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spellboundbybooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'd give this five stars just for a confrontation I have been longing to see for several books. It was so satisfying! I only wish it had lasted longer.
But the five stars is well deserved for everything else in this story too. Vamp politics are finally coming to a head and Jane is able to connect even more of the dots.
There are some great relationship moments both romantically and between Jane and her found family.
As always the action is top notch and there are plenty of tense scenes that kept me turning the pages.
I am having such a great time bingeing this series and I can't wait to see where it goes next!
But the five stars is well deserved for everything else in this story too. Vamp politics are finally coming to a head and Jane is able to connect even more of the dots.
There are some great relationship moments both romantically and between Jane and her found family.
As always the action is top notch and there are plenty of tense scenes that kept me turning the pages.
I am having such a great time bingeing this series and I can't wait to see where it goes next!
crochetchrisie's review against another edition
4.0
Layers upon layers of scheming that Jane has to try to figure out. It hurts my head probably almost as much as it hurts hers.
alikatson's review against another edition
5.0
Another amazing Jane Yellowrock book! I’m hoping to actually write reviews but for now onto the next!!
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
Seems like the end is approaching. Jane is gathering more and different abilities and "tools" of her trade, and all seems to be pointing to a final great battle with the EVs leader, Titus. She is building her family, showing (and garnering) loyalty and love, and perhaps even re-building her faith. Entertaining, and even occasionally thought-provoking.
claire_loves_books's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't really enjoy this, I found it a bit hard going and repetitive- there's only so many times Jane can get a phone call from Alex about baddies, going and fight said baddies before it all starts merging together a bit (there's some variation in the number of baddies and who's there helping Jane but it the fight scenes felt really samey).
The political plots get explained a lot and in painful details but Jane isn't actually that interested and seems happy to ignore fair chunks of what's happening and the plots all have sub-plots with some characters having hidden second and third agendas there so despite the explanations I didn't really feel like I really understood all the players.
The stepping outside of time thing also felt a bit overpowered, it just seems virtually impossible for anyone to beat Jane at this point.
I probably will read the next in the series, I like the characters and the world this just wasn't the book for me.
The political plots get explained a lot and in painful details but Jane isn't actually that interested and seems happy to ignore fair chunks of what's happening and the plots all have sub-plots with some characters having hidden second and third agendas there so despite the explanations I didn't really feel like I really understood all the players.
The stepping outside of time thing also felt a bit overpowered, it just seems virtually impossible for anyone to beat Jane at this point.
I probably will read the next in the series, I like the characters and the world this just wasn't the book for me.
wellingtonestatelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
It was, once again, great to be back amidst the characters of Clan Yellowrock and its associates. Everyone's story arcs moved forward a bit, but mostly we got a LOT of action. A LOT. So much that it was hard for me to follow at times. The politics are complex and fascinating. I can't believe Faith Hunter's mind that she can hold all these facts together and build on them from book to book. Things that happened in the very first book, Skinwalker, are now coming into play, or at least making perfect sense to Jane. As always, I was thrilled to get into Beast's mind again, although it didn't come soon enough for me! Jane is getting a better grip on her magics, forming more deep and complex relationships and pacts and it was just all around good fun. That ending was superb! Can't wait for the next one. Make sure you're caught up on the Soulwood series or a few things will come as a bit of a surprise to you. I'm glad I followed that bit of advice myself, having just read the two books in the series last week.
vikcs's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Unlike myself, I got a late start in this series. It was around the publication of the seventh or so book in the series when I finally started to read it. I had my reasons, however misguided, for pushing it but after I read the first book I practically binge read it. And I’m now at the point when I love the series so much that I’m counting down the day until the next book. I was waiting for this book with such and enthusiasm, too.
First, I have to mention the cover. The series has simple but really expressing covers and it is true for Cold reign, too. Even more than for the others because the tones and colors of it give of such a cold and sterile feel that it expresses and shows a lot about the actual story. It’s a brilliant touch in my opinion but I’m not sure that it was intentional.
I’m not going to talk about the world building because we are so late in the story that there is not really anything new to that aspect of the books, it is a really well established part of the series. And I think the author also realized this because lately there is nowhere near as much reminiscing and repeating in it that the previous books in the series. However I have a lot to say about the storyline. This book ended up having a marginally more sedate, slower paced plot than I got used to from the series. There are longer descriptions of the spiritual elements of Jane life and also she dives more into the workings, mechanism of her and her enemy’s magic. It’s provided a more thinking oriented storyline than an investigate and fight driven one which also meant that I found it a bit slower and it could have ended on a duller note if not for other things in it. The other things are the way how the storyline came to a climax point when the characters realized that everything that happened to them from the first book was part of one big, well thought out and connecting master plan. First I thought it is a bit strange and forced conclusion but if you think about it, it makes sense. Also puts a lot of twists and surprising revelations into the arc of the book. So I’m not exactly satisfied with the dynamism of the book but hidden layers in it make up for my disappointment it spades.
