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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?
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
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
saucyknits's review against another edition
5.0
I had been thinking about not reading further into the series - the first 4 books were all meh, especially #4, but this one was fast-paced and renewed my interest in the series.
hgranger's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. One of my favorite things about Jane is her independence and strength and this storyline of being bound to Leo bothers me. The loss of Molly’s friendship also seems like an easy plot devise — would Molly have preferred that her possessed sister took over the world?? The mystery and fight came to an anticlimactic end, and finally, Bruiser has to go. He is a misogynistic jerk and there is nothing about him that screams mate. Sorry Beast. Same thing for Leo. In fact, the books could benefit from fewer people who want to be with Jane or who Beast wants to have as mate. And fewer descriptions of al of janes weapons. Please. All in all, not a satisfying book in the series. ☹️
laurenjodi's review against another edition
4.0
Death's Rival
4 Stars
Leo Pellisier, Master of the City of New Orleans, hires Jane to discover the identity of an unknown master vampire, who seeks to supplant him by using a deadly plague that targets the Mithrin. As Jane gets closer to uncovering the truth, her role in the mysterious vampire’s dangerous game becomes more personal and she will have to deal both with threats from afar and betrayals closer to home…
Unlike the previous books, the storyline in Death’s Rival is less convoluted and easier to follow. The details regarding Jane’s family background are very compelling and are woven seamlessly into the investigation plot. The villain is one seriously disturbed vampire and that is saying a lot considering the nature of the species.
There are also compelling developments in terms of the men in Jane’s life. To begin with, Leo’s behavior is simply appalling and underscores the fact that whatever his intentions, he is not the man for Jane (not that he was ever really in contention). Thankfully, Jane’s complex relationship with Rick seems to be coming to an end as their differences drive them further apart. In contrast, Jane and Bruiser’s growing attraction takes on a life of its own and will hopefully work itself out despite the obstacles. Finally, Jane enters into a partnership with a new man who has potential both personally and professionally although Bruiser remains my favorite.
All in all, an engrossing addition to the series with an action packed plot and exciting changes that will have far-retching consequences for Jane and her Beast. Khristine Hvam’s incomparable narration truly brings Jane’s story to life and I have every intention of catching up with the rest of the series in 2015.
4 Stars
Leo Pellisier, Master of the City of New Orleans, hires Jane to discover the identity of an unknown master vampire, who seeks to supplant him by using a deadly plague that targets the Mithrin. As Jane gets closer to uncovering the truth, her role in the mysterious vampire’s dangerous game becomes more personal and she will have to deal both with threats from afar and betrayals closer to home…
Unlike the previous books, the storyline in Death’s Rival is less convoluted and easier to follow. The details regarding Jane’s family background are very compelling and are woven seamlessly into the investigation plot. The villain is one seriously disturbed vampire and that is saying a lot considering the nature of the species.
There are also compelling developments in terms of the men in Jane’s life. To begin with, Leo’s behavior is simply appalling and underscores the fact that whatever his intentions, he is not the man for Jane (not that he was ever really in contention). Thankfully, Jane’s complex relationship with Rick seems to be coming to an end as their differences drive them further apart. In contrast, Jane and Bruiser’s growing attraction takes on a life of its own and will hopefully work itself out despite the obstacles. Finally, Jane enters into a partnership with a new man who has potential both personally and professionally although Bruiser remains my favorite.
All in all, an engrossing addition to the series with an action packed plot and exciting changes that will have far-retching consequences for Jane and her Beast. Khristine Hvam’s incomparable narration truly brings Jane’s story to life and I have every intention of catching up with the rest of the series in 2015.
lyndz_'s review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
graff_fuller's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Out of all the novels so far in this series, this was the most emotional. The idea of betrayal (rightly and wrongly). Vengance against those that enslaved, killed and annihilated her people. Being forced to/enslaved to a leader that she does not want to be under. The binding to someone that does NOT have your best interest in mind, but ONLY their own. Not good.
