Category: Authors Page 14 of 115

Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs: Mercy May Find Herself Up Against a Horror Movie Character

Soul TakenSoul Taken

by Patricia Briggs

DETAILS:
Series: Mercy Thompson, #13
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: August 22, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 388 pg.
Read Date: August 29-30, 2022
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“The thing that we thought might end up with Adam dead looks like it will work out okay,” I told her dryly as her feet hit the ground again. “We have another situation to replace it that might end up with Adam dead. Or me dead. Or maybe the whole pack. But at least we solved one deadly situation before we picked up another one.”

“Business as usual,” said Tad.

What’s Soul Taken About?

Wulfe continues to act strangely—for him, that is—as he was last time. Then he goes missing. And Marsilia tasks Mercy with finding him, or she and the Pack will face the consequences (not life and death consequences, either—something worse).

But it’s not just Wulfe who’s missing—there are others, too. The paths seem to lead to a Fae artifact believed to have been destroyed and a local Urban Legend/subject of a new Horror movie.

Sure, this isn’t as strange as the miniature zombie goats, but it’s close. And slightly less cute.

Sherwood Post

“I’ll call Samuel and bug him.”

“Why not ask Sherwood?” Adam said.

“Did he sound like someone who was going to spill the beans to you?” I queried. “He talks more, but he doesn’t say more. He hasn’t changed that much.” I found that reassuring.

After a lot of speculation, we finally get to know Sherwood Post’s actual identity. And, um. Wow. As she clearly intended, the answer Briggs gave us only leads to more questions.

Several more questions.

For example: was this identity her plan when she first introduced the character? (likely, but I can see a scenario where it wasn’t) Given how this changes what we know about the world, when did she decide to shake things up to this extent? Lastly, when do we start seeing the ripple effects from this revelation? Okay, maybe one more: how many other things has she been lying to us about? (okay, that last one is a joke. Pretty much)

Unintended Consequences

Mercy (and therefore, we) are aware of a decent segment of the supernatural/paranatural population of the Tri-Cities area (although I think I remember her being surprised by some early on in the series)—she knows all the werewolves, many of the Fae, the goblins, vampires, etc.

But we learn along the way in this book that because of Mercy’s declaration a few books back that the area is under the Pack’s protection many “lower powered” supernatural beings have moved into the area for that protection. Mercy and the Pack were unaware of this until they met some in the midst of their investigation. Briggs didn’t spend much time on the idea, but it laid the groundwork for potentially several future storylines.

Even aside from that, I thought it was a great idea—and really seems likely to have happened given Mercy’s action.

So, what did I think about Soul Taken?

I’m never going to complain about getting to spend time with Mercy and the crowd. But I felt let down with this novel. The premise was promising, maybe even more than that; I thought the threats brought by Marsilia and how that played out were intriguing; I was glad to see who the Big Bad behind it all was; and the future ramifications for the seethe are promising. But the stuff in between the premise and the defeat of the Big Bad? Eh. Even the big fight scene wasn’t that good—nor am I that invested in the means by which they were defeated (dancing around a spoiler there).

Really the things that interested me the most about the book were the ongoing arcs and development—the stuff about Sherwood, the lesser powers, some internal Pack matters, and Zee (there was a lot of great material with Zee here). When the subplots and the things the novel isn’t about are what grab me, there’s a problem with the book. The solution was too rushed, it was all too easy, really. If Briggs had taken another hundred pages or so to really dig into the premise and the hunt for the Big Bad, maybe that would’ve worked (but that’d make the book super-sized by her standards).

I just wanted more, I guess. It was fun enough to justify the time and I’ll be back for more—but I expect more from Briggs. I do think long-time fans will enjoy Soul Taken—and despite what it might sound like, I did—but it will leave you wanting.


3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

When Archie Met Lily

84 years ago today, Archie Goodwin—one of my top 5 All-Time Favorite Characters — met the only woman who could keep his attention for more than a few months, Lily Rowan. Lily shows up several times in the series and threatens to steal every scene she appears in (and frequently succeeds). Check out this post from Today in Mystery Fiction for the details—one of my favorite scenes, from one of my favorite books in possibly my favorite series—(I think I have 3 or 4 copies of it), so I had to say something.

 

Besides, it’s not like I have a long list of dates associated with fictional events (but really should work on one).

How they met 84 years ago, when Archie’s only in his mid-30’s, is beyond me. But Math was never my strong suit, I’m sure it makes sense, surely Charlie Epps (or Larry or Amita) could explain it to me.

Travel by Bullet (Audiobook) by John Scalzi, Zachary Quinto: The Dispatcher is Back Again

(and clearly, I can’t think of anything to put in the headline)

Travel by BulletTravel by Bullet

John Scalzi, Zachary Quinto (Narrator)

DETAILS:
Series: The Dispatcher, #3
Publisher: Audible
Publication Date: September 1, 2022
Format: Audible Original
Length: 3 hrs., 44 min.
Read Date: September 2, 2022

What’s Travel by Bullet About?

