Title: Blood Cross (Jane Yellowrock #2)
Author: Faith Hunter
Publisher: Roc
Publications Date: 5 Jan 2010 (this edition)
Paperback: 336 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Own Copy
Guest Review by Heather
RATING: 9/10
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Jane Yellowrock is back on the prowl against the children of the night… The vampire council has hired skinwalker Jane 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…
REVIEW:
The action in ‘Blood Cross‘ picks up right where the first book, ‘Skinwalker’, ended. Jane Yellowrock is contracted by the vampire council of New Orleans to hunt and find the vampire who is creating and releasing young rogue vampires in the city. Unfortunately, Jane has created some powerful enemies since she has come to New Orleans, including the Blood Master of the city, Leo Pellisser, who is insane with grief due to the death of his son that he believes was killed by Jane’s hands. While Jane tries to avoid Leo at all costs, she also has houseguests to entertain, Molly and her children Angelina (Angie) and Little Evan. Molly is Jane’s best friend and a powerful witch as well as one of the few people who knows that Jane is a skinwalker.
As Jane investigates who is creating the young rogues she also finds another concerning trend of crimes, disappearing witch children in the city for the past few decades. Unsure of whether the creation of the young rogues and disappearance of witch children is connected, Jane begins to learn more vampire lore and politics as well as why the animosity between vampires and witches exist.
‘Blood Cross‘ is an excellent follow-up to ‘Skinwalker‘, I would say the book is as good or even better than the first one. Jane is continuing to explore her Native American side with the help of the shamans she met in the first book – Aggie One Feather and her mother. Jane starts to remember more glimpses of her past though I still find it interesting that Beast knows more about Jane’s past than Jane does. Beast (Jane’s animal soul) also tries to interfere in Jane’s human life as well as the full moon approaches by encouraging Jane to take a mate. Luckily for Jane she has two excellent choices – George “Bruiser” Dumas and Rick LaFleur. Although Jane is attracted to both men, she is unsure of their loyalties since George is Leo Pellisser’s blood servant and bodyguard and Rick is a former undercover cop with a sordid history.
As Jane delves deeper into who is creating the rogues she learns a great deal about the history of the vampires, how they were created, and how they made it to New Orleans. I love reading different authors myths about the creation of vampires and this one doesn’t disappoint. Additionally Jane gets mired in vampire politics as alliances shift in vampire clans as different clan leaders see the Blood Master of the City, Leo, grieving and wish to take advantage of his weaken state. Even though Leo wants to kill Jane, several of the clans see Jane as being aligned with Leo and try to take her out as well. Jane doesn’t get a break from attacks and bloodletting but what really wounds her is an attack that occurs close to home. We see a softer side of Jane as she deals with her rage, grief, and guilt. But Jane still has her claws and makes her enemies pay for what they have done.
VERDICT:
Overall ‘Blood Cross‘ is an excellent read – it is action-packed from the first pages and we see great character development in Jane as well as some interesting revelations about her past.
8 Comments
I really enjoyed this series. I can't wait for the fourth book to come out.
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I really want to start this series. Thanks for the review Heather!
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I've been wanting to get my hands on this book! Loved the first! Thanks for the review. Now I want to read it more!
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I've read Skinwalker and loved it, so will definitely buy this book. Faith Hunter is a great UF writer, her Rogue Mage Trilogy is excellent. Hate the cover of Blood Cross though… are we back to Lara Croft-style physiques again?
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I've heard a lot about her books but haven't read them yet. I now will have to pick them up! So many cool books, so little time and money:) LOL
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I agree with Heather – Blood Cross was even better than Skinwalker, and I enjoyed the first book quite a bit. I love how this series embraces all the 'cool' tropes in urban fantasy – guns, bikes, leather – without apologizing. My only regret is that Jane seems destined to be a singleton, but her 'Beast' is horny all the time. It's a fun ongoing tussle.
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Thank you for the great review! I have Skinwalker on my list to get and read. It is great to hear the second book is just as good or even better than the first. Thank you! I am going to have to get to this series.
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Can't wait to read this as I loved Skinwalker. The Jane/Beast dynamic is fantastic.
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