Skinwalker by Faith Hunter - Vampire Book Review

Skinwalker: A Jane Yellowrock Novel
by Faith Hunter
Roc (July 7, 2009)

Reviewed by Breia Brickey

A year ago Jane nearly lost her life taking down an entire blood family of deadly rogue vampires that preyed on the helpless local populace of an Appalachian town. Now, after months of recuperation, she’s back and ready to fight again. Except this time, she’s hired by those she’s trained to kill—vampires…

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. Back from hiatus, she’s 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.

Amidst a bordello full of real “ladies of the night,” and a hot Cajun biker with a panther tattoo who stirs her carnal desire, Jane must stay focused and complete her mission—or else the next skin she’ll need to save just may be her own…


I started reading this novel and enjoyed it so much that I had to find out everything I could about this author. The pacing was spot on, the characters were very likable and the action was intense. The story itself was awesome to read and left me wanting more. Skinwalker is a wonderful welcome addition to my bookshelves and I look forward to more stories from Faith Hunter to fill even more space there. I highly recommend this story. I think the true mark of a good story is that you don't realize how much time you spent sucked into the story until the very last word.

Reviewed by Breia Brickey for Patricia's Vampire Notes

Internet Sites of Paranormal Interest

Charles N. Brown, 1937-2009 - Locus publisher, editor, and co-founder Charles N. Brown, 72, died peacefully in his sleep July 12, 2009 on his way home from Readercon.
Read more...







Vampire-Con. The weekend-long event debuts August 14th

Find Your Inner Vampire | "Rare Vintage" from Vampire-Con starts Aug. 14, 2009 on Vimeo.

Read an Interview with SciFiGuy.ca on Marta Acosta's Vampire Wire

Doug's blog SciFiGuy.ca is one of the best for paranormal news and views. Marta's site is no slouch either, and she is the author of the popular Casa Dracula series. There is also a contest for an ARC of Shadowfae (Griffin)by Erica Hays. Contest ends July 18. Hurry!!





The Vampire Tarot now available!

The Vampire Tarot by Robert M. Place is based on the story of Dracula by Bram Stoker. It is published by St. Martin's Press. The Strength illustration from this deck appeared in the third episode of the 2008 season of the television series "Moonlight" The illustrations for the Brides, the Lovers, Death, and the Moon will appear in a documentary about vampires in October, 2009.




Here is something different from Deadline Dames


Deadline Dames Readers on Deadline #5
"Readers on Deadline (ROD) is a monthly Deadline Dame where we post an intriguing image and invite readers to be inspired and share the results in up to 250 words right here in the comments. The Dames will pick the one that most intrigues us, post that entry in the next month’s ROD along with a link to that writer/reader’s site. And you get a prize! "

This month’s ROD art is from CSnyder Deadline is next Wednesday, July 22nd, at midnight! And we’re giving away a signed copy of Jenna Black’s Speak of the Devil (Morgan Kingsley, Exorcist, Book 4) which releases July 28th!

Watch as Vicki Pettersson talks about her “Sign of the Zodiac” series and tips on being a showgirl on Robots and Vamps



Her most recent novel is City of Souls (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 4)










Write What You See welcomes guest author Devon Monk

Says Chloe Neill (author of Some Girls Bite), "I'm happy to offer the floor today to Devon Monk, author of Magic in the Blood (Allie Beckstrom), Magic to the Bone, and the forthcoming Magic in the Shadows: An Allie Beckstrom Novel, who has some lovely thoughts to share regarding creating an Affirmation Board for your writing (or your health goals...or other career goals...or any other creative endeavor!)

Guest Blogger Georgia Evans (aka Rosemary Laurey)

PVN welcomes Georgia Evans (aka Rosemary Laurey) author of the Bloody Series, a vampire trilogy set in 1940s England. This month book 2, Bloody Awful, hits the book stores. Book 3, Bloody Right, appears Aug. 4. And Bloody Good was published in June. At the end of this post watch for contest information. Two lucky commenters will win a copy of Bloody Awful.

