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rebeccazh's review against another edition
4.0
I skipped book 4 because I was really struggling with it. So glad I went straight to this one. It's your classic Jane Yellowrock - action, Jane being an absolute badass, mystery and suspense, cool magic, even cooler world building. The Jane Yellowrock series has some of the stuff I like best about a good urban fantasy: a badass heroine, cool magic, secrets, politics, and complex and cool worldbuilding. And the Jane series has something more - moments of spirituality and self-reflection (loved the scenes unpacking her past), themes about colonization and subjugation/power. The ending was awesome! Really cool.
Unfortunately, this series also has some serious issues that irk me. Really uneven pacing, a general lack of direction (where is this series going, I don't know
Unfortunately, this series also has some serious issues that irk me. Really uneven pacing, a general lack of direction (where is this series going, I don't know
debwendler's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.5
spellboundbybooks's review
dark
tense
medium-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
3.5
crochetchrisie's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
Jumped right into the thick of it and didn't slow down once. I may have just spent my entire day off reading this...
Jumped right into the thick of it and didn't slow down once. I may have just spent my entire day off reading this...
alikatson's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. A bit of a rant review.
At the start Jane is lonely, she has lost her best friend and boyfriend and says she goes to work for Leo Pellissier "to do the right thing" but really I think she doesn't know what else to do with herself.
From here the story is pretty fast paced and exciting as Jane is drawn deeper into vampire society whether she wants to or not. Jane seems irresistibly drawn to work for the vampires and ends up entrapped by something that is somewhat her fault, though this is questionable.
Continuing the trend of the previous books Jane has the absolute worst taste in men - all of them have questionable loyalty and sanity. Her friends are actually the same way. Beast's tastes are even worse . Yet I still like Jane, I really feel for her I want her to be happy. She is truly a caring, protective person.
Also -- where are the women in this series?? There is Jane surrounded by a ton of men and while there are a few women sprinkled in none are really possible strong friendships or working partners. It's hard to believe all the vampire security and former marines are exclusively men except Jane. This is a pet peeve of mine with some urban fiction and I like nothing more than seeing some female friendships, plus it is fun to have some side romances that help if the love life of the main character sucks.
Finally the guilt, the guilt! Jane needs a damn friend!
And wow this review is ranty. Despite all that I do like Jane! I liked the new brothers who come to work for Jane, Alex is awesome and funny, Eli is hot and hopefully not getting entangled in Jane's romantic life unless he becomes the one and only (doubtful). I loved learning more about Jane's past, Aggie One Feather, and Jane beginning to accept more of heritage and align it with her religious beliefs.
At the start Jane is lonely, she has lost her best friend and boyfriend and says she goes to work for Leo Pellissier "to do the right thing" but really I think she doesn't know what else to do with herself.
From here the story is pretty fast paced and exciting as Jane is drawn deeper into vampire society whether she wants to or not. Jane seems irresistibly drawn to work for the vampires and ends up entrapped by something that is somewhat her fault, though this is questionable.
Spoiler
Leo does something despicable to Jane by binding her to him, basically mental/blood rape. Jane is mad but gets over it pretty fast, I guess Beast doesn't have time for the human emotions and basically she is the only person Jane is getting council from these days. Lord does she need a friend.Continuing the trend of the previous books Jane has the absolute worst taste in men - all of them have questionable loyalty and sanity. Her friends are actually the same way
Spoiler
seriously Molly cutting her off makes me fumeSpoiler
LEO?! Yeahhhh great mate who will be screwing other women/men like every day and is pretty much crazy, oh and he's' tried to ENSLAVE you. That's hot.Spoiler
I don't understand the point of Eli here either - just to tease us into saying YES maybe she will date a kind of normal guy who sounds smoking hot just to have crap with Bruiser and Rick be introduced again. Why??? I am kind of flabbergasted by Hunter's decisions about Jane's love life. I mean does anyone actually like love triangles, quadrangles? Plus these men have all betrayed her at least once.Also -- where are the women in this series?? There is Jane surrounded by a ton of men and while there are a few women sprinkled in none are really possible strong friendships or working partners. It's hard to believe all the vampire security and former marines are exclusively men except Jane. This is a pet peeve of mine with some urban fiction and I like nothing more than seeing some female friendships, plus it is fun to have some side romances that help if the love life of the main character sucks.
Finally the guilt, the guilt! Jane needs a damn friend!
Spoiler
And wow this review is ranty. Despite all that I do like Jane! I liked the new brothers who come to work for Jane, Alex is awesome and funny, Eli is hot and hopefully not getting entangled in Jane's romantic life unless he becomes the one and only (doubtful). I loved learning more about Jane's past, Aggie One Feather, and Jane beginning to accept more of heritage and align it with her religious beliefs.
jesslynh's review against another edition
3.0
I am wondering what happened to the kick-ass, I don't care Jane? This one is turning into romantic mushy kitty. Who despite being in love, is considering falling into bed with someone else.
I loved the mystery, the growth of Beast, the new insights to Jane's past and the bit more to the history of the vamps. Jane? Not so much.
I loved the mystery, the growth of Beast, the new insights to Jane's past and the bit more to the history of the vamps. Jane? Not so much.
ktaylor1164's review against another edition
4.0
Another great read about Jane Yellowrock and Beast, my favorite hero/warrior companions. I'm so glad the series doesn't feel stale. I love her fearlessness and the rest falls into place for me.
angels_gp17's review against another edition
4.0
Death’s Rival is book five in Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter.
Jane, kicked-ass and Beast, really shined.
I was pulled in from the first to the last page. So much happens that you just can’t help, but get pulled in. The story is action-packed, full of suspense, secrets, and shocking moments. The story was set at a perfect pace and gives readers no excuse not to gobble this one up.
I enjoyed Jane. Loved Beast, Eli and the Kid. It was great to get some new characters. I hope Eli and the Kid become more then colleges, more then friends, maybe a family and that Jane can rely on them. She needs someone in her life. Someone to rely on. Rick is gone and that relationship is over and Molly isn’t her friend anymore, so Jane is alone and has no one to trust or be in her corner.
The author treats us to a more in-depth look into Jane’s personal history. Her memories of her past are frayed and it’s more difficult then she anticipated to pieces them together. As we all know by now Jane is a unique Skinwalker who houses Beast inside her, which only adds another element.
Beast, was her own character in this one. She’s smart, has a hidden depth to her, and we learn a few rare things about her. I loved learning more about Jane and Beast. It made both of them more real.
I do have issues with this series and they are:
- The love triangle. I still have issues with the men in Jane’s life and Jane thinking that every man she meets is sex on a stick. I’m so over this and wish she would be done and pick a man. Rick, also pops bak up near the end in Death’s Rival. He was a dick at the very end to Jane. OMG, I’m so over him and have been from book one.
- Then their was The Thing that happens in Death's Rival. I’m going to call it The Thing with Leo. This scene was so wrong on so many levels. Trust was lost all around. I hated what Leo did to Jane and to Bruiser. As for Bruiser I feel sorry for him. He couldn’t help his part in it. It was just wrong all around.
- And last I don’t get why Jane is still in New Orleans and working with Leo. Their has to be rogue vampires somewhere else for her to go after? She knows being around vampires will only bring trouble. Why does she stay?
Death’s Rival is a major turning point. At least for me. After five novels I finally see what everyone raves about. I had a blast reading, loved the non-stop action, and learning about Jane’s heritage. I couldn’t put this book down.
Rated: 4.5 Stars
