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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
Okay, so, I have only read the first book in the Jane Yellowrock series and I was a little nervous about picking up the spin-off. I was kindly assured that there was only one thing that might be kind of spoilery that you find out right at the beginning of the story but I'm not sure when it happens in JY. Rick is a wereleopard! After reading BOTE, I don't really feel spoiled at all because I still don't know what happened in the JY books to lead to the sort-of-spoiler but I am still super excited to find out. And while I already thought Rick was a DB based on what I saw of him in Skinwalker, I have no idea why everyone seems to hate him and why he refuses to call Jane for help on this case.
First, I just loved Nell! I loved her no-nonsense attitude. I loved how her character develops over the course of the book ... you totally see her bloom and grow! (Lol! I crack myself up!)
... crickets ...
Anyway ... as I was reading I kept thinking of the phrase "a great & terrible beauty" - which she certainly is! I love how you never really find out what she is exactly. Faith Hunter does a fantastic job of giving you pieces of the puzzle but ultimately leaving it up to your imagination to come up with a conclusion. I am especially glad that Nell isn't as alone as she thinks she might be. There are others that are similar to her even if they aren't quite the same and I think the variety and possibilities are fantastic.
I really enjoyed all of Unit 18 - especially Paka & Occam. They were just what Nell needed. I really liked Tandy & T. Laine, too. I am looking forward to hearing more about them in future books.
The story was really engaging ... I had a really hard time putting it down. I was totally intrigued by the polygamist cult and the poor kidnapped girls. My only complaint was some of the repetitiveness. I don't mind when something is repeated - it tells my brain, "Hey! This is a clue!" but hearing it more than 2x is overkill - so I admit to some skimming during those parts. I really liked how scary the idea of a sentient forest thirsting for blood was and I can't wait to see how the storyline develops.
I would totally recommend this series and I am excited to continue with the next book.
Scary forest + enigmatic MC - not trusting me to remember what you told me = ★★★★
First, I just loved Nell! I loved her no-nonsense attitude. I loved how her character develops over the course of the book ... you totally see her bloom and grow! (Lol! I crack myself up!)
... crickets ...
Anyway ... as I was reading I kept thinking of the phrase "a great & terrible beauty" - which she certainly is!
I really enjoyed all of Unit 18 - especially Paka & Occam. They were just what Nell needed. I really liked Tandy & T. Laine, too. I am looking forward to hearing more about them in future books.
The story was really engaging ... I had a really hard time putting it down. I was totally intrigued by the polygamist cult and the poor kidnapped girls. My only complaint was some of the repetitiveness. I don't mind when something is repeated - it tells my brain, "Hey! This is a clue!" but hearing it more than 2x is overkill - so I admit to some skimming during those parts. I really liked how scary the idea of a sentient forest thirsting for blood was and I can't wait to see how the storyline develops.
I would totally recommend this series and I am excited to continue with the next book.
Scary forest + enigmatic MC - not trusting me to remember what you told me = ★★★★
Whew! Finally finished with this one! It had a slow start and though it did pick up a little bit in the last third of the book, it was too little, too late. By then I had mentally checked out and was mostly skimming by reading only the dialogue lines. The repetitiveness of the references to the main character's upbringing in a religious cult and her little understood connection to the woods wore thin fast. I got it the first 20 times, I swear. But I can still enjoy an imperfect book - I do it all the time - if the characters make me love them and want to be friends with them. That didn't happen here. I never warmed up to any of the characters and the MC's use of "church speak" made me cringe, what with all the "iffen yous" and "I be a woman grown". It also didn't help that this book sat for a week without me touching it. Every time I would consider picking it back up I'd find other things to do instead. Now a few years ago, when I first found my way back to reading, I would have given this series another few books to grow on me. I just don't have that kind of time anymore. Time is precious so while I'm sure there are many who will love this book, this series is one and done for me.
I love Jane Yellowrock, so running out of those, I listened to this. Loved it, can't wait to explore more.
Love this series
I love when my fave authors write new stories in same universe. Lots of crossover but not so much story can't be enjoyed on its own.
I love when my fave authors write new stories in same universe. Lots of crossover but not so much story can't be enjoyed on its own.
It was a good start to the series although it took me a while to warm up to it. I think the action and the character growth, which really ramped up towards the end, is what pulled it all together. In truth I found the beginning a bit slow. It picked up nicely, though. I don't particularly like Rick LaFleur as a character. I'm glad he wasn't being presented as some sort of romance hero in this, and I was glad about the little bits of insight into his relationship. I thought what we learn is fitting.
