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Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock #4)

by Faith Hunter (Goodreads Author)

4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 · rating details · 3,636 ratings · 283 reviews

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes...more

Paperback, 353 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by Roc

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Apr 03, 2012 Amanda marked it as to-read

Shelves: to-read-now

TEAM CHEATING IS NEVER OK, SO JANE SHOULD BE ALONE FOR A WHILE. (maybe find a nice native american boy.)

-Dear Ricky, I think you would be perfect for Jane b.c. she could probably share her secret with you now but I'm not sure she's all that into you. p.s. you both would have a lot of 'splainin to do before you could make it work.

-Dear Bruiser, you're insistence on going after Jane when she has a boyfriend does not endear me to you. Also I have questioned your "relationship" with Leo more times...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Carol rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: UF fantasy fans

Shelves: female-lead, my-library, urban-fantasy, action

I've been following this series since the beginning, full of hope and almost-admiration for the heroine, Jane Yellowrock. She is a fabulous example of what I enjoy in urban fantasy females. She's independent, athletic, even-tempered, kicks butt, almost never talks about her clothes, and intially, couldn't care less if she had a boyfriend or not. (However, she does talk about her weapons and armor--does that count?) Her world is a modern day U.S. coping with the exotic "races" of vampires, weres...more I've been following this series since the beginning, full of hope and almost-admiration for the heroine, Jane Yellowrock. She is a fabulous example of what I enjoy in urban fantasy females. She's independent, athletic, even-tempered, kicks butt, almost never talks about her clothes, and intially, couldn't care less if she had a boyfriend or not. (However, she does talk about her weapons and armor--does that count?) Her world is a modern day U.S. coping with the exotic "races" of vampires, weres and witches, and Jane makes her living hunting down rogue vampires guilty of killing humans. Jane's character is somewhat exotic in the UF field, both as a Native American and as a skinwalker, someone able to take the bodies of mammals using specially prepared fetishes. Due to childhood trauma, she now shares her body with Beast, a female mountain lion.

I find this a hard series to review because I want to love it. I want to love Jane. I want to love the version of the world, even if this book started to remind me of Anita Blake's setting with federal paranormal bureaus, vampire "separate nation" charters and growing talk of Jane's "pack." However, I struggle in each book with various plot points, and Jane's personality seems a little too malleable by book 4, like she believes what her author needs her to believe for that plot, rather than a natural evolution. She's also troubled by a giant guilt complex. In one book, it showed up as neglecting her Christian beliefs; in another, it was neglecting her Cherokee heritage. Not that it changes her behavior for longer than that book, mind you--in this one, we had a cursory church service and a brief conversation with her Native spiritual elder--both with guilt, of course. Add in undeserved guilt about putting her best friend and god-child in danger (the last book and this), and it becomes a crutch of motivation more than a true character flaw.

The Anita Blake parallels became horribly clear after (view spoiler) It did create a very strong reaction in me, however--I'm begging you, Faith, please don't let Jane go the way of Anita Blake. I was having uncomfortably flashbacks to wereleopards and non-penetrative vampire sex. Please, please don't go there.

What do I like? Hunter takes particular care with developing her settings, and has a good feel for developing atmosphere. Jane, when she wasn't feeling guilty. Jane and Beast hunting, and Jane talking with her goddaughter. The discovery of the traitor, and the overall finish. The grindylow. There's a lot to enjoy and it is written engagingly, as long as consistency in character from book to book and sub-plotting is ignored. Ouch--that sounds harsh--but it is a compliment, as there is enough good stuff to make it time-worthy. A three and a half star read.(less)

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Dec 22, 2011 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/12/...

When we last left my favorite skinwalker in Mercy Blade, there were definitely some strings that needed tyin’ up, so I was eager to dive back into Jane’s world in Raven Cursed. In the 4th book of the series, Jane heads out of New Orleans and back to Asheville, North Carolina to provide security for a parley between the MOC of New Orleans and a master vamp that wants to establish his own territory. Unfortunately, Jane gets...more You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2011/12/...

When we last left my favorite skinwalker in Mercy Blade, there were definitely some strings that needed tyin’ up, so I was eager to dive back into Jane’s world in Raven Cursed. In the 4th book of the series, Jane heads out of New Orleans and back to Asheville, North Carolina to provide security for a parley between the MOC of New Orleans and a master vamp that wants to establish his own territory. Unfortunately, Jane gets way (way) more than she bargains for in Asheville. Rogue weres are killing tourists in horrible ways, and Jane is tasked with taking them out. Easier said than done, especially when Jane feels that she’s responsible for the weres’ rampage.

