I’m very excited to once again welcome Faith Hunter to the blog! Faith is the author of one of my favorite series, Jane Yellowrock. She’s here to discuss Jane, one of the most badass heroines around, in addition to answering some other burning questions about the Yellowrock world. Please join me in welcoming Faith and don’t forget to check out the BLOOD TRADE giveaway!
Q & A with Faith Hunter
1. How and where did you “meet” Jane Yellowrock?
I was sitting with [fellow urban fantasy author] Kim Harrison and we were exploring the idea of new books and series and I bounced this new voice off of her. Then I read the first Temple Grandin book and I was hooked on the animal brain as opposed to the human brain versions. And I began to remember the old Tarzan movies. You know, “Me Tarzan. You Jane.” And between the two events, Jane was born, with her Beast inside her.
2. Jane is tall and badass. Was there anyone you use to picture her?
Rhona Mitra. I’d love to see her do Jane in a feature for TV. Not that it is in the works. But I’d still love it!
3. What about Rick LaFleur is attractive to Jane?
Rick understands Jane, especially now that he’s got a cat (of sorts) of his own. Rick fights crime and understands the fact that Jane does so, as well, even if she is going about it via different route. They have a lot in common, like I said, especially now.
4. Jane’s a Christian and unashamed of that, yet not preachy or confrontational about her faith. Has that been a problem for readers?
My answer to this question has changed in the last weeks. Angry people, wounded people, un-self-confident people are always going to find something in a character (or in her writer) to hate. Some of them will become verbal bullies, who use the internet to hurt others. So yes, I’ve been blasted about religion by people who hate Christianity, even though Jane is non-confrontational, nonjudgmental, non-preachy. She is searching for her past & her Cherokee spirituality, and trying to find ways to become whole, much like many in the Eastern Cherokee band has done. I think her religion (both Christian and her Cherokee spirituality) is one reason the publisher didn’t think the series would sell well. I was told that, “No one thought these books would sell.” (rolls eyes) But actually sales are still climbing, and I get fan mail thanking me for making Jane searching, fallible, spiritually open to new experiences.
5. Jane is a skinwalker, and of Cherokee heritage. How much research into Indian culture and mythos did you do?
I am still researching! There are many different Cherokee tales of the dark beings in life, from the liver eater to the stone finger, from Skinwalkers to witches. Most of the worst dark creatures are depicted as evil beings who kill and eat humans. But the oldest, pre-Christian, pre-white man Cherokee stories tell of skinwalkers being the protectors and warriors, and that is who and what I wanted Jane to be. I started with the good stories and built my world and character around them, with evil stories as warnings of her possible future.
***
BOOK INFORMATION
TITLE: Blood Trade Jane (Yellowrock #6)
AUTHOR: Faith Hunter
PUBLISHER: Roc
PUBLICATION DATE: April 2, 2013
ISBN: 0451465067
PURCHASE BOOK:
Amazon | B & N | Book Depository
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who’s always up for a fight—even if it means putting her life on the line…
The Master of Natchez, Mississippi has a nasty problem on his hands. Rogue vampires—those who follow the Naturaleza and believe that humans should be nothing more than prey to be hunted—are terrorizing his city. Luckily, he knows the perfect skinwalker to call in to take back the streets.
But what he doesn’t tell Jane is that there’s something different about these vamps. Something that makes them harder to kill—even for a pro like Jane. Now, her simple job has turned into a fight to stay alive…and to protect the desperately ill child left in her care.
About the Author
Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. The Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock is taking off like a rocket withSkinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death’s Rival and Blood Trade. Her Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban fantasy series—Bloodring, Seraphs, and Host—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic, alternate reality, urban fantasy world. These novels are the basis for the role playing game, Rogue Mage.
Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 20+ books in print in 28 countries.
Hunter fell in love with reading in fifth grade, and best loved SiFi, fantasy, and gothic. She decided to become a writer in high school, when a teacher told her she had talent. Now, she writes full-time and works full-time in a hospital lab, (for the benefits) tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their dogs to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
Please visit FAITH at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
As a big Jane Yellowrock fan, I’m excited to participate in the BLOOD TRADE Blog Tour. This is the sixth book in the Yellowrock series by the wonderful Faith Hunter. The series is one of my auto-buys and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in strong and complex female characters, dynamic world-building, and exciting action. I love Jane Yellowrock as a heroine. She continues to grow over the course of the series; she’s flawed and complex with a unique relationship to her other half – Beast – the mountain lion who inhabits are part of her and into whose form she can shift. This is great series. Take a look at the excerpt below and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!
BLOOD TRADE EXCERPT
“I’m depressed,” I murmured into the wind, trying the words on for size. Yeah. Depressed. I felt a shadow lift off me just admitting it to myself.
I knew why I was depressed. I’d screwed up so bad, so often, in the past year that I’d lost friends, lovers, and, well, that was enough. Wasn’t it? Now that I knew what was wrong, I could do something about it. If I could figure out what to do. This moodiness was uncharted territory.
Letting that thought simmer on the back burner of my mind, I wended my way through the city, heading uptown, which meant upriver, as everything in New Orleans was about the Mississippi River—uptown was upstream; downtown was downstream (something new I’d learned about the city that was my temporary home). I needed to cross the river, and though I could have taken the newer Crescent City Connection, part of I-90, I took the older, narrow, dangerous, two-lane hell of the Huey P. Long Bridge. I liked the old bridge, maybe because it was so dangerous; it had character, like an old noir film, a bridge leading out of the Land of Shangri-La.
On the other side of the Mississippi, I headed through Westwego and then vaguely west, like the town’s name suggested. Unsurprisingly, I found myself headed to Aggie One Feather’s place, adjacent to the John Lafitte Preserve, a wilderness area where the Cherokee elder who was my personal shaman—and probably my personal counselor too, now that I knew my emotional state—lived. But I could tell that she was still out of town. No car in the drive, shades pulled, no smell on the still air of coffee or bacon cooking, and the sweathouse out back had no smoke seeping from the chimney.
I slowed to a stop and set my boot soles on the shell-based asphalt, thinking about going into the sweathouse by myself, but I’d had some difficult experiences going it alone in there and wasn’t ready to try that again, even with the depression to motivate me. Even though I had some really heavy stuff to deal with. And so did my Beast.
I thought about the mountain lion soul who lived inside me, but she was still asleep, curled into a tight ball, her nose under her long, thick tail. She had been sleeping a lot lately, angry because I wasn’t letting her out to hunt—because I was afraid she’d do something stupid, like track down the vampire Master of the City, roll over and show him her belly, and then lick his feet. My fear was caused by a silver chain that no one but Beast and I could see. It was in the place in my mind that Aggie One Feather called my soul home, and the chain was some kind of binding that curled from Beast’s leg across the floor to a shadow in the corner of my mind, a shadow that was Leo Pellissier, the Master of the City of New Orleans and the entire Southeast USA, with the exception of Florida. Leo was the biggest, baddest fanghead I’d ever met. He was also my boss, for now, because I couldn’t actually get away, or not for long, and Leo knew nothing about the magical binding that kept me in New Orleans, because it had been accidental. I was not about to let the MOC discover how deeply I was tied to him. The vamp was like the left hand of the devil and would use and abuse the binding to get his way in everything. Ev-ery-thing. Like me in his bed and as his dinner, and I’d stake him before I let that happen—and suffer the consequences. Heck, I’d stake myself before I let that happen. Yeah. I had lots to be depressed about. Beast’s little problem was at the top of my list.
To read the full first chapter: http://www.faithhunter.net/wp/2013/02/27/blood-trade-excerpt-chapter-one/
***
BOOK INFORMATION
TITLE: Blood Trade Jane (Yellowrock #6)
AUTHOR: Faith Hunter
PUBLISHER: Roc
PUBLICATION DATE: April 2, 2013
ISBN: 0451465067
PURCHASE BOOK:
Amazon | B & N | Book Depository
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who’s always up for a fight—even if it means putting her life on the line…
The Master of Natchez, Mississippi has a nasty problem on his hands. Rogue vampires—those who follow the Naturaleza and believe that humans should be nothing more than prey to be hunted—are terrorizing his city. Luckily, he knows the perfect skinwalker to call in to take back the streets.
