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Available
Call number
Series
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Publication
Penguin Publishing Group
Description
"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 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 may be her own."--p. [4] of cover.
User reviews
LibraryThing member pacey1927
"Skinwalker" is my type of book. It features an involved, complicated, exciting paranormal world. It has a fantastic, driven, kick-butt heroine in Jane Yellowrock. It features a unique twist (Beast). I liked all of the above. Jane Yellowrock has a secret. Long ago, she somehow took a Beast inside
So what is my problem with this book? I don't know. The first 1/3 of the book I was very into it. I loved it. Yet by the midway point I had lost a lot of my interest. Unlike some of the other reviewers I had no issue with the parts of this book told from Beast's viewpoint. I didn't have much trouble following the plot line. Yet I think a lot of points were repeated over and over again until I became tired of reading them. The author's writing style is very, very descriptive and I just felt like a trip shopping, while it showed Jane's feminine side, was too long. The last third of the book was more enjoyable again and I thought the story's resolution was interesting and exciting. By the time I closed the last page, I felt like I wanted to read the second book "Blood Cross". There is far too much good about this "Skinwalker" series to give up on it. But the second book has to keep me more engaged than this one did or I won't make it to book three.
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her. Beast is a totally separate individual from Jane. They take turns being the Alpha or Beta. Jane has her human form during the day and at night Beast comes out to play. While there is definitely tension between them, they try hard to work together. Jane has taken on a case in New Orleans where a rogue vampire is terrorizing the city. He doesn't seem to care whether he is tearing apart humans or vampires at this point. Jane and her unique skills may be just the thing to capture the rogue. Enter tons of vampire political intrigue and a romantic interest or two for Jane. So what is my problem with this book? I don't know. The first 1/3 of the book I was very into it. I loved it. Yet by the midway point I had lost a lot of my interest. Unlike some of the other reviewers I had no issue with the parts of this book told from Beast's viewpoint. I didn't have much trouble following the plot line. Yet I think a lot of points were repeated over and over again until I became tired of reading them. The author's writing style is very, very descriptive and I just felt like a trip shopping, while it showed Jane's feminine side, was too long. The last third of the book was more enjoyable again and I thought the story's resolution was interesting and exciting. By the time I closed the last page, I felt like I wanted to read the second book "Blood Cross". There is far too much good about this "Skinwalker" series to give up on it. But the second book has to keep me more engaged than this one did or I won't make it to book three.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Jane Yellowrock is a vampire hunter currently working for some vampires, she has a pretty big secret that she's keeping hidden from the supernaturals around her, she's a skinwalker, of Cherokee descent, possibly one of the last skinwalkers. This story deals with a hunt for a vampire who is hunting
She's trying hard to keep her sanity and to do what she needs to do to solve the mystery. While also keeping her secrets.
Sometimes the voice of the Beast grates a little, it works as a device to seperate the two of them. Also I did like some of the little details (like her sending her goods on ahead, because she was on a motorbike, though I think Bitsa needs a better picture than what's on the cover.
I like Jane, I had come across her in short story collections, and I enjoyed her here too. She's an interesting character. The story didn't always work well but it was interesting and the characters were well developed, I'd like to read more in this world.
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other vampires.She's trying hard to keep her sanity and to do what she needs to do to solve the mystery. While also keeping her secrets.
Sometimes the voice of the Beast grates a little, it works as a device to seperate the two of them. Also I did like some of the little details (like her sending her goods on ahead, because she was on a motorbike, though I think Bitsa needs a better picture than what's on the cover.
I like Jane, I had come across her in short story collections, and I enjoyed her here too. She's an interesting character. The story didn't always work well but it was interesting and the characters were well developed, I'd like to read more in this world.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
It's not terribly surprising that vampires would be drawn to New Orleans, nor that they'd be heavily into the tourist industry. But when tourists as well as vampires start turning up dead, disemboweled and drained, the word goes out - the vampires need a vampire hunter. It's a whole new gig for
Jane's fist full-length outing is a good one. Hard to put down.
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skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, and she's not sure what's more disturbing: working for a vampire, or working for a Madame. Regardless, Jane won't make it out of New Orleans unscathed, and the mental trauma of recovered memory may be worse than the physical damage.Jane's fist full-length outing is a good one. Hard to put down.
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LibraryThing member fairypenguin
I have mixed feelings on this one. It's an urban fantasy, told from the first person point of view of a butt kicking female lead. Basic plot: Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifter of mysterious origins who hunts vampires for a living. So, pretty similar to Anita Blake, Riley Jenson, Sookie Stackhouse,
This opens me up to the cliche count. I think you can measure a book's quality by how many cliches it uses and how well in manages to pull them off. I don't want to imply that this book has no original ideas, because that really isn't the case. But there are so many barrowed bits here that I can't resist commenting on them.