A recent pandemic* has resulted in all Dispatchers being strongarmed into working long and hard shifts in hospitals. Their work isn’t that effective in light of the disease, but that doesn’t change the requirement. In the middle of a shift, Tony Valdez is called to the ER.

* It was never named, but you’re probably not wrong to assume it’s one you recognize.

A friend (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) and colleague, who spends a lot more time on the morally ambiguous side of the vocation, is in the ER after throwing himself out of a moving vehicle and getting hit by a car. Clearly, things aren’t going well for him. He looks to Tony for help, and well…things go bad from there.

The duo finds themselves mixed up with a handful of the city’s richest and most powerful, who are busy trying to get the best of each other while staying off the radars of both the Chicago Police and the FBI.

As much as Tony might try to fool the reader/the police/himself, he’s no stranger to the morally ambiguous—sure, he tries not to stray as far as his friend does, but still. Making this book, like the others in the series, another bit of Urban Fantasy Noir.

The Urban Fantasy-ness

I’ve always thought there was a vaguely SF feel to this series like it’s set a couple of decades in the future or something. In retrospect, I don’t know why. It was just an impression I picked up. This one struck me as incredibly contemporary and made me feel pretty silly for thinking that about the others.

When I wasn’t kicking myself for getting the chronology wrong, I spent a little time admiring the simplicity of Scalzi’s approach to Urban Fantasy and how it makes The Dispatcher stories really stand out. In most UF, you get something like magic, or a lycanthrope, or a vampire—and then before you know it, you’ve got all of those. But here, this world is just one tweak away from our world—no wizards, no Fae, no were-anythings—just that murder almost always doesn’t work (see earlier posts about this series for details if you want them, I don’t want to reinvent the wheel here).

The number of changes that this one butterfly wing flap makes in this world—health care, law enforcement, and crime (and who knows what else…)—is pretty monumental. You don’t need the Fae or a Council of Mages or anything to radically reshape the world. Yet it still is very recognizably our world.

Zachary Quinto

Quinto really needs to do more audiobook narration—I’m not sure how he got attached to this series, but it’s such a good thing that he did. He’s really able to embody Valdez and bring the stories to life. I really enjoyed this performance, and look forward to more.

So, what did I think about Travel by Bullet?

This was a blast—this world has always felt realized, but I felt more “at home” in it this time than I remember. I enjoyed this ride more than I remember enjoying the last one (not that I had any real problems with it). I don’t know if those two sentences are all that related, and if so, which came first—I also don’t think it matters.

This is a tight thriller—no wasted moments, but nothing’s rushed, either. Just settle in and enjoy the ride.

I feel like I should have more to say, but I don’t. All I can think to add at this point is that I want more of these, and hope that Audible and Scalzi provide them. Providing more soon would be a great bonus.


3.5 Stars

PUB DAY REPOST: Final Heir by Faith Hunter: It All Comes Down to This

Final Heir Banner

Final HeirFinal Heir

by Faith Hunter

DETAILS:
Series: Jane Yellowrock, #15
Publisher: Ace Books
Publication Date: September 5, 2022
Format: eARC
Length: 464 pg.
Read Date:  August 15-18, 2022
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What’s Final Heir About?

The Vampire War in Europe is over—and the old guard seems to be defeated. Edmund is on his way to NOLA to be crowned and then some stability–and whatever passes for peace with the Mithrans should settle in for some time.

But first…there’s the Heir to deal with. The last hope of the Sons of Darkness, the old ways—and possibly a turn to a darker time for humanity—still needs to be dealt with. Years ago, Leo Pellissier was given a prophecy about the defeat of the Heir and after Jane came to work for him, he decided she was at the center of the prophecy. Jane, as the Dark Queen, could defeat him. So Leo set to work organizing things in the way that only he can.

Now it’s the endgame—time for the rest of the dominos that Leo set up to fall, for Jane to end the Heir, and change everything for the Mithrans. And possibly the rest of the supernatural world. Assuming she can. There’s no certainty about that. There’s also no certainty about who will survive this endgame—even if she manages to vanquish the Heir,* she may not survive the attempt. Even worse (in her mind) family, friends, and allies may die.

* He’s a significant enough power that I don’t feel too silly using a word like vanquish.

This isn’t going to be easy. This is for all the marbles—and that’s a great way to end a series.

The Youngers

Of all the characters we met along the way, I may miss Alex and Eli the most (as soon as I say that, I start to think about Angie, and question myself—but I really don’t have time to go into that). Eli hasn’t changed much since we first met him—he’s opened up a bit more, he may be a bit more emotionally mature, but he’s essentially the guy we met at the beginning. Faith Hunter’s answer to Joe Pike. He knows his business, he enjoys the work (as grim as it is)—maybe finds a peace in a fight that he can’t find elsewhere. He’s also incredibly loyal, he takes care of his people—first and foremost, his brother.

Aside from Jane, no character in the series has changed—grown, developed, and matured–than Alex Younger. He started off as a rebellious, unhygienic, hacker—focused only on what he could do with his computer. And maybe not letting his brother down (too much) again. He’s now an adult, he’s responsible, he can handle himself in a fight, and there are things/people he cares about in his life—he’s still a wiz with the computers, thankfully. He’s essentially a version of Alex with a different weapon-set.

