Death's Rival

Jane Yellowrock, Book 5

By: Faith Hunter

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp-plague, Jane will have to go to extremes...and maybe even to war.

©2012 Faith Hunter (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Awesome story and audiobook

This is the fifth book in the Jane Yellorock series. It was a spectacular book. We learn a ton about Jane’s past. Things come to a head between Jane and Leo. Beast plays a large role in the story as well.

I listened to this on audiobook and it was absolutely amazing. The narrator captures Jane’s personality perfectly and does an excellent job distinguishing between voices. I actually enjoyed listening to this series more than I enjoyed reading it. So I highly recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.

Vamps are breaking out in a horrible virus of sorts, the only cure is provided by a mysterious master who comes in and takes over their territory in exchange for the cure. Jane is asked to look into this virus and figure out who the mysterious master vamp is. Jane also hires in two guys to help with her home security; this adds a lot of fun to her house and to the story.

Excellent continuation of this series. We learn a lot more about Jane's past and Beast plays a large role in this story as well. There is a ton of action and an interesting mystery that ties in with Jane's past nicely. The book is also full of Jane’s sarcastic humor and wit.

A lot is revealed about Jane’s character in this book. Her bloody past is discussed and she is forced to confront some truths about the nature of skinwalkers in general. Things also come to a head between Jane and Leo and the result is a rather painful truth that Jane is forced to face.

Bruiser and Rick are in the story quite a bit as well. It was wonderful to see Rick, but watching him and Jane struggle with their relationship was painful at times. Bruiser is an interesting character and watching how he is torn between Jane and Leo says a lot about his character.

Beast comes to the forefront in this story. The balance between Beast and Jane is changing; Beast is becoming more intelligent and more prominent in Jane’s thoughts. It’s interesting to watch Jane and Beast come up with some sort of balance. It’s also fun to watch Beast interpret Jane’s human thoughts and actions.

The plot that drives the story about the vampire virus was an interesting one. I loved how it all tied into events that happened in previous books and also ties in with Jane’s origins.

This book was incredibly well written, very interesting, and very nicely tied in with the rest of the series. Some surprising things happen in the story that left me very curious to see what happens next. I thought this was the best book in the series yet.

Overall an absolutely wonderful continuation of this series. The plot is interesting and we learn a ton about Jane’s history and about the history of the Skinwalkers. Some of Jane’s struggles to balance Beast and the men in her life are painful to read about; but Jane’s witty sarcasm and Beast’s cat-like humor add a lot of fun to offset the darkness. The book is action-packed and just so interesting. I can’t wait to read what happens next. This whole series is highly recommended to fans of action packed urban fantasy.

This Is WAR!!!

This addition to the series was full of action, really full of it.. I have enjoyed it.. New fantastic characters get added to the series and interesting developments happened to many characters including Jane. .... especially Jane.

There is also the absence of some characters, which wasn't so bad.

Its ending was very good and ..... will you have to get there to know what happens.. but it was good.

Again the narrator did a great job as usual narrating the characters and giving life to them.. she is very talented.

Various stuff driving me nuts!

Book: This is the 5th book in the Yellowrock series. This particular book is much better (imo) than the previous book, which I had trouble getting through. I’m enjoying the new characters Eli & Alex, tho Alex is portrayed as mentally younger than any 18-yr old I know.
I’m beginning to get really irritated with Jane’s “conflicted” nature. On one hand - the hand I like - she’s a strong, smart, ass-kicking fighter/terminator. On the other hand, she’s a prissy, angst-ridden, god botherer who’s naive, has to go to church to get straight with herself & can’t stand “cursing.” It seems to me that she’d have a much harder shell if she’s a 100 years old & truly rubbed elbows with vamps, weres, Native Americans, military & police. Some of these folk use “cursing” commonly & kinda like a bonding agent.
Remembering she’s 100+ years old, it’s bugging me that she’s got the screaming hots for a half dozen different guys but doesn’t get laid or settle on any one or two of them.
The author also gets almost as detailed & masturbatory over guns as Larry Correia. It’s distracting & unnecessary at this point in the series, as is her professed ignorance of “witchy stuff.” Also, I have long, heavy hair but I can’t think of a way I could bind it to my head & hide a derringer in it. Really.
Lastly, I’m sick of Bitsa. A big, loud Harley is just so wrong as the primary vehicle for someone whose job requires stealth & discretion. I can see it for her pleasure ride, but it’s just silly for her work. I apologize for the negative tone of my review. It’s the culmination of irritations stored up through all the books so far. I’ll keep listening & hoping for tighter plots. Still, for the first time ever, I wish I’d read these in print instead of Audible.

