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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
medium-paced
This review contains spoilers for the earlier books in the series.
The ‘main’ story of the series wrapped up with Twilight’s Dawn, with as picture-perfect a happy ending as Bishop could write from the corner she’d backed herself into – inevitably, if your romance is between someone from a species that lives 3000 years, and someone else whose race only lives for maybe 100 (like us humans) – well, that’s going to end in heartbreak for one part of your couple and your readers, eventually. Despite that, Bishop did the best she could to make the closing of the series not completely tragic, and it did manage to end on a hopeful, if slightly odd, note.
In writing Queen’s Bargain and Queen’s Weapons, it feels very much like Bishop came back to the Black Jewels world to close the book on it properly.
And I have to say, I think she’s done it. I have no idea if she intends to write any more Black Jewels books, but as a reader, I don’t need any more. This is the ending we didn’t quite get with Twilight’s Dawn; not the forced cliche of a white-picket-fence happy ending, but a happy ending that actually fits the strange, unconventional, wonderful family of characters we’ve known and loved for so long. This is the perfect place to stop. This is every question answered, every loose thread tied up, every Jewel set and left in its proper, perfect place.
A standing ovation for Ms Bishop, please!
Now, let me do my best to describe the actual book to you without spoilers!
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
The ‘main’ story of the series wrapped up with Twilight’s Dawn, with as picture-perfect a happy ending as Bishop could write from the corner she’d backed herself into – inevitably, if your romance is between someone from a species that lives 3000 years, and someone else whose race only lives for maybe 100 (like us humans) – well, that’s going to end in heartbreak for one part of your couple and your readers, eventually. Despite that, Bishop did the best she could to make the closing of the series not completely tragic, and it did manage to end on a hopeful, if slightly odd, note.
In writing Queen’s Bargain and Queen’s Weapons, it feels very much like Bishop came back to the Black Jewels world to close the book on it properly.
And I have to say, I think she’s done it. I have no idea if she intends to write any more Black Jewels books, but as a reader, I don’t need any more. This is the ending we didn’t quite get with Twilight’s Dawn; not the forced cliche of a white-picket-fence happy ending, but a happy ending that actually fits the strange, unconventional, wonderful family of characters we’ve known and loved for so long. This is the perfect place to stop. This is every question answered, every loose thread tied up, every Jewel set and left in its proper, perfect place.
A standing ovation for Ms Bishop, please!
Now, let me do my best to describe the actual book to you without spoilers!
Read the rest at Every Book a Doorway!
The Black Jewels series is not for the faint of heart. If you have a hot button of any kind, it will push them. While books later in the series are tamer than the original trilogy, they still have their fair share of trigger material in them.
The Queen’s Weapons has a few pacing issues but overall, it is another great story in a land that is full of magical peoples and creatures. Enough time has passed that some of the shorter-lived races are forgetting all the horror of the past when one cruel Queen ruined so many lives. There are some who believe the old ways should come back and they are trying to sneak them back into existance.
Daemonar, Lucivar and Daemon will have to be the blood triangle warriors for witch and be patient hunters until this new threat can be found.
Like all the other books in this world I had a hard time putting this down. It was fun to watch the kids growing up and into their own. Some will turn out great while others will have some harder lessons to learn. Jaenelle drove me crazy in this book. She has become an even bigger spoiled brat and since the High Lord of Hell is her father, she will have some very hard lessons to learn.
But Tishen and Daemonar are entertaining and I liked seeing how they are developing going into adulthood.
Daemon and Surreal, well if you read all the books it was probably hard to see Daemon with anyone other than Witch. Still there is tension in the marriage they have and it is a strange one but they finally have found some balance. I was happy with a few revelations made about Daemon and Witch and what they might be to one another once again someday.
Overall another captivating story setting up a new generation of the Blood and how they will continue to work to keep Dhemlan’s people safe. Sataen is probably rolling over in his grave laughing at his son and the way history can repeat itself.
The Queen’s Weapons has a few pacing issues but overall, it is another great story in a land that is full of magical peoples and creatures. Enough time has passed that some of the shorter-lived races are forgetting all the horror of the past when one cruel Queen ruined so many lives. There are some who believe the old ways should come back and they are trying to sneak them back into existance.
“If the High Lord hesitates, if he does not shape his rage into a blade for slaughter, a witch like Dorothea SaDiablo will rise in Dhemlan and spread her particular kind of poison, will sink her roots into the hearts of Dhemlan’s people. Another like Dorothea will gain enough power and support to corrupt and then destroy.”
