Helpful Score: 8
This series continues to impress me. I love the rich culture of the world created by Bishop. I'm fascinated by what goes on in each of the Realms and how they've changed yet still echo what they were created to be. And the characters--I find myself drawn to them, again and again, as if they're old friends already.
I'm amazed by how fast the books are moving. Thankfully Bishop doesn't feel the need to explain every last moment of Jaenelle's life. Sometimes whole years are acknowledged in mere sentences. It's rather refreshing after reading so many books that seem to detail every crumb the main character ate for breakfast; skipping through years that occurred but which didn't need to be talked about extensively is a nice surprise. After all, we're getting older in increments--it isn't the minutes that count, it's the years.
This second book focuses on Jaenelle after the events of Daughter of the Blood. Roughly two years have passed. This book got off to a rousing start with one of my favorite characters, Saetan Daemon SaDiablo. Demon-dead, Guardian, the High Priest of Hell itself petitions the Council for parental rights to Jaenelle. And we get to see a taste of Saetan's power. Not that we didn't know how powerful he was in the first book--he is the High Lord of Hell after all--but this is a very public, very ... emphatic show of power.
In this book we also meet many of the friends Jaenelle talked about in Daughter of the Blood. Each of them are as amusing as Jaenelle and they keep Saetan on his toes even more than just Jaenelle did.
The ending is one I know I'm going to want to read again and again. In fact I've read it a few times already. It is lushly and powerfully written allowing us to see that Jaenelle is a match for her adopted father's power.
I'm amazed by how fast the books are moving. Thankfully Bishop doesn't feel the need to explain every last moment of Jaenelle's life. Sometimes whole years are acknowledged in mere sentences. It's rather refreshing after reading so many books that seem to detail every crumb the main character ate for breakfast; skipping through years that occurred but which didn't need to be talked about extensively is a nice surprise. After all, we're getting older in increments--it isn't the minutes that count, it's the years.
This second book focuses on Jaenelle after the events of Daughter of the Blood. Roughly two years have passed. This book got off to a rousing start with one of my favorite characters, Saetan Daemon SaDiablo. Demon-dead, Guardian, the High Priest of Hell itself petitions the Council for parental rights to Jaenelle. And we get to see a taste of Saetan's power. Not that we didn't know how powerful he was in the first book--he is the High Lord of Hell after all--but this is a very public, very ... emphatic show of power.
In this book we also meet many of the friends Jaenelle talked about in Daughter of the Blood. Each of them are as amusing as Jaenelle and they keep Saetan on his toes even more than just Jaenelle did.
The ending is one I know I'm going to want to read again and again. In fact I've read it a few times already. It is lushly and powerfully written allowing us to see that Jaenelle is a match for her adopted father's power.
2nd book in series, I enjoyed the book very much. It has a great web of characters and has a some funny moments to lighten the dark parts of book.
Helpful Score: 2
I love this book. I take back what I said about loving the first the most - the kindred characters add even more richness to the story.
The continuation of the story is quite perfect and in a way this one is even sadder than the first. I am quite excited to keep reading and even more excited for the new book.
On reading this one, I don't know that I could pick out one of the three to be my favorite... they work as a whole.
The continuation of the story is quite perfect and in a way this one is even sadder than the first. I am quite excited to keep reading and even more excited for the new book.
On reading this one, I don't know that I could pick out one of the three to be my favorite... they work as a whole.
Helpful Score: 1
The second book in the Dark Jewels Triology! Every bit as good as the first one!!!
With The Black Jewels Trilogy (consisting of Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness), Anne Bishop has taken the literature of dark fantasy to heights I never even dreamed of. She has created a universe I can barely begin to describe, a realm of kingdoms ruled by women -- in the form of witches, priestesses and Black Widow queens -- where the strongest of men are forced into the role of consort to the most vindictive of mistresses. Bishop turns good and evil upside down in this masterful literary vision, giving us heroes the likes of Saetan the High Lord of Hayll, his sons Daemon Sadi and Lucivar, and one very special and very powerful young lady named Jaenelle Angelline.
If you are searching for something different, something that will completely captivate you in the form of a world unlike any you have yet encountered in your literary journeys, The Black Jewels Trilogy stands ready to redefine your very conception of the literature of dark fantasy. This is fantasy that should appeal to women as well as men, for this is not just another work of fantasy built around warlike dwarves, ethereal elves and heroic battles fought by stereotypical male characters. The Black Jewels Trilogy is literature of the highest order, more than earning author Anne Bishop the title I now personally bestow upon her: the Queen of Dark Fantasy.
If you are searching for something different, something that will completely captivate you in the form of a world unlike any you have yet encountered in your literary journeys, The Black Jewels Trilogy stands ready to redefine your very conception of the literature of dark fantasy. This is fantasy that should appeal to women as well as men, for this is not just another work of fantasy built around warlike dwarves, ethereal elves and heroic battles fought by stereotypical male characters. The Black Jewels Trilogy is literature of the highest order, more than earning author Anne Bishop the title I now personally bestow upon her: the Queen of Dark Fantasy.
Elizabeth (elsasdaughter) reviewed Heir to the Shadows (Black Jewels, Bk 2) on + 115 more book reviews
The first book introduced us to this little girl who had a horrible upbringing at the hands of her family. She endured much as only a 12 year old can. With the help of her "adopted father Saeten" and other friends she was able to get out of that nightmare and in this book she begins to heal. Janelle has grown from a witch-child to a very powerful witch. She struggles to fight inner demons while trying to save her friends in the process. The interaction between Janelle and Saetan are very rich and at times heartbreaking. Janelle has her sire,"the lord of High Hell" wrapped around her black crystal ring finger. The relationship as father and daughter is one I will never forget in these books. It goes to show that even though Janelle was not sired by him she is truly the daughter of his soul and will fight anyone even the all powerful Lorn to protect her against anyone.
