Blood Cross

Jane Yellowrock, Book 2

By: Faith Hunter

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jane Yellowrock is back on the prowl against the children of the night. The vampire council has hired skinwalker Yellowrock to hunt and kill one of their own who has broken sacred ancient rules - but Jane quickly realizes that in a community that is thousands of years old, loyalties run deep.

©2010 Faith Hunter (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Jane gets into a complicated stew involving human and vampire rivalries, the ancient vampire-witch conflict, the New Orleans police, and her need to balance her beast and human natures. What with puzzles, chases (including a climactic one to rescue children), lots of blood, and some explicit sex, count on this to please thriller and dark romance fans alike." ( Booklist)

GO JANE!!! GO FAITH!! AND GO KHRISTINE!!

This is one of my favorite authors, series and narrators. I have listened to this series several times and I enjoy it more each time I listen to it. Khristine Hvam does a fantastic job with the narration. I do love the Cherokee that is brought into the story. Hearing the language of The People, just makes the story pop off the pages for me. I do listen while I am reading along, and Khristine pauses where Faith pauses (commas etc.) I think that a lot of times, we miss things when we don't see print. HOWEVER I love my audio books and this series. Jane Yellowrock is a good person as well as a great vamp killer!! And I do love Angie-baby! She will break your heart. I just want to squeeze her but Big Cat would take my head off. These are great stories, lots of background and history (at least for me), and a very interesting take on where vamps started. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Many tiny frustrations add up with this series

Series:
Sooooo. I just listened to the first 1.5 hours of book 3 and returned it. I MIGHT get back into the series if I read a review that says Leo finally had his throat torn out by some pissed off woman he's bullied and manipulated one too many times. The main character comes to mind.


The 'many tiny frustrations' are primarily how Jane acts contrary to how I would act at just about every juncture. I find her behavior extremely puzzling more often than not, when she shares a body with a cat and is a more or less mature adult woman. Her behavior is very often indecisive or flatly contrary to a logical response by an apex predator-- a fact which seemed well established when she kicked Leo's ass in 5 seconds flat within the introductory chapters of book 1.


IF the fact that she's an utter pushover at the worst times is a result of her childhood, I suppose I personally needed that spelled out better.


I find most of the behavior of the three primary male characters: sleazy cop Rick, dapper boot-licking fang-banger George, and manipulative, serial predator Leo utterly contemptible.

(Side note: Leo is a m-fcking serial rapist. One cannot describe blood feeding, "Right of Kings", listen to the one vampire woman's feeling on the subject and her clear lack of consent and reach any other factual conclusion.)

The fact that all three men only show up if and when she's useful to them personally and disappear faster than vamps can move is infuriating. That Jane blithely accepts this, and it never occurs to her that she might deserve better treatment FROM ALL OF THEM is just gutting. Their behavior is unquestionably transactional in every instance. It is all business at every moment for all three. Jane should not be looking for relationships with any of them. Hunter should've introduced other men into the books who treat Jane the way potential romantic partners should, or should have added some scene of sleazy Rick or fang-banger George acting like decent people. (Not Leo. Leo is a serial predator. Leo needs his throat torn out.)



Narration: Either I mispronounce more words than I've ever realized or Hvam does. Or I've never heard alternate pronunciations of a lot of words.

Also, it would've been really, really nice if Hvam have researched proper pronunciations of French words before book 1. They have this pesky habit of adding a few extra letters to the ends of words that you never actually hear them use when they speak. It's a thing. Like Jean Lafitte. You think you see an 'n' at the end of Jean, and two 't's' and an 'e' at the end of Lafitte, but they aren't *actually* there. Not really.

Loved It

Any additional comments?

Great narration. I like to list this first as it can make or break a story.

Loved this story. Easy listerning and very entertaining. Will be impatiently waiting for any new books in audio from this author.

I really enjoy it when readers with similar reading interests list their favourite authors and series. It really helps me find new authors too follow. Mine are Charlaine Harris, Jeaniene Frost, Jennifer Estep, Faith Hunter, Molly Harper, Ilona Andrews, Kresley Cole, Deborah Harkness, Nalini Singh, Coreene Callahan and Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Happy Reading

She dresses sexy and gets her neck bitten - ho hum

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Very little action. She solves a mystery, but with biblical overtones more unbelievable than any of those archeologist/action movies. The most interesting part was her relationship with her other- and her other, a non-human, was the most interesting and sympathetic character. And if she's such a great vampire hunter, why does she get bitten and almost die three times in a couple days? She needs to get her act together! Oh, and stop admiring herself in the mirror.

Meh...