1)The alpha heroine: I buy books with this cliche on purpose. The world of urban fantasy and paranormal romance has lately become populated with kick ass female voices. How does Jane Yellowrock measure up? She has the entire package: orphan of hazy origins, mysterious powers that make her able to fight the bad guys in the first place, loner/missfit tendencies, but enough humor and heart that she's likeable. And I did like Jane, despite the fact that she's in many ways the same as so many heroines that have come before. The few things that are really different about her are pretty cool. I loved her "Beast" and how that entire plot took the concept of alter-ego to a whole different level.
2) The vampires: In probably 90% of vampire based fantasy I've come across, vamps are orginized in some bizarre hierarchy with all of these elaborate rules. Almost as often in this type of book theres a vampire high up on the food chain that wants to seduce our plucky heroine. Usually of European origin, often French.(Did Leo remind anyone else of Jean-Claude from the Anita Blake books?) Leo was pretty disinteresting to me for these reasons. To be honest, all of the vampires were disinteresting. But Leo was especially disapointing because I so wanted him to stand out. But no, he's stuffy, commanding, self-possesed, and predictable. Only at the very end did I get the impression that he might have some deeper, more interesting place in Jane's life in future books.
3) Along the lines of the stuffy vampire cliche, there often seems to be the more down to earth counter part that the heroine is also potentially attracted to. In this case that person was Rick. I was crossing all my fingers that it wasn't going to turn into a love-triangle situation. It hasn't...yet. But Rick is about the same level of interesting as Leo in my oppinion. I just didn't care for him. Too average.
4) The villain: Actually, this one started out like it was going to be just another cliche but turned out much more interesting. I thought that Jane was dealing with some B-movie style monster that, while difficult to kill, is mindless and impossible to care about. This is done very often in urban fantasy (check the Riley Jenson series for examples). I was proven wrong when the end took a little twist that I won't give away. I wish that the author had done a better job of building up to that point. If only Jane had more one on one interaction with the villain prior to the climax, the villain might have come off as even less cheesey.
All in all, this was an ok book. I was pretty entertained. I hope it improves as the series progresses; I will be reading the other books
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Mercy Thompson...This opens me up to the cliche count. I think you can measure a book's quality by how many cliches it uses and how well in manages to pull them off. I don't want to imply that this book has no original ideas, because that really isn't the case. But there are so many barrowed bits here that I can't resist commenting on them.
1)The alpha heroine: I buy books with this cliche on purpose. The world of urban fantasy and paranormal romance has lately become populated with kick ass female voices. How does Jane Yellowrock measure up? She has the entire package: orphan of hazy origins, mysterious powers that make her able to fight the bad guys in the first place, loner/missfit tendencies, but enough humor and heart that she's likeable. And I did like Jane, despite the fact that she's in many ways the same as so many heroines that have come before. The few things that are really different about her are pretty cool. I loved her "Beast" and how that entire plot took the concept of alter-ego to a whole different level.
2) The vampires: In probably 90% of vampire based fantasy I've come across, vamps are orginized in some bizarre hierarchy with all of these elaborate rules. Almost as often in this type of book theres a vampire high up on the food chain that wants to seduce our plucky heroine. Usually of European origin, often French.(Did Leo remind anyone else of Jean-Claude from the Anita Blake books?) Leo was pretty disinteresting to me for these reasons. To be honest, all of the vampires were disinteresting. But Leo was especially disapointing because I so wanted him to stand out. But no, he's stuffy, commanding, self-possesed, and predictable. Only at the very end did I get the impression that he might have some deeper, more interesting place in Jane's life in future books.
3) Along the lines of the stuffy vampire cliche, there often seems to be the more down to earth counter part that the heroine is also potentially attracted to. In this case that person was Rick. I was crossing all my fingers that it wasn't going to turn into a love-triangle situation. It hasn't...yet. But Rick is about the same level of interesting as Leo in my oppinion. I just didn't care for him. Too average.
4) The villain: Actually, this one started out like it was going to be just another cliche but turned out much more interesting. I thought that Jane was dealing with some B-movie style monster that, while difficult to kill, is mindless and impossible to care about. This is done very often in urban fantasy (check the Riley Jenson series for examples). I was proven wrong when the end took a little twist that I won't give away. I wish that the author had done a better job of building up to that point. If only Jane had more one on one interaction with the villain prior to the climax, the villain might have come off as even less cheesey.