But what he doesn’t tell Jane is that there’s something different about these vamps. Something that makes them harder to kill—even for a pro like Jane. Now, her simple job has turned into a fight to stay alive…and to protect the desperately ill child left in her care.
About the Author
Faith Hunter, fantasy writer, was born in Louisiana and raised all over the south. The Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock is taking off like a rocket withSkinwalker, Blood Cross, Mercy Blade, Raven Cursed, Death’s Rival and Blood Trade. Her Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban fantasy series—Bloodring, Seraphs, and Host—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic, alternate reality, urban fantasy world. These novels are the basis for the role playing game, Rogue Mage.
Under the pen name Gwen Hunter, she writes action-adventure, mysteries, and thrillers. As Faith and Gwen, she has 20+ books in print in 28 countries.
Hunter fell in love with reading in fifth grade, and best loved SiFi, fantasy, and gothic. She decided to become a writer in high school, when a teacher told her she had talent. Now, she writes full-time and works full-time in a hospital lab, (for the benefits) tries to keep house, and is a workaholic with a passion for travel, jewelry making, white-water kayaking, and writing. She and her husband love to RV, traveling with their dogs to whitewater rivers all over the Southeast.
Please visit FAITH at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
She-Wolf Reads is very excited to be participating in Chloe Neill’s HOUSE RULES Blog Tour! This is one of my auto-buy UF series so it’s a special treat for me to be a part of this tour. I recently read HOUSE RULES and loved it (read my review here) and I can’t wait to see what’s up next for Merit and the rest of Chicago’s supernaturals.
As part of the tour, Chloe created special images of her favorite quotes from the series. Here’s the exclusive quote for She-Wolf Reads!
Is that not a perfect quote for this blog? One, I love shifters. Two, read HOUSE RULES and Jeff Christopher’s shifter animal will finally be revealed to you. And it’s pretty damn cool.
TITLE: House Rules
SERIES: Chicagoland Vampires #7
AUTHOR: Chloe Neill
PUBLISHER: NAL
PUBLICATION DATE: Feb 5, 2013
ISBN: 0451237102
PURCHASE BOOK:
Amazon | B & N | Book Depository |
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
At the tender age of 27, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal—tested like never before.
It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.
TOUR GIVEAWAY!
The fun doesn’t stop here. Want more chances to win? You can also enter Chloe’s House Rules Grand Prize Giveaways, which will run January 30 through February 7 on Chloe’s web site.
What are the Grand Prize Giveaway prizes?
Prize One: The Paper Prize
- A complete set of autographed Chicagoland Vampires novels
- A $50 gift card from Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice)
- A set of personalized bookplates, courtesy of Felix Doolittle
- A Chicagoland Vampires tote bag
- A set of Chicagoland Vampires audiobook CDs (Books 1-6), courtesy of Tantor Audio
- A $50 gift card from Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner’s choice)
- A Chicagoland Vampires tote bag
BLOG GIVEAWAY!
Chloe was also kind enough to offer some great swag for individual blog giveaways. Lucky me, I have two prize packs for you!
Prize One: Tote Bag and Book
- A signed copy of DRINK DEEP
- A Chicagoland Vampires Tote Bag
- HOUSE RULES and BITING COLD Bookmarks
- A Chicagoland Vampires Tote Bag
- 2 x “I Survived HARD BITTEN” pins
- 2 x Chicagoland pens
- HOUSE RULES and BITING COLD bookmarks
Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win!
Here is a list of other participating blogs. Don’t forget to stop by and say hello!
January 28, 2013
Fangs, Wands & Fairy Dust
A Book Obsession
January 29, 2013
Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance
Oh Paper Pages
January 30, 2013
YA Reads
Mystifying Paranormal Reviews
January 31, 2013
Saucy Wenches
Literati Literature Lovers
February 1, 2013
Readers Confession
Mostly YA Book Obsessed
February 2, 2013
Dark Faerie Tales (The Mating Game Event)
Fic Fare
February 4, 2013
Vampire Book Club (Character Love Letters)
Cocktails and Books
Paranormal Cravings
February 5, 2013 – Release Day!
The Autumn Review
Gizmo’s Reviews
February 6, 2013
A Great Read
The Book Twins
February 7, 2013
Books-N-Kisses
She Wolf Reads
February 8, 2013
A Thousand Lives
Forget About TV, Grab a Book
About the Author
Chloe Neill is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Chicagoland Vampires and Dark Elite series.
She was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest–just close enough to Cadogan House and St. Sophia’s to keep an eye on things. When not transcribing Merit’s and Lily’s adventures, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys–her favorite landscape photographer/husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout. (Both she and the photographer understand the dogs are in charge.)
Chloe is represented by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency. Chloe is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
Photo by Dana Damewood.
Please visit CHLOE at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST
TITLE: House Rules
SERIES: Chicagoland Vampires #7
AUTHOR: Chloe Neill
PUBLISHER: NAL
PUBLICATION DATE: Feb 5, 2013
ISBN: 0451237102
PURCHASE BOOK:
Amazon | B & N | Book Depository
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
At the tender age of 27, Merit became a sword-wielding vampire. Since then, she’s become the protector of her House, watched Chicago nearly burn to the ground, and seen her Master fall and rise. Now she’ll see her mettle—and her metal—tested like never before.
It started with two . . . Two rogues vanishing without a trace. Someone is targeting Chicago’s vampires, and anyone could be next. With their house in peril, Merit and her Master, the centuries old Ethan Sullivan, must race to stop the disappearances. But as they untangle a web of secret alliances and ancient evils, they realize their foe is more familiar, and more powerful, than they could have ever imagined.
**Source: Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**
She-Wolf Review
Death waits for no vampire.
— Ethan Sullivan
I like bacon.
— Merit
These two quotes make up the epigraph that prefaces the latest installment in the Chicagoland Vampires series, HOUSE RULES. I read this and laughed. Smiled to myself. I sat back and settled into one my favorite books to date in the series. This had everything I love in Chicagoland – good mystery, good romance, some action, a revelation, and an ending that gets you ready for a new chapter in the overall story arc.
I really loved the plot in HOUSE RULES. There are two parallel storylines and each one is just as interesting as the other. First, we have a mystery. A serial killer is on the loose, murdering vampires and leaving their bodies in creepy macabre scenes that let you know it’s personal. Merit needs to find the killer before more innocents are killed. Meanwhile, Cadogan House is going forward with its separation from the Greenwich Presidium (GP), the international ruling body of vampires, which means it’s essentially going rogue. But of course the GP isn’t going to quietly let go of Cadogan House and all its money. There’s some thieving and some double-crossing, and Ethan and Merit have to figure out how to gain the upper hand in 48 hours or risk losing the house or, worse, starting a war. Each of these storylines really kept my attention. Both were races against time and each one had a resolution I wasn’t necessarily expecting. I actually didn’t figure the killer out until Merit did and when it came to a solution for the GP situation, I was laying blame on the wrong doorstep. I love it when I’m kept on my toes.
Romance…Ethan and Merit are solid. Finally! It was nice to spend time with them as a couple. Sweetness, sexiness, respect, love, and some funny banter make this a relationship I want to follow. I think Ethan can be an ass and this book made me like him more. Yes, there’s a moment of tension between the two but it works itself out. And I don’t think this tension is going to go away. This has everything to do with a decision and a commitment Merit made when she thought Ethan was gone. I loved the fact that she doesn’t back down from that decision; she doesn’t waver because she firmly believes in what she’s doing and sees it as bigger than her and Ethan. I appreciate Merit as a strong female character; she’s no wuss. Merit makes tough decisions and sticks to them, no matter how hard it is to do.