Their humanity (Eli is still largely human) is one of the few lasting examples we have in the series at this point, and they keep things grounded in the middle of all the vampires, weres, witches, extradimensional beings, and whatnot. They’re great because of that, they’re great outside of that, too.

I do feel bad for poor Eli—in the last couple of books, he’s really taken a beating. It’s even worse in this novel. If he survives to the end (I’m carefully not answering), he’s going to have physical and psychological scars that are going to last. I know he wouldn’t have it any other way, he gets them doing what he thinks is right. But still, you can’t help but feel for the guy.

Beast

The Beast and Jane dialogue/interchanges in this novel were fantastic. I relished each of them.

Once again, Beast has her own agenda—as is her right and fitting for her character. But given the stakes here, some of the information she decides not to pass on to Jane is hard to believe. Sure, Beast may not get all the details, but I don’t see how she doesn’t understand the urgency and the importance of what’s going on.

But you know what? I just didn’t care. I like how Beast is her own creature—she comes through for Jane when the chips are down, but on her terms.

Homecoming Week

There are so many supporting characters in this book, that it’s really hard to fathom. There are so few characters from the series (that are still living/undead) that don’t at least get a named drop or a check-in. But several show up for more. There were characters that we’d lost track of—a couple that I’d forgotten even existed played a role in this book.

Hunter pulled out all the stops for this book.

I’m probably not alone in spending time reflecting on the series as a whole as I read this book, and bringing up so many names from the past (ones we may have regretted losing track of—and a couple we were probably happy to have lost) really helped with that.

The Chapter Titles

I don’t think I’ve talked about the chapter titles in these books before—and that’s a crying shame. I’m not a big fan of chapter titles in general, but this series has featured some doozies. Several of them in Final Heir are amongst the best in the series. I really don’t have a lot to say about them—but complimenting the chapter titles is overdue. There’s a lot that Hunter does right in these books, and this is just one of the more consistent and amusing.

Final Heir as a Series Finale

I’m not entirely sure it’s fair to do, but I can’t help but think about other series finales–particularly in the UF genre.* Last year, I compared the Alex Verus finale to the Iron Druid Chronicles. Final Heir doesn’t match up well with either of them–it’s more like the ending of the Kitty Norville series (and not dissimilar to the ending of The Hollows)—Jane and her friends and allies are up against a vampire (and his forces) bent on world domination in a final face-off. Okay, now that I start thinking about it, there are a lot of parallels between the two–but this isn’t the time for that.

* Benedict Jacka’s been talking about ending his series recently, and a lot of what he’s had to say is helpful when thinking about things like this. I’m not going to use his categories to talk about Final Heir because of spoilers, but if you haven’t read these posts (even if you haven’t read the Alex Verus series)—go check it out after you read Final Heir.

Hunter has spent several books lining things up for this confrontation—not unlike Leo Pellissier’s machinations in getting Jane to this point. Looking back at all the ins and outs from this perspective really is impressive. Final Heir is filled with combat and battles—maybe more than most novels in this series, they’re definitely more savage and meaningful. I don’t have a word-count, but I’d wager the final battle is longer than any we’ve yet encountered in the series. Hunter really gave her fans what they’ve been wanting (and will be missing). This is an epic villain, with giant stakes, it has to be an epic scene.

Better yet, following the battle, the novel’s dénouement also serves as one for the series—and if the final battle gave fans what they wanted, then they’re going to be knocked for a loop by the dénouement. We get the few dangling threads tied up and a good look at what the future offers for most of the characters.

I had expected a lot from the finale aspect of this book, and Hunter surpassed it.

So, what did I think about Final Heir?

I think this is a bit more rambling than I want to be—it’s also longer than it necessarily needs to be. Part of that is because there’s so much to talk about in this novel—and I’ve barely scratched the surface so I don’t give it all away. Part of the longer-than-usual nature of the post is also that there’s part of me that knows I’m pretty much done with these characters when I hit “Schedule.” Sure, I’ll listen to the audiobook sometime next year, and I’ll likely re-read/re-listen to the series sometime after that. But all of that is revisiting. Finishing here is finishing the series, so I’m trying to drag it out.

For the first four or five books, this series served to fill the time while I was waiting for other Urban Fantasy books to come out. But around then it took on the role of being something I needed filler for while waiting for the next Yellowrock book. And lately, it’s one of those series I organize my reading schedule around. Listening to the series on audio over the last year has really helped me see all the ways Hunter’s been preparing the characters and the readers for these events, and it’s truly impressive. As it now stands, the Jane Yellowrock series ranks near the top of the UF pantheon for me (completed or on-going series), beating out stiff competition.

But let’s set that aside for a moment and just focus on this book—it’s full of all the action, the heart, the magic, and sense of family we’ve grown accustomed to. Jane Yellowrock finally finds her place in this world (sure, she found it before, but it’s more solidified now), her priorities are intact, she’s doing good in ways she hasn’t been able to before–and those that she cares about (many she’d never have considered caring for 15 books ago) are in good places. Just for the character work alone around Jane, this book is worth the time.

