reasonpassion's review against another edition
4.0
This story could have gone off the rails and it didn't. It could have delved into ridiculous romantic entanglements and paranormal sex. It could have simply gone darker and darker without any light in the character. Neither of these happened. Instead there is character growth, each and every thread of the world being carefully brought together and not left hanging, with good dialogue and snark. Keep it coming.
hannas_heas47's review against another edition
5.0
Well this Jane Yellowrock novel fails to disappoint. The story starts with missing people, and all of the gang makes an appearance. Leo, Rick, Molly, and the kits. I really enjoy this series and the unique way the author twists it's plot. The romance though is a bit off because there is barely any and that's the only thing I hate about this book. Thanks netgalley for a read in exchange for a review.
pjonsson's review against another edition
4.0
Black Arts is another enjoyable book in the Jane Yellowrock series. Jane herself is very much my style of character now when she has settled in her role as a rather bad-ass chick and, especially, that her “secret” of being a Skinwalker is out so that she is not tip-toeing around her friends as well as enemies any more trying to hide that she can do some serious ass-kicking.
Speaking of ass-kicking, in this book she is indeed showing off some good stuff in that area. Something that, to my great delight, Leo is given a first-hand demonstration of. I really liked that episode in the book.
As the blurb states her best friend, Molly, disappears and it is up to Jane to find her. Well, best friend and best friend… Their relationship is a tad complicated but if you have followed the series you already knew that.
To complicate things Jane is tasked with finding a couple of missing “fangheads” at the same time and of course the two investigations turns out to be quite related in the end. As you probably can deduce from the title magic plays a prominent role in the story. It is the usual rollercoaster ride where Jane has to divide her time between the investigations, vampire politics, her social relations and some good old fashion ass-kicking.
Jane in particular but also the other characters, for instance Molly and Evan, gets a decent amount of character development in this instalment. The characters add a lot to the enjoyment of the book. Apart from Jane herself of course I do quite like Eli and the “kid”.
As usual the book works itself towards the obligatory showdown against the bad guys. There are a few, equally obligatory I guess, open threads left in the wrap-up in the last few pages but as a whole the book is a finished episode in the overall story arc.
I quite enjoyed it and the next instalment in the series is already downloaded to my tablet.
Speaking of ass-kicking, in this book she is indeed showing off some good stuff in that area. Something that, to my great delight, Leo is given a first-hand demonstration of. I really liked that episode in the book.
As the blurb states her best friend, Molly, disappears and it is up to Jane to find her. Well, best friend and best friend… Their relationship is a tad complicated but if you have followed the series you already knew that.
To complicate things Jane is tasked with finding a couple of missing “fangheads” at the same time and of course the two investigations turns out to be quite related in the end. As you probably can deduce from the title magic plays a prominent role in the story. It is the usual rollercoaster ride where Jane has to divide her time between the investigations, vampire politics, her social relations and some good old fashion ass-kicking.
Jane in particular but also the other characters, for instance Molly and Evan, gets a decent amount of character development in this instalment. The characters add a lot to the enjoyment of the book. Apart from Jane herself of course I do quite like Eli and the “kid”.
As usual the book works itself towards the obligatory showdown against the bad guys. There are a few, equally obligatory I guess, open threads left in the wrap-up in the last few pages but as a whole the book is a finished episode in the overall story arc.
I quite enjoyed it and the next instalment in the series is already downloaded to my tablet.
celtypengu's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
wargod's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.75
texaswolfman's review against another edition
5.0
This series has slowly become one of my favorites. No relenting on the action and several storylines tied up. Cannot wait for the next.
molly_roanoke's review against another edition
3.0
One of the better books in this series. My only complaint is that there's not enough Beast. Also, at one point Jane puts WHIPPED CREAM on/in her tea. Talk about FUBAR, people.
ac223's review against another edition
4.0
I started the Jane Yellowrock series four years ago, and I still look forward to reading these when the come out. There are very few series that I can stick with for long, because after a while most of them turn into filler, to make another buck. Downside Ghosts, Night Huntress, and Vampire academy are the only other series I can think of that I am still hanging on to.
Jane and her new partners, Eli & Kid are still working together to keep New Orleans safe. Molly hasn't forgiven her for taking Evangeline's life, even though she didn't have a choice. When two of Katie's working girls come up missing, and then Evan shows up irate, looking for his wife Molly, Jane gets sucked into leading another paranormal investigation.
