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Book 97, 2019
Shattered Bonds by Faith HunterMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I stayed up until midnight Thursday night (yikes!) to finish reading Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter. It's the 13th book in the "Jane Yellowrock" urban fantasy series, featuring Cherokee skinwalker Jane Yellowrock.
Jane's ability to timewalk has come at a price; she has developed a cancerous tumor in her abdomen. Since her Beast form isn't sick, Jane has retreated to the Appalachian mountains and chosen to stay in puma form for now. She is unable to leave her old life behind, however. She has surrounded herself with her cobbled-together family, but enemies seek her out, even in her sanctuary. The second Son of Darkness (one of the two original vampires) has come to destroy Jane for killing his brother true-dead. He kidnaps someone close to Jane to force a confrontation. Even in her weakened state, Jane isn't about to let anyone harm her family. Now it's up to her and Beast to find a way to defeat a powerful enemy who is both vampire and magic-wielder. Fortunately for Jane, she no longer has to fight alone. She will need all the help she can get to not only prevail, but survive.
As per usual with these books, the action is virtually non-stop. Jane comes to realize that, by leaving New Orleans behind, she left people she was responsible for without protection. When enemies take advantage of that and begin attacking homes and property of friends and family, Jane is riddled with guilt, as well as determination to eliminate the threat. A good fight may be just what she needed to snap her out of her doldrums.
Characterizations are marvelous. Beast was very present in this installment, and I always enjoy her thoughts and perspective.
Favorite lines:
♦ I figured testosterone resulted in brain damage.
♦ Fun. Fun. Many more than five fun!
♦ "Now help me to my room so I can pack and strip and jump off the railing outside my second-story bedroom."
I loved all of it except when Jane emerged, healed, from the rift, the only one to greet her was a newly-appointed to her clan arcenciel. Bruiser had left her some supplies and a letter, which seemed to indicate that months had passed and that he came by 2 or 3 times a week. Jane is cheered by his note and can't wait to return to him...and the story ended. I feel cheated! I wanted to experience the joy of Jane's homecoming, see the reactions of those who love her when she came dragging back home, but I was denied. Not. Happy.
Five stars!
Artwork by Cliff Nielsen...I believe?
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