I think someone new to this series would come away from this one entertained and impressed—I don’t know why someone would do that, but I’m sure someone will.

From the jaw-dropping (whoa, Hunter’s taking no prisoners!) first chapter to the last lines that genuinely made me misty, Final Heir was a great ride. If I have to say au revoir to Jane, Bruiser, Eli, Alex, and the rest—especially Beast—this is was quite the way to do it. Bravo, Faith Hunter.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Let’s Talk! Promotions and Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post — thanks to all for this.


5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.


My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu: Will Simply Blow You Away

The Art of ProphecyThe Art of Prophecy

by Wesley Chu

DETAILS:
Series: The War Arts Saga, #1
Publisher: Del Rey
Publication Date: August 8, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 528 pg.
Read Date: August 19-24, 2022
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What’s The Art of Prophecy About?

Briefly (cuz, boy howdy, I could go on and on and on about this): There’s a prophesied Champion who will save his kingdom from the Eternal Khan, but he’s a spoiled brat who is not as skilled a warrior as he believes—and he’s even less skilled than he needs to be. But that’s okay, because the prophecy is broken—or wrong. The greatest living practitioner of magically-enhanced war arts has decided to take over his training and protection. Two incredibly dangerous women from very different backgrounds and for very different reasons have decided he needs to die.

Taishi

Taishi is almost certainly my favorite new character of 2022*. She’s elderly—exactly how old, I don’t think we’re told. In her prime, she fought the Eternal Khan to a stalemate more than once. Somewhere along the line, she lost the use of one of her arms. Her age and the loss of her arm have slowed her down and made her less effective. But not so slow that anybody but her can tell. She’s practically a force of nature. Since then, she’s pretty much retired but is strongarmed into checking in on Jian’s training. It’s hard to say what she’s less-impressed with—him or the work of his expert trainers—she’s spreading the scorn all around.

* Sure, it’s possible the next four months will bring someone better across my path, but not really likely.

She’s opinionated, set in her ways, cantankerous, and stubbornly determined. Pity those who try to get in her way. Once she determines that she needs to shepherd and educate Jian, nothing (including Jian) is going to stand in her way.

Taishi’s voice—both in dialogue or as it comes across in the narration—is strong, sardonic, and sarcastic. I loved every second of her point-of-view chapters (seeing her through other characters’ eyes was just as good, though). I was mildly annoyed every time the point-of-view changed, while still being curious about the other arcs.

Wuxia

Wuxia is my new word for the month—from at least one article online (so it must be true), I’m not a total novice when it comes to this genre—I watched the first two Kung Fu Panda movies with my kids when they first came out. But that’s it. So I don’t know how much of this story/world is Chu using or playing with or subverting the conventions of the genre. But it looks like he’s using several of them, and seems to be having fun with them (at least he’s getting the reader to have fun).

I can say that I’m pretty curious about the genre now—and intend to keep an eye out for more opportunities to expose myself to it.

Obviously, one of the defining characteristics of wuxia is the martial arts, and what’s the point of a martial-arts-based fantasy without fight scenes? The Art of Prophecy delivers those in spades. Maybe even by the bucket. I’ve always enjoyed Chu’s fight scenes, but these make the stuff in the Tao books look basic. They’re just fantastic—and littering them with the quips from the point-of-view character (either expressed or kept internal) made them all the better. I could read these all day.

So, what did I think about The Art of Prophecy?

I don’t know that I can really express how excited I am about this book. The last time I was this enthusiastic about a Fantasy novel was Kings of the Wyld, and I’ve read some really good Fantasy since then. But this is a whole different level.

I’m going to leave it at that—if I went into the kind of depth I want to, I’d either spend another week or so trying to get it all out (or would never finish because I was dissatisfied with it). I could do a couple of hundred words on the nature of prophecy and free will in this universe alone (and someone smarter than me had better do that soon)—or even the importance of honor, role, and manners (do not try to cut in line around these people). So I’m going to go shallow with this post—this is a great premise—and the execution of the premise is as great. The world-building is fascinating, and the history that’s hinted at is some of the best I can remember. I loved every one of these characters (none as much as Taishi, but that’s nothing against the others) and feel like I could’ve read a version of this book that was 50% longer just for more time with them. Probably the best action scenes I’ve read this year. It’s too long to read in a single sitting, but it’s the kind of book you want to read in one.

Stop wasting time reading about it, start reading The Art of Prophecy.


5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

PUB DAY REPOST: Hell of a Mess by Nick Kolakowski: A Whole Bunch of Plans that Don’t Come Together

I also did a Q&A with the author about this book, give it a look!

Hell of a MessHell of a Mess

by Nick Kolakowski

DETAILS:
Series: Love & Bullets, #4
Publisher: Shotgun Honey Books
Publication Date: August 26, 2022
Format: eARC
Length: 234
Read Date: August 1, 2022
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What’s Hell of a Mess About?

Well, isn’t that a tricky question? There is too much. Let me sum up. There are multiple people who start off intending to commit one crime and end up doing something entirely different.

