If you’re looking for good Urban Fantasy reading you can’t go wrong with Jane Yellowrock! Faith Hunter has created a series with the perfect blend of fast paced action, paranormal characters and a smidge of romance. The thirteenth book in the series, Shattered Bonds, finds Jane seriously injured and dying from an incurable magical cancer. Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they watch Jane fight the most terrifying bad guy in the series so far. So much story in one novel! Mind blowing!

What I liked:

What’s not to like with a new Jane Yellowrock book? This is a series that really solidifies for me why I like Urban Fantasy. Sure, I love a good romance. But, I also find that I don’t need that strong romantic undertone to make a book a good read for me. I love action and suspense. A good book with a lot of that often hits the spot for me. Battles and strong characters that must make hard choices just feels good to read about. Let’s face it! We all know I like paranormal characters from ghosts, to witches, vampires, to shifters. Urban Fantasy has all of this and the Jane Yellowrock series hits all the right buttons.

This is book thirteen. Yep, another long running series. Has it gotten boring? Repetitive? Does it just need to end vbefore it’s ruined? No! No! And absolutely not... ever! This may be book thirteen but it proves that there is a lot more story to tell. Old battles. New enemies. Dark undertones but moments of joy. The future for Jane is definitely still evolving. Shattered Bonds is about looking death in the eye and basically saying give it to me and I’ll show you what I got. It’s intense. Its emotional and it will leave your mouth watering for more.

One of the things I really enjoyed in this addition to the series was the interaction between Jane and her shifter alter ego, Beast. If you are new to the series you may not know that Jane is staying in her beastly form more than ever in this book. She is dangerously ill and Beast is not. When she is in that form she is free from pain and better able to sustain under the pressures of magical cancer. Beast is often my favorite character in the Jane Yellowrock books and in this one we get more Beast than ever. It’s wonderful to see the parts of Beast we hadn’t thought about before. Is Beast happy? Is she lonely? Does she have needs of her own that may be being ignored in the face of Janes greater work among the supernatural characters in her world? I loved finding out more about her.

We’ve seen some pretty ugly, mean, down right nasty villains in this series but this one is honestly the worst of the worst. He’s the baddest of the bad. Truly horrific. The second son of darkness is on a rampage after Jane defeated his brother. He’s bent of torturing Jane and one way to do that is to attack her people. Edmund is in the crosshairs of a maniac who uses every torture you can think of. I like bad guys who have roots in reality. This guy reminds me of a real psychopath with no conscience and no remorse. He’s all vengeance and wrath. Terrifying but delicious to read about!

All of our favorites are back in this one, though I actually did miss Leo. Jane’s friends really shine in this novel. Not only do they exhaust every possibility to help Jane find a cure but they get to be the bad asses in this one. Jane’s normally the one that fields most of the trouble in this series. And that’s not say she doesn’t see her fair share in this one, but let’s face it she’s sick and it was nice to see how Bruiser and the rest of the gang pulled the slack.

What I didn’t:

Well this sometimes happens in the course of writing reviews. I just don’t have anything bad or critical or even slightly negative to say about this one. It was just that good!

Bottom Line:

If you are a long time reader of this series this book is spellbinding! It was totally unexpected. It was highly unpredictable. Not sure how it could have been any better. If you haven’t read Jane Yellowrock... what in the world are you waiting for?

t’s time!

The thirteenth installment in the Jane Yellowrock series is here!

As you all know, Shattered Bonds is definitely a novel you need to read especially after the events in Dark Queen. This novel picks off where Dark Queen ended, Jane has resigned being the Dark Queen and Emperor of the Eurovamps. She has no interest in territories, armies, or anything related. Jane has bigger stuff to worry about like her possibly dying of a magically induced cancer that is affecting her body and a cure is not possible. Now Jane and her crew are living in the Appalachian Mountains while she tries to find a cure. Sadly, despite resigning her titles and hiding out in the mountains, there are individuals who want her death now instead of waiting for her illness to kill her. So not only Jane has new enemies to worry about but she has to deal wit them before she runs out of time.

Overall, Shattered Bonds was a high speed adventure that will surprise fans alot. From the start to finish, everything was nonstop. Not only because of the action scenes but because Jane was literally racing against the clock and the cancer in her body. Shattered Bonds really shows us what a heroine Jane is because it’s not every day we have one who will fight bad guys with her dying body. So kudos to Faith Hunter for giving us such an emotional roller-coaster ride with this novel. Now I look forward what she has in store for Jane after the events in this novel. It’s definitely something to look forward to and I’m sure it’ll be another brilliant read like always!

*I received Shattered Bonds from Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley in return for an honest review.*

Jane’s journey has been a long one, she and the Yellowrock Clan have been through some very dangerous and trying times. Shattered bonds started off a bit dark, in that Jane is not well, she is a little defeated and not even close to being into true fighting form. It seems I’d forgotten a lot of the details from the prior book(s) but Faith Hunter did a great job of peppering in the details I needed to be up to speed.