Strangely enough, this is one of the things that I love most about Jane. Her guilt. Yeah, I know that sounds weird, but she’s such a tough girl; so capable and strong, especially with Beast, that her enduring habit of taking nearly everything upon herself gives her a vulnerability that I can’t help but love. Seriously, sometimes I want to smack her (purely out of love), and say “It’s not your fault!!! You can’t control everything!!”, but I digress… So, there’s the were issue, which really gets bad when she finds out they might be after her best friend (and witch) Molly, and her family. Molly’s hubs isn’t all that fond of Jane for various reasons, so convincing Molly that things aren’t as they seem may prove to be a hard bargain. It really complicates things when Jane finds out that Molly’s sister Evangeline may be dabbling in the dark arts. I really wanted to throttle Evil Evie in Mercy Blade, and it only gets worse in Raven Cursed.

You think there’s a lot on Jane’s plate? There is! But wait, there’s more! Ricky-Bo is in town and is freaking out (understandably) at the possibility of going furry. Doesn’t help that his “mentor” , head of the African were cats, wants to kill him. I’ve always been hopeful for Rick and Jane, and their relationship just gets more complex, and more tender in a lot of ways, as the series goes on. I will admit that Jane and Bruiser’s , ahem, “almost” scene in Mercy Blade was the awesome, (‘cause Bruiser is a hottie, after all), but Rick is where it’s at, and I have no doubt that their relationship will just get more and more interesting as the series progresses. So, there you have it. Rampaging weres, twisty-turny vamp politics, hot shifters (and vamps), some seriously nasty (and witchy) black magic (we’re talkin’ demons here), and Ms. Hunter’s trademark, awesome fight scenes make for a book worth relishing. The Jane Yellowrock series is superb, and they just keep getting better. If you haven’t discovered it yet, I envy you, because you can start with Skinwalker and race right through. If you have discovered it, you’ll love Raven Cursed! This series is a must for any urban fantasy lover!(less)

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Dec 28, 2011 Andy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Raven Cursed was a fantastic book. It is full of information and demands you slow down and pay attention. Some much needed answers we've been wanting from the end of Mercy Blade are answered in regards to Jane's relationship with Rick and what Evangelina is up to. The witch's nickname is Evil Evie for a good reason! The plot of Raven Cursed itself was good as was it's place in the overall storyline of the series. My only complaint is in terms of Jane's emotional growth throughout the series. I d...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Jen (Red Hot Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: jane-yellowrock, urban-fantasy, arcs

I know there is more to the Jane Yellowrock series than just her love life. I really do. But going into this book, all I could think about was whether Jane was going to end up with Rick now that he's "big-cat" or if she'll kick his big honking cheating ass to the curb. Will Bruiser be there to stake his claim? Will those two finally cross the finish line? So in deference to these burning questions, I'll say right off the bat that after reading this book, I am wholly dissatisfied with this entire...more I know there is more to the Jane Yellowrock series than just her love life. I really do. But going into this book, all I could think about was whether Jane was going to end up with Rick now that he's "big-cat" or if she'll kick his big honking cheating ass to the curb. Will Bruiser be there to stake his claim? Will those two finally cross the finish line? So in deference to these burning questions, I'll say right off the bat that after reading this book, I am wholly dissatisfied with this entire element of the plot. Rick's actions in the last book are explained away far too easily. Even more frustrating, is the fact that Jane is unwilling or unable to assess her feelings for the two men in question. There. Is. No. Resolution. Not even a clear destination. But before I start gritting my teeth too loudly, let me talk about the rest of the book.

As the story begins, Jane is back in her hometown of Ashville, SC, where she is tasked to handle security for some important vampire-talks. But just as things get started, bodies start popping up. The culprits are the last two surviving werewolves from Mercy Blade. They've followed Jane, it seems, to get revenge for her killing the rest of their pack. Rick is in the area, learning how to be a big cat from Ken-whatshisname... the African panther, whose wife was responsible for infecting Rick in the first place.

The first third of the book just didn't jump out and grab me. Maybe because we were removed from the New Orleans gang and it took me a while to care about what was happening in South Carolina. Maybe it was because I was distracted, waiting for something to happen in Jane's love life. Regardless, things began to improve once we get into the meat of Evie's storyline. Yes, the wicked witch is back. We finally find out what her deal is --and it's a whopper. Evie also spices things up because she brings Molly and her family into the mix. And who doesn't love Angie Baby?

There is also some good stuff happening between Jane and her Beast. A lot less attention is paid to the mechanics of the shifts, which is cool. Jane and Beast come to really appreciate the strength they have as one unit... but without getting into details, I was a bit confused by a problem between them at the end of the book.

The plot and the action were really good in the second half... and it reminded my why I like this series. Jane is tough as nails; she's fierce and loyal; and it's so sad to see how truly fragile her connections are to others. I'm really curious to see what will happen for her next. (And hopefully, we'll gain a little ground in the relationship department. Please.) Almost 4 stars.