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Starting this in audio, which Goodreads doesn't seem to have listed for this book.
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ETA: Switch to correct, audio edition on 8-17-16 for my own records.
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Starting this in audio, which Goodreads doesn't seem to have listed for this book.
***********************
ETA: Switch to correct, audio edition on 8-17-16 for my own records.
Blood of the Earth is a refreshing urban fantasy with bright characters that lets us get to know our leads before shoving them into romantic entanglements.
See my full review here: http://thecelebritycafe.com/2016/08/blood-earth-faith-hunter-book-review/
See my full review here: http://thecelebritycafe.com/2016/08/blood-earth-faith-hunter-book-review/
Wow, I have no idea why I waited this long to read this. I thought this would be very similar to the Jane Yellowrock books. Boy, I was wrong. It has it's own tone and focus. Loved it!
I think (I hope) this will be one of those books that I bring up to a four star after the series gets going. Sometimes I dislike the repetetive nature of a first-in-series and this book spends a LOT of time repeating facets of the back story and Nell's thought process for E V E R Y thing. It's a bit cumbersome, but I guess it's necessary. I love Jane Yellowrock, so I'll definitely give this another go with the second book and I still have high hopes.
*SPOILERS*
That being said, I just didn't like the bloodthirsty nature of, well, nature. I got the reference to fairies and druids and sacrifices. I read plenty of books about the capricious and often malicious nature of the fae, so I get that too. It just goes against everything I've ever enjoyed reading to have trees thirsting for blood. Predators like Jane? Sure, that makes sense. Trees... no.
*SPOILERS*
That being said, I just didn't like the bloodthirsty nature of, well, nature. I got the reference to fairies and druids and sacrifices. I read plenty of books about the capricious and often malicious nature of the fae, so I get that too. It just goes against everything I've ever enjoyed reading to have trees thirsting for blood. Predators like Jane? Sure, that makes sense. Trees... no.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow! What a lovely surprise. Well, not really because I do love Jane, so I was bound to love this series as well. However, I was hesitant to start it because of "He Who Shall Not Be Named" as I'm sure most people are. I shouldn't have worried though! While HWSNBN was a major player in this series, it was strictly on a professional level and I could deal with it. It didn't hurt to see that his life wasn't all peaches too **evil cackle**
This series is all about Nell though. I made sure to read the novella that introduces Nell and I'm so glad I did because events and people are referred to here more than once. I don't think you HAVE to read it but it helps lay the foundation. You see, Nell is something other. She's not exactly a witch, although that's the closest thing to describe her. Something of a wood witch or wood nymph, maybe?? It's unclear at this point. She is connected to her land and has an affinity for it. She can feel/sense things on her property and the land responds to her but not without a price.
When girls start disappearing, she gets some visitors to her property. Rick and PsyLED crew come to her to try and find some answers . She grew up in a remote village of religious fanatics and may have some intel to help their investigation. The "Church" has their own way of life and live by a different set of rules. She left the Church years ago but her family still remains. When some nasty Church boys come sniffing around her property trying to nab her, she gets pulled even deeper into the investigation. Nell isn't used to working with other people and there is definitely some head butting that happens. Mostly with "you know who".
I just really enjoyed this! Nell was awesome. She put those city boys and girls in their place with her deductive reasoning! She wasn't just some country bumpkin that couldn't figure things out. Take that! And of course, I'm a fan of the possible romance that seems to be blooming with a certain cat :) Can't wait to start the next one!
This series is all about Nell though. I made sure to read the novella that introduces Nell and I'm so glad I did because events and people are referred to here more than once. I don't think you HAVE to read it but it helps lay the foundation. You see, Nell is something other. She's not exactly a witch, although that's the closest thing to describe her. Something of a wood witch or wood nymph, maybe?? It's unclear at this point. She is connected to her land and has an affinity for it. She can feel/sense things on her property and the land responds to her but not without a price.
When girls start disappearing, she gets some visitors to her property. Rick and PsyLED crew come to her to try and find some answers . She grew up in a remote village of religious fanatics and may have some intel to help their investigation. The "Church" has their own way of life and live by a different set of rules. She left the Church years ago but her family still remains. When some nasty Church boys come sniffing around her property trying to nab her, she gets pulled even deeper into the investigation. Nell isn't used to working with other people and there is definitely some head butting that happens. Mostly with "you know who".
I just really enjoyed this! Nell was awesome. She put those city boys and girls in their place with her deductive reasoning! She wasn't just some country bumpkin that couldn't figure things out. Take that! And of course, I'm a fan of the possible romance that seems to be blooming with a certain cat :) Can't wait to start the next one!