After becoming the Dark Queen in the prior book Jane pretty much gave up all of her claims to lands and titles to go hide outside of Ashville and die. She tried to slink away alone so the people she loves don’t have he watch her go through this (silly Jane) but they found her and are trying to figure out how to save her. Jane has been spending a lot of time as Beast, since the magical cancer is only affecting her human form. It seems like Jane has kinda given up and is just waiting to die, that is until Edmund being kindnapped by the Son of Shadows, calls on her purpose to save her friend and protect the rest of her people.

Shattered Bonds is not only about the bonds that Jane has with her people but also the bonds the Son of Darkness (SoD) has with his Brother the Son of Shadows (SoS) with the rest of his followers. Jane’s bonds are built with love and mutual respect for the most part, while the SoS’s are built with fear, pain and violence. It is interesting to see the contrast between the two.

Jane and Beast have some great moments together in Shattered bonds. Beast is a cat and has some secrets of her own that she is hiding from Jane but I think that we get to see the mutual respect between them grow all the more as they deal with the SoS, Jane’s magical cancer and coming to terms with being the Dark Queen. There are some moments with the Angel that make me wonder what Jane will be in the next books.

This was a heart wrenching and gripping book. Edmund is a character I care for a lot and to know the danger he is in and how it is not only affecting Jane but Angie, who made Edmund her Knight and shares a bond with him too. I loved seeing the Everharts, Eli, Alex and especially Bruiser surround Jane with there love in this difficult time. The kids Angie and EJ are especially cute and add some light to the dark of this.

Jane has never really wanted to be in charge and I think that Shattered Bonds did great at showing Jane just how much it costs when you abdicate responsibility. It cost her people a lot, especially when they were struggling with losing Leo already, her absence just made everything worse. I felt the worst for Bruiser who lost Leo, is trying to be patient and keep Jane alive but feels like he is losing her too and is struggling with where his new place is in the world. It was a little heart wrenching to see him put on the brave face when in truth he is a little lost.

I love where this ended. Let me rephrase that. I was ready for more, I wanted to see how everyone reacts to the new Jane and I was ready for her to really be the Dark Queen going forward. I was also ready to kick European vampire but, because there is more to be kicked to consolidate power and bring peace. But mostly I just wanted one more scene with Bruiser, I love that man and his loyalty and devotion to Jane. But alas, I will need to wait another year or so to get there, I will be ready.

In the latest installment of the Jane Yellowrock series, Jane is facing the fallout from the previous book politically and physically. Dealing with magic-induced cancer, Jane and her family (including her love, Bruiser) have retreated to the mountains near Asheville in the hopes of finding a cure. Word reaches them that the surviving Son of Darkness (the title for the original vampires) is heading to the US and has begun threatening her allies in New Orleans and in Europe. Jane and her chosen family must make a stand to protect themselves and the US from this ancient threat and prove that she truly is the Dark Queen. Another exciting, fast-paced adventure from Faith Hunter that is sure to please fans of this long-running series.

Thanks to NetGalley and to Ace for the ARC of this book!

Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter is a thrilling addition to the Jane Yellowrock series. In this story, Jane Yellowrock is in the Appalachian Mountains where she is dealing with her magically induced cancer. After lying low she discovers that all is not as it should be in the paranormal community. Jane needs to dig deep and fight her enemy. This urban fantasy is suitable for adult readers.

Faith Hunter does a wonderful job with this story. Jane is a worthy heroine. I love her interaction with Beast. Jane has a lot of things she needs to deal with in this novel. She is smart. She is impressive at problem-solving and strategy. Shattered Bonds is skillfully written and thought-provoking. I suggest reading the other books in the series prior to reading this novel. I recommend this series to people who enjoy urban fantasies. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader's copy of this book.

Another amazing addition to the world of Jane Yellowrock. Already done with this one and cannot wait for the next!!

★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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I'm going to have to spoil a little about Dark Queen, and a little bit of earlier books, too. Read at your own risk.
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It didn't take me too long after starting to read this thirteenth installment in the Jane Yellowrock series to start asking myself: How am I going to possibly write anything about this? I kept asking myself that right up until I finished it this afternoon. Now, an hour past my self-imposed deadline for finishing this post, I'm still no closer to coming up with an answer.

There is simply no substitute for reading Shattered Bonds—no summary, no recap, no review can adequately hint at what the reader will experience. That's almost always true of any book, but it's sometimes more true than usual.

Remember Joseph Santana—also known as Joses Bar-Judas, or Yosace Bar-Ioudas. One of Judas Iscariot's two sons, one of the original vampires? We never saw him at his full-strength, just weak, hungry, and chained up—that is, until he became Brute-chow. He was dangerous and frightening then. It turns out that Sabina was right when she said that Joses was the least-dangerous member of this family. What his brother, Shimon Bar-Judas, does to Jane's allies and friends before she's aware that he's a factor in her life is devastating. What he does once he's on her radar? Well, it'd take a novel to describe—and hey, that's what we have here.

