Audiobook Review: Raven Cursed

Author: Faith Hunter
Narrator: Khristine Hvam
Series: Jane Yellowrock, #4
Released: January 3rd 2012
Publisher: Audible
Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins
Buy: Audible

The vampires of Asheville, North Carolina, want to establish their own clan, but since they owe loyalty to the Master Vampire of New Orleans they must work out the terms with him. To come up with an equitable solution, he sends an envoy with the best bodyguard blood money can buy: Jane Yellowrock.

But when a group of local campers are attacked by something fanged, Jane goes from escort to investigator. Unless she wants to face a very angry master vampire, she will have to work overtime to find the killer. It's a good thing she's worth every penny.

I’m coming back to this series after a rather long break. Jane Yellowrock books are excellent urban fantasy, but Hunter seems incapable of settling on one romantic interest, which is why I chose to give up after three books, at least for a time. Now, with some emotional distance, I’m able to once again enjoy the worldbuilding and wonderful action without being overly annoyed by Jane’s romantic (non)choices.



Raven Cursed takes us briefly away from New Orleans and Leo Pelissier to Asheville, North Carolina, where Jane is supposed to provide security for vampire negotiations. Leo is now officially Jane’s employer, which doesn’t sit well with her at all, but she sees is as the lesser of two evils and mostly ignores how the whole thing makes her uncomfortable.

Jane has her hands full in this installment. Two weres from the previous book are still on the loose and it’s Jane’s job to hunt and contain them. She also has to keep Gregoire safe and help the witches with the rogue in their family. Her job would be much easier if she didn’t blame herself for everything from vampires to bad weather. The woman takes catholic guilt to a whole new level, which can be a bit tiresome sometimes. She also lets other people blame her for things that simply aren’t her fault. Instead of pointing it out, she just sits there and takes it, which makes me want to shake her more often than not.

Things aren’t going well for Jane on the personal front either. Molly and her lovely family have all but abandoned her, angry because she failed to protect them. Rick is still handling the changes in his own life and besides, Jane can’t quite get over the hurt he’d caused her in the previous book. But Beast has decided that Rick makes a very appropriate mate, which makes it harder for Jane to resist him.

I am, and I suspect I always will be, firmly on Bruiser’s side in the mess that is Jane’s love life. He is mostly absent in this book, except for a few brief phone calls, but even those were full of warmth and hope. I understand Jane’s reasoning when it comes to staying away from him, but I don’t necessarily agree with her.

As usual, Khristine Hvam narrated the story very well. I’m used to her voice as Jane’s and I think she’s doing a brilliant job. Her reading is a bit on the slow side sometimes, but even that works for this story.

This time, I won’t wait long to read the next installment. I’d forgotten how much I like Jane and her gang. Urban fantasy lovers will find plenty to love in the Jane Yellowrock series.