This is the 12th book in the Jane Yellowrock series. This one was a DNF for me. In full disclosure I have struggled with the last couple books in this series; they have been a bit bizarre and felt really long to me.

I am not sure why I was struggling with this book so much; it just wasn't going anywhere fast for me. There were a few spots where Hunter spent a couple pages describing how Jane dressed for the day...this was just boring. I tried to sit down to read this multiple times and just found myself reading the same pages over and over because I just couldn’t stay focused on this story. I feel like the last few books have just been boring. Lots of new characters and lots of politics...not really my thing.

I am honestly not sure if it is me or the series that has changed but I struggled and struggled to get through this one and found myself constantly finding other things to do rather than read this book. Maybe I just don't have the patience I once did.

I am still enjoying Hunter's Soulwood series so I will continue on that one...but I am done with Jane and her peeps. I love them and this series will always hold a special place in my heart but it should have ended 3 or 4 books ago.

Overall this one was a DNF for me, it just could not hold my attention. I really loved the earlier books in this series but the last few I have really struggled with. There are just too many characters, too much politics, and the books feel really long. I am done with this series.

I gave it 3.5 stars

There were quite a few shocking moments in DARK QUEEN and I still can't decide how I feel about some of them.

I love how much Jane has grown and evolved in the series. She has a vast 'family' now and I love reading about their interactions. Beast continues to be enjoyable to listen too. Jane's relationship with Bruiser is in a great place and I enjoy their times together. We learn a lot more about Jane's past along with her in DARK QUEEN and I feel that a new character that was introduced will open a lot more of her past up to her and us.

I want to avoid spoilers so some of my issues with DARK QUEEN aren't going to be voiced. I felt there were some filler moments that could have been avoided. I don't really need to know the ins and outs of how Jane dresses over and over. I also didn't need to excessive detail about rooms that characters spent two seconds in. There were a lot of new characters introduced and I didn't always see their purpose in the story.

I didn't love the end. It was a bit slow which was understandable with what was going on, but the last events that happened felt stilted. Like one event was supposed to happen, but then it changed at the last minute and there wasn't time to elaborate. Things were left very uncertain.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was a huge Jane fan when the series began, but slowly lost interest as the books went on, and hadn’t read the previous two installments in this series. However when I read the description and found out the big battle was finally going to happen I decided to jump back in. While the story did hold my attention it wasn’t the kind of book I couldn’t put down. It felt like there was a lot of rehashing of relationships and reminders of who characters were and what they did in previous books. I’m not opposed to memory refreshers and I certainly did need a few, but too much time was wasted on this person did this and that person did that, and they are connected because of the other.

I was not a fan out Rick’s exit at all. It felt to me like his character was forced out to make room for Bruiser. I was happy he was back but I felt like he was way underutilized. He was in town, but he might as well have been on skype for all the interaction they had. I get that she is in love with Bruiser, but it seems like his reappearance should’ve had more on an emotional impact. I also felt like her brother was just taking up space. Since the beginning of the series Jane has wondered where she came from and if anyone like her is still around. But both she and her brother kept each other at a distance for petty reasons. They’re both grown and he was way more life experience than her, it just seemed like they would’ve connected more or Jane would’ve had a thousand questions primed and ready.

The real thing that bothers me is that this series has taken a similar turn to Anita Blake’s. Not with all the sex, but making the heroine go from Vampire hunter to being so wrapped up in the Vampire world she actually becomes Queen. Giving the heroine too much magic basically making her unstoppable, instead of working with what she has and with the help of allies to solve conflicts. That being said I am interested in the next book. Since her family and Rick were basically washed over there is a lot to explore there. Also the way it ended I would love it if she did get a reboot of sorts. It would be interesting to see who Jane would be if she had family (bio and by choice) at her side and knowledge of what she is and could become.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader as part of a book tour stop.
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I've stopped reading the blurbs for the Jane Yellowrock books, so I had no idea what to expect out of this one when I started it. I spent a couple of days planning on how this was a rumination of/celebration of family disguised as an Urban Fantasy novel. Don't get me wrong, there was plenty of action and plot and all the things we have come to expect from a Jane Yellowrock book. But, yeah, family was the overarching theme. But then . . .

But then, Hunter kicks it into high gear and the long-awaited Sangre Duello starts. Which I didn't expect -- I figured we'd get an entire novel (minus an introductory and follow-up chapter, maybe) dedicated to it. Man, am I glad I was wrong -- I'm not sure I could've handled more of the tension surrounding it than Hunter gave us. Still, everything I'd planned on saying pretty much went out the window.

