When I saw another Jane Yellowrock book available through NetGalley, I could hardly wait until it was approved and loaded onto my Kindle. As one of my favorite authors, Faith Hunter is now writing two series, but this is the one that I loved first. I do have to say, I did start reading cautiously – in the last several novels, Jane and the New Orleans vampires have been preparing for a visit from the European mithrans (vampires); I worried that when the meeting finally came about, it would not live up to the hype set in the previous several books. My worries were quashed when it became apparent that this was less a visit and more an invasion, with a series of formalized fights set up between the oldest and strongest of the American vampires and their people and the oldest and strongest of the Europeans. At risk was the freedom of humans and paranormals throughout the United States – the stakes were set high.
Because the European vampires were typically aristocrats used to pomp and circumstance, there is still some negotiating rules and requirements in the first part of the book, which might have seemed a little boring if Hunter hadn’t dropped a bomb in the form of a new character, Jane’s full-blooded brother, Ari.
One of the best aspects of Hunter’s series has been Jane’s need and search for family. Having come out of the woods as a supposed orphan child, Jane had gone through the foster care system, and it had not been kind to her. Since coming to New Orleans, she had accepted her housemates, Eli and Alex Younger, as business partners and family members. Along the way, she also acquired a vampire primo, Edward, and a werewolf, Brute. But she had been certain there were no other blood relatives of hers out there. With Leo, king of the American vampires and Jane’s boss, to confirm Ari’s DNA, Jane has a lot of mixed feelings about this new brother – ecstasy that he is alive; anger that it took so long for him to contact her; joy that there are other relatives; and fear about what it all means for her.
But there is little time to deal with this new relative. The Conclave is on, and the fights are brutal and to the death. Several characters who have held secondary positions in the series for quite some time are killed. This definitely amped up the level of tension, especially when Jane’s adopted brother, Eli, is called to fight. It appeared that no one was safe, and this was especially true with the ending. Suffice to say, I cannot reveal more without giving away spoilers. What I can say is that if this is the end of the Jane Yellowrock series, I am happy that it ended with this book on a high, if totally unexpected note.

must fight--and win--beside them.
As Enforcer to the vampire Master of the City of New Orleans, Jane Yellowrock stakes her reputation and her life on keeping her territory safe. But Leo has been issued a blood challenge by the emperor of the European vampires, who seeks to usurp all of his power and possessions. If Leo loses the match to the death, the city will be forfeit, and the people of New Orleans will suffer the consequences. Jane can't let that happen.

Preparing for the duel requires all of Jane's focus, but with so much supernatural power in play, nothing goes according to plan. She has to rely on herself and the very few people she knows she can trust to stand and fight. Only two things are guaranteed: nothing is sacred, and no one is safe.

BOOK DESCRIPTION COURTESY OF AMAZON

I was given a copy by Netgalley and the Publisher for an honest review.

If you had one word to describe this book, mine would be "WOW!". DARK QUEEN will have you on an emotional roller coaster, that you have been through the wringer. Faith Hunter is truly a master of her craft. I am so glad this was not the last book of the series and the publishing Gods have taken pity on us and given us two more books in the series. How can I sum up the book without giving away any spoilers? We all know that Jane and The Vamps of New Orleans are  getting ready for the SANGRE DUELLO. During all the preparing a new twist is thrown in. Someone claiming to be her brother shows up at her doorstep. Even though Jane has made a family with the Youngers and a few others, this brings up a lot of questions. One is why didn't anyone come looking for her until now? Wouldn't they want to know what has happened to her? Jane has to keep her focus on the European Vamps and making sure they don't sabotage the Sangre Duello. With each book Jane's character has grown. I love the characters and world building that Faith Hunter has created. I recommend this book and series to everyonr.  I give Dark Queen (Jane Yellowrock) 5/5 stars.

Oh wow! The European vampires have made it to New Orleans! Jane/Beast are one (2?) Of my favorite characters. Her snark can only get her so far though. I don't want to give any spoilers but her constant timewalking has seemed to have unwanted side effects. We meet a new person with roots in Jane's past. A few friends (ugly cry!) are lost, quite a few foes are defeated and a few twists thrown in to just mix everything up. I hope this isn't the end to the story!

Eagerly anticipated book in this series, I am blown away. B.L.O.W.N A.W.A.Y. For those who have not read the first eleven books in this series, it is a must read prior to this one. In Dark Queen, the intimidating European Vampires finally show up. The build up has been coming along with scary powerful Vampires ready to take Leo and his coven down. The preparation has made it stressful for Jane and her team who have to protect Leo.

