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149 reviews for:
The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness
Anne Bishop
4.2 AVERAGE
149 reviews for:
The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness
Anne Bishop
4.2 AVERAGE
The Black Jewels Trilogy details a world of magic populated by races short lived, long lived, and their dead. Magic is intertwined with webs, seen and unseen, and controlled using personal strength and jewels as a sort of battery. The jewels are graded from light to dark, the darker the jewel the deeper into magic one can delve and the stronger one is. It is a world where two philosophies of gender dynamics collide and political intrigue is a way of life. None of which can be encompassed in a single review, it is a complex set of books. Bishop managed to create an interesting set of worlds and system of magic, not to mention creating intense characters and societies in conflict. I especially enjoyed Bishop's treatment of human and intelligent non human races both in conflict and cooperation, how this was achieved and what strained it. She created a court around the main character, Jaenelle, that was unified so that the reader could see the work that went into creating it.
Unfortunately much of this, for me, was overshadowed by the sheer amount and intensity of rape in the book. Most main characters, male and female, had been raped many times, usually in the most brutal fashion possible. Both male and female characters were perpetrators as well. It seemed, from my reading, that Bishop was using rape, coercion (there are magical, coercive cock rings by the by), and force to illustrate a point about societies in which two genders are pitted against each other versus societies where they work together. Of course that did not become apparent til much later in the reading and some of the bits about pedophilia were especially difficult. An interesting read but I don't know that I will go on to read any of the other books in the series.
Unfortunately much of this, for me, was overshadowed by the sheer amount and intensity of rape in the book. Most main characters, male and female, had been raped many times, usually in the most brutal fashion possible. Both male and female characters were perpetrators as well. It seemed, from my reading, that Bishop was using rape, coercion (there are magical, coercive cock rings by the by), and force to illustrate a point about societies in which two genders are pitted against each other versus societies where they work together. Of course that did not become apparent til much later in the reading and some of the bits about pedophilia were especially difficult. An interesting read but I don't know that I will go on to read any of the other books in the series.
Daughter of the Blood:
This is another of my most favorite series. I love all of Anne Bishop's book and this is a re-read for me in preparation for 'Twilight's Dawn' coming out in a couple of months. I read the book in the HUGE trilogy book all together in one sitting but I decided to separate the books for review so I could better explain my love for each book.
This is the first book in the series and I think it's the darkest of the three. Bishop openly and widely talks about rape, slavery, and pedophilia...I know, I know what you are thinking...sounds like 'WHAT!?!?!' huh? Yes, these are all themes in the series...as are family, trust, friendship, and love. This book, as I said before, is dark. It starts out pretty gruesome and then continues on and gets a bit worse, and then ends horribly, and the whole time you read it all you can think is 'I can't do anything but keep reading!!'
As gruesome and horrifying this book is, it is balanced by the amazing characters, the love and devotion you feel for this world in every page, and the sheer addictiveness of the writing. There is not one single part of this book I skip over, even on the fourth re-read. I can't stress to you enough how amazing this story is as a fantasy...be warned though, this is not for the weak-minded or the weak-stomachs.
Heir to the Shadows:
This the second book in the Black Jewels series. It is still somewhat gruesome, but way less horrifying and somewhat hopeful. I read this book as the last one in one sitting, all in one day. I can't even begin to describe to you the addictive quality of this author's work...if you she writes a short story on a napkin, I would sit down and read every single bit of writing on it, crinkling my neck the whole way.
The characters and the entire world together, perfectly blended are what make this story the amazing piece of literature that it is. I feel in love with Jaenelle and Daemon in the first book (who I imagine in my head to look Damon for VD a tad bit older) and I keep falling in love with them as I continue to read...they are a love story beyond love stories. I was sad we had to spend most of this book without Damon but...I know he comes back in full color in the next.
I loved meeting all of Jaenelle's true family and friends in this book. It is amazing to imagine a world so large and so wide-spread and yet, she got here there and everyone to be with everyone when she was a child. I like this book more the the first one and less that the third. Once you dive in, you won't be able to come back out. I love this series so much!
Queen of Darkness:
This is the third book in the Black Jewels series and my absolute favorite. This book is in my top ten favorite books of all time, oh yes. I have gone on and on about this author's ability to write and make her entire world an addictive need for a reader. I have no told you have well she spins a tale. It is amazing the small details she has expertly woven into this world and these characters. The tiniest little things that separate a story from a fantasy.
By this point I am so emotionally invested in these characters I can't imagine the ending when I have to close the book...I don't want to even think about it, it is that devastating a though as I read. This book had a bit more of Ms. Bishop's signature darkness in it's pages but less than the first still. I loved seeing a different side of some of my favorite characters. You only show your true colors when there is real danger and real need and some of the characters in this book, truly do that.
I will say again, I love this series, I love Janaelle and Daemon and that, I promise you, will not be the last you hear about my love of this series.
This is another of my most favorite series. I love all of Anne Bishop's book and this is a re-read for me in preparation for 'Twilight's Dawn' coming out in a couple of months. I read the book in the HUGE trilogy book all together in one sitting but I decided to separate the books for review so I could better explain my love for each book.