Where Neill always gets it right is in the relationships. There are some great scenes with the witty dialogue I’ve come to expect from the series – shirtless poker with werewolves? Strategy sessions with Luc and Lindsey? Great moments that had me laughing and feeling like the old Cadogan House was back.
Finally, there’s a great action scene at the end when the killer’s identity is revealed. In the course of the fight a big series mystery is finally solved – I know what Jeff Christopher is! And it’s pretty damn cool.
One thing that continues to be a mystery to me is Jonah. The romantic triangle aspect sort of fizzled out with the last two books so I’m still a bit puzzled about his future with Merit. The Red Guard storyline will keep them together as partners but will there ever be more? What’s the intention here? Also, with regards to the GP storyline, and you really have to read the book to understand, I found it hard to believe that they wouldn’t have reviewed security footage earlier. When something is stolen, isn’t looking at security footage the FIRST thing you do?
But these are minor quibbles that don’t take away from the book as a whole. The pacing was fast, the storylines compelling, the characters were…everything you’ve come to love about them. Neill ends HOUSE RULES on a hopeful note. It heralds a new beginning for Ethan and Merit, and for Cadogan House in general. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them all.
A strong recommendation.
About the Author
Chloe Neill is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Chicagoland Vampires and Dark Elite series.
She was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest–just close enough to Cadogan House and St. Sophia’s to keep an eye on things. When not transcribing Merit’s and Lily’s adventures, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys–her favorite landscape photographer/husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout. (Both she and the photographer understand the dogs are in charge.)
Chloe is represented by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency. Chloe is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
Photo by Dana Damewood.
Please visit CHLOE at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST
TITLE: Biting Cold
SERIES: Chicagoland Vampires #6
AUTHOR: Chloe Neill
PUBLISHER: NAL
PUBLICATION DATE: Aug 7, 2012
ISBN: 0451237013
PURCHASE BOOK:
Amazon | B & N | Book Depository
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Turned into a vampire against her will, twenty-eight-year-old Merit found her way into the dark circle of Chicago’s vampire underground, where she learned there was more to supernaturals than met the eye—and more supernaturals than the public ever imagined.And not all the secrets she learned were for sharing—among humans or inhumans. Now Merit is on the hunt, charging across the stark American Midwest, tailing a rogue supernatural intent on stealing an ancient artifact that could unleash catastrophic evil on the world. But Merit is also the prey. An enemy of Chicagoland is hunting her, and he’ll stop at nothing to get the book for himself. No mercy allowed.
No rules apply. No lives spared. The race is on.
**Source: Purchased Copy**
She-Wolf Review
**This review may contain spoilers if you haven’t read HARD BITTEN and DRINK DEEP. It also assumes a certain familiarity with the series**
This is my first review of a Chicagoland Vampires book on SWR. I started this series long before I started the blog and it’s definitely one of my urban fantasy auto-buys. I appreciate Neill’s world of vampire houses and supernatural politics in the Windy City, and I especially love Merit, a 28 year old graduate student who was unwillingly made a vampire and is trying to find her footing in this new world. Over the course of six books we see Merit move from anger to acceptance, finally embracing who she is and earning a place in her new family of vampires – the beloved Cadogan House.
The book before BITING COLD was DRINK DEEP and it was probably the most anticipated book in the series thus far. It followed a major cliffhanger and series fans were desperate to see what Neill would do next. Though I loved the book, I was a little disappointed with the end of DRINK DEEP (I’m in the minority here). I think Neill should have stuck to her guns when it came to a particular character but I’m a ride or die kind of chick so I knew I would continue on this journey with Merit and Neill no matter what. Enter BITING COLD. It picks up right where the previous book left off – Ethan and Merit are on the road to find Mallory and, well, save the world. BITING COLD had action, some romance, lots of magic, and a big mystery – Tate’s supernatural affiliation – is finally solved. BITING COLD was satisfying but not thrilling. I felt it was a bridge book between the revelations in its predecessor, to whatever Merit faces in the next installment in the series.
My expectations for BITING COLD were to have a wild cross-country chase as Merit and Ethan try to stop Mallory and Tate from getting their hands on the one thing that can shift the balance of magical power, a showdown, both emotional and supernatural, between two best friends, Mallory and Merit, and a takedown of Tate; I wanted to see an intense, unwavering, and inevitable reunion for Merit and Ethan. And I got all that. Just not in the proportions I was hoping to see. Ethan and Merit go cross-country but make it to their destination in the first couple of chapters; they defeat and apprehend Mallory in the next few chapters; the majority of the book is spent trying to defeat Tate; and the romantic reunion is stalled as Ethan, yet again, finds another excuse not to be with Merit.
I wanted this book to be a bit more intense with regards to Mallory. I wish there was more of a showdown between her and Merit – I think the drama would have been heartbreaking and emotional and made for a good story. Tate wasn’t as interesting as I had hoped and he paled in comparison to the villainy of a fallen best friend.
Regardless, it sure was good to be back in this world again. It was good to be back with these characters! Merit still remains a fantastic heroine to follow. I love her intelligence, her independence, and her integrity. She makes the hard decisions and sticks to them. And where Neill gets it right is precisely in the relationship building between characters. From Merit’s troubled friendship with Mallory to her partnership with Jonah, each one is complex and realistic. Neill also knows how to bring the action. Her sword wielding, martial artist vampires kick ass and the scene against Tate was teamwork at its best.
BITING COLD was a satisfying installment in the series. Although I expected something different, I enjoyed the action and the final resolution of the Ethan-Merit romantic tension. Most of all, it felt like it ended with a new start for the series. Together, they can face anything and I’m looking forward to seeing what that “anything” is.
3 HOWLS – Good but with some flaws.
About the Author
Chloe Neill is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Chicagoland Vampires and Dark Elite series.
She was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest–just close enough to Cadogan House and St. Sophia’s to keep an eye on things. When not transcribing Merit’s and Lily’s adventures, she bakes, works, and scours the Internet for good recipes and great graphic design. Chloe also maintains her sanity by spending time with her boys–her favorite landscape photographer/husband and their dogs, Baxter and Scout. (Both she and the photographer understand the dogs are in charge.)
Chloe is represented by Lucienne Diver of The Knight Agency. Chloe is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America.
Photo by Dana Damewood.
Please visit CHLOE at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST
TITLE: River Road
SERIES: Sentinels of New Orleans #2
AUTHOR: Suzanne Johnson
PUBLISHER: Tor
PUBLICATION DATE: Nov 13, 2012
ISBN-13: 9780765327802
PURCHASE BOOK:
Amazon | B & N | Book Depository
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
Hurricane Katrina is long gone, but the preternatural storm rages on in New Orleans. New species from the Beyond moved into Louisiana after the hurricane destroyed the borders between worlds, and it falls to wizard sentinel Drusilla Jaco and her partner, Alex Warin, to keep the preternaturals peaceful and the humans unaware. But a war is brewing between two clans of Cajun merpeople in Plaquemines Parish, and down in the swamp, DJ learns, there’s more stirring than angry mermen and the threat of a were-gator.
Wizards are dying, and something—or someone—from the Beyond is poisoning the waters of the mighty Mississippi, threatening the humans who live and work along the river. DJ and Alex must figure out what unearthly source is contaminating the water and who—or what—is killing the wizards. Is it a malcontented merman, the naughty nymph, or some other critter altogether? After all, DJ’s undead suitor, the pirate Jean Lafitte, knows his way around a body or two.
It’s anything but smooth sailing on the bayou as the Sentinels of New Orleans series continues.
**A review copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
She-Wolf Review
RIVER ROAD has to be one of the best books I read in 2012. I read it as 2012 was coming to a close and it ended the reading year with a bang for me. Picking up three years after the first book in the series, ROYAL STREET, Johnson continues to bring us a fantastic heroine charged with keeping the supernatural world in line while dealing with romantic confusion and an unwieldy magical staff.