All in all, this was an ok book. I was pretty entertained. I hope it improves as the series progresses; I will be reading the other books
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LibraryThing member TheBooknerd
This is a fantastic book -- even better than Hunter's "Rogue Mage" series. Full of action, the plot keeps you revved up from cover to cover, and the writing is absolutely superb. Best of all, all the characters, from the main protagonist down to the temporary supporting characters, are wonderfully
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developed and interesting. I had a lot of fun reading this book, especially since it offered up a bit of everything I could hope for in a novel: a sense of adventure, complex characters, a cleverly developed mythology, even some romantic suspense. I will admit that the first few chapters were slow to grab me, but then I was hooked and couldn't put the book down until I had read the very last word. I will definitely read this rest of this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member rritter504
My favorite part is that Hunter does a good job describing New Orleans (I'm from there). I like the people that Jane interacts with. I like the way she nicknames them and allows them to show her (and through her, us) what the are like, instead of making assumptions.
Hunter is great with
I like Jane, but I wish she was a little deeper. I feel like her opinions and emotions shift too easily.
Hunter is great with
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descriptions. It's enjoyable to almost visably go along for the ride with Jane. The story moves fast, but I find the pace adds to the excitment of the story.I like Jane, but I wish she was a little deeper. I feel like her opinions and emotions shift too easily.
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LibraryThing member Squeex
Man oh man! I love finding a series that starts with a big ol' bang. And that it takes place in New Orleans lends that extra little Gothic feel to the vampires and shapeshifters.
SKINWALKER has been on the shelf for about a year after I bought two books in Faith's Rogue Mage series, BLOODRING and
And..... I liked the premise and characters so damn much that I bought books two and three, BLOOD CROSS and MERCY BLADE pretty much immediately after finishing. I can't wait to read what Jane and the vampires (apparently they don't like being called 'vamps') and the hottie Cajun get up to next.
Five sparkly shapeshifting diamonds.....
SKINWALKER has been on the shelf for about a year after I bought two books in Faith's Rogue Mage series, BLOODRING and
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SERAPHS. I fully expected to read those pretty much immediately, but they are still on Mt Git'r'Read and I kept hearing so many fab things about Jane Yellowrock, so I made it an imperative to read it soonest. I guess I have been in a vampire and shapeshifter kind of mood and I will be in a rogue mage kind of mood later in the year, probably sooner than too much later. And..... I liked the premise and characters so damn much that I bought books two and three, BLOOD CROSS and MERCY BLADE pretty much immediately after finishing. I can't wait to read what Jane and the vampires (apparently they don't like being called 'vamps') and the hottie Cajun get up to next.
Five sparkly shapeshifting diamonds.....
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LibraryThing member les121
At first I didn't think I would like this book (the cover turned me off), but once it sucked me in, I could barely put it down! Yes, it does have an unbelievably kick-butt heroine, sexy vampires, and numerous other urban fantasy cliches, but there are also elements that make this story unique.
For
The New Orleans setting is another element that sets this book apart. The vivid descriptions make you feel as if you're really walking through the French Quarter, giving the story atmosphere and bringing the scenes to life.
The plot was decent - the pacing could use a little work, and Jane is a bit slow on the uptake regarding the mystery villain, but overall it wasn’t bad. The fight scenes were violent, bloody, and well done. There’s a hint of romance, but the two men Jane is attracted to seem like the same character - both hot, mysterious, bad boys. This is where I liked Beast more than Jane. Beast isn’t interested in sex without commitment; she wants to “mate” and have “kits,” while Jane is in no hurry to settle down. This conflict leads to some pretty humorous situations since the two share a body.
Overall, Jane Yellowrock isn’t quite in the same league as my favorite UF heroines (Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson, etc.), but I still really enjoyed reading this story. It kept me constantly turning pages, eager to find out what happens next. Skinwalker is exciting, different, and entertaining in an over-the-top kind of way. I’ll probably pick up the next book when I feel in the mood for a fun, action-packed, adventure.
For
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example, the protagonist, Jane, shares a body with the soul of another creature called Beast. When Jane lets her out to play, Beast narrates the story in a clipped, staccato, stream-of-consciousness style. It took me a little while to warm up to Beast, but I eventually found myself liking her as much as Jane. Speaking of Jane, it’s fun to watch her kicking butt and pissing people off in her tough-as-nails, motorcycle chick persona, but I'm glad the author gave her a softer side as well.The New Orleans setting is another element that sets this book apart. The vivid descriptions make you feel as if you're really walking through the French Quarter, giving the story atmosphere and bringing the scenes to life.
The plot was decent - the pacing could use a little work, and Jane is a bit slow on the uptake regarding the mystery villain, but overall it wasn’t bad. The fight scenes were violent, bloody, and well done. There’s a hint of romance, but the two men Jane is attracted to seem like the same character - both hot, mysterious, bad boys. This is where I liked Beast more than Jane. Beast isn’t interested in sex without commitment; she wants to “mate” and have “kits,” while Jane is in no hurry to settle down. This conflict leads to some pretty humorous situations since the two share a body.