This is the first book in the series and I think it's the darkest of the three. Bishop openly and widely talks about rape, slavery, and pedophilia...I know, I know what you are thinking...sounds like 'WHAT!?!?!' huh? Yes, these are all themes in the series...as are family, trust, friendship, and love. This book, as I said before, is dark. It starts out pretty gruesome and then continues on and gets a bit worse, and then ends horribly, and the whole time you read it all you can think is 'I can't do anything but keep reading!!'
As gruesome and horrifying this book is, it is balanced by the amazing characters, the love and devotion you feel for this world in every page, and the sheer addictiveness of the writing. There is not one single part of this book I skip over, even on the fourth re-read. I can't stress to you enough how amazing this story is as a fantasy...be warned though, this is not for the weak-minded or the weak-stomachs.
Heir to the Shadows:
This the second book in the Black Jewels series. It is still somewhat gruesome, but way less horrifying and somewhat hopeful. I read this book as the last one in one sitting, all in one day. I can't even begin to describe to you the addictive quality of this author's work...if you she writes a short story on a napkin, I would sit down and read every single bit of writing on it, crinkling my neck the whole way.
The characters and the entire world together, perfectly blended are what make this story the amazing piece of literature that it is. I feel in love with Jaenelle and Daemon in the first book (who I imagine in my head to look Damon for VD a tad bit older) and I keep falling in love with them as I continue to read...they are a love story beyond love stories. I was sad we had to spend most of this book without Damon but...I know he comes back in full color in the next.
I loved meeting all of Jaenelle's true family and friends in this book. It is amazing to imagine a world so large and so wide-spread and yet, she got here there and everyone to be with everyone when she was a child. I like this book more the the first one and less that the third. Once you dive in, you won't be able to come back out. I love this series so much!
Queen of Darkness:
This is the third book in the Black Jewels series and my absolute favorite. This book is in my top ten favorite books of all time, oh yes. I have gone on and on about this author's ability to write and make her entire world an addictive need for a reader. I have no told you have well she spins a tale. It is amazing the small details she has expertly woven into this world and these characters. The tiniest little things that separate a story from a fantasy.
By this point I am so emotionally invested in these characters I can't imagine the ending when I have to close the book...I don't want to even think about it, it is that devastating a though as I read. This book had a bit more of Ms. Bishop's signature darkness in it's pages but less than the first still. I loved seeing a different side of some of my favorite characters. You only show your true colors when there is real danger and real need and some of the characters in this book, truly do that.
I will say again, I love this series, I love Janaelle and Daemon and that, I promise you, will not be the last you hear about my love of this series.
Another one probably best read as a teenager (although there is some pretty dark sexual stuff in here). The lower rating is mostly because the writing isn't terribly good (and the characters' names made me roll my eyes every time I read them...which was a lot). There's a lot of buzz around the supposed reversal in traditional gender roles in this book, but it comes off more like an exercise from a "Women's Studies 101" course at a community college. That is to say, there's not a lot of thought or rationale put into how or why the society would be structured like that, and it doesn't really seem like there are any practical ramifications in the society as a result, other than the fact that Queens are the highest ranking people, and we're told that OFTEN, but there's not really a lot of exploration of that concept. It's as if stating that this is the societal structure is supposed to be radical enough in and of itself.
adventurous
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting twist on the names Satan Lucifer Diablo... I love this series!
One of my favorite trilogies of all time!
Ms. Bishop writes Romantic Fantasy. The trilogy starts with Daughter of the Blood: From the back cover "Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch sees an ancient prphecy come to life in her dazzling web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to influence -- and corruption. Whoever controls the Queen controls the Darkness. Three men -- sworn enemies -- know that. And they know the power that hides behind the blue eyes of an innocent young girl. And so begins a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, where the weapons are late and love .. and the prize could be terrible beyond imagining..."
The story continues with Heir to the Shadows, and finishes with Queen of the Darkness.
This is a captivating story. You will fall in love with the characters, and follow in suspense what happens to Jaenelle and Daemon.
I purchased a second copy of this book because my first Omnibus has been lost on the realm of Bookcrossing, and my set of books of the trilogy went out on a ring. Having recently read Dreams Made Flesh I could not avoid a re-read of The Black Jewels Trilogy. So, I purchased a new copy.
I did my re-read. I read the 1204 page book in less than one week. I did get other things done, just not much. Anne's writing just flows, and even though there are many breaks and opportunities to stop so you can do something like eat or do things the real world calls you to do, you cannot put the book down. I even know what happened next, having read the books a couple times before.
I haven't read the stories in awhile. I had read the short stories of Surreal when they came out. I mentioned in my Dreams Made Flesh review that it would have been interesting to read the DMF stores (and even the Surreal stories, and Invisible Ring) all in story order. I may just do that one day. But I am glad that I did my re-read of BJT after reading DMF. It is quite clear that the stories in DMF needed to be told. They were all stories Anne refers to in detail in the BJT. I am astounded. I see why they would not have made the cut to go into BJT, as all of them were separate from the main story of Witch, which is told in BJT. Heck, Lucivar's story qualifies as a novel by itself for word count. And Anne did say that to have gone in BJT to tell Kaeleer's Heart would have been to start another story.