*ARC provided by Ace(less)

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Dec 28, 2011 Suzanne (Doppleganger) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy

**Also posted at the purlsonline readers forum!**

Raven Cursed opens with Jane in charge of security for a parley between master vampires. Jane is confident and competent in her duties. But after a while the vampire politics takes a backseat to a mess involving witches, werewolves, and Jane’s ex-boyfriend Rick, and even Jane’s abilities are taxed.

Raven Cursed has Jane at her independent and slightly feral best, but with a guilt syndrome that seems out of place in such a competent woman. Beast is...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Donya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-ate, adult-fiction, werewolves-shifters-rawr

Dear Santa, I want loads of Leo and Jane moments! D:
Thanks~

5 likes · like · see review

Dec 29, 2011 whitney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jane and Beast are back! In RC Jane is in charge of security for a Leo's second in command at a parley for the vampires in Asheville, NC. Of course more trouble falls at Jane's feet in the form of crazy werewolves, crazier witches, and helping Ricky-Bo with his new situation. Jane spends a good amount of the book feeling guilty and struggling with herself. I prefer the confident bad ass Jane but I think by the end Jane figured some things out.

We did get some answers to questions left hanging in...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Hafiza rated it 5 of 5 stars

This series just keeps getting better.
Jane and Beast make for an amazing combo.
This book had non-stop action.
There were lots of plot threads which ultimately came together at then- at one point it was almost too complex.

The relationship issues were touched upon but not fully addressed.
Personally I think Jane meets some stemy sex with Leo, Bruiser and Rick.
Although it appears she is emotionally connected to Rick, as Beast would say, she deserves more than one mate!

I can't wait for the next i...more

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Dec 17, 2012 ❉Olivia ツ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, paperback

3.5 stars

This was an infuriating read. Poor Jane is always being blamed for all the shit that goes wrong. Part of it is her own doing. She carries so much guilt over what happened to Rick LaFleur. I'm still not a fan of his and his somewhat guilty admission of cheating on Jane was bullshit. It will be interesting to see what he becomes though and if that opens the possibilities to his relationship advancing with Jane.

We also find out what Evangelina had been up to. Which led to another infuriat...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Melissa marked it as to-read

I can't be alone when I say I want to read this now! Team Bruiser? Team Rick? I really can't decide but I want more.

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Jan 21, 2012 All Things Urban Fantasy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-by-julia

As much as I have enjoyed the series overall, RAVEN CURSED now holds the distinction of becoming my favorite Jane Yellowrock book to date. All of the political distractions of Leo's vampire court fall to the background as Jane heads a security detail in New Orleans, and this leaner, meaner plot style allows Hunter's characters (at least, those present) to shine.

RAVEN CURSED delivers pure action from page one. Though I lost the thread of the story once, this is one of the most accessible books in...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Betsy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: new-orleans, paranormal, shapeshifter, magic, urban-fantasy, vampire

I love Jane Yellowrock. Sometimes I wish I were Jane Yellowrock. She exemplifies what can be a great heroine. While cocky and snarky is a lot of fun I appreciate that she is careful, private and strong for herself, Beast and others. I love her relationships which are so precious to her: Molly and her family, Rick, some of the vamps. While big cats are loners, she is making a pack of her people. She may have to stop riding a bike and start driving a short bus to accommodate the entourage in her l...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Tori [Book Faery] rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: wishlist, read-in-2011, reviewed

See this review in it's entirety at:
http://www.book-faery.blogspot.com

I thoroughly enjoyed RAVEN CURSED (RC), and yet, despite how much I love Jane and Beast, I haven't the faintest clue how I should write this review. SKINWALKER was Book Faery's first book review ever, so I feel a certain sort of fondness for this series, and yet, I will readily admit that there are sometimes elements in these books that bother me.

One, for instance, was the fact that I could barely remember certain characters a...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Marsha rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Adult lovers of Paranormal Mysteries

I don't even know where to begin. "Raven Cursed" is such an intense read that I am still reeling from the aftershocks. I devour this book, slowly, deliberately and with purpose. I could not afford to miss one word for fear that I would miss something so very important. When I was finished, I just sat there with my eyes closed so that I could rehash everything that happened in my mind and most importantly, I loved every minute of it!

Jane Yellowrock has accepted a security gig in Asheville, N.C wo...more I don't even know where to begin. "Raven Cursed" is such an intense read that I am still reeling from the aftershocks. I devour this book, slowly, deliberately and with purpose. I could not afford to miss one word for fear that I would miss something so very important. When I was finished, I just sat there with my eyes closed so that I could rehash everything that happened in my mind and most importantly, I loved every minute of it!

