Dark Queen

Jane Yellowrock, Book 12

By: Faith Hunter

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jane Yellowrock used to hunt vampires, but now she 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.

Cover design by Katie Anderson. Cover art by Cliff Nielsen/Shannon Associates

©2018 Faith Hunter (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Another great adventure from Faith Hunter!

Any additional comments?

Khristine Hvam does her usual stunning job bringing to life the characters in Dark Queen. Great narration. That's the easy part of the review. The hard part is writing a review without out spoilers. Many story arcs come together so going into detail will ruin the surprise as the plot twists and turns. Faith Hunter is great at providing series background so a new reader can pick up any book in the series, and not get lost. Dark Queen will be enjoyed more after reading earlier books in the series. Jane's off balance in the first part of the book, dealing with friends, family and old enemies and trying to master her evolving magic. There are new threats to the Vampires of NOLA, and to the witches she has sworn to protect. The long anticipated arrival of the European vampires, and the Blood Duel take make up the second half of the book, and many of the chess moves Leo has made over the centuries finally become apparent. Over all this is a great book, a wild ride, and the ending a major surprise.

YES-------Just YES--you must read this book

You must read this book !

There is so much that happens.

First, a new face brings confusion and emotions to the surface. The unknown and deceptions show their ugly faces. Step by step you will be carried to the pinnacle, to find things are not as they should be. Death and unknown magics interact to change the outcomes, as the scheduled battles continue. Then, when Jane can only react to a shocking outcome, what should be the end-----to find there is still more—more in battle, more in pain, more decisions to make in an instant of time. The balance of what was, has changed. So much loss to overcome. Life now, is not what it was, and yet one truth continues—that is the glue holding those who remain together—love and family bonds.

FOR ALL ----LISTEN/READ THE BOOK

Faith Hunter---you have outdone yourself. I will count the days for the next addition to Jane Yellowrock series. BRAVO !!

Khristine Hvam—Amazing job. Everyone should hear your narration on this story. BRAVO ! !

This was like Big brother + Fight Club 🤦🏽‍♀️

Jane Yellowrock is my 3rd favorite character of All-time. For the most part the writing for this series has been superb. The chgaracter ius mixed just right and the story lines are both complicated and capable of being followed. In this book, Jane is preparing for the battle with the European Vampires that will actually happen in this book. Be prepared, when it happens it's intense.

This installment was:

50% Unnecessary
+
25% Boring
+
25% EXCELLENT.

I'm not kidding, you can skip to Chapter 15 of this book when they first arrive at the house on the beach and be fine without reading the first 75%. That portioin covers a lot of random fights that dont mean anything to the continuation of the book and a bunch of scenes talking about things from the past books that you already know if youve made it this far in the series. Thank you Me. Hunter for not ending this series. Let's go on forever 😊 As long as you're writing, then I'm reading.

Now Chapter 15 is were things that matter start to happen. Why is that? We've waited half the series to meet the European Vamps and see the blood battle between Leo and Titos... but when it finally happens we only get 5 chapters of a 16 hour book... WTH?😂 Who does that? This tournament shoulkd have been the whole book, each round covered and death/injury with it's proper amount of time and emotion.

For some reason Jane does a lot of whinning in this book. She is a butt kicking and vamp staking machine, but very emotionally in this one. I counted 7 times (in the boring section) where she says her eyes fill with water over so nothing someone says... when did Jane get so mushy?

Portions of the story line aren't explained well in my opinion. After listening to this book 2 times, I still don't know what a Dark Queen is or how Jane is one of them. The thing with the crown, went over my head apoarently... feel free to explain to me what it did if you know. The location of the ultimate battle was a bit off to me. If you have the proclaimed Emperor of Europ e and the almost King of Vampires in the United States holding a Blood Tourniment for control of the world's Vampire... then why the hell would you hold the event in an un-updated 4 bedroom house on the beach? 🤔 it just lost me with location again.

Now I had a few more questions... if you haven't read Dark Queen then don't do any further. Enjoy your day and buy this book... feel free to skip the first half.