Narrator: I’m a serious Audible junkie & I’ve put up with some seriously bad narrators. Ms. Hvam is a good narrator & does many characters well - not so well with European accents. I’m uncomfortable with & distracted by the Southern accents & sloppy grammar. Again, 100yrs old & still sounds like she just crawled out of a bayou? Ms. Hvam also mangles some common words. I’m a grammar & word fanatic, so I know I have to take that into account - but little things like calling a helicopter a “hello” instead of a “hElo” or chopper is jarring. I *really* wish I could hear these books performed by a narrator like Kate Reaing.

My First Jane Yellowrock

Who was your favorite character and why?

Younger brothers are my fav's and of course BEAST

Which character – as performed by Khristine Hvam – was your favorite?

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Beast.

Any additional comments?

Started out slow for me, since I didn't start at the beginning.
I have listened to "Soulwood" and love both of those books so much.
Made me try Jane Yellowrock. Vamps are not my favorite, so was reluctant, but I LOVE Khristine Hvam, so started listening. almost stopped around chapters 4-6, glad I stuck with it.
I have listened to Amanda Stevens Graveyard Queen series narrated by Khristine Hvam and have loved her ever since.

Wish Jane would move on for the Brusier/Rick ping ponging. Hard to get into that part of the book.
PLEASE.....more Beast. That is so enjoyable to listen to

Great book!

I have listened to all 5 Jane yellowrock books and loved everyone. Each book follows the next, and I enjoy following Jane and beast life.

Great addition!!!

I have truly enjoyed all of the Jane Yellowrock books and this one is no different! Very fast paced and entertaining! I find Jane to be one of my favorite female characters in paranormal fiction, her internal monologuing and beast crack me up!

Good

An already good series is starting to really get its claws into me. It is becoming a bit more of a romance than I'd prefer but she kicks more tail than she chases so I'm still on board. Good interplay between characters

Spellbinding

Could not get enough. Ms Hvam brings a great story to vivid life. Very glad that the next story is already in my library.

Lots of Twisting Happening

When I thought these books couldn’t get any better than the last one; they prove me wrong!
I really enjoyed book 4 (Raven Curse) a lot! However, after listening to this one, I was amazed how good it was. I was on the edge of my seat since the book started & had to remind myself to breath. I just couldn’t stop listening to find out what happened next. Although I will admit that some of the story, I was sort of able to predict would, but not in the way I thought it would.
Well, at least not the love story part. I definitely, figured that situation was going to (mostly) happen the way it did. The rest of the story though was awesome! And the ending…I was like !!!…and then like ???…and then like…!!! Lol!
I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book(s) up to this point yet. I will say that this book had more Vamps, Magic, a whole lot more fighting, & Jane Yellowrock causing more problems than she can shake Her/Beast’s tail at. ;)
I sure hope Jane & Beast can survive long enough to figure out what to do next. *wink & grin*

WOW! !I I did not expect that.

If you could sum up Death's Rival in three words, what would they be?

Fast, Fast, Fast.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Death's Rival?

The last two chapters.

What does Khristine Hvam bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The book comes to life. I can create the images in my head. Well written.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Better that Twilight.