Dark Queen

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />I'll be there. I can't wait.<br /><br />If you haven't picked up Jane Yellowrock yet, what are you waiting for? Start with Skinwalker and prepare to binge.<br /><br />(On a similar note, thank goodness we'll have a new Nell book while we wait for the next Jane one!)<br /><br />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.<br /><br />---<br />Review to come closer to release date, but OH. DEAR. GOD.<br /><br />This masterpiece was emotionally overwhelming. She went places I didn't think she'd dare to go, and she did it well.<br /><br />SO GLAD WE GET TWO MORE BOOKS NOW.

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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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)<br /><br />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.

<b> “We don’t poison. We shoot, stab, cut, slice and dice, eviscerate, disembowel, and decapitate. Sometimes shoot and blow up our enemies. We’ve been known to bury our dead in the swamp. But we don’t poison. Poison is wussy.” </b><br /><br />Some series get weaker as they continue past a certain high numbers, but some stay strong. Jane Yellowrock continues to shine with keeping some of the same aspects that made fans fall in love with it in the first place, but there are enough changes to keep it interesting. <br /><br />The setting up of the clans was especially fascinating. So much in this book went into the development of the showdown fight that it was hard to attach to as many characters. I'm a bit over Jane still reliving her past but there is a new twist about that. I don't buy into the whole European embrace thing and hope the author doesn't change Jane too much to where I don't recognize her with future changes.<br /><br />In this one Leo is making a stand and some major changes, including finally getting along better with Jane for the most part (when can he be trusted fully? Perhaps never). The big battle that’s been building for awhile is finally here, and the losses will be sad.<br /><br />The cliffhanger I was fearing from reviews wasn't as brutal as I thought...it's more of a geez hope all will be okay, not a sudden fall off a cliff to a gruesome death kind of ending. I will say though that if a certain someone really is dead then the series will have lost a lot of it's soul. There is a sad loss as well in this one ?. <br /><br />There’s a new relative in town and I’m not sure how I feel about it. The character himself isn’t bad but it’s an almost bizarre twist from going alone to a hidden village filled with her relatives. I also am not sure she needed this to keep the plot intriguing, but we’ll see. Leo has some books where I borderline despise him, borderline love him, and this one is for his favor. I was happy to see the shifters are playing a more prominent role. I like these werewolves and how they work with Jane, and I hope they are included a lot more in the future novels.<br /><br />We get Bruiser time and I'm always a fan of the pair but I do miss some of his wicked spark and layers from earlier books. He's almost too perfect now if this makes sense? <br /><br />Edward the “dark knight” is part of a hilarious phone call with Angie and her brother, but I did take issue with some of his comments to Jane agreeing she’s not a good person. He goes through some rough patches though and I’m hoping one day - I think we will - that we get a series with him and Angie. <br /><br />Beast is, of course, awesome as always, but she doesn’t get enough of her presence.<br /><br />I'm confused on the author completely dropping an Eli relationship that started last book with absolutely no mention in this book...weird because it was a neat fit that made sense. <br /><br />As always loved the book but some of the overdone details of security, some sadness and some distance keeps it four instead of five. I also missed Beast a bit. <br /><br />

I can’t get away from that effing c word! This better be okay!! <br><br><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1576869524r/28643191.gif?v=1576869542564" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>Mel ????

