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Death's Rival by Faith Hunter Series: Jane Yellowrock #5
Published by Roc on October 2, 2012
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Pages: 338
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
Purchase Links: Amazon*Libro*Kobo
Goodreads
Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead…
For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and is not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane. But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires and makes their masters easy prey.
Also in this series: Strange Brew, Skinwalker, Cat Tales, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed
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
Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on Goodreads (Angela)!
Challenge(s): Pick Your Genre (UF) | Library Love | Backlist Reader (2017)
About Faith Hunter
Faith Hunter is a New York Times and USAToday bestselling author. She writes dark urban fantasy, paranormal urban thrillers, paranormal police procedurals, and science fiction.
Her long-running, bestselling, Skinwalker series features Jane Yellowrock, a hunter of rogue-vampires. The Soulwood series features Nell Nicholson Ingram in paranormal crime solving novels. Her Rogue Mage novels, a dark, post-apocalyptic fantasy series, features Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in an alternate reality. She has won numerous awards and Curse on The Land won an Audie Award for 2017. She also writes a Scifi novella series Junkyard Cats.
Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she has written action adventure, mysteries, thrillers, women’s fiction, a medical thriller series, and even historical religious fiction. As Gwen, she was part of the WH Smith Literary Award for Fresh Talent in 1995 in the UK, and won a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award in 2008. Under all her pen names, she has over 40 books in print in 30 countries.
All of that Faith finds terribly boring. In real life, Faith once broke a stove by refusing to turn it on for so long that its parts froze and the unused stove had to be replaced. She collects orchids and animal skulls, rocks and fossils, loves to sit on the screened back porch in lightning storms, and is a workaholic with a passion for white-water kayaking, and RV travel. She prefers Class III whitewater rivers with no gorge to climb out of, and drinks a lot of tea. Some days she’s a lady. Some days she ain’t.
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I’ve heard the audios are a great listen for this series. Well that’s nice to know that we primarily stay in New Orleans. I’m curious to continue and I will. Summer I don’t get to read as much with the little man out of school. Thank’s for stopping in Bambi.
I love this series – but tend to listen in audio. The narrator really shines and brings Beast to life. Get used to being in New Orleans though, that is where the series is primarily staged. I like that it stays in place somewhat – it gives time to develop lots of secondary characters.
Aleen, Welcome. I always love seeing new people visit. I only found out about this series when several bloggers and followers said “Hey, You need to read this.” And, so here I am working my way through the series. I’m glad to help put a new series/author on your radar and that you found my issues reasonable. Thank’s for stopping in. Have a great week!
I haven’t heard of this series, but the issues you brought up seem legit. Overall, it does look good and I’ll put it on my TBR list. Great review. 🙂
I was flying through, but with summer in full swing my reading is limited. Planning to continue until I’m caught up in this series. Thank’s for stopping in.
I keep hearing great things about this series. I really need to try it. You are flying through it.
I’m slowly working my way through this long series. Summer is not the best time for me to read a lot, with the little man out, but once school comes back around I’ll be picking put more books to continue. This one is my favorite in the series so far. Jane and Beast shined and lots of turning points happen. Thank’s for stopping in.
I saw your review on Cold Reign. I don’t know how you read it out of order with out all the backstory. A series this long I need it in order. ^_^ This one though is my favorite so far. So much happens it’s got some major turning points. Thank’s for stopping in. Hope you enjoy the previous books when you get around to them.
You are welcome Debbie. For years bloggers and other readers have been recommending the Jane Yellowrock series. I’m finally getting around to reading the books in the series. This one is the best so far. Both Jane and Beast shine and their are some major turning points too. Hope you enjoy them!
Oh new to me author and series and your great review makes me put this on my wish list. Thanks
Yippee. You loved it. I’ve had this series on my wish list for some time and finally just ordered the first book. Can’t wait for it to arrive so I can read what I’ve been missing!
Wonderful! This one is the best so far in the series that I’ve read. I need to grab the next from my library, but waiting until school starts back up. Not much free time in the summer. Hope you enjoy and can’t wait to see what you think!
This series is on my TBR and I think I have some the first ones in my Audible library. I’m anxious to read them since I read Cold Reign without all the back story. Great review!
I love to read your reviews for these books! This series is one that again, I still have not read as of yet. I want to and will have to wait until I get my others first in line finished with. The fact that this is a series makes me very happy. As I love series!!! Thanks for posting these and I hope to read more until I start the first one.