RIVER ROAD, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…
1. DRUSILLA JACO, a.k.a. “DJ”
DJ continues to be one of my favorite UF heroines mainly because she’s one of the most relatable I’ve come across. DJ is strong, smart and independent; she’s self-deprecating, a bit geeky, and full of a social awkwardness that makes me smile. She’s not without her struggles. DJ doubts her abilities, her work, her romantic life – all issues we can relate to regardless of the fact she’s a wizard. Different job, same problems. In the first book, she was very green in terms of being a Sentinel, but now, three years later, she’s starting to come into her own. She still needs to look things up in her magical tomes and bemoans not knowing enough, but she’s developing a stronger sense of self as Sentinel which makes her a wonderful character to watch develop.
2. ROMANCE
I wasn’t too big of an Alex fan in ROYAL STREET. I preferred Jake’s easygoing nature and warmth. But Johnson really flipped the switch on me in RIVER ROAD. With three years gone by, Alex and DJ have developed a comfortable but layered friendship. Preserving a working relationship keeps the chemistry to a platonic distance. And that chemistry is undeniable. Alex admirably holds his obvious feelings for DJ at bay while his cousin, Jake, recommences his romantic overtures towards her. Awkward? You bet. By the end of the book, I was team Alex all the way and was practically yelling at him to make a move. What makes this romantic triangle work is its slow development. DJ has a lot to figure out and Johnson is giving her heroine the time and space to do just that. It’s going to make the resolution of this romantic conflict all the sweeter because of it. Oh, and let’s not forget the sexy dead pirate, Jean Lafitte, who also has his eyes set on DJ. With him in the mix, anything can happen.
3. THE MYSTERY
RIVER ROAD has a very well-drawn procedural feel to it as well. Someone is polluting the waters of the Mississippi and it’s up to DJ to figure out the culprit before two clans of mermen go to war and innocent lives are lost. DJ has her investigator hat on and works through theories and possible magical stopgaps as she slowly makes her way to the final solution. Walking with her through her investigative steps was fun and suspenseful; it also provided a great backdrop in which to add more to the overall word-building of the series through the introduction of mermen and nymphs, and all the baggage they bring to the politics and history of the supernatural world.
4. WORLD-BUILDING
This is still one of the major strengths of this series. Johnson really excels at creating a layered supernatural world full of magic, power, and politics. The idea of the historical undead – the continued existence of past historical figures whose immortality is fueled off the collective memory humanity still holds for them – is still one of the most original ideas I’ve seen in a UF. Johnson adds to this world by bringing the fae to the forefront towards the end of the book. This is obviously where the next in the series is heading as DJ’s staff and bloodline have brought her to the attention of the effectively frightening fae. I’m intrigued by where RIVER ROAD leaves us in terms of this storyline. I have a feeling DJ is going to be pushed beyond her boundaries in the next book.
5. NEW ORLEANS
In some books, the city in which the story takes place can often be just a backdrop and easily replaced by any other city in the world. Not so with the Sentinels series. New Orleans is a character in and of itself. While Katrina played a major role in the first book, its aftermath plays an equally important role in this book. The city is rebuilding, dealing with neighborhoods that haven’t been able to bounce back and people who’ve decided not to rebuild. Furthermore, the magical pollution of the Mississippi was also a timely reminder of troubles in the non-fictional Gulf region. And it’s this reminder that keeps the story of mermen, wizards, dead pirates, shapeshifters, and all the magical mayhem and excitement of DJ’s world, grounded and relevant to our own in a very thoughtful way.
I finished RIVER ROAD in the wee hours of the morning and my first thought was, “Damn, this was good.” Honestly, if you’re looking for a strong UF series with a very relatable and likeable heroine, a unique world and well-developed magic system, then you would do well to pick up RIVER ROAD and it’s predecessor, ROYAL STREET. Hands down, RIVER ROAD was one of my favorite books last year. Read it. Now.
My Soulmate. May not be perfect, but it’s perfect for me.
About the Author
Suzanne Johnson is the author of a new urban fantasy series beginning with ROYAL STREET and RIVER ROAD, both coming in 2012 from Tor Books, and ELYSIAN FIELDS, coming in 2013, also from Tor. A longtime New Orleans resident now living in Auburn, Alabama, Suzanne is a veteran journalist with more than fifty national awards in writing and editing nonfiction. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and a native of Winfield, Alabama.
During her daytime job, Suzanne is associate editor of Auburn Magazine, the quarterly magazine of the Auburn University Alumni Association. She has also worked at Tulane University in New Orleans, the University of San Diego, Rice University in Houston, and at the University of Illinois. Awards include: the Robert S. Sibley Award for the best university magazine in the U.S. and Canada, for the Rice University Sallyport; feature writing awards in 2009 and 2010 from Writer’s Digest magazine; and more than 50 awards in writing and editing from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.
Suzanne is an active member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and is a member of the Georgia, Southern Magic, and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapters of RWA.
Please visit SUZANNE at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | BLOG | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK
I’m excited to participate in today’s blurb blitz of Sealed with a Curse by Cecy Robson. This is the first book in Robson’s new series, The Weird Girls. I reviewed the prequel novella, The Weird Girls, last month and loved it. Robson created a new UF series that’s fun, action-packed, and romantic. Please stop by tomorrow for a my review of Sealed with a Curse (hint: I liked it. Very much.).
Enjoy the excerpt below and please don’t forget to enter the swag giveaway at the bottom of the post!
(Special thanks to the lovely ladies at Talk Supe for organizing this great blurb blitz day!)
SEALED WITH A CURSE by Cecy Robson
TITLE: Sealed with a Curse
SERIES: The Weird Girls #1
AUTHOR: Cecy Robson
PUBLISHER: Signet Eclipse
PUBLICATION DATE: December 31, 2012
ISBN: 0451416732
PURCHASE: Amazon | B & N | Book Depository
OFFICIAL BLURB:
Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like other 20-something girls—with one tiny exception: they’re products of a backfired curse that has given each of them unique powers that make them, well, weird…
The Wird sisters are content to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts, and witches of the Lake Tahoe region—until one of them blows up a vampire in self-defense. Everyone knows vampires aren’t aggressive, and killing one is punishable by death. But soon more bloodlust-fueled attacks occur, and the community wonders: are the vampires of Tahoe cursed with a plague?
Celia reluctantly agrees to help Misha, the handsome leader of an infected vampire family. But Aric, the head of the werewolf pack determined to destroy Misha’s family to keep the region safe, warns Celia to stay out of the fight. Caught between two hot alphas, Celia must find a way to please everyone, save everyone, and oh yeah, not lose her heart to the wrong guy—or die a miserable death. Because now that the evil behind the plague knows who Celia is, it’s coming for her and her sisters. This Wird girl has never had it so tough.
Excerpt from Sealed with a Curse
Chapter One
Sacramento, California
The courthouse doors crashed open as I led my three sisters into the large foyer. I didn’t mean to push so hard, but hell, I was mad and worried about being eaten. The cool spring breeze slapped at my back as I stepped inside, yet it did little to cool my temper or my nerves.
My nose scented the vampires before my eyes caught them emerging from the shadows. There were six of them, wearing dark suits, Ray-Bans, and obnoxious little grins. Two bolted the doors tight behind us, while the others frisked us for weapons.
I can’t believe we we’re in vampire court. So much for avoiding the perilous world of the supernatural.
Emme trembled beside me. She had every right to be scared. We were strong, but our combined abilities couldn’t trump a roomful of bloodsucking beasts. “Celia,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Maybe we shouldn’t have come.”
Like we had a choice. “Just stay close to me, Emme.” My muscles tensed as the vampire’s hands swept the length of my body and through my long curls. I didn’t like him touching me, and neither did my inner tigress. My fingers itched with the need to protrude my claws.
When he finally released me, I stepped closer to Emme while I scanned the foyer for a possible escape route. Next to me, the vampire searching Taran got a little daring with his pat-down. But he was messing with the wrong sister.
“If you touch my ass one more time, fang boy, I swear to God I’ll light you on fire.” The vampire quickly removed his hands when a spark of blue flame ignited from Taran’s fingertips.