Overall, Jane Yellowrock isn’t quite in the same league as my favorite UF heroines (Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson, etc.), but I still really enjoyed reading this story. It kept me constantly turning pages, eager to find out what happens next. Skinwalker is exciting, different, and entertaining in an over-the-top kind of way. I’ll probably pick up the next book when I feel in the mood for a fun, action-packed, adventure.
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LibraryThing member shelleyraec
A strong start to a new series, Skinwalker just became a favourite. Interesting lore that was well thought out, with intriguing back story and strong storyline. There is a great mix of magic, vamp, and other that builds a solid reality. Jane is a complex character, its obvious we will learn more
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about her as the series progresses which I am looking forward to. She is kickass but not invulnerable, I like the slipping into POV of the Beast - it adds another dimension to the story and is handled well.A great addition to the UF genre, I had to go an buy the next one before I'd even finished this Show Less
LibraryThing member van_pham
Great new urban fantasy! Only little annoyance was when the main character changes to her beast form.
LibraryThing member eheinlen
I liked the concept of the story, but I didn't like the writing style or the characters. I read about 10 pages and then gave up.
LibraryThing member jlparent
Couldn't get into the split view at all; especially Beast's - felt very uneven, sometimes Beast-like, others it felt too human to be wild thought. Has all the things I usually like, but for some reason, it just never clicked into gear for me. Likely due to the disjointedness I felt at the change in
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LibraryThing member crazybatcow
I read the reviews of this before starting it and agree with those who said the switch between Jane and Beast is jarring, and Beast's pattern of speech is annoying. It's not unbearable, but... it feels like a writer's cop-out to use choppy, partially complete sentences and key words as a method of
That being said, I quite liked the story - it's complex and the mystery isn't one you're likely to figure out on your own, but isn't a from-left-field one either. Jane is an interesting character and her past is filled in at a nice pace and with just enough details that you want to read more to find out more about her. And I found the relationship between Beast and Jane the most interesting in the story... a bit of personality conflict here that makes them both feel like distinct characters.
Oh yeah, no sex in this one. I don't recall any foul language either, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any, it just wasn't very prominent.
In fact, I'm going to find out more about her immediately as I'm starting the next book in the series now.
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Beast speech... I think it could have been written using "proper" English syntax/pacing with a bit of effort. But anyway, Beast doesn't show up all that often, so it doesn't become so annoying that you're tempted to stop reading. (Oh, and it's not consistent - as the book progresses, Beast's "language" improves, becomes less choppy and starts using personal pronouns.)That being said, I quite liked the story - it's complex and the mystery isn't one you're likely to figure out on your own, but isn't a from-left-field one either. Jane is an interesting character and her past is filled in at a nice pace and with just enough details that you want to read more to find out more about her. And I found the relationship between Beast and Jane the most interesting in the story... a bit of personality conflict here that makes them both feel like distinct characters.
Oh yeah, no sex in this one. I don't recall any foul language either, but that doesn't mean there wasn't any, it just wasn't very prominent.
In fact, I'm going to find out more about her immediately as I'm starting the next book in the series now.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
This is the first book in the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter. Currently Hunter has three books sold in this series. The second book "Blood Cross" is due out on Jan 5 of 2010. I really, really loved this book. It was fast-paced action with a great world, great characters, and an interesting
Jane Yellowrock is a Skinwalker, at least she thinks she is. She doesn't remember anything before her twelfth birthday and was raised in an Orphanage from that point on. She carries the Beast inside her and they dwell in harmony in one body. Her specific talents have lead her to hunting rogue vampires as a way to make a living. Her current assignment leads her to New Orleans to hunt a rogue that is taking out both humans and vampries alike. This time though, she may be in over her head, this vampire rogue is more than it seems. During the chase things get strange as she begins to regain memories from her past.
This is one fast paced novel. Jane is always on the go and there is a ton of action. The action scenes are very well done and, paired with Jane's humourous and sarcastic tone of voice, this book is a very fun read. All of the characters are very well-developed. There is a hint of sexual tension between both Jane and Leo (head vampire) as well as between Jane and Rick (a bad-boy who wanted the job that Jane got). Jane's a good girl at heart though and never lets things get out of hand with the boys. Really the things that made this book shine were Jane's unflappable personality and the tightly written action scenes; then there were the guns, the bikes, the dancing...all of those things made the book a fun and exciting read.
