Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Cold Reign by Faith Hunter Series: Jane Yellowrock #11
Published by Ace on May 2, 2017
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker…and the woman rogue vampires fear most.
Jane walks softly and carries a big stake to keep the peace in New Orleans, all part of her job as official Enforcer to Leo Pellissier, Master of the City. But Leo’s reign is being threatened by a visit from a delegation of ancient European vampires seeking to expand their dominions.
And there’s another danger to the city. When she hears reports of revenant vampires, loose in NOLA and out for blood, Jane goes to put them down—and discovers there’s something unusual about these revenants. They never should have risen.
Jane must test her strength against a deadly, unnatural magic beyond human understanding, and a ruthless cadre of near-immortals whose thirst for power knows no bounds…
I’ll start by admitting I LOVE, LOVE the Jane Yellowrock series and the author, Faith Hunter. I didn’t read until there were maybe 8 books. I think it actually helps when you can read them all in a short time together to keep the information and details fresh. I was careful to read everything, including the novellas, in order. It’s important to me in general, but especially with urban fantasy.
Let’s get right to it. Ricky Bo is here, more than I expected. And I didn’t hate him. I didn’t like him either. I also didn’t crush on Leo. At all. I was furious with Leo. He always has his secrets from Jane and it sucks. He also tries to manipulate her. I didn’t feel the intelligence or maybe vulnerability, which attracted me to him anymore. Bruiser is really good to Jane but I am not feeling him. Ugh.
FINALLY. We meet some European vampires. Everything is not what it seems. Jane and her team have been preparing. She has grown and developed her skills tremendously. It serves her well. The family, with the Youngers, continues to congeal in its awesome way. I’m happy to have Edmund and Brute with them, surprisingly. Cold Reign has plenty of intrigue, action, subtle humor, and suckhead politics. Highly recommended.
We learn somewhat more of Leo’s plan for the EV visit. (#@&$(@!) I’ve always had a strong attachment to Gregoire and he has more of a role here. Katie is a key factor, although she is only mentioned. So I’m excited to have her profile on the blog today.
Character Profile: Katie Fonteneau
AKA: Katherine Louisa Dupris, Katherine Pearl Duplantis, Katherine Vuillemont, Regina Katarina FonteneauBecame heir of Clan Pellissier after the death of Leo’s son, Immanuel.She is the proprietress and namesake of Katie’s Ladies – oldest continuing operating whorehouse in the French Quarter (since 1845). She owned two local hotels, at least three restaurants, and several bars. Numerous off-shore accounts in different names. Her working girls also have excellent financial portfolios.Katie was ‘put to earth’ after nearly being killed and receiving the blood of 8 clans (which no longer exist when she rises). After Mercy Blade, she is no longer sane but very, scary, powerful.Katie appears 20 but has old, old grayish hazel eyes when not vamped out. Long, straight, thick, dark ash blond hair. She is five feet and a smidge tall, and has a fleur-de-lis brand on her upper arm, small brown and uniform. When vamped out, her fangs are 3 inches long and her claws are bone white, 2 inches long.Katie’s laugh can be caramel-liqueur sex-on-a-stick, or delicate and soft and feminine.She loves tea, based on teapot collection and her scent left in the tea cabinet.**Compiled by Melissa M. Gilbert of Clicking Keys, for the Character History of the Jane Yellowrock world**
Giveaway!
About Faith Hunter
Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. She writes three Urban Fantasy series: the Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock, a Cherokee skinwalker who hunts rogue vampires. The Soulwood series, featuring earth magic user Nell Ingram. And the Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban, post-apocalyptic, fantasy series featuring Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage. (There is a role playing game based on the series, ROGUE MAGE.)
Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 30+ books in print in 29 countries.
Hunter writes full-time, tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their rescued Pomeranians to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Anne: 2017 New Release Challenge
This is a series that has been on my TBR forever. I will get to it one day. Glad to see that it is a five star read at 11 books. I know that everyone loves this series. I might be the only one not reading it yet.
I’m liking Edmund more and more these days.
I need to play catch up with Jane and Beast. I’m now two books behind. I also need to listen to the spin-off.
My favorite is Jane. I love hearing her story, learning about her. Visualizing her shifts. Seeing her grow, and stumble, and learn and pull herself up.
But if I can’t choose Jane, I chose her 4 legged friend, the hound dog 😀
I have never read this series but I would love to start! Great review and I love your blog design.