Rating: 
Summary: A world where women have power...
Review: ... and all they want is some dominant male to cuddle them and take care of them. Because, of course, strong women just want to fall into a burbling puddle of feminine submission at the feet of their man at the end of the day. Pffffft.
Ms. Bishop seems to make some presumptions here; that readers will have read the Black Jewels trilogy first; that we're not intelligent enough to distinguish real characters from cardboard cutouts; and that giving in to testosterone posturing is every woman's fantasy.
Some didn't, we are and it ain't.
We're tossed into Angst Land from paragraph one (a paragraph that has some promise with regard to deep character conflict that is never realized) without any background on why we should care about the male protagonist, other than he's an unwilling pleasure slave for an ebil queen about to be sold at the ebil slave market. A queen, I might add who has all the complexity of a head of lettuce if you've not read the trilogy, where she has all the complexity of a box of hair, not even tangled hair, mind you.
There's a female protagonist who whines and gets cranky a lot and has mysterious issues that prevent her from walking but aren't life threatening which enable the above mentioned testosterone posturing and much woman carrying and PMS crankiness.
Frankly, the testosterone posturing and resulting squabbles are the only type of interaction any of the characters have. This is what passes for content and plot and is all very handy since it eliminates the need for character depth, motivation, sub-plots, complexity or an engaging and unique backstory.
The 'guest appearance' by Ms. Bishop's favorite character is a contrived tie-in and even further out of character than his portrayal in the trilogy. Why does he care about this minor former noble turned sex slave, anyway, and why should we care that he cares?
Let's just be blunt. This is a bad book. Bad, bad, bad, bad. From the singular lack of plot (get the good queen before she crosses the mountains... that's your plan? Get her?) to the lack of forward motion (except for the walking some of the characters do) to the stock, lifeless characters. There aren't even any Mary Sues to watch, with the exception of the whiney, cranky female protagonist whose name escapes me (imagine that).
The ebil queen postures at the right moments, her henchman complains unconvincingly (and I'm not sure why he's there at all because, man, he didn't seem excited about his career pathing to become head of the ebil queen's guards). The right characters die that will make you want to sniffle. The right amount of danger threatens the characters without being too threatening. The right characters survive to make you want to fight bravely on with them.
The bad guys dither the right amount of time to allow the good guys to concoct the requisite cunning (more cunning than a fox teaching cunning at Cambridge University?) and unexpected plan that allows them to win out over the supposedly better armed, more powerful and better organized bad guys. Rather like neandertals defeating a modern army with nothing more than pluck and bent sticks waved confusingly.
There isn't even that much sex and it's simply embarrassing. Not because it's sex but because it's so badly written.
Just don't read this book. Do not give away the hours of your life you would spend reading it when you could be walking along a beach, painting a painting, sharing a romantic dinner with a loved one... you get the drift.
Rating: 
Summary: Lost in the world of jeweled magic...
Review: A strictly occasional fantasy reader, I picked up this book when my husband--who reads almost nothing but--brought it home from his favorite used bookstore. Out of boredom as much as anything, I began to read one night...and very quickly found myself slipping into Anne Bishop's world of Queens, Warlords, and Jeweled Magic. I stayed up most of the night reading, and I'm sure my coworkers wondered what had me so distracted the next day! I couldn't wait to get home and finish it, almost as if I was under...a spell? I fell in love with Jared, was drawn to Daemon Sadi, and found myself rooting passionately against Dorothea and her Captain of the Guard. Bishop's strong characterizations and richly detailed universe make this novel compelling. I did not want the story to end. Unlike many reviewers, I came to Invisible Ring without having read the Dark Jewels trilogy (it appears this is its prequel); needless to say, it's the next thing on my reading list! ONE CAUTION: this book contains some pretty graphic sex and violence and is not for those whose sensibilities are easily offended. In fact, the first two or three chapters may make you think you have picked up a so-called "adult" novel. Hang in there...the rest of the book is definitely worth it.
Rating:
Summary: The Invisible Ring
Review: After reading the Black Jewels trilogy I knew I had to read The Invisible Ring. I enjoyed the "old" characters making appearances, tieing the book in with the others. While it is obviously an adult book, the sex, although somewhat graphic, was made to feel a normal, important part of life for the "Blood" not inserted for sensationalism, nor was it artificial. I wish I could have known more of the "gray lady", but maybe that will come with future books. I know I would love to read more of the world of the Black Jewels.
Rating:
Summary: A precursor to the blood trilogy
Review: Another excellent story from Anne Bishop. The Invisible Ring is set during Dorthea's long reign and before Witch is born. There are a few visits from the sadist otherwise, it stands alone with it's own storyline and characters. Having read the Black Jewels trilogy will enhance your enjoyment of the story, but is not strictly necessary. Ms. Bishop, if you are listening we'd love more of Witch's saga. You left her barely alive. Surely you can squeeze out one more book about her and the lands recovery. Whatever you choose to write we'll look forward to enjoying it and, hopefully, many others.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mess of Silly Intrigue
Review: Did I miss something?
I am not a squeamish girl. I read the Marquis de Sade. I enjoyed the "Kushiel" series. I laughed at Anne Rice's "Beauty" series.
What is this?
