Audible Book Review: Cat o' Nine Tales by Faith Hunter

This is a great collection that gives the background of several of Jane's friends.
Cat o' Nine Tales
The Jane Yellowrock Stories
By: Faith Hunter
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Series: Jane Yellowrock
Length: 13 hrs and 28 mins
Release date: 12-10-13
Publisher: Audible Studios
Categories: Fantasy, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Urban
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
For the first time - in one Audible-exclusive collection - it's 13 stories of Jane Yellowrock, the shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire whose business card reads, "Have Stakes - Will Travel". Jane carries inside her the soul of her Beast, the mountain lion's soul which merged with hers when she accidently performed black magic as a child. Now, she and her Beast stalk the dark streets of New Orleans, bringing rogue vampires true death.
In Cat o' Nine Tales, you'll discover how Jane turned into a big cat for the first time; how she and Molly became friends; how Rick LaFleur got his tattoos. You'll go along on some of Jane's early vamp hunts. You'll even hear two short tales through Bruiser's eyes.
Once you experience these stories set in the fantastic world of this New York Times best-selling series, you'll surely agree with Kim Harrison that Jane Yellowrock is "smart, sexy and ruthless".
The stories included in Cat o' Nine Tales are:
"WeSa and the Lumber King"
"The Early Years"
"Cat Tats"
"Kits"
"Haints"
"Signatures of the Dead"
"First Sight"
"Blood, Fangs and Going Furry"
"Dance Master"
"Cajun With Fangs"
"Golden Delicious"
"Beneath a Bloody Moon"
"Black Water"
©2013 Faith Hunter (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Review:
I have read a lot of Jane Yellowrock’s so I was only familiar with a few of her friends and associates. I enjoy Jane’s character – a skilled vampire hunter for hire, who happens to be a shape-shifting skinwalker. This collection provides the history of Jane’s Beast, a mountain lion, and the reader gets to see several other of her transformations.

I also enjoyed learning how about Jane’s friends. Molly is a witch who helps Jane in several situations especially after Jane saved Molly’s daughter. Jane’s sometimes boyfriend, Rick LaFleur, a former detective, got his tattoo in a situation that almost cost him his life, and brought him back into Jane’s life. Then there is Bruiser, the head enforcer for the local Vampire leader, who is drawn to Jane’s mysterious personality and assured confidence.

Having enjoyed the action, characters, and mysteries of this collection, I know that I will continue reading (listening to) more in the series. I think a new reader should read at least one or two of the Jane Yellowrock stories before enjoying this collection.

Audio Notes: Khristine Hyam does a wonderful job with all of the characters. I even enjoyed the voice of the Beast. I find the audio enhances these stories for me.

Source: April 2021 Audible Plus Catalog free audio. This qualifies for 2023TBR, 2023Audiobook, and 2023Number goals.

Audible Book Review: Forget Nothing by Jason Anspach and Michelle C. Meyers

I liked this quick listen which was full of action.

Forget Nothing
By: Jason Anspach, Michelle C. Meyers
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Series: Galaxy's Edge Series, Book 0.6
Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
Release date: 06-04-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

About This Audible Original
She Chose the Hardest Way
The daughter of a Legion war hero, fighting was in Andien Broxin's blood. But the battles Republic marines face on strange and alien worlds are a far cry from the vaunted, brutal, no-holds-barred conflicts fought at the edge of the galaxy by the elite legionnaires.
Until a devastating war erupts right in the Republic’s stellar backyard.
Newly stationed on a mid-core planet being harassed by terrorist revolutionaries, Andien and her fellow "hullbusters" find themselves right in the middle of a desperate fight for survival. All their training, standards, discipline—all the hard paths—have led to this. If she and her fellow marines are to come out of this alive, Andien will have to find out who she truly is...and what she can become.
Best-selling military science fiction author Jason Anspach and USMC/US Army veteran Michelle C. Meyers explore the rigors of combat, survival, and the human will in this edge-of-your-seat account set in the Galaxy’s Edge universe.
©2020 Galaxy's Edge, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Andien grew up under a marine father who was an elite member of the Legion. Andien may have to push herself harder, but she can shoot better than most men and she can take most of them on for one-on-one combat. Always remembering her father's words: "Forget nothing", she has been advanced in rank on her own merit.

