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Skinwalker

(Jane Yellowrock #1)

Faith Hunter (Goodreads Author)

3.91 · Rating details · 31,904 ratings · 1,996 reviews

First in a brand new series from the author of the Rogue Mage novels

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katies’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 320 pages

Published July 7th 2009 by Ace Books (first published May 22nd 2009)

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Feb 28, 2014 Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ Rabid Reads-no-more rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: Lovers of kick-ass heroines and Native American folklore.

Shelves: best-series, vampires, cover-whore, urban-fantasy, jerk-of-my-dreams, weres-shapeshifters, native-american, not-your-ordinary-creatures, rabid-reads-reviews, favorite-secondary-characters

3/25/18 - ON SALE for $1.99:

https://amzn.to/2um9TAy

3/11/17 - rerereread b/c Steven is PERSISTENT. Minus 0.5 stars from original rating, b/c I bloody hate Rick, the slime.

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

4.5 stars

Urban Fantasy is a pretty diverse genre. There are all kinds of twists on various folklores and mythologies, as well as multitudes of different takes on a myriad of supernatural creatures. We all have our favorites (and not-so-favorites).

For me, if it has something to do with the Fae or Nati ...more

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Aug 03, 2010 carol. rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: UF fans who like action

Shelves: urban-fantasy, female-lead, supernatural-mystery, vampires, my-library

Let me get one thing straight: I don't read romance novels. If romance is included within the scope of main character experience, I'll still read it. But if the main story is magickal, wonderful, soulmate kind of l-o-v-e and there is pining, angst, and ridiculous pretend fights when really they l-o-v-e each other but can't admit it, that's a big fat "pass" for me. "Skinwalker" won't appeal to those who like a little romance with their paranormal. Move along now.

Jane is an interesting, unusual e Let me get one thing straight: I don't read romance novels. If romance is included within the scope of main character experience, I'll still read it. But if the main story is magickal, wonderful, soulmate kind of l-o-v-e and there is pining, angst, and ridiculous pretend fights when really they l-o-v-e each other but can't admit it, that's a big fat "pass" for me. "Skinwalker" won't appeal to those who like a little romance with their paranormal. Move along now.

Jane is an interesting, unusual entry into the UF field, featuring an part-Cherokee woman with a one-of-a-kind ability to shapechange. Jane rides into town on her motorcycle Bitsa ("bits of this, bits of that"), interviewing for a job with the New Orleans vampire clan, hunting a rogue vampire that is tarnishing their reputation and hurting their position with the police. After meeting Katie, one of the vampire council representatives and madam of a house of ill repute, Jane gets the job. Efforts to discover the rogue are hampered as Jane is shadowed by a couple of men that might be working with a different agenda.

Lead supporting role in this book goes to Beast, a mountain lion who shares Jane's body. Unfortunately, Jane's memory gaps leave her without explanation for her and Beast's relationship, but that will change after she meets a Cherokee shaman and requires vamp healing during her search for the rogue.

Set in New Orleans, the city proves to be a lush background. Hunter gives a good feel for the details, from cobblestone streets to decorative balconies, to the overbearing heat and humidity. In the UF field, there are many different degrees in an author's ability to use language, and Hunter does well with few missteps. While Jane herself is a very direct person, she does describe things in enough detail to keep the story interesting and unique, from teapots to the smell of a motorcycle. For a first novel, it does a decent job of avoiding the dreaded info-dump, and feeds bits and pieces to the reader in large enough chunks to give context but not bog down the story. It also allows some of Jane's internal humor to show through when she is being professional enough to not say her remarks out loud.

We did get one girly scene of her shopping and then dancing, which makes me wonder a little if Hunter is trying to be all things to all readers. You know--Jane rides a bike, carries a bad-ass gun--but can wear frothy little skirts and dance! Her long hair bothered me as well, especially given Jane as a no-nonsense fighter. I think it makes sense in context of Native heritage, but that's not given as a reason.

Had I been Hunter's editor, I would have asked that they stressed that this is the first time Jane interacts with "normal" vamps. I think she took some uncharacteristic and stupid actions (according to what she says to the reader in the narrative) when she first meets Leo, the head of the council, but that could probably be explained by the newness of the experience. There are a few things along these lines that trouble me about Jane's decision-making. I'm not sure it's internally consistent.

Still, it's a decent book. The mystery of the "rogue vamp" that doesn't act like a vamp moves along nicely. While sexual tension plays a role in many of her interactions, both male and female, it doesn't overtake the story or focus on the mystery. A supporting character of Jane's close friend Molly and her godchildren Angie and Evan help humanize Jane's rough edges and show her caring side. While it doesn't avoid all of the UF tropes, Hunter does a nice job of making a strong, distinct female character. Her unusual ethnicity and mystical connections make a nice touch in the UF world of vampires, fae and weres.

Overall, it's probably a 3.5 read on my personal scale, but I'm rounding up because it's one of the standouts in the field.

Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2012/1... ...more

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Apr 29, 2018 Anne rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, read-in-2018, urban-fantasy

3.5 stars

I wasn't sure what to expect from Skinwalker when I picked it up, but I knew Jane had a pretty big following among my friends and I was hoping that this might become my new go-to urban fantasy series.
And I'm thinking it might!