The plot was very well executed and very gripping. Definitely a page turner. I like the world that Hunter has created and hope that it is clarified better in the next novel. The writing style itself is very dense. If you miss a word you could miss something important; despite this it was a very quick read and hard to put down. If I have any complaints with this book it is a small gripe; I didn't like the writing style that Hunter used for the parts where Jane is Beast. I understood that she was trying to give Beast a distinct voice, but well, Beast sounded a bit like a savage or Barbarian and the halting writing style was tough to read at first. By the end of the book I got used to it, so I can't complain too much.
Will I read the next book? You betcha' I will. I am eager to learn the mystery behind Jane's past and to watch her further interactions with the residents of New Orleans. I think if you liked the early Anita Blake books, Jaz Parks, or Kate Daniels series you will get into this series. It focuses on the action and the mystery, not the romance, and was my type of book!
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mythos behind Jane's character.Jane Yellowrock is a Skinwalker, at least she thinks she is. She doesn't remember anything before her twelfth birthday and was raised in an Orphanage from that point on. She carries the Beast inside her and they dwell in harmony in one body. Her specific talents have lead her to hunting rogue vampires as a way to make a living. Her current assignment leads her to New Orleans to hunt a rogue that is taking out both humans and vampries alike. This time though, she may be in over her head, this vampire rogue is more than it seems. During the chase things get strange as she begins to regain memories from her past.
This is one fast paced novel. Jane is always on the go and there is a ton of action. The action scenes are very well done and, paired with Jane's humourous and sarcastic tone of voice, this book is a very fun read. All of the characters are very well-developed. There is a hint of sexual tension between both Jane and Leo (head vampire) as well as between Jane and Rick (a bad-boy who wanted the job that Jane got). Jane's a good girl at heart though and never lets things get out of hand with the boys. Really the things that made this book shine were Jane's unflappable personality and the tightly written action scenes; then there were the guns, the bikes, the dancing...all of those things made the book a fun and exciting read.
The plot was very well executed and very gripping. Definitely a page turner. I like the world that Hunter has created and hope that it is clarified better in the next novel. The writing style itself is very dense. If you miss a word you could miss something important; despite this it was a very quick read and hard to put down. If I have any complaints with this book it is a small gripe; I didn't like the writing style that Hunter used for the parts where Jane is Beast. I understood that she was trying to give Beast a distinct voice, but well, Beast sounded a bit like a savage or Barbarian and the halting writing style was tough to read at first. By the end of the book I got used to it, so I can't complain too much.
Will I read the next book? You betcha' I will. I am eager to learn the mystery behind Jane's past and to watch her further interactions with the residents of New Orleans. I think if you liked the early Anita Blake books, Jaz Parks, or Kate Daniels series you will get into this series. It focuses on the action and the mystery, not the romance, and was my type of book!
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LibraryThing member DawnAllenbach
This was a fun romp of an urban fantasy with a great female protagonist. I thought that having a skinwalker who has absorbed another species was particularly unique because the reader gets to see the action from two distinct personalities -- Jane and Beast. I can't decide who I like better. I'll
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definitely be reading more in this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member dearheart
Jane is something a little different. As far as she knows she's the only skinwalker alive; someone who can change into any animal she has a piece of. But she also shares her body with the soul of a mountain cat and she's pretty sure that's not normal. No one but her friend's family knows her secret
She makes her living killing rogue vampires. When New Orleans needs someone to hunt down and take out a rogue that is killing not only vampires but humans, Jane takes the case.
This is a fairly unique mystery with a very complex, twisted story. The characters are interesting and the world building in the form of vampires and their politics is done fairly well. I have to admit, though, I started skimming description of Jane's shapeshifting. There is a whole lot of ink given to how/where her mind has to focus to achieve a shift.
I experienced an odd combination of finding the book easy to set aside, yet compelled to pick it up again. I just had to find out what happens next. The story could use some tightening up.
The story does contain humor and there are a couple of guys I wouldn't mind getting to know a little better. And Jane makes a really great kick-butt heroine.
I did like the story enough to purchase the next book.
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and she has no one to get answers from.She makes her living killing rogue vampires. When New Orleans needs someone to hunt down and take out a rogue that is killing not only vampires but humans, Jane takes the case.
This is a fairly unique mystery with a very complex, twisted story. The characters are interesting and the world building in the form of vampires and their politics is done fairly well. I have to admit, though, I started skimming description of Jane's shapeshifting. There is a whole lot of ink given to how/where her mind has to focus to achieve a shift.
I experienced an odd combination of finding the book easy to set aside, yet compelled to pick it up again. I just had to find out what happens next. The story could use some tightening up.
The story does contain humor and there are a couple of guys I wouldn't mind getting to know a little better. And Jane makes a really great kick-butt heroine.
I did like the story enough to purchase the next book.