I've gotten ahead of myself. This series (like any that has gone more than 5 books) needs a "Previously . . ." section. Things have changed so much since Jane rode into New Orleans in Skinwalker that it's almost impossible to remember everything that's happened. Hunter does do enough in the text to remind you who is who and what they've done in the past, so I'm not saying the book is inaccessible. It'd just be nice to have a reminder just where we are in the story without having to re-read eleven novels (not that I have -- I'd probably pick up a few more nuances).

The book begins with Leo solidifying his organization. Moving people around, giving promotions, and cleaning house (not as much as he should have, but even someone who's as politically savvy as Leo isn't perfect). Part of this is the official recognition and establishment of Clan Yellowrock -- which was just so strange. One of the groups that Leo is dealing with is a werewolf pack from the Western part of the US, who are doing some work for him related to the Sangre Duello, who are pretty interesting, and I'd like to see more of them in the future. There's also a new PsyLED honcho floating around -- Rick's boss and Soul's underling -- and his presence is almost as disruptive to Jane's world as the European Vampires are.

Then before you know it -- there we are, the European Vampires are coming ashore to start the Sangre Duello. Which is basically a series of duels -- some to first blood, some to the death (true death, in the case of vampires) -- and just about everyone connected to Leo ends up fighting at least once. It is clear from the way this is set up, the way it's carried out, the way that just about everyone acts during it -- that vampires act on a different morality than just about anyone else. Jane has a very hard time with it all, and many readers will, too. That's good -- that means you're not a monster. I will say that Leo's psychological games with the EV's are a lotta fun. If you have much of an emotional attachment to the characters in this series, you will stress out during this part of the book. Not all survive. Not all who do survive do so unscathed. Without saying what happens to him, I didn't realize how invested I was in Leo Pellissier's continued existence.

Faith Hunter puts all of her experience, all her skill and talent on display here -- and it works. This is really a tour de force for her and it's just a pleasure to read. On the one hand, I thought the pacing was a bit slow at first and wasn't sure what she was doing -- but at a certain point, I recognized that she knew exactly what she was doing and you needed the slow-burn of a start so that you'd be ready for the almost non-stop action to come. There's some brave choices she makes here -- totally shaking up the series, the status is not quo, as a horrible doctor might say. While that might seem like the kind of thing writers need to do (and it is), it can't be an easy choice -- because no matter what we say, we fans want our comfortable series: where we know that Riker will be Picard's Number One for far too long, Lisa will be 8, and that one couch at the Central Perk will always be available for Monica's friends to sit on.

Jane continues to grow and mature, embracing -- and even expanding -- the emotional ties she has to people in her life, taking on more people to protect and defend. She's not a loner anymore, and has stopped fighting this reality. It's great to see. And everything I wanted to say about family is present here, and you'll know exactly what I was talking about when you read this. And if you're someone who threatens any of those she's decided to align herself with? I pity you, because, well, Beast is best hunter, and there's nothing really that'll stop Beast/Jane from making you regret that threatening.

If I was a better blogger -- or at least one who had better time management, I'd come up with a post just about Eli Younger. I really wish I was that guy -- because Eli deserves more attention. As I write this, I remember that Carrie Vaughn gave Cormac a novel to himself (pretty much) -- Hunter should consider letting Eli have his own.

This would've been a great series finale just as it is. I am so glad that it's not -- Hunter's got things set up so well for the next couple fo books (at least) that I'm as excited about this series as I've ever been. But, Dark Queen could've worked as the end. Which is really just to say two things: 1. If you're looking for a new Urban Fantasy series to start, full of magic, vampires, shape-shifters and more? This series is a great one -- but don't start here, start with Skinwalker. 2. Hunter has tied up a lot of loose ends, a lot of long-going plotlines are resolved (or at least brought to a satisfying resting point), which should satisfy long-term readers. I won't say that they'll all be happy about where everything ends up -- I'm not -- but I will say that it's nice to have some sense of closure and resolution.

I laughed, I got angry, I cheered, I fretted, I got awfully close to letting water leak out of my eyes -- I loved this book from start to finish.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post -- thanks to both for this.