***Spoilers***
Jack Shoffru, master vamp in Mexico, and old world pirate has entered the Louisiana territory seeking asylum (or so he says). He learned that Jane killed the Damours, and thought Molly had the blood diamond that was recovered from the black magic using family. When he learns that Shiloh, Molly's missing niece is in fact newly turned, and coming out of devoveo, he kidnaps her to draw Molly in. She heads to New Orleans to get Jane, and to try to fix things, but Reach (computer genius turned traitor) is working for Shoffru, and alerts him to her presence there. He kidnaps her before she can ever see Jane, and uses her magic for his own nefarious purposes. He keeps her blood drunk, and compliant. In the last battle Eli is badly injured, and almost dies. Leo beats Shoffru in a duel, killing him in the process, and Jane takes out his second. Bruiser is officially split from working for Leo, since his new Onario status prevents him from being bound. He is bunking at Janes house for a little while, with the Younger brothers, and Molly & her family. Ricky came back into Janes life, only for a moment before he ditched her for another werepanther from Africa. She is heartbroken, but determined never to allow him back in. The kitten Aggie One Feather gave Jane, turns out to be a familiar for Molly, helping her to keep her new bad magic at bay until she can figure out a long term plan. For now all is right, and Jane's adopted family is safe.
Jane and her new partners, Eli & Kid are still working together to keep New Orleans safe. Molly hasn't forgiven her for taking Evangeline's life, even though she didn't have a choice. When two of Katie's working girls come up missing, and then Evan shows up irate, looking for his wife Molly, Jane gets sucked into leading another paranormal investigation.
***Spoilers***
Jack Shoffru, master vamp in Mexico, and old world pirate has entered the Louisiana territory seeking asylum (or so he says). He learned that Jane killed the Damours, and thought Molly had the blood diamond that was recovered from the black magic using family. When he learns that Shiloh, Molly's missing niece is in fact newly turned, and coming out of devoveo, he kidnaps her to draw Molly in. She heads to New Orleans to get Jane, and to try to fix things, but Reach (computer genius turned traitor) is working for Shoffru, and alerts him to her presence there. He kidnaps her before she can ever see Jane, and uses her magic for his own nefarious purposes. He keeps her blood drunk, and compliant. In the last battle Eli is badly injured, and almost dies. Leo beats Shoffru in a duel, killing him in the process, and Jane takes out his second. Bruiser is officially split from working for Leo, since his new Onario status prevents him from being bound. He is bunking at Janes house for a little while, with the Younger brothers, and Molly & her family. Ricky came back into Janes life, only for a moment before he ditched her for another werepanther from Africa. She is heartbroken, but determined never to allow him back in. The kitten Aggie One Feather gave Jane, turns out to be a familiar for Molly, helping her to keep her new bad magic at bay until she can figure out a long term plan. For now all is right, and Jane's adopted family is safe.
wetdryvac's review against another edition
5.0
Now. Now we're getting somewhere.
Still down the guilt rabbit hole for the first six books, but now we have serious character growth, and that's bloody fab.
Still down the guilt rabbit hole for the first six books, but now we have serious character growth, and that's bloody fab.
katkinney's review against another edition
5.0
Jane hasn’t exactly been on Evan Trueblood’s Christmas card list lately. So when he shows up out of the blue, something must be wrong. Molly has gone missing, neither one of them can trace her, and there’s something fishy up with black magic, witches, and vampires. Because, of course.
As usual, the world-building and detective procedural aspect of Faith Hunter’s books is top notch. Loved the continuing development of things with Jane/Leo post-forced feeding. That story line has continued to evolve in interesting ways. Now Jane will have to use the information she gets from the Master of the City so that she and Evan can rescue Molly before it’s too late. This one was fantastic!
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Spoiler
When Jane discovers Molly may have been abducted by and is being fed from/controlled by a vampire there in New Orleans, she has to figure out who is holding her captive before it’s too late.Spoiler
And that scene with the fight between first Bruiser/Leo, then Jane/Leo and the reveals about Leo’s motivations for the last few books, and his new Primo? Plus we’ve got some development on the front of Jane’s love triangle front in the form of another werecat coming in the scene and parading in front of Rick LaFleur’s nose. Poor Jane. Looks like Bruiser may be the guy! And ooo… was not expecting the reveal about Reach! Faith Hunter, you master plotter, you. This series just gets better with every book.Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.