Dark Heir (Jane Yellowrock Book 9)

This is one of my favorite series. Good story line, lots of action, character development and keeps it interesting every book...without having to fill with gratuitous sex. Not many strong heroines that I really enjoy reading; most books coming out now are YA and I'm of a certain age. Lilith Saintcrow's Jill Kismet and Dante Valentine are a couple of my other faves and Marjorie Liu's Hunter Kiss is another. Wish we would have had this kind of fiction when I was young, good role models for developing strong young women.

I was so looking forward to starting this book, however I wasn't wow'd by it.

This review contains some spoilers.

First off, I really did enjoy the "bad guy" in this story, however it was written as a big cat and mouse chase that wasn't very exciting and was disappointing. The story jumps around following Jane and Eli as they are looking for the big bad vamp. Yet again the European vamps still aren't hear, yet the threat of them coming continues... I'm getting tired of waiting. That better be one exciting book when they do show up since this has been drawn out over so many books.

I am happy to see Jane relaxing into who she is and loving people including Bruiser, Eli and Alex as they accept her as who she is. But I really felt the story jumped around a lot. While I know these books are not romance novels (which is a good thing) I was disappointed in the lack of Bruiser's character. For as big of a role Bruiser was in the previous books, it was very disappointing to have him barely in this book. He showed up in the beginning and I swear I dont know where he went. He was with her at HQ and then was gone.. maybe I missed something. Then he basically showed up for 2 nap time booty calls and left before Jane got up for the day. Really?? Didn't he have anything to talk to her about still, or he was in such a hurry to get back to Onario business? FINALLY he comes into the story at the end and it's GREAT to see he and Jane work together. I really wish we saw more of it through the book. I know Eli is her partner and it was great seeing them work together, but with Bruiser's history and status with vampires I would have thought he could have been more help.

Also, I want to see a conclusion to the Rick/Jane mess. I agree Jane has moved up and on, however I feel like they need to have a chat about it to wrap it all up. I was totally confused by the teaser for the new book at the end. Are we supposed to know this new character? I haven't read every short story, so perhaps I missed the introduction.. but I hope Rick and Paka are not main characters. I have no interest in reading that.

There was too much time spent on Jane and Eli running around and not time spent on other items. What about Dominique? No confrontation there, just she shows up dead. Boring. Depressed Del and Leo.... that wasn't very interesting either and now Jane wants to play match maker? Seems a bit out of character.

I am still looking forward to the next book, and I do not know how many are planned to be left for the series, however I'm really hoping it steps up a notch.

Each book in this series just reaches a other level of perfection. Never a dull moment. Love the suspense and humor mixed in. Faith Hunter never disappoints. Outstanding. Now I just have to wait for the next one.

This is the latest book in the series - you could probably start with this book and follow it OK, but I really would recommend starting at least several books earlier, if not at the very beginning to fully understand the characters and situations that lead to this story.

As always lots of action anad adventure with some suspense mixed in too. An enjoyable read.

Hard to tell if jane is going to stay with us as jane or maybe as somewhat a different being so
Hang on and hope that Yellowstone does not start to

Not sure if this series is going in the right direction. More action and a lot less magic is what I started this for

You just can't beat Faith Hunter if you're looking for a fast-paced tale with a skin-walker Cherokee woman named Jane Yellowrock who puts the hammer down on bad vampires! Start with the first book in the series and be prepared to get hooked. Faith Hunter rocks the paranormal and I can't wait for the next book.

I thought the last book was good, but this one is even better. Jane is finally accepting who and what she is. She is getting stronger and beginning to form her own family unit. Very often, writers lose momentum in a multiple book series. Jane just keeps getting better and better. Keep`em coming, Faith Hunter!

Once again Faith Hunter takes Jane Yellowrock up another notch and leaves the reader/listener anxiously awaiting the next book. Questions are answered in Dark Heir and more develop. Great writing! I love whispersync and Khristine Hvam does a spectacular job narrating.

