Skinwalker

As a newly-fledged urban fantasy fan, I believe this series has potential but there are also certain flaws that might drive some of the readers away. And I have not decided yet, which one I am.

First of all, the storyline is really promising: there are vampires, a shapeshifter and witches. Jane, the skinwalker, is a strong kick-ass heroine. She can take care of herself and fight, but she is not so good in social situations. And she is on a rogue vamp hunt in New Orleans! Jane is also beast, and when she shifts, the reader gets to experience the world from the beast's point of view. Which is quite original but requires some time getting used to.

The story-line is a bit traditional: a mystery, an out-of-town mysterious vamp hunter, some detective work, and some romance. Certain aspects are quite unique: the skinwalker lore, the vampire social order and their relations with humans, some of their characteristics, feeding habits and rituals. But there are clichés too: all the vampires (all the men actually) are strikingly handsome and rich, and most of them speak with a French accent. Jane is tough, has an attitude that gets her into trouble, rides a moto and eats a lot of meat. And she is surrounded by gorgeous men that want to sleep with her. The characters' appearance and clothes are described in detail. I found this attention to detail a bit annoying sometimes - I honestly couldn't care less about what Jane wears every time she goes out or how she prepares her tea, and oat meal every time. There are lots of talks but there isn't so much action.

The narrator Khristine Hvam does a very good job, even though some of the accents are a bit confusing and non-consistent at times.