Alright. The gist is that Jane is a skinwalker. Which...yeah, you probably already managed to get that from the title.

description

Anyway. She can shift into basically anything, but her favorite form is a mountain lion.
Why?
Well, due to some spoilery reasons, she shares her bod ...more

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Jun 26, 2016 Lyn rated it really liked it

I took a break from my American Ninja Warrior training to read Faith Hunter’s 2009 novel Skinwalker – and glad I did. Cause it’s better than a bag of Lays potato chips.

First of all Hunter serves up a family sized helping of HAVEATYOU!! in the form of a leather wearing, shotgun toting and motorcycle riding Cherokee Skinwalker name of Jane Yellowrock. Jane is a tall drink of water whose special Urban Fantasy mojo is being a skinwalker, a kind of Native American were-person, especially in regard to I took a break from my American Ninja Warrior training to read Faith Hunter’s 2009 novel Skinwalker – and glad I did. Cause it’s better than a bag of Lays potato chips.

First of all Hunter serves up a family sized helping of HAVEATYOU!! in the form of a leather wearing, shotgun toting and motorcycle riding Cherokee Skinwalker name of Jane Yellowrock. Jane is a tall drink of water whose special Urban Fantasy mojo is being a skinwalker, a kind of Native American were-person, especially in regard to her ability to “shift” into a cougar (no pun intended) – a mountain lion, puma, panther – you get the drift. Urban Fantasy fans have seen skin walkers (though with different magic rules attached) in Kevin Hearne’s 2012 Iron Druid novel Tricked, as well as Bill Schweigart’s 2015 novel The Beast of Barcroft.

What makes Faith Hunter’s protagonist stand out, first of all, is that this is told from the perspective of the skinwalker (as empathetic protagonist and not unsympathetic antagonist) but most noteworthy that Jane kind of shares the body with the Beast. In very original, and compelling, UF fashion, Hunter has the narrative perspective “shift” (like what I did there?) between Jane and Beast. The Beast narrative sections are really very interesting as Hunter describes Beast’s perceptions in terms that a predator with a keen sense of smell would make.

Jane has ridden her put together Bitsa motorcycle (bits of this and that) to New Orleans to get a job with a vampire madam to eliminate a rogue vampire. The setting is an alternate reality where vampires and witches (and elves and werewolves Oh My!) have come out of the closet and are living amongst us and lobbying for civil rights. Jane is a web site optimizing vampire hunter with her skinwalker abilities thinly veiled.

Like Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series, part of the charisma of Hunter’s creation is the history she weaves in to the story. Though Yellowrock’s origins are clouded, there are hints that she is ancient, or at least tied to old legends. The Cherokee heritage and connections, like Hearne’s use of the Celtic past, adds depth and value to the narrative.

While tooling around in The Big Easy Jane meets a fun populace of UF players that author Hunter has put together and who makes good use of the construct. Hunter is skilled and this is a well crafted, well written action adventure that also has personality and is fun to read. Hunter’s characterizations are almost all good (a couple of painful straw-men and some made for TV dialogue notwithstanding) and her world building is every bit as good as Jim Butcher or Hearne’s.

This is one of the best urban fantasy series I've come across.

In leather wearing, shotgun toting and motorcycle riding Arnold sincerity – “I’ll be back.”

description

...more

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Oct 04, 2014 ✘✘ Sarah ✘✘ (former Nefarious Breeder of Murderous Crustaceans) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2015, boredom-fest, oblivion-and-spontaneous-combustion, vamps-are-wimps, urban-fantasy, br-2015, diversity-is-slightly-scrumptious, set-sail-for-disappointment

Actual rating: 2.5 stars. Because I'm in a good mood today.

Disclaimer: I read this book only 10 days ago and can hardly remember the story. This should be a fascinating review. Then again, I was recently told my reviews were offensive, so all is not lost. You might get bored but at least there's a good chance you'll feel outraged about all this. Muahahahaha.

►► Presenting... Adventures in Lowered Ratings, courtesy of ~~Faith Hunter~~ my failing memory!

① 1 to 50% = OMG I can't put this down, this is 4 ...more

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Apr 04, 2018 Tadiana ✩Night Owl☽ rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, vampires-and-werewolves-oh-my, urban-fantasy

3 stars for this urban fantasy, an alternative version of our world with a Cherokee shapeshifter heroine, and vampires who are out to the public (New Orleans, the setting of this novel, is a tourist attraction largely because of all of the vampires there, who own much of the city). This 2009 novel owes quite a bit (a bit too much for my money) to Moon Called, which was published three years earlier, and the Mercy Thompson series, which also has a Native American shapeshifter heroine who's pretty ...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paperback, own, paranormal, favorites

Reread and still love!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

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Dec 11, 2009 Chichipio rated it it was ok

Shelves: urban-fantasy

I had so many problems with this novel that once I start, I'll probably go on for a while.

So instead, let's start with a positive note: Hunter's take on supes. Her always-on-edge vamps, witches and the skinwalker myth were well-done; all of them are pretty balanced power-wise and a good addition to UF lit.

Then there were some other good things, too. Her version of New Orleans and the Cherokee culture for example.

