Reviews

The Early Years by Faith Hunter, Khristine Hvam

laurla's review against another edition

published in the anthology "cat tales"
published in the anthology Blood in Her Veins: Nineteen Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock

thenia's review against another edition

3.0

The story of Jane's first shift after she left the orphanage where she grew up, with barely any memories from her past.

She had also forgotten the fact that she could shift, but revisiting a place she remembered, Beast was able to take the reins once again.

Interesting glimpse into Jane's past. I am slowly becoming intrigued and curious to learn more about Jane, starting with Snafu next.

Previous book reviews:
✦ WeSa and the Lumber King (Jane Yellowrock, #0.1) ~ ★★★ (30/10/2018)

wensa's review against another edition

4.0

This was a free listen on audible. At under an hour it was very entertaining. At this time I have not read any of the books in this series but, that will soon change. This short look into the world of Jane Yellowrock has me excited to read the series.

macthekat's review against another edition

4.0

This story is the earliest story we have seen so far from Jane's point of view. She is leaving the children's home to go on her "spirit quest" to find the out if her one memory from the time "before" is real. She says goodbye to the only home she remembers to go into the world as an adult. I got the sense that Jane already had a great confidence in herself - even at this early stage but she is definitely more vulnerable then later on. Unlike the first story this was one that I felt filled a hole in the storyline. I would love to read a story of her first day as a trainee at the security firm.

reader44ever's review against another edition

3.0

I first listened to this on October 2, 2015, after finishing a full audiobook but still an hour or so away from home after being on a road trip to Oklahoma from Arizona for nearly two weeks. I had to listen to it for a second time today, October 10, 2015, because I couldn't for the life of me remember finishing it (though my Audible app had it showing as "Finished").

Well, after listening to it today, my confusion is gone, but I'm still flummoxed. The reason I couldn't remember the ending? Because there wasn't one! ARGH!!!

So Jane turned 18 and left the children's home she lived in from the age of about 12. She drove to the site of her earliest memories. There, she

shifted into Beast for the first time in too long, according to Beast, and then Beast takes over the narration.

Beast

eats Jane's human food and then kills a deer. She's eating the deer, enjoying the taste of the doe's muscle and blood, and

...The End.

We don't get to find out what Jane thinks of

her secret voice being Beast. Or the fact that she can change into a mountain lion.

I'm thinking she's probably pretty freaked out about it, but do we get to be with her as she

comes back to herself and comes to terms with the "new Jane"?

No! ARGH!!!

So while this story is much appreciated for giving us insight into Jane's "Early Years," I can't give it five (or even four or three-and-a-half) stars. I liked it, but that ending is going to drive me nuts. I don't remember much from reading Jane's book 1, [b:Skinwalker|5585788|Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock, #1)|Faith Hunter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1400516601s/5585788.jpg|5757031], but as I recall, she was pretty comfortable with Beast in that book.

I'm VERY disappointed that this novella was cut off mid-stream the way it was. Maybe I should give it fewer stars? But no, three is a good number. I did like the story. And I want to read more. Wanting to read more is the sign of a good story, isn't it?

I really need to buy the Jane books and get to reading them again.