Shayna, conversely, flashed a lively smile when the vampire searching her found her toothpicks. Her grin widened when he returned her seemingly harmless little sticks, unaware of how deadly they were in her hands. “Thanks, dude.” She shoved the box back into the pocket of her slacks.
“They’re clear.” The guard grinned at Emme and licked his lips. “This way.” He motioned her to follow. Emme cowered. Taran showed no fear and plowed ahead. She tossed her dark, wavy hair and strutted into the courtroom like the diva she was, wearing a tiny white minidress that contrasted with her deep olive skin. I didn’t fail to notice the guards’ gazes glued to Taran’s shapely figure. Nor did I miss when their incisors lengthened, ready to bite.
I urged Emme and Shayna forward. “Go. I’ll watch your backs.” I whipped around to snarl at the guards. The vampires’ smiles faltered when they saw my fangs protrude. Like most beings, they probably didn’t know what I was, but they seemed to recognize I was potentially lethal, despite my petite frame.
I followed my sisters into the large courtroom. The place reminded me of a picture I’d seen of the Salem witch trials. Rows of dark wood pews lined the center aisle, and wide rustic planks comprised the floor. Unlike the photo I recalled, every window was boarded shut, and paintings of vampires hung on every inch of available wall space. One particular image epitomized the vampire stereotype perfectly. It showed a male vampire entwined with two naked women on a bed of roses and jewels. The women appeared completely enamored of the vampire, even while blood dripped from their necks.
The vampire spectators scrutinized us as we approached along the center aisle. Many had accessorized their expensive attire with diamond jewelry and watches that probably cost more than my car. Their glares told me they didn’t appreciate my cotton T-shirt, peasant skirt, and flip-flops. I was twenty-five years old; it’s not like I didn’t know how to dress. But, hell, other fabrics and shoes were way more expensive to replace when I changed into my other form.
I spotted our accuser as we stalked our way to the front of the assembly. Even in a courtroom crammed with young and sexy vampires, Misha Aleksandr stood out. His tall, muscular frame filled his fitted suit, and his long blond hair brushed against his shoulders. Death, it seemed, looked damn good. Yet it wasn’t his height or his wealth or even his striking features that captivated me. He possessed a fierce presence that commanded the room. Misha Aleksandr was a force to be reckoned with, but, strangely enough, so was I.
Misha had “requested” our presence in Sacramento after charging us with the murder of one of his family members. We had two choices: appear in court or be hunted for the rest of our lives. The whole situation sucked. We’d stayed hidden from the supernatural world for so long. Now not only had we been forced into the limelight, but we also faced the possibility of dying some twisted, Rob Zombie–inspired death.
Of course, God forbid that would make Taran shut her trap. She leaned in close to me. “Celia, how about I gather some magic-borne sunlight and fry these assholes?” she whispered in Spanish.
A few of the vampires behind us muttered and hissed, causing uproar among the rest. If they didn’t like us before, they sure as hell hated us then.
Shayna laughed nervously, but maintained her perky demeanor. “I think some of them understand the lingo, dude.”
I recognized Taran’s desire to burn the vamps to blood and ash, but I didn’t agree with it. Conjuring such power would leave her drained and vulnerable, easy prey for the master vampires, who would be immune to her sunlight. Besides, we were already in trouble with one master for killing his keep. We didn’t need to be hunted by the entire leeching species.
The procession halted in a strangely wide-open area before a raised dais. There were no chairs or tables, nothing we could use as weapons against the judges or the angry mob amassed behind us.
My eyes focused on one of the boarded windows. The light honey-colored wood frame didn’t match the darker boards. I guessed the last defendant had tried to escape. Judging from the claw marks running from beneath the frame to where I stood, he, she, or it hadn’t made it.
I looked up from the deeply scratched floor to find Misha’s intense gaze on me. We locked eyes, predator to predator, neither of us the type to back down. You’re trying to intimidate the wrong gal, pretty boy. I don’t scare easily.
Shayna slapped her hand over her face and shook her head, her long black ponytail waving behind her. “For Pete’s sake, Celia, can’t you be a little friendlier?” She flashed Misha a grin that made her blue eyes sparkle. “How’s it going, dude?”
Shayna said “dude” a lot, ever since dating some idiot claiming to be a professional surfer. The term fit her sunny personality and eventually grew on us.
Misha didn’t appear taken by her charm. He eyed her as if she’d asked him to make her a garlic pizza in the shape of a cross. I laughed; I couldn’t help it. Leave it to Shayna to try to befriend the guy who’ll probably suck us dry by sundown.
At the sound of my chuckle, Misha regarded me slowly. His head tilted slightly as his full lips curved into a sensual smile. I would have preferred a vicious stare—I knew how to deal with those. For a moment, I thought he’d somehow made my clothes disappear and I was standing there like the bleeding hoochies in that awful painting.
The judges’ sudden arrival gave me an excuse to glance away. There were four, each wearing a formal robe of red velvet with an elaborate powdered wig. They were probably several centuries old, but like all vampires, they didn’t appear a day over thirty. Their splendor easily surpassed the beauty of any mere mortal. I guessed the whole “sucky, sucky, me love you all night” lifestyle paid off for them.
The judges regally assumed their places on the raised dais. Behind them hung a giant plasma screen, which appeared out of place in this century-old building. Did they plan to watch a movie while they decided how best to disembowel us?
A female judge motioned Misha forward with a Queen Elizabeth hand wave. A long, thick scar angled from the corner of her left jaw across her throat. Someone had tried to behead her. To scar a vampire like that, the culprit had likely used a gold blade reinforced with lethal magic. Apparently, even that blade hadn’t been enough. I gathered she commanded the fang-fest Parliament, since her marble nameplate read, Chief Justice Antoinette Malika. Judge Malika didn’t strike me as the warm and cuddly sort. Her lips pursed into a tight line and her elongating fangs locked over her lower lip. I only hoped she’d snacked before her arrival.
At a nod from Judge Malika, Misha began. “Members of the High Court, I thank you for your audience.” A Russian accent underscored his deep voice. “I hereby charge Celia, Taran, Shayna, and Emme Wird with the murder of my family member, David Geller.”
“Wird? More like Weird,” a vamp in the audience mumbled. The smaller vamp next to him adjusted his bow tie nervously when I snarled.
Oh, yeah, like we’ve never heard that before, jerk.
The sole male judge slapped a heavy leather-bound book on the long table and whipped out a feather quill. “Celia Wird. State your position.”
Position?
I exchanged glances with my sisters; they didn’t seem to know what Captain Pointy Teeth meant either. Taran shrugged. “Who gives a shit? Just say something.”
I waved a hand. “Um. Registered nurse?”
Judging by his “please don’t make me eat you before the proceedings” scowl, and the snickering behind us, I hadn’t provided him with the appropriate response.
He enunciated every word carefully and slowly so as to not further confuse my obviously feeble and inferior mind. “Position in the supernatural world.”
“We’ve tried to avoid your world.” I gave Taran the evil eye. “For the most part. But if you must know, I’m a tigress.”
“Weretigress,” he said as he wrote.
“I’m not a were,” I interjected defensively.
He huffed. “Can you change into a tigress or not?”
“Well, yes. But that doesn’t make me a were.”
The vamps behind us buzzed with feverish whispers while the judges’ eyes narrowed suspiciously. Not knowing what we were made them nervous. A nervous vamp was a dangerous vamp. And the room burst with them.
“What I mean is, unlike a were, I can change parts of my body without turning into my beast completely.” And unlike anything else on earth, I could also shift―disappear under and across solid ground and resurface unscathed. But they didn’t need to know that little tidbit. Nor did they need to know I couldn’t heal my injuries. If it weren’t for Emme’s unique ability to heal herself and others, my sisters and I would have died long ago.
“Fascinating,” he said in a way that clearly meant I wasn’t. The feather quill didn’t come with an eraser. And the judge obviously didn’t appreciate my making him mess up his book. He dipped his pen into his little inkwell and scribbled out what he’d just written before addressing Taran. “Taran Wird, position?”