Anne Bishop creates characters and scenery with a beautiful imagination where even in a magical world, deceit, betrayl, corruption and power rule.
Anne Bishop creates characters and scenery with a beautiful imagination where even in a magical world, deceit, betrayl, corruption and power rule.
I liked this book much better than the first book in this trilogy of The Black Jewels. I'm glad I already have book three so I can get on with the story!
Four stars
Four stars
I found these books somewhat interesting, but over all not very satisfying. The story line seemed to build , but in the end seemed anti-climatic.
Really a wonderful book. I really love this series.
Elizabeth (elsasdaughter) reviewed Heir to the Shadows (Black Jewels, Bk 2) on + 115 more book reviews
The first book introduced us to this little girl who had a horrible upbringing at the hands of her family. She endured much as only a 12 year old can. With the help of her "adopted father Saeten" and other friends she was able to get out of that nightmare and in this book she begins to heal. Janelle has grown from a witch-child to a very powerful witch. She struggles to fight inner demons while trying to save her friends in the process. The interaction between Janelle and Saetan are very rich and at times heartbreaking. Janelle has her sire,"the lord of High Hell" wrapped around her black crystal ring finger. The relationship as father and daughter is one I will never forget in these books. It goes to show that even though Janelle was not sired by him she is truly the daughter of his soul and will fight anyone even the all powerful Lorn to protect her against anyone.
Anne Bishop creates characters and scenery with a beautiful imagination where even in a magical world, deceit, betrayl, corruption and power rule.
Anne Bishop creates characters and scenery with a beautiful imagination where even in a magical world, deceit, betrayl, corruption and power rule.
Nymphadora T. (nymphadora) reviewed Heir to the Shadows (Black Jewels, Bk 2) on + 95 more book reviews
"The Blood have waited centuries for the coming of Witch, the lving embodiement of magic. But Jaenelle, the young girl singled out by prophecy, is haunted by the cruel battles fought over her- for not all the Blood await her as their savior..."
Excellent sequel! Can't wait to finish the third book!
The second book in the Black Jewels trilogy picks up almost immediately after the conclusion of Daughter of the Blood, then quickly starts jumping forward in time in intervals of days, months, and even years. The story makes these jumps throughout, and unfortunately, Bishop does not accomplish them smoothly. The jumps are necessary to keep the plot moving, but every time there was a jump forward in time I felt a moment of dislocation, as there are very few clues in the text about what happened in the intervening time -- I understand that the time was mostly irrelevant, but the author needs to be firmly enough in control that he/she can say "Over the next two years, Jaenelle continued to gain physical strength while her emotional well-being stagnated. . ." or something of the sort to smooth the transition.
Another jarring aspect was that Bishop doesn't seem able to handle having all three of her main male characters in the same book. Lucivar was nearly nonexistant in Daughter of the Blood, while Daemon and Saetan got all the screen time; in Heir to the Shadows it is Lucivar and Saetan that are the focus while Daemon languishes in limbo off screen. In Daughter of the Blood this didn't bother me tremendously, for even though his perspective was shown very early on, not enough had been established about his character for me to feel the lack. But in Heir to the Shadows Daemon is already a well-established character, one whom I eventually cared about deeply, so to have him essentially forgotten for the years that the book covers was frustrating.
Beyond those two things, however, Heir to the Shadows was more engaging than Daughter of the Blood was; I still have no real sense of the physical landscape, but at least the magic system gained a little complexity (though it still resembles an RPG too strongly for my taste) and all the people lusting after Jaenelle this time were bad guys, so it didn't raise my hackles. (Besides, she grew up, so it was less queasy-making.) I still objected to the fact that none of the characters ever sat down and hashed things out -- there would have been less conflict if they had, but that sort of conflict is cheap anyway -- but overall this was a stronger novel than its predecessor, and I am looking forward to reading the conclusion of the trilogy.
Another jarring aspect was that Bishop doesn't seem able to handle having all three of her main male characters in the same book. Lucivar was nearly nonexistant in Daughter of the Blood, while Daemon and Saetan got all the screen time; in Heir to the Shadows it is Lucivar and Saetan that are the focus while Daemon languishes in limbo off screen. In Daughter of the Blood this didn't bother me tremendously, for even though his perspective was shown very early on, not enough had been established about his character for me to feel the lack. But in Heir to the Shadows Daemon is already a well-established character, one whom I eventually cared about deeply, so to have him essentially forgotten for the years that the book covers was frustrating.
Beyond those two things, however, Heir to the Shadows was more engaging than Daughter of the Blood was; I still have no real sense of the physical landscape, but at least the magic system gained a little complexity (though it still resembles an RPG too strongly for my taste) and all the people lusting after Jaenelle this time were bad guys, so it didn't raise my hackles. (Besides, she grew up, so it was less queasy-making.) I still objected to the fact that none of the characters ever sat down and hashed things out -- there would have been less conflict if they had, but that sort of conflict is cheap anyway -- but overall this was a stronger novel than its predecessor, and I am looking forward to reading the conclusion of the trilogy.
Book two of the black jewels trilogy. a richley detailed world, lavishly sensual.
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