Jane learns more about her heritage, how her abilities as War Woman have developed, and what these mean to her as she works to save her city from the Son of Darkness. This is an entertaining read, however if I hadn't read the two books that preceded it I would have found it more difficult to follow.

Hard to tell if jane is going to stay with us as jane or maybe as somewhat a different being so
Hang on and hope that Yellowstone does not start to

Not sure if this series is going in the right direction. More action and a lot less magic is what I started this for

You just can't beat Faith Hunter if you're looking for a fast-paced tale with a skin-walker Cherokee woman named Jane Yellowrock who puts the hammer down on bad vampires! Start with the first book in the series and be prepared to get hooked. Faith Hunter rocks the paranormal and I can't wait for the next book.

I thought the last book was good, but this one is even better. Jane is finally accepting who and what she is. She is getting stronger and beginning to form her own family unit. Very often, writers lose momentum in a multiple book series. Jane just keeps getting better and better. Keep`em coming, Faith Hunter!

Once again Faith Hunter takes Jane Yellowrock up another notch and leaves the reader/listener anxiously awaiting the next book. Questions are answered in Dark Heir and more develop. Great writing! I love whispersync and Khristine Hvam does a spectacular job narrating.

Jane learns more about her heritage, how her abilities as War Woman have developed, and what these mean to her as she works to save her city from the Son of Darkness. This is an entertaining read, however if I hadn't read the two books that preceded it I would have found it more difficult to follow.

This series of books just keeps getting better and better! I think that this may be my favorite to date. I highly recommend the series to anyone looking for something a little different in the vampire, werewolf, supernatural creature genre.

Another great installment in the Jane Yellowrock Series! I love the familial evolution of the relationship between Jane and the Younger brothers. I also loved her interaction with Bruiser. Wow! I can't wait for the next book.

Like all the books before this one you are led to care about the characters. I will forgive the one use of county when she meant parish but if that is my only complaint you can be assured the rest of the book is great.

This is just the best series of books I've read in a long time - and I read a lot. I love Jane Yellowrock and all of her besties.....Sometimes I have to remind myself that her world is fantasy, everything seems so real....

Oh, Jane. What a tangled web is weaved by these long-lived creatures of the night…

Dark Heir starts off with a fabulous chapter title – “Twist Your Lil’ Bobblehead Right Off” – and plenty of action. A “guest” of the sub-basement of Leo Pellisier’s at vamp HQ (or, “suckhead HQ” as coined by Alex the Kid) breaks free, aided and abetted by one of Jane’s least-favorite vamp, whom Leo still won’t let her kill true-dead. Not that Jane has time to argue, fret, or sulk, because the action only gets busier from here on out.

Humans die, cops are on edge, and the locals are threatening pitchforks and bonfires. None of which is good news for the vampires (or any other supernatural being), all of which is bad news for Jane, who not only has to satisfy the people’s thirst for justice, but also toe the fine line of vampire politics and diplomacy.

I really enjoyed Dark Heir, though I cringed quite a lot – every time Jane got hurt, in fact. Which she does. A lot. I cannot imagine how tough she must be, to get as hurt as she does, and still get up to keep fighting. I cannot imagine how brave she is, to put herself in the line of fire more than once, knowing he can hurt her, kill her even.

In addition to the action, there’s plenty of character development to satisfy those of us who want more. Jane is learning her new bond with Beast, trusting her partners with her feelings (and we all know Jane’s not touchy-feely AT ALL), and letting people get close (yay Bruiser!). You know she feels plenty of guilt at not having killed Jose Bar Judas or his aides true-dead when she had a chance to, to have saved the lives lost now he’s loose. But she’s also angry that Leo and the vamps let things get this far, that their long game drove so many decisions that wound up here. And so Jane learns to use her words to stay within the letter of any agreement she makes.

Anyway. Plenty of action + plenty of growth = an engrossing addition to the Jane Yellowrock series. I can’t wait for the next one, but will have to satisfy myself with a re-read of the series in the meantime. A total hardship, I know. ;)

drey’s rating: Excellent!

