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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This book was the first of Bishop's that I had difficulty getting into. The main character and narrator, Jared, is interesting enough, but he doesn't pull you in as some of the other characters Bishop has created. Also, there wasn't much action, and it left you wanting to know what happened. The readers, or at least I, wanted to know how Lia and Jared's love blossomed in the court.
SPOILER ALERT: Also, the premise of Sadi owing the Grayhaven line anything in the 8th and 9th books makes no sense from any premise in the Invisible Ring. If anything, the Grayhaven line owes Sadi for keeping Lia alive.
The book was interesting, but didn't pull me in, and wouldn't have kept my interest at all if I hadn't read 8 and 9 first and knew characters like Talon. All in all it was a disappointment, but I'm glad Bishop gave some insight into the Gray Lady.
SPOILER ALERT: Also, the premise of Sadi owing the Grayhaven line anything in the 8th and 9th books makes no sense from any premise in the Invisible Ring. If anything, the Grayhaven line owes Sadi for keeping Lia alive.
The book was interesting, but didn't pull me in, and wouldn't have kept my interest at all if I hadn't read 8 and 9 first and knew characters like Talon. All in all it was a disappointment, but I'm glad Bishop gave some insight into the Gray Lady.
It’s been 20 years since I last ventured into the realm of Black Jewels. Two decades during which I aged (reluctantly) and matured (gracefully) into the kind of man who holds a whole new fascination with and appreciation for the world that Anne Bishop has created. Were there not 6 books waiting for me, with a new book – The Queen’s Bargain – coming next March, I would love to go back and revisit that opening trilogy, but if I have any hope of catching up before Spring, I must continue forward.
On the surface, The Invisible Ring is an old-fashioned fantasy that tells the tale of an epic journey, complete with a frustrated romance at its heart, and it does that very well. It is a dangerous journey through dense forests and tiny villages, with the travelers facing dangers at every turn as well as betrayal from within. While the pace is measured, filled more with confrontations than frantic chases, the tension is largely unrelenting, until it finally reaches a climax where everything is on the line.
Beneath that surface . . . well, there’s a lot going on. This mainstream, mass-market epic fantasy novel has more to say about the BDSM power exchange (particularly submission versus slavery), female-led and female-dominant relationships (including how they differ and where they overlap), and the many nuances of sexuality (from virgin trepidation to rutting lust) than most erotica, and I dare say it does so more smartly and with greater significance. There is so more story and emotion wrapped up in Jared/Lia and Blaed/Thera in this single volume than many epic fantasies can handle in a trilogy.
Perhaps the best thing about waiting two decades to descend once again into the jewels is that I was able to enjoy this as a standalone story, without being under the shadow of the original trilogy, and without the weight of expectations attached to being a prequel. The Invisible Ring was the perfect means of reacquainting myself with the world, and the Dreams Made Flesh collection now calls even louder from the shelf.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2019/08/29/book-review-the-invisible-ring-by-anne-bishop/
On the surface, The Invisible Ring is an old-fashioned fantasy that tells the tale of an epic journey, complete with a frustrated romance at its heart, and it does that very well. It is a dangerous journey through dense forests and tiny villages, with the travelers facing dangers at every turn as well as betrayal from within. While the pace is measured, filled more with confrontations than frantic chases, the tension is largely unrelenting, until it finally reaches a climax where everything is on the line.
Beneath that surface . . . well, there’s a lot going on. This mainstream, mass-market epic fantasy novel has more to say about the BDSM power exchange (particularly submission versus slavery), female-led and female-dominant relationships (including how they differ and where they overlap), and the many nuances of sexuality (from virgin trepidation to rutting lust) than most erotica, and I dare say it does so more smartly and with greater significance. There is so more story and emotion wrapped up in Jared/Lia and Blaed/Thera in this single volume than many epic fantasies can handle in a trilogy.
Perhaps the best thing about waiting two decades to descend once again into the jewels is that I was able to enjoy this as a standalone story, without being under the shadow of the original trilogy, and without the weight of expectations attached to being a prequel. The Invisible Ring was the perfect means of reacquainting myself with the world, and the Dreams Made Flesh collection now calls even louder from the shelf.
https://femledfantasy.home.blog/2019/08/29/book-review-the-invisible-ring-by-anne-bishop/
Love this world. All the men fussing makes me giggle everytime.