Fiona’s been hired to steal something, and it’s a timely thing (and she’s not deterred by much), so despite an impending hurricane, she goes for it. Sure, the Inside Man tries to wave her off, but, again—she’s not deterred by much. Which is a shame—she should’ve paid attention to either the weather or the Inside Man. She ends up with a price on her head and multiple people around the city.

While she’s busy, Bill’s trying to prep for the storm in the home they’re squatting in when some police break in looking for the man who lives there. One thing leads to another, and they kidnap Bill, believing he can lead them to the millions his former employer had hidden away.

Thankfully. that assassin they thought Fiona killed at the end of A Brutal Bunch of Heartbroken Saps survived—readers knew that, but Fiona and Bill didn’t. Not only did he live, but he’s been keeping tabs on them. He’s been trying to live a different—less lethal—life and he has a chance to help them. Will he be enough?

(I have no idea if the above makes any sense—trying to cram it into three brief paragraphs doesn’t do the plot any favors. In the non-condensed version, it works. Trust me.)

The Unnamed Assassin

Up to the point where it looked like Fiona killed him (maybe a little sooner), I thought that the hitman who was sent after Bill in the first book was the protagonist. His is the only first-person perspective we get through the series—almost like he’s relaying what he knows and hears about this crazy couple while he’s dealing with his own problems like they’re a diversion for him.

His personal arc is very different from theirs—they claim to be trying to get out and live a straight life, if only they get one more decent score to set them up. The unnamed assassin is going a different path, he’s still a violent criminal, but like Jules Winnfield, he’s looking for something more. There are lines he won’t cross anymore (he seems to be making those rules up on the fly, but at least he has them.

As you can probably tell, I find it difficult to articulate his development and role in the series—but using him (sparingly, on the whole) and his arc throughout in juxtaposition to Fiona and Bill adds a layer to these books that few authors would have utilized, but make the whole thing better.

Be sure to check out my Q&A with Kolakowski (posting later today) for more about him.

Unanswered Questions

The thing that really kicks off the Fiona storyline is her stumbling across something she wasn’t expecting while discovering the thing she came to steal wasn’t there. Her discovery of the other nefarious action—and the way she prevented it from being completed*—is what starts the manhunt for her, more than the attempted heist. If she’d just walked away, I think it’s likely no one would’ve come after her.

* It is so tricky to discuss this obliquely.

Then when it comes time for Fiona to go save Bill, that storyline is dropped. Which is actually fine and good, because ultimately what it’s replaced by is more interesting. But in the back of my mind couldn’t stop asking—and, a week later, still can’t—what happened? What led up to Fiona’s discovery? What happened after she and the unnamed killer ran off to rescue Bill?

Typically, leaving these threads hanging would annoy me enough that I’d downgrade a novel over it—but Kolakowski pulls it off. If you’re going to abandon a plotline, this is the way to do it.

That said, I’d pony up twice the typical Shotgun Honey novella price today to get Love & Bullets #5 if it picks up right after this to tell the rest of that story. Maybe thrice.

So, what did I think about Hell of a Mess?

The previous three installments were novellas, but this is a novel, clocking in at 50-100 pages longer than the rest. And it didn’t feel like it at all. It was the same adrenaline-fueled, not-quite-frenzied pace and was over before I was ready for it to be. My daily schedule kept this from being a one-sitting read, but I think I could’ve done it in one sitting without realizing it.

This is pulpy fun. There’s action, there’s heart, there’s comedy (some subtle, some absolutely not), there’s a lot of violence, and you can’t forget the bunch of heartbroken saps that are at the center of things. They’re crooks and killers that really seem like decent people when you stack them up next to the nastier crooks and killers they can’t stop encountering. In the middle of all that chaos (and you can’t forget the chaos of the storm), there’s hope, forgiveness, and love. And who can’t use a little of that?

I don’t know if Kolakowski is going to come back to these characters in the future—I’d be content with what he’s given already, but I also know that I’d jump on any future installments, too. I encourage you to do the same.

4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

Final Heir by Faith Hunter: It All Comes Down to This

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Final HeirFinal Heir

by Faith Hunter

DETAILS:
Series: Jane Yellowrock, #15
Publisher: Ace Books
Publication Date: September 5, 2022
Format: eARC
Length: 464 pg.
Read Date:  August 15-18, 2022
Support Independent Bookstores - Visit IndieBound.org

What’s Final Heir About?

The Vampire War in Europe is over—and the old guard seems to be defeated. Edmund is on his way to NOLA to be crowned and then some stability–and whatever passes for peace with the Mithrans should settle in for some time.

But first…there’s the Heir to deal with. The last hope of the Sons of Darkness, the old ways—and possibly a turn to a darker time for humanity—still needs to be dealt with. Years ago, Leo Pellissier was given a prophecy about the defeat of the Heir and after Jane came to work for him, he decided she was at the center of the prophecy. Jane, as the Dark Queen, could defeat him. So Leo set to work organizing things in the way that only he can.