<b>Finally, the showdown has arrived</b><br><br><img src="https://images.gr-assets.com/hostedimages/1525835048ra/25507978.gif" width="400" height="210" alt="description" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"><br><br>I can’t even remember the first time the European Vamps were brought up possibly back at book 5 or 6 and finally we get the to big battle. The one where two vamps enter and only one vamp leaves. This is a game where cheating is encouraged and permitted and it seems no one is pulling any punches.<br><br>This was a peddle to the mettle, high octane ride from the moment Jane opened a knock on the door just to have someone shoot at her on page 2 to the last words on the final page. There is very little down time in this book between getting the duel going and fighting the betrayers of Leo and his posse there were very few slow down and take a breath moments.<br><br>The Sangre Duello has finally been completed. <b>*Whew* </b> about damn time is all I’ve got to say about that. It was brutal and there was a heavy cost that came with it. It will be interesting to see how it all shakes out in the next book <br><br><b>A few of the best moments</b><br><br>♦ - Any moment Jane and Bruiser are on the page together. Especially one moment near the very end of the book<br><br>♦ - Angie Baby. She will be a handful one day, heck she is a handful now.<br><blockquote> <i>“So what did you do to make the butterfly grow big?” <br>“I didn’t make one grow big. I jus’ made a big one come to me. From one of the other places.” <br>I breathed through my mouth in the beginnings of panic. “What other places?” <br>“There’s bunches of other places. One has big butterflies with pink wings and purple eyes and blue bodies and feet. I just pulled it over. Mama’s mad at me,” she said again, with pride.</i> </blockquote><br>♦ - Beast!!! She makes this series for me sometimes.<br><br>♦ - Jane with Eli and the Kid. I need a big bro Eli of my own. He is the best big/little brother a girl could have<br><blockquote> <i>“We don’t poison. We shoot, stab, cut, slice and dice, eviscerate, disembowel, and decapitate. Sometimes shoot and blow up our enemies. We’ve been known to bury our dead in the swamp. But we don’t poison. Poison is wussy.”</i> </blockquote><br>♦ - Meeting another shapeshifter and learning more of Jane’s past. <br><br>♦ - <b>ALL THE BATTLES!!!</b> And the biggest baddest battle of them all new the end. The Dark queen challenges you.<br><br>I have enjoyed the last 3-4 books of the series so much. I admire how far Faith Hunter has come in her storytelling ability and although I’m a little nervous to see what the future holds for our characters I’m also extremely excited

<b>2022 Re-Read</b><br /><br />I didn't write a review of this novel when I first read it in 2018 and as a result it is pretty foggy in my memory. If I want a sharp image, I have to engage with it and write. So here we go.<br /><br />Jane has done that thing again, that thing where she accepts a title from the vampires and doesn't research what it means or what she is obliged to do as Dark Queen. Just like when she accidentally claimed the title of Enforcer, way back in the beginning of this series. It becomes obvious that Jane has shaken up Mithran/vampire society. Introducing compassion and care into the bonds that bind them. Seeing friendship and adopted family as ties as strong as blood bindings. Proving through her loyalty that the usual vampire controls are as unnecessary as they are ineffective on her.<br /><br />This is a particularly dark installment of Jane's story. Hunter plays fair—Jane loses people that she cares about, completely reasonable when the American and European vampires meet for a blood duel. The future is uncertain when we leave her. There are questions about Leo, about governance of Mithrans on two continents, about the status of weres, and about Jane's health. <br /><br />Once again, chosen family and clan members come through for the ultra-loyal Jane. Caring about the people around her is second nature to Ms. Yellowrock and the people around her respond in kind. Jane doesn't discriminate based on species, she enfolds those who embrace her. If only more people were as accepting and welcoming. So it's a good thing that she has claimed an enormous clan house, as I don't expect she will quit collecting strays. <br />

Even though I was prepared for the worst event thanks to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11855472-steven" rel="nofollow noopener">Steven</a>, <i>Dark Queen</i> wrecked me. I don't know how to describe how much it affected me or how much it got me speculating about the future. I have my own hopes and ideas about where things can go from here but I hardly dare think them let alone say them out loud so I don't jinx it *settles in for a long wait*<br /><br />I've been hoping for a resolution to the EV plotline for a few books now and I finally got my wish. I actually expected the duels to take a bigger chunk of the book but I think it was better this way. I believe that otherwise the story would have felt unbalanced. There was a well developed plot that led to the duels and I adored that. There's also an inkling as to what the next story arc will be about but I could be wrong. Still exploring Jane's past and what it means to be an ordinary (if such a word is even appropriate) skinwalker will definitely be a part of that future.<br /><br />There was a particular scene that really caught my attention. When Jane was <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="e3caa4c3-cc42-4cb5-bf89-f42b5ec42ec1" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="e3caa4c3-cc42-4cb5-bf89-f42b5ec42ec1"> swearing her oath as a bloodmaster of Clan Yellowrock and she drank Leo's blood she experienced some of Leo's memories. I particularly liked this because it let me get a glimpse inside the head of the head bloodsucker, someone, who's fascinated me since the first book. Leo's feelings for Jane and the events she instigated shed a new light at his actions and while he is still a bastard at heart, I fell a little bit more in love with him because of that scene. </label> So after experiencing this, the ending was that much harsher and it makes me desperate for the next book and seeing what will happen. <br /><br />A note on the audio: Khristine Hvam did a magnificent job as usual.

