Rating: 
Summary: In love with the Darkness
Review: Every so often I go into bookstores and wander up and down the fantasy section, picking books by a system I've devised. Sometimes it's books that appear to have a certain common content or major themes; sometimes it's books by women or men; sometimes the title intrigues me, or the cover art. With *Daughter of the Blood*, it was the cover art. I like deep green. I also liked the title, and thought I should buy the second book as well, in case the first was good.Sometimes this system doesn't work very well. Lightning struck in this case. I know a book's good when I promise myself, "Just one more page," and this somehow ends up lasting from 3:30 in the afternoon until 4:30 in the morning. It most often happens because of characters. In this case, it was also the society. How many fantasy novels actually do try to reverse the tropes and use Dark instead of Light? And how many fantasy novels try to work out a new relationship for the sexes instead of following the medieval pattern or turning to a "Women good, men baaad!" sort of approach? But it was mostly the characters. Yes, I must admit that I am half in love with Daemon Sadi. I really don't know why. I wish I did. But because revealing its underbelly might take psychotherapy, I'll just try to explain it as best as I can. Daemon isn't a picture-perfect hero. And he isn't someone who's broken under the torment he goes through and has to be nursed back to health. Certainly, the torment has affected him--darkening his temper, making him hate most women, and turning him into a sexual weapon. But he reacts to it in many different, subtle ways, from rage to cold amusement, that fit the lifespan of an immortal. There. I think that's it. I like him because he's really not human, and the author does a very good job of making him look that way. Daemon largely made up for the book's flaws (and it did have them). The book has villain trouble. Dorotea and the other witches (as well as the rapist "uncles") are simply too evil. They don't seem to have been corrupted by the twisted relations between the sexes, the way the heroes are, but just Be Evil. This wore after a while. There are cheap tricks that an author can pull to make people hate her characters, and having them hurt children is one of them. But Daemon is often a villain all by himself, so this is fine. The other part is Jaenelle's character. I loved it that the story was not told from her point of view, but this, unfortunately, also made it hard for me to understand what all the fuss was about. She displays compassion and kindness as a child, but so do many children. She displays dark vengefulness that is wonderfully Witchy, but since the people it was directed against were made to, apparently, unfaillingly deserve it (see above), that lessened the impact. I found it much easier to accept Jaenelle as a near-perfect child than to accept that this was her character as a woman. Ah, well. There was Daemon.
Rating: 
Summary: RECCOMENDED
Review: I truly would reccomend this book to others. Not for kids under 13 though because there are parts or which they would not quite undrstand. I really enjoyed this book and untill I finished it I would go to school and think of nothing else except what could happen next.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a read for children
Review: This is not a book I would want my kids to read. I enjoy many types of books fiction/supernatural/true crimes, etc. I do not believe books should be senored, BUT, there is far too much sex, and not the normal stuff either. Books of this type should have a notice to parents. This book was purchased by my 12 year old daughter for a book report a school. Playboy would have been a cleaner read.... She has a new book. Now I have read this book and enjoyed it - A slow start, written in the style of "Dune". But with time and pages the story unfolds nicely.
Rating:
Summary: Dark and Exhilarating...
