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Dark Queen (Jane Yellowrock, #12)

Faith Hunter

Start date: December 1, 2023

Finish date: December 31, 2023

Discussion: Challenges: What's the Rush

Why we're reading this: Part of our group series (re)read: Jane Yellowrock …more
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Challenges: What's the Rush

* 2025 Series Read: K.N. Banet's "Jacky Leon"
By Steph , Serious series addict · 116 posts · 36 views

last updated Oct 27, 2025 01:12PM

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* YEAR-LONG CHALLENGES
By Steph , Serious series addict · 1 post · 389 views

last updated Aug 17, 2010 11:14PM

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What Members Thought

May 03, 2018 Monadh rated it it was amazing

Shelves: vampires, uf, new-orleans

You gotta love Leo

This is one of my absolute favorite UF series and not in small part because of Leo. The main difference between UF and PNR was once described as the focus of the story not being the romantic relationship between the two main protagonists and the plot functioning even in the absence of that relationship. Jane does have a romantic interest/love life of sorts; at the beginning of the series she is involved with Ricky Bo, but that relationship goes nowhere after Rick betrays her. A You gotta love Leo

This is one of my absolute favorite UF series and not in small part because of Leo. The main difference between UF and PNR was once described as the focus of the story not being the romantic relationship between the two main protagonists and the plot functioning even in the absence of that relationship. Jane does have a romantic interest/love life of sorts; at the beginning of the series she is involved with Ricky Bo, but that relationship goes nowhere after Rick betrays her. After bemoaning the lost chance with Rick, doing a lot of waffling about and eyeing some other candidates she finally allows herself to be seduced by Bruiser/George Dumas (in book 8, Broken Soul). Jane’s relationship with Bruiser is quite smooth, he is hot, looks good in a tux (and out of it), is a warrior in his own right and, despite his age, he has no problem deferring to Jane in matters of the job. He is supportive, spoils her with his culinary skills (and other skills as well), but basically he plays the role that traditionally would fall to the supportive wife/girl friend of the hero.

Therefore I would argue that from the beginning the main male protagonist has always been Leo Pellesier, Master Vampire of New Orleans and thorn in Jane’s side. His machinations, his long-term plans, his schemes within schemes are what, almost exclusively, have driven the story-arc of the series. He is the one who questions Jane, exasperates Jane, drives her to distraction and challenges her. I don’t mind admitting that I have been in love with Leo from the start, even though he is a very ambiguous character. He is ruthless, wily, cold, doesn’t fight fair in love or war, and tries to bind Jane to him by force when the opportunity presents itself to him. But despite being a very old and powerful vampire he is also honorable, a good leader and has hidden depths (which gave me quite a nerd-girl moment), all redeeming qualities that make him the perfect anti-hero. At the beginning, when we first meet him, he is certainly in danger of losing the last threads of his humanity, but Jane changes him as he changes her. I think that becomes very clear in this installment as we finally see all of Leo’s plans come to fruition as they prepare to face the European vamps in a final battle. It seems most everything that Leo has contrived has been done to not only protect the vampires in his clan, but also all the other paranormals in America that would be impacted if the Eurovamps were to win and take over. And sneaky guy that he is, he also finally succeeds in binding Jane to him, not by force but by baring himself to her.

Although I loved the book overall – it is exciting, fast-paced, action-packed, emotionally wrenching – I had a bit of trouble with the ending. It has been pointed out in previous reviews that this was supposed to be the end of the series and the book had been all but written when the decision was made to add two more books. The final battle with the Eurovamps is the culmination of the story arc of the last several books and you can see where the ending was supposed to go (almost like a Shakespearean tragedy – battle won, order restored, main protagonists dead). Only it doesn’t go there, at least not quite. Instead of closure the ending is suspended, like the drops of possible futures Jane sees when she steps outside of time. I am not sure yet how I should feel about that, but nonetheless 5 stars, hoping this isn’t the last we have seen of Leo.
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Dec 14, 2024 Moondance rated it it was amazing

Shelves: betrayal, family, vampire, witches, favorite-series, werewolf, urban-fantasy, kick-ass-heroine, new-orleans, favorite-author

I had been in my bed for all of one hour, and though the scent of Bruiser from the sheets and from his boxing gloves tied to my bedpost usually filled my head with calm, today his personal aromatherapy wasn't working.

Leo has been issued a blood challenge by the emperor of the European vampires, strange werewolf packs are attacking NOLA citizens, and a man appears claiming to be Jane's brother.

Holy cow!! I didn't know if I wanted to give this book a 5-star rating or a 0. The questionable 0 was be ...more

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