Andien and her troop are serving on a foreign planet where they are assigned to protect the locals and colonists from hostiles in the wild. Unfortunately, it that turns out the worst hostiles are a gathering of revolutionary, terrorist colonists. Her crew has to team up with the Legionnaires assigned to the planet. The Legion men have all the tech and enhancements but this group, not like others, is appreciative of Andien’s efforts.

When negotiations for Republic marines ends up agreeing to allow women to join the Legion, Andien’s name is submitted as a candidate. She is encouraged by others, but she has to decide if she is willing to work extra hard to go in the first class.

I did enjoy all of the action, strategy and tactics in this book. I like Andien and the supporting characters. Although it is set in a series, it is set in a different time and place and does not continue the characters from the other books. I enjoy this author and have more to listen to in the series. I recommend this shorter story to fans of space and high tech military action.

Audio Notes: I enjoyed the narration by Khristine Hvam. She provided distinct voices and good energy. I am glad I had this in audio.

Source: 6/20/2020 a free Audible title. This qualifies for 2022TBR and 2022Audiobook goals.

Audible Book Review: Junkyard Bargain by Faith Hunter

I like Shining Smith, her cats, and the action of this series.

Junkyard Bargain
By: Faith Hunter
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Series: Shining Smith, Book 2
Length: 5 hrs and 40 mins
Release date: 02-25-21
Publisher: Audible Originals
Categories: Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Sometimes before you can face your enemies—you need to confront yourself.
Time is running out for Shining Smith and her crew to gather the weapons they need to rescue one of their own. But will they even make it to the ultimate battle? First, they’ll need to hit the road to Charleston—a hell ride full of bandits, sex slavers, corrupt lawmen, and criminal bike gangs looking to move in on Shining’s territory.
Shining’s human allies will do anything to protect her—because they must. But will victory be worth it if she must compel more and more people to do her bidding? And will her feline warriors, the junkyard cats, remain loyal and risk their lives? Or are they just in it for the kibble?
Shining knows she’ll need to keep her friends close and her enemies closer. That is, if she’s able to tell which is which.
©2021 Faith Hunter (P)2021 Audible Originals, LLC

Review:
Shining Smith receives a package that reveals that a friend, Evelyn, has been taken prisoner by Clarrise Warhammer. Clarrise is a woman with nanobots like Shining but, unlike Shining, Clarrise has no reluctance from using her nanobots to enslave those she touches.

Shining and crew, Cupcake, Mateo, and a group of the junkyard cats, set out to retrieve special weapons needed to pursue a rescue attempt. They head to Charleston and soon run into an ambush by bandits. They discover sex slavers along the journey and Shining and Cupcake are determined to return to save the women…assuming they can get what they want and escape from the city.

Once they reach Charleston, Shining is surprised to find her short term love interest, Jagger, watching her. Their reunion quickly begins to spin out of control until others bring them back to their senses. Shining is not surprised to find that she is in danger from rival motorcycle gangs who don’t want anyone else taking resources from their territory. But she is surprised when it appears her ‘thralls’ seem to be thinking for themselves and not as much under her control as she thought. That has good and bad aspects.

This is the second book in the series, and it picks up where book one ended, and moves quickly forward. These are short books but packed with action and intriguing world building of nanobots and hive minds. I enjoy the action, the character interactions, and the addition of the cats, who aren’t always clear allies. I recommend this story and series to fans of futuristic fantasy. But do start with the first book.

Audio Notes: Khristine Hvam continues to do a great job with the narration. She presents the characters with distinct voices and wonderful energy. The narration enhances this story for me.

Source: March 2021 Audible Plus Catalog. This qualifies for 2022TBR, 2022Audiobook, and 2022Alphabet Series goals.

Junkyard Cats Shining Smith, Book 1 - My Rating 4.25.

Audible Book Review: You're Going to Mars by Rob Dircks

This was a fun story, a mix of Willy Wonka, Survivor and America Ninja Warrior competition to get to Mars.

You're Going to Mars!
By: Rob Dircks
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 11 hrs and 12 mins
Release date: 11-13-18
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genre: Adventure, Humor, Sci Fi, Space Opera
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.5; Narration 4.5.