The Dark Queen is a thrilling and fascinating story in the Jane Yellowrock world. The characters are strong, compelling and easily draw readers into their world and Jane is such a kick ass heroine that readers can help but get caught up in all the exciting events that takes place. Being an urban fantasy means that there is not a whole lot on the romance front but Jane definitely has a love interest with lots of sizzling chemistry flowing between them and along with all the other fascinating characters in Jane’s world keeps things on a fast track with lots of thrilling action that keeps readers on the edge of their seat and ensures they never have a dull moment and well anticipation and suspense keeps readers holding their breath.

In this story, things are really exciting a war is coming and the suspense builds throughout the story as Jane and her family prepare as best as they can to keep everyone safe and hopefully come out on top and, which is enough to have even the most stout hearted person reeling but the emotional turbulence inflicted by this war is only a small portion of Jane’s turmoil as an unexpected person shows up at her doorstep is a most exciting fashion and has chaos unfolding in her personal world.

Faith Hunter’s fascinating world just keeps getting better, I never know what to expect and I definitely never get bored as I stay glued to the pages of this intriguing world and its wonderful characters. The author makes it so easy to enjoy her world as she paints vivid images with every written world and infuses her world with unique elements and great dialogue that adds spice to each and every story. There was no way I could put Dark Queen down until I had read every last world which made dinner a bit late, but they will just have to get over it as I am sure it will happen again when the next Jane Yellowrock book comes out.

I remember I heard somewhere that Dark Queen was going to be the final installment of the Jane Yellowrock series but luckily, Faith Hunter is set to write two more at least.

Now after finishing the Dark Queen ARC, I thank Faith Hunter for those two books.

More on that later, now let’s get on with the review.

As expected in Dark Queen, everybody in New Orleans are preparing for the Sangre Duello with the European Vampires in which the winner takes all. While getting ready, Jane receives a visit from someone connected her past and it doesn’t bring good memories. Also, certain enemies and vamps decide to take advantage of the Sangre Duello for their own benefits. However, none of these events can compare to the actual duel which ends with devastating losses for both sides.

Overall, Dark Queen was a must-read for fans of the Jane Yellowrock series. Sure most of it was setting up to the duel in the last quarter of the novel but everything leading up to that duel was enjoyable to read. We got to see how far Jane and her group have come since their first introduction. Sadly, we do loose some characters (sorry won’t spoil who) who I didn’t expect and part of me is still in shock over those losses. Not to mention the ending, if this had been the final book I’m not sure have I would felt with having the series end with that cliffhanger ending. However, now that I know I there will be at least two more books, I think it was a perfect ending and I can’t wait to see how things unfold. It’s a new road to a new journey for Jane and her friends and family so I look forward to it Faith Hunter and I wish you well in your writing.



*I received Dark Queen from Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley in return for an honest review.*

There’s so much happening in Dark Queen, I’m still trying to process it. I’m not sure it’s possible to explain it without spoiling it. This is definitely a case where you need to be caught up on the series before starting the book. Jane’s in a very different place now than where she started. The fate of America’s vampires, as well as the rest of the population, hangs in the balance and will ultimately fall on Jane’s shoulders.

For most of the book I was convinced Dark Queen was the series finale. It turns out that it was originally intended to be. And Jane certainly would have gone out with a bang. (Or maybe a slice since these vampires use swords.) All of the buildup—like the last four or five books’ worth—to the battle with the European vampires was worth it for this action-packed climax.

But it took a little while to get there. I almost feel like this could have been two separate books. It is noticeably longer than normal, but not actually double. Maybe it could have used a clearly labeled part one and part two. Before she gets to the big battle, Jane deals with human police, werewolf politics, an ex-boyfriend, and a surprise visitor who changes everything she thought she knew about her past. She also has some great moments with most of the members of her entourage, the newly-formed Clan Yellowrock. My favorites were the ones between Eli and Beast.

By the end, almost everything has changed. Though some of it’s confusing, like in a wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey way. And Jane doesn’t handle it all very well. She’s spent so much time over the last few books building her found family, and in the end she’s kind of a dick to them. I’m frustrated with her even though she ends up in a hopeful place. I hope she’ll be making it up to everyone in the next book. She’ll definitely be a little different than she was when Dark Queen started.

Wow, a powerful Jane Yellowrock adventure. I love where the story goes. We learn more of Jane's history and her relationship with her chosen family. The story races to a climatic finish. I hope Ms Hunter gives us more books about Jane!