Why vampires?

That’s a question I get asked a good deal, No doubt from people wondering why a mild-mannered grandmother spends her days writing about the blood sucking undead.


A good question too: What’s the appeal? Why are so many readers (and writers, of course) drawn to vampires?

Speaking for myself, the vampire first chose me, unexpectedly announcing around chapter five, that he was actually Kit Marlowe, and not dead as had been supposed for 400 years. After that, the undead sucked me in (forgive the pun, it just came out, I couldn’t help it). Whether heroes, heroines or villains, vampires are fun to write and add a layer to the story that mere mortals couldn’t possibly manage.

In the Bloody Series, I wrote the vamps as villains. Of course from their point of view, they are fighting nobly for a cause, aided and abetted by the German High Command. The Others of Brytewood see the whole scheme completely differently and one by one, with a few casualties, deaths, and close calls along the way, they eliminate the enemy. As the villains, vampires had to be eliminated but while they wreaked havoc among the Surrey hills, they added interest and tension to the books. In fact without them and their mission of sabotage and subversion, there wouldn’t have been much of a story.

In my Rosemary Laurey books, my vamps are romantic heroes and heroines. Very different and remarkably odd, if you think about it. Vampires as villains pretty much fits the notion of a bloodsuckers preying on the living but the metamorphosis from horrific figure to romantic hero is an incredible leap. Or is it? He fits many of the parameters of the genre. He’s the ultimate dark and dangerous hero. Messing around with a vampire you are playing with the ultimate risk. He might be good in bed but his kiss could kill. Plus, no matter how desperate your mother might be to see you settled for life, she would not want you bringing a a dead man home for Sunday lunch. Then there is the fantastic sex (although strictly speaking aren’t we skirting around necrophilia here?). On the other hand, by the time a man is a few hundred years old or more, he’s no doubt learned a thing or two and with a vampire’s stamina, he won’t fall asleep afterwards.

Hero or villain, a vampire in the plot makes for wonderful escapist fiction.


Now for the contest.
Two lucky commenters will each win a signed copy of Bloody Awful


To be eligible do one or more of the following:
* Leave a comment
* Ask Georgia a question
* Link this interview to your own site or a social network site, and be sure to let me know the URL

If your email is not associated with your ID, please put the address in your response.

Contest ends July 16 at 11:59 PM - Hawaii Time.



But there is more! August 4 Georgia returns for an open Q & A. Ask her about her books, the writing life, vampires, or anything else appropriate. Every question will give you a chance to win a copy of Bloody Right, book three in the trilogy.

The contest portion is closed. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Upcoming Event - Georgia Evans Guest Blogger

On Tuesday July 14 PVN welcomes author Georgia Evans (aka Rosemary Laurey) who will offer her opinion on VAMPIRES! You gotta love 'em or hate 'em, but at PVN they are an eternal fascination.

To celebrate the July publication of Bloody Awful, Book 2 in a vampire trilogy, Georgia will send 2 lucky winners a copy of her novel.

Hope you can stop by!!

Read a review of Bloody Good



Watch a video of Bloody Awful

Staked - Vampire Book Review

Staked
by J. F. Lewis
Pocket Bks: S. & S. (Mar. 2008)

[Reviewed by Patricia. Originally published in Library Journal Feb. 15, 2008]

The hero of Lewis's humorous debut novel is Eric, a vampire having a bad week, with a poor memory and raging blackouts. In the midst of a rough tantrum, he realizes he has torn off the head of a fellow undead, but he can't remember who the victim is or why he killed him. As the story continues, however, Eric proves to be a much nicer guy than the opening would suggest. With a host of interesting characters—the elderly human Marilyn, the greatest love of Eric's life; Tabitha, the stripper-turned-vampire who loves Eric; evangelical werewolf William, who erroneously believes Eric killed his son; and Roger, co-owner with Eric of the Demon Heart Strip Club. This is a fast-paced story with a heady mixture of humor, violence, and sex.

Reprinted with permission of Reed Business Information.