Rise of the Hunter is the latest installment in the Dark Prophecy series by Barb Jones. It’s a supernatural fantasy brimming with ancient prophecy, gods, witches, vampires, and a whole lot of vengeance. The story kicks off with a chilling prophecy from the Sisters of Fate and unfolds into a sweeping battle between good and evil, led by a mysterious figure known as the Tall Dark Man. His rise sets off a domino effect of chaos, rebellion, and an impending war that hinges on a cursed child, a queen, and an angel.

What hooked me from the start was the unapologetically dark tone. The prologue alone pulled me into a mythological rabbit hole I didn’t want to climb out of​. Barb Jones doesn’t hold back with the gothic energy either. The Tall Dark Man is straight-up nightmare fuel, whispering dark spells, controlling witches like puppets, and literally building an army from volcanic stones. That scene where he breathes life into his stone demon Arioch was chilling​. The writing here is bold, vivid, sometimes a little graphic, but always deliberate.

The witches’ interactions with the Tall Dark Man occasionally veered into melodrama. The sensual scenes between him and Tituba tried to walk the line between dark romance and power play​. The power dynamics were meant to feel disturbing, but I wished the narrative dug deeper into her arc emotionally. Raven Hexham, on the other hand, was a total standout. She’s calculating, loyal, and possibly questioning her role. There’s a quiet rebellion brewing in her, especially in her private talks with Tituba, and I found myself rooting for her despite her serving the wrong side​.

One of the things I appreciated most was how Jones weaves Hawaiian mythology into the mix. The scenes with Pele and Kū weren’t just cool filler, they added real texture. The volcanic fire becoming a magical forge for an evil army was genius. And then she goes and tosses in historical tidbits like Philip II of Macedon and even Nostradamus, giving the book this wild, time-hopping energy​. At times, it felt like reading a supernatural version of Game of Thrones meets American Gods with a big splash of soap opera.

If you’re into supernatural fantasy with a darker twist, where queens ride emotional rollercoasters and gods mess with mortals for sport, Rise of the Hunter is a wild ride worth taking. It’s a little over the top, but that’s part of its charm. Fans of series like The Mortal Instruments or A Discovery of Witches will feel right at home.

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