Jane Yellowrock has accepted a security gig in Asheville, N.C working for the Blood Master of the City of New Orleans, Leo Pellissier. Leo provides Jane with free living accommodations, the top of the line weaponry/misc. toys, free reign in selecting backup manpower and he pays well. He even puts up with her snarky sarcasm which says a lot. However, Jane also knows that Leo wants more than just her employment. He wants he bound to him in more ways than one. Jane's Beast does not object; but, Jane refuses to have any of this.

While attempting to guard the parley for the vamps, several humans are attacked and are murdered by rogue werewolves. They seem to have an agenda involving Jane. In addition, human protestors are none too thrill about the vamps in their city and are making their objections known. Leo wants the weres stopped, the parley security in placed and he refuses to except anything less. This does not leave much time for Jane to sleep let allow reconnect with her ex, Ricky Bo. Ricky cheated on Jane and is undergoing changes that will make him a were coming the next full moon. Ricky has some splainin' to do.

What I love the most about this series is the character of Jane Yellowrock. She is as tough as nails, dedicated, with a moral compass but she is also vulnerable without being whiney. She accepts responsibility for the actions of others without complaint even though at times it is clearly not her fault. I also have to chuckle at how she battles with her Christianity and her Native American beliefs as well. She refuses to take a back seat to anyone and it makes her awesomesauce to me. She does not take 'herselves' (Beast & Jane) too seriously. Although I am not a fan of love triangles, she is pursued relentlessly by several men and they way she handles these attractions is just to ignore them. I have to say that I hopes that she just continues to walk away from all of them until one truly stands out heads above the others and refuses to take no for an answer. Quite frankly I am not a big Ricky Bo fan and it would not upset me in the least if she does not choose him in the long run.

With all of this being said, these are just a few of the reasons I love this series. Additionally some of my favorite characters are back like the kits (Angie Baby & her brother), Molly, the grindylion and finally we get to meet big Nate. I was always curious as to what he was really like and why he dislikes Jane so. I cannot wait for the next installment and hope that Faith Hunter will move more towards stability in Jane's love life.(less)

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Jan 06, 2012 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Truly phenomenal book! I really enjoyed this book. I even got to a point where I had to slow down because it felt like it was going too fast. I did not want the experience to end. I love both series and realized I am just a fan of Faith Hunter's writing. I was in a chat the other day where she was the featured author and it was great learning more about her writing process. It was interesting learning how hard she works to research Cherokee customs, folklore and mythology. You can even tell how...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Bamafever rated it 3 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure I was going to like this book as the beginning was a little slow but the pace picks up
toward the end. Jane is her usual self. She gets in nonstop trouble and this series doesn't let you down in that. The relationship troubles are a bit tiresome now we are onto book 5, not only with males but with her friends as well. The one thing I really liked was Jane kicked butt again and took her Alpha role over the cats.

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Jan 07, 2012 Douglas Meeks rated it 5 of 5 stars

OK I finally finished Raven Cursed: A Jane Yellowrock Novel and yes it was as good as I had hoped (every one in the series has been) and to me it was a 5 Star effort, but be aware, these are not things to read while doing other tasks, you got to pay attention to the Jane Yellowrock books because there are a large cast of characters and a many faceted plot-line. Hell I am lucky to keep up with who she is/had/will be killing :) These are well written and wonderfully plotted and even with her ultra...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Kat Klein rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane is back in Ashville to oversee security for a Vampire parley. But of course nothing is as easy as it should be for her. Seems the Weasel and Fire Truck, the two werewolves in jail the last book, have followed Jane home. They'd survived the take down of their pack and want revenge on Jane, and to build a new pack.

Add to that some major issues with Evangeline, and a certain bloodstone, as well as a bad tempered Were Panther, a screwed up cheating boyfriend, and Jane has her hands way full.

Th...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Sheyla rated it 3 of 5 stars

4th book

This installment begins with Jane going to Asheville, NC as a bodyguard. She is taking care of the security between the meetings involving Gregoire, sent by the MOC from New Orleans (Leo Pellissier) and the master vampire who wants his own clan to claim a territory.
Also, Evil Evie is making deals and using her powers for no good. This puts a strain in Jane's friendship with Molly.
Also, she is dealing with Rick's betrayal and at the same time trying to help him shift. He may die if she do...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Dangerous Romance Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire. But lately instead of just slaying vampires, she's been working for them.

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to Leo Pellissier, the Master of the City of New Orleans--and Jane's boss--they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, Leo sends an envoy with the best bodyguard money can buy: Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of...more Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire. But lately instead of just slaying vampires, she's been working for them.

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to Leo Pellissier, the Master of the City of New Orleans--and Jane's boss--they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, Leo sends an envoy with the best bodyguard money can buy: Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of local campers is attacked by something supernatural, Jane goes from escort to investigator. It's up to her to keep peace in the region, and unless she wants to face up to very angry vampire Master, Jane will have to work overtime to find the killer. It's a good thing she's worth every penny.