I thought this installment would be all doom and gloom. It would be fight after fight to see the winner take all. To my surprise, Jane's quirky rebel attitude influences Leo and how he handles the Europeans. The flippant way Leo treats the Europeans had me in stitches. Make no mistakes, the actual showdown is not an easy win for team Leo. There are unpleasant outcomes and losses for both sides.

What also took me off guard is finding out about Jane's family. We learn more about her past and it brings up old wounds that never healed. I feel sorry for Jane just as I feel anger towards the ones who bring up the old memories. It is interesting to see the story of her young life from a different perspective. It's also interesting to see how centuries have not change the competitiveness between family members.

The climax of this story is shocking and I am devastated. Ms. Hunter does the unthinkable and I am hoping that in the next book, there will be a revival. Because if not, my heart is broken by the ending of this story and I think Jane will never recover from it either. This story kept my attention from beginning to end. A page turner filled with action and and plot twists. This urban fantasy is highly recommended to all readers.

3.5 stars

I love the world Hunter has created with the Jane Yellowrock series, and many of its characters have become favorites. The previous several books all have been leading up to this final face-off between Leo and the European vamps as well as their respective allies. All that build-up. All that tension. Aaaaand...I found the story satisfying and frustrating in not so equal measures.

First the good stuff:

Over the course of the series, Jane has grown from a loner to one who has built her own family and circle of friends. Her relationships with the Younger brothers, with Bruiser, and even with Edmund all are highlighted with some satisfying warm fuzzies. There’s plenty of Beast, always an enjoyable thing. (Beast is best ambush hunter!) Jane recalls more of her past, learns about a possible family connection, and ponders what she really values in her life. The Sangre Duello finally takes place and there is some resolution, even if some things are left uncertain at the end.

Then there’s the not so great stuff:

Things are left uncertain at the end with a cliffhanger, and Jane’s progress on letting others into her life takes a (temporary) hit. Getting to that cliffhanger, the story meanders and at times makes little sense. Some events and new characters seem stuck in without making much impact on the plot, only to be forgotten <spoiler>like the rogue werewolf pack working with a local gang to attack Jane, with the jewelry shop owner introduced only to be killed later off page</spoiler>. Some major characters act in ways inconsistent with the books thus far <spoiler>like a more compassionate Leo or Jane being so lax with security as to allow enemies into HQ and to get to the SOD multiple times without taking new precautions</spoiler>. Some things were explained in ridiculous detail (such as the construction and then room assignments at the Duello site) while some crucial events <spoiler>like the aftermath of Jane killing the EV emperor then letting Beast take over</spoiler>are told about after the fact rather than shown. While the one family-related plotline was intriguing, I had a hard time accepting some of the particulars about it. <spoiler>Jane had been in the public eye for a good three years. It would have been difficult for anyone reading news, and certainly for a law enforcement officer like Aya, Jane's brother, to have missed what should have been a giant arrow pointing to her. How could they not have noticed and wondered about her identity long before? This makes Aya’s excuse of childhood jealousy all the more ridiculous and damning of him.</spoiler>

Despite these frustrations, the book is a must-read for fans of the series. A lot does happen, even if arrived at in a circuitous manner, with some long-running issues resolved and others raised or in limbo. I’ll await the next book with fingers crossed.

First off, I want to say that I know that I read this series out of order. I am crazy. I acknowledge that fact! It's just that I got approved to read Dark Queen, and then I wanted to read Death's Rival because that's the book the Younger brothers are introduced, and then I just plain wanted to go right back to the beginning, so I did. So there is some logic to the madness!

I'd forgotten a lot of what happened in Skinwalker, like the fact that Gregorie was set up to make it look like he was the bad guy. Or that Rick was an undercover cop. So yeah, that made it great to start it from the beginning again, before Jane knocked down some long-run scheming plans!

Death's Rival was so great for so many reasons, one of them you only appreciate after you read Dark Queen, because in Dark Queen you get to see Jane from a different character's perspective of what happened when Leo's house was burned down. So that was great!

So much happened in Dark Queen, which was just so freaking excited for! Like we met a new character in the very first chapter who has a really big impact! Like the creation of Clan Yellowrock, which is so fantastic! And then there was a consolidation in the bad guys, apparently! And finally, the big battle that's been building basically since the beginning! So much happens!

That ending was just so incredible! So much plotting, and it all came down to that one final battle! I love to love and love to hate bits and pieces of it! Because some things were really great, but others, not so much! That last scene, things are grim, but there's a glimmer of hope!

I just love this series, and I loved these 3 books, and I can't wait for the next 2 Jane books and the next 2 Soulwood books, Circle of the Moon is next, yeah!

