Reviews

Mercy Blade by Faith Hunter

git_r_read's review against another edition

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5.0

Holey schmoley!! Jane Yellowrock is a helluva shape-shifter! I love this series and it's been too long since visiting Jane and New Orleans [which is as much of a character in the story] and Leo and his vampires.
The amount of emotions Jane goes through here is amazing and she comes out of it in the end. Still reeling, but still intact. She is strong and fearless. She has a tough job of keeping security in the secretive world of the vampires. She can only do so much when she is kept in the dark. She also has to keep her secret of being a shape-shifter. She knows everything will change, likely for the worst, if that is revealed to more than who she trusts. Keeping everything balanced is difficult to say the least.
I like that she is a strong woman in her work life and has issues in her love life. If she was uber fab in both, it would not feel real. She has enough on her plate and she's had more practice in her work life than she has had in relationships. She has a few well chosen friends, everyone else is kept at arm's length. She has to be this way. Trust is difficult in her world.
I will get the fourth book, RAVEN CURSED, ASAP. I have been sucked back in after a long time away.
I can definitely recommend this book, this series, and definitely this author.

malus23's review against another edition

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3.0

By this point the Beast talk has gotten less annoying. Still have moments that I can't quite tell if things are supposed to be super campy, or actually serious. Still having enough fun to keep going once through, still thinking not a keeper.

hgranger's review against another edition

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3.0

In which Jane takes entirely too many showers, counts her weapons repeatedly, and is a tad bit too concerned about what to wear when, but otherwise does a decent job at vampire and were hunting.

laurenjodi's review against another edition

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4.0

Mercy Blade
4 Stars

As in the previous books, Hunter’s world building is original and her writing is both atmospheric and action packed. In this installment, we are introduced to a new group of supernaturals: Weres, whose origins and conflict with the vampires is fascinating.

The plot revolves around the return of the Werewolves and Werecats to New Orleans and Jane’s investigation into the murder of one of them at a diplomatic gathering hosted by Leo Pellissier, the vampire Master of the City. As the case progresses, conspiracies are exposed, secrets are revealed and loyalties are tested.

Once again, the most problematic aspect of the book is Jane’s love life. Following the events of Blood Cross, Jane has begun a relationship with Rick Le Fleur, but they are both keeping secrets from each other and to be honest, Rick is a bit of a shmuck and doesn’t feel right for Jane. In contrast, Jane’s connection with George “Bruiser” Dumas is far more tangible and their sexual tension is off the charts. If it weren’t for his role as Leo’s prime blood servant, he would be absolutely perfect.

One other small nitpick concerns the trend of including Christian overtones in UF novels - The Dresden Files, Mercy Thompson and now Jane Yellowrock?! Jane hunts and kills vampires for a living but has trouble being in a sexual relationship with a man she is not married to? Seriously?

All in All, the Jane Yellowrock series is highly entertaining and Khristine Hvam’s narration is out of this world.

lyndz_'s review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

thegeekyblogger's review against another edition

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4.0

Listened for Fun (Audible)
Tracking Books Read Review (Short)
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating: 4.00

Audio Rating: 4.50

First Thought when Finished: Mercy Blade finalized this for me: I am #TeamJane #TeamBeast ! They are too good for both guys!

Overall Thoughts: Since I am late to the game with this series, this will be more of quick points about what keeps me going and what I am over with this series. I am over both boys! Seriously, Jane/Beast is better than both of them and if she is with them for more than Smexy times then she is settling (I reserve the right to change my mind later but right now anytime it is about the relationship--I kind of tune out). The mystery and the world building were phenomenal in Mercy Blade: once again! I am not sure how Faith dreams out these tricky situations but I am so glad she does. I would totally read a thriller by her because I am sure she would write a wonderful killer. Overall, I am still in love with this series but I do see the love triangle wearing on me!

Audio Thoughts:
Narrated By Khristine Hvam / Length: 14 hrs and 43 mins

I may sound like a broken record but Khristine is rocking my socks off with her narration. In Mercy Blade, I have to say I was super impressed with her male voices. She nailed them!

Final Thoughts: I need to squeeze in book 4 soon :)

graff_fuller's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I'm really enjoying the adventures of Jane Yellowrock. Getting to understand what/who she is, is fun. Love her sense of humour...and it will probably be the thing that DOES get her killed...eventually.

The introduction of Were-wolves and cats was a good plot device. There were a few OTHER animals introduced that drove the plot forward.

There is debate (no doubt) who Jane should be in a relationship with. Some will say Rickybo (Rick LeFleur) and others will say Bruiser (George Dumas). I choose Rick. He's a human detective (police officer) and Bruiser is the second to Leo (though human, he's benefitted by this relationship with the Master of the Clan of New Orleans...with long life, and is TOTALLY devoted to Leo).

Between the two...I feel that Rick is a better fit. Doesn't always mean that people DO the right thing in relationships, but in THIS I do hope she chooses correctly. IMO.

