• Death's Rival

  • Jane Yellowrock, Book 5
  • By: Faith Hunter
  • Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
  • Length: 14 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (3,820 ratings)

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Death's Rival  By  cover art

Death's Rival

By: Faith Hunter
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
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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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best of the series by far!

What made the experience of listening to Death's Rival the most enjoyable?

Great story and great narration. I finished this book late at night and I was so hyped up I couldn't fall asleep. I wanted more. I have really enjoyed all the books in this series but I found this story more suspenseful. I loved it.

What other book might you compare Death's Rival to and why?

It is hard to compare this book to another I have read because of the main character's duel nature. The Alfa Omega series by Patricia Briggs, also a great series, has a bit of this with Charles and Brother Wolf. Charles is also influenced by his Native American heritage. While they are very different in many ways, if you like Mercy Thompson and/or Alfa Omega by Patricia Briggs I bet you will like Jane Yellowrock too, but I suggest starting with book one.

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

I think Ms. Hvam does a great job bringing Beast to life. I just don't think I would ever have fully understood the Jane/Beast relationship without her masterful narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There is always a chuckle or two in a Jane Yellowrock book but this one put a lump in my throat more that once. That surprised me.

Any additional comments?

I just hope Faith Hunter will write #6 fast, fast, fast!

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

ANOTHER GREAT ADVENTURE!

I am waiting anxiously for book 6! I really like all the accents and all of the twists and turns of this book's journey. I enjoyed the humor and sarcasm of Jane and of Beast. I think Rick wimped out! And I can't wait to see what Beast is going to do with the Master of the city in the next book :)

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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7 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Hunter makes rape victim culpable

Jane is raped, tortured and betrayed by everyone she held dear. Beast was raped, tortured and betrayed, and is now enslaved. And you people think this is good? The total annihilation of yet another strong female character?

Hunter did a crap job in this one. Leo sent her to Ashville to do a job, she protected herself from death, and protected his scions also, and she was punished for it.

A man breaks into her room in a hotel while she is sleeping, naked, and shoots at her, TWICE, before she responds, so SHE is guilty of starting a war, NOT him. Yet she is punished by the most vile rape scene I have had the unhappiness of witnessing in an author I used to respect.

And then, Hunter has Leo give and take Jane's blood - - - which, remind me if I am wrong, turned the last Skinwalker into a raving lunatic. So, she is going to use the vaunted next three novels she was just awarded for this stupidity into us watching Jane turn into a raving lunatic, killing and eating humans until she is hunted down and destroyed?

Hunter has lost my respect, and my money. I am sickened and disappointed, not only by the turn the books took, but by the number of people who found this sort of rape and destruction of a once strong character both exciting and wonderful. Where are your minds, people? I don't know what is worse - the fact that I am so deeply sickened by the people that liked this book, or the fact that I am so deeply HURT by Hunter's betrayal of her character - and her betrayal of me, as a reader.

I liked and admired Hunter's portrayal of Jane Yellowrock. She has known more pain in her life than any one person should have to stand. She lost her life, her friends, her self respect, and yet still she helped people, she met her responsibilities, and she gave of her heart, her body and her soul. Everyone. EVERYONE. Betrayed her. And yet she soldiered on, only to be demeaned, raped, and tossed aside like a used come rag. And everyone read it and called it good. I suppose I feel so deeply betrayed because I, like Jane, have been so brutally betrayed through my life. I too was used, betrayed, and thrown aside. Brutalized and yet I still tried to do my best. I Identified with Jane's strength and caring. Only to have her turned into a broken mess, with even Beast ripped from her, chained to Leo, a prisoner in her own mind. Her life, her very soul, is destroyed. Sort of like mine.

I suppose I shouldn't allow myself to become so tied in with a character in a book. But with my own life of pain and betrayal, I had fond a friend in Jane. Through Hunter's betrayal of her character, I have again been betrayed. It hurts. I sit here, crying, once again being reminded that my world is nothing but pain. And knowing that, not even in books, can I ever escape.

Go me.

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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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.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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This book sent me into peroxisomes of glee!

Faith Hunter and Christine Hvam are a pairing made in audio heaven!
Jane and Beast never disappoint but in this book they also have some surprises. Jane learns some hard lessions and we get introduced to some very interesting new characters.
If I am not imagining things there is some foreshadowing going on in the beginning that may be relevant later. I love this series so much that it's one of the few I will listen to several times.

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When can we expect the next Jane Yellowrock story

What made the experience of listening to Death's Rival the most enjoyable?

I love the Narrator's accent and ability to sweep the listener along. She is pitch and expression perfect. She reads in exactly the way I feel I would read, so it doesn't ever feel as if I want her to slow down or hurry up.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jane is my favourite character, she is very well rounded as a person, extremely capable but not over confident. it has also been possible to watch her grow as a person throughout the series.

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

Christine definitely brings the Southern character of the books to life, which will be clear to all listeners/readers now instead of just those who are already familiar with the american south.

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

Enjoy the ride!

Any additional comments?

when is the next book available

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Best so far

I think this is the best Jane Yellowrock book yet. It's all around good writing, good characters and a good story. There's some foreshadowing without giving to much away, there's some missing pieces that come together, theirs beast being cunning and funny, and theirs little twists that aren't obvious. So many books have these little twists that you can "feel" coming a mile away, if that makes any sense. I enjoyed just getting caught up in this book. I love this series, and 5 books in am still enthralled. I can't say that for all the series I read.

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Jane Yellowrock is so awesome!

Would you consider the audio edition of Death's Rival to be better than the print version?

For me the audio edition is much better than the print version for two reasons...my eyes aren't what they used to be, making it work to read for any length of time. The audio version gives the best emphasis to the plot where it belongs and gives the lead character (Jane) a more dimensional persona.

What did you like best about this story?

Beast.

Which scene was your favorite?

Where Beast took Jane's clothes to where she'd find them when she shifted back then tried unsuccessfully to rescue the cell phone with Bruiser shouting from it.

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

Shock and Awe have Jane Yellowrock's name all over them.

Any additional comments?

Yes, read it...now!

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