“I can release magic into the forms of fire and lightning—”
“Very well, witch.” The vamp scrawled.
“I’m not a witch, asshole.”
The judge threw his plume on the table, agitated. Judge Malika fixed her frown on Taran. “What did you say?”
Nobody flashed a vixen grin better than Taran. “I said, ‘I’m not a witch. Ass. Hole.’”
Emme whimpered, ready to hurl from the stress. Shayna giggled and threw an arm around Taran. “She’s just kidding, dude!”
No. Taran didn’t kid. Hell, she didn’t even know any knock-knock jokes. She shrugged off Shayna, unwilling to back down. She wouldn’t listen to Shayna. But she would listen to me.
“Just answer the question, Taran.”
The muscles on Taran’s jaw tightened, but she did as I asked. “I make fire, light—”
“Fire-breather.” Captain Personality wrote quickly.
“I’m not a—”
He cut her off. “Shayna Wird?”
“Well, dude, I throw knives—”
“Knife thrower,” he said, ready to get this little meet-and-greet over and done with.
Shayna did throw knives. That was true. She could also transform pieces of wood into razor-sharp weapons and manipulate alloys. All she needed was metal somewhere on her body and a little focus. For her safety, though, “knife thrower” seemed less threatening.
“And you, Emme Wird?”
“Um. Ah. I can move things with my mind—”
“Gypsy,” the half-wit interpreted.
I supposed “telekinetic” was too big a word for this idiot. Then again, unlike typical telekinetics, Emme could do more than bend a few forks. I sighed. Tigress, fire-breather, knife thrower, and Gypsy. We sounded like the headliners for a freak show. All we needed was a bearded lady. I sighed. That’s what happens when you’re the bizarre products of a back-fired curse.
Misha glanced at us quickly before stepping forward once more. “I will present Mr. Hank Miller and Mr. Timothy Brown as witnesses—” Taran exhaled dramatically and twirled her hair like she was bored. Misha glared at her before finishing. “I do not doubt justice will be served.”
Judge Zhahara Nadim, who resembled more of an Egyptian queen than someone who should be stuffed into a powdered wig, surprised me by leering at Misha like she wanted his head for a lawn ornament. I didn’tknow what he’d done to piss her off; yet knowing we weren’t the only ones hated brought me a strange sense of comfort. She narrowed her eyes at Misha, like all predators do before they strike, and called forward someone named “Destiny.” I didn’t know Destiny, but I knew she was no vampire the moment she strutted onto the dais.
I tried to remain impassive. However, I really wanted to run away screaming. Short of sporting a few tails and some extra digits, Destiny was the freakiest thing I’d ever seen. Not only did she lack the allure all vampires possessed, but her fashion sense bordered on disastrous. She wore black patterned tights, white strappy sandals, and a hideous black-and-white polka-dot turtleneck. I guessed she sought to draw attention from her lime green zebra-print miniskirt. And, my God, her makeup was abominable. Black kohl outlined her bright fuchsia lips, and mint green shadow ringed her eyes.
“This is a perfect example of why I don’t wear makeup,” I told Taran.
Taran stepped forward with her hands on her hips. “How the hell is she a witness? I didn’t see her at the club that night! And Lord knows she would’ve stuck out.”
Emme trembled beside me. “Taran, please don’t get us killed!”
I gave my youngest sister’s hand a squeeze. “Steady, Emme.”
Judge Malika called Misha’s two witnesses forward. “Mr. Miller and Mr. Brown, which of you gentlemen would like to go first?”
Both “gentlemen” took one gander at Destiny and scrambled away from her. It was never a good sign when something scared a vampire. Hank, the bigger of the two vamps, shoved Tim forward.
“You may begin,” Judge Malika commanded. “Just concentrate on what you saw that night. Destiny?”
The four judges swiftly donned protective ear wear, like construction workers used, just as a guard flipped a switch next to the flat-screen. At first I thought the judges toyed with us. Even with heightened senses, how could they hear the testimony through those ridiculous ear guards? Before I could protest, Destiny enthusiastically approached Tim and grabbed his head. Tim’s immediate bloodcurdling screams caused the rest of us to cover our ears. Every hair on my body stood at attention. What freaked me out was he wasn’t the one on trial.
Emme’s fair freckled skin blanched so severely, I feared she’d pass out. Shayna stood frozen with her jaw open while Taran and I exchanged “oh, shit” glances. I was about to start the “let’s get the hell out of here” ball rolling when images from Tim’s mind appeared on the screen. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Complete with sound effects, we relived the night of David’s murder. Misha straightened when he saw David soar out of Taran’s window in flames, but otherwise he did not react. Nor did Misha blink when what remained of David burst into ashes on our lawn. Still, I sensed his fury. The image moved to a close-up of Hank’s shocked face and finished with the four of us scowling down at the blood and ash.
Destiny abruptly released the sobbing Tim, who collapsed on the floor. Mucus oozed from his nose and mouth. I didn’t even know vamps were capable of such body fluids.
At last, Taran finally seemed to understand the deep shittiness of our situation. “Son of a bitch,” she whispered.
Hank gawked at Tim before addressing the judges. “If it pleases the court, I swear on my honor I witnessed exactly what Tim Brown did about David Geller’s murder. My version would be of no further benefit.”
Malika shrugged indifferently. “Very well, you’re excused.” She turned toward us while Hank hurried back to his seat. “As you just saw, we have ways to expose the truth. Destiny is able to extract memories, but she cannot alter them. Likewise, during Destiny’s time with you, you will be unable to change what you saw. You’ll only review what has already come to pass.”
I frowned. “How do we know you’re telling us the truth?”
Malika peered down her nose at me. “What choice do you have? Now, which of you is first?”
***
SWAG GIVEAWAY!
About the Author
Cecy (pronounced Sessy) Robson is an author with Penguin’s SIGNET ECLIPSE. She attributes her passion for story-telling back to the rough New Jersey neighborhood she was raised in. As a child, she was rarely allowed to leave the safety of her house and passed her time fantasizing about flying, fairies, and things that go bump in the night. Her dad unwittingly encouraged Cecy’s creativity by kissing her goodnight wearing vampire fangs. Gifted and cursed with an overactive imagination, she began writing her Urban Fantasy Romance Series, Weird Girls, in May 2009. THE WEIRD GIRLS: A Novella, debuts December 4, 2012 followed by SEALED WITH A CURSE, December 31, 2012, and A CURSE EMBRACED, July 2, 2013.
Please visit CECY at her favorite spots:
WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS
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Nocturne Romance Reads and Fade into Fantasy
When presented with the idea of discussing the Alpha-Female in any genre of book, the first character that came to mind was Jane Yellowrock of Faith Hunter’s Skinwalker series. She is, hands down, one of the toughest heroines I’ve come across in urban fantasy. There is a line from the film Tombstone that reminds me of Jane. When asked why he would risk death to help a friend, Doc Holliday says:
Doc Holliday: Because Wyatt Earp is my friend.
Jack Johnson: Friend? Hell, I got lots of friends.
Doc Holliday: …I don’t.
Jane reminds me of Doc. She doesn’t have many friends, but those she does have, she’ll lay down her life, face anything, to help them. She’ll do the same to protect an innocent and to do her job. She is tough, with moments of vulnerability. She is a total kick-ass, alpha female heroine and I am, for lack of a more eloquent word, GEEKED to have Faith Hunter here on the blog to discuss Jane Yellowrock and the Alpha-Female.
Please welcome Faith Hunter!
SWR: Define Alpha-Female. In what ways, if any, is she different from the Alpha-Male?
The latest Jane Yellowrock book to be published in October 2012.
The alphas of any gender have to be able to handle physical crises and attack, deal with long term strategy and consequences, and be tough no matter what they are up against. If they grieve, hurt, or cry, they have to do it while alone, when no one can see. But the female alpha? She has to be able to do so much more than the alpha male—you know, twice the work to be considered half as good. (rolls eyes) The alpha female has to look good while doing all her jobs, be able to use her sex as one weapon in her arsenal, and defeat the opponents. She also has to wow the bad guys, the good guys, and the readers, and she has to do all this without coming across as a snooty bitch or an unfeeling bitch. She has to be warm, gentle, and kind as well as know how and when to kickass. That’s hard to do! Go Alpha females!