I have loved this series from the very first book. Faith Hunter always writes books that are engaging with many twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Her characters are ones I love and love to hate. Her writing always keeps me enthralled from the first page to the last. This book was no different. If you have read this series this book is a must read. It is what all the others have been building up to. I love how we see Jane and her clan growing and changing. The fight scenes are well done and not drawn out and the twists are very surprising. But the ending OH MY GOD! I won't spoil it for you but I never saw it coming. I am still in shock and I don't know quite how I feel about it. One thing I do know, I can't wait for the next book. Write fast Ms. Hunter. Write fast.

I've read every bit of the<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/161451-jane-yellowrock" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong> Jane Yellowrock series</strong></em></a>, including all the novellas. I love the rich tableau of the world and its characters. I enjoy sinking into the characters and the story. I let myself go and become the main character to a certain degree. In<strong> Dark Queen</strong>, this was terrifying because Jane was different.

Normally, Jane is smart and organized. She researches, plans her strategies and prepares her defenses and backups. She is the one directing and coordinating the team. Except for Leo, who always has his own ideas. The last few books, she and her team have been gathering information and preparing for the coming of the European Mithrans. BUT.

As Jane, I felt out of it or that things are just out of control. The team makes plans and figures things out without her direction. There's a magic issue they all know about but don't seem to be able to plan anything to defend against it. Jane does set up a last ditch plan for if everything goes badly.

There are many distractions for Jane. The African werecats continue to <del>be a complete pain in the ass</del> cause issues. Soul feels like a problem rather than a friend and ally. There is more than one group of  werewolves in town. And as you can see in the excerpt below,  a new guy shows up to stir up Jane's emotions and past.  I don't like him.  In fact, there are plenty of characters to dislike.  Luckily, Eli, Alex, Beast and Edmund continue to be amazing.

I'm left unsettled by all the events  and am very curious to see what happens next.

&nbsp;
<h3>Excerpt:</h3>
<blockquote>I yanked open the door. The air swept his scent in. It was vaguely floral. A scent that teased at the back of my mind. Tsalagi. Cherokee scent. Beast surged into the forefront of my brain, landing crouched on silent paws. The man turned. He had yellow eyes.

Beast thought, Littermate.

What? I said to her.

“Hello, e-igido. Dalonige’ i Digadoli,” the man said, his expression soft but intent. “Nuwhtohiyada gotlvdi.”

How did he know my Cherokee name? I knew those last words: Make peace with me. The air swirled inside and back out.

The man’s nostrils widened as he took a breath. Taking in my scent. His face changed—fear, horror, revulsion, dread. “U’tlun’ta,” he whispered, the word meaning liver-eater, black-magic skinwalker. Evil. Faster than I could follow, he drew a weapon, centered it on my chest. Inside me Beast tore through, doing … something. In a single instant, the man fired. Beast screamed. Time stood still.

The round exiting the weapon was stopped an inch from the barrel. The killer was frozen. Everything was frozen except me. Beast had bubbled time, taking me outside of normal space / time / relativity physics. She had saved my life. Again. “Thanks,” I muttered aloud to her.

She snorted, a half chuff, half growl, staring through my eyes at the man, even as the headache / bellyache / muscle aches hit. It was like a tiny bomb going off behind my left eye combined with a case of the flu, and if the two most recent time-bubbling experiences were an indication, it would only get worse. For now, I was okay-ish. Not perfect. Not totally okay. But able to function.

The stranger was firing one of the new Glock GDP-20s, a military-issue police service weapon. I looked closely to see a hollow-point round. Somehow, being shot at calmed my anger. Using my vamp-killer and muscle power,
Beast knocked the round down, changing its trajectory to impact the floor molding. The sound of silver-plated vamp-killer blade hitting lead was a dull tang in the Gray Between. The wood stood the best chance of stopping the round and the hole could be filled with wood filler and painted over. Eli was good at that kinda stuff.

I stepped into the man’s reach and, still using the blade, lifted his notched lapel to reveal a pocket beneath, heavy with a case about the size of a pack of playing cards. Without touching his body, I pulled out the case and opened it to reveal a badge.