This is just the best series of books I've read in a long time - and I read a lot. I love Jane Yellowrock and all of her besties.....Sometimes I have to remind myself that her world is fantasy, everything seems so real....

Unfortunately this has been the worst of the Jane Yellowrock series by far for me. Took me three days to force my way through it and that is a long time for me. I'm a book a day reader. Long, drawn out drivel. Very disappointed with the lack of plot advancement with the EVs too. Gave it two stars for the interesting ending. Keeping my fingers crossed for the next one.....

I'm torn. I read this series and buy on release day. Typically I can overlook religious points of views (I'm a Christian) because UF will often incorporate many mythologies and legends. But the close connection to the Crucifixion and the exploration of that theme in the book was very off putting to me. Won't be continuing on....

Jane and her "family" of Eli and Alex continue to become more tightly knit as a team and as a family in this new release. Beast is more enigmatic than ever in this story as is Brute, the were stuck in his wolf form since his encounter with an angel. As a supernatural creature, Jane keeps us on the edge of our seats waiting to see how she pulls herself and others out of the tight situations she's sent to fix, and is quite taken by surprise at her best friend Molly's change in character. Dark Heir is another "by the seat of your pants" ride through the Yellowrock Security world and in this book, there is room for romance too....Bruiser has arrived! I highly recommend this installment in the series, whether in audio version (done by Khristine Vham) or the written word.

Our review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Alluring Angel - Kathy:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review

Faith Hunter’s Dark Heir, the ninth book in the Jane Yellowrock series, continues the thrill-ride that was established when we first met Jane.

When the ancient vampire witch known as the Son Of Darkness escapes from Leo’s dungeon, no one is safe. Not humans. Not the Mithrans. No one. And when the body count begins to rise, Jane has to find a way to stop a monster who seems invincible.
Oh, and the Big Bad has a personal grudge against Jane.

With the help of Beast, her partners Eli and Alex, friends, allies and semi-allies, an injured Jane goes on the hunt for what could be her final hunt.

Dark Heir starts out fast and furious, and maintains full velocity throughout. I love that each book in this series doles out a little more information regarding what makes Jane... Jane. The relationship between Jane and Beast continues to grow and well as her relationships with other characters.

Dark Heir gets 5 skulls and two thumbs up!

Oh, Jane. What a tangled web is weaved by these long-lived creatures of the night…

Dark Heir starts off with a fabulous chapter title – “Twist Your Lil’ Bobblehead Right Off” – and plenty of action. A “guest” of the sub-basement of Leo Pellisier’s at vamp HQ (or, “suckhead HQ” as coined by Alex the Kid) breaks free, aided and abetted by one of Jane’s least-favorite vamp, whom Leo still won’t let her kill true-dead. Not that Jane has time to argue, fret, or sulk, because the action only gets busier from here on out.

Humans die, cops are on edge, and the locals are threatening pitchforks and bonfires. None of which is good news for the vampires (or any other supernatural being), all of which is bad news for Jane, who not only has to satisfy the people’s thirst for justice, but also toe the fine line of vampire politics and diplomacy.

I really enjoyed Dark Heir, though I cringed quite a lot – every time Jane got hurt, in fact. Which she does. A lot. I cannot imagine how tough she must be, to get as hurt as she does, and still get up to keep fighting. I cannot imagine how brave she is, to put herself in the line of fire more than once, knowing he can hurt her, kill her even.

In addition to the action, there’s plenty of character development to satisfy those of us who want more. Jane is learning her new bond with Beast, trusting her partners with her feelings (and we all know Jane’s not touchy-feely AT ALL), and letting people get close (yay Bruiser!). You know she feels plenty of guilt at not having killed Jose Bar Judas or his aides true-dead when she had a chance to, to have saved the lives lost now he’s loose. But she’s also angry that Leo and the vamps let things get this far, that their long game drove so many decisions that wound up here. And so Jane learns to use her words to stay within the letter of any agreement she makes.