Review: The plot of Daughter of the Blood is creative and unique, a reversal of standard fantasy. It's set in a world of magic where women rule through cruelty and the powerful but enslaved men dream of Witch, a Queen they could be proud to serve. Anne Bishop really brings the story and the characters to life, ending with a nerve-wracking cliffhanger. I loved the characters in this book, too. Daemon is fascinating, dark, bitter, and violent. He's a powerful Warlord Prince chained into slavery by the Ring of Obedience--and his love for his brother. Jaenelle is Witch, a young girl powerful beyond imagining. She seems innocent and naive, but she conceals wisdom and scars alike behind sapphire eyes. The character development in this book is deep and intriguing. The description is vivid and interesting and the action is exhilarating. The suspense is extremely sharp, keeping me on the edge of my seat for the entire book. This book managed to weave darker themes of sex and violence skillfully in with action, romance, and humor. This is a book of darkness, but also a book of love and laughter, of perseverance despite long odds. It makes us see ourselves in a different light and forces us to think about the true meaning of good and evil. Daughter of the Blood is truly an excellent book, and I highly recommend it. I caution those who dislike darker themes not to read it, though. It may be too strongly violent & sexual for you.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: O my gosh. This was a great book! If you are a person though that is bothered easily by things I wouldn't read this!! But if you love magic and love READ THIS BOOK and the other two in the series! Here is the low down
The book is set in a place where Hell isn't that scary. Also the world is rules by femals although in some places males have a big say. In others they are used abused and hurt! but also in some places female young witches are violated and hrt very badly! now that you know that here are the characters Okay there is a young girl named Jaenelle! She is a VERY powerful witch. Except she is more than the average witch she IS WITCH! and she is going to save the world! Then there is Saetan the High lord of Hell he is very powerful but just coming out of his prime!! he is a guardian and becomes Jaenells adopted father. He is very kind Then there is my total favorite Daemon! Daemon is Saetan's real son. He has been taken from his father though and grown up in evil courts were is behavior and violence are well known and he is feared by it. But when he meets jaenelle he will do anything to save her! There are many more incredible characters to name a few Luciver, Karla, morton, gabrielle, Kaelas. You don't meet all them in the first book though. The first book is mainly about Jaenelle growing up learning her incredible powers with Saetan and Daemon protectiing her from a huge danger! Awsome books you have to read them!
Rating:
Summary: Dreams made flesh....
Review: The Black Jewels Trilogy, by Anne Bishop, is absolutely fabulous. Ms. Bishop created a world in which the Jewels you wear determine your caste level and power is everything. Our main characters have real relationships with each other and you truly understand who they are. Jaenelle is a young girl who was dreams made flesh. She was the living embodiment of magic, a young girl with sapphire eyes. In these books, we read as Jaenelle grows up and becomes Witch. Ms. Bishop has made it impossible to put these books down once you have begun, and, consequently, my teachers were *very* mad at me. But that's another story..... Her books are dark, yet love is found. I can relate to the characters, and many of them remind me of me. Our four main characters seem to be each of my personalities split. I cannot express in words how much I would recommend these books. They are violent, dark and have some inappropriate themes for young children, but they are *so* well written. It's amazing. I envy Ms. Bishop her ability intensely.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: I loved this book and can't wait to read the others in the series. I however caution you before you buy or read this book. If you are very conservative I recommend that you think twice before you read this book. To everyone else I highly recommend that you read it. Anne Bishop is an excellent author and this book really shows it. YOu will be very glad you read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable dark fantasy
Review: I like my fantasy a little dark, and this 1st of a trilogy is that, despite the sprinkling of humor. Frankly, I've always thought Hell a bit more fascinating than Heaven and this book definitely turns the tables. Saetan, High Lord of Hell, is a rather tragic figure despite his power. Jaenelle, the young girl who he believes will right the wrongs of the world's domains and rule over all, is quite a mysterious character, showing up only now and then, who hints at things that aren't explained right away. All the characters are interesting, but if you are smart, you'll take notes on who is who and what the "levels" are. I did a lot of backtracking to find who had done what previously. I very much liked the way the author shaded the characters, especially Daemon (the "bastard" son of Saetan)who is desparately trying to survive, to find something to believe in... and finds it in Jaenelle. Yet he fears himself and what he is and what he is capable of. This internal struggle is fascinating. Fantasy allows us to look at ourselves in a new, more honest way. If, at times, it shows our brutality, it also shows the redeeming quality of love... even in Hell.
Rating:
Summary: Not bad...
Review: This was a pretty good read. The first in a series of three it deals with magick and mythology...generally my thing...but occassionaly gets a tad complex in it's "levels". (You'll see.) Be sure to read it when you have time to pay attention to it, it won't be handed to you! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Dear Garbage
Review: You are wrong. ... Bishop's books rank among the top 8 books in the world. Before you start screaming that 'Daughter' promotes pedophilia take a look at your own porn collection. It was Jaenelle's soul that Daemon was attracted to and to his credit he did wait 13 more years to actually have sex with her. Which you would know if you had read the third book. (by the way, the other books are Mercedes Lackey's 'Last Herald-Mage' trilogy and 'Shade's Children' by Garth Nix.)
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