“Well. That figures,” I muttered, maybe talking to God, maybe talking to whatever evil spirit had cursed me. “Like I needed the candy sprinkles of a gun-happy cop dumped over my blood duel ice-cream cone.” The badge was a PsyLED shield, issued to the Psychometric Law Enforcement Division of Homeland Security, the cops that police paranormals. Like me. But I’d think not even PsyLED would send someone to kill me at my own front door. In the middle of the day. With tourists walking across the street. Maybe the badge was a fake? I looked at the guy. He didn’t look like a killer. There was nothing forgettable about him and most assassins worked to be average and unmemorable. His clothing was well-tailored but more Brooks Brothers and Men’s Wearhouse than Armani. His eyes were wide. Terrified. And he was firing one-handed, his left still rising for a standard two-hand grip. Panic-shot.

"Not good ambush hunter", Beast said.</blockquote>

I loved Faith Hunter’s DARK QUEEN, the twelfth book in the Jane Yellowrock series. Leo, the vampire Master of the City of New Orleans, is preparing for his blood challenge by the emperor on the European vampires. Since Jane is Leo’s Enforcer, she has a lot to prepare for. To top it off, she has some family drama to deal with.

I enjoyed the characters. They are diverse and have a lot of depth. I find Jane’s conversations with Beast amusing. I really appreciated the flashbacks to Jane’s youth. I love that she began remembering things from her life past. I enjoyed the addition of Ayatas FireWind.

DARK QUEEN was skillfully written and exciting throughout the novel. There were twists and a lot of action in the story. The “blood battle” was a fascinating event. The rules and dynamics between the combatants were well developed and exciting. Leo did some surprising things throughout the story. I loved the epilogue. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Dark Queen is the twelfth installment of the Jane Yellowrock series. It is an excellent addition to the series. Just as the all the books before it I really love this series and the characters. Every time I read one of the Jane Yellowrock books I am captivated to the pages till the end of the book.
Dark Queen is the continuing story of Jane Yellowrock the "skinwalker". In this book we meet Ayatas FireWind who is a PsyLED agent that wants Jane to help him. Ayatas wants a meeting with Leo Pellissier Master of the City of New Orleans to discuss the upcoming Sangre Duello with the European Master Vampire Titus Flavius Vespasianus.
When Jane first meets Ayatas things turn hairy and then goes to strange. Pieces of a puzzle start to fall into place for Jane. Now she is having to figure out what this all means.
I love how Faith Hunter slowly throughout the series gives us bits and pieces of Jane's memories. I also love how her books play like movies in my head as I read them. I can honestly state that I will be rereading this series over and over again.
To find out what happens go grab your copy of Dark Queen.
I seriously recommend the Jane Yellowrock series to readers that are into Urban Fantasy with shifters and vampires.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Faith Hunter does it again. Fans of her series will welcome the newest novel. Newcomers might want to start at the beginning of the series though.

Dark Queen is the 12th installment in author Faith Hunter's Jane Yellowrock series. Series overview for those who haven't :::shocked face:: read the series yet. Warning number one: don't think you can jump into this story without having read the previous books in the series. Doesn't work, and there is so much that has happened that you will be utterly confused and disappointed. Second, this is an urban fantasy series featuring shapeshifting skinwalker Jane Yellowrock, who both works for vampires and hunts them in the city of New Orleans.

Along with Beast, her constant companion, Jane has made a name for herself as someone not to take lightly. She stands as Enforcer for Leo Pellisier, the Master Vampire of the City of New Orleans, and something else which hasn't been explained. For an extended storyline now, the author has laid the groundwork for what is to come. She has given every opportunity for fans of this series to be ready for anything and everything that can happen.

This is the book that Jane and her allies, vampires, witches, werewolves, and humans, must stand and fight against the European Vampires who have desired to take control of Leo's territories as well as the entire United States. The so called Sangre Duello will be the highlight of the entire story, but don't ignore the arrival of a shocking new character who arrives and upturns Jane's life. This wouldn't be a Jane Yellowrock story without plenty of action, and mystery.

Yes, we do get more than our fair share of Beast as well as as past that Jane is only now coming to remember. Yes, we do get more than our fair share of Jane and Bruiser. I am holding my breath trying not to let in spoilers to this review. So far I think I've done okay. Especially since this is part of the books blog tour. Let me say this; be prepared for anything to happen. Be prepared for the return of characters who are new, and old.

There are characters who are loved, and not so much. By the way, I love the relationship between Molly and Jane. I am happy their issues have been resolved, and yes, Molly is nobody you should mess with. I also love how much respect and love Jane has for her partners/brothers Eli and Alex Younger even the prickly Edmund Hartley has found himself a home with Jane. When I finished this book, I immediately went on Goodreads and posted this. "If someone spoils the ending of this book for anyone, they'll be hell to pay."

