Reviewed by Quirky Cat on
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.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 20 October, 2019: Finished reading
- 20 October, 2019: Reviewed