Broken Soul: Jane Yellowrock, Book 8

And I'm in a book funk again.For me, that's the mark of a truly great series---every time you venture forth into its world, ready for a new adventure with well-loved characters, the inevitable end hangs like a cloud . . .You start the book like it's water and you're dying of thirst, but the further along you get, you begin to feel taunted . . . by the growing percentage of completion, or the diminishing number of pages . . . and then it's over . . . until next time.*gnashes teeth*Yeah. You know what I'm talking about.Such is my relationship with Jane Yellowrock . . .Early in the series, a certain magical artifact began to complicate things for Jane. Since it's first appearance, the blood diamond has changed hands several times, but even hidden away in a safety deposit box, there's always someone (or something) who knows about it, and wants to get their hands on it.Dangerous someones (or somethings). Remorseless and determined someones (or somethings).It's a problem.So it's not a surprise when Jane gets a call from a much abused (sounding) Reach, warning her that a couple of vamps found him, tortured him for information about her and Leo (that he gave up), and oh, by the way, they were probably already in New Orleans, b/c all of this took place a WEEK ago, but he couldn't call before now (b/c torture), that she assumed it (once again) had something to do with the blood diamond.I'm not saying that it did, or it didn't. I'm just saying it would probably be a good idea to go ahead and destroy the blasted thing, which has (supposedly) been the plan all along.And if it can't be destroyed, then she should take a boat into the middle of the ocean, turn herself in a bird, fly as far as she can and still make the return trip, and drop it.Yes, I've given it some thought . . .Much to my disappointment, the European Council of Mithrin vampires don't make an appearance in this book, Hunter is saving that for Dark Heir, but never fear---there is PLENTY going on in Broken Soul to give fellow Jane fans their fix. Just b/c the Council fangheads aren't stateside just yet, doesn't mean there aren't any European vamps in town, but I kind of felt like the villain in this installment took a backseat to other important plot developments. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this book felt like filler until the now thoroughly hyped-up Council vampires show up, it just didn't feel as personal as I'm used to with the Big Bads in this series.However, looking back, I think it was necessary---those previously mentioned developments feel mighty important to the future of Jane, and they more than made up for any perceived lack on the villain front. Without getting spoilery, some of those developments include:Fun, new tricks with Jane and BeastSomething seriously freaky in the bowels of the vamp HQ (that I totally guessed, btw. Oh yeaaaaah).Okay, so that's all I can give you without spoilers.On the character development front, Eli and Kid (aka Alex) continue to be a fun and colorful presence in Jane's life. One of my favorite Eli quotes from the uncorrected proof is:"You hurt her and I'll skin you alive and feed your carcass to the wild boars in the swamps. You copy?"Hmm . . . I wonder to whom he's speaking . . . and whom he's talking about . . . Could Eli be talking to the man who brought Jane flowers, and when she didn't know what to do with them, told her gently:"They go in a vase. On the nighstand by your bed. Or on the kitchen table. Or on the coffee table in the living room. They go where you can see them most often, and, seeing them, remember that you deserve flowers."I just can't say . . . *twirls mustache*I can and will say that it is worth the wait. (view spoiler)Broken Soul is just the latest fantastic installment in Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series, which continues to be one of my personal favorites in Urban Fantasy. Old questions are answered, new questions are raised, and though far (FAR *crosses fingers*) from being finished, lovers-of-Jane finally, FINALLY get some satisfaction in the a-male-worthy-of-the-heroine department. For those of you who have been holding out for just this moment, your wait is over.For those of you waiting for other reasons, tell me why, and I will disabuse you of those notions. For those of you who have somehow made it this far without even hearing about Jane, that's no longer an excuse. You've got until April to get ready for the European Mithrin invasion. The clock is ticking . . . *tick tock*