Anyway. Plenty of action + plenty of growth = an engrossing addition to the Jane Yellowrock series. I can’t wait for the next one, but will have to satisfy myself with a re-read of the series in the meantime. A total hardship, I know. ;)

drey’s rating: Excellent!

Sometimes when an author has a long-running series, things start to fall apart after about the fifth or sixth book. Characters become flat and one-note. Plots get recycled. Action becomes boring and tedious. And sometimes you find yourself wishing the author would just kill off the characters and stop writing the series because it’s so painful to read. (I’m looking at you, Laurell Hamilton.)

Fortunately for fans of Jane Yellowrock, Cherokee skinwalker and badass vampire hunter, this is not the case. The newest book in the series, Dark Heir, is still as wonderful and engaging as the first eight and ensures that readers will not tire of the series. In fact, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book!

It’s been such a joy to see how Faith Hunter, the series author, has let Jane’s character evolve and grow. Sure, Jane’s still one kick-ass heroine who’s not afraid to jump into a fight, guns blazing, and she takes crap from exactly no one, but with the introduction of her romantic relationship with Bruiser, also known as George Dumas, we’re allowed to see a different, sweeter, more vulnerable side of Jane, and I for one love it. It’s wonderful to see her becoming so comfortable in her own skin–both of them.

Other fan favorites return: Molly Trueblood, Jane’s bestie and an earth witch with a dark twist to her magics, Eli and Alex Younger, Jane’s partners in Yellowrock Security, Leo Pellissier, vampire Master of the City of New Orleans, and Edmund Hartley, mild-mannered helpful vampire who intrigues me a great deal. Even the biggest, most dangerous baddie Jane has ever encountered, the original Son of Darkness, is back and when these two go toe to toe, it’s explosive…literally.

My only quibbles with this book are really just me being a sullen and petulant spoilt child. There’s simply not enough Bruiser or Beast in Dark Heir. These are two of the most interesting characters in the entire series and to only have about a half a page with Bruiser and only a few scenes inside Beast’s head seems criminal to me. I’d love to read more about them!

All being said, this is an excellent, exciting, and engaging read and will not disappoint Jane Yellowrock fans. I give it four out of five stars and recommend it heartily!

Shapeshifting skinwalker Jane Yellowrock has faced many challenges and met them head on. As she fights bigger and badder bad guys she is discovering that the support system she has built, quite unintentionally, may be the thing that gets her through the biggest and baddest bad guy to date. It is going to take everything that Jane, Beast and all of her friends have to take down one of the oldest vampires out there. This may hurt a bit.
Poor Jane doesn’t get much rest but that means more action and adventure for us. I like this Jane. She is badass but she has grown with each book. I think her circle of close friends has helped her tremendously. I know they help her through the betrayal of those she thought she could trust. I can’t wait to spend more time in her world.
Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

Dark Heir begins with Jane in the middle of a nightmare. The Son of Darkness (SoD) has escaped, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. It is up to Jane and friends to stop him and save Leo's life in more ways than one. Tension runs high in the Big Easy where humans are getting tired of the vampires and their death toll.

Jane Yellowrock is one of my favorite heroines. She is strong and loyal. She has surrounded herself with people that she now considers her family. She has stakes and she is not scared to use them. I just wish I could tell her to stop blaming herself for everything. Nothing is her fault. Most of the messes she gets herself into is because everyone hides things from her, especially Leo and his vamps.

I'm ecstatic she has accepted a relationship with Bruiser (about freaking time!). Every time Bruiser had page time, I turned to mush. I love him. He is there for Jane more than once. He has picked Jane over the vampires. I hope the next book has more of them together.