*As with most series, the Jane Yellowrock Urban Fantasy series is best read starting with book one. I would not recommend starting this series with Raven Cursed which I believe is book four, you would miss too much nuance and backstory.

After the events of the last book, Jane is really due a vacation or at least a change of scenery. She doesn’t get that vacation but she does get to go out of town and head back to her home stomping grounds North Carolina.

Leo has been petitioned by the Vampires of Ashville, NC to consider allowing their leader, Lincoln Shaddock to form his own clan. Their argument is their line is throwing sane vampires out two years after the change not the usual ten. Now even in a vampires long life, having your vampire offspring tied up in chains while you feed them for ten years is a long time and let’s face it, kinda a pain in the ass. If the vamps of Ashville have figured out a way to dramatically shorten this they have a solid argument as to why they should be allowed to form their own clan, and basically all the other clans are going to want to know how they do it.

Leo is sending one of his top Vamps (and new to the series) Gregoire who was pretty hot by the way, in an Anne Rice/Laurel K. Hamilton effeminate gorgeous vampire way. Jane is sent to run the body guarding of the parlay with her team of usual suspects, Leo’s hottie twins Brian and Brandon, and her human team, Derek’s crew. As is usual in Faith Hunter’s world nothing goes according to plan.

There are werewolves who are out to get revenge for the happenings of the last book. Jane’s erstwhile lover, Ricky Bo is along for the ride because he doesn’t know if he is going to change at the full moon, so she has parked him with Kenebi, the Jaguar, her beta out in the woods somewhere. I’m not sure how smart this is, as Kenebi wants to kill Rick, really really bad due to events from the last book. If he could kill Jane and Rick, that would probably make his day even brighter. Just to really bollocks things up even further, there appears to be a spell on Lincoln Shaddock that is causing him to act a fool and really hurt his chances of a yes vote. The spell seems to track back too close to home for Jane as it implicates the family she loves. There are about three other things going on as well but I don't want to give too much away.

I really enjoy this series. It is dark urban fantasy, no doubt about that, and Jane is definitely the uber badass alpha chick, but her guilt and her angst and occasional self doubt save the series and give it heart. Also…I dig the fact that she goes to church occasionally. The books remind me of early (VERY early, Anita Blake). You know, back when they were solid mysteries with a plot and everything, and the lead character had some values. I also like the theory behind the ability to shape shift, it is one of the most realistic ones I’ve ever read.

I was glad Hunter tied up loose ends from the last book that were driving me crazy trying to work out regarding Evilene, and as always I love it when Molly and her daughter are around, they always make Jane more human. Word has spread that Jane isn’t human and some of her human friends are not down with that, which made Jane’s response seem all the more human (hurt and disappointed). My only complaint…not enough Leo and Bruiser.

This was another very solid addition to the Jane Yellowrock series, and I hope to see it continue for a long time to come
(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 E.K. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I ripped through this fourth installment of the Jane Yellowrock series in record time. Just couldn't put it down. The tension and action stayed at a high pitch through much of the novel, making it an exciting read.

Jane is a vampire hunter and works for Leo Pellisier, the vampire Master of the City of New Orleans. It's an unusual job choice, though you'll have to read the previous books for an explanation as to why she chose it.

In Raven Cursed, Jane heads back home to North Carolina as head of se...more I ripped through this fourth installment of the Jane Yellowrock series in record time. Just couldn't put it down. The tension and action stayed at a high pitch through much of the novel, making it an exciting read.

Jane is a vampire hunter and works for Leo Pellisier, the vampire Master of the City of New Orleans. It's an unusual job choice, though you'll have to read the previous books for an explanation as to why she chose it.

In Raven Cursed, Jane heads back home to North Carolina as head of security for Leo's envoy sent to negotiate with vamps who want to create their own clan. Problem is, local campers are getting attacked by something supernatural and jeopardizes the negotiations. Jane is sent to investigate and discovers evidence that other creatures, not vampires, are responsible, but there's a connection to her.

Back on home turf, she's worried about her best friend, Molly, who is a witch of the elemental, do-no-harm variety. Something is “off” with Molly and her coven family and Jane suspects a spell of some sort, but who is the caster? The only person she can turn to for help is Molly's husband, who dislikes Jane for involving Molly before in dangerous situations.

Then, there is Rick Lafleur, Jane's boyfriend. No. Ex? Maybe. Jane's not quite sure where they stand, either, except that every time they're near each other, things heat up. Unfortunately, Rick was bitten by a were-leopard and hasn't yet “turned.” She sent him with Kemnebi, an African were-leopard (and the widower of the one who bit Rick) to the national park not too far away from her new assignment, to ease Rick through the transformation.

