamp war. In addition to being brainless, Jane is just too ineffectual and sentimental. I wasn't interested in her tear-filled emotions and was downright disappoint by her inability to fight back. She's supposed to be a vamp killer not a vamp victim who needs rescuing. I was also disappointed by this novel's failure to predominantly feature Big Cat. I truly enjoyed the alternating perspective between Jane and her inner mountain lion in first book. I also loved the skin-walking hunts. In this novel, Big Cat is reduced to a secondary character with very little dialogue and there's only one or two skin-walking hunts. In sum, this story is interesting with a dark detective-like plot, several action sequences and a complex/fascinating vamp world. However, the story's flow is periodically slowed by unnecessary/irritating distractions, and the main characters, (Jane and her inner mountain lion), are diluted.
Well now that is disappointing to hear. But I guess it explains the cleavage change on the cover.
Dainewt wrote--
Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock Series #2)
I just finished this sequel to Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock Series #1). This latest installment was both enjoyable and frustrating. I gave it 3 stars. (Perhaps a 3.50 rating would be more accurate.) Anyway, here's my review:
Like its predessor 'Skinwalker', this book engages the reader with sultry descriptions of New Orleans and a fascinating portrait of predatory but civilized vampire society. Unfortunately, the plot-line, (which involves identifying and killing a master vamp who's creating uncontrolled rouge vamps), is periodically abandoned in favor of 'softer scenes' which have nothing to do with the hunt. In addition, Jane's character is dumbed-down and weakened. No self-respecting bounty-hunter would pursue her Cherokee roots and/or entertain house-guests, (including very young children), in the middle of a hunt for a dangerous vamp maker. Nor would anyone with a modicum of intelligence keep house guests around after they were marked for death by the most powerful vampire in New Orleans and/or after they became aware of an imminent vamp war. In addition to being brainless, Jane is just too ineffectual and sentimental. I wasn't interested in her tear-filled emotions and was downright disappoint by her inability to fight back. She's supposed to be a vamp killer not a vamp victim who needs rescuing. I was also disappointed by this novel's failure to predominantly feature Big Cat. I truly enjoyed the alternating perspective between Jane and her inner mountain lion in first book. I also loved the skin-walking hunts. In this novel, Big Cat is reduced to a secondary character with very little dialogue and there's only one or two skin-walking hunts. In sum, this story is interesting with a dark detective-like plot, several action sequences and a complex/fascinating vamp world. However, the story's flow is periodically slowed by unnecessary/irritating distractions, and the main characters, (Jane and her inner mountain lion), are diluted.
Tig wrote--
Well now that is disappointing to hear. But I guess it explains the cleavage change on the cover.
I liked Skinwalker well enough, I didn't find myself loving it though, but I liked it enough that I wanted to read Blood Cross. Blood Cross took off for me in the first chapter and I was hooked through out the entire book. I felt that we got to see deeper into the mythlogogy of the vampires and into Jane's Native American background as a skinwalker. Granted it wasn't a good time for Molly and her children to be visiting Jane, but since Witches and Witch children played a role in the book, I understood why they were written into the storyline of Blood Cross. I did feel that Jane came close to dying several times at the hands of several vamps, but while I was surprised at this, I felt that at that time it added to the book, and that Jane would come out stronger at the end.
I recently finished Archangel's Kiss and found it to be an enjoyable romance but not as exciting as Angels' Blood (Guild Hunter Series). I gave it four stars and have included my review below:
This sequel to "Angels' Blood" features a steamy romance, vibrant descriptions and a beautiful but dangerous angelic world. Elena is an engaging angel-in-training and Raphael evolves into a more sympathetic character while retaining his lethal edge. However, the story lacks the pervasive tension, urgency and action which characterized the first book. The sexual tension between Elena and Raphael is not as exciting as when they first met, but the emotional tension within their relationship is interesting and, at times, engrossing. Although integral to the plot and interesting, the psychologic tension which Elena experiences while suffering from post-traumatic flashbacks of a decades old vampire attack is a bit overdone. (Further, the trigger for Elena's flashbacks is not adequately explained: and, the flashbacks are a bit monotonous and eventually become somewhat irritating.) Overall the pace is moderate and only speeds up during the sporadic action sequences. For fans of romantic fantasy, this book provides an absorbing and immensely enjoyable read with an intriguing pairing between an independent female hunter turned newborn angel and a millieums old angelic male of immense power. However, for action/adventure fans, this plot lacks the urgent pacing, intensity and action of the first book.