So many people laud Anne Bishop for being so brave and controversial, but from this book (the first I've read), she leans heavily on women's ideal gender stereotypes and the book became laugh-out-loud funny in a few parts. Women rule in this world, but the good heroines seem to want nothing so much as a nice cuddle and the right to be snarky and PMS'y whenever they feel like it. The males want to provide said cuddle, and there are several lectures delivered to the 'strong' female chracters about how they've so worried the male slaves and should allow themselves to be coddled to make the poor men feel better.
It just felt ridiculous.
There's very little in this book that strikes me as erotic. However, even fans of the "Black Jewels" trilogy (of which this is a prequel) seemed miffed by this ill-conceived book, so I'll try those before I write of the series entirely.
I could've done with a bit more about Daemon and Lucivar. Despite giggling at the spelling of their names, they seemed much more interesting than the plastic characters presented throughout the rest of the story.
Finally: I wish writers would seize on another fetish besides S&M; there are so many out there!
Rating:
Summary: Slightly disappointed
Review: For the record, I was completely enthralled by the Dark Jewels series. I had been looking forward to The Invisible Ring for months before it hit the stores, and kept track of its publishing dates through Amazon.com, ( )and the Penguin Putnam publishing group--and bought it the first day it was available. While not a bad book by any means, The Invisible Ring fails to live up to Ms. Bishop's first trilogy. The characters are less interesting, and the plot more predictable. Unlike the first series that led the reader through a complicated world of dangerous predators and luscious descriptions, this one reads more like a romance novel with a fantasy plot thrown in. Buy it, but don't expect as much.
Rating:
Summary: Yeeerch!
Review: gag me. on a spoon.
maybe it just comes from having fallen in love with charachters from the Black Jewels Trilogy, and reading all those first, but pleeeaaase. Spare me.
My main peeve about this book is that, while every charachter has their own history that encompasses the time before the story is taking place, not enough of the 'backstory' is revealed to provide solid foundations for the charachter's motivations in their actions. OK, so we know Jared was an unwilling pleasure slave. I'll send him a sympathy card. whatever. (my honest, gut-reaction). that's bones. to understand his motivations and agst, readers REQUIRE a bit of meat to those bones. details. flashbacks, nightmares, telling the story to another charachter - whatever, so long as the reasons for what the charachters say and do becomes clearer.
Maybe i'm being fussy and picky, but i just couldn't connect with these charachters - they had few seemingly 'normal' problems, habits or quirks - it was almost impossible for me to humanize them, and thus empathize with them. I mean, come on. Sure, they've all been mistreated, in some way or another, but you'd think one of them would do something as 'normal' as biting their nails or SOMETHING.
Also, many of the charachters, including/especially the protagonist, are devoid of any shred of anything even slightly resembling intelligence. Therefore - yuk, in the purest form of the word.
To those of you looking for something in this book, i'll try to quench your hopes now - there is some action, but mostly it seems that this book is a narrative of the Canterbury Tales recounting portions of the lives of several messed up people much in need of serious, professional, and expensive therapy.
All in all, a big buildup and disappointing letdown.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Introduction to the World of the Blood
Review: Having only read the first volume in the Black Jewels Trilogy, I found this book to be refreshing and informative. It answered a lot of questions I had from the Daughter of the Blood regarding the culture and use of the jewels. In fact, I would recommend that anyone who wants to read the Trilogy read this book first. It is not quite as dark and sets up the background for the Trilogy. I believe I will enjoy the second two books in the Trilogy much more now that I have read this prequel. It is a charming story that I could not put down and read in one 24 hour period. While the ending foretells the eventual fall of the lands the Grey Lady and her grandaughter are trying so hard to protect, it gives a wonderful view of how the Blood should act and what everyone in the trilogy if fighting to regain.
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly Enjoyable Prequel
Review: Having read Ms. Bishop's Black Jewels Trilogy (and loved it), I thought that this book worked well as a prequel, and is probably the best way to introduce a new reader to the Black Jewels realms. I thought that the whole society was more concisely explained in this book. It also gives the backstory about the Grey Lady mentioned in the Trilogy.This storyline is more straight-forward than the Trilogy. The characters in this book would seem to be easier for a new reader to understand (in that they're less exotic, everything being relative of course) and the realms are presented in a less complicated fashion, yet the book still gives an intriguing hint of of the depth and complexity of the Trilogy books. There are enough teases about Daemon Sadi, Lucivar Yaslana, Surreal, and the rest of the Trilogy characters to make reading the other books inevitable - even just to find out the outcome of Dorothea SaDiablo's machinations, not to mention learning whether or not Daemon Sadi's true love is ever born. And for the readers who've already read the Trilogy, the teases were nice reminders of what makes the Trilogy so special. Even if you've stayed away from fantasy, this book is a good introduction to the genre, since there are enough points of familiarity for a new reader to feel confortable with. Best of all, if you enjoy this book, you have the three books of the Trilogy to look forward to!
Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as the trilogy
Review: I agree that this book has some merit, but because the Jewels trilogy was so outstanding, I was expecting a bit more out of this. I didn't find this cast of characters nearly as compelling as those in the other three books either, although Daemon Sadi does make an appearance. I look forward to other works from Anne Bishop.
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