How all the different pieces of Jane's life intersect and effect each other had me on edge throughout the whole novel. In the end, everything fits together for a satisfying conclusion.

The thing I love about Jane is she's not just a professional, deadly vampire hunter with all the expected skills, weapons, cool leather, and motorcycle. She's “a Cherokee skinwalker living with the soul of a mountain lion” inside her, whom she calls Beast. As a skinwalker, she has the ability to metamorphose into another creature. I often laugh at the amusing internal dialogue between Jane and Beast and it adds an extra dimension to Jane and to the series overall.

While Jane isn't exactly human, we can sympathize because she screws up just like the rest of us. She's a steak-and-beer kind of woman who finds herself treading through dangerous ground in an ancient and elegant vampire society. She's often out of her depth, misunderstands situations, and is sometimes forced to work with faulty or little information because her vampire boss is a secret-keeper.

In the end, however, she lands on her feet, like the Big Cat she is.(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Fangs for the Fantasy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane Yellowrock has a job from Leo Pelliser, Master of the city of New Orleans and, as it turns out, Master of the whole South-east of the United States, meaning he has far more oomph than Jane imagined.

He has sent her to escort Gregoire, one of his top vampires, to negotiate with the local vampire Shaddock who wishes to become Master of Asheville on account of his children becoming vampires super-quickly without decades of madness. It’s an important bodyguard job and Jane is focused on it and i...more Jane Yellowrock has a job from Leo Pelliser, Master of the city of New Orleans and, as it turns out, Master of the whole South-east of the United States, meaning he has far more oomph than Jane imagined.

He has sent her to escort Gregoire, one of his top vampires, to negotiate with the local vampire Shaddock who wishes to become Master of Asheville on account of his children becoming vampires super-quickly without decades of madness. It’s an important bodyguard job and Jane is focused on it and in charge despite the distraction of Rick, her sort-of-boyfriend turning into a wereleopard.

Unfortunately things are complicated by the remaining werewolves from the pack she destroyed in the last book seeking revenge – and by revenge that means slaughtering people in her area. Jane is forced to work with local police to find the wolves, balancing law enforcement with orders from Leo who wants them dead as soon as possible. Jane has her own reasons since Molly and her family (and coven witches) are in the area –Molly’s husband blames her for putting their children in danger, Jane cannot stand the idea that she has put them at risk again

But even Molly’s coven isn’t a source of peace – with it being betrayed from within with dark magic, old secrets and an ancient evil being summoned at the heart of it – an evil whose influence is making all Jane’s jobs that much harder and that much more complicated.

This book was overwhelming. There was a lot happening – with the parley talks, lethal werewolves running around killing people, the Grindylow apparently with its own agenda, Kenmebi both mentoring and threatening to kill Rick, the rogue vampire to hunt down and, of course, Evangeline playing her own game. At times I was almost lost, I kept wondering what plot line we were on and where we were going and why. Usually, such a book annoys me, I wish they’d remove a plot line so the story would flow better, there wouldn’t be so many distractions and I wouldn’t feel like I had to take notes to try and keep up with everything. But not in this case. Yes it was overwhelming but it was equally clear that it was meant to be. As Jane bounced from crisis to crisis, slipping sleep, desperately trying to fit everything in – this was one of the themes of the book; exhaustion, stress and constantly have to run to keep up with everything – and everything being too important to just cast aside or even realistically delay. It makes for a very strong part of the book, being very sustained and well balanced. I was overwhelmed, but I wasn’t lost.

I also like how the storylines come together – it adds the plausibility of not having everything just spontaneously happen at once and prevents everything in Jane’s life happening in complete isolation. It is very well done and doesn’t feel even remotely strained or convoluted – it flows naturally and it’s also completely and utterly unpredictable. I didn’t see the ending, I didn’t see what was happening and discovered everything as and when the characters did – the mystery was mysterious and the confusion was natural and shared with the protagonist.

The pacing was excellent, I was never bored and it never dropped and got lost. The action scenes were well laid out and described – nothing was too rushed or dragged. Everything was described appropriately – it was a very well balanced book, really well written and never once made me want to put it down.

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Apr 14, 2012 Danielle Parker added it

When I put down Faith Hunter’s latest Jane Yellowrock urban fantasy, Raven Cursed, my first thought was: I’ve got to give up urban fantasy. It’s not doing its thing anymore.

Sadly, this wasn’t the sort of guilty but secretly happy “I’ve got to give this up” feeling that strikes me after eating a Hershey chocolate bar. I wish. Instead, it was the “Oreo cookies no longer give me a thrill” feeling I got after finally consuming last round in the extra-large box I bought last spring from the grocery s...more When I put down Faith Hunter’s latest Jane Yellowrock urban fantasy, Raven Cursed, my first thought was: I’ve got to give up urban fantasy. It’s not doing its thing anymore.