dainewt, I do agree with you on several of the points that you make regarding Blood Cross, Jane points out all of these flaws herself in the beginning of the novel, why Molly and her children are there visiting her in Now Orleans, despite Leo wanting to kill Jane. It appears that Molly and her children only managed to get there because Molly's husband Evan is away somewhere, otherwise, he would never have let them wander on down to New Orleans and as we saw toward the end of Blood Cross, Evan won't be forgiving Jane anytime soon. I got the sense in Blood Cross that Jane thought that Molly was a much more Powerful Witch than she really is, and perhaps as we found out in this book, when Jane is on a Job, she needs to keep her head up at all times when she is hunting Vamps, because as we saw, she came very close to getting her neck chewed up several times through out this book, But she did learn more about herself, and I think we will see more of a Vamp Butt Kicking Jane in the future.
I just finished
Deadtown and gave it five stars. Here's my review below. (Note, it's kinda long but I really liked the book.)
This debut fantasy entertains with a combination of vivid characters, witty dialogue, amusing situations, a realistic paranormal world and lots of supernatural action. The narrative is told in the first-person perspective of a feisty, magic wielding shapeshifter, named Victory Vaughn, who exterminates demons, (primarily with guns and sanctified blades), for a fee. The supporting characters include a sorta-boyfriend werewolf attorney who's dedicated to securing full legal rights for all paranormals; a centuries-old vampiric roommate, (named Juliet), who loves to discuss the real story behind 'Romeo and Juliet' and lives to look good while securing nightly 'blood-bag' dates; a 'norm' police detective who loves to flirt; a surly, gangster-talking client who's constantly trying to fire Victory; a sister who wants to erase her shapeshifting heritage while embracing her stay-at-home motherhood; and, an amusing, tag-along teenage zombie who mucks-up just about everything she touches. Most of the action occurs in a present-day, alternative Boston which experienced a downtown plague resulting in thousands of zombified Bostonians who humorously struggle to lead ordinary lives despite board-like stiffness, superhuman strength, deteriorating flesh, red eyes, voracious appetites and occasional blood lust. The zombies, along with the other parnormals, (e.g., werewolves, vamps, zombies and Victory, as Boston's sole 'active' shapeshifter), are required to reside within that plague touched downtown area, which has been cordoned off and become known as "Deadtown." PAs must have a permit to leave Deadtown and some (especially the vamps) regularly visit the 'Combat Zone,' a sleazy, rundown border area where the 'norms' mingle with the monsters. The story-line involves Victory's efforts to confront and kill the 'hellion' demon (called the Destroyer) who murdered her father and threatens to destroy Boston. (The hellion appears to be have been conjured by a sorcerer who breached the witch charmed shield protecting the city.) The plot is fast-paced, twisting, and fun. The only flaws are the predictability of the sorcerer's identity and the lack of a 'shot-em-up' showdown between Victory and the Destroyer. Nonetheless, the climax is inventive, supernatural and surprising. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a humorous, fun-filled supernatural fantasy.
scjs4r wrote:
I recommend The Midnight Guardian by Sarah Jane Stratford
It was an excellent debut novel. Well written. It took place in Nazi Germany just before WWII. I am always looking for new and different takes on the genre.
I love the cover art....
Paul
I would recommend Ruby of the Realms, here's the back cover synopsis:
On the northwest side of Chicago, Ruby has a perfect life. Her family feeds her everyday, they are home with her all the time, and they allow her to patrol the backyard. What more could a dog ask for? But when Ruby meets Ortis the blue bunny, all of this changes.
In order to help Ortis return to his home in the Six Realms, Ruby must jump into the family’s pool with the rabbit. Ruby never expected anything to happen. But when the water started swirling and pulled her under, there was nothing the little dog could do.
Now Ruby is in Rocia, one of the Six Realms underneath the earth. This new land is fraught with dangers at every corner, from hideous Crites to the ball-like Ozzixites. But something else has been silently pulling strings from inside the Diamond Dust Desert. An evil, older than the world itself, has begun its plans. The fate of the Six Realms and Ruby’s home in the world above is at stake. Now, Ruby must brave these strange new lands to save everything she holds dear.
