Dark Heir

Jane Yellowrock, Book 9

By: Faith Hunter

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's Summary

Shapeshifting skinwalker Jane Yellowrock is the best in the business when it comes to slaying vampires. But her latest fanged foe may be above her pay grade.

For centuries, the extremely powerful and ruthless vampire witches of the European Council have wandered the Earth, controlling governments, fostering war, creating political conflict, and often leaving absolute destruction in their wake. One of the strongest of them is set to create some havoc in the city of New Orleans, and it's definitely personal.

Jane is tasked with tracking him down. With the help of a tech wiz and an ex-Army ranger, her partners in Yellowrock Securities, she'll have to put everything on the line, and hope it's enough. Things are about to get real hard in the Big Easy.

©2015 Faith Hunter (P)2015 Audible Inc.

My Favorite Yellowrock Book to Date!

For fans of the Jane Yellowrock books, get ready for more of all that's best about this series, and plenty of new twists and turns.

The pacing of "Dark Heir" is wonderful. Beloved characters are given additional depth and rounding out. Complications in their lives, flaws in character, and personal growth make this an addictive, refreshing change from the genre's usual fare.

Jane Yellowrock is quirky, delightfully imperfect, and such a fantastic heroine. Her alter-ego, Beast, is equally likable, with a different personality altogether... and they work together so well. Their relationship has evolved and become both smoother and more complex, and so well-integrated into the story. There's nothing forced about it, and it's wonderful to see how her other relationships (in business, romance, and her friends) struggle and grow in "Dark Heir" -- something I was really hoping to see, as Hunter's been building up to it throughout the series.

And I have to tell you, of all of the Jane Yellowrock books, it's my absolute favorite.

Khristine Hvam narrates this book beautifully, doing an amazing job giving life to characters human and otherwise. She's the voice of Jane and Beast both in my mind now, and I cannot imagine anyone else more suitable as a narrator for this series.

As an author, Faith Hunter stands behind her characters and the world she's created for them, and she seems to not be losing steam with this series. Her excitement about these books is justifiable, as they are completely addictive. Every book is worth your credits, as are the Jane Yellowrock short stories (also available here on Audible).

Expect blood and violence, romance (and one steamy sex scene in particular - no pun intended), and some fairly significant changes in Jane's life.


Thanks for yet another fantastic novel!

Hunter and Hyam keep getting better

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I recommend the entire series to start with. One of the best written and narrated series. There are several, one being "The Hollows Series" by Kim Harrison. Margarete Gavin narrated.(Every book got better and when the series ended on book 13 it had a great ending) When Faith Hunter decides to end the series I'm sure it will be just as fantastic.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Who's better than Jane and Beast. But the Younger Brothers and Bruiser are hard to beat. and in this book I had sympathy for Leo, and what he has to deal with (even though he's a predator) There's a lot going on in this story that makes it really non-stop action from start to finish.

Have you listened to any of Khristine Hvam’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I've listened to her do this entire series. She is fantastic with all the characters, accents, and emotions. I can't imagine anyone else narrating this series.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Jane was in the church and so badly burned and couldn't change with Bruiser. The battle she fought with herself and her Beast to pull through was really moving.

Any additional comments?

I have a feeling the next book with bring the Europeans into the story, and it will be VERY NASTY. But I think Jane and Beast will pull off another win.

The best Jane Yellowrock yet

I absolutely, unequivocally loved this book. a true tour de force in every sense of the phrase. I hate to give anything away, I know I can't stand it when others spoil a great story for me, so I won't do that to anyone else, but trust me, you have to read this book.

I got in pretty close to the ground floor on this series (I remember having to wait for Mercy Blade) and I've eagerly awaited the release of each book in the thrilling saga of Jane, but none more so than this one. Faith Hunter did not disappoint. Her writing seems to flow more easily with each book she puts out and when I said that this it's her best yet, I didn't just mean the story.

A special thank you to Khristine Hvam for coming back to narrate this book. Jane would certainly not be the same without you to give her a voice. I know you has personal matters that nearly kept you from being able to narrate this, but I'm so glad you did.

Seriously, are you still reading my review? Go! Buy this fantastic book and put your headphones on so, if I know you, we can dish and try to put all the pieces together.

The ever changing Jane

For fans of the series, it's not hard to say that this could possibly be the best yet. Jane's life is coming together finally with finding the much needed family she missed out on, and getting the kind of boyfriend she deserves. Along with that she and Beast have bonded as one, working and feeling in harmony. All this is a good thing, because she's battling the Son of Darkness, the most powerful of vampires that goes on a killing spree across the city. It's non stop action and exhaustion for the security crew, as Jane is ordered to take his heart, but leave him alive to return to Leo. That's a tall order that requires the assistance from the witches, and Molly still can't be trusted with her dark side. Brute the werewolf has an intriguing role in this book, sure to develop in future books. As always, Jane goes through more personal growth with her quest, where she decides exactly what she is, as a metamorphosis takes place. Love the narrator, she's Jane.

Just gets better and better

Where does Dark Heir rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The Jane Yellowrock series is at the top of my dozens of audiobooks. Faith Hunter continues to weave a mesmerizing story. All the books from 1 through 9 are wonderful ! Khristine Hvam makes listening a pleasure. Every time I think that the series cannot get any better - it does. The characters are riveting, the story line captures the imagination and the books build on each other to create a story that encompases all emotions, asks and answers questions about life and our own humanity and always leaves you feeling the intensity of the characters within the pages of the book ....