Last we saw Jane, she'd basically given up between the grief after the Sangre Duello and cancer caused by using her timeshifting magic and headed off to die. Intervention by Eli, Alex, and Bruiser have brought her back from the edge, but they're only helping her manage the symptoms (and arguably not doing that much for them). But seeing what Shimon has done, is doing, and what it looks like he will do to her people galvanizes her into action. Sure, she might be dying, but she's not going to stop fighting—especially if it comes down to protecting those that are near and dear to her, or those that she owes something to.

It occurs to me as I wrote that last sentence—this might be the most I've ever admired Jane.

Not only is Jane newly-inspired to keep on living after dealing with Shimon, some of the things she does so she can be/appear strong enough to challenge him gets her thinking of new (and hopefully more effective) ways to fight her cancer. Jane learns new and more ways to use her magic all the time, which has put her in this situation. Now it's time to see if she can do something to get her out of it.

An unhinged, power-mad, brilliant and cruel predator on the one hand, and seemingly incurable cancer on the other. Yeah, Jane's got her work cut out for her.

I was musing on things somewhere around the 60% mark, and I started wondering about the title—yeah, sure there were a couple of things early on that you could apply the title to. But I didn't think Hunter was going to let us get away with anything so simple. So what could she be referring to? And then when I thought about who and what could get shattered? What ties, bonds, or connections could be irreparably damaged in the last 35-40% of the book?

Suddenly, I strongly considered following Joey Tribbiani's lead and storing this in my freezer. Unlike Joey's paperback, that would've ruined my Kindle, so I really had no choice but to keep reading. I started to compose a list of characters who I'd worried about surviving this novel (up to and including Jane)—and then I abandoned that. Instead, I composed a list of characters in this book (including some who don't see, just get a second-hand report about), and I came up with one name. Just one. That's a lot to worry about. I worried less about people making it through Dark Queen—which featured a series of literal duels with some of the most dangerous characters Hunter has created.

Spoiler: Rest easy, Alex Younger fans, nothing to worry about. If your favorite is anyone else? Sorry.

This is actually one of Hunter's richer titles—you can mine a lot from this one. I don't want to spend too much time on this point, because Eli does a more effective job than I will (so does Alex, come to think of it), but there's something striking about the idea that Jane has bonds to shatter. Back in Skinwalker when we met her, she was a lone wolf (sorry, Brute) type of figure—yeah, she liked/loved others (see: Molly) and enjoyed the company of people. But she didn't need anyone but our favorite witch. She only sought allies when the numbers against her were overwhelming, and even then, she didn't rely on them much for the important matters. She's still learning how to. Slowly but surely, Jane has been expanding her social, professional and familial circles—she cares for people, feels responsible for them, and is aided by them.

Ten books ago, there weren't bonds to be shattered. But now, there's a wide net of connections branching out from Jane. This makes her more vulnerable, but—when she remembers this—it's also a source of strength and security. This character development/growth is one of my favorites in ongoing series. Not just because I like seeing Jane grow, but primarily because Hunter's doing such a good job in depicting it.

I could do a few paragraphs on other bonds, too—think of imprisonment, slavery, history (cultural or personal). But you get the idea.

On a lighter note—only in the Carolinas do you get vamps talking this much about barbecue. It made me smile. Still does.

Last thought—Nell Ingram's dealing with a lot of changes already, but some of Shattered Bonds is going to spill over into her world and I'm eager to see how that works itself out.

I've apparently found some things to talk about—hopefully this whets your appetite enough to grab this (although, I can't imagine anyone reading this series who needs convincing). A fantastic entry in this fantastic series—action, danger, love, loss, highs, lows, barbecue, and the best hunter—Shattered Bonds has it all.


My thanks to Let's Talk! Promotions for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book via NetGalley) they provided.

SHATTERED BONDS had a whole different feel than previous books for a nice chunk of the book.

We are used to seeing Jane as the bad-ass hunter that saves the day. Well for a chunk of SHATTERED BONDS, Jane is shattered by the cancer that is taking over her body and killing her. It was a pretty somber experience while reading her struggles. She found a way to bring out her inner bad-ass when she needed it, but you were always brought back to the fact that Jane was dying. Having said that, I did find it a little weird that she could hardly move in her human body, but half beast body was perfectly fine. It was hard to go from dying Jane, to kick butt Jane in half beast form in a blink of the eye. That didn't totally work for me.

I absolutely loved how Jane's pack continued to surround her in her time of need. Even when the enemy was once again knocking down her door. The action and danger was a strong part of the storyline. The pace of the story is different from the beginning of the book to the end, but it all flowed together nicely.

SHATTERED BONDS ended on a pretty big bang that took care of a pretty big story arc. I'm not sure where Faith will bring the story and characters next, but I look forward to finding out.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Fan-freakin-tastic!!! I can't wait to see where Hunter takes us next but first...