I think the difference between the male and female alpha goes back to that WOW factor. Females have to have a softer side, a sexy side, they have to be vulnerable on some level, even if the only person to see that side is the reader.
My favorite alpha male is Jack Reacher of the Lee Childe novels. Reacher is tough as nails, totally self-contained, and self-reliant, but he isn’t pretty, and he doesn’t have to be. Jane Yellowrock, while not a traditional beauty, is striking and all woman. She has cool clothes, even if they are limited in number, and kickass boots.
SWR: What was your inspiration in creating the character of Jane Yellowrock?
I think that broken women make the best characters and the strongest women, even in real life. Women who have survived things that would destroy others can and will stand up and fight; they don’t run away, because they know who they are and where their strength comes from. So the first criteria for Jane was that she be broken. The second criteria was that she not know how or when she was broken. I wanted a character who had lost part of her life, part of her past, and who would unfold before me, reveal herself to me, like a new friend who tells snippets of her life. The third criteria for Jane was her Cherokee nature. I had just discovered that I was about 20% black, and over 40% mixed American Indian—Cherokee and Choctaw. I was on a road to self-discovery and Jane became part of that!
SWR: Do you consider her an alpha-female, and, if so, in what ways is she an alpha?
Jane Yellowrock is gutsy, never runs away from a fight (even when she probably should), and defends the innocent. She is soft in her love of, and protective instincts toward, children. She can kick anyone’s butt. And she is tall, dark, and striking in appearance. Also, she is evolving and growing. I think all really good alphas have to move forward in their thinking and their lives or they just get boring.
SWR: Some people would argue that the alpha female has no instinct for nurturing. This is not true in Jane’s case since she shows real nurturing instincts towards Molly’s children. Do you think “nurture” and “alpha female” are mutually exclusive?
When I first was writing Jane, I knew something was wrong with her. She was not clicking with me and I didn’t know why she was wasn’t, so I asked Kim Harrison’s hubby, Guy, to read the first 100 pages. He didn’t want to tell me, but he found her too hard, too cold, too unfeeling. So I introduced the character Molly, who is antithetical to Jane in nearly every way. Molly is an earth witch with a husband, two kids, a house in the country with a huge garden, a half dozen sisters, and is Jane’s best friend. Molly bakes bread! Molly cooks! Molly nurtures! All the things Jane can’t or won’t do, or be. And Molly’s children are Jane’s godchildren, the one way that Jane has for being soft and gentle. Once I added a softer side to Jane, I liked her. A lot!
SWR: What role does sexuality play in the alpha-female persona of Jane Yellowrock?
Jane and Beast are on two different sides when it comes to a love life. Beast is the soul of a mountain lion that Jane drew inside her by error, in an accidental act of black magic, when Jane was five years old and fighting for her life. Beast wants strong alpha males as her mate and as Jane’s mate. The biggest, baddest of them all? Beast wants. And in multiples if possible. Beast is a cat. In many ways, she just wants to play.
But Jane was raised (in this current life) in a Christian Children’s home and she is, unconsciously, looking for the white picket fence, 2.5 kids, husband, dog, and cat—which, if she really looked at that versus her nature, would and should send her running to the hills. (grins) We all want things that are not in our natures, or that would not be good for us, and we have to learn and accept who we are and what is really good for us as we grow. Jane is learning that her not being human means that her dreams have to change. And that is hard. Jane is having to merge the needs and wants of her two, very different, personalities and a past that sets her apart form others.
SWR: How does Jane’s alpha nature impact her choice of mate/lover/partner? What does an alpha female need with regards to a romantic partner – a beta or another alpha?
Frankly, I don’t think Jane knows what she needs yet. I think she is secretly afraid of sharing her space with an alpha male, and does things that jinx any relationship that might have a chance of really going somewhere. I think her needs and wants will change as she continues to be part of the New Orleans’ vampire society, with all the benefits and horrors that might bring. In the end, I think she will take a man (being?) who can see her for what she really is, one who accepts her, is tender toward her, and treats her gently even when she may not deserve it. A male who will let her stand on her own two feet, fight her own demons, and yet support her when she needs it. Passion and friendship. Hard to find in the real world. Just as hard to find in Jane’s world.
SWR: Alpha Female has almost become synonymous with “bitch.” Why do you think 
that’s true? And do you think this is true for Jane and how she is perceived in her world?
I think we as writers have forgotten what I forgot early on, what Kim’s Guy told me. Every character has to have something soft and caring about them to make them interesting. They have to have something (s) to grow through, and other characters to love. We writers are creating characters who rely on snark and fists, and that is both bitchy and boring. I’ve put down several books lately where characters have no inner strength or tenderness, and are just mouth and weapons. It takes more.
In her own world, Jane hides who and what she is, and protects that broken, bleeding part of her soul. So yes, a lot of her men think she is a bitch a lot of the time, but she is learning to let some of her men into her life. I’m having fun with that!
SWR: Who are some of your favorite alpha-female characters?
To name just a very few:
Joanne Walker of the Walker Papers by CE Murphy.
Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan
Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson
All of Ilona Andrews’ characters (male and female)
Kalayna Prices’ Alex Craft (a newcomer to UF field and I adore her!)
SWR: Is there anything else you would like to add about Jane and the Alpha Female?
Thanks to all the alpha fans out there! You promote my books to your friends and on FB, Twitter, and other social media. That is what keeps writers in print. You make it happen. You have the power.
***
The Skinwalker series is one of my favorite all time UF series. If you have not read it, save yourself and purchase the books here. You won’t be disappointed.
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About the Author:
Faith Hunter writes dark urban fantasy: Skinwalker series, featuring Jane Yellowrock with Skinwalker, Blood Cross, and Mercy Blade, and Raven Cursed. Her Rogue Mage novels, a dark, urban fantasy series—Bloodring, Seraphs, and Host—feature Thorn St. Croix, a stone mage in a post-apocalyptic, alternate reality.
Great cover art by Tony Mauro. I love Arcadia's hair. It reminds me of Terri Nunn from Berlin.
TITLE: Summoning the Night
SERIES: Arcadia Bell Series, Book #2
AUTHOR: Jenn Bennett
PUBLISHER: Pocket Books
PUBLICATION DATE: April 24, 2012
ISBN-10: 1451620535
PURCHASE: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Arc received courtesy of author.
GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:
After narrowly escaping her fate as a sacrificial scapegoat, Arcadia Bell is back to normal. Or at least as ordinary as life can be for a renegade magician and owner of a tiki bar that caters to Earthbound demons. She’s gearing up for the busiest day of the year—Halloween—when a vengeful kidnapper paralyzes the community.
The influential head of the local Hellfire Club taps Cady to track down the fiendish bogeyman, and now that she’s dating red-hot Lon Butler, the Club’s wayward son, she can hardly say no. Cady and Lon untangle a gruesome thirty-year trail of clues that points to danger for the club members’ children. But locating the person behind the terror will require some metaphysical help from Cady’s loyal bar patrons as well as her potent new Moonchild powers—and she’d better figure it out before the final victim disappears and her own darkest secret becomes her biggest enemy.
SHE-WOLF REVIEW:
I adore Arcadia Bell. Full stop. With this book, author Jenn Bennett creates a wonderful follow-up to her debut novel, Kindling the Moon. This series is a unique, complex, and fun addition to the urban fantasy genre. And it is a definite auto-buy for me.
My favorite part of the Arcadia Bell series is the cast of main characters. Arcadia is smart, funny, and multilayered. On one hand she is a tough and independent woman, a powerful magician that is just starting to understand her newfound and profound powers. One the other hand, she is wounded and vulnerable, just coming off a dramatic and hurtful realization about her parents, and starting to find her footing in her newly adopted family of her boyfriend Lon Butler, and his son, Jupe. Lon is a forty-something single father, almost 20 years older than Arcadia, and with a complicated past. Jupe is biracial and motherless. He and Arcadia share a common bond in that their mothers weren’t, well, very motherly (understatement alert).
