Today’s friend is the wonderful Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, where she also has this review posted. Go check out her blog! My last blogger I reviewed for Jennifer is there now too. I knew of Jen back in the Twilight vampire days because of a mutual friend in Michigan but she may not know that connection. I got to know her better on Twitter and through the Fitreaders group. I enjoy her daily tweets about various things in life; and I read her blog. I even got to visit her house briefly this year on our vacation.
Skinwalker by Faith Hunter Narrator: Khristine Hvam
Series: Jane Yellowrock #1
Published by Audible on April 13, 2010
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 14 hours, 29 minutes
Format: Audiobook
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Jane Yellowrock is a vampire hunter; a very good vampire hunter. She’s been hired by the vampire council of New Orleans to find and exterminate the rogue vampire plaguing the city. While the civilized vampires may realize she’s not human, they don’t know she’s a Cherokee skinwalker, a secret only a handful know, and something Jane has little understanding. But what makes Jane the best in her profession is Beast, the wildcat soul that lives within Jane.
I’ve FINALLY started the Jane Yellowrock series, something that has been on my TBR for years! Overall I enjoyed my first foray into Jane’s world. The author creates a fascinating world, giving readers/listeners some important clues to Jane’s past and true form, but leaving so much wide open. The plot of Skinwalker is exciting; however, it is Jane’s story that is utterly engrossing, and I wanted to jump into the second book as soon as I was done with the first. I love how Ms. Hunter gives just enough about Jane to satisfy my need for information and doesn’t leave everything mysterious and ambiguous.
I like Jane. It took a little bit for me to warm up to her, but in the end, I liked her no-nonsense attitude. I like how she pushes boundaries, but can be respectful. I am not as fond of Beast; she is a bit scary, but I think I’ll end up liking her. Beast is a separate character, and I appreciate how the author gives Beast her own speech patterns and way of thinking. It’s written (and therefore narrated) as different from Jane. I like that Jane is remorseful over what happened to Beast. I like that Beast recognizes together, Beast and Jane are better and stronger than as separate components. But Beast has her own moral compass, and while it’s not warped, it is that of a creature and different from that of Jane, the person.
Skinwalker’s story is a standalone mystery of who/what is the rogue and how to capture and end it. The author uses this plot to introduce readers to a large cast of characters and build Jane’s world. Since Jane is new to New Orleans, the reader learns along side of her. It’s a very effective method of world building. The entertaining and action-packed story is solid on its own, but the world is fascinating. It will be interesting to see how the vast array of characters plays out over the next few books. Some I like more than others. I didn’t like the Joe, but after a big reveal, maybe I’ll like him more? Leo…. he’s going to be her nemesis for a while. Bruiser… maybe? The Cherokee? So undecided on them all. But they are all very interesting.
The narration is performed by Khristine Hvam, my first time listening to her work. I like Jane’s voice a lot. Ms. Hvam gets into her character and exudes Jane’s attitude. She also does a great job changing it up for Beast. I feel her Cajun accents are a bit overplayed, and male voices aren’t very masculine. For example, Rick (the Joe) is supposed to be a player: smooth and masculine. But the voice the narrator uses sounds goofy and feminine. Additionally, I had trouble distinguishing several of her male characters.
In the end, I enjoyed Skinwalker and the start to the Jane Yellowrock series. The story has lots of action, unique and interesting characters, and leaves the door open for conflict and adventure ahead. I look forward to more.
My Rating: B+
Narration: B
Listen to a clip:
About Khristine Hvam
Khristine studied acting for the theater and film and soon discovered a love of voice over. You can hear her in various TV and Radio commercials, video games, animated series, and most notably in over 100 audio book titles. Khristine has been honored with several Audie nominations and in the summer of 2012 earned her first Audie Award in the fantasy category for her performance of Lani Taylor’s “Daughter of Smoke and Bone.” This year she is thrilled to announce three more Audie nominations!
“I sort of tripped and fell into the world of voice over and audio books and it’s been the best fall yet. I’ve discovered a real passion for this medium of acting, and consider myself very fortunate to be able to do it.” -K.Hvam
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.
About Jen at That’s What I’m Talking About
Jen began her reading journey at a young age, when she would spend her spare change to buy books, just so she could have them on her shelf after she was done reading them. Now that she’s grown and her reading tastes matured, she finds that she’s still the same girl who likes to read and look at the pretty books on her shelf (or rather, shelves!). Although these days, she admits that she spends most of her time reading on her Kindle or listening to audiobooks than with her nose in a good ol’ book.
I founded That’s What I’m Talking About on January 28, 2010, as a place to discuss in better detail the books we were chatting about on Twitter. My blog is a project of love, and I’m so glad to share it with you.
I am a full-time mom, with a part-time job outside the home. I have two (mostly) wonderful teenage children: The Boy (a high-schooler) and Baby Girl (BG). My background is in engineering and urban planning, but now I work part-time for a small non-profit writing plans and managing grants. I would love to spend more time reading and blogging, but it doesn’t pay the bills! Joining me on my journey is also my husband and our 2 cats. We reside in the New England region of the United States.
I mostly review small-town, light contemporaries, romantic comedies, urban fantasy (UF), historical romances, steampunk, paranormal romances, and historical and cozy mysteries; but my tastes are diverse, and I do read/review in other genres. I also enjoy audiobooks, even more than my Kindle these days.
I love to talk about books and reading, so please drop me a line or find me on the web:
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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Glad to see you enjoyed the first book and have picked up this series. For years others where suggesting Jane Yellowrock to read. I finally picked it up last year, but still not caught up. I was wondering how the audio is. Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you continue too. Great review!
I am collecting the audio books but have only read the ebooks so far. I binged the series a few years back and have stayed up to date ever since.
That’s great. I know I’ve ended up reading a lot of books and then later going back and listening. It gives you a new take on the story.
I have listened to the first three and I enjoyed the narrator. She does a great job. Maybe check if the library has an audiobook copy you can try for yourself!
I bought Skinwalker several years ago and still haven’t read it. Thanks for reminding me–I’ll make sure it’s on my e-reader so I can give it a try!
It’s a series I really enjoy! The spinoff series is also excellent.
I hope you enjoy it, Jan!
Great Review! This sounds like just the series I’ve been looking for!
It’s a really good and really interesting series. I have the next one #13 for review next month. I tend to read the original release and collect the audio for the reread later.
Thanks so much.
I had planned to start this series but never founf the time. I even have a couple of the books. Maybe after October!
I definitely have this problem. I have a bunch of things I own which I can’t seem to fit into my schedule. Not to mention things on Audible Escape or KU I want to read while I have them. Sigh.
I understand that problem all too well – especially with series that are as established as this one. That’s where audiobooks help a lot for me. I can get through a long series faster via audiobook.
I have had this audiobook for a couple of years but haven’t read it yet. I really like the sound of this series. I am so glad that you enjoyed it, Jen!
I think it’s a great series but UF is my favorite.
Wow, this sounds really fun, and I’m adding it to my audio list! Wonderful review!
I have really enjoyed it. AT some point I should do it as a Read-along. It starts in NC by Asheville but then is mostly in NOLA.
thanks Jennifer. I hope you enjoy the series.
Thanks so much for having me on the blog, Anne.
Oh no, thank you! I love to have friends visit and share their blogs and perspectives.