Maybe I'm not in Faith Hunter's target demographic, but I couldn't conjure up any empathy or sympathy for - or, to be honest, even any interest in - her characters. Jane gets chomped by a vamp? Okay by me! The Beast strikes a serious sulk because Jane won't let her bulk up into a big cat? Suck it up (pun intended), Beast. Channeling Charlaine Harris, Hunter presents minute description of Jane's wardrobe (much less entertaining than Sookie's, but what can you do with black leather everything?) and dietary preferences (basically red meat and carbs seasoned with withering distain for greens). Dialog passable, narration marred by only a few mispronunciations, plot murky: save your credit.

SEE JANE GO

Okay so let me create an image. Sit on a front porch. Jane, on her motorcycle drives by. Then she drives by again. You watch her drive back and forth and each time she's learned a little or done something. Add in what you learned from the last book but make it a slightly paler version of the characters and VOILA! Book 2.

I do enjoy these books. But I also enjoy character growth. I have a feeling we won't see much of that with Jane. But you know, the Ms Marple books are awesome despite a constantly same plot line with only different characters and twists. At least we established a love triangle! Worth a credit if you're liking the series... I still like the Mercy Thompson books better.

Blood Cross: Jane Yellowrock, Book 2

This is another great tale with Jane Yellowrock. The author creates a strong, female character, who also is vulnerable in some ways. There is enough intrique and action to keep you interested. The story is developed well. I enjoy the toughness and sometimes softness of the main character. I look forward to future stories with Jane Yellowrock.

Good book, a little weak in the climax.

The book in general was very good, but the climax and ending were weak. The final battle was kind of abrupt, and the epilogue was super generalized.

Slow Start

This is book two of the Yellowrock series and not sure I will listen to the third. Jane is a "skin walker" who shares a body and mind with Beast a.k.a "big cat." Hired by the vampire council as a bounty hunter to find and destroy a vampire who is turning young rogues in the city of New Orleans. The Bloodmaster of the city death vengeance out for her due to events from book one. The book seemed to drag at the start and there were several times I wondered why I had purchased it. The action in the last third of the book made it more enjoyable but still not sure I will ever buy book three unless it is on sale. Sorry, wanted to like it more.

good story

What did you love best about Blood Cross?

the shipping of the character into beast and the dialogue that insues.

Would you recommend Blood Cross to your friends? Why or why not?

I think that they're very nice elements in this book for worth reading.I would definitely recommend this time friends that enjoy vampire mythology

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

her southern accents really things quite interesting. Jane Yellowrock it's definitely great voice

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

NoI one of those nooks.

love this

great story but I wanted to say I absolutely love this narrator. 💓💓 she is my favourite audible narrator yet.

Jane Yellowrock saves the day again!

Jane Yellowrock saves the day again in the 2nd installment of the series.

Still just as fun and thrilling, plenty of action and humour... but was the love triangle necessary? It was a little messy in an otherwise very good book.

Other than that (and a few questionable but passing opinions I may not have agreed with) still a very good book.

Good fun despite the continuity/logic flaws

Not my usual listen, I thought I’d have a change and bought three books in the series during a 3/2 sale.
There are some jarring continuity/logic issues in the plot lines and the heroin isn’t that ‘super’ but still good fun and entertaining.

Great!

Second book is even better than the first, these books get better and better as we get to know the main characters more and the author throws you into crazy good storylines and fantastic plot twists.

I love how real Jane’s character is, you hurt with her when she’s heartbroken and guilty in this book and determined to fix what’s happened.

More about the history of the vamps, more about Jane and beast and more of Jane kicking ass. Loved it.

Bruiser v Ricky-bo

Book 2 sees Jane with visitors during hurricane Ada. Molly and the kids have come for a break until they get caught up in vamp politics and the children are snatched. Jane needs to work out why they were taken and how to rescue them whilst avoiding Leo who wants her head.

Loved it

I loved the first two stories.. usually I can predict who's the bady etc but these aren't so predictable

All fangs and claws.

Once again Jane Yellowrock takes on some very,very bad vampires who threaten....... Any more would be a spoiler, so let's just say blood,big cat and Jane are in the mix. I listen to this book pretty much in one session, I would say try this book.

Great story

Would recommend this review to anyone new to the story line or just the the genre

The one where Jane doesn't do much

After an enjoyable first book this one not so much.

Jane, our main character and vampire asskicker returns, doesn't do a hell of a lot except blunder into situations, almost die, get saved by someone/something else and outside of self defense doesn't kill anyone.
Ultimately the big bad is an almost mute nobody we never meet, the day is saved thanks to a child not Jane and big, named, important characters are introduced but do/say nothing.

Disappointed is the best way to describe this one. hopefully book three will be an improvement.