Seriously folks. If you've read this book, don't go posting any spoilers. What happens at the end of this book, and to Jane herself and others should be a surprise and let's leave it at that. I'd love to ask the author questions about why she did what she did, but I trust her in that she knows what she's doing. This book is an end of a very long story arc that has seen Jane face her own past, her relationships with best friend Molly, Leo, Edmund, Gee, while forming a wonderful relationship with Bruiser that is much, must more appealing than Jane's previous loser. She has so much more ahead of her that I will be looking forward to the 13th installment.

Let me tell you a story, before I start my review. I saw a sign up on Faith Hunter’s fan page, looking for reviewers, and I figured I’d put my name in. I mean, why not? Sure, I deal with a serious case of imposter syndrome at times, but I love this series and having a decent chunk of reviews under my belt certainly couldn’t hurt my odds. I didn’t hear anything about my request, so I didn’t really let myself think about it much (no news is good news, right?). Then one day I came home to find this gorgeous and wonderful book waiting for me. I may or may not have danced around the house with it. Just a little bit. The moral of this story is: if you ever doubt yourself about your worth, but really want to give something a try, go ahead and put your name in anyway. You never know what the outcome could be.
Dark Queen is the latest installment of the Jane Yellowrock series, and to say I’ve been chomping at the bit to read it would be putting things far too lightly. I’m sure I’m not the only fan that was eagerly counting down the days for this release, but that’s part of the reason I’m so excited to be reviewing this novel a little bit early.
Faith Hunter has been building up to this point for a while, a fact many of her fans are almost painfully aware of. We’ve seen Jane build up her forces, friendships, and contacts all to survive this point. And it’s finally here. After all these years of buildup, the Sanguine Duello is finally upon us.
First I would just like to say that this novel utterly destroyed me, and any book lover will know exactly what I mean by this statement. Every set of emotions capable of being felt by a human being were experienced during my read through. I almost with I could read it for the first time all over again, but I’m not sure I could handle it.
For the sake of honesty I should tell you that before reading Dark Queen I completely kept my head in the sand about what was going to happen. I refused to even read the description of the book (weird I know, but I sometimes do that with series I get really excited about). I didn’t go snippet hunting, and I flat out refused to think about the possibilities that could happen here. Normally this tactic helps me survive between one book and another, but I think in this case it kept me from being prepared for what was in store. I’m going to assume that people reading my review aren’t going to be following this practice (duh) and I think that’s a good call.
When I look back and think about Dark Queen, I think about it in two distinct parts. There’s the huge chunk of the novel where Jane and crew are dealing with lots of other problems (as tends to happen – when it rains it pours and all that), including some immensely personal issues for Jane; and then there’s the last part of the novel that includes the Sanguine Duello.
I loved both ‘parts’ of this novel equally, but for completely different reasons. During the first half of the book (not an accurate statement – I didn’t actually take the time to measure how big each ‘part’ is) I was absorbed in the day to day issues of New Orleans, from the major planning going on, to the politicking, to the personal issues emerging and complicating matters. Now, I’m personally a huge fan of vampire novels that include politics, so I literally will gobble up any scrap given to me that feels like a master vampire has been making grand plans. And trust me; Leo has been scheming up a storm. It was actually really satisfying to see everything he’s been working on and planning for the last few years come to fruition (especially the parts he hid from everyone).
The other nice part about the first part of the book is that I was able to convince myself that the Sanguine Duello wasn’t actually happening in this novel. The longer everything else went on, the more convinced I became that this was going to be another novel building up to it. I was personally okay with that, since I’ve been enjoying the buildup.
All that being said, I’m actually happy that the Sanguine Duello was included in this novel. I hadn’t realized how nervous I was about it until I was sitting there on the edge of my seat, eagerly devouring each detail of the duel.
This obviously brings me to the second ‘half’ of the novel. The Sanguine Duello and everything directly involving it. Faith Hunter put so many details into this part; it’s hard to accept it as anything other than reality. You can really see how much work she put into it, which I both respect and appreciate, especially when considering how difficult this part must have been to write (not just in the emotional sense – I imagine writing out fights occurring at vampire speeds would be incredibly difficult).
As far as the fight scenes are concerned, they were artistically done and well described, and they also weren’t drawn out. I know it sounds weird for me to be happy about that, but as anybody with fighting skills will tell you; the best fights do not last long. Throw in vampire reflexes and speed and there’s really no reason for the fights to go on for hours; as a bonus that means your heart will not be in your throat for long. You know, until the next round of fighting begins. Then you get to go through it all over again.
I should warn you; this novel does end in a bit of a cliffhanger. I don’t think it’s the type that’ll have most fans pulling out their hair (though I could be wrong on that count). Actually, when I first finished reading it, I wasn’t sure if it was the end of the series or not. I found myself oddly tranquil about the idea of it. I was obviously hoping to get more Jane novels, but at the same time the ending given was so true to Jane’s character and the story Faith Hunter has been trying to tell us that I couldn’t bring myself to be upset about it. Before you start to worry: I looked it up, we’re getting at least two more novels (and more than that, with any luck) so there’s no need to be getting ready to say goodbye to Jane anytime soon.
All in all this novel really did completely wreck me, and I have never been so happy to be able to say that about a novel. I love series that make me feel emotionally connected to its characters, as is the case here, series that get my invested in the events that are going on, series that make you care. Jane Yellowrock is absolutely one of those series. I love the characters that Faith Hunter has put into this world, and the ones I don’t love I find myself loving to hate them instead (as I’m sure was intended). I love Jane, Beast, the Younger brothers, Bruiser, all of them. I love the complexity of Jane and Beast’s abilities, and that those abilities actually have consequences. I love the world and city that the series is set in, as do I love the politics, both of the vampire and interspecies variety. And I absolutely can’t wait until the next novel is out.

