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lasairfiona 's review for:
The Black Jewels Trilogy
by Anne Bishop
So I just finished reading the entire series in one go. 1204 pages in two days. That should tell you how interesting the concept is. The world Bishop has created is very familiar with the edges honed. What is great is that the framework is there but it isn't obtrusive (well, I didn't think so). It is a very cool framework. The jewels concept is interesting though the naming scheme got old quick.
There are a few buts: If you have any problem reading about various types of rape, don't read this. The depths that the bad guys sink to is horrible. It is fascinating and intense while showing the emotional scars that are left behind, but it isn't easy. This one thing will drive many people away from this book and I guess that is okay. Don't worry, the bad guys get what is coming to them (fantasy is like that - one of the many reasons we love it. Black and white is so much easier to deal with. [/rant]).
Another but: The intensity and character development comes and goes. The third book was especially bad as bits and pieces mentioned early on about characters seem to have completely disappeared. Those bits and pieces really made everything, the good and the bad alike, very real even in the black and white world of fantasy. However, those bits were thrown away quickly to make the story easier to write. Typical for fantasy but with such a cool wind up, I wanted a bit more.
Also, some of the story seemed to drag. Maybe it was just me but the social parts in book two and three didn't have enough detail to seem as real and were a bit boring because of that.
Overall, the first book was the best (4 stars, maybe 4.5), and the second two pulled it down to a three. Specifically the last book. The last book was a cool round up but seemed almost superfluous, as if there just really needed to be another _huge_ confrontation. But that's okay.
tl:dr - Good story. Worth reading if you can stomach the harsh parts. Typical fantasy writing with some good detail work at the beginning.
There are a few buts: If you have any problem reading about various types of rape, don't read this. The depths that the bad guys sink to is horrible. It is fascinating and intense while showing the emotional scars that are left behind, but it isn't easy. This one thing will drive many people away from this book and I guess that is okay. Don't worry, the bad guys get what is coming to them (fantasy is like that - one of the many reasons we love it. Black and white is so much easier to deal with. [/rant]).
Another but: The intensity and character development comes and goes. The third book was especially bad as bits and pieces mentioned early on about characters seem to have completely disappeared. Those bits and pieces really made everything, the good and the bad alike, very real even in the black and white world of fantasy. However, those bits were thrown away quickly to make the story easier to write. Typical for fantasy but with such a cool wind up, I wanted a bit more.
Also, some of the story seemed to drag. Maybe it was just me but the social parts in book two and three didn't have enough detail to seem as real and were a bit boring because of that.
Overall, the first book was the best (4 stars, maybe 4.5), and the second two pulled it down to a three. Specifically the last book. The last book was a cool round up but seemed almost superfluous, as if there just really needed to be another _huge_ confrontation. But that's okay.
tl:dr - Good story. Worth reading if you can stomach the harsh parts. Typical fantasy writing with some good detail work at the beginning.