Publisher: Ace Roc
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: May 1st, 2018
Buying Links: Amazon* | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository* | iBooks* |
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission from purchases made through these links.
Blurb from goodreads:
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.
My Thoughts:
Oh boy. Dark Queen was amazing. I'm still processing it but I loved it and I'm sad and I'm happy and I am desperately wishing that the next book wasn't 16 months away. So much happened in Dark Queen, it was a packed 400+ pages. First, if you haven't read the earlier books, do not start with this one. You will be utterly confused. I have read the entire series and still found myself wishing I'd re-read at least the prior book. I'll definitely need to do some re-reading before the next book comes out.
The world Hunter has created is rich, detailed, and complex. So are her stories. There are no throw away details; everything has relevance, even if we don't discover the relevance until many books later. Jane herself has changed so much over the books and yet she falls into old patterns as so many of us do.
I wasn't alone anymore, but I was still acting as if I was. I'd been flying by the seat of my pants for so long I was surprised my undies didn't have wings.
And despite, or maybe because of?, all of the changes, Hunter has kept the world consistent and rich and engaging. I've grown to care about and like so many of the characters, the minor ones as well as the major ones. In this story, we see some get hurt and some die. One character was introduced in this story, I took an immediate liking to them, and damn it, Hunter killed them. Aaargh! Darn author.
Anyway, I was delighted to see forward motion on the European vampires storyline. It was feeling overly dragged out to me but damn, lots of action in this book! The EVs come, they are douche bags, and things happen. Jane becomes a Dark Queen in more than name, and can I say, I think I'm in love with both Edmund and Eli? Hunter not only spins a hell of a story and creates amazing worlds but writes awesome, complicated characters. I almost liked Leo in this story, even felt sorry for him at one point, and there was a time I utterly hated him. Seanan McGuire has that same ability to flip my emotions about a character. Actually, both Hunter and McGuire are awesome writers who create amazing worlds, characters, and stories. Ms. Hunter truly gets better with every book she writes.
While the European vamps were douches, the bits where Leo and his people, and Jane's, played country bumpkins to the max, over the top and gloriously stereotypical, was a hoot. I laughed so hard I almost needed my rescue inhaler. Also, Beast is pretty darn funny.
Bra was dead. Jane should kill bras.
Jane's world and that of the American vampires undergo a major change and I am excited to see how it plays out. Nothing will be the same ever again. Also, that ending! AAAAARRRRGH!
"Dark Queen" was emotional, exciting, funny, sweet, sad, action packed, and full of twists and turns. It's a must read.
Reviews of previous Jane Yellowrock books:
Book 4, Raven Cursed
Book 5, Death's Rival
Book 6, Blood Trade
Book 7, Black Arts
Book 8, Broken Soul
Anthology, Black Water
Book 9, Dark Heir
Anthology, Blood In Her Veins
Book 10, Shadow Rites
Book 11, Cold Reign
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