But there were two huge issues that kind of ruined the experience for me: the writin ...more

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Feb 04, 2017 Choko rated it really liked it

Shelves: urban-fantasy, kick-ass-ladies, vampires

*** 4.25 ***

A buddy read with the Wednesday UF group @ BB&B!

This was cool! I know, it sounds silly and Minimalistic, but I had fun reading it! It is not a secret that I am a fan of all things Fantasy, but I do have a soft spot for "Golden Age Urban Fantasy", mostly written between 1995 - 2005. This one falls in this category and I was not disappointed. It had everything a UF should have with its own unique flavor.

Jane is a Skinwalker, a native American Cherokee heritage, who at one point in he ...more

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Dec 10, 2013 Steven rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, read-in-2017, read-in-2015, urban-fantasy-paranormal, reread

Skinwalker by Faith Hunter
Published 2009, Roc
Stars: ★★★★★
Review also posted at: Slapdash & Sundry

This book was HELL YES I LOVED IT good. Interesting premise? Check. Badass main character? Double check, actually. Twisted plot? Check. Unique take on vampires? Good enough for me, check. Really cool superpowers? Check. Female MC not afraid of sexuality but not obsessed with it either? Check.

Jane is a BAMF. TOTAL BAMF. Throw Beast into the mix, and you've got "one" awesome main character.

I can't wait ...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Leyoh rated it it was ok

Just so you know, I hate myself when I do this but I just cannot read this book any longer. I feel as though I'm punishing myself for something I haven't even done yet and I'm certain what ever it is I am yet to do is not that bad!

The premise of a badass skin walking detective solving mysteries for vamps and other supernatural beings in the south of America was alluring but ultimately deceptive. The descriptive prose was tiresome, her progress on the mission dragged, there were constant interrup ...more

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Feb 01, 2017 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it liked it

Shelves: bb-b-2017, uf-pnr, 2017-reads, witches-warlocks-and-magic, buddy-read, kick-ass-heroines

3.5 Stars

Time for a new UF series buddy read with....

Jane Yellowrock is an interesting heroine to base a series around. She wasn’t exactly what I was expecting because she is a shapeshifter. Not a were, that is different she actually can take the form of almost anything given the correct genetic material. But she also shares one body with something she calls beast and I liked the way that this is explored in this book. When she is in Beast’s form those are the thoughts that are in the forefront and so we see the world very differently as an animal would and it is a cool way to spend some of the story. Plus it has this added benefit since the story is all from Jane’s PoV of giving her someone to talk to inside her head instead of only having an internal monologue.

Overall this is a good beginning to a series. We get a pretty good glimpse of the world with some hints to the strange backstory that will accompany the vampires. There are also hints that perhaps later in the series we will see some were-somethings and Fae. I liked Jane’s witch BFF and the cutest little girl, I really want some extra time with them in future installments.

I don’t know a lot about Native American culture so that was a good addition to Jane’s overall character depth and matched up with her skinwalker nature as well. She seems like she is a pretty badass chick most of the time.

The only thing that I’m not in love with was that for a while in the middle it turned more PNR than UF where everyone wants to sleep with Jane. I mean I get it she is new and interesting but still it was like she was the last woman on a dessert Island with a team of football players. Even the other women in the story mad passes at her. I also was not a fan of any of the potential love interests for various reasons. I know this is a character introduction but our serious choices in this book seemed to be power-hungry vampire sociopath, lead henchman to the power-hungry vampire sociopath and extreme douchebag A. I really didn’t like any of them and the thought of her hooking up any of the dudes from that selection is just EWE gross.

Still the story was action packed and gave me just enough to want to know more about Jane and her journey. I don’t think you’ll guess who the bad guy is since there weren’t a lot of clues to that but still the story is interesting and tense at times. I do hope we get some better love interest material as the series continues though since that area is in a sad state for me at least.
...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Wealhtheow rated it did not like it

Shelves: didn-t_finish, pocmaincharacters, urban-fantasy, fantasy, paranormal_romance

Jane Yellowrock, a shape-shifting bounty hunter, is hired to hunt down a rogue vampire in New Orleans. I have no idea how successful she is in the end, or who the vamp is, because 161 pages in (more than halfway into the book!) basically nothing plot related has happened. Jane describes her outfits. Jane describes her beeeeeautiful flowing hair. Jane bemoans how much she has to eat all the time because shape-shifting takes mad calories, and makes fun of women who eat salad. Jane just puts on a l ...more

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Feb 14, 2018 Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* rated it really liked it

Recommended to Erin *Proud Book Hoarder* by: Y. Layla Shabazz

Shelves: part-of-series, serial-killer, favorite-series, magic-powers, reviewed, book-boyfriend, ebook, unusual-creatures, read-in-2018, witches

I’m not sure why I took so long to start this long and recommended series, but when I was gifted the first e-book by a Goodreads member who surprised me with the sweet gesture (thank you Layla!), I read and became majorly hooked. Majorly – which is perfect for a series junkie like me. It meant weeks of binge reading a series with over ten books published in it. Not much that I enjoy more in my reading life.

Jane is an unusual specimen – she’s a shapeshifter but not a were, someone hired to help v I’m not sure why I took so long to start this long and recommended series, but when I was gifted the first e-book by a Goodreads member who surprised me with the sweet gesture (thank you Layla!), I read and became majorly hooked. Majorly – which is perfect for a series junkie like me. It meant weeks of binge reading a series with over ten books published in it. Not much that I enjoy more in my reading life.