To read the trilogy as three separate books is a bit misleading. It gives you a "good" stopping point, but then you might read something in between. The opportunity to read it in one bound volume changes the story slightly, so you can feel how Anne meant the story to be told. Even having read the trilogy one book right after the other, it was not the same feeling as reading the Omnibus.
This is one of those books that once you put down, it stays with you. At the time, I had no interest in picking up another book very soon. The characters were still with me long after reading. They've actually never left me from the first reading, but they are re-invigorated.
As a writer, I feel inspired after reading Anne's work.
I didn't get the chance to read my Omnibus when I got my first copy of it. I am whole-heartedly pleased with my second purchase. I only hope my first one travels along to people who will savor it and appreciate it.
Ms. Bishop writes Romantic Fantasy. The trilogy starts with Daughter of the Blood: From the back cover "Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch sees an ancient prphecy come to life in her dazzling web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to influence -- and corruption. Whoever controls the Queen controls the Darkness. Three men -- sworn enemies -- know that. And they know the power that hides behind the blue eyes of an innocent young girl. And so begins a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, where the weapons are late and love .. and the prize could be terrible beyond imagining..."
The story continues with Heir to the Shadows, and finishes with Queen of the Darkness.
This is a captivating story. You will fall in love with the characters, and follow in suspense what happens to Jaenelle and Daemon.
I purchased a second copy of this book because my first Omnibus has been lost on the realm of Bookcrossing, and my set of books of the trilogy went out on a ring. Having recently read Dreams Made Flesh I could not avoid a re-read of The Black Jewels Trilogy. So, I purchased a new copy.
I did my re-read. I read the 1204 page book in less than one week. I did get other things done, just not much. Anne's writing just flows, and even though there are many breaks and opportunities to stop so you can do something like eat or do things the real world calls you to do, you cannot put the book down. I even know what happened next, having read the books a couple times before.
I haven't read the stories in awhile. I had read the short stories of Surreal when they came out. I mentioned in my Dreams Made Flesh review that it would have been interesting to read the DMF stores (and even the Surreal stories, and Invisible Ring) all in story order. I may just do that one day. But I am glad that I did my re-read of BJT after reading DMF. It is quite clear that the stories in DMF needed to be told. They were all stories Anne refers to in detail in the BJT. I am astounded. I see why they would not have made the cut to go into BJT, as all of them were separate from the main story of Witch, which is told in BJT. Heck, Lucivar's story qualifies as a novel by itself for word count. And Anne did say that to have gone in BJT to tell Kaeleer's Heart would have been to start another story.
To read the trilogy as three separate books is a bit misleading. It gives you a "good" stopping point, but then you might read something in between. The opportunity to read it in one bound volume changes the story slightly, so you can feel how Anne meant the story to be told. Even having read the trilogy one book right after the other, it was not the same feeling as reading the Omnibus.
This is one of those books that once you put down, it stays with you. At the time, I had no interest in picking up another book very soon. The characters were still with me long after reading. They've actually never left me from the first reading, but they are re-invigorated.
As a writer, I feel inspired after reading Anne's work.
I didn't get the chance to read my Omnibus when I got my first copy of it. I am whole-heartedly pleased with my second purchase. I only hope my first one travels along to people who will savor it and appreciate it.
I can't recommend these books enough! If you love dark fantasy, you'll fall in love with this series. Anne Bishop weaves an amazing epic that explores the fine line between good and evil. Her characters, male and female, are incredibly strong and well written. You care about all of them and can't wait to read the next page to find out whether they make it through or not. At first glance, some might worry that it's about a helpless witch that must rely on strong male characters, but it becomes clear as you get further into it, that the three main male characters rely on her strength just as much as she relies on them. Beautifully erotic at the right moments so that it's not a porn with story sprinkled in; like too many female fantasy authors seem to do nowadays.
So uh, this is the best of the worst of nineties fantasy trash. I don't rec it to people that I don't know very Very well, but it's so fucking fun, once you get past all the ridiculous sex slave stuff, that's just in really bad taste.
Why? There's a character referred to as Uncle Satan and talking unicorns and border collies. It's like the book versions of Jupiter Ascending, but better. I highly recommend it, if you're okay with "all the main characters were molested as children, and it will be handled as ham-handedly as possible."
Why? There's a character referred to as Uncle Satan and talking unicorns and border collies. It's like the book versions of Jupiter Ascending, but better. I highly recommend it, if you're okay with "all the main characters were molested as children, and it will be handled as ham-handedly as possible."
This book joins the shelf I hope will not grow to much: did not finish.
But I gave it a fair try. Seeing this is the omnibus edition including the 3 books of the trilogy, qnd I read the first one entirely but will not continue. I'm a little sad because this book was recommended to me but well...this is not the fantasy I like.
But I gave it a fair try. Seeing this is the omnibus edition including the 3 books of the trilogy, qnd I read the first one entirely but will not continue. I'm a little sad because this book was recommended to me but well...this is not the fantasy I like.