Who was your favorite character and why?

All of the characters blend to create a symphony that tells a story that pulls you in .... like a drug it leaves you wanting more.

Which character – as performed by Khristine Hvam – was your favorite?

All of them, she is fabulous

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"have stakes, will travel"

Any additional comments?

I'm glad I got into the series when 8 books were already published. I listened to all 8 in a row, waited with trepidation for #9 ( how could it get better? would I be dissapointed?) and now ....I am soooooo looking forward to #10 !!!!

Pleasantly surprised

What did you love best about Dark Heir?

That it brought pieces of previous books into play and let characters from those books come out to play

What did you like best about this story?

That Bruiser and Jane became a couple and that you can see his unconditional love for her

Have you listened to any of Khristine Hvam’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the only place I've heard Ms. Hvam but she's amazing

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Where Jane is badly burned and both Ely and Bruiser try to come up with ideas on how to help her

Any additional comments?

I love this series. Just when you think you can't be surprised, you are. I especially like how she visited other books from the series and some of the characters. I like how her characters good or bad have personality.

Great Listen in the Yellow Rock series

This book definitely met my expectations!!! I have listened to every book in the Jane Yellowrock, "Have stakes, will travel" series. Each book builds on the previous book, while the story line maintains a level of action, drama, romance and focus on family. Family is more than blood relations, and Eli & Alex (the kid) have become close family with jane. I was glad to see Bruiser returned and is an important character despite losing his place as Leo's primo. I love Kristine Hvam's voice and the voices she gives to the characters. I guess the biggest question is when will Reach rejoin the series. The next book has a bar to reach!!

Just when you thought it could not get any Better.

I never cease to be amazed by Faith Hunter. Jane and Beast have grown in each book. I enjoy watching Jane evolve as a character and seeing her powers grow in each book . Don't pass up this page turner. I want to say so much more but I hate reviews that give away the story. Just be prepared. When you start you won't want to stop.

i love

I love a lot of books yet this one i take my time with happy I did

Love this series.

The only negative thing about this book is that it ended. Can't wait fir the next one. The narrator does such a great job bringing the characters to life that I only use audio books for this series.

Starting to lose its way a little.

I've loved these books and buy them as soon as they are available to preorder. The last three have only been so so. This was a big improvement but still felt a bit off track.
That being said the narrator is still amazing and the characters are the reason I keep returning. They are so well created and the interplay is fun to listen to.
I'll still buy the next when it come out.

A lot of description not enough story

The parts of the YellowRock books I like the best which are the relationships between Jane, Bruiser, Rickybo, Beast and Leo were put on the back burner. This book was full of history and characters I couldn't keep up with. It felt like a fill in whist we are waiting for the next real storyline of the European vamps. Nice to have Jane back but for me not my favourite book.

Superb As Usual

Would you consider the audio edition of Dark Heir to be better than the print version?

I really enjoyed the audio version. I haven't purchased the print version but I do have the Kindle version which I will use very shortly. I love to hear the story then go to the book

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I loved the scene where Buiser comforts Jane as she cries - such gentle love between two strong people.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The scene near the end at the church. The decision and the fight.

Any additional comments?

Really strong story, close connections between the well written characters. A detailed story with violence, strategy complexity plus love and humour.

Big Bad on the Loose.

One of the reasons I paused from reading the Yellowrock novels was because I could see what Hunter was doing, she was ramping up the power levels/threat index of both foes and Jane herself. Whether this is for artistic reasons or Hunter wants to give her fans more bang for their buck I don't know. Personally I Think it is a distraction from everything that made the earlier novels so much fun and enjoyable.

In this book we hardly “see” or “hear” Beast because the Big Bad can injure in this plane of reality and in Jane/Beast's SOUL home reality. Now me I LIKE Beast, and to have her sidelined is a red flag to me. And Beast likes Bruiser too! “Good Mate” Near the end of the novel Jane is actually in Danger, but within two sentences, threat is overcome and all back to the status quo.

A sort of resolution to the “Molly” problem – maybe. Leo definitely needs bitch-slapping. Eli is growing on me and his character can surprise sometimes, Jane and the reader too.

However, this time I got the book on AUDIBLE. It definitely improves the story, even the bits I don't like, and the narrator gives Bruiser a very sexy British accent and brings out some of the dry, deadpan humour dotted about in the prose..

I Have purchased the next AUDIBLE publication, if it succeeds I might not give up on the series.

Yet another great read!

Enjoyed this book as I have all the previous, can't wait to read the next one! 😁

Missing Beast

I have loved all of these books, and adore the dialogue between Jane and the other characters in the series. I have noticed that Beast does not feature as prominently in the last couple of books and I miss her!!!! There is an increasing amount of complicated history and I found myself skating through these parts. Having said that I will continue to look forward to and buy the next installments.......

Jane at her very best

Love FH books it is an auto buy for me. In this book Jane is stretched to her and beasts limits. We see Bruiser gain more of Jane and the YS boys get a hint of life with family. The usual fangy mischief and deep betrayal as the son of darkness gets free. Fabulous book as usual and an intro to Nell for October this year.

jane yellowrock

I Just finished book 9.of this series
of jane yellowrock skinwalker and just loved. it.

Non stop action

Wow! Faith Hunter does it again. I couldn't stop listening, I NEEDED to know what was going to happen next. Highly recommend this series.

Exquisitely boring!

Too much re hashing past event and lots and lots of talking. Some of it was ok just found it tedious.