Sadly, this wasn’t the sort of guilty but secretly happy “I’ve got to give this up” feeling that strikes me after eating a Hershey chocolate bar. I wish. Instead, it was the “Oreo cookies no longer give me a thrill” feeling I got after finally consuming last round in the extra-large box I bought last spring from the grocery store’s bulk buys section. As in, “I’m finally fed up”. The dumb guilty pleasure is at last gone. As the blues man moaned, “The Thrill is Gone, The Thrill is Gone Forever”.

Now I should say up front, it’s not that Raven Cursed is a particularly bad example of the genre. It isn’t. Raven Cursed is the fourth Jane Yellowrock book. I’ve read the previous three, and that alone tells you the series provided reasonable entertainment. But I was happy to wait until the library had the latest, and in no particular rush to order it, which tells you something, too. The series is fairly solid urban fantasy, not as good as the best in the genre, but not as bad as a few I won’t mention here.

The problem was that all through the book, I interrupted myself. Didn’t Laurell K. Hamilton do the vampire hunter with the gun fetish and the schizophrenic church habit already? Didn’t Patricia Briggs do the shape-shifting Native American already? Didn’t the heroine in the Greywalker series have a similar fancy teas habit? Oops, and didn’t we see the sexy, beautiful, deadly French vampire master in the Anita Blake series, not to mention Anne Rice, too? And the repeated ad infinitum sequences of the heroine “weaponing up”, loving handling her customized guns, stakes and knives, as she binds them to back, thigh, armpit, and boot. Haven’t I read those, too? How many badass females have I read about, dripping in leather and riding hogs?

Oh yeah. And don’t forget the lust bit. Six-foot tall, lusty Jane has the hots for nearly every male she meets. Let’s see, there’s “Bruiser”, the twin hottie bodyguards Brian and Brandon, the vampire Leo, the vampire Gregoire, Ricky Bo the pretty boy, and… Darn, I’ve forgotten the last half dozen, but it doesn’t matter. Been there, done that already, too. In Raven Cursed, she even meets another six-foot-tall female, described as a “Paris Hilton” if you can believe it, and for a minute there, I got really nervous. But I’m glad to see Jane plays it straight.

My feeling is just like a love affair gone sour, I suppose. When all you can see are your once beloved’s faults, when his habits become irritation and not charm, well, The Thrill is Gone. Time to move on to, in this case, other genres.

But don’t let my disenchantment stop you, if you’re still in the need-a-candy-fix-fantasy-fling mode yourself. Goodness knows I binged enough myself before I reached the disenchantment stage. I can point no fingers.

And to give Faith Hunter her due, the series is as good as most, and the derivative aspects nothing new to the genre. Jane Yellowrock is a Cherokee skinwalker with a Big Cat she calls Beast inside her. She’s a vampire hunter who now works for Leo, Master Vampire of New Orleans, as a security specialist. She’s sent to protect Leo’s number two in command, the pretty French vampire Gregoire (another pretty sexy French vampire, the second in this book alone), when he arrives to negotiate with the hillbilly vampire master Lincoln Shaddock.

Only werewolves show up and eat some luckless campers, a witch bespells everyone with a magic blood diamond, and Jane has to “weapon up”, as she calls it, over and over again (sadly, the story lavishes more detail on those scenes than it does her time in bed with the boyfriend). She’s also fighting to defend that pretty boyfriend, Ricky Bo, from a jealous leopard were who plans to kill him. Yeah, and there’s a demon who tempts her with revelations of her personal backstory, plus a guardian angel on call, who seem not to mind Jane’s constant “weaponing up”, or the sluttish affection she has for those customized red-handled Walthers.

Start with the series in order, since the first two (Skinwalker, Blood Cross) are much better books. But raise a glass to Laurell K Hamiton and Anne Rice first, who really started something. I’m not saying they should be ashamed of themselves. But why the heck do all those sexy French vampires immigrate to America? Huh? That’s what I want to know.

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Jan 29, 2012 Lannister rated it 5 of 5 stars

Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series must be one of the most under-rated UF series out there. It rarely gets mentioned in the same company as Kate Daniels or Fever, or other high profile series, and it really should. These books are every bit as good, and they get better as they go on.

Many of the plot lines from the previous novel, Mercy Blade, spill over into this book, as Jane returns to her home turf to provide security for a parley between a local fanghead and Gregoire, one of Leo's associa...more Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series must be one of the most under-rated UF series out there. It rarely gets mentioned in the same company as Kate Daniels or Fever, or other high profile series, and it really should. These books are every bit as good, and they get better as they go on.