“The MOC’s hot-chick Enforcer has a boooyfriend,”

I'm more ambivalent towards Leo as a character. I haven't liked him in the last few books. He can be mean, rude and some of the things he has done to Jane are completely unforgivable. This book had a couple of things that made me like him but never more than George Dumas. I sure hate how despite Jane saving his heine so many times, he still wants to "drain" her. What's up with that? Every vampire wants to drain Jane. And how about, "you are dismissed", made me so mad. I don't know how Jane doesn't just stake them all. Ok, rant done.

The fighting scenes were amazing. You can feel the adrenaline level sky rocketing. This book is pure action. No time for sleep.
One thing I missed is more Beast dialogue. She usually is so funny and strong. She protects the people Jane loves like her own cubs. Love the mud scene :)

“You are my people now.”

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Faith Hunter does it again. Lots of action, a dangerous dilemma, friends, family and a bit of love round out DARK HEIR.

If you have been reading the Jane Yellowrock series this long, you already know Jane is badass. You know the main secondary characters and you know that no matter what the situation, Jane is always in the thick of it. DARK HEIR is no different. The story unfolded at a great pace. The fight scenes were packed with danger and the characters as always shined.

Leo really surprised me. I'm not sure if he is just tired, but I think we got to see a different more vulnerable and human side to him in DARK HEIR. I was really disappointed with Molly in DARK HEIR. I of course can't go into the reason why, but their friendship has definitely changed since the beginning of the series and it's really a shame. Jane and George's relationship continues to grow stronger. I *think* her feelings for Rick are finally on the outs and that makes me so excited. I didn't feel like we got as much Beast time as we usually do. I will have to pay attention as the series continues to see if it will be a trend.

As always I enjoyed following Jane around New Orleans as she fought off bad guys and investigated the events of DARK HEIR. The problems are far from over and the European Council still hasn't visited so I am excited to see what will happen next.

Let me tell you what I love about this book:

It's fast paced and action packed from almost the first page. Jane develops a deeper sense of herself and her relationship with Beast. You know how a lot of series will have one "big bad" that you have a showdown with in the final book? I don't get that sense here. I think the biggest bad is Jane herself and her ultimate battle of wills will be against what she could choose to become. I love that there are new AND old enemies in these stories, that they run seamlessly together without ever getting boring. The interactions between Jane and the various vampires never become stale. That Leo is tricky! I love that he still makes Jane go all awkward and uncomfortable and that she does various barbaric and unmannerly things just to annoy him. Every time she throws her feet up on his desk or tells him to get his ass anywhere, I cheer.

I love the development of Beast and Jane's relationship. Jane started this series hiding and with walls everywhere, including between her and Beast. Now those walls are blown apart. She has a family with Eli and Alex, Molly makes a return with her own issues. The relationships are complicated and confusing, just like real life.

Now let's talk about what I DIDN'T like:

It was too short
It ended
I have to wait for the next one

Jane Yellowrock can not catch a break. Ever. In each book of the series, it seems like things just get harder and harder in her life. Each villain feels even more impossible to defeat than the one before. Each battle brings her closer and closer to the limits of what she can endure. It’s a wild ride –action packed– but there is plenty of heart, as well as backstory and connections that continue to add depth to an already fleshed out world.

Remember that thing that Leo had chained up in his basement? Well, it’s escaped and it’s leaving a horrific body count in its wake. Jane’s already kicking herself for not killing it when it was immobilized. She knew it was evil, but now that the so-called Son of Darkness is free, he is growing crazy-strong, and frankly, he is way out of her league.

Sadly, Joses Bar-Judas is not the only enemy Jane must defeat. He has other vampires working with him and Jane has to figure out who is plotting against her before she can even start her fight. It’s such a tightly wound mystery. The politics reach back into the earliest books in the series, and while Faith Hunter does an admirable job helping to remind you of what happened, it still requires you to think. The book is very dense. There are so many moving parts… all that come together spectacularly like 100 instruments in a well conducted orchestra.