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LibraryThing member MlleEhreen
I got a sample of this book, the first chapter or so, and after reading it I almost didn't continue. The heroine has to pass through an extensive security check, and after being divested of a collection of weapons that could keep an arms dealer in business for about a month she has an ace in the
Anyway, moving on. I kept reading, and it turns out the first chapter was the worst in the book, for me at least. I still rolled my eyes a little at how over-the-top it all was; Jane Yellowrock is one of those people whose bark is worse than her bite. Not because she doesn't have a bite; she can be violent and ruthless. Just that her bark says, "I eat babies for breakfast, puppies for lunch, and YOU for dinner," while her bite says, "I get the job done and can take care of myself." A lot of other characters in the novel complain that Jane acts like a teenager - you know the type, rebellious and rude for the fun of it - and she really does have an attitude problem.
Jane was born a skinwalker, a human being capable of taking on the shape of any other animal. I really liked the rules and limitations surrounding her ability, as well; she needs bones from the animal she's shifting into in order to "find the snake inside" - its DNA - and make the shift. It's a slow and painful process, so she has to pick a form and stick with it - once she's gotten into a fight, it's too late. And while she can transform into a creature that's bigger or smaller than she is, she needs ready access to stone so that she can absorb or dump the difference in mass. In short, Jane has an amazing ability - and the checks and balances surrounding its use make her decisions about it really fascinating.
What really saved SKINWALKER for me was Beast, the animal soul who lives inside her. Beast is only really happy when Jane transforms into a mountain lion, at which point Jane's consciousness fades to the background and Beast's rises to the fore. They are not two aspects of one personality; they are two creatures sharing a body. When Beast is dominant, the book is narrated in her voice - choppy, animalistic, confident. All numbers higher than five appear in Beast's thoughts as..."more-than-five." It's both funny and engaging. Their uneasy partnership was what pulled me through the novel, kept me turning pages. It's what got me rooting for the book and for Jane.
One really satisfying thing about SKINWALKER as a novel is that a lot of books, especially if it's the first in a series, will dangle a mysterious origin story in front of the reader and hold off on any answers. In SKINWALKER, we get to find out what the deal is between Jane and Beast. I felt almost spoiled to get so many of the answers I craved.
I also really, really liked the way that Hunter described her vampires. They're not just predatory beasts; they're reasonable, often humane creatures. They form deep emotional bonds with their human servants, who keep the vampires sane through bonds of love and affection. On the other hand, they're nicely vampiric: they drink blood often, they'll use glamour to convince a delicious-looking human to offer up blood or sex, and they can be very casual about feudal behavior and violence. We find out a little about the vampire origin story, and it looks like there's an intriguing and solid explanation for the vampires' complex behavior.
Well, there's plenty of nitpicking to do, but the core of the novel is good. I even got to like Jane, bad attitude and all. I'd give this book 3.5 stars - it's perfectly poised between "it's ok," and "hey, I really like this." I'll probably pick up the next book to see how it goes, so on that count I'm rounding up.
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hole: a gun hidden in the coils of her very long hair. I just didn't buy that even a very small gun could be hidden in her hair. It was supposed to be a really powerful example of how clever our heroine is, but instead I concluded that the author didn't think things through very well. I kept picturing it in my head, and it didn't work. Plus, with the kind of extensive security set up at this place...why not buy a metal detector? Argh. Anyway, moving on. I kept reading, and it turns out the first chapter was the worst in the book, for me at least. I still rolled my eyes a little at how over-the-top it all was; Jane Yellowrock is one of those people whose bark is worse than her bite. Not because she doesn't have a bite; she can be violent and ruthless. Just that her bark says, "I eat babies for breakfast, puppies for lunch, and YOU for dinner," while her bite says, "I get the job done and can take care of myself." A lot of other characters in the novel complain that Jane acts like a teenager - you know the type, rebellious and rude for the fun of it - and she really does have an attitude problem.
Jane was born a skinwalker, a human being capable of taking on the shape of any other animal. I really liked the rules and limitations surrounding her ability, as well; she needs bones from the animal she's shifting into in order to "find the snake inside" - its DNA - and make the shift. It's a slow and painful process, so she has to pick a form and stick with it - once she's gotten into a fight, it's too late. And while she can transform into a creature that's bigger or smaller than she is, she needs ready access to stone so that she can absorb or dump the difference in mass. In short, Jane has an amazing ability - and the checks and balances surrounding its use make her decisions about it really fascinating.
What really saved SKINWALKER for me was Beast, the animal soul who lives inside her. Beast is only really happy when Jane transforms into a mountain lion, at which point Jane's consciousness fades to the background and Beast's rises to the fore. They are not two aspects of one personality; they are two creatures sharing a body. When Beast is dominant, the book is narrated in her voice - choppy, animalistic, confident. All numbers higher than five appear in Beast's thoughts as..."more-than-five." It's both funny and engaging. Their uneasy partnership was what pulled me through the novel, kept me turning pages. It's what got me rooting for the book and for Jane.
