Good wrap up of the story line. Hope there will be more Jane Yellowrock books ( )

Shattered Bonds
3 Stars

The events continue in the aftermath of the blood challenge in the previous book with Jane, Bruiser and the Younger brothers residing in the Appalachian Mountains as Jane struggles with her illness. The tranquility is soon disrupted when Jane feels her bond with her Primo, Edmund Hartley, sever. As she faces challenges on multiple fronts, Jane must decide whether to accept or reject her position as the Mithrin's Dark Queen. Her choice will have consequences either way...

Unfortunately, this installment is the weakest so far mainly due to the fact that very little actually happens until the last three chapters. Much of the book is focused either on Jane's fight against her disease or on her internal conflict as the unwilling Dark Queen. As a result, the pacing is slow and the repeated musings are tedious.

In terms of the plot, there are numerous threats and characters to keep track of. While this is nothing new in the series, this time it all feels contrived and there is a decided lack of development for the various baddies. Perhaps it would have been better to simply focus on one.

Finally, the Deus Ex Machina ending is annoyingly obvious and lacking in imagination. In fact, the entire thread revolving around Jane's magical sickness is unnecessary considering that she clearly was not going to die, and as such, there is no real fear or concern involved. Faith Hunter is capable of so much better.

All in all, a disappointing installment, and only Beast, Bruiser and the Yellowrock Clan manage to provide some entertaining moments. I really hope the next book returns to non-stop action. ( )

Listened to audio narrated really well by Khristine Hvam. I really enjoyed how she handled Beast's voice.

Jane is a Cherokee Skinwalker, the Dark Queen of the Mithrins, except she's dying by magical cancer and left New Orleans to return to the Appalachian Mountains with Bruiser, and family. While trying to find a cure, the younger 'Son of Darkness' hunts her and all she holds dear, seeking his brother and all of her power. She never wanted to be the Dark Queen but to protect those she cares about she will do what needs doing.

The story starts out very somber as Jane and everyone are trying to deal with her sickness and pain but it quickly picks up speed and becomes, event after event as Jane deals with vampire and mystical attacks, while trying to sort out her powers and find a cure.

Faith Hunter gives us rich details along with a great story leaving a reading craving more from this rich world she created. Block out time your not going to want to put this down once you start reading.

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Fabulous

I'm so glad I read this book. I'm so sad I'm finished it. I really tried to read it slower, but it just didn't work. I couldn't put it down. I needed to know what happened to everyone. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. In a year. :( ( )

"Dark Queen" brought the long story arc of Jane Yellowrock's relationship with Leo Pellissier, Vampire Master of The City of New Orleans to a dramatic close and found Jane putting her affairs in order and slipping away to die on an estate in the Appalachian Mountains where Beast can survive.

If none of that makes sense to you, then head back to the beginning of the series and settle down for a fun ride with strong characters, complex relationships and an ever-evolving world of vampires, witches and weres.

If it does make sense to you, then the good news is that "Shattered Bonds" gives a promising basis for rebooting the series in a slightly different direction.

I was pleased to see that Jane and Beast are centre stage in this novel. I always enjoy Beast's appearances but this storyline develops the relationship between Jane and Beast in a convincing and interesting way.

The ensemble cast that makes up Jane's adopted family, the Younger Brothers and George Dumas plus the extended Yellowrock Clan are all in play plus Molly Trueblood's family (husband, children and all her sisters).

There's another, apparently invincible and extremely nasty, Son Of Darkness to face and Jane is still dying of a magic-related cancer.

This is a novel where the intense scenes that shape the relationships between the characters are the ones that shine; where Jane makes some very unconventional choices, even for Jane and where Faith Hunter once again comes up with a plot that plausibly twists what we thought we knew into a new shape.

Khristine Hvam does her usual splendid job with the narration. Click on the SoundCloud link below to hear a sample.
https://soundcloud.com/audiolibrary-a/shattered-bonds-jane-yellowrock-n-13-by-fa... ( )