Publisher's Summary
Living and slaving in Fill City One, you get used to the smell. We call it the Everpresent Stink. But every once inI a while, on a spring day with a breeze, it clears away enough to remind us that there is something more out there. Most Fillers' wildest dreams would be just to get past the walls and live in the mainland. But my dream? It’s a little bigger.
I’m going to Mars.
Well, I’m only going to Mars if I can find a winning Red Scarab to get on Zach Larson’s crazy reality show. And then I’ll have to figure out how to escape this hellhole. And then compete on live television for three months. And somehow win a spot on the crew of the very first manned mission to Mars. Oh, and one more slight obstacle? There might be a reason that by 2085 a human still hasn’t set foot on the Red Planet. A dangerous reason. A reason worth killing for.
In You’re Going to Mars! Rob Dircks, Audible best-selling author of Where the Hell Is Tesla?, creates a near-future filled with family (the good kind and the insufferable kind), pop divas, mobsters, and the world’s first trillionaire - and sends them all on a science fiction odyssey/comedy/love story/adventure that will change their world forever.
©2018 Rob Dircks (P)2018 Audible Originals, LLC.

Review:
Paper (yes, that’s her name with triplet sisters, Rock and Scissors – there’s a story there of course), likes to play at making rockets and has a dream to go to Mars. This is most unlikely as she is a filler in a family stuck for generations in the Everpresent Stink, formerly known as Staten Island, one of the walled-in landfills operated by a private waste management company run by a mob family, the Gitanos.

The world’s richest man, Zach Larsen, is running a “Wonka chocolate" like contest so a limited number of people who secure a winning red scarab get the chance to travel on Zach’s funded Mars mission. Paper obtains a winning scarab with the help of her loving family. Next, with help from her downtrodden friends she escapes the Island. Then with the aid of an unexpected source and an alias name, Robin, she makes her way to the contest site with minutes to spare. The very last contestant to arrive is a singing diva, Aurora, who doesn’t like coming in second place.

The contestants are put through a “boot-camp” training reminiscent of a televised survivor version of Ninja Warrior. Some contestants voluntarily leave and others are eliminated from show to show. Robin/Paper isn’t expected to be a top contender, but she finds creative ways to stay in the contest and win the favor of the viewers. Several of the contestants have the ability to pull “MacGyver” fixes to solve problems. Events are moving along when suddenly there is sabotage. The remaining contestants, including Paper, manage to survive but now it is clear that someone is hiding something important and wants to stop the mission to Mars.

When Paper’s real name and background are exposed, she is forced to leave with the Gitano ‘enforcer’. Once again events take a reversal, and she ends up back in the team as the mission rushes forward. But the obstacles aren’t over as even the government steps in to try to stop the mission. Can Zach, Paper and her fellow contestants get to Mars and if they do will they be able to return without being blown out of space?

This is the second book I have read by Rob Dircks (The Wrong Unit) and my assessment: what fun! The characters are warm and likable, and it is easy to cheer on Paper, her family, and her friends, old and new. The characters have different levels of snark, sass and bravery. The nods to known books, tv shows and movies (include Wall-E and The Martian too) adds interest. Yes, there are cheesy moments but that too adds to the fun entertainment. I recommend this to sci fi fans who are looking for a humor break.

Audio Notes: Khristine Hvam does a wonderful narration on this story. She fully portrays the personality of Paper and provides appropriate voices for the other characters. And she does a fair job on the singing snippets too! I totally enjoyed the listening experience.

Source: 7/21/2019 Audible Daily Deal $3.95. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook and 2021Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Junkyard Cats by Faith Hunter

I enjoyed the unique characters, world building and action in this post-apocalyptic fantasy.