These are complicated characters that continue to develop in this second book. And their conflicts are real. Not manufactured. The May-September romance between Lon and Arcadia produces very real doubts for her about the future of their relationship. She also feels a certain amount of fear about her new family. Having come from one that was not close, she starts to feel the weight of responsibility that comes with being a part of Lon and Jupe’s lives. These are issues that are based in the real world and that are relatable. They are not supernatural problems, but problems that can be complicated by the supernatural. And I appreciate the primary focus on character development as we see Arcadia and friends grow, and their futures together become more complex.
And speaking of futures, I do hope Lon and Arcadia are in it for the long haul. With the introduction of a new character, Hajo, I feel a further complication surfacing. But Lon and Arcadia are officially my favorite UF couple. Their chemistry is palpable and sexy. And it makes me smile. Here is just one example of the wonderfully flirtatious banter between the two after Arcadia has found a picture of Lon when he was a teenager:
“There’s several photo albums’ worth of the same thing at home,” he said.
“You promise?”
He nodded and gave up the fight, returning his attention to the pile of papers in front of him. “I can’t believe Jupe hasn’t forced them on you already.”
“Any from the time you were in the seminary?” I asked.
“That sexy Jesus thing again?” he teased without looking up. “You’re a filthy girl, you know that?”
I think it’s this kind of humor that makes the Arcadia Bell world fun. There are also fantastic pop cultural references that make me laugh:
“It’s just that getting someone’s name tattooed on you is like a death sentence,” I finally said. “There’s a good chance you’re going to end up with a tattoo that you’ve got to get changed from Winona to Wino.”
And Jupe. I really think Bennett channeled her inner teenage boy to hit the right note with him. And he is fantastic. The relationship with his father is a unique one and I love moments like these when discussing a Halloween ride:
“Is it scary?” I asked. “I’m not a fan of people jumping out at me.”
“Nah, it’s kind of lame.” His eyes darted to the side.
“That’s not what you said three years ago,” Lon said.
“I was just a kid, and thanks for bringing that up, assbag.”
“Father Assbag,” Lon calmly corrected.
There is also a solid mystery here. Children of Hellfire Club members are being abducted which is similar to a series of abductions and murders that happened years earlier. Arcadia is called on to use her powerful skills to help track down the killer before more children lose their lives. While the killer definitely pinged my radar, the accomplices and the reason behind the kidnappings were a surprise.
Finally, Bennett sets up a good premise for the third book with the tempting Hajo, Arcadia’s past coming back to haunt her, the Hellfire Club, and the power of the Moonchild coming into full effect.
Summoning the Night gets four howls for the originality in its characters and their development, its humor, and its strong mystery.
And don’t forget to enter my giveaway for your chance to win a signed copy of either Kindling the Moon or Summoning the Night!
TITLE: Royal Street
SERIES: Sentinels of New Orleans, Book #1
AUTHOR: Suzanne Johnson
PUBLISHER: Tom Doherty & Associates/TOR
PUBLICATION DATE: April 10, 2012
ISBN-10: 0765327791
PURCHASE: Amazon | B & N | Book Depository
ARC received from publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
SYNOPSIS VIA GOODREADS:
As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ’s boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.
Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.
While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.
To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.
SHE-WOLF REVIEW:
Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson is a wonderful introduction to a new series. With some interesting world-building and a relatable protagonist, Johnson has succeeded in creating a new world and heroine that I look forward to continuing to explore.
The plot of Royal Street is fairly straightforward. Wizard Sentinels are the police of the supernatural world, keeping preternaturals in check and protecting the mundane world from threat. Drusilla Jane Jaco, or DJ, is a junior sentinel for NOLA who is itching for more responsibility and more interesting assignments. She works closely with Gerry St. Simon, the senior Sentinel and the man who has basically raised her like his own. Katrina hits and Gerry goes missing. Meanwhile, as a result of the hurricane, the borders between The Beyond, a parallel world where preternaturals live, and the mundane world, where we live, weaken. Supernatural beings begin crossing into the mundane world at will, making it very difficult for the Sentinels to police the borders. Strange symbols also begin appearing at murder sites throughout the city. DJ and her new partner, Alex Warin, are tasked with finding the killer, protecting the borders, and figuring out what happened to Gerry. It is precisely Gerry’s disappearance that is the central storyline of the book. And for me, it was the most interesting aspect of DJ’s overall mission. DJ is faced with reevaluating everything she thought she knew about her relationship with Gerry and his past, and Johnson effectively brings the reader on DJ’s journey, causing us to question what we think we know about him as well.
There was a lot of originality in the Royal Street world. As someone who tends to prefer vampires and werewolves for my paranormal fare, it was refreshing to read a UF novel with a wizard as the main protagonist. I liked the idea of wizards being this organized body of supernatural beings – almost like a professional organization where you get licensed and are grouped into specializations, or Congresses. DJ is part of the Green Congress – she specializes in potions and rituals. She is not this kick ass wizard able to do physical magic, but rather one who has to prepare potions for battles, which adds an element of uncertainty in her confrontations with physically or magically stronger beings. I also thought the separation between the Beyond and the Mundane added a lot of potential for exploration. In Johnson’s world, vampires, weres, fae, mermen, dwarves, goblins and the like live almost exclusively in the Beyond, separated from humans. With the breaches brought on by Katrina, I look forward to seeing what havoc is created by these “pretes” crossing over into the Mundane and learning about the mythologies that surround each group.
I also liked the concept of the “historical dead.” Johnson created something really original here, where key historical figures live an immortal life in the Beyond because their power is fueled by our memory. They fade into mortality as we, in the mundane world, begin to forget them. As a result, Johnson is able to do some fun things with historical characters, the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte for one.
“Keeping up with him would require running, and there is no dignity in running after any man for any reason, injured or not.”
DJ herself is smart, funny, and witty while also being socially awkward in the romance department. She is confident but with a dose of self-doubt that makes her relatable. When partnered with Alex Warin, the chemistry between the two is obvious and provides some entertaining exchanges.
“The fight wasn’t over,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’d have won it.”
Probably.
“Right,” he said. “And something just flew past your window. It was oinking.”
One minor quibble I do have is precisely Alex’s character. He was a little too distanced for me to really connect with and I felt myself being unsure as to whether or not I wanted the two in a romantic relationship. I understand the point of Alex is that he is hard to read, and maybe Johnson did too good of a job in keeping him that way. I’m interested in seeing what she will do in Royal Street’s follow-up, River Road, to develop the relationship between the two. This is especially true since DJ has several competitors for her affections – Jake Warin and Jean Lafitte – and I found myself leaning towards team Jake.
Finally, one of the greatest aspects of Royal Street is one of its main characters: New Orleans. Johnson loves this city and it comes through in the writing. She sets the story during the post-Katrina relief efforts, introducing each chapter with a quote from the Times Picayune newspaper.
“Saturday, September 17, 2005: Today in New Orleans, a traffic light worked. Someone watered flowers. And anyone with the means to get online could have heard Dr. Joy’s voice wafting in the dry wind, a sound of grace, comfort and familiarity here in the saddest and loneliest place in the world.”
Chris Rose, The Times-Picayune
I loved these quotes. It helped in setting the context and mood. It added to the claustrophobic feel of the novel. The events in this book really only take place in a couple of locations, mainly DJ’s house. And it fits. New Orleans was recovering from a disaster of epic proportions. It makes sense that there are not many places to go and it underlines the sense of urgency and desperation DJ felt to get out and do something to find her mentor and solve the murders taking place in the city she loves.
I give Royal Street a solid four howls. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a strong UF to sink their teeth into. It is a wonderful start to a new series and I am looking forward to seeing how Suzanne Johnson continues to develop the world of Drusilla Jaco, New Orleans Sentinel.
Happy Reading!