This story was frustrating to read, at times...in a good way. I was and have been invested in her...and felt betrayed (like she did) when Leo did what he first did, the even more so after what he did near the end of the book. In my eyes, it's unforgiveable. We shall see how Jane deals with it. She is NOT prey.
I'm still a proponent that Rick is better for her than Bruiser (George Dumas) or Leo (by a LONG margin).
I like Eli and Stinky...and hope they continue their business relationship.
I do NOT want Jane to be under control of Leo. I do not want her to live in New Orleans (essentially under his control).
The next book, hopefully deals with this...and by the end, it will favor Jane.
This story was frustrating to read, at times...in a good way. I was and have been invested in her...and felt betrayed (like she did) when Leo did what he first did, the even more so after what he did near the end of the book. In my eyes, it's unforgiveable. We shall see how Jane deals with it. She is NOT prey.
I'm still a proponent that Rick is better for her than Bruiser (George Dumas) or Leo (by a LONG margin).
I like Eli and Stinky...and hope they continue their business relationship.
I do NOT want Jane to be under control of Leo. I do not want her to live in New Orleans (essentially under his control).
The next book, hopefully deals with this...and by the end, it will favor Jane.
aknas22's review against another edition
5.0
Everything I wanted and more. Lots of action, hot men, and weapons. What more could a girl want?
pjonsson's review against another edition
4.0
From a somewhat mediocre start this series has improved quite a lot. This book is a good mix of action, urban fantasy and research. I do like Jane’s new companions and I do especially like that she has become quite a bad-ass. By the way I am sure the usage of the word “bad-ass” will be censored by the ludicrous review filter at Amazon which I am quite frankly feed up with. I will not bother anymore to rewrite reviews of books intended for an adult audience if Amazon’s hypocritical review rules prevent me from using words that the rest of the world consider (and yes Amazon, the rest of the world is not just US) rather mild to say the least.
Anyway, with that frustration out of the way, I quite liked this book. As I wrote, Jane has become quite a bit of a bad-ass and she is indeed dealing out quite a bit of pain in this book. As usual the book is a mixture of action and investigative work. This time trying to track down the mysterious vampire (or should I say Mithran) decease and who is behind it.
The quest leads her on path that culminates in a somewhat spectacular confrontation with an ancient enemy of the skinwalkers. I quite liked this. The build up was well done, the action was well done, the final confrontation was well done.
Then I have to have to say that things went a bit sour. It feels a bit like the author desperately tried to create some final moments of tension. I would have been quite happy with the book more or less ending after the final clobbering between the vampire factions and the bad guy getting what deserved.
I would have been quite happy even after the very final revelation, which I have to say I did not see coming, but that shooting interlude just to mess things up between Jane and one of her (many) boyfriends just felt tiresome.
Bottom line is that I definitely think this book was the best in the series so far. Now I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series.
Anyway, with that frustration out of the way, I quite liked this book. As I wrote, Jane has become quite a bit of a bad-ass and she is indeed dealing out quite a bit of pain in this book. As usual the book is a mixture of action and investigative work. This time trying to track down the mysterious vampire (or should I say Mithran) decease and who is behind it.
The quest leads her on path that culminates in a somewhat spectacular confrontation with an ancient enemy of the skinwalkers. I quite liked this. The build up was well done, the action was well done, the final confrontation was well done.
Then I have to have to say that things went a bit sour. It feels a bit like the author desperately tried to create some final moments of tension. I would have been quite happy with the book more or less ending after the final clobbering between the vampire factions and the bad guy getting what deserved.
I would have been quite happy even after the very final revelation, which I have to say I did not see coming, but that shooting interlude just to mess things up between Jane and one of her (many) boyfriends just felt tiresome.
Bottom line is that I definitely think this book was the best in the series so far. Now I am looking forward to the next instalment in the series.