One really satisfying thing about SKINWALKER as a novel is that a lot of books, especially if it's the first in a series, will dangle a mysterious origin story in front of the reader and hold off on any answers. In SKINWALKER, we get to find out what the deal is between Jane and Beast. I felt almost spoiled to get so many of the answers I craved.
I also really, really liked the way that Hunter described her vampires. They're not just predatory beasts; they're reasonable, often humane creatures. They form deep emotional bonds with their human servants, who keep the vampires sane through bonds of love and affection. On the other hand, they're nicely vampiric: they drink blood often, they'll use glamour to convince a delicious-looking human to offer up blood or sex, and they can be very casual about feudal behavior and violence. We find out a little about the vampire origin story, and it looks like there's an intriguing and solid explanation for the vampires' complex behavior.
Well, there's plenty of nitpicking to do, but the core of the novel is good. I even got to like Jane, bad attitude and all. I'd give this book 3.5 stars - it's perfectly poised between "it's ok," and "hey, I really like this." I'll probably pick up the next book to see how it goes, so on that count I'm rounding up.
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LibraryThing member TheDivineOomba
Jane Yellowrock isn't your ordinary vampire killer - she's a cherokee skinwalker, with memory loss. On top of it all... she's managed to aquire an alter ego, that of panther. Who Jane is or why she can do what she can do is a mystery.
But, a girl needs to earn a living somehow- so Jane goes into the
One thing about these vampires - these are dangerous beings - treading a thin line between civility and killing machine. I like them - there is no sparkles here. It a nice departure from the norm.
Jane herself is an interesting character. She has needs - she has emotions, but she doesn't fall into the trope of falling in love to the first hot man she sees - She can also take care of herself, but knows to ask for help. The Native American thing is a nice twist - Jane doesn't remember her past, so while Jane considers herself native... she doesn't know the culture. Jane slowly starts regaining her memories and learns with the reader who she is.
I read a lot books of this type - for the most part, they are cut from the same mold, even the well written ones. This book has the same elements of an average urban fantasy - but than takes it to different points. It was a breath of fresh air.
But, a girl needs to earn a living somehow- so Jane goes into the
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vampire killing business - this time to find a rogue vampire that is giving the vampire community a bad name.One thing about these vampires - these are dangerous beings - treading a thin line between civility and killing machine. I like them - there is no sparkles here. It a nice departure from the norm.
Jane herself is an interesting character. She has needs - she has emotions, but she doesn't fall into the trope of falling in love to the first hot man she sees - She can also take care of herself, but knows to ask for help. The Native American thing is a nice twist - Jane doesn't remember her past, so while Jane considers herself native... she doesn't know the culture. Jane slowly starts regaining her memories and learns with the reader who she is.
I read a lot books of this type - for the most part, they are cut from the same mold, even the well written ones. This book has the same elements of an average urban fantasy - but than takes it to different points. It was a breath of fresh air.
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LibraryThing member jayblac21
it was a good storykept me reading looking forward to the next title
LibraryThing member sharrow
This took a little while to get into. I think you could be be forgiven for thinking that Jane is cold and unfeeling, but the more you got into the story the more her reasons for holding herself apart become clear. I started to warm up to Jane and Beast a little more about half way through, although
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the shifting perspective between the two is not something that appeals to me hugely. Good read, occasionally hard work, but rewarding in the end. 4 and a half stars. Show Less
LibraryThing member SnowNSew
As I read more books about shifters and vampires, the reviews become harder and harder to write. Yep, she’s a shifter. Yep, she is after the bad vampire. Of course, this book is a tad different – they are *all* a tad different, but repetitive as well. I do not, however, feel a book should be
So. Jane’s a shifter. But, Jane is *more* than a shifter. She actually co-habits with her alter ego – Beast. She is after a vampire – but not just *any* vampire, the *bad* vampire. The other vampires are good. Or, at least sorta good. She rides a motorcycle. With a name. Bitsa. She has a best friend – a witch named Molly. She says and thinks things like ‘ick’ and ‘icky’. It is the silly little things that make me happy!
The story, itself, is quite the mystery. Not only do we not know *who* the villain is, we are not sure *what* the villain is. And, as Jane has just arrived in New Orleans, we are meeting everyone with her and not sure anyone is whom he or she pretends to be. I will be honest – I figured out part of the mystery, but she gob smacked me with the other part. So, not predictable. At least by me. That raises it a notch in my opinion.