Jane is an unusual specimen – she’s a shapeshifter but not a were, someone hired to help vampires in New Orleans when she usually kills them instead. Her business card and website humorously read “Have Stake, Will Travel.” While investigating the rogue and solving that particular mystery, she’s meeting the fascinating characters – supernatural and non – that make up the cultural town. In between this she finds out hidden mysteries about herself, especially long-hidden mysteries that revealed she once did a twisted version of dark magic.

Jane is humorous – she’s tough, she’s different, she’s special, and no one knows what she is – I love when the Main Characters have secrets that everyone wants to know, and when they are pursued by complex and powerful characters who she’s shying away from. A classic game of cat and mouse hunt. Between the local police department, Rick on the bike, Leo as the Master of the City and his determined bodyguard, Katie with her twisted family, and meeting a few other people thrown in – there are plenty of intrigued AND intriguing people popping up all over the place. Between exploring the town in lion form, exploring the streets in human form, spying on secret rituals by other paranormal races and awkward but enlightening vamp soirees, the book takes one addictive turn after another.

Jane is downright intriguing after all, although I prefer the books later when she’s more at peace with Beast and knows more. The Native American Folklore history and meeting Aggie with the ritual was interesting enough, although it didn’t grab me as much as the modern-day happenings did. She’s a funny main character, she’s tough and has secrets, she’s compassionate and driven and protective. Can’t complain.

Leo is yummy and fascinating, but there is a tragic turning point at the end of the book that ties into the heart of the mystery. Watching their back and forth argumentive banter is fun stuff. “Bruisier” – AKA George – doesn’t have quite a huge presence yet but he’s a well-done supporting character. Ah, those dance scenes!

Rick never made an impression on me much but he still holds some promise in the first story sometimes, even though it’s clearly he’s not fully trustworthy. Having the main character having to interact with others who are so different from her – from Katie’s ladies to the unusual and formal vamp world – makes the book even better. And of course Beast is fascinating, being in her head over Janes or seeing them debate stuff.

Mystery wise its rich enough to earn it’s high start rating too. There are plenty of twists and turns and misleading leads, a shocking culprit, several battles, and large fight at the end that is a series changer.

Since I’ve read the rest of the series in a row before writing this review, I will point out the series improves much and keeps getting better. I enjoyed this first book quite a bit, but if there were a few things that bugged you about it, most of the things improve. In this first book the shifting seems a bit too hard on her, and I don't like so many dependent crutches being needed, but this becomes a non-issue later.

Jane’s bond with Beast grows more secure, the personalities of both emerge fully, more layers pop up on all the characters you meet in the first book that may seem slightly one-dimensional right now, and the politics and twist-turns get even more focused and twisted as the stories go on. ...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Shelby *trains flying monkeys* rated it liked it

Shelves: read-2014

This is more of a 3.5 star book.

Jane Yellowrock is one bad ass main character. She rides Bitsa (bits of this-bits of that motorcycle), carries a big gun, lots of weapons and oh yeah she can change into animals. Mainly a mountain lion named Beast.

I loved the setting in this book. New Orleans with lots a vamp action. There isn't any sex in the book but sexual attractions that Jane has with some of the characters.
Well and me developing a girl crush and wanting to hump her leg.

...more

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Jan 18, 2019 Kat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-2

I can’t believe I haven’t read this series before now! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Really neat urban fantasy with a female skinwalker MC. Similar feel to Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels, but more vampire-based rather than werewolf, but definitely the same vibe, which is awesome. Jane is a cougar-shifter, and is hired to find an evil vampire killing people in New Orleans.

The author did a great job with the setting and the feel of the city and climate. Loved the characterizations, especially of Jane and he ...more

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Apr 17, 2017 Emma rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, vampires, urban-fantasy, shapeshifters

4.5 stars.
You know how sometimes you see a book or series popping up on your GR feed and you're just not sure if it's for you? You add it to your tbr list- you take it off again- you hmm and ha..it becomes annoying because you know now you will have to read it just to see.. normally when I am undecided in this way, when I eventually cave in and read the book, my worst fears are realised and then I can say to myself 'see? I knew there was a reason I was unsure...well that's taught me?!' No?! Well ...more

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Feb 02, 2017 Jo rated it really liked it

Shelves: buddy-read, mine, gr2017

Wednesday UF buddy read with my friends over at BB&B

Jane Yellowrock is a skinwalker, a human who can change shape into any animal. But unlike other skinwalkers, she shares her body with Beast, who is the soul of a mountain lion. Jane is an excellent vampire hunter, and the successful completion of her last case has given her an excellent reputation, which is why she’s been hired to hunt a rogue vampire who is killing in New Orleans.

There she not only learns more about the inner-workings o

Wednesday UF buddy read with my friends over at BB&B

There she not only learns more about the inner-workings of their supposedly sane vampire culture, but also more about her mysterious past and her Cherokee heritage.