*****Spoilers*****I liked the newest information on the creatures that are Gee and Soul in this book. It was a shock seeing the kind of power in the grey area Soul had since I'd come to think of that as a place of strength for Jane and Beast. Whatever ceremony Jane and Beast performed in that space changed Jane, it's only a guess as to what that will mean in future books. The abilities Jane gained in this one with the manipulation of time and space was unexpected but a good way for her to get some experience using them deliberately.The best part of the book for me was when Jane gave Leo a middle finger and went home. That was priceless and then dropping him with those stakes when he came in angry was a satisfying follow up. Go Jane! I'm sick of Leo and his high handed ways and schemes while leaving Jane in the dark. Not sure what's going to happen in the next one though since she basically quit. I still don't understand why Leo thought he had the right to police Jane's personal choices. There was some tension between Leo and Bruiser over Jane in an earlier book but I think Jane made it clear she wasn't interested in Leo.Bruiser and Jane finally make good on their chemistry in this book. It happens fast and burns hotly. But the situation with Rick leaves me wondering since he acted like nothing had gone wrong. I'd really like for Jane to actually see and speak to Rick about his side of things. A couple of books ago, if that long, they were "I love you" and "we'll figure it out" to nothing. Just doesn't sit well for me even though I'm not torn up about the development at all since I never liked Rick.Leo has a Son of Darkness chained up in his basement. Reach was a valuable resource but I just can't believe he was able to figure that out. It's just a hard sell for me that particular detail in the book. However, it does explain Leo's power surge and answers a question I periodically had while reading these books which is why Leo seemed to get life threatening wounds so frequently. Maybe relying on that power surge so much he's been lax in other ways when it comes to his personal defenses.The part of the book I really disliked was Jane's asinine decision to go park by the side of a random warehouse. Where she gets attacked. By the vampires hunting her down. Who had already had a bomb delivered to her house. Who were following her around New Orleans for days. Who had all the information on her that Reach had. Who wanted to do something to her, the assumption being that the something in question was NOT good. And THAT'S what she decided to do?!! I mean come on. Good thing she didn't die, thankfully the other creature like Soul saves her. But what's with the being attacking Jane initially and following? Soul mentioned Jane was calling out. In what way or ways and why didn't Soul mention it before on their last mission?I wouldn't be opposed if Jane took another New Orleans break after this fiasco. It's frustrating to have Jane constantly in the dark when it comes to Leo's plans when she hasn't been given the proper information to do her job properly. She's not bound so I get it, but if that's the holdup then I don't understand why make her Leo's head of security. Makes no sense.European vampires are dead though, so I can only guess as to what that means for the next book. The European council is to descend sooner rather than later.

I'm not often taken in by fantasy romance because there's usually far too much mummy porn for my taste but the Yellowrock books are proving to be a delight. I love the heroine and her little posse of male suitors although I reserve my full approval for Leo, who is just wonderful on so many, many levels. this is one feisty chick and she is great. Thumbs up!There are a few of points of criticism, mind you:1) The dwelling on weapons - dear gods, the descriptions of the various bits of arsenal are tedious. I find myself skipping those bits.2) Repetition. Hip length hair, golden eyes, weapons... We already know what the woman looks like and how she likes to dress, for heaven's sake.3) I know Jane is a barbarian, but why would anyone put Cool Whip in tea - it's poison? Or real cream, for that matter? Hell's bells, that offends my British sensibilities no end.But, having said that, good fun and very nicely written with a decent arc and good characterisation.

What can I say? I love love love Jane and Beast, they are one (2 of?) of my favourite characters. Faith Hunter never ever fails to deliver and boy was this extra special. Jane is beginning to move on and grow. As she learns more of her past and she and Beast come to greater understandings of each other they become more of a team than ever before and whilst I always felt they had strong feelings there for each other there is now a sort of acceptance of co dependance and respect for each other too. They are more formidable together than ever before. Beast is also developing a wicked sense of humour too as her knowledge and understanding of humans (umm, and supernaturals, not sure you'd call any of 'em human!) and language grows, showing us a side of herself that I absolutely loved.This story cuts into the prep for the European council of fang heads visit to NOLA and boy does it all go off with a bang, literally! Apparently with all the evil that Jane has dealt with in the past she hasn't even scratched the surface with whats coming over from Europe. I found these to be some of the scariest bad guys of the series yet. Leo loses grip of a few of his secrets (finally!) and his world is literally thrown into chaos. Jane however is always there to save the day and a new creature is on the loose. Completely awesome by the way and taking this series into a whole new direction that was totally unexpected for me and which I found vey exciting. As usually the history, facts, magic and world descriptions are of the same high quality and class as we have come to expect of Faith Hunter and the complexity of it at times blew my mind, I had to keep going back and reading bits as I was reading too fast to take it all in. In fact I will go back and read it all again very soon.Bruiser though, oh Bruiser how wonderful are you. I have to confess I was a bit of a fan of Ricky Bo and took my sweet time to get over him much as Jane is doing. I found her hurt and emotions so heart rending and so believable, unlike so many books where heroines get on back on to the next guy with barely a backward glance. But Bruiser won me over good and proper. You better not hurt Jane and Beast now!If you've never read this series don't start here, but go back and start at the beginning with Skinwalker and relish in the sheer joy of reading it all for the first time.