Now it’s the endgame—time for the rest of the dominos that Leo set up to fall, for Jane to end the Heir, and change everything for the Mithrans. And possibly the rest of the supernatural world. Assuming she can. There’s no certainty about that. There’s also no certainty about who will survive this endgame—even if she manages to vanquish the Heir,* she may not survive the attempt. Even worse (in her mind) family, friends, and allies may die.

* He’s a significant enough power that I don’t feel too silly using a word like vanquish.

This isn’t going to be easy. This is for all the marbles—and that’s a great way to end a series.

The Youngers

Of all the characters we met along the way, I may miss Alex and Eli the most (as soon as I say that, I start to think about Angie, and question myself—but I really don’t have time to go into that). Eli hasn’t changed much since we first met him—he’s opened up a bit more, he may be a bit more emotionally mature, but he’s essentially the guy we met at the beginning. Faith Hunter’s answer to Joe Pike. He knows his business, he enjoys the work (as grim as it is)—maybe finds a peace in a fight that he can’t find elsewhere. He’s also incredibly loyal, he takes care of his people—first and foremost, his brother.

Aside from Jane, no character in the series has changed—grown, developed, and matured–than Alex Younger. He started off as a rebellious, unhygienic, hacker—focused only on what he could do with his computer. And maybe not letting his brother down (too much) again. He’s now an adult, he’s responsible, he can handle himself in a fight, and there are things/people he cares about in his life—he’s still a wiz with the computers, thankfully. He’s essentially a version of Alex with a different weapon-set.

Their humanity (Eli is still largely human) is one of the few lasting examples we have in the series at this point, and they keep things grounded in the middle of all the vampires, weres, witches, extradimensional beings, and whatnot. They’re great because of that, they’re great outside of that, too.

I do feel bad for poor Eli—in the last couple of books, he’s really taken a beating. It’s even worse in this novel. If he survives to the end (I’m carefully not answering), he’s going to have physical and psychological scars that are going to last. I know he wouldn’t have it any other way, he gets them doing what he thinks is right. But still, you can’t help but feel for the guy.

Beast

The Beast and Jane dialogue/interchanges in this novel were fantastic. I relished each of them.

Once again, Beast has her own agenda—as is her right and fitting for her character. But given the stakes here, some of the information she decides not to pass on to Jane is hard to believe. Sure, Beast may not get all the details, but I don’t see how she doesn’t understand the urgency and the importance of what’s going on.

But you know what? I just didn’t care. I like how Beast is her own creature—she comes through for Jane when the chips are down, but on her terms.

Homecoming Week

There are so many supporting characters in this book, that it’s really hard to fathom. There are so few characters from the series (that are still living/undead) that don’t at least get a named drop or a check-in. But several show up for more. There were characters that we’d lost track of—a couple that I’d forgotten even existed played a role in this book.

Hunter pulled out all the stops for this book.

I’m probably not alone in spending time reflecting on the series as a whole as I read this book, and bringing up so many names from the past (ones we may have regretted losing track of—and a couple we were probably happy to have lost) really helped with that.

The Chapter Titles

I don’t think I’ve talked about the chapter titles in these books before—and that’s a crying shame. I’m not a big fan of chapter titles in general, but this series has featured some doozies. Several of them in Final Heir are amongst the best in the series. I really don’t have a lot to say about them—but complimenting the chapter titles is overdue. There’s a lot that Hunter does right in these books, and this is just one of the more consistent and amusing.

Final Heir as a Series Finale

I’m not entirely sure it’s fair to do, but I can’t help but think about other series finales–particularly in the UF genre.* Last year, I compared the Alex Verus finale to the Iron Druid Chronicles. Final Heir doesn’t match up well with either of them–it’s more like the ending of the Kitty Norville series (and not dissimilar to the ending of The Hollows)—Jane and her friends and allies are up against a vampire (and his forces) bent on world domination in a final face-off. Okay, now that I start thinking about it, there are a lot of parallels between the two–but this isn’t the time for that.

* Benedict Jacka’s been talking about ending his series recently, and a lot of what he’s had to say is helpful when thinking about things like this. I’m not going to use his categories to talk about Final Heir because of spoilers, but if you haven’t read these posts (even if you haven’t read the Alex Verus series)—go check it out after you read Final Heir.

Hunter has spent several books lining things up for this confrontation—not unlike Leo Pellissier’s machinations in getting Jane to this point. Looking back at all the ins and outs from this perspective really is impressive. Final Heir is filled with combat and battles—maybe more than most novels in this series, they’re definitely more savage and meaningful. I don’t have a word-count, but I’d wager the final battle is longer than any we’ve yet encountered in the series. Hunter really gave her fans what they’ve been wanting (and will be missing). This is an epic villain, with giant stakes, it has to be an epic scene.

Better yet, following the battle, the novel’s dénouement also serves as one for the series—and if the final battle gave fans what they wanted, then they’re going to be knocked for a loop by the dénouement. We get the few dangling threads tied up and a good look at what the future offers for most of the characters.

I had expected a lot from the finale aspect of this book, and Hunter surpassed it.

So, what did I think about Final Heir?