<a href="https://tometender.blogspot.com/2018/04/dark-queen-by-faith-hunter-blog-tour.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img height="147" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1524490241i/25421397.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><a href="https://tometender.blogspot.com/2018/04/dark-queen-by-faith-hunter-blog-tour.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Blog Tour Giveaway</a><br><a href="https://tometender.blogspot.com/2018/04/dark-queen-by-faith-hunter-blog-tour.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Click to Enter for Chance to Win 1 of 2 SETS</a><br><a href="https://tometender.blogspot.com/2018/04/dark-queen-by-faith-hunter-blog-tour.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">of THE JANE YELLOWROCK SERIES</a><br><br>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!<br><br>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.<br><br>Hunter provided a white knuckle, binge readable novel at its finest! <br><br>I laughed, I cried and I cheered but in the end I was left completely STUNNED! <br><br>Talk about a cliffhanger! <br><br>I received this ARC copy of <b>Dark Queen</b> from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace. This is my honest and voluntary review. <b>Dark Queen</b> is set for publication May 1, 2018.<br><br>My Rating: 5 stars<br>Written by: Faith Hunter<br>Series: Jane Yellowrock (Book 12)<br>Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages<br>Publisher: Ace <br>Publication Date: May 1, 2018<br>ISBN-10: 1101991429<br>ISBN-13: 978-1101991428<br>Genre: Urban Fantasy<br><br>Amazon: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Queen-Yellowrock-Faith-Hunter/dp/1101991429/">https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Queen-Yel...</a><br>Barnes &amp; Noble: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-queen-faith-hunter/1126941650">https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark...</a><br>Itunes: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark-queen/id1268871898?mt=11">https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dark...</a><br><br>Reviewed for:<br><a href="http://tometender.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img height="236" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1520963258i/25208214.jpg" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a>

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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><i>*provided by <a href="https://www.netgalley.com" rel="nofollow noopener">NetGalley</a></i>

3.5 stars<br /><br />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.<br /><br />First the good stuff:<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Then there’s the not so great stuff:<br /><br />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 <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="7432138d-145b-486e-b74f-430f216d0967" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="7432138d-145b-486e-b74f-430f216d0967">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</label>. Some major characters act in ways inconsistent with the books thus far <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="79876617-9fbd-4fa3-9a20-e89a3eb352b3" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="79876617-9fbd-4fa3-9a20-e89a3eb352b3">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</label>. Some things were explained in ridiculous detail (such as the construction and then room assignments at the Duello site) while some crucial events <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="f58a183a-3902-4fac-9203-e1b04def0f85" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="f58a183a-3902-4fac-9203-e1b04def0f85">like the aftermath of Jane killing the EV emperor then letting Beast take over</label>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. <input type="checkbox" class="spoiler__control" aria-label="The following text has been marked spoiler. Toggle checkbox to reveal or hide." onchange="this.labels[0].setAttribute('aria-hidden', !this.checked);" id="3e594a7c-15b7-49a1-8cfb-7c2f72e7ec2d" /><label aria-hidden="true" class="spoiler" for="3e594a7c-15b7-49a1-8cfb-7c2f72e7ec2d">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.</label><br /><br />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.