Also, let me say this again...for I seem to say it at the end of each of the books...I hope (against all hope) that Jane leaves New Orleans and Leo, Katie, Bruiser and all the Vampires. I do NOT think this group is beneficial to her well-being, though they pay her well.

That said, this was another great story. Intrigue with what is going on with Evangelia (pink magic). Is Gee a good "person" or not? Where is Rick? Should Jane actually give in to her lusts and go with Bruiser? What are the Were-wolves and Were-cat up to. Oh, yeah...I do NOT like Tyler...either.

By the end, we see Jane doing something "off reservation" (pun intended, though maybe not in good taste). She now suffers from something that she will not get over, quickly.

I like that there are consequences to the actions of our "heroes". She NOW has to live with what she did...and that will never be easy.

Okay, on to the next story, Raven Cursed. I do hope that she FINALLY least New Orleans. Please. Get away from Leo and his clan. Ugh.

pjonsson's review

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3.0

Unfortunately this series still fails to engage me. Similar to the previous instalment in the series this book is okay to read but only just.

As the book blurb states, the werewolves as well as a bunch of other weres have decided to come out of the closet and announce their presence to the mundane world. Unfortunately the werewolves have a bit of a grudge towards the vampires. Quite a bit of a grudge actually. In the underworld of the supernatural world of Faith Hunter, a grudge means nasty secret plots, blood being splattered around and general mayhem. Naturally Jane is caught in the middle.

The basic story is good and the writing is quite okay from a purely technical point of view. Jane have to do quite a bit of research and detective work as the story develops. There is no lack of action and those parts are quite okay as well. There is a fair amount of things going on though and it felt a bit like the author just threw in ideas that she had but never really developed them but rather used them as background props.

The author also continues to do a quite okay job of spinning together “explanations” as to the creation in the past and presence today of these supernatural creatures with events and recounts (with a bit of artistic freedom of course) from the human legacy of religious mythology.

My main problem with this book is that it fails to engage me. The story is told in such a way that it sometimes feels more like a historical recount than the action filled, supernatural adventure that it is. Jane herself really lacks charisma and she does not seem to develop in any larger degree either, neither as a character nor as a supernatural creature. There is little humour, wittiness, bantering or otherwise entertaining comments or dialogue in the book.

At this point I am a wee bit “on the fence” as to whether I want to continue to spend time on this series. It is not a bad series but it has left me with a bit of a “meh” feeling after the last two books. I really do not like to stop in the middle of a series though so it is likely that I will give it one more try.

mnsundgaard's review against another edition

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adventurous funny

5.0

bookladysreviews's review against another edition

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5.0

Mercy Blade is the third installment of the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter...the current book, focuses on the story of weres and werewolves, how they were banished from New Orleans by Leo, the Master vampire of the city and now, they're back to take what was once taken from them...so Jane Yellowrock, is currently dating Rick who has another work as an undercover cop...but this time, everything goes wrong and Rick is held prisoner by the werewolves...Jane fights them when they try to break into the Hq building where a ceremony is held, between the vamps and the weres,she and all the other characters including Bruiser,Leo,Rick and our new character, Gee, who was Leo's Mercy Blade have to face them and make sure they leave and this time for good...when they find out about some really complicated things, the adventure begins and they are trying to figure the connection between Tyler, who is Leo's second hand, Safia who is a female were, Rick and another female werewolf...but what they discover, will send Jane on edge and break her heart, Rick is with the werewolves who tried to change him, and unfortunately they succeeded...they also attacked Leo's place and wounded everyone...in the end ,they saved them and Jane, with the help of Derek Lee and his marines, slaughtered the werewolves and saved Rick...they discovered that the female werewolf, was actually Tyler's mother, Maggie who Leo loved and Gee tried to save from being a werewolf...by he didn't succeed...the myth says that females can't make it through the change and they die but Maggie lived and as the years passed, she became more and more sick....the book finishes with Jane's decision to leave New Orleans and the vamps for good, and go live on the mountains, now that she lost ick...

That was an amazing book...it's one of those books you just wanna sit there, and read and read and read without letting go...I was so obsessed and really determined to finish it but now that I did, I just wished I hadn't read it so quickly...the characters of the book and especially Jane, are charming and the whole plot is amazing.Faith Hunter's writing style really fascinated me and the way she describes every single scene is amazing...I loved Jane's reaction to Bruiser and I really think that she should end up with him...he is so madly in love with her or is it just a game he plays? Cause he seems to love, appreciate and respect his master more than Jane...he is determined to save him without caring for the consequences and he sure as hell follows him and not Jane so, why bother playing games with her...and I really think that what's going on with Evangelina, is way more serious than it seems...my favorite character, although we don't see her much in the current book, is Angelina...I love her so much she is so cute and she's innocent and loves Jane without caring for anything...Love you Jane Yellowrock!!!