i like jane, her attitude, her shared soul, her beast, and her world...but....sometimes the story does not move forward, it stamps about in the same space for too long...and i think there is too much romance/sex...i know other readers like it, but to me is it too "teenage-y", too much like high school and crushes on the jocks...oh yes, the swim team...oh me oh my....and i woner if there are editors/proofreaders anymore...a castle has a moat, not a "mote", sweetbreads are not testicles, and occansionally names of characters are switched...it is obvious from context who is meant, but it stops the reading for a moment, which breaks the flow of the narrative...there are also too many named characters, it becomes a crowd scene...alexandre dumas has paper dolls representing his characters on his help-writers desk, and when one was killed off, the doll was placed face down...one day a cross draft knocked over some dolls, and no body bothered to check, and they were raised up again....so that is why you all of a sudden have characters come to life who had been killed . off a few chapters before...a bit if a shock to the reader...well, faith hunter could use a cross draft, and get rid of a whole bunch of secondary folks....that would help...in any case, i like the world building, i like jane, i like her take on the military siblinghood, reminiscient of Paksenarrion, but i wish she would just get on with the plot, and the adventures....not her best, but not bad...and Beast is growing on me...

Good - I galloped through this at breakneck speed, along with the plot that belts along at the same pace, so really need to take a breather and read it again with the care it deserves, in fact I'm wondering whether to treat myself to starting from the beginning with audio books - they make you focus on every word written, with no sneaky peaks ahead or skipping of bits - hmmm, I shall ponder.This has some major revelations, something nasty in the woodshed (well cellar actually, but a quote's a quote), and more humour than some of the mid-series books. Beast continues to surprise, the Younger brothers do their stuff, there are some "What the...?" moments - there's one involving Jane, a shower and Leo that really surprised me, and some sufficiently powerful and unpleasant baddies to test even Leo and his crew. Soul's role in things increases, Brute (the werewolf from earlier books) turns up, there's time taken out for a little romance, and then there's much mayhem from which not everyone we have grown to know emerges unscathed. Handy to be a vampire who can recover from just about any amount of damage, or to be a non-vampire with access to a vampire who can heal just about any amount of damage (altho' not everything, it turns out).Phew - and the Europeans still haven't arrived! Roll on the next. Anyone got any idea how long a series Ms Hunter intends here? This is, what, number 9, and the next is out in April (yay!).

Once you've read one Urban Fantasy novel featuring a kick-ass female vampire hunter you've pretty much read them all. The early novels of Laurell K. Hamilton set the pattern and are still amongst my favourites of the genre. Now it is a very crowded field indeed so anyone who manages to stand out is to be welcomed. The Jane Yellowrock novels have the usual plot standards - the sexy powerful master vampire; musclebound werewolves; mages; and poor old outmatched humans. The character of Jane Yellowrock is different in that she is the sole surviving Indian Skinwalker, able to shapeshift into virtually any animal, although she most usually changes into her constant mental companion Beast, a huge mountain lion to which she is inextricably and magically linked. The mental dialogue between the two is a constant in all the novels as is the world seen through Beast's eyes after she has shapeshifted. I've read several of the series now and the plots are again pretty standard, usually involving some kind of plot or powerplay amongst or against the vampires in the US. Yellowrock has found herself in the employ of the vampire master of New Orleans and this novel revolves around a visit to the city by representatives from Europe's old vampire families - who may not have her boss's best interests at heart. Author Faith Hunter manages to get more out the genre than most and that is definitely welcome.