Jane is an excellent heroine. She’s tough, snarky, rude and loves her custom bike and her weapons. I just love heroines who know how to kick ass ;-D And then there’s Beast, the mountain lion she shares a body with. I loved Beast and her violent and simple way of thinking and doing things. I love shifter books, and I particularly liked how Jane and Beast are two individual beings, who try to live in harmony in Jane’s body. And it was wonderful that we got POVs from both of them. I also loved the mystery about Jane, and how there were parts of her past that she couldn’t remember, she couldn’t even remember how Beast became a part of her. As the story progressed, Jane did find out some missing pieces, especially about Beast and I hope we learn more as the series continues.

The plot was very captivating with all the different vampires and witches. I liked the fact that Jane seems to be the last of the skinwalkers, and hopefully we will find out more about her and about others. I really liked the Native folklore in this book, it was very interesting.

There were quite a few interesting secondary characters, like Jane’s best friend, Molly, who is a witch. I loved the interactions between them, and Molly’s daughter, Angie, is adorable. Then there is Leo Pellisier, the Blood Master of New Orleans, and a very interesting character. If it wasn’t for his dark right of kings belief with Katie’s girls, I would have loved him, and hoped for a romance between him and Jane. Then there is Bruiser aka George Dumas who is Leo’s right-hand man and blood-servant. I loved him.

Skinwalker was a solid and great first instalment to a Urban Fantasy series that I have high hopes for. I can’t wait to learn more about Jane, Beast and this world. Highly recommended to UF fans.

...more

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May 19, 2009 Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Female lead UF enthusiasts

Recommended to Danielle The Book Huntress (Back to the Books) by: Deva

Shelves: urban-fantasy, character-multi-ethnic-heritage, vampire, heroine-i-loved, owned-copy, all-things-summer-challenge, native-american, character-diversity, 2011-reading, kickbutt-heroine

Skinwalker was a good introduction to the world of Jane Yellowrock, skinwalker. She knew little about her past, only that she was part Cherokee, and that she could shift into the form of animals. And that she shared her consciousness with the soul of an animal, who she called Beast. Jane makes a living as rogue vampire hunter, and she's very good. Now she's in New Orleans, hired by a prominent vampire who happens to run a prostitution house. And this job is going to a very complicated one.

Jane i Skinwalker was a good introduction to the world of Jane Yellowrock, skinwalker. She knew little about her past, only that she was part Cherokee, and that she could shift into the form of animals. And that she shared her consciousness with the soul of an animal, who she called Beast. Jane makes a living as rogue vampire hunter, and she's very good. Now she's in New Orleans, hired by a prominent vampire who happens to run a prostitution house. And this job is going to a very complicated one.

Jane is a very likable main character, which is a real must in urban fantasy. You want someone who you will want to come back to visit with in a series, who can kick some serious butt, but isn't annoying. That's Jane. She's tough and a smart aleck, but she's also soft in some ways. I liked how she felt so warm and fuzzy toward her friend's daughter, and how she cares about people. She has her strong opinions, but she is open-minded enough to think outside of her prejudices. I also liked that while she doesn't sleep around, she can appreciate a good looking man, and there are quite a few of them in this book. I have to say I am not enamored of Rick, who Beast seems to like just fine. I liked Bruiser (Jane's nickname for George), who is the blood servant for one of the most prominent male vamps (and he wasn't shabby either). Yeah, there was a lot of man candy in this book. (Reflects back on reading this book with a silly grin on her face) Where was I? Oh....

I am a bit bored with vampires, although I do and will read a good vampire story. I actually liked the vampire elements in this book. I do like the whole vampire society and politics aspect, and it was well-done here. I actually learned the difference between a blood servant and a blood slave, right along with Jane. I thought the vampire ritual that was enacted upon a gravely wounded vampire was very interesting. I liked that the vampires in this story respond to Christian holy symbols, such as the cross and holy water, along with silver.

Along with the vampire mythology, and more importantly, the shapeshifter aspects struck me as very interesting. Jane actually has to think about scientific concepts when she shifts. She has to account for her mass in comparison with the animal she is taking the shape of. She also has to eat a lot of food to fuel her shifts, even raw meat in animal form (yuck). As a scientist, I appreciated this. I thought Beast's viewpoint added an intriguing element to this story. At first, it was hard to read, since her thoughts are very simple sentences, conveying sensation mainly. After a while, I got the hang of things, and I really liked seeing the world through Beast's eyes. It's also interesting how she sometimes wrestles Jane for control of her body, and the reasons for that are complicated and add another layer to this story.

New Orleans as a setting never fails to enthrall me. It's such a fascinating, mysterious city, rich with history, and ripe with uncanny energies that make it a great place to set a supernatural novel of any type. It's clear that this Ms. Hunter loves this city, and she brings it life with a loving touch in this story, showing both the elegant beauty, the rich cultural aspects, and the seediness that lurks below the gaudy exterior. I can almost believe that New Orleans is run by ancient vampires, with their own intricate society, forming an intrinsic foundation for the infrastructure of this old, beautiful lady of a city.

By far, my favorite element of this story was Jane's Cherokee heritage. I found this very fascinating and I feel like Ms. Hunter did a good job bringing this to life. I liked that Jane is a heroine who is of color, of an ethnic heritage we don't often get to see in a main character. And it adds necessary depth and texture to this story, since that forms a very important part of the overall plot, part of Jane's journey, and a significant part of the mystery element in this novel.