Jane has an uncharacteristically melancholic side in this story which is kind of explained in her soul-searching excursions. Other than that she is still the bad ass chick from the first book whole slowly but surely gained a family, friends, connections and more power during her 2 years in New Orleans. Yes it’s only been two years. She is really smart and resourceful as she proved it numerous times. She improved her social skill by a lot and created new, deep and strong connections, got new family and friends. However she also acquired a decidedly girly side and I’m not so keen on this, or more accurately I don’t like the part about her romantic life. Not just because I’m not really fan of the one she ended up but their lovey-dovey moments are a bit too cheesy for my taste and they are also mentioned or happen in the most inappropriate times. It pushes the story or rather Jane character a bit off balance for me. However I love her connection and little inner conversations with Beast. They are fun and delighting.
As for the other characters, there are a lot of regular ones in this series and we get to see yet one more side to the main group of vampires from Jane life. But Leo gone too far in this one. I like him but his scheming and aggressive way which he wants to control Jane starting to create a wedge between them. Oh, Leo my friend how far could you go just with a little bit of trust?
The Younger brothers, Jane permanent companions are also a bit different from their previous selves. Eli is fighting the ghost of his past and also has present personal problems so he is a bit surlier, as for Alex he goes through a lot in this story and mutes with it. I didn’t like Edmund in the beginning but he is starting to grow on me and he has a couple of surprises in talon for us in Cold reign.
There are also a couple of new characters but they are not so deeply developed and a couple of old characters also show up for a brief reprieve.
The last chapter completely took me off my feet and I can’t wait for the next book but I’m starting to fear the end of the series. At least I feel if things go in the direction they are heading right now then the main plotline is nearing the end. I hope it’s not the case because I love Jane adventures and adrenaline fueled escapades.
First, I have to mention the cover. The series has simple but really expressing covers and it is true for Cold reign, too. Even more than for the others because the tones and colors of it give of such a cold and sterile feel that it expresses and shows a lot about the actual story. It’s a brilliant touch in my opinion but I’m not sure that it was intentional.
I’m not going to talk about the world building because we are so late in the story that there is not really anything new to that aspect of the books, it is a really well established part of the series. And I think the author also realized this because lately there is nowhere near as much reminiscing and repeating in it that the previous books in the series. However I have a lot to say about the storyline. This book ended up having a marginally more sedate, slower paced plot than I got used to from the series. There are longer descriptions of the spiritual elements of Jane life and also she dives more into the workings, mechanism of her and her enemy’s magic. It’s provided a more thinking oriented storyline than an investigate and fight driven one which also meant that I found it a bit slower and it could have ended on a duller note if not for other things in it. The other things are the way how the storyline came to a climax point when the characters realized that everything that happened to them from the first book was part of one big, well thought out and connecting master plan. First I thought it is a bit strange and forced conclusion but if you think about it, it makes sense. Also puts a lot of twists and surprising revelations into the arc of the book. So I’m not exactly satisfied with the dynamism of the book but hidden layers in it make up for my disappointment it spades.
Jane has an uncharacteristically melancholic side in this story which is kind of explained in her soul-searching excursions. Other than that she is still the bad ass chick from the first book whole slowly but surely gained a family, friends, connections and more power during her 2 years in New Orleans. Yes it’s only been two years. She is really smart and resourceful as she proved it numerous times. She improved her social skill by a lot and created new, deep and strong connections, got new family and friends. However she also acquired a decidedly girly side and I’m not so keen on this, or more accurately I don’t like the part about her romantic life. Not just because I’m not really fan of the one she ended up but their lovey-dovey moments are a bit too cheesy for my taste and they are also mentioned or happen in the most inappropriate times. It pushes the story or rather Jane character a bit off balance for me. However I love her connection and little inner conversations with Beast. They are fun and delighting.
As for the other characters, there are a lot of regular ones in this series and we get to see yet one more side to the main group of vampires from Jane life. But Leo gone too far in this one. I like him but his scheming and aggressive way which he wants to control Jane starting to create a wedge between them. Oh, Leo my friend how far could you go just with a little bit of trust?
The Younger brothers, Jane permanent companions are also a bit different from their previous selves. Eli is fighting the ghost of his past and also has present personal problems so he is a bit surlier, as for Alex he goes through a lot in this story and mutes with it. I didn’t like Edmund in the beginning but he is starting to grow on me and he has a couple of surprises in talon for us in Cold reign.
There are also a couple of new characters but they are not so deeply developed and a couple of old characters also show up for a brief reprieve.
The last chapter completely took me off my feet and I can’t wait for the next book but I’m starting to fear the end of the series. At least I feel if things go in the direction they are heading right now then the main plotline is nearing the end. I hope it’s not the case because I love Jane adventures and adrenaline fueled escapades.
starborn_books's review against another edition
5.0
The plot thickens.
The way the plots always twist and turn in these books is amazing. I'm so sad I have to wait to find out what happens with Adan!
The way the plots always twist and turn in these books is amazing. I'm so sad I have to wait to find out what happens with Adan!
mlcutter's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my gosh, this one never takes a break! So fast paced I read it in a day and half even though I had to teach classes! Love Jane, Beast is my favorite character ever in any book & the best hunter, and Bruiser makes my heart melt. Sigh. Can't wait for the next one!