Junkyard Cats
By: Faith Hunter
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
Release date: 01-02-20
Publisher: Audible Originals
Genres: Fantasy, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

About This Audible Original
From the author of the best-selling Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series comes a tough new heroine who is far more than she seems.
After the Final War, after the appearance of the Bug aliens and their enforced peace, Shining Smith is still alive, still doing business from the old scrapyard bequeathed to her by her father. But Shining is now something more than human. And the scrapyard is no longer just a scrapyard, but a place full of secrets that she has guarded for years.
This life she has built, while empty, is predictable and safe. Until the only friend left from her previous life shows up, dead, in the back of a scrapped Tesla warplane. Clutched in her cold fingers is a note to Shining—warning her of a coming attack.
With dread, Shining realizes: someone knows who she is. Someone knows what she is guarding. Will she be able to protect the scrapyard? Will she even survive? Or will Shining have to destroy everything she loves to keep her secrets out of the wrong hands?
©2020 Faith Hunter (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC

Review:
Shining Smith is the proprietor of an old scrapyard in the deserts of West Virginia, dealing in scraps, old, new and alien tech, and secrets. Shining was raised by her father who was deep in the OMW, the Outlaw Militia Warriors. When she was a young girl, she saved her father’s community from the aliens. Before the Bug aliens arrived on earth Shining was human, but then she became infected… survived and mutated. She has to stay away from the government authorities and the OMW who would take her resources, including parts of a downed spaceship, and use her or kill her.

Shining has a few companions in her limited territory. Mateo is a damaged war veteran she rescued from slave labor and helped to rebuild. Now he is a bio-metallic Warbot and an invaluable ally. Then there are the cats who have an interesting group dynamic. She helps give them protein and they help keep her alive with an organized spy network and group hunting the alien puffers, nano tech weapons, when they show up.

When shining investigates a newly acquired piece of scrap, a Tesla warplane, she discovers trouble. First, she finds angry, swarming ants. Not just any ants but the murderous results of an environmental experiment gone wrong. These need to be killed before they try to kill Shining. Second, she realizes that there is a dead body in the vehicle. It is one of her few human friends and he has a note warning her that her location has been discovered and ‘they’re coming”.

Soon a single outsider is coming in. She doesn’t know if he is government or OMW but either way he isn’t her friend. While she is still trying to determine why he is there, a multi prong attack is detected. Surprisingly, the lone enforcer visitor ends up fighting with Shining. The cats and AI are welcome comrades who help turn the tide in the fight with the enemy.

It was clear from the opening that Shining was a special woman with unique secrets. Her history, physical secrets and surrounding secrets are revealed as the plot moves forward. I really enjoyed the interaction between Shining, Mateo, the super cats and the AI. The puffer and other weapons are very creepy and I was glad to see the combined efforts to fight them.

I enjoyed the first book of the Jane Yellowrock series by this author and now I have this second series to enjoy too. I recommend this to readers who enjoy sci fi fantasy mix with a heavy dose of military-like action.

Audio Notes: Khristine Hvam does a great job with narration. She captures the personality of Shining and delivers the other characters with distinct voices and fitting emotional energy. I will look forward to listening to more of Ms. Hyam’s narrations.

Source: 1/11/2020 One of Two Free January Audible Originals. This qualifies for 2021TBR, 2021Audiobook, and 2021Alphabet goals.

Audible Book Review: Cast in Shadow by Michelle Sagara

This is an entertaining start to a series, although not fully compelling for me.
Cast in Shadow
Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1
By: Michelle Sagara
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 14 hrs and 25 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 11-30-11
Language: English
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Seven years ago, Kaylin fled the crime-riddled streets of Nightshade, knowing that something was after her. Children were being murdered— and all had the same odd markings that mysteriously appeared on her own skin….
Since then, she's learned to read, she's learned to fight and she's become one of the vaunted Hawks who patrol and police the City of Elantra. Alongside the winged Aerians and the immortal Barrani, she's made a place for herself, far from the mean streets of her birth.
But children are once again dying, and a dark and familiar pattern is emerging. Kaylin is ordered back into Nightshade with a partner she knows she can't trust, a Dragon lord for a companion and a device to contain her powers—powers that no other human has. Her task is simple—find the killer, stop the murders… and survive the attentions of those who claim to be her allies!
Spellbound? Listen to more Chronicles of Elantra.
©2011 Michelle Sagara (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Kaylin is a young woman seeking to be accepted as a Hawk warrior. The Lord of Hawks has accepted her into the Hawks for training and she is improving. Kaylin is sent on an assignment but must work with Severn, a childhood friend who has become an enemy to her. Kaylin and Severn are accompanied by a Dragon, Tiamaris. Fortunately, Tamaris, a formidable and quiet man, has great forbearance as he tires to keep Kaylin and Severn from attacking each other.