I was very satisfied with Skinwalker. I will definitely be following this series (which is good since I have the next two books). I think Jane is a great main lead, and I like pretty much everything about this first book in the Jane Yellowrock series, the skinwalker elements, Beast's personality, Jane's Cherokee heritage, and the action and sometimes horrific urban fantasy elements. They all combined to make a very enjoyable read that distinguishes itself nicely from the other urban fantasy novel series. Recommended. ...more

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May 15, 2010 Alisha rated it liked it

Quick Take: I wasn't bowled over by this story, but overall it was enjoyable. The protagonist is unique and striking, despite nominal comparisons to other urban fantasy heroines.

Okay, so I told myself right at the beginning of this book not to compare this character to two other seemingly similar UF protagonists: Janet Begay of the Stormwalker books, or Mercy Thompson of the Mercedes Thompson books. For the most part this was easy to do, as Jane Yellowrock's similarities only go as far as the Na Quick Take: I wasn't bowled over by this story, but overall it was enjoyable. The protagonist is unique and striking, despite nominal comparisons to other urban fantasy heroines.

Okay, so I told myself right at the beginning of this book not to compare this character to two other seemingly similar UF protagonists: Janet Begay of the Stormwalker books, or Mercy Thompson of the Mercedes Thompson books. For the most part this was easy to do, as Jane Yellowrock's similarities only go as far as the Native American heritage and general badassitude. And maybe the affinity for super-cool automobiles. ^_^

Jane's particular brand of "badazz" behavior is less of the fun/comedic sort, and more no-nonsense. She's perfectly capable of the occasional snarky remark, but she's aware that smart-alec comments--amongst so many ruthless characters--are the quickest way to get injured or dead. Janet's also quite mysterious, since she has almost no memories from her life before the age of 12. Why is this so? Well, it has a lot to with a soul that shares Janet's body…a second consciousness referred to as Beast.

Having this first-person co-protagonists-in-a-shared-body setup certainly was interesting…it's not a frequent occurrence, that's for sure. But the dynamic did take some getting used to. This is because the emergence of Beast brings along very basic, beast-like thought processes replete with telegraphic phrases and elementary representations of complex concepts. It felt very stark, almost overly so…it's sort of reminiscent of beat poetry. However, I slowly got used to it (and I think the author slightly softened the narrative device over time).

The book was was enjoyable overall, but I must admit that it was not the most memorable affair for me. I just didn't form an attachment to anything. Not the protagonist, not the potential love interests (but I thought they were cads, so maybe that's a contributing factor ^_^). And I wasn't really bowled over by the climax and resolution of the tale. But there were bits of plot that seemed promising, and some character dynamics that were interesting: Jane's relationship with best-friend Molly and Molly's daughter, for instance.

Having said everything above, I do in fact wish to read the next book in the series. There were many moments where I thought to myself, "ooh, this looks promising…" which is a promising occurrence in and of itself. ^_^ The setting (New Orleans) was warm and familiar yet fresh; the supernatural world seemed intriguingly complex; and there is still much to discover about Jane's character and background. I look forward to further exploration of all of those things. ...more

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Feb 12, 2016 Denisa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: better-than-i-expected, interesting, impressive, favourites, fun, uf-or-paranormal, great-female-char, wow-i-didn-t-expect-that

This book for me?

Wow!!! It was such an unexpected read! I mean, yeah, I expected it to be a good one, maybe even a really good one, but not this good!

What I loved the most is the fact that you get the animal's (Beast's) POV. It's the first book where I've seen this and I absolutely loved it!

I felt like reading Faulkner's The Sound and The Fury, where you see the story from the "crazy" person's POV. And I really really enjoy the change!
Plus, the whole plot was something new, a (view spoiler) ...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Werner rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Fans of urban fantasy, action-oriented supernatural fiction, or action heroines

Recommended to Werner by: My Goodreads friend Laura (Kiyah Girl)

Shelves: vampires, supernatural-fiction, action-heroines

Supernatural fiction is a favorite genre of mine, and I have a soft spot for strong heroines who can kick some butt when necessary; so naturally, I thought a book that appealed to both interests might be rewarding. But that didn't begin to prepare me for how much I liked this one! In this series-opener, Faith Hunter has created one of the most original and vividly-realized fictional protagonists to come down the pike in a long time, and established herself in my eyes as one of the genre's most o Supernatural fiction is a favorite genre of mine, and I have a soft spot for strong heroines who can kick some butt when necessary; so naturally, I thought a book that appealed to both interests might be rewarding. But that didn't begin to prepare me for how much I liked this one! In this series-opener, Faith Hunter has created one of the most original and vividly-realized fictional protagonists to come down the pike in a long time, and established herself in my eyes as one of the genre's most outstanding contemporary voices.

The book trade classifies this as "urban fantasy" (a terminology I'm not crazy about, but which is ingrained in the argot by now). Our setting is New Orleans (which is certainly "urban" enough!), brought to life masterfully by Louisiana native Hunter, in one of the best evocations of place I've come across in fiction; but this isn't quite the New Orleans we know. Here we're in an alternate world similar to our own in most ways --but one in which the world has been aware of the existence of vampires (and witches --Hunter's take on these is interesting) since 1962. "Civilized" (non-predatory) vampire clans, often with considerable wealth built up over the centuries, and their voluntary blood-servants and blood-slaves are a part of the urban ethnic mix. But shapeshifters aren't generally known to exist, and that aspect of Jane's life is one she keeps carefully under wraps.