We knew it was coming but the battle between Leo with his American vampires and the European vampires is finally here. And boy, did Hunter pull out all the stops and send us on an emotional roller coaster!

Jane, being Jane, ended up front and center for everything. No one is sure what she’ll do next... I’m not sure she even knows. Just when I thought she finally got a handle on the entire family has your back thing, we are thrown for a loop with a bunch of new possibilities and they didn’t have her back in any way, shape or form.

Hunter provided a white knuckle, binge readable novel at its finest!

I laughed, I cried and I cheered but in the end I was left completely STUNNED!

Talk about a cliffhanger!

I received this ARC copy of Dark Queen from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review. Dark Queen is set for publication May 1, 2018.

My Rating: 5 stars
Written by: Faith Hunter
Series: Jane Yellowrock (Book 12)
Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
Publisher: Ace
Publication Date: May 1, 2018
ISBN-10: 1101991429
ISBN-13: 978-1101991428
Genre: Urban Fantasy

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Have Stakes, Will Travel. Faith Hunter is best ambush hunter.

I love Jane Yellowrock. I love the whole of Clan Yellowrock. Every last one of them. Not Leo, though. Well, maybe Leo a little bit.

There are twists in this story where I never thought could be a twist. Things I knew but forgot. That's how vampires work. The long game. I can't ever remember the short game let alone a long one!

I can tell that the series is starting it's wind down but that does not mean there are not some spectacular action scenes and conspiracies not yet explored. Every last character from all of Jane's world make an appearance. It feels like a family reunion.

This story is not mired down by descriptions and fluff that is not necessary. It's face paced, blow your socks off incredible. Jane didn't laugh much in this story. The vampire duel is very serious stuff. She had a lot of work to do besides the duel though. Multitasking is obviously Jane's forte. She has a strange man showing up to blind side her with news. Ricky Bo is around and that relationship just got far more complicated. The Younger brothers are stellar as always with Alex growing into a responsible adult more and more. Bruiser is beautiful - 'nough said. Without spoiling anything, I can simply say this book had revelations and changes to everyone's lives.

Ok, where to start ... probably unknown to most people is that this was originally thought to be the last Jane Yellowrock book (a crime beyond comprehension). The series got a reprieve and there will be at least 2 more books BUT according to the author most of this book was written by that time and so it does some things that you might not like (I can think of several of them). In the long term I am sure it will be fine but you can see it was lining up for a finale and then the story turns a corner and starts down a new road.

Pretty much everything that has been happening for the last several books (and the series in a couple of places) is coming together for a final battle. There are some serious surprises here and a story that is addicting, we have what seems to be a requirement in recent books to have a lot of pages of "naval gazing" and while not boring you keep wondering what is happening while she is doing all this self introspection with the almost non-stop action in this book.

There are a couple of new characters, some more revealing things about some old characters and some side stories that left me a bit depressed. I was never really bored but Jane's reaction to some things got somewhat redundant if not a small bit irritating.