I think this is a bit more rambling than I want to be—it’s also longer than it necessarily needs to be. Part of that is because there’s so much to talk about in this novel—and I’ve barely scratched the surface so I don’t give it all away. Part of the longer-than-usual nature of the post is also that there’s part of me that knows I’m pretty much done with these characters when I hit “Schedule.” Sure, I’ll listen to the audiobook sometime next year, and I’ll likely re-read/re-listen to the series sometime after that. But all of that is revisiting. Finishing here is finishing the series, so I’m trying to drag it out.

For the first four or five books, this series served to fill the time while I was waiting for other Urban Fantasy books to come out. But around then it took on the role of being something I needed filler for while waiting for the next Yellowrock book. And lately, it’s one of those series I organize my reading schedule around. Listening to the series on audio over the last year has really helped me see all the ways Hunter’s been preparing the characters and the readers for these events, and it’s truly impressive. As it now stands, the Jane Yellowrock series ranks near the top of the UF pantheon for me (completed or on-going series), beating out stiff competition.

But let’s set that aside for a moment and just focus on this book—it’s full of all the action, the heart, the magic, and sense of family we’ve grown accustomed to. Jane Yellowrock finally finds her place in this world (sure, she found it before, but it’s more solidified now), her priorities are intact, she’s doing good in ways she hasn’t been able to before–and those that she cares about (many she’d never have considered caring for 15 books ago) are in good places. Just for the character work alone around Jane, this book is worth the time.

I think someone new to this series would come away from this one entertained and impressed—I don’t know why someone would do that, but I’m sure someone will.

From the jaw-dropping (whoa, Hunter’s taking no prisoners!) first chapter to the last lines that genuinely made me misty, Final Heir was a great ride. If I have to say au revoir to Jane, Bruiser, Eli, Alex, and the rest—especially Beast—this is was quite the way to do it. Bravo, Faith Hunter.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Let’s Talk! Promotions and Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post — thanks to all for this.


5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.


My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

Final Heir: A Few Quick Questions with…Eli Younger and Jane Yellowrock

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As part of this tour, I was given the opportunity to post a quick Q&A with the Dark Queen herself, Jane Yellowrock. I also snuck in one with her brother, Eli Younger.


I would love to ask Eli… How did you hear about the “gig” with Jane. What were you told? What thought process and research did you (and Alex) do before showing up for the interview. Did you decide before showing up what your “minimum” compensation needed to be to take it?
Eli: I worked with crack team in the military. Afterward I worked alone. The solo money was okay, but not worth the danger I exposed my kid brother to, and I wasn’t still a hundred percent after the injury that ended my Army Ranger career. And though we weren’t going hungry, we weren’t rolling in the hundreds either. Then, in a dark-web former-military chat room that Alex was monitoring, people were talking. He heard about Jane Yellowrock. The money? Yeah, I had a bottom line in mind. But in all honestly once I met her that didn’t matter. I never expected to like working with a non-military chick, but she was okay. The attraction was instantaneous, but in about two days solidified into friendship. Then into family. Worth everything.

How tempting are Beast’s pleas to have “kits” for you, Jane? Do you feel sympathy or does the concept not appeal, despite Beast’s longing for a mate and kits?
Jane: My life has never been a safe place. Deliberately bringing children into this killing scene seems foolish. On top of the danger, I have questions I have to consider (in no particular order): Children with Bruiser would be what? 1/4th Skinwalker, 1/4th human, 1/2 Onorio? Can Onorios even have “children of the body?” And if I abandoned Bruiser and found a mountain lion to mate with, what would those children be? Skinwalker? Mountain lion? Mountain lions keep their kts with them for years to teach them to hunt. In those years, would I forget about being Jane at all? How would Bruiser feel about being abandoned?

You file away a lot of questions or things you need to analyze on some future time. Do you take the time to do it? When? I hope you do!
Jane: Hmmm. Life’s been kinda busy. Sometimes answers pop up and I know my subconscious has figured out things as life pushed me along. But maybe I’ll have time for reflection when everything is done, and the world is at peace. If that ever happens.

How do you feel about all the changes in your life? Does having a family and friends make you feel stronger or more vulnerable? You can now be attacked through them.
Jane: Life was easier without anyone. Way easier. In the beginning, I never got lonely. Even now I don’t feel abused or crash and burn when I’m by myself for too long. But now I have all these people! I mean, allll these people. And I love them. And while it’s freaking hard to keep them all safe, they are all here, and that’s my job, and … and I not only love them, I like most of them. Yeah, I’m vulnerable in my heart, but they are vulnerable in their hearts, their minds, their bodies, and their souls because of me. And yet they stay.

How do you think you’re going to handle a precocious and snoopy Angie Baby as she tries to see how you bubble time? Do tell!
Jane: I am fully aware that Angie will discover all my secrets and all her mom’s and all her dad’s. And I shudder with terror at the thought. She is a sweetheart right now, but eventually she will be hunted by the military, the dark-government, billionaires, cartels, and anyone who thinks humans are dispensable. Then she will need all her power, all her family’s teachings, and all the restraint she can muster to stay alive and safe and keep her loved ones alive and safe too. Because there are people in this world who will use others to get what they want, and they might take Angie’s family to force her to work with and for them. I wouldn’t want to be that person, mind you, because I already see a spark of vengeance in her eyes. But I fear for the person she might have to become to keep them all safe.