As impressively as Hunter weaves the plot, I was even more impressed by the emotional elements of the story. The relationship between Jane and the Youngers, for me, has become the most poignant thread of the story. This is a woman who has been trying to find connections her entire life, and with these two men, she finally has what she has always wanted… a family. Yes, I love what she has with Bruiser now, I really do. But it’s her moments with with Eli and the Kid that touch my heart. I may have cried, I’m just saying.

For a long time, I complained about the lack of development in Jane’s personal life. That’s over. Rick is where he needs to be. (Well, as close as he could be, assuming Hunter won’t smear him naked with honey and cover him with ants.) George is more than I even hoped he could be. Jane is really starting to get what she deserves, personally. But with gain comes pain, and like I said, she has plenty of that too.

Bottom line: it’s a really good book. It’s not an easy read. It makes you think and pay attention. But it’s smart and it’s fast paced. It’s got heart and it continues to surprise me. What more could I ask for?

Rating: B+

I was privileged to be able to read an advanced copy of this book. It's packed with almost nonstop action from cover to cover, as Jane and the Younger brothers try to stop, first the escape of, and then the murderous rampage of, the Son of Darkness who Jane had encountered locked in Leo's basement in the previous installment of this fabulous series. Being one of the creators of the vampires, he is naturally very old, very nasty, and very powerful. His murderous rage at being locked up in a dungeon for a century leads to lots of human bloodshed and subsequent human fear and anti-Mithran sentiment. This actually leads to a different dynamic between the MOC and Jane! Also, Jane needs to work with some characters we haven't seen much of lately in order to get control of the situation, figure out who aided the SoD, and find a way to contain him. You might want to reread the series before reading this installment, as several old threads are revisited and tied up during the investigation. Readers are also treated to a little Jane and Bruiser time. Yum! Molly also comes to town to help.

Little Janie is growing up. From once believing everything in the world was black or white, including herself, she's learned that there is a lot lurking in the gray. She's settling in with her new family, new beau, old shower, and just as things are comfy, the scary thing in the basement has reached the light. The Son of Darkness is loose and so is hell, 52 people dead, and Jane has to find him... and not kill him. The Euro vamps are coming, the witch accords are coming up. And Jane is right in the middle of it all.

Fast paced action, killer descriptions, all the things we've come to expect from Faith Hunter, and a developing Jane that adds new depth to the Urban Fantasy genre.

Read from March 15 to 17, 2015

Book Info
Mass Market Paperback, 336 pages
Expected publication: April 7th 2015 by Roc
ISBN 0451465962 (ISBN13: 9780451465962)
series Jane Yellowrock #9
other editions (2)
Source:Netgalley EARC

Book Buy Links
the store
B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS

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.

My Thoughts

Hey it is Jane Yellowrock people and no way can wait to get my long ago pre-ordered BOOK if given the chance to read early! Gladly have made the SACRIFICE as this was a thrill ride all the way.

Jane has finally come to understand that there are more than BLACK AND WHITE shades to right and wrong, gray is also in there as a fine line to walk between being on the side of good versus on the side of evil.

In this 9th book Jane walks that line tighter than she ever has, she also has to make some hard choices that lead to some even harsher consequences a time or two.

As a loyal fan of Ms. Yellowrock since the very beginning this was one of the more intense reads for me, Jane has faced challenges that tested her limits in the past but none come CLOSE to ending her the way this one seemed to several times.

As others have stated seeing the characters change and grow is the best part of following along with them for 9 books, Jane has come so far since her introduction and to be honest this time her growth was kind of scary.

What enjoy best is knowing ahead of time that no matter how bad it gets, no matter how big or how bad the ugly is that Jane pits herself against it will end with her winning with or without help from allies and friends.

Admit it was touch and go a time or two but satisfyingly Jane Yellowrock and Beast once again prevail, keeping Jane’s humanity as intact as possible while still allowing Beast to share her power as needed.

There is a ceremony that Alex, Eli and Jane talk about that will choke you up like it did me when read it. Seems like the boys and Jane have finally acknowledged they are more than partners and it was very touching as well as portents of things to come.