Dark Queen by Faith Hunter is the 12th book in her fantastic Jane Yellowrock series. Wow..Dark Queen was an incredible emotional rollercoaster of ride. At the end of everyone of the 12 book in this series, I have noted that each book gets better and better. Dark Queen takes this even further, as it enthralled me from the start, and shattered my heart so many times. With saying that, it is no doubt that Dark Queen is the best book in the Jane Yellowrock series. Faith…I am in awe how you pulled me in and never let go, even to the final moment.

Dark Queen picks up a short time after the previous book ended, as Jane, her team and the Master of the City’s team prepares for the upcoming battle with the European Vampires. With days remaining before the battle for rule of Europe and America, Jane is in the middle of major security preparations. They all know that if Leo and his team lose, it will be the death of so many, as the Europeans would assume control, and kill everyone working for Leo. Jane, Eli and Alex are in the middle of some pre meeting attacks that are attempts to hurt and destroy the American team, which warns of betrayals to Leo, the Master of the City; including former friends, dangerous witch and enemies.
Jane also finds herself in a personal issue, as someone from her past arrives throwing her for a loop. She must reconcile the possibility of this being real, or just someone using her. This was an interesting development that we probably will explore in the future. I loved how Beast continued to play a big part sharing the battles with Jane. I got a kick out of Eli becoming closer to Beast, which was a short release from all the tension.

Closer to the halfway point, Leo calls a meeting of all his clans and staff; to complete the preparations for the upcoming battle, as well in the event of his death. This was an awesome meeting, which turned out to be one of the many highlights that I fully enjoyed. Heirs were named, Clans tightened, and a new clan created…Clan Yellowrock. I loved seeing all the new members of Jane’s clan that she added, in order to be their protector. I loved this part so much, that I went back three times to read it again, as well as the final 1/3 of the book.

When the story moves to the battle of the Leo and Titus, the tension rises and there are no breaks along the way. It was totally nerve wrecking, and emotional; constant violent action, as well as horrible deaths for all sides. I could not put the book down, and forced myself to read slower for fear of what will happened next, and who will we lose.

It is always great to spend time with Jane’s continued growing team, many of whom we have come to love. Eli has is great, as Jane’s loyal second; Alex, the techie, who is fully coming into his own; Bruiser, Jane’s love interest, whom I have come to love; Edmund, Jane’s Primo, who is also Leo’s heir: Molly, her best friend, who is a powerful witch; Brute, the wolf who can’t shift; plus many more we continue to meet. Of course, needless to say, I adore Beast, and especially as now they are fully one; stronger, better, smarter, and unbeatable. I loved seeing Jane begin to learn to use more of her powers, as she rises up to be a true Dark Queen. But will that be enough to save them all?

The last half of the book is not only violent, intense action & mindboggling battles, but the emotional toll we feel from the shocks we suffer after many deaths we did not expect, as well as the fear of how much more we will lose. As much as we have prepared ourselves over the last few books about the European vampires coming to destroy the Master of the City and take over America; Faith Hunter has taken us by surprise at how far this would go. Jane as the Dark Queen is a fantastic heroine, and Is more powerful then she has ever been, as her and Beast were a force to reckon with.

I will not give spoilers, as this is certainly one story you need to read. What follows is an exciting, wild, intense, action packed adventure that has Jane, Eli, Leo, Alex, Edmund, Molly and Bruiser and so many of the secondary characters that we have known throughout the growing evolution of this series, fighting for their lives. We have little time to breath, as one fight after another finds Jane in the middle of death defying situations. Will Jane be able to stop the ultra powerful enemies, and save her friends? Will Leo survive or will the European vampires succeed in their takeover attempt?

Dark Queen is fantastic mind-boggling addition to the Jane Yellowrock series. For those of you who have not read this series, you are missing a great series, a super wonderful bad-ass heroine in Jane Yellowrock, and author who kills it (& us) every time. Please Faith, though you ripped my heart out, please keep on giving us more of Jane Yellowrock. I am not ready to let her go. Warning: Dark Queen does end in a cliffhanger.

Faith Hunter has written another action packed Jane Yellowrock novel. I love this series, for me it is unputdownable....If you love vampires and other creepy and not so creepy things...read this book.or better yet the whole series.

This book left me stunned and amazed. I love this series and when I saw that I could get a copy via NetGalley, I leaped at the chance.
This was written as a finale of sorts and tied up the story lines. The European Vampires have challenged the Master of the City of New Orleans, Leo, in a winner take all duel. Skinwalker and Enforcer for the MOC, Jane Yellowrock and her crew are preparing for this event. Jane has a long, complicated history and a man, skinwalker shows up on her doorstep claiming to be her long lost brother, and that's just one of the many plot twists that starts this thrill ride. Jane has been a loner, but has now acquired a "family" around her, which she feels compelled to protect however she can. All of this leads up to this final thrilling duel. Some long known characters get killed, others rise to new heights.
Highly recommended, but start at the beginning of the series!

