Cat Tales: Four Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock

Cat Tales: Four Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock (2011) Faith Hunter

These are four Jane stories, two from Jane’s point-of-view and two from Rick’s point-of-view.
The Early Years
Cat Tats
Kits
Blood, Fangs, and Going Furry

“The Early Years” is set right after Jane ages out of the children’s home. We get a glimpse of Bobby (who appears in Blood Trade) but mostly we see the earliest steps that made Jane who she becomes.

This one feels more like a writer’s exercise, fleshing out Jane’s past rather than a true short story.

“Cat Tats” is from Rick LaFleur’s point-of-view and is set before Skinwalker. It tells how Rick got the magical tats that become such a problem for him later.

“Kits” is a pivotal story, in which Molly learns about Jane, and Jane becomes a part of Molly’s family (and Angie Baby’s godmother). I particularly like Beast in this story, as we see that her personality and agenda are separate from Jane’s (although they aren’t necessarily contrary in this instance). I really like this story.

It’s also set before Skinwalker, “Haints” and “Signatures of the Dead.”

“Blood, Fangs, and Going Furry” is the other Rick story, set between Mercy Blade and Raven Cursed. We see how Rick survives his first full moon (and how Jane becomes Kem’s alpha).

For me, this had one excellent story, “Kits” and three meh stories. I don’t much care for Rick, so stories from his point-of-view are never going to be my favorites. And as I said, “The Early Years” is interesting, but not a particularly strong short story.
Rating: 7/10

Published by ROC

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