Jane's a supremely well-drawn, round character, with a personality and interior life that's believable (and that's some achievement, when you consider some of her characteristics!). She can shift into the form of any animal for which she has DNA handy, usually in the form of teeth or bones, etc. (Hunter handles the problem of differences in body mass in a really creative way!) Usually, though, she takes the form of the panther who's bonded with her in an unusual way, even for shapeshifters, and which she doesn't fully understand. There's a lot about herself she doesn't know (though some of those mysteries will be revealed in the course of this book); she remembers nothing before she stumbled out of the Appalachian wilderness some 18 years ago, at an age the authorities guessed to be about twelve, an apparently feral child. For the next six years, she was raised in a Christian orphanage, which brings us to a distinctive feature of the book: while she's no plaster saint, she's a professing and practicing Christian. Her Christianity is of a low-key, not judging nor preachy sort, though (and not inconsistent with an openness to Cherokee spirituality), and doesn't come with the view held by some believers that women should be inherently pacifistic doormats. :-) This woman's trained in martial arts, knowledgeable about guns, packs a Benelli shotgun (as well as assorted stakes and knives) that sprays silver shot, rides a Harley, and doesn't take garbage from anybody, human or vampire. She's also a caring person with a tender heart, whom I'd be proud to have for a friend (and she's the kind of friend who comes through when the chips are down).

Jane isn't the only round, lifelike character here; those qualities apply to the whole supporting cast (two-legged and four-legged; Beast is a masterpiece!). The plot is perfectly paced and constructed, IMO, with plenty of mystery to keep you guessing, not just the central mystery --who (and maybe what) is the rogue?-- but the enigma of Jane's buried memories, and the increasingly intriguing secrets of the vampires. Hunter's treatment of the Undead is pretty traditional in most respects, and unlike many modern authors of vampire fiction, she doesn't ignore or reject the idea that vampires fear Christian symbols (indeed, they're burned by the touch of the cross), but not those of other faiths --why, Jane wants to know? The author makes low-key, but explicit use of Christian content in one or two places, in a way that's natural to the story and not off-putting to open-minded secular readers. (Whether or not Hunter herself is a Christian at present, I don't know; but she was raised as one, and mentions in an online interview that as a child she was bullied at school because of her faith.) She's a wonderfully descriptive prose stylist, one of the few writers (the late Ray Bradbury was another) who enables you to fully experience her world with all your senses: not just sight and hearing, but smell, taste and tactile sensations as well. And she does human interactions (I'm using "human" broadly! :-) ) wonderfully well, with insight, sympathy, and often real emotional power. To my pleasant surprise, there's no sex, explicit or implied, here (okay, some of the minor characters are prostitutes, etc. --but no sex in the main storyline!), and a relatively sparing use of bad language. (That doesn't mean there's none of the latter, but Hunter doesn't assault us with it.) Of course, since this is action-oriented fiction, you can expect some violence, and some of it's gory; what the rogue does to victims isn't pretty. Elementary school kids aren't the intended audience for the book; but it won't bother most tough-minded adults.

This is one series that I'm going to be following, and hoping to read in its entirety. Laura, thanks a bunch for putting it on my radar! ...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Mike (the Paladin) rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Look a lot of people like this book. I bought it because 2 of my friends liked it (one recommended it). I don't want to tick off my friends. The one who recommended it knows that I really don't care for predominately "romance" reads...and the other doesn't like romances either. The one who recommended it knows I really don't care for...friendly, kind, romantic (or sparkly) vampires.

So please friends forgive me...we all have different tastes and no matter that I really wanted to I just couldn't l Look a lot of people like this book. I bought it because 2 of my friends liked it (one recommended it). I don't want to tick off my friends. The one who recommended it knows that I really don't care for predominately "romance" reads...and the other doesn't like romances either. The one who recommended it knows I really don't care for...friendly, kind, romantic (or sparkly) vampires.

So please friends forgive me...we all have different tastes and no matter that I really wanted to I just couldn't like this.

And I really did want to. Of late I've hit a stretch of books that I couldn't rate higher than 3 stars. I read an entry into a series I really like and that book turned out to be the weakest entry to said series yet...I had very high hopes for this one. And as it opened I liked it. I like the way Jane was written, I liked the idea of the character and that she was a vamp hunter. She was a hunter for hire but still a vamp hunter. The only thing I went into the book wary of was that...she'd been hired by the Vamp council to hunt a "rogue vampire" (in my mind there's no other kind...I hate rewrites of vamps to make them positive).

The book opens in a promising way...I repeat, I liked it. The first false note was the reader, but not too bad. She just had a "gift" for mispronouncing words (demur pronounced "de-more" for example...shudder). Not good but I could live with it. Then we met Beast. Beast is a big cat who lives in Jane's body and head with her...she's a Skinwalker and can change shape. Mostly she changes into Beast (there's more to it than that but anymore would constitute a spoiler). When Jane becomes Beast the book is written in fragmented sentences...disjointed phrases and single words. Koontz did this sort of thing with a dog once. Koontz did it well. Here it drove me completely up the walls.