This amazing addition to the Jane Yellowrock series brings Jane face to face with everything she was destined to be while she struggles to survive the havoc time walking has caused on her body.

Her friends come to rally around her but an ancient evil, the original most evil that started vampirism has left Europe to take on Jane and her friends.

What can I say, this was a single sitting read. From the moment I picked up a copy of Shattered Bonds I WAS HOOKED. Intense, fun, unexpectedly surprised and riveted are just a few words that come to mind to describe Shattered Bonds.

And, Oh MY, I can't wait to see where Faith Hunter takes us next.

I received this ARC paperback copy of Shattered Bonds from Berkley Publishing. This is my honest and voluntary review.

When we last saw Jane Yellowrock, I was kind of pissed at her. After defeating the European vampires and suffering significant losses, Jane abandons her found family and the vampires she’s supposed to protect so she can die alone in the mountains from magical cancer. But now Clan Yellowrock has regrouped, setting up shop in an Appalachian winery while they search for a cure for Jane.

But that search gets put on hold when Edmund, who’s watching over Jane’s new territory in Europe, goes missing along with some other members of her clan. Then Jane learns that the younger Son of Darkness, the brothers who created the vampire race – the older of whom Jane killed in Dark Queen, is coming for her. No matter how much Jane tries to get out of supernatural politics, the vampires keep pulling her back in.

Much of the action in Shattered Bonds is magical, taking place inside Jane’s head. This is the kind of thing that normally drives me crazy, but I’ve gotten used to Jane spending time in her Soul Home over the course of the series. I’ve also grown to love Beast and was struck by how much more sophisticated her voice has gotten. Jane and Beast are truly a team at this point and it’s fun to see them working together. But because Jane’s so introspective, I didn’t get to see as much of the supporting characters as I would have liked – Jane’s guys are really my favorite things about the series.

Shattered Bonds shows Jane in transition, though even at the end I’m not sure what she’s going to become. She’s building a new life in a new location and learning new things about her history and her role as the Dark Queen. She even has a new character to help her work through things and I’m curious about how that relationship will develop. Most of all though, I was happy to see the return of a certain old character who answered some lingering questions about Jane and Beast.

One thing Faith Hunter does well in this series is play the long game, bringing back elements from several books earlier to bite Jane in the ass. But at the end of Shattered Bonds, I don’t feel like there are many loose ends left. In fact, I can only think of one. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next for this much-changed Jane.

Shattered Bonds, by author Faith Hunter, is the Thirteenth installment in the authors Jane Yellowrock series. Jane is in a state of stasis as the story opens. She's abdicated all of her responsibilities of being the Dark Queen and Emperor of the Eurovamps. She's made no moves to take any territory or created her own army. She's told Edmund and Gregoire to take care of anything that might come up. After all, Jane's human body is withering away and dying of a magically induced cancer which seems to have no cure. The best she can do is remain in her beast form, or her half form which she easily can do.

Jane's closest, including Eli & Alex Younger, Bruiser, Brute & Pea the grindylow, are with at Yellowrock Clan Home as she struggles to find a cure. But, that doesn't stop a dangerous adversary of targeting her people. When Angie has a bad dream, followed shortly after Edmund's connection to Jane being broken, Jane presumes the worst and prepares for another battle. Jane soon learns that a bunch of people have gone missing, & that New Orleans is under siege. Jane invites Molly and her family to stay with her in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.

But, Jane's home is grounds for attacks by an powerful evil called Shimon Bar-Ioudas, Son of Darkness. Jane has a history with his family. A history that hasn't exactly been on the positive side for Shimon's family. Jane has faced dozens of villains in her time as a vampire hunter, Leo's enforcer, and the Sandre Duello fight which saw a distinct change in which characters survived, and which are thought to be dead. Shimon isn't afraid of anyone. He fully believes that he can force Jane and her friends to submit to his rule.

He is also kidnapping and torturing others who readers of this series will discover upon reading the book. Jane has an ally, of sorts, in Lincoln Shaddock and his clan. Lincoln is someone you should really pay attention to. Good thing too since there are other clans that have gone rogue, and clans that are believed to be true dead. Molly's sisters are also forced to flee after they are attacked, while Jane's supposed allies Gee Di Mercy is missing and Soul is dealing with an internal war among her kind. Has Jane finally met the one villain she can't defeat?

As a reader of this series, I am always glad to revisit Jane and her Scooby gang. I have been waiting for the author to figure out whether or not she will kill off Jane, or find a way to save her before it's too late. How can you fix things when Jane is forever bonded to Beast? Does she force Jane into a situation where she loses Beast forever? Does she force Jane into a situation where she ends up being Beast 24/7? I think readers will find the answer a pleasant surprise and I hope I didn't spoil anything by even mentioning the Jane dilemma. One thing is for sure, the next installment will be an interesting read.