[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for HONESTreview]

4.5 stars
In DARK HEIR, the ninth novel in the Jane Yellowrock series, Jane hits the ground running as one of the original vampires, a Son of Darkness, and all around bad guy, Joses Barjudas escapes the dungeon he has been chained up in for the last century as little more than a “sack of bones…crucified with silver spikes” who Leo has used and abused. Jane faces her toughest battle yet of all the monsters, vampires and other assorted supernaturals she has fought so far, thinking that ,”…if Joses ever truly recovered, he’d be a deadly, pyscho enemy.” Jane spends most of this book in an intense race against time to track down and capture Joseph Santana as Joses was known after coming to the new world from Europe. Once again adding difficulty and danger to her job, Jane encounters the frustration of vampire politics, subterfuge, and hidden agendas. Leo proves to be his usual combination of help and hindrance as their relationship continually balances on the edge of a knife between attraction and violence. Jane’s crew consisting of Eli, Alex, and now to some extent, Bruiser, follow Santana’s deadly trail as he terrorizes New Orleans riling up the population against vampires to a fever pitch. And if they don’t get Santana back, the Euro vamps will declare war that will reign down a deadly fury on vampires and humans alike.

Jane continues to deal with the changes from her recent transformation as she seems to meld more with her Beast as well as her new and complex relationship with Bruiser. She also has a lot of emotional angst concerning the death and destruction she has caused while working for and dealing with the vampires. Molly comes to help along with the local witch council and Leo’s whack job priestesses. The danger and evil loosed upon the world forces Jane to makes choices she finds morally difficult. Because this book is so intensively focused on the hunt, Bruiser and Jane’s relationship is not a dominant part; however, there are some tender and sensual moments between them, and he plays an important role in the grand finale. There’s only a brief contact with Ricky Bo which will delight some readers and disappoint others who are still on that shipper train. I would have enjoyed more words spent on Jane and Bruiser, but when such an intense battle is going on, there’s not much time for love.

Faith Hunter’s skill at keeping this long running series interesting and exciting with a heroine who continues to grow and evolve in thought-provoking ways makes the latest in the series a worthy effort. This book is intense, fast paced, and will leave the reader a bit wrung out at the end in a good way.

Thoughts: I have been a fan of the Jane Yellowrock series for awhile now, so this was an automatic read for me. I was anxious to read this one because with the previous book in the series, Broken Soul, I started to feel like the series was going a little stale for me. I just lost some of my enthusiasm for the series with that eighth book , and I was hoping to recapture it with Dark Heir. Unfortunately, for me, it seems like it may be the end of the road for this series for me.

I totally get that the Yellowrock series is more urban fantasy and not romance, yet for me it seems that romantic interests are introduced, we get ramped up by the fact that they are now together, and then the male love interest gets relegated to the bare minimum of a role in the book. We seen that with Rick, and now with Bruiser. (However, I keep hoping that Jane and Eli will manage to get together…sigh) Then we come to the action of the series, and I hate to say it just seems more of the same old stuff. I’m just not feeling the draw to it anymore.

This one was just an okay read in this series for me.

Rate: C
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com

I checked Dark Heir, book 9 of the Jane Yellowrock series, out from my local library. I love the progressions of the familial relationship between Jane and Eli & Alex. Each book gets better and their banter is so fun. I'm happy to see Bruiser remain true to his character, supportive--rather than trying to take over Jane's life. The pacing seemed a bit slower, but I think it's only that way because the last book was so high-energy. Can't wait to read on...

I love the way the author manages to keep everything fresh without a lot of repetition. She keeps my attention through the whole book.

Jane is up against a terrible enemy which might be to strong for Jane and her team. As usual Jane kicks butt though the price this time is steep.

I highly recommend this series.

Brilliant once again! Faith Hunter takes me into Jane Yellowrock's world again and I am not disappointed. Action with a sprinkle of love this series is addictive with a
capital A! I usually drop whatever I am in the middle reading to be sucked into this world. This series is a DEFINITE must read.