Children are dying in a bizarre manner in the poorer, crime-riddled section of the city known as Nightshade. Kaylin and Severn are familiar with the Nightshade as they were raised there as orphaned children. Seven years earlier Kaylin and Severn left the area, separately, after suffering the loss of friends who were being killed. The murdered children, then and now, are marked with tattoos which appeared on Kaylin’s skin too. Kaylin discovered that she has unusual healing powers that seem connected to the tattoos appearing on her body. But somehow she brings danger to others. Under the direction of the Hawklord, she is not supposed to use her healing skills without permission and she must keep her powers hidden.

Kaylin braves an audience with the Lord of Nightshade, an immortal who might be an enemy but currently is intrigued by Kaylin. He gives her a mark of protection. Although the mark doesn’t fully bind them as it might others, it is enough to raise questions by other powerful leaders possibly turning allies into enemies. While some try to take Kaylin down she struggles to save the children before another of her friends, a girl kidnapped from the orphanage, is killed.

I appreciate the world building and the different characters. Kaylin was a bit difficult to fully like as she is a messy character: immature, undisciplined and hotheaded. She is independent, a strong fighter and did mature some during the book providing hope for better behavior in future books. I definitely liked the interaction with the other characters, especially Tiamaris. It was annoying that others knew secrets regarding Kaylin’s powers but no one would share with her.

Between the interesting world, characters and action, the story kept my attention. I will likely try the next in the series at some point, although I don’t feel compelled to rush off to get it. I think readers who enjoy strong fantasy and YA characters should give this a try.

Audio Notes: Khristine Hvam does a good job narrating. She gives fitting voices to each character which adds depth to the audiobook. The narration enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

I picked this from my Audible TBR Shelf (2012). It added to my 2017 Audiobook Challenge and Mount TBR.

Audible Book Review: Skinwalker: Jane Yellowrock, Book 1 by Faith Hunter

I really enjoyed this shapeshifter story.

Skinwalker: Jane Yellowrock, Book 1
By Faith Hunter
Narrated By Khristine Hvam

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins
Series: Jane Yellowrock, Book 1
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:04-13-10
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind - a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she's been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie's Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who's killing other vamps.
©2009 Faith Hunter (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Review:
Jane Yellowrock is a unique creature- skinwalker of Cherokee descent. She can transform into other creatures but her primary figure is the “beast” that shares her soul. Jane has developed a reputation for her successful career in hunting vampires. In this modern-day vampire community the “vamps”, as Jane somewhat disdainfully calls them, are out of the closet. They are bound by certain rules regarding blood slaves and protecting innocents from rogue killers. The vampire hierarchy have hired Jane to track and eliminate a rogue vampire that is leaving brutalized bodies in his wake.

Jane has found the rogue but discovers that the killer has more in common with her than a vampire gone bad. She can smell death on him…not just the death of victims but the rogue’s own decay.

Jane has to disable spy cameras and watch her back as there are others following her as she tracks and gathers clues. Several men seem to be interested in Jane physically and one of the major vampire family heads is pushing hard to learn her secrets.

The rogue causes damage close to Jane’s temporary home and he appears to be accelerating out of control. Jane is racing to meet the deadline and get the bounty bonus. But when the dust has settled, Jane has made a major a new enemy who is set on eliminating her, no matter who or what she is.

The story gives a bit of Jane’s childhood background so the reader gets to know how she has developed her current K-A, self reliant attitude. The beast senses enhance Jane's own keen senses and skills just as her “beast” weapons add to Jane’s full pack of human weapons. There is plenty of action and I liked the POV switch offs between Jane and her “beast.” Jane also has some witch friends, a mother and a precocious child, who will make good additions as support characters. I will be glad to pick up more in this series for future entertainment.

Audio Notes: Khristine Hvam does a fine job with the narration. She pulls in the southern accents and different voices for the elite vampires, the cops and the secondary support. I also enjoyed the beast narration. I will continue to listen to this series.

I picked this from my Audible TBR. It qualifies for Mount TBR, Audiobook Challenge and for "S" in Alphabet Challenge.