Loved reading this book so much! After the ending of Dark Queen, well, I had an idea of what this book would be like, and I was pretty much totally off, and I loved it! Jane has been through a lot, and still has more time come, since there's 14 books contracted right now, yeah!

There was a bunch going on in this book, of course. There's the Son of Darkness causing all sorts of problems. Then there's her cancer, and that was tough to work around. And there's so many questions, and reveals, and information from previous books coming together, and it's just so great!

Even though she technically resigned, well, she still is the Dark Queen, with all the power and responsibilities that come with it. So it was so great to see that side of her, that makes the long term plans, that thinks and says things that are smart and authoritative.

And that ending, oh! We knew that there were many bad possible outcomes, and watching Jane navigate to try and not go down one of those paths was so great to read! She has a tough time, but that just makes for great read!

Such a great, fantastic book, and I can't wait to read more of this amazing world!

This review will contain minor spoilers from Dark Queen, the twelfth book of Faith Hunter's amazing Jane Yellowrock series. I will discuss Shattered Bonds as vaguely as I can, but I will reference one major event from the opening scene. If you want to start the book totally fresh but you're still curious if it's good or not...rest assured it is awesome.

Jane Yellowrock is not a series that remains stale. The characters mature and grow. The world shifts and changes. If Skinwalker (Book #1) is the "Sorcerer's Stone" of the series, Shattered Bonds (#13) is its Deathly Hollows.

The series focuses on the titular Jane Yellowrock, a shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire. The initial book shows Jane at her first job working for what she calls the "sane vamps," trying to take out a rogue. And while several books have Jane promising herself she's going to quit working for the vamps, she inevitably finds herself back in their employ—or at least on their side. At the time I came to the series, Cold Reign (#11) was the latest book, and Dark Queen (#12) came out while I was plowing through books one through eleven as fast as I could get my hands on them. Dark Queen centers on a massive series of duels between the vampire clans headed by Leo Pellissier of the Southern United States and the clans of European vampires, headed by Titus Flavius Vespasianus. It wasn't that Dark Queen felt incomplete. Not by a long shot. It was a powerful and ultimately satisfying ending. But once I began reading Shattered Bonds, I realized how much was left unsettled at the end of Dark Queen.

Aside from Jane's ultimate fate, there's the not-so-tiny matter of the European vampires who are decidedly not content to shrug their shoulders and say, "Oh, yeah, the non-vampire we never heard of before now who turned everything upside down. She's cool, and we have no issue with her whatsoever." In the first several books of the series, Jane was fond of throwing around phrases like, "Not my business" and "not my circus." Leo made all the big leadership decisions, and her job was mostly to keep him from getting stabbed in the back. Or the front. Lots of characters have wanted to stab Leo over this series. Now the dynamic between all the characters has massively shifted, and Jane finds herself in a leadership position regardless of whether she wants it or not. She tries to hand it off more than once, but everything ultimately comes back to her. Jane's got to reconcile what her responsibility is to the people and paranormal creatures she's come to consider her friends and family, even while she's sick and dying of magically-induced cancer. There is no quick and easy fix for Jane's illness, for various reasons that are gradually explored, and I could feel the frustration of her predicament along with her.

The tone of this book is decidedly darker than earlier ones in the series (see previous Harry Potter reference), but there's also a lot more (pardon the pun) at stake. Within the first scene, Jane is hit with a mental image of her primo Edmund being tortured, and she soon learns that pretty much anyone who has ever been her ally is now a potential target. At any given moment when Jane seems to be pulling herself up, she and her friends get hit hard. Again. It's action-filled, heart-wrenching, and the ending is among the best in the series so far—perhaps second only to the ending of Death's Rival (#5), which simply ends on Jane saying, "Well, crap."

For fans of the romance between Jane and George Dumas (aka "Bruiser"), there are some truly beautiful and heartfelt scenes in this book. Bruiser is also given a scene of introspection as he contemplates what exactly to do with his life after over a century of working for Leo, and what effect those years of servitude have had on him. If this series is new to you, I can't recommend picking it up enough. If you've read it up to this point, Shattered Bonds is a must-read.

4.5 Stars

After the epic and devastating battle in the last book, DARK QUEEN, between Leo and the Euro vamps where things did not go according to plan, Jane has retreated to the Appalachian Mountains brought low by grief and a magically induced disease. Her own trusty Clan Yellowrock army is with her including in Bruiser, her brothers of the heart, Eli and Alex plus others of her extended family who show up to help out when trouble once again stalks Jane. The most seriously evil younger Son of Darkness brings a new and deadly fight right to Jane’s front door. As usual, Jane is fighting battles on several fronts including the magic created illness that is sapping her strength and causing major depression for our warrior woman.