Many of the plot lines from the previous novel, Mercy Blade, spill over into this book, as Jane returns to her home turf to provide security for a parley between a local fanghead and Gregoire, one of Leo's associates. There are also a couple of rogue werewolves from the last book on a killing spree, and Jane's guilt compels her to become involved. Molly's family feature prominently again too, with Evie's odd behaviour in Mercy Blade becoming significant. Jane is placed in a difficult situation having to deal with divided loyalties and her fear of bringing harm to those she is closest too. The luscious Ricky Bo is around too, dealing with his own Big Cat issues. I'd hoped for a little more development in Jane and Ricky's relationship, but he has a lot to deal with so I can understand why it wasn't forefront.

I've always liked the vampires in these stories, with their political scheming and manipulating. I love a sexy vampire as much as the next gal, and the fangheads that Jane Yellowrock deals with are gorgeous and intoxicating, but they're also dangerous and unpredictable. I was a little disappointed at first that Leo and Bruiser didn't feature much in the book, but Gregoire and his twin blood servants filled the gap nicely.

Something happens with Beast in this book (won't go into detail), and I was as upset as Jane was about it. Beast is such a fabulous character, with her own unique identity, despite existing only in Jane's head. There's an awesome scene between Beast and Kem-Cat, where we learn just who is alpha, and I was practically cheering when I read it! I also love how Beast gets horny when she spots a good-looking guy. Jane tries to deny what she's seeing or feeling, but Beast just purrs! Rrrrrr!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. I'm just disappointed that I'll need to wait possibly a year to find out what happens next.

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Mar 14, 2013 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: angels, demons, demons-magic-weres, magic, vampires, werewolves

Another very good story from the author of Jane Yellowrock series. The forth book is darker than the previous and I enjoyed it very much. It has a lot of action and many OMG moments that I loved!

The story takes us out of New Orleans to North Caroline because there Jane has a new job to do for the vampires. But the truth is that Jane’s problems aren’t only the vampires. She has to deal with so many things in the story, both familiar and unfamiliar. And she has to make some important decisions tha...more

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Mar 03, 2012 BamaGal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pnr-uf

This was quite the adventure for Jane and Beast, and I have to say that I was pretty impressed. Jane has shown more confidence in herself and her talents than in previous books; and the adventure was well written and exciting. I have become quite attached to Beast, and cannot imagine Jane without her. She is quite the interesting character.

Jane has been sent to Asheville, NC, by her boss, Master Vampire Leo Pellissier. As head of security, she is to help the vampire Gregoire as he meets with Lin...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Mindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Raven Cursed or Evil Evie goes batwitchie-- Jane Yellowrock's character at her heart is that of a protector. She has other worldly powers of a Cherokee skinwalker and can shift into animals. What I love most about Jane is that she is willing to fight to the death for those to whom she is loyal. I love also that she is writing her own story, taking from her skinwalker, Christian, Cherokee and modern history to make her own life. The Vampires are important to her now but she also keeps a tight hol...more

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Jan 07, 2012 Anino rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: wishlist, paranormal-mystery-suspense, paranormal-romance, vampires, werewolves-shifters, kick-a-urban-fantasy

This book did not disappoint! I waited over 6 months to read this book, and I am so pleased with how it turned out. The only thing that I hate is having to find other Kick A$$ Urban Fantasy/PNR's to read while waiting for the next installment in this highly inventive series. Although $7 is kind of pricey for an ebook, it was worth every penny and more... Ms. Hunter is so on point with this genre, I would pay her just for a sneak peak into what happens next.

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Jan 19, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, kick-butt-chicks, one-of-my-favorite-series, part-of-a-series, urban-fantasy, not-profound-but-fun

Jane Yellowrock, well, ROCKS! I recommend this series to anyone HS & up I know. Faith Hunter has become one of my all time favorite authors. Her previous Seraphs series is one that I easily remember back to along with the feelings & thoughts it evoked in me. I read everyday, often for hours due to being disabled, so when a book or series really sticks with me, it says a lot. There were a lot of threads going on in Raven Cursed that Faith Hunter brought together beautifully while leaving...more

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About Faith Hunter

Faith Hunter's Skinwalker series is dark urban fantasy, featuring Jane Yellowrock, a full blooded Cherokee and hunter of rogue-vampires. Skinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death's Rival, & Blood Trade. Jane Yellowrock is a shape changer (shapeshifter) in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats.

Her Rogue Mage novels—Bloodring, Seraphs, and Host—feature Thorn St...more

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Quotes from Raven Cursed

“Chicken, yeah, that's me. I'd rather fight an old rogue-vamp in my underwear, with my bare hands, than deal with relationship problems.” — 6 people liked it

“Vamps who are dying, or think they are, give a piercing, eardrum-bursting shriek, like the love child of a screech owl and a mountain lion on crystal meth, amplified like a seventies rock band.” — 4 people liked it

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Raven Cursed (Jane Yellowrock #4)

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