Daemonar, Lucivar and Daemon will have to be the blood triangle warriors for witch and be patient hunters until this new threat can be found.
Like all the other books in this world I had a hard time putting this down. It was fun to watch the kids growing up and into their own. Some will turn out great while others will have some harder lessons to learn. Jaenelle drove me crazy in this book. She has become an even bigger spoiled brat and since the High Lord of Hell is her father, she will have some very hard lessons to learn.
“You grew up at the Hall, loved and protected by two of the strongest people in the Realm. Daemon and Surreal let you explore, they let you learn—and they always kept you safe. That was your childhood. Briarwood was mine.”
But Tishen and Daemonar are entertaining and I liked seeing how they are developing going into adulthood.
Daemon and Surreal, well if you read all the books it was probably hard to see Daemon with anyone other than Witch. Still there is tension in the marriage they have and it is a strange one but they finally have found some balance. I was happy with a few revelations made about Daemon and Witch and what they might be to one another once again someday.
Overall another captivating story setting up a new generation of the Blood and how they will continue to work to keep Dhemlan’s people safe. Sataen is probably rolling over in his grave laughing at his son and the way history can repeat itself.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A return to the world of the Black Jewels is always a treat. ALWAYS.
Anything after Twilight's Dawn is the frosting upon the frosting. Because it should have ended there.
Anne Bishop, however, takes us back to the world of Kaeleer with the wonderful and incredible depth of relationships between Lucivar, Daemon, and their family.
Although this story has hints of repetition from previous works, what was brand new was the depth of the nemesis coming from the SaDiablo family. And watching our beloved characters making and be forced into making the hard choices.
I literally could NOT put it down.
Anything after Twilight's Dawn is the frosting upon the frosting. Because it should have ended there.
Anne Bishop, however, takes us back to the world of Kaeleer with the wonderful and incredible depth of relationships between Lucivar, Daemon, and their family.
Although this story has hints of repetition from previous works, what was brand new was the depth of the nemesis coming from the SaDiablo family. And watching our beloved characters making and be forced into making the hard choices.
I literally could NOT put it down.
Anne Bishop never disappoints! I've been a huge fan of the Black Jewels books for a long, long time. I don't understand the negative reviews I've seen. The story went in a direction that I didn't expect (no spoilers!) but that direction was logical and plausible. The characters are so well-drawn! I so hope there are more stories to be told in this universe! I can't wait to see what Anne writes next!
Woof. I got about 150 pages into this bad boy before deciding to toss it in the DNF bin.
Thank you to the souls out there who outline the plot in their good reads review. You saved me a few hours of my life trying to finish this thing.
Anne Bishop’s writing style has really gone down hill for me. I felt like she was constantly hitting us over the head with reminders of previous plot points from not just the entire series but even earlier chapters of the book! It was written in such a cheap young adult fashion - like how the first two chapters of the early Harry Potter books tend to be a tv episode recap of major plot point of the book before. Except, sometimes it would be about a chapter you JUST finished reading. I just felt like it was insulting my intelligence at times.
The plot is so low level boring compared to the plot of the original trilogy. How can you expect me to watch these characters react with the same level of drama and war readiness over some petty teenage BS? I quit just as JS was about to sign up for school. I suspected the rest of the book was going to morph into following her school adventures and it’s honestly not the kind of book I signed up for to read.
I wish Anne Bishop had more clever ideas of where she could have gone with all of these characters. The path she chose was uninspired and dull. I’m not going to bother trying to read any more Black Jewels entries.
Thank you to the souls out there who outline the plot in their good reads review. You saved me a few hours of my life trying to finish this thing.
Anne Bishop’s writing style has really gone down hill for me. I felt like she was constantly hitting us over the head with reminders of previous plot points from not just the entire series but even earlier chapters of the book! It was written in such a cheap young adult fashion - like how the first two chapters of the early Harry Potter books tend to be a tv episode recap of major plot point of the book before. Except, sometimes it would be about a chapter you JUST finished reading. I just felt like it was insulting my intelligence at times.
The plot is so low level boring compared to the plot of the original trilogy. How can you expect me to watch these characters react with the same level of drama and war readiness over some petty teenage BS? I quit just as JS was about to sign up for school. I suspected the rest of the book was going to morph into following her school adventures and it’s honestly not the kind of book I signed up for to read.
I wish Anne Bishop had more clever ideas of where she could have gone with all of these characters. The path she chose was uninspired and dull. I’m not going to bother trying to read any more Black Jewels entries.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A