The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood/Heir to the Shadows/Queen of the Darkness

Rating:
Summary: A great refreshing read
Review: I read these three books in a matter of a week! The characters have chemistry that had me cracking up and smiling the whole time. Anne Bishop has written wit into a genre of books where it can sometimes be lacking. Along with the heart pounding, deep breath moments of "can't wait to see what happens", she has a gift for really making you care for the people you are reading about.

In a world where The Blood have psychic powers which strength is determined by the color of jewels that they wear, a girl named Janelle who IS Witch, and potentially stronger than any and all of them emerges and the fight for control over her begins. She is brought into a family where The High Lord of Hell is father and two half-brother slaves all care deeply for her. She has been tortured and scarred both emotionally and physically since she was a small girl, and has little trust for anyone. Daemon, Lucivar,and Saetan all want to use the power within Janelle for different reasons, all the while protecting her from even more dangerous corruption from power lusting Queens who would take and break her to make her their own. And she must choose. How she does choose when 3 separate and yet parallel realms all need the power of Witch may surprise you.

Each of the characters - from the brethren/non-human psychics to the friends and foes met along the way, are rich and truly stand out.

Natural black widows, tangled webs of dreams, gifting to the darkness, riding the winds, birthright jewels, breaking a witch.....so many original concepts in these books!

I have been an avid reader of fantasty - Terry Brooks, David Eddings, and many others and I have truly found my new favorite author! Anne Bishop brings something to the table which has been missing in too many fantasy worlds - real life.



Rating:
Summary: Powerful and moving...
Review: I was truely astonished at how good these books were. I had been recommended by someone I knew online. Parents, these had definite adult content... anyone else, I would recommend these to anyone.

It's about a powerful young girl who goes through such horror and terror that she constantly struggles, not only against others, but with herself.

It's also about the men who love her. A father, a brother, a lover. You really FEEL for each of these characters as the story progresses, and although the future looks bleak, you continue to hope for each of them.

The tale is also about power and the misuse of it. But it's mainly about the main characters. The worldbuilding is right on, but you stay involved because of Jaenelle, Daemon, Saetan and Lucifer.

If you are a fantasy fan, pick one up.. it's come highly recommended! ;)

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!!
Review: I'm a big fan of fantasy novels, a la Kushiel series, etc, and this trilogy is every bit as good!
Another alternate world, where women rule, and men are treated as slaves to their ruler's every whim. The Blood, holding powers vast and dangerous, the males have grown stronger than their female rulers, and are waiting for a Queen they can serve without being beaten and degraded. A prophesy, telling of the arrival of one such queen.... and she's a little girl.
Anne Bishop brings her worlds to life, with cruel and cold women, drunk on power; sensual men, who delight in destruction, waiting for the chance to overthrow those who they hate, a young girl, wise beyond her years, who will inspire love and devotion in their hearts -- and spark a war that will span three kingdoms, even to Hell itself.
This is an excellent version of the book to buy, with all three volumes wrapped up in one. At least you'll never lose one of the books! Also a benefit, as the first and second novels end on a bit of a cliffhangar, so it's a relief to have the next one close at hand. Anne Bishop paints a world at once real and comletely fantasical, with a multitude of races, and amazing powers, infinite cruelty, and enduring love. She effortlessly weaves together complex storylines, somehow resolving them all into a complete and complex whole. The result is a magnificent book that you will not want to put down. Amazing.

Rating:
Summary: read this
Review: If you interested in fantasy this trilogy is a must read. This is what I would like to see more of; as contemporary fantasy. Within this story lies much of the true human condition that is hinted in others or not discussed. You will grow close to these characters, love them, feel them, be them. I read this trilogy in 3 days, just couldn,t put down. I will be reading Anne Bishop in the future. True gem.

Rating:
Summary: NOT Robert Jordan
Review: If you love fantasy & are tired of wading through Robert Jordan's endless descriptions of EVERYTHING, read these books. I have read all of Anne Bishop's books & this trilogy is her best. I would recommend reading the Invisible Ring first though. It will give you a good overview of the way their world works before you dive into the whole trilogy. The Invisible Ring could be read alone, but once you start the trilogy you cannot stop. Buy all 3 together!

Rating:
Summary: Dark and enthralling.
Review: It got me hooked by the first book. This book kept me up at night reading it, and when that happens, I give it five stars.

The story talks about a society where females rule and males are subdued by them. Men and rival witches "break" young women before they reach maturity to strip them of their power, and mature ones slave males.

Then a young witch starts traveling between the realms, and those who love her try to shield her from all who want to destroy her, including a family that does not understand her.

Some people will find the sexual scenes too intense. If you are offended by reading sadism and bondage, then do not buy this book. I bought the first book to try it out, and one week later I was buying the next two parts. The three books make a feeble attempt to stand on their own, but they are really one book split in three: you won't get as much by reading then in disorder or getting just one of them.

To give you some bearings on my taste, that may be similar to yours: I liked the Kushiel trilogy (a little better than this book, in fact) for the complexity of its characters and plot; and I disliked "A Kiss of Shadows", because it had more sex than story.

Rating:
Summary: Read them, you won't regret it!
Review: Of the numerous trilogies of the fantasy/sci-fi genere this one has been the most enjoyable read. While it's been a while since I've read these books, I'm absolutely thrilled to see that they're being realeased in a pack. Perhaps they'll make a movie:-) Bishop twirled a an intricate, if not twisted tale.

Rating:
Summary: Purely Awesome
Review: Ok so some of you won't find it nearly as amusing if your a bible thumper (but then again most wouldn't be picking up this sort of book) but its got dark, rich history and vivid characters that makes one not want to put it down.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: Ok, the series has its problems. I don't like the "kindred" - I find them very annoying. Don't like the secondary characters either. I hate it when we have to read through sections of the villains plotting against Jaenelle...it's juvenile and condescending, as if the author has to spell out for the readers what is going on, when everything is actually really obvious. "Look how evil the bad guys are! They smirk!" And everyone in the book needs to exclaim "Mother Night" or some such nonsense every time one of the females acts quirky or Jaenelle, who they know is supergirl, does something powerful.
Now. I really like the world from the story. I love Daemon and Saetan. I am fond of Lucivar and Jaenelle. I enjoy their interactions immensely. The first one is definitely my favorite and I would actually rate it 4 stars.

Rating:
Summary: A rival to all known trilogies
Review: The Black Jewels Trilogy is a fantastic read that captures the reader and doesn't let go till the last word. The characters are brilliantly designed and they suck you into their world. In realms which The Blood are the People with magic, their strength determined by their jewels and title. Three Warlod Princes, all very powerful, come together in this epic tale where love and danger meld together and honouring the ways of the blood is all but lost, these three are different from the corrupt people of Terrielle, they honour the ways of the blood.
There is a hope for the Blood, "there is one who is dreams made flesh, she is not just any witch, but Witch". She will be more powerful and terrifying than any who has come before her. Though she is fragile and already she is beginning to fall apart.
Throughout the trilogy each character changes and grows. This book will make you cry and laugh out loud. Anne bishop truly knows how to express human emotion in a world that is severly lacking.