A review by amyiw
Blood in Her Veins: Nineteen Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter
5.0
4 1/2; I've finish all but 2 and going to call it for now finished. There were only a few in the 2 to 3 star range and most were 4 to 5 stars. I think I like the novellas better than the novels, at least the newer novellas. The first couple were so so but so short that I couldn't call them more than a short story, so can't have the same weight.
We Sa and the Lumber King 3 star
Very short showing Jane waking up to Beast. Beast POV
The Early Years 3 1/2 Jane POV
Pretty short also
Leaving the Foster home system. Going to where her memories take her and learning about herself.
Interesting.
Snafu 4 stars Jane POV. OK read this earlier, added it from review.
Quick first story on Jane and her first getting her first job in a bad part of town. This got me right back to remembering who Jane is and her dual personality. I really enjoyed it and will read a few more of the novellas before going to the next book in the series. I put it down a couple years back.
Cat Tats I'll come back to this as I hate Rick for Jane. I like Rick, I just hate his relationship with Jane. It never made sense to me after his change and before it, he was a cocky bastard. He is pretty good as Nell's boss in the Soulwood series.
Kits 4 1/2 stars
This is where Molly really becomes friends with Jane. Beast is very protective of Molly's kits.
Haints 5 stars
This was by far the best Jane story I've read and it is in Molly's POV. Still the story of the haunting, of trying to get paid, of Jane and Evan getting along to make it work, of how no one but Molly and her sisters like Evangeline, of bringing in the cop to help make it work, of her discovering more about Jane. I just cannot see how see ever took Evangeline's side later, argh! And Jane blaming herself. Still in this one they all are great.
Signatures of the Dead 4 star
Told in Molly's POV. Molly is hired by her police friend, Braxton, to "read" a crime scene to see if she could see what happened and where the criminals left to. She ends up working on it with Jane to find a vampire layer. Now it is time to take them down.
First Sighting 4 stars
Told in Bruiser's POV, it is a short on when Jane Yellowrock first confronts Leo and Bruiser. At first I thought it was a training exercise but it there first meeting.
Blood, Fangs and Going Furry 4 stars
Rick's POV of what happened when he couldn't shift, where he was taken, and how Jane becomes alpha of Kenabi. This was interesting since I'm reading the Soulwood stories. Still don't like Rick for Jane, never really did. It was a little deja vu so don't know if I have ever read it or just imagined what got Rick from point A the crappy first non-turn to being in the forest with Kenabi pretty much drunk.
Dance Master 5 stars
Bruiser's POV on Jane and how he feels about her. She comes to a scene to scope out and see what more information she can add. Afterwards George (Bruiser) puts on some music and we get to see their chemistry which is too far and between in this series IMHO. I always liked George but he is beholden to Leo I really hate him for Jane.
Cajun with Fangs 5 stars
This was a great short Yellowrock, solving a vampire/witch problem. The only real issue I had was that is was too coincidental that her bike breaks down right at that town, at that time, when Lucky was having this problem. Also Lucky is so not going to get the good sport award.
Golden Delicious 5 stars
I really liked this Rick story about his start in PsyLed (PISLED?). If you read Soulwood you might have forgiven Rick's idiocy in the Yellowrock series and since her isn't a romantic possibility with Nell, he is so much better for me. He is just a good investigator.
The Devil's Left Boot 5 stars
From [b:Kicking It|15980677|Kicking It (Alex Craft, #2.5; Chicagoland Vampires, #8.25)|Faith Hunter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1364324827s/15980677.jpg|21732927] review, didn't reread.
Faith Hunter from Yellowrock world- Devil's Left Boot 5
Twin sister witches are hired by their old high school bully to find her mother. This was a really good one though short (these are short). We get a little look into the twins and good magic vs blood magic. Then Jane has to show up when a vamp is involved. And there is a lot of boot craving. I liked that they took on the job even though they pretty much hated their H.S. rival. I'm about 3 books behind the 6.1 where this takes place so probably hit a big time spoiler.
Beneath a Bloody Moon 2 stars
She get hurt severely too many times in this one and it also irritated me. Along with the Rick being the love interest, just made it hard to like. Then the overall story was just not that great. Only the ending and the lone wolf was interesting. It was OK and just.
Black Water 4 stars
This novella picks up where [b:Beneath a Bloody Moon|20744988|Beneath a Bloody Moon (Jane Yellowrock #6.2)|Faith Hunter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391738605s/20744988.jpg|40075975] leaves off, with Jane going to see if perhaps the lone wolf is the cause of the deaths in the area where they took down the pack. She soon finds out it is the brother of the crazy female of the pack that they killed. This one was so much better for me. Jane isn't on the edge of death and Rick is only on the phone. The story line is much more cohesive and she is more in control. Much better read for me and I enjoyed it through.
Off the Grid 5 stars This is where we meet Nell
I loved this and meeting Nell. Jane really affected her life and where she was heading. It probably ended up for the better but at the time it was an invasion of privacy. Really good short saving several people not just the vampire.
Not All is As It Seems
Cat Fight
Bound No More 4 1/2
Angie is coming into her own and it is way too soon as she is still a temper tantrum child and the dangers of the power are great. Jane's place is being attacked by a light dragon and we are trying to figure out why. Angie "sees" this and warns Jane, so she is wrapped up in this also. This is partly about growing up and partly about what the future could hold. Really nice to see Eli good with kids and Jane learning more as she goes.
