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

My sister gifted me this trilogy after reading it half a dozen times herself. Then I read it so many times it disintegrated with overuse. I had to replace it with a new copy. That's how good this book is. Anne Bishop is one of only 3-4 authors whose books I actually collect in bound form and have re-read each of her novels at least 9 times over. I hunt for her new works and each is highly anticipated. She's an excellent author with a highly creative, unpredictable mind.

One of my favorite fiction writers, I've read every one of her books.She makes you like and cheer for characters that would be the "bad guys" in other stories. She creates another world with it's own rules but without complex genealogies or other distractions found in some similar styles of writing. Your sucked into the story and before you know it there is a sense that you know the characters and have empathy for these creatures that are the stuff of nightmares and fantasy.

I've commented on the books individually so I'll stay away from that. I bought this for a friend. I was a little hesitant since it combined all three books. I wondered how big this book was. Well it is kind of big and the paper cover felt a little too thin. It's not the most comfortable fit for your hands. Buying the books in one big book saves you in the area of about four dollars. If that doesn't matter to you I would recommend that you buy the books separate. They're just easier to handle that way.

This was one of my favorite reads and did want the seperate books but this was cheaper. Its a bit big to have in lap but the story is fantastic. when looking up these books, I noticed the trilogy continues on and theres more!!! Now I will have to get the other books too. I would recommend this to anyone who loves Anne Bishop and fantasy stories, its pure genius.

Of all time. So smitten with the writing, that one of the quotes will be a tattoo. Anne Bishop wrote a wonderful series and it all started with these three books. The cover are looks terrible. Ignore it. Written in the pages of these books are worlds that should exist. At first I thought it was just some super feminist fantasy novels. (I'm a woman and even I couldn't have handled that much girl power) But upon reading all three books, I realized that Bishop has created a magic that so far has yet to be duplicated. This series is Gritty, Dangerous and Dark.

I thought Anne Bishop did an excellent job bringing her characters to life. It made me feel as if that world really did exist. I hope that she continues with the story of Janelle. I for one would be waiting for her next release with bated breath. Once you understood her terminology, it became easier to follow. If you're a fan of supernatural fantasy then you will love this trilogy. This was my first experience with a book by Anne Bishop, but I will purchase more of her novels because of this one. I know I won't be disappointed.

I am quite new to the whole fantasy genre, but thanks to Anne and the world she created, I am quite sure, I am now and forever hooked. A friend of mine is an avid fantasy reader and devours books. She recommended Anne Bishop. I actually bought the trilogy (all in one) and would recommend new readers do the same. Once you start, once you're immersed, you can't stop. For me it's like a drug. I would lie in bed reading, glance up and realise it was 3am in the morning, because I "Needed" to read one last chapter, which became another and another. The world that Anne imagines, creates and brings to life is beautiful. You fall in love with the characters and become a part of their lives. You won't want to leave. The world and concepts that she creates are unique and intriguing. I have now read every single book she has written up to and including her latest Twilights Dawn. I cried and I actually found my self laughing out loud alot whilst reading her books. I hope I can find other books and Authors that I enjoy as much as these ones. P.S If you can recommend any let me know.

I agree, Anne Bishop's writing could be better and she does get repetitive and I found myself scanning paragraphs a few times over the same old same old - but that being said, I still could not put this book down and still found it to be an amazing story that I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in. I highly recommend this book. I'm glad it is as long as it is because I really didn't want it to end. I finished it today and promptly ordered the two books that coordinate with it; Anne Bishop's  The Invisible Ring  and  Dreams Made Flesh . I'm anxiously awaiting them!