The book starts with a bang and after release day you can read the teaser that Amazon shows (WARNING: You better be ready to buy the book if you do LOL). The action only lets up a few times which makes the quieter parts seem slower than normal.

I don't dissect plots in my reviews, more of a feeling when I finished and this one kept me thinking about it long after I went to bed and the sorta cliffhanger ending (I am still considering if it is a true cliffhanger since you can mostly guess at the general direction of the plot). All I can say is she better write fast, I want to know what happens next ! I should add there is actually 2 sorta cliffhangers (HATE THAT)

Bottom Line: Loved it, mixture of emotions, love, hate, rage, warmth, and my favorite .... revenge. Obviously this is NOT a place to start this series at book 12 and one of the few series that the random short stories/novellas released along this journey DO matter. Jane is the hand of justice and while she might not love many of the aspects of that responsibility, she does not shirk them. These last few books have had a multitude of plots and subplots, this one is no different so hang on and don't even try to scan through or you will miss something that might leave you confused later. Jane Yellowrock and Kate Daniels still sit atop the world of urban fantasy genre in my opinion and always will I am sure.

Sigh, I was so happy to be back with Jane and the gang that I really didn't want this book to end. Then as I was reading, with this being the end of a story arc (the Sangre Duello), I was afraid it would be the end of the series. Jane and Beast have become one of my very favorite heroine pairs in urban fantasy, and I hope they stay around for the foreseeable future.

Dark Queen picks up at the end of Cold Reign, with all the New Orleans vamps and Jane preparing for the Sangre Duello with the Euro vamps. Jane's powerbase and clan is being solidified as she formalizes the Yellowrock Clan. Then someone possibly connected to Jane's past arrives in town, stirring up old memories and pain. So Jane has a lot of stuff going on personally, diverting her attention from things happening around New Orleans. But Ayatas proves to be an interesting addition to the series going forward. And I liked learning more about Jane's past, and seeing more of her vulnerability. I liked having a kickass heroine, but its also nice to see that she has some soft spots.

Though with everyone focused on the Sangre Duello, its the perfect time for old enemies and power-grabbing vamps to take advantage of the distraction to exact revenge and further their evil plans. With strange things happening at Vamp HQ and Jane's own house, she is even more distracted from the upcoming duel. But these sneaky petes give the story a nice added element of mystery and suspense, that helped build going into the big duel. It was also more opportunities for us to see some action and fighting before the big shebang.

Speaking of the big shebang, the Sangre Duello was all that I expected, and then some. We won some, we lost some. I cheered, I cried, and I was utterly captivated. I definitely could not have predicted the outcome or exactly how the duels played out. It was fantastic. But the story isn't over with the duel and there are some heavy things that follow. I can't wait for the next installment. Write fast, Faith!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley.

n book 12 of the Jane Yellowrock series, an epic battle with the European vampires has long been in the making with several skirmishes in the earlier books, some won and others lost. DARK QUEEN culminates with of all the preparation by Enforcer Jane Yellowrock and her team working with Leo, vampire Master of the City of New Orleans and his numerous other titles for other parts of the country. Jane Yellowrock not surprisingly deals with several complex issues at a time including trying to have a relationship with Bruiser, handle all the minutiae of the upcoming duel that will decide everyone’s fate as well as catching traitors, and dealing with someone who may have a very personal connection or be a clever enemy.

Jane has to accept the fact that people she loves and other folks of the natural and supernatural kind may not survive this battle. Beast has become even more assertive and as usual, knows things that Jane does not, some of which may have devastating consequences. All the major players are here including Jane’s significant other, George Dumas, and her ex, Rick LaFleur. Because of Were politics, Jane and Rick are thrust into a new dynamic that has all kinds of potential for trouble for whatever kind of relationship they do or don’t have. I am sure Brusier will not be amused either way even though he understands how tricksey things are with supernaturals in the mix.

Readers of this series will be left with many strong emotions about this book’s outcome, much of which has been building for quite a while. Some questions about Jane’s background are answered, but others are raised. Feelings will run high as this is a very gut-wrenching story in some respects for fans who have followed the series. Ms. Hunter deftly runs the reader through several emotional wringers and powerful scenes especially during the final battles. Jane’s personal and professional story comes to a major turning point which may seem like a cliffhanger, but thankfully, at least two more books are to follow so after this very intense ride, we are left with the happy thought of more to come.