My Questuons:
1. After you know the ending, what was the whole purpose of fighting the tournament rounds any way?
2. Why did they talk about who won each round, if the leaders were always going to fight in the end then it wouldn't matter how many rounds each side won.
3. While thee powerful E.V.s were on the beach fighting, who was protecting their strong hold in Europe?
4. When did Jane start caring so deeply for Leo?
5. I liked my regular skinwalker Jane, why did we have to start this whole time walking angle. I hope that's the end of it after this book.

Kristine Hvam is an excellent narrator as always. I think she is the best ever. No less than top 2 of all time.

3 Stars 🌟🌟🌟- Good Book. I like the overall concept and it was delivered well. Most common ranking for a book I enjoyed and look forward to the next.

made me crazy

OMG OMG As I listen to the end of this and I'm just just freaked at the way this could go and then it ended........and and crap. WTF

Cannot wait for the next one!

I’ve seen a lot of reviews complaining of the ending. This is NOT the final Jane Yellowrock book, there are 2 more coming! Have Faith!

As always, Faith Hunter’s world of Yellowrock entertains as no other author I’ve found. The joy, the sorrow, the humor ( most especially, to me, Beast humor) and the love. And we can’t forget the fear! It’s all there and I couldn’t wait to read another page, even knowing the dreaded final chapter is coming, and then it will be over! Until the next book, of course.

And Jane just isn’t Jane unless she is voiced by the Ms. Hvam! As with each JY book, you always know who is speaking, as Khristine Hvam has more voices than a stage full of actors and she is so consistent! 12 books now and she’s still got it!

I Need To Lay Down...

Dark Queen finishes the story arc that has been growing in the last few books of this series. Faith Hunter mentioned that this was supposed to be the last book in the series and she was almost done writing the book when her publisher ordered two more books. Therefore Faith said there will be a cliffhanger and goodness gracious what a cliffhanger!

Since the first book Skinwalker till now we have seen Jane develop and grow from being a lone cat/beast to having a varied group of individuals who are now her family and friends. Jane is a protector and will do anything to save those that she loves. Jane still has insecurities and doubts herself throughout this book, but I think that is what makes her realistic, more believable in my opinion.

Faith Hunter is a wonderful, brilliant, funny, and a downright cruel author (and I mean that in a positive way) as the Dark Queen is an emotional rollercoaster for the listeners. Seriously, by the end of this book, I needed to lay down. The book is that good! I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens.

Khristine Hvam once again does an outstanding job narrating Dark Queen. I honestly don’t think there is anyone better to tell this story than Khristine Hvam as she has voiced the series from the start and has brought the words of Faith Hunter to life.

Heart breaking good!!!!

I’m still trying to gather my emotions. My heart is breaking and I need more. I sincerely feel that this was one of the best Jane Yellowrock book. I NEED MORE!!!! People you like dies in this book. How does one decide who to kill off in a series?

Loved it, But Too Short, Very sad-Leo Dell

When is the next book. Can’t wait a full year. It was difficult to wait. Lots of excitement all the way through. Didn’t like the sex healing-12 people healing all at once in same small bed would seem detrimental to the sick person. I thoroughly enjoyed, but was short. I waited months and finished in 1 day. By the end I was sad and crying. How could you kill of Leo. Very gross Beast and Brute eating those heads. Jane becoming very calloused. Bruiser will have to propose again in true Bruser style not just because. They were headed to the altar. Why wasn’t Jane getting turned an option. Jane never discussed Nicole. She wasn’t at house with Edmond. Needed to explain her presence, absence. As with other books there are unanswered questions but loved it. Don’t know how I will survive waiting for the next. While waiting I listened to every book a second time and every short story and all audible had to offer. Waiting impatiently for Next JY and Soulwood. Liked the introduction of the brother , but have to work on liking him. What happened to his red haired wife. So many possible storylines have been opened that another book or half book-something should come out this year. I understand must be balance with quality and quantity. Oh why Dell? Why Mike? Chapter for Story for a book a few years down the road-maybe Eli visits while she is in devotion. Again could have been longer, much longer. For example, too fast for Wrestler to be getting married.Sorry disjointed. Comments kept surfacing. Certain will have more to say.