My one real struggle with the novel was the ‘Beast’ chapters. These are written in stream of consciousness and very hard to follow. I didn’t like it in literature class, and I don’t enjoy it here. The first time, it is a jolt out of the smooth narrative previously presented. It does become easier – not sure if the writing became more fluid or if my reading did, but it became easier.
I did really enjoy Jane. I loved her relationship with Molly and Molly’s daughter Angela. I loved the often inappropriate nicknames she applied to everyone around her. I loved the tough as nails exterior – while taking all the safety precautions she can come up with – and the sappy heart she has toward everyone in Molly’s family. Even the protectiveness she feels toward Katie and her ladies. Hallelujah, there is no love triangle. Zip. Zero. Nada.
So, TLDR, if you like vampires, shifters, mysteries and non-love relationships, this book is definitely worth a look. I have already picked up the next one to see the Jane grow. I give it 3.5, but round up to 4 and I have no idea why.
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penalized as the ‘same ole, same ole’ for many reasons, not the least of which is the author has no control over the order in which I read.So. Jane’s a shifter. But, Jane is *more* than a shifter. She actually co-habits with her alter ego – Beast. She is after a vampire – but not just *any* vampire, the *bad* vampire. The other vampires are good. Or, at least sorta good. She rides a motorcycle. With a name. Bitsa. She has a best friend – a witch named Molly. She says and thinks things like ‘ick’ and ‘icky’. It is the silly little things that make me happy!
The story, itself, is quite the mystery. Not only do we not know *who* the villain is, we are not sure *what* the villain is. And, as Jane has just arrived in New Orleans, we are meeting everyone with her and not sure anyone is whom he or she pretends to be. I will be honest – I figured out part of the mystery, but she gob smacked me with the other part. So, not predictable. At least by me. That raises it a notch in my opinion.
My one real struggle with the novel was the ‘Beast’ chapters. These are written in stream of consciousness and very hard to follow. I didn’t like it in literature class, and I don’t enjoy it here. The first time, it is a jolt out of the smooth narrative previously presented. It does become easier – not sure if the writing became more fluid or if my reading did, but it became easier.
I did really enjoy Jane. I loved her relationship with Molly and Molly’s daughter Angela. I loved the often inappropriate nicknames she applied to everyone around her. I loved the tough as nails exterior – while taking all the safety precautions she can come up with – and the sappy heart she has toward everyone in Molly’s family. Even the protectiveness she feels toward Katie and her ladies. Hallelujah, there is no love triangle. Zip. Zero. Nada.
So, TLDR, if you like vampires, shifters, mysteries and non-love relationships, this book is definitely worth a look. I have already picked up the next one to see the Jane grow. I give it 3.5, but round up to 4 and I have no idea why.
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LibraryThing member Dorotea.C
For a first book in a series it was good, but nothing more then that. It's hard to get really into the book on the first hundred pages or so, but then it get better.
The men in the book however where all tall, dark, handsome, chauvinistic pigs,exactly the kind i dislike.
But considering all, the
The men in the book however where all tall, dark, handsome, chauvinistic pigs,exactly the kind i dislike.
But considering all, the
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book was decent and got me interested enough to continue the series! Show Less
LibraryThing member Jamiesbookblog
I absolutely loved this book! I decided to try reading some Faith Hunter books after reading most of David B. Coe's fantasy works. They share a blogsite along with some fellow authors which is how I learned about her and the Jane Yellowrock series looked like alot of fun so I thought I'd give it a
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try. I have to say I was instantly hooked. Finally we get a great fantasy author who's not afraid to make her main character have a tender side. Sure she's tough and sexy but she's not just a killing machine. She's human...well sort of....and she is afraid at times, cries at other times and has a strong sense of morals, right and wrong plus she goes to church when she can. She's also not super omg-uber powerful and can't just kill everything in sight by batting an eyelash. She takes on some nasty opponents and gets hurt. Alot. Also every man in the world doesn't bow down to her and want her although she does have her fair share of interested guys. I guess what I'm saying is she's pretty normal, for a shapechanging gal that is and I like it. The characters are interesting and the world feels real to me. I can't wait to read each book in this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member NicolefromCarmel
Jane Yellowrock is another flawed but fiercely awesome urban fantasy character. A strong female lead, I love how she makes tons of mistakes and just keeps going. As she searches for the answers to her past we get to see the person that Jane will become. Great storyline with enough twists to keep
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the series fresh. I would recommend reading the companion short stories as hunter references these without going in to the back story. You have to make some assumptions if you haven't read them. Show Less
LibraryThing member morandia
I listened to the audio book. It was interesting and I'm giving book 2 a try, but it wasn't outstanding. It is somewhat fun though.
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Paranormal — 2011)
Original publication date
2009-05-22
Local notes
Jane Yellowrock, 1
DDC/MDS
| Fic SF Hunter |