Once the enemy is identified, Jane ends up with a full house on her new property to help out including BFF Molly along with her extended witchy and human family. Someone dear to Jane has been taken and is being brutally tortured by the SOD #2 who wants to own Jane, her Dark Queen’s crown, and all the power that implies. To make matters worse, another enemy is attacking them so that adds to the chaos and stress. Jane is trying to get her sometimes magical allies including Gee and Soul to help out, but they are having their own issues. Ayatas shows up to annoy and pester Jane as only a brother can without necessarily being helpful though they have some interesting conversations. Jane spends a fair amount of time in half form as it helps her deal with her ever increasing weaknesses which also means Beast is at the forefront for much of the story. There is a hint given about the status of Leo, but I would say it is not definitive.

This book, Jane Yellowrock #13, has an amped up intensity which will leave readers thoroughly worked over emotionally. Jane gets little to no break from the extreme pressure of rescuing some of her people, dealing with illness, keeping tabs on what is going on back in NOLA at vamp HQ, and the major fight with the horrific evil that is the SOD. The pace of this story goes roller coaster ride fast moving from one battle to the next along with Clan Yellowrock family dynamics which will keep readers glued to the page wondering how it will all work out for Jane and company.

Shattered Bonds in the thirteenth novel in the Jane Yellowrock series by Faith Hunter, and in case you were curious, yes this series is still going strong. Fans have been especially anxious for this novel, thanks to the conclusion of Dark Queen. And with good reason.
Following the events in Dark Queen, Jane has been in desperate need of some time alone. Or at least, some time out in the wilds with her family. Thanks to them, she'll never be truly alone. But this is a world of magic and vampires, and thus there is no peace, not even for somebody as sick as Jane Yellowrock.
Jane thought that she had finally cleared up the trouble with the Son of Darkness, but she was wrong. Shattered Bonds reveals that there is a younger Son of Darkness, one who is potentially an even bigger threat. And he's probably not too pleased about what happened to his brother.
But can Jane juggle saving the day and saving herself? She's always put others above herself, but her illness has made that even more difficult than ever.
This novel is everything and more – living up to the promises made in Dark Queen, while also supplying fans with all of the answers we've been desperately seeking. So get ready for another emotional and dramatic ride.

“Thought of humans and vampires and witches. Want to hunt bison in Edmund car. Edmund is gone. Want to sit on Leo and rub jaw on Leo to scent mark. But Leo is gone. Want to curl around Angie Baby and Little Evan and new kit and keep kits safe. But kits are gone. Beast is hungry. Beast is sad.”

Warnings: This is the world of Jane Yellowrock we're talking about. More importantly, this is the younger Son of Darkness. That means there are going to be some graphic moments in this novel. Everything from blood draining to torture and graphic death. You know the type of vampire we're talking about here. Additionally, recall that last we saw, Jane was quite sick. There are detailed descriptions of her battles here.

Shattered Bonds was an emotional and brilliant follow up, proving that Faith Hunter truly knows how to tug at the heartstrings of her fans. And that she's not afraid to keep pushing her characters (and her fans, by proxy) through yet another encounter.
I'm honestly not entirely sure where to start. I think I loved everything about Shattered Bonds. I loved seeing a different side of Jane – a Jane who had to deal with a whole different sort of enemy. Herself. Or rather, her failing body. It was beautiful and depressing and absolutely brilliant. These moments truly rang a chord with me, as I'm sure they will with many other fans out there.
There were soaring highs and dramatic lows in this novel, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. A world full of magical creatures and beings should never create an easy journey, after all. But Jane has always found a way to persevere, and that is one of the many reasons why her fans love her.
There were moments I absolutely adored, many of them either involving the reactions of Jane's adoring friends and family, or thanks to the brilliant politics woven into this novel. You've got to admit, Faith Hunter has a way with both of these elements. Some of the politicking made me chuckle, this time around. And that's always appreciated, given some of the heavier themes covered.
As far as the antagonist is concerned? Man, did she made him threatening. I absolutely love that he was significantly different from his elder brother – yet carried a lot of the same tones and themes around him. He was still threatening, of course. But in his own way. I think he was the perfect follow up to the last few novels, but perhaps not for the reasons you might expect.
Shattered Bonds was yet another brilliant read. As per usual, my only regret with finishing this novel is that I have to wait for the next one to come out. But you know what? It was worth it. And at least in the meantime, I'll have time to reread the series again.

I love this series, read everyone of them and pretty sure every short story, novella plus the novels but recently the multitude of plots is mind blowing. In this one we still have Jane trying to get cured, trying to kill an unkillable bad guy, trying to keep a romance alive, trying to keep a multitude of PEOPLE alive, and can't figure out if this "Dark Queen" thing is going to be a good fit since she seems to be unable to shed the responsibility.

I can't really write a long winded review of this because of so many things that I might mention could be a spoiler for one of the multitude of subplots. She is building an actual "Clan Yellowrock" and surrounded by her friends and getting very little help from some of the people she thought she might count on it is a emotional mess but as with the last few books she spends a good deal of time naval gazing but at least this time I can see a purpose to most of it. Sooner or later I hope we get a clear picture of what that angel is doing, good, bad or indifferent since that one muddles my mind.