Then we got the pièce de résistance. While this book isn't a PNR (paranormal romance) and we are spared all the sparring and angsty nonsense between two characters who dance around some idiotic almost relationship or relationship. What we DO get is Jane panting and going on and on about hot vamps and how long it's been since...and of course Beast wanting her to get "laid" by a vamp, a bad boy or pretty much anyone or anything in pants.

I just got sick of it all.

I went from like, to annoyance, to dislike, to anger and finally didn't even read the final chapters. I didn't care about the rogue or who was doing the killing or who was getting killed. I even returned the book to Audible.

So, I am sorry to be so negative. I was going to stay with a two but when (view spoiler)it was just too much. I can't give a book I just didn't care enough to finish more than a 1 star rating. For you who enjoy this series...cool, enjoy. I really am happy for you. For me it's hours I'll never get back...at least I got my Audible credit back though.

Can't recommend it. ...more

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May 24, 2015 ☆★Tinja★✮ A Court of Pizza and Laziness rated it liked it

Shelves: action, shifters-werewolves, paranormal, witches-wizards-warlocks, kick-ass-heroine, magic-and-hocus-pocus, mythical-creatures-and-other-beings, romance, adults, ghosts-spirits-souls

Got a bit bored here and there but overall enjoyed it. I couldn't connect completely with the main character, Jane, but I did like her. I didn't much care for Beast, I mostly skipped her parts, the writing from her POV was too confusing for me. I'd have also liked a bit more romance, there was pretty much nothing except for the flirting. As for the love-interests, none of those guys really excited me, so a bit of a disappointment as well. I found some stuff lacking but I think I'll still give th ...more

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Dec 05, 2017 Rebecca McNutt rated it liked it

Shelves: werewolf, fiction, supernatural, fantasy, vampire, paranormal

Skinwalker is a dark yet thrilling novel, giving an unexpected take on the paranormal subgenre with a great main character. I think the book was quick to go straight to tropes, but otherwise I really enjoyed it.

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Feb 03, 2017 Steven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2017, reread

Yep, loved it just as much the second time around.

Buddy read with my UF Wednesday pals over at Buddies Books and Baubles. :)

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Jul 18, 2012 Alex rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, reviewed, urban-fantasy

Just finished Faith Hunter's first book in the Jane Yellowrock series - Skinwalker. This is what I thought of it:

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The author's fluid writing and character construction are close to flawless. Jane's other half (I'm not talking about a guy) is this (view spoiler) that has fun teasing her in all the wrong situations and I found their distinct voices extremely well interwoven. Jane's habit of giving nicknames is hilarious: Troll for Tom, Bruiser for George, the J ...more

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Dec 23, 2010 Angela rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy, kindle, tbr-later, poc, buddy-read

27 January 2016: $1.99 on Kindle

21 August 2014: $1.99 on Kindle - I've been meaning to give this series another shot. I think my previous thoughts might have been mostly timing.

I can see the potential but there's not enough here, in either character or plot, to keep me wanting to read more. Stopped at 37% ...more

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Feb 05, 2015 ✨Susan✨ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: murder, audible, mystery, paranormal, vampire

Getting to know Jane was half the fun of the book, she is different, smart and has a believable personality. A Cherokee descendant that has received a rare paranormal gift that she does not have much background or knowledge of. We find out and learn about her as she does. The story had just the right amount of characters and paranormals to make it exciting but not over the top. New Orleans was a great backdrop for a rouge vampire hunt.
The choppiness of the verbiage while she is in her skinwalke ...more

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Feb 27, 2017 Wanda rated it liked it

Shelves: public-library, female-authors, read-in-2017, urban-fantasy, when-words-collide, fantasy

3.5 stars

This was an entertaining way to spend Friday night (yeah, I know, exciting life right?). I’m still sitting on the fence about Jane Yellowrock, but there are some threads of the story that give me hope for the series.

Faith Hunter, the author, attended a conference here in Calgary a couple of years ago, which put Jane Yellowrock on my radar, but it’s taken me a while to get to her. Like Jane, Faith claims Cherokee heritage which is reflected in this first book. Jane has a certain charisma ...more

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Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Tampa Nerd Night ...: Skinwalker – February 2020	1	2	May 04, 2020 07:02PM
Vampires, Weres a...: Quarterly: Skinwalker	55	32	Apr 25, 2020 08:59AM
Castle Dracula: * Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock #1)	7	31	Jan 24, 2020 04:14AM
Fallen Into Tijan...: Skinwalker (Jane Yellowrock #1) by Faith Hunter (August - Auxiliary)	1	8	Jul 14, 2019 03:36PM
Tattered Page Boo...: * EX) Skinwalker by Faith Hunter April 4th 2019	1	3	Mar 28, 2019 03:38PM

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About Faith Hunter

Faith Hunter

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Faith Hunter's Junkyard Cats novella series is brand new, with book one available only in Audible at this time.

Faith's Jane Yellowrock series is a dark urban fantasy. Jane is a full blooded Cherokee skinwalker and hunter of rogue-vampires in a world of weres, witches, vampires, and other supernats.

The Soulwood series is a dark-urban fantasy / paranormal police procedural /para-thriller series fea ...more