Thank you both for your time, I easily could’ve asked a dozen more questions. I’ll let you get back to your duties.


My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

EXCERPT from Final Heir by Faith Hunter: Like a Stray Animal Haunting Aggie’s Home

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from Final Heir by Faith Hunter

Like a Stray Animal Haunting Aggie’s Home

Eyes closed, I felt the movement of unexpected cool air as the sweathouse door opened and shut. Last week, I had learned that Aggie One Feather, the Cherokee elder leading me into understanding my personal and tribal history, sometimes left and reentered when I was sweating through a haze of her herbal infusions and my own hidden memories. She said humans couldn’t survive five or six hours in a sweathouse like I could, let alone all night, so she would slip out and back in.

I had asked her if she had a nanny camera hidden in the sweathouse to keep track of me. Her reply had made me laugh: “You need a legion of angels to look over you, but a nanny cam could help.”

The rustling of her cotton shift, the sound of her breath, and the crackle of flames seemed loud as she settled across the fire from me and fed the coals. I smelled cedar and burning herbs and heard the scritch-grind of her mortar and pestle. Behind my lids it seemed lighter than before. It had to be near dawn.

It occurred to me that the ceremonial fire was, itself, symbolic. It was parts of this world and the next, the two halves of the universe, energy and matter. It was wood and air and energy, and together they made flame and smoke, the destruction of matter into energy. Then that thought wisped away with the fire.

Aggie said, “Drink.”

I opened my eyes against the crack and burn of dried sweat, and studied the small pottery cup she held. On the third try I managed to croak, “Eye of newt? Ragweed? Mold off your bathroom floor? Peyote?”

“That never gets old,” she lied, amusement hidden in her gaze. “I have no mold on my bathroom floor.”

 


Read the rest in Final Heir by Faith Hunter to see what happens from here in the epic conclusion to this great series.


My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

BOOK SPOTLIGHT (and GIVEAWAY): Final Heir by Faith Hunter

Today I’m very pleased to welcome the Book Tour for the fifteenth and final Jane Yellowrock novel, Final Heir by Faith Hunter. Along with this spotlight post, I have an excerpt from the novel to share and a quick Q&A with Jane and Eli!. I’ll also be giving my take on the novel (and probably a little on the series as a whole) a little later. Those links’ll work when the posts go live in an hour or two. If you scroll down to the bottom of this post (or, you know, read it), you’ll find a nifty giveaway.

First, let’s take a look at Final Heir.
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Book Details:

Book Title: Final Heir by Faith Hunter
Publisher: Ace Books
Release date: September 5, 2022
Format: Ebook/Paperback (Audiobook will be released in October)
Length: 464 pages
ISBN: 9780593335819
Final Heir Cover

About the Book:

The stakes couldn’t be higher in the newest novel in the New York Times bestselling, pulse-pounding Jane Yellowrock series.

Jane Yellowrock is the queen of the vampires, and that makes her a target as she fights to maintain control and keep peace in the city of New Orleans. She has enemies at every turn, because vampires live forever, and they keep their grudges alive with them. That includes the Heir, the vampire sire of the Pellissier bloodline, which gave rise to Leo Pellissier himself—Jane’s old boss and the former master of the city.

With the Heir and all the forces of darkness he can muster arrayed against her, Jane will need all the help she can get. She’ll find it in her city, her friends, her found family, and, of course, the Beast inside of her.

Purchase Links

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Books-a-Million ~ IndieBound ~ The Book Depository ~ Kobo ~ Google Books ~ Apple Books

About the Author:

Faith HunterFaith Hunter is the award-winning New York Times and USAToday bestselling author of several series: Jane Yellowrock, Soulwood, Rogue Mage, and Junkyard Cats. In addition, she has edited multiple anthologies and coauthored the Rogue Mage RPG. She is the coauthor and author of 16 thrillers under pen names Gary Hunter and Gwen Hunter. Altogether she has 40+ books and dozens of short stories in print and is juggling multiple projects.

She sold her first book in 1989 and hasn’t stopped writing since.

Faith collects orchids and animal skulls, loves thunder storms, and writes. She drinks a lot of tea. She likes to kayak Class II & III whitewater rivers. Some days she’s a lady. Some days she ain’t.

Find Faith online at:

Website ~ Facebook (official) ~ Facebook Fan Group ~ Twitter ~

Yellowrock Securities website ~ Gwen Hunter website

GIVEAWAY:

There’s a tour-wide giveaway open to US residents!

  • 1 winner will receive a Yellowrock Securities leather bracelet
  • 5 winners will receive a Beast is Not Prey leather bracelet
  • 4 winners will receive their choice of a $25 gift card from Amazon or Barnes & Noble

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If the Widget isn’t showing up, just click here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9751c04272/?

My thanks to Let’s Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group) they provided.

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