At the end of the day you are going to love this book but the question is weather or not you are going to enjoy the journey. I almost wanted to give it 4 Stars for a couple of small things but I realized they were small things (like a more detailed epilogue but realized that might be a bad thing) So 5 Stars it is and as always can't wait for the next one.

Buy this book now. Read it now! Shattered Bonds takes place a bit after the Dark Queen. For those who have not read the Dark Queen, read that book first. This is not a standalone book. Reading the series in the order it was written will give the best experience. Shattered Bonds is a story about finding all the broken pieces and somehow putting all back together. In the last book, Dark Queen, a pivotal event occurred which shattered this dedicated reader. My heart stopped as the unbelieve happened. Broken, I was not sure I could read the next book if some "magic doesn't happen".

For readers holding on to hope that Ms. Hunter pulls a "Chloe Neill", keep on hoping. I know I will. I loved this book because Beast is front and center. She is a character I love. She's straightforward and hides very little. The way Ms. Hunter creates Beast as a distinct individual yet so tightly entwined with Jane is fabulous. For me, it is like having a best friend who always has your back, always with you. That is how I view Beast in her relationship with Jane. Where can I find my Beast?

There are many different relationship bonds in this tale which have been shattered. All of them are tragic to me. For those who enjoy going through a cathartic journey, this book will capture your attention and keep you riveted through the end. And then hook you in some more and wonder when the next book in the series will be published. What I like about Jane's character is how she stays true to herself. She isn't superwoman. She isn't wonder woman. She possesses powers unlike most others yet she still makes mistakes. She still has weaknesses which are exploited. She isn't all knowing or all powerful. Her magic comes at a price. There is no magic wand to make everything better. This story shows the trials and tribulations she must get through to do the right thing. That is the heart of Jane. She always wants to do the right thing. She is uninterested in power unless it is used for her to protect the people she loves. Or protect the people who she and Beast consider hers.

In the beginning when readers first met Jane, it was an easy feat for her to protect her own. Jane's circle of trust basically contained her witchy best friend and her family. Now, as the Dark Queen, her circle expands past states and into multiple continents. And sometimes, when this happens, swift punishment and cruelty is needed. Whilst it would be great to be a benevolent queen, reality is that ruthlessness is what keeps the peace among the predators. This is completely against Jane's nature. Watching her struggle and grow into her Queenship is painful to watch. She makes so many mistakes that I wanted to slap her upside the head. The thing is, Jane realizes she made grave errors in judgement and now she's doing her best to fix them. Will it be a little too late? We shall see.

This tales is more than just tragedy, torture and tears. Beast's perspectives brings a dry sense of humour at all the right times. Jane's ability to laugh at herself even in the most dire of circumstances balances out the heavy scenes. There are a bit too few scenes between Jane and Bruiser. Most of it fades to black behind closed doors. And I'm okay with this because this series has always been more urban fantasy than paranormal romance.

There are so many scenes in this story I bookmarked as re-reads. Ms. Hunter weaves another fantastic tale of intrigue, power struggles and sacrifice for the greater good. Her world building continues as readers learn more about "dragons" and rifts. Characters continue to gain depth as they go through new experiences and grow. This book is a tale of recovery and setting us up for the next big showdown. There is no rest for the wicked. I highly recommend this urban fantasy for readers who enjoy the underdog fighting to save the world.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2019/10/15/shattered-bonds-by-faith-hunter/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
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<em>Holy crap!</em>  The depth and richness of <strong>Shattered Bonds</strong> is amazing.  I've long been a fan of the  <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/161451-jane-yellowrock" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Jane Yellowrock series.</strong></em></a>  I loved this and was totally engrossed even when exhausted. I highly recommend this book and the series, which does need to be read in order (like most urban fantasy). I had some feelings about not liking how out of control things felt and was as unhappy as Eli with Jane striking out on her own to handle some things. BUT with some thought, I know how realistic it is the way it all happened.

I may want everything to be planned and smart but that's not life, not magic. Plus that story would be a little too routine and boring.  Nothing here is boring - terrifying, horrifying and moving faster than a mind can grasp, but not boring.  So the characters have to be their imperfect, beloved selves, doing things which are not smart but must be done to save lives. Jane spends some time hibernating, taking a sort of time out from the world.  She takes herself out of the world to grieve and heal after the previous events.

But the world hasn't stopped, and a new threat comes to hurt everyone and take everything dear to Jane. She is forced to pull herself together and fight for her people. Jane / Beast must take control, and worry about their future afterward. I was a little sad at how some of those who should be her allies didn't trust her enough or help her. Jane, as always, risks everything to save those she loves, and even those who didn't help her.