Being a fan of the Cal Leandros series I wouldn't have missed this book. I enjoyed it with certain reservations. Here's my review:
This fifth installment in the Cal Leandros series is suspenseful and interesting but not as exciting or humorous as other contributions. Phycological tension mounts as Cal becomes dependent on the serotonin high he gets from creating Auphe 'gates' while his brother, Niko, impotently watches from the sidelines. The framework of the story revolves around a cross-country road trip from hell which the brothers undertake to catch and destroy a psychotic/malicious gypsy anti-healer named Suyolak (a/k/a 'the Plague of the World' and progenitor of the the black death). Enclosed within a slowly leaking iron coffin. the living mummy that is Suyolak has been stolen from the gypsy queen, Abelia-Roo, and her Sarzo clan. The brothers are joined by Robin, Salome (Robin's mummy cat), Rafferty (healer and werewolf), Catcher, (Rafferty's cousin and a were stuck in wolf form) and Delilah, (Cal's werewolf sex-buddy whose sexual liaison with half-auphe Cal has been exposed to her disapproving 'Kin' pack). The perspective alternates between Cal and Catcher, both of whom approach major life changes. Catcher is very sympathetic as he worries over Rafferty's single-minded dedication to finding a cure for him while recognizing the futility of that quest. Cal is oblivious and/or in denial about his increasing dependence on 'gating'. There's too many internal monologues from Catcher (who can't engage in ordinary dialogue because of his wolf-form) and Cal (who worries over Niko's reactions a bit too much). Consequently, there's not enough humorous repartee; however, Robin's witty quips and the antics of his amusing cat Salome provide periodic comedic breaks. Abelia-Roo also serves up some sarcastic humor. The pace is moderate and only increases when the characters face the (disease and/or genetically twisted) time-bombs left behind by Suyolak and the reconstituted monster himself. The climax is interesting and hair-raising but not a heart-thumping showdown between the brothers and Suyolak. By the end of the book all the surviving characters (excluding the cat and Cal's sex buddy) reach new levels of acceptance/awareness. I recommend this book to long-time fans of the Cal Leandros series but advise any new readers to start with the first book, "Nightlife".
dalnewt wrote:
Being a fan of the Cal Leandros series I wouldn't have missed this book. I enjoyed it with certain reservations. Here's my review:
This fifth installment in the Cal Leandros series is suspenseful and interesting but not as exciting or humorous as other contributions. Phycological tension mounts as Cal becomes dependent on the serotonin high he gets from creating Auphe 'gates' while his brother, Niko, impotently watches from the sidelines. The framework of the story revolves around a cross-country road trip from hell which the brothers undertake to catch and destroy a psychotic/malicious gypsy anti-healer named Suyolak (a/k/a 'the Plague of the World' and progenitor of the the black death). Enclosed within a slowly leaking iron coffin. the living mummy that is Suyolak has been stolen from the gypsy queen, Abelia-Roo, and her Sarzo clan. The brothers are joined by Robin, Salome (Robin's mummy cat), Rafferty (healer and werewolf), Catcher, (Rafferty's cousin and a were stuck in wolf form) and Delilah, (Cal's werewolf sex-buddy whose sexual liaison with half-auphe Cal has been exposed to her disapproving 'Kin' pack). The perspective alternates between Cal and Catcher, both of whom approach major life changes. Catcher is very sympathetic as he worries over Rafferty's single-minded dedication to finding a cure for him while recognizing the futility of that quest. Cal is oblivious and/or in denial about his increasing dependence on 'gating'. There's too many internal monologues from Catcher (who can't engage in ordinary dialogue because of his wolf-form) and Cal (who worries over Niko's reactions a bit too much). Consequently, there's not enough humorous repartee; however, Robin's witty quips and the antics of his amusing cat Salome provide periodic comedic breaks. Abelia-Roo also serves up some sarcastic humor. The pace is moderate and only increases when the characters face the (disease and/or genetically twisted) time-bombs left behind by Suyolak and the reconstituted monster himself. The climax is interesting and hair-raising but not a heart-thumping showdown between the brothers and Suyolak. By the end of the book all the surviving characters (excluding the cat and Cal's sex buddy) reach new levels of acceptance/awareness. I recommend this book to long-time fans of the Cal Leandros series but advise any new readers to start with the first book, "Nightlife".
Excellent review, dalnewt!
Paul