We Sa and the Lumber King 3 star
Very short showing Jane waking up to Beast. Beast POV
The Early Years 3 1/2 Jane POV
Pretty short also
Leaving the Foster home system. Going to where her memories take her and learning about herself.
Interesting.
Snafu 4 stars Jane POV. OK read this earlier, added it from review.
Quick first story on Jane and her first getting her first job in a bad part of town. This got me right back to remembering who Jane is and her dual personality. I really enjoyed it and will read a few more of the novellas before going to the next book in the series. I put it down a couple years back.
Cat Tats I'll come back to this as I hate Rick for Jane. I like Rick, I just hate his relationship with Jane. It never made sense to me after his change and before it, he was a cocky bastard. He is pretty good as Nell's boss in the Soulwood series.
Kits 4 1/2 stars
This is where Molly really becomes friends with Jane. Beast is very protective of Molly's kits.
Haints 5 stars
This was by far the best Jane story I've read and it is in Molly's POV. Still the story of the haunting, of trying to get paid, of Jane and Evan getting along to make it work, of how no one but Molly and her sisters like Evangeline, of bringing in the cop to help make it work, of her discovering more about Jane. I just cannot see how see ever took Evangeline's side later, argh! And Jane blaming herself. Still in this one they all are great.
Signatures of the Dead 4 star
Told in Molly's POV. Molly is hired by her police friend, Braxton, to "read" a crime scene to see if she could see what happened and where the criminals left to. She ends up working on it with Jane to find a vampire layer. Now it is time to take them down.
First Sighting 4 stars
Told in Bruiser's POV, it is a short on when Jane Yellowrock first confronts Leo and Bruiser. At first I thought it was a training exercise but it there first meeting.
Blood, Fangs and Going Furry 4 stars
Rick's POV of what happened when he couldn't shift, where he was taken, and how Jane becomes alpha of Kenabi. This was interesting since I'm reading the Soulwood stories. Still don't like Rick for Jane, never really did. It was a little deja vu so don't know if I have ever read it or just imagined what got Rick from point A the crappy first non-turn to being in the forest with Kenabi pretty much drunk.
Dance Master 5 stars
Bruiser's POV on Jane and how he feels about her. She comes to a scene to scope out and see what more information she can add. Afterwards George (Bruiser) puts on some music and we get to see their chemistry which is too far and between in this series IMHO. I always liked George but he is beholden to Leo I really hate him for Jane.
Cajun with Fangs 5 stars
This was a great short Yellowrock, solving a vampire/witch problem. The only real issue I had was that is was too coincidental that her bike breaks down right at that town, at that time, when Lucky was having this problem. Also Lucky is so not going to get the good sport award.
Golden Delicious 5 stars
I really liked this Rick story about his start in PsyLed (PISLED?). If you read Soulwood you might have forgiven Rick's idiocy in the Yellowrock series and since her isn't a romantic possibility with Nell, he is so much better for me. He is just a good investigator.
The Devil's Left Boot 5 stars
From [b:Kicking It|15980677|Kicking It (Alex Craft, #2.5; Chicagoland Vampires, #8.25)|Faith Hunter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1364324827s/15980677.jpg|21732927] review, didn't reread.
Faith Hunter from Yellowrock world- Devil's Left Boot 5
Twin sister witches are hired by their old high school bully to find her mother. This was a really good one though short (these are short). We get a little look into the twins and good magic vs blood magic. Then Jane has to show up when a vamp is involved. And there is a lot of boot craving. I liked that they took on the job even though they pretty much hated their H.S. rival. I'm about 3 books behind the 6.1 where this takes place so probably hit a big time spoiler.
Beneath a Bloody Moon 2 stars
She get hurt severely too many times in this one and it also irritated me. Along with the Rick being the love interest, just made it hard to like. Then the overall story was just not that great. Only the ending and the lone wolf was interesting. It was OK and just.
Black Water 4 stars
This novella picks up where [b:Beneath a Bloody Moon|20744988|Beneath a Bloody Moon (Jane Yellowrock #6.2)|Faith Hunter|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1391738605s/20744988.jpg|40075975] leaves off, with Jane going to see if perhaps the lone wolf is the cause of the deaths in the area where they took down the pack. She soon finds out it is the brother of the crazy female of the pack that they killed. This one was so much better for me. Jane isn't on the edge of death and Rick is only on the phone. The story line is much more cohesive and she is more in control. Much better read for me and I enjoyed it through.
Off the Grid 5 stars This is where we meet Nell
I loved this and meeting Nell. Jane really affected her life and where she was heading. It probably ended up for the better but at the time it was an invasion of privacy. Really good short saving several people not just the vampire.
Not All is As It Seems
Cat Fight
Bound No More 4 1/2
Angie is coming into her own and it is way too soon as she is still a temper tantrum child and the dangers of the power are great. Jane's place is being attacked by a light dragon and we are trying to figure out why. Angie "sees" this and warns Jane, so she is wrapped up in this also. This is partly about growing up and partly about what the future could hold. Really nice to see Eli good with kids and Jane learning more as she goes.