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<h3>Excerpt:</h3>
<blockquote><span style="font-weight: 400;">Beast tightened crouch, pulling all body onto paws, shoulders high. Leaped. Shoved off with back legs. Stretched out front legs. Claws extending. Falling. Thick tail rotated for balance. Scent of buck rushed up. Heavy. Pungent.  </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Deer flinched. Hooves left ground. Buck leaped high. Away from other deer. Beast snarled. Not expecting jump. Whipped tail, swiveling body. Reaching. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Buck splashed into deep water. Beast missed. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Buck leaped again. Splashed hard. Hooves driving up far bank. White tail held high. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Beast fell. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Landed half in water. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Front paws missed rock just under surface. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Paws, legs, shoulders, head slapped into water. And under it. Nose flaps closed, but not before water went up nose.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Front feet hit bottom, back feet hit bank. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Wrenched body back. Rear paws and claws dug deep into half-frozen muddy bank. Body twisted. Out of water. Blew water out of nose in loud snort. Spat and shook. Loose coat slid around muscular body. Flinging water droplets into snow. Blowing. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Beast whirled, searching for two smaller deer. They had vanished. Beast snarled at world. Screamed. Big deer must have heard or smelled Beast.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">I hunger! Screamed again, sound echoing in hills. Chuffed in anger. Pounced up and down, paws sinking into half frozen mud.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Deer did not come back. Prey was smart.</span></blockquote>

Shattered Bonds by Faith Hunter is the 13th book in her fantastic Jane Yellowrock series. I could not wait to get my hands on this book, as the last book left us breathless and in a state of waiting impatiently for the next book. As I had noted in my review of Dark Queen, that was the best book in this series; being hard to equal that, Shattered Bonds was still an epic story. I love this series and Jane Yellowrock always rocks.

Shattered Bonds picks up a short time after Dark Queen left off. Jane is still sick, with a cancerous tumor that is killing her; she has pulled herself away from responsibilities of her being the Dark Queen but those that are part of her family, Eli, Alex, Brute and Bruiser have moved up to the mountains to be near her and help keep things regarding her responsibilities going. Jane spends a lot of time in her Beast form, which also helps alleviate the pain. But an ancient enemy rises to force Jane to resume her title of Dark Queen in order to save those she loves.

Her Primo, Edmund has been kidnapped by another evil powerful Son of Darkness (she killed the older and powerful brother in the previous book) and he is also kidnapping and torturing others. When she gathers her team to stand up to the villain, she manages to save Edmund, but that is only short lived. The Son of Darkness has abilities that even Jane can’t stop, and she needs help from the Everhardts (Molly, Evan, Angie and the coven of witches) to fight the enemy.

What follows is an exciting, intense, action-packed thriller from start to finish. Jane must rise above her disabling condition to use all of her powerful Skinwalker and Dark Queen abilities, to stand up and fight an unbeatable enemy. She and Beast will need to use everyone, including her team, angels, arcenniels, witches, vampires, and her past history to survive.

It is always great to spend time with Jane’s fantastic team, many of whom we have come to love. I love Eli, who is wonderful as Jane’s strong and loyal second; Alex, the techie, has matured and is also great; Bruiser, Jane’s love interest, whom I have come to love; Edmund, Jane’s Primo; Molly, her best friend, who is a powerful witch; Brute, the wolf who can’t shift; plus many more we continue to meet. Of course, I adore Beast, and especially now they are fully one; stronger, better, smarter, and unbeatable.

Shattered Bonds was another fantastic addition to the Jane Yellowrock series. I am excited and look forward to seeing where Faith Hunter will take us next. For those of you who have not read this series (which you need to start at the beginning), you are missing a great series, a super wonderful bad-ass heroine in Jane Yellowrock, and author who kills it (& us) every time.

In 2009, we were introduced to Jane Yellowrock. Jane was a mystery to us and to her herself. Over the last 10 years, Jane has learned a lot about herself and her missing past. She has grown to accept herself, her Beast and her circumstances. Jane Yellowrock is one of my favorite heroines because she has changed so much over the years. She is fully realized, impulsive, reactive, and cares deeply.

Shattered Bonds is the 13th book in the series. And it's still fresh and shows us Jane still has more growth to experience, in the midst of saving the world and all those close to her. Jane started off as a loner and has amassed quite a large chosen family over the years. And despite the fact that her human body is dying from a magical cancer, she continues to fight to save those she loves and do what she things is right.

This latest installment is set almost entirely at Jane's newest residence, a would-be inn located in the Appalachian Mountains. But we still have contact with her people in Europe and in New Orleans. Shattered Bonds is action packed going full-tilt before we even get 30% of the way in. And yet it still has time to hit those quiet moments between battles. It is another satisfying entry that moves us closer to some ultimate designs while still providing a satisfying win for Jane and her crew.

This installment also makes me want to go back and re-read the entire series to put together all the pieces, just as Jane is trying to do. She's done so much without realizing the implications, but as the pieces line up and the world around her changes, each move is that much more important.

I can't wait to see what happens next. Faith Hunter is always a must-read for me.