Reviews

Death's Rival by Faith Hunter

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

tessisreading2's review against another edition

3.0

The inevitable has happened: suddenly it's just Jane surrounded by hot men, all of whom want to bang her, and a couple of elderly female maternal-type figures there to provide Mystic Guidance. I don't think this would have passed the Bechdel Test, which is unfortunate - one thing I enjoyed about the early books is that Jane's ragtag band of misfits included women and non-sexy-single configurations.

lalala123987's review against another edition

5.0

This one is darker, but I see the start of made-family relationships.

tawanda_fgt's review against another edition

5.0

And the badass Jane Yellowrocks does it again! Love this series and the take Faith Hunter has done with vamps and shifters and well skinwalkers. Yes, there's a difference if you didn't know that back the fuck up and go to the first book in the series. I was as twisted as Jane was at times and really like the addition of the brothers. There characters help make this one for me, but I must admit my heart belongs to Bruiser. I can't help it people! I know most wouldn't agree and would probably go with Rick, but sorry I just can't do it. I will say Rick had me going with this one though. I thought for sure Jane was right about the end and what happened (haha read that shit if you wanna know), and was as shocked as she was. I can't wait for the next one. Read this shit people its good stuff!!!

vikcs's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

4.0

wellingtonestatelibrary's review against another edition

5.0

I love these characters, and this narrator, so much!

hobiwater's review against another edition

3.0

FUCK RICK
FUCK BRUISER
FUCK LEO
FUCK GREGOIRE
FUCK MOLLY AND HER HUBBY
FUCK DEREK
FUCK REACH
FUCK EVERYONE OUT TO MAKE MY GIRL'S LIFE A LIVING HELL!!!!!! HOW DARE THEY
I was so mad at everyone and everything happening in this book I wanted to slap each and every one of them. Even Jane cause why are you being a doormat. Beast should just kill and hunt everyone and go somewhere else cause everyone here is either ungrateful or backstabbing and you can literally trust no one.
Jane girl STAND UP!!!! leave those men and find your own destiny. Now look what you have left to deal with. I would have packed up and went to freaking China or sth to learn Kung Fu or some shit idk

inmyhumbleopinion's review against another edition

5.0

I just finished reading Death's Rival and my heart is still pounding. What an action-packed thrill ride. This series is always fast paced but this installment bumps it to Vamp speed. All I can say tis this is a MUST read for any Jane Yellowrock fan.
Vampires are getting sick (which should be impossible) and blackmailed into changing their allegiance in return for a cure. Leo has Jane to look after his interests and it looks like the Master behind the sickness is going to try to use Jane to get to Leo. Can Jane ferret out the perp and prevent a Vampire war?

kstep1805's review against another edition

3.0

Just what I've come to expect from Faith Hunter, an action packed urban fantasy that is still fresh.

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