Once again, Faith Hunter has spun a novel that grabs you from the jump and takes you on an wild ride with Jane and Beats! If I ever get to meet Faith, I think I'd hug her, this book is THAT good! (And SO worth not sleeping until I finshed the book)

This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I'll be following the series and author in the future. It was a fast-paced adventure with complex characters and more surprises than a Halloween haunted house. I've already got the First book in this series and look forward to following this heroine through many more adventures.

I really like the Yellowrock series, but from about book #9 on, someone has done a bad job of editing and proofreading. Simple mistakes and sentence repeating were missed. Also, Jane ignores Beast when she should have taken care of Beast's well-being before worrying about anything else. If it weren't for Beast, Jane would have died numerous times. Get your priorities straight, woman!

In this story, Jane has to make an important choice. There is an incredible amount of vampire, witch and human politics that she has to get right in order to literally save the world. Oh, and she keeps dying. It's a great story with an interesting ending. I loved it!

The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars is because it left so much open. I'm a great fan of this series and can't wait for the next installment. Jane Yellowrock is an exceptional character and I have high hopes for the next book. Go Faith Hunter!!!

Lots of action and adventure as Jane and beast continue to save the world from the evil undead. There are quite a few loose ends at the end which remain to be resolved in a sequel. A good addition to the series.

I have not read a book by Faith Hunter that was not well researched, thought out and clearly presented. This book is no exception. Ms. Hunter has pulled off an impressive feat in keeping a long running series fresh and vibrant. One of the most difficult tasks in urban fantasy is to keep the storyline fresh while also keeping it believable, well as much as a fantasy can be believable. Ms. Hunter is a master of this task. She brings Jane Yellowrock forward in a way that makes her struggles with the darkness she confronts more than believable - she creates a moral and literal struggle touching on what it means to be human. No small feat when dealing with urban paranormal fantasy and she pulls it off flawlessly. Read these books, you will not regret it.

Brilliant once again! Faith Hunter takes me into Jane Yellowrock's world again and I am not disappointed. Action with a sprinkle of love this series is addictive with a
capital A! I usually drop whatever I am in the middle reading to be sucked into this world. This series is a DEFINITE must read.

Once again, Faith Hunter has spun a novel that grabs you from the jump and takes you on an wild ride with Jane and Beats! If I ever get to meet Faith, I think I'd hug her, this book is THAT good! (And SO worth not sleeping until I finshed the book)

This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I'll be following the series and author in the future. It was a fast-paced adventure with complex characters and more surprises than a Halloween haunted house. I've already got the First book in this series and look forward to following this heroine through many more adventures.

I really like the Yellowrock series, but from about book #9 on, someone has done a bad job of editing and proofreading. Simple mistakes and sentence repeating were missed. Also, Jane ignores Beast when she should have taken care of Beast's well-being before worrying about anything else. If it weren't for Beast, Jane would have died numerous times. Get your priorities straight, woman!

In this story, Jane has to make an important choice. There is an incredible amount of vampire, witch and human politics that she has to get right in order to literally save the world. Oh, and she keeps dying. It's a great story with an interesting ending. I loved it!

The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars is because it left so much open. I'm a great fan of this series and can't wait for the next installment. Jane Yellowrock is an exceptional character and I have high hopes for the next book. Go Faith Hunter!!!

Lots of action and adventure as Jane and beast continue to save the world from the evil undead. There are quite a few loose ends at the end which remain to be resolved in a sequel. A good addition to the series.

This is another fantastic read by Faith Hunter. An absolutely great read if you like the paranormal genre of books then you need to read this series. A must read for sure. Love this book and all Faith Hunter books.

I enjoy this series but feel that further emotional development should now be arising with the main characters. The constant harping on her time in an orphanage is getting dreary. Her employment and involvement with the Vampires should be further developed with a stronger emotional or friendship suggestions. Does dreadful and nasty murders always have to take place?