Book OneI will admit this book is brutal and so much goes on that this is not a casual book but so completely amazing at the same time.The world it’s based in is Matriarchal so females are in the seat of power and Queens Priestess and witches rule the world and all males. Warlords even if they have darker jewels the Queens still serve and protect the leading female.700 hundred years before a Black Widow witch saw a ancient prophecy that spoke of a myth a witch that held a massive power that would cleanse the world of all the evil Blood that no longer follow the way of the Witch.Jaenelle is 7 years old when she meets Saetan the only Black Jewelled Guardian that remembers the previous Witch and how to follow Blood protocol.So much happens in this book, evil Queens hurting raping males and using them to there entertainment that is until Daemon becomes part of there court gifted to them by his Mother/Grandmother.I will admit a lot of this book is hard to read especially the hurting/rape/deaths of the children and also the males in book being harmed but light is at the end of it sort of.MUST READ IN ORDER get get the best introduction to this awesome series.Book 2Book 2 of the black jewels seriesJaenelle has been recused from her horrible family and Briarwood but also tried to save Daemon but because of all that was injured badly and had been in the Twisted kingdom for a long time.Saetan and Lucivar had waited 2 years for her to wake up and then deal with a fragile body and soul.This book she a great carry on from last book and even though Jaenelle is in a coma for first part it really shows off the other characters more and see the evil Dorothea and Hekatah make plan to try destroy High Lord of Hell and try to rule over all the Realms of Terreille.This book isn’t as brutal as the first one but still has some awful in places especially when the Dark Court gift Kindred land to a Queen and they slaughters all the Unicorns.So even though is a awesome story it’s still a possible hard triggers for some people.I know quite a lot of people that have read the first book and then not been able to start second because of the traumatising stuff in first book. I will be honest that I had to leave this series for a bit first time I read it to get over the horrific rape and murdering through ending of book.MUST READ IN ORDER.Book 3Jaenelle has set her court up with most of her close friends and family being members of the Dark Court.Dorothea and Hekatah are planning to cause war by bringing in bad people through service fair.A lot goes on this book especially stuff you don’t actually find out till later in book.The Daemon/Dorothea/Hekatah parts when he goes into the base camp is particularly brutal and at times hard to read but the ending is so devastating as well.This book like the others are very brutal hard books with a lot of triggers for some people but the world it’s based in is incredible but complicated so not a quick read at all.Must read in order or you’ll have no clue what’s going on.DOES HAVE TRIGGERS

I loved the Others series but did not find this series as enjoyable. Glad I found the Others first as I probably wouldn't have read anything else by this author if I'd read these first.I can see myself rereading the Others over and over but don't think I'd come back to these again.The world building and magic is very complex to the point it can be quite confusing. There are scenes of rape and torture which many may find disturbing esp as this involves children at times. There was a particular scene involving torture and male castration which I found too much.Ultimately I found I didn't really care much about any of the main characters.Everything was hinted at in advance so you didn't really feel there was a real element of risk of the good guys losing or a main character being killed off. The villains were not very threatening and never made any direct moves, they mostly sent rather inept flunkies to do their dirty work in some poorly designed plan that you knew would be easily foiled.

I thought it would take me a long time to read this book as the version I bought contains the full trilogy with 1204 words and it is rather heavy to hold for long, especially if like me you have a muscle weakening illness. No problem! I bought a stand to sit it on and once started I was hooked!Mystical, mesmerising, mysterious and magical are some of the words used by others which I enthusiastically endorse. I don't care for spoilers in reviews so will do my best to describe the reading experience for others. It is not at all easy to review as there is so much detail within the story. It is dark fantasy, with fascinating well drawn characters; notably the young Queen and the Witch Hundreds of years ago a Black Widow witch discovered an ancient prophecy which came to life within her 'dreams and visions'.In some ways it reminded me of a shorter version of 'The Game of Thrones' with its politics and intrigue. Then there is of course the continuing struggle between the influences of evil and its corruption against the power of innocence and goodness. It is a rich and vibrant many layered tale and well worth reading for lovers of dark fantasy. I loved it and recommend it highly.

This story just draws you in immediately. The strength in the characters they just jump off the page. A family you immediately connect with Jaenelle, Saetan, Lucivar and Daemon. A time of coming of a new Queen known as witch who will change the time of the current dark queens, priestesses and witch’s who are corrupting the blood. This is a dark fantasy that will lead you through much darkness but the love of the family of the heart will keep you hooked till the end.

This is an extremely long story, and yet you don’t want to put it down for a moment.Be prepared to be a little confused at the beginning, but please persevere and you will be rewarded with characters to fall in love with. Full of magic, love, violence and humour