Faith Hunter’s Jane Yellowrock series never disappoints. Yellowrock securities has to prepare for the upcoming Sangra Duello. Along the way, a new PSLED agent tries to kill Jane and then declares that he is her brother. The local werewolf pack decides she needs to die. There is another force, possibly working with the EVs, also trying to kill her. Can she find the truth about this PSYLED agent, stop the werewolf pack, sniff out the traitor, and get everything ready for the main event?
Together with the Younger brothers, Edmund, Bruiser, and of course Beast, she has to use all of her resources to find who is trying to sabotage the Sangra Duello. The only way to keep everyone she cares about safe is to make sure the MOC, Leo, makes it through this duel.
Definitely a must read if you like this series. Has it’s up and downs, and the OMG I can’t believe that just happened. Makes you anxiously await the next book

I've long been a fan of this series, and enjoy the manner in which the author has developed the characters over the course of the twelve books. Jane has become much more worldly-wise, learned to see the shades of grey and to appreciate the long game Master of the City Leo Pellisier plays. In Dark Queen, Jane herself has reached a point where she needs to make long term arrangements to protect those she loves as the showdown between Leo and the European vampires approaches.. In the midst of all this, a new character claiming to be Jane's brother, and, of course, much skullduggery by the opposition! The Sangre Duello finally arrives, with wrenching consequences. Cliffhanger ending, leaving me with hope that this is not the end of the series.

Another great addition to the Jane Yellowrock series! We are introduced to a new character who may or may not be Jane's biological brother, and this turns her world upside down. Although she has developed her own kind of family, with the Youngers and Truebloods, Jane has always felt alone: the sole shapeshifter from her clan. She has to work through why her "brother" has now shown up, as he seems to have ulterior motives. There's a lot of action, as always, and the arc of the European Vamps and the upcoming vampire duel for the U.S. territories is on everybody's mind. It was great to immerse myself in this unique and entertaining world again. I recommend this series often and it's up there with other series, such as those written by Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews. Thanks for the e-galley!! Made my day when I was approved to read it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Faith, you've destroyed me. You wrote this masterpiece, filled to the brim with countless emotions. You created these characters that I've come to care about over the years. You have been guiding them towards this showdown with the European Vamps for the last half of the series. But what you haven't been doing us is preparing us for JUST HOW HARD IT WOULD BE. You didn't prepare me to have my heart shattered, then pieced back together, then shattered again. You didn't prepare me for new revelations, for devastating losses, for elated moments of love and family.

But one thing you did prepare me for? The next book. :) Thank goodness this wasn't the end. Thank goodness we've got more. Thank goodness that we get to see where this new path, this new journey, this entirely new world you're going to rebuild from the one you just demolished will lead.

I'll be there. I can't wait.

If you haven't picked up Jane Yellowrock yet, what are you waiting for? Start with Skinwalker and prepare to binge.

(On a similar note, thank goodness we'll have a new Nell book while we wait for the next Jane one!)

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go try to find some way to process these myriad emotions that I just can't seem to get a grip on... even though I finished the book yesterday... and still can't seem to handle them all.

Full review to be published online in mid May.

DARK QUEEN is the 12th book in Faith Hunters long running and innovative ‘Jane Yellowrock’ series. I’m going to have to go with 3.5 stars here, as I was a bit disappointed. The story was convoluted, overly wordy, and I honestly didn’t particularly enjoy parts of it. The storyline drags the reader all over the place, and I skimmed through portions. Subplots were brought up (like Rick, and Jane’s newly found ‘brother’); and the threads left hanging, apparently for the next book. The wordbuilding, however, is very good as always; and the ending was a game changer for the series.

Faith Hunter really has a great UF world going on in this series. There was more Beast here…yeah…but the magic woo woo is getting more prominent. These latter books are quite different in tone from the early books, where it was Jane and Beast kicking the bad guys asses without the aid of so much magic and time bending. Now Jane is the Dark Queen, and is pretty much as powerful as the title implies. Definitely not the Jane of old.

Usually I read a book for the plotline, and the personal aspect/relationships are secondary. Here, I slogged on through wanting to know how certain events were going to affect Jane’s personal life. The ending was really...whoah, had some massive series repercussions…and ended on a cliffhanger. Hunter is either getting ready to wrap the series up, or sending it into a completely new direction.