Was a bit difficult to get into as I had read the previous three a while ago.
Can't wait to read more!
Was a bit difficult to get into as I had read the previous three a while ago.
Can't wait to read more!
As a prequel to the original Black Jewels Trilogy this could probably be read first without having read those, although I would lean towards recommending readers start with the trilogy over this. While the chronology has this placed well before Daughter of the Blood, the complicated magic and caste systems of the series aren't explained all that in depth here compared to the trilogy and I can imagine it would feel overwhelming to new readers. Bishop does a quick job and trying to break down the intricacies here, but compared to the slow build up of explaining all this in the trilogy it's a real crash course. Still, readers can probably get some fun out of the story itself without full understanding, but I'd think it would be distracting.
Jared and the ragtag band of slaves make for a pretty fun story. I remember when I first read this I was disappointed it wasn't a continuation of the story from the main trilogy, but at the same time this story was hinted at in Queen of Darkness when Jaenelle was researching how to cleanse the Blood of the taint so it's fun to see the backstory there. There are only a couple of characters from the original trilogy in small roles here and it's a lot of fun seeing Daemon, especially.
Jared and the ragtag band of slaves make for a pretty fun story. I remember when I first read this I was disappointed it wasn't a continuation of the story from the main trilogy, but at the same time this story was hinted at in Queen of Darkness when Jaenelle was researching how to cleanse the Blood of the taint so it's fun to see the backstory there. There are only a couple of characters from the original trilogy in small roles here and it's a lot of fun seeing Daemon, especially.
3.75 ⭐️ - it’s been years since I read the original series and it took a moment to remember all the details of this world. Enjoyable side story, for the most part.
This could be read before the Trilogy or after. Pretty much a prequel but still an excellent read.
When I read this book the first time I didn't understand it's place in the rest of the series, and so then I liked it, but didn't love it. I wasn't sure why I was reading something that wasn't directly the cast of characters I'd come to know and love. Now on the re-read, I actually enjoyed this book more. The strength of the Grey Lady, the incredible chance that Jared is taking in choosing to hope again, the risk Lia is undertaking, it's so much bigger than the story they're in. The hints of what is to come generations down the line are all here in this story, but it's really only with the understanding of those books that this one can really be appreciated. This is the one last bastion of hope in Terreille where the Blood still rules as is true and just. This book also paves the way for the next arch in this series and those who come after, the decedents of these characters. It's been awhile since I've read those books as well and I'm looking forward to being reminded as to how this book serves as prequel for them as well. I know I'll enjoy seeing all the little touches that tie everything together.
Ultimately though, while this is the only book in the series that functions as a stand alone, leaving more work to be done in a shorter time period to establish these characters, I still found myself loving them in their struggles. Thera and Lia have all the strength you would wish to see in a young Queen and a Black Widow. Blaed and Talon balance the ends of the spectrum of Warlord Princes, one just coming into his own, the other understanding exactly what it means to walk that killing edge. And Jared is given the chance to finally grow up and become the Warlord he was always meant to be. Dorothea's influence isn't enough to break him. Freed from under her minions thumb, his core of honor is what carries him through and allows him to wear the Invisible Ring.
I love this series so much and I can't wait to continue on with the rest of the books. I'm anticipating getting to the new books so much. This series has never disappointed me.
Ultimately though, while this is the only book in the series that functions as a stand alone, leaving more work to be done in a shorter time period to establish these characters, I still found myself loving them in their struggles. Thera and Lia have all the strength you would wish to see in a young Queen and a Black Widow. Blaed and Talon balance the ends of the spectrum of Warlord Princes, one just coming into his own, the other understanding exactly what it means to walk that killing edge. And Jared is given the chance to finally grow up and become the Warlord he was always meant to be. Dorothea's influence isn't enough to break him. Freed from under her minions thumb, his core of honor is what carries him through and allows him to wear the Invisible Ring.
I love this series so much and I can't wait to continue on with the rest of the books. I'm anticipating getting to the new books so much. This series has never disappointed me.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Reading this book before Daughter of the Blood gives context that heightens the impact of the trilogy’s intro. #teamprh