H & L

Hated it and loved it in turn. Hard to accept that Jane's final acts would be so cowardly... until realizing that she acted true to character.

Love Narrator's voices of early characters, however as cast grew she was not able to create original voice for each new character.

Great!

Loved it. So many questions answered and things revealed. I want to know what happens next.

16 hours feels like 3

When listening to a Faith Hunter audio book narrated by Khristine Hvam time just flies by and before you know it you are at the end of the book... how does that happen?!

This book was the crescendo up to now ... a long anticipated wait and this book did not disappoint. Heavens I will not give any spoilers away but tissues at the ready .... in a very Jane Yellowrock way

Love these series

Fantastic story that you want to keep listening to!
Can't wait for the next book :D

A masterpiece

One of the best, if not the best, in my opinion. I was glued to it from beginning to end. A great plot, there things happen fast and yet it doesn't seem rushed.

Tears running!

This time we see and feel all of Jane’s strengths and weaknesses. Especially hers doubts and fears. The real inside of her. Beast is in fine spirit and offers words of wisdom and acts instinctively.
Kristine bought this book to life again and I lived it alongside Jane, her family and foes. At the end there were tears running down my face, it was so moving and full off things that might be.
Even if I never meet Jane again, I have been left with hope.
Thank you Faith Hunter

Wonderful Book - sheer perfection

After the last couple of books being good but not great, really setup books for this one Faith Hunter delivers in full.
Its the end of the very long story arc of the European Vamps coming to visit , and it really goes out with a Bang
Hard to say too much without spoilers and there are a few shocks! It was almost impossible to put down.
I actually wondered if this was the last of the Jane Books but I've read elsewhere that there are 2 more planned so it will be interesting to see where the story goes in the next book but for now let me just say this one is possibly the best in the entire series.
Khristine Hvam is as always perfect

Love the series. This book does not disappoint.

Awesome narrator love her voice.
Without too many spoilers, we get the big fight from the European vampires, I was a little worried that the whole book would be one big fight. Thankfully there were other story lines involved as well. I really enjoyed this book. Love the series.

Fantastic _ yet again

Great book . Captivating series . This ends on a bit of a cliff hanger so start the wait for the next book .
I would totally recommend this series - it’s so very well written and Khristine Hvam is such a good narrator that it’s easy to loose yourself totally .. well worth a credit .
I envy anyone just discovering this series as you have 12 books to enjoy - bliss !

Dark Qieen

I have become addicted to this author, narrator, story and characters. I.LOVE everything about this series, even the MOC. This, while not completely out of my reading genera, has become the voice and tale I want to listen to whenever possible. How lucky we all ate to have such a prodigious writer!

Vamp War

I have been a bit critical of some of the novels in the JY series, but over-all the series has been leading to this book, and an enjoyable romp it was too.

EXCEPT

Book #12 reads and feels like it is the end of the series, sadly it isn't. With at least two more JY books to come I am afraid Faith Hunter and her publishers have fallen into the trap of churning out book after book. Needlessly. It happened with the McCaffrey Dragonbooks , Dune and so many others. No doubt die-hard fans of the series will rejoice - but why? Hunter actually gives a clue in how she was going to end the series in this book. I personally would like that ending to have taken place. Less is more. As for the fans, I remember what Joss Whedon said about Buffy fans who craved different plot lines or more episodes. "Give them what theey NEED, not what they WANT."

This is the Big One. The summation of New World vamps versus the Euro Vamps war. People, fangheads, familiar and liked characters will be injured or die - True Dead. (Although one major character's fate is up in the wind). For once thank goodness - the rumpy-pumpy was put to one side (Jane and Bruiser much too busy for that - :LOL). Jane gets a surprise visit from an alleged relative. Jane encounters Timey-Wimey stuff. Jane gets an extended family and her own Clan. The fluttering of angel wings can be heard. And Beast is still keeping secrets. Liked the fact that the EVs are populated with historical characters - no surprise that Lucretia Borgia is one of them for example.

All-in-All this book almost got full marks except that it didn't end the series so A-.

Brilliant battle

Narration is spot on.

We know there is a big fight coming and it was written in a way your heart was in your mouth for those characters you have come to know.

Brilliant.