The Black Jewels Trilogy

This series is dark and brilliant and vicious and beautiful. I loved every minute reading it and am so sad it's over.

I first read this series in college - it's just as good today as it was back then

I have to hand it to Ms. Bishop in developing one of the most perfectly paced fantasy novel series I've ever read. I've probably averaged reading about 30-40 fantasy/sci-fi novels a year over the past few decades, but I cannot honestly recall the last time I have so thoroughly enjoyed a fantasy series. Everything about this story fits perfectly, the setting (while using many familiar sounding names) is unique and not what I expected, the characters are allowed time to evolve and grow, the romance (so sue me, I'm a sucker for that stuff) develops far better than most romantic sub-plots and never feels forced or even remotely cliché, and there is a constant shift and development of the story that keeps it from ever growing stale or boring. If there was one thing I was worried about going into reading these novels, it was the description of the series being a dark fantasy. I like dark novels well enough I guess, but I often get tired of authors crafting this downward spiral that hurls the protagonists ever deeper along a path of angst and despair until the very last moment when they finally prevail against the twisted manipulations the evil antagonists have been leading them along for the length of the book. It's refreshing for an author to turn those tables a little bit. While there are some pretty sadistic (pun intended) and terrible events that take place, even to our beloved 12 year old Jaenelle in the first novel, for every act of depravity is one of kindness and love. Bishop does not force us down this path of continued despair, but lets us breathe relief every bit as often as she attempts to appall us. What's more, the protagonists often discover plots against them fairly soon and not just take revenge every bit as harsh as the actions planned against them, but often launch their own plots in return that catch the enemy off guard. So while a lot of the subject matter in the book may be dark and often gruesome, the story itself didn't feel even half as dark as a lot of other series out there that shy away from certain depraved acts this one embraces. If there is one thing about the series I didn't care for, it was that there a numerous huge jumps in the timeline of the series where several times we are asked to shift months and years ahead in the lives of the characters. These jumps forward definitely serve a purpose as they allows for the addition of several characters and enhances the sense of belief of how some of them grow and change without us having to know all the details, but it broke up the continuity a little too much for my preference. As a side note, I'm not sure how many potential readers catch this or not, but there is a fourth book after this one titled "Dreams Made Flesh" that is a set of four short stories and is an absolute must read. Like most, I read it after the originally trilogy. However, some might prefer from a timeline perspective to buy "Dreams Made Flesh" along with the Black Jewels trilogy and intersperse it

These books will draw you in, I don't think it was a slow start, but I've read Jordan and THAT is slow. Within 3 chapters, if not sooner, you will be hooked. I can truly say that no other fantasy book has ever captivated me the way these books have. I originally bought them as separate books and in less than 3 years they have utterly fallen apart (taped together, ratty looking books that are still being read). They have been read that many times, by me and friends I have convinced to give them a try. They too have fallen for the characters and plot, even those who hate fantasy and have frequently made fun of me for my love of all things fantasy. Some complain that it seems that the "evil" people are "good" because of the names of the main characters. I would disagree, I think that is really just part of Anne Bishop's ability to make you think. Just because the main male characters are called Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar doesn't make them evil. Anne Bishop made REAL people out of characters. Good doesn't always mean all sweetness and light, it also means knowing when to take a stand and not being nice about it. It also means looking beneath the surface, because those who seem to have the best intentions may, in fact, be out to get you. I have now ordered this combined version in the hopes of restoring my collection. I will say that the ending left me wanting SOOO much more. I was craving a more satisfying end, but isn't that what a really good story is about? Not everything turns out how you want it to, and Anne Bishop has included that in this story. I still wanted and craved the "happily ever after" perfect ending where everyone goes back to happy, quiet lives. Do we ever grow out of that? As an adult I could truly appreciate so much of her story. I would, however, monitor how young of a child I gave it to. It is a bit erotic and explicit. I didn't mind and in fact the eroticism made me all the more pleased with the books. For an adult it is truly a full set that fulfills every craving and desire we have in fantasy books.

In my experience, the more impressive a book is, the harder it is to review. You want your review to do justice to a truly great book, knowing full well that a few hundred words can never truly express your feelings. Now, I find myself trying to do justice to not one fabulous book, but three of the most original, unique, and unbelievably amazing books I have ever read. 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. Ancient prophecies have foretold the coming of a powerful witch, one who would in reality be not a mere human female but "dreams made flesh," nothing short of Witch herself. She comes in the form of a tremendously brave little girl, whom we first meet at the age of twelve or so when she comes to Hayll seeking instruction in the Craft from none other than Saetan himself. Human beings don't just come over into the land of the demon-dead, and Saetan quickly recognizes who this young girl truly is and will become. Jaenelle is terrible at the simple magic of the Craft, yet the true strength of her powers is almost infinite. She refuses to speak about her home life, for reasons that gradually become quite clear. Treated as an outcast by her family, she is subject to occasional stays in Briarwood. Briarwood is not what it seems; this "hospital" is in fact a place of unspeakable evil. Briarwood is in essence a poison, and there is no cure for Briarwood. Happenstance lands Daemon Sadi in the home of Jaenelle's grandmother as a consort, but even his undying love and recognition of whom and what Jaenelle really is cannot save her from a most brutal and unforgivable of fates. Daemon, like his estranged father Saetan, does wear the black jewels, however, and he uses all of his magical powers to save the physical life of Jaenelle, falling into the pits of the Twisted Kingdom of insanity in the process. Saetan claims the girl as his own, and under his care she does gradually recover, but her innocence is gone. As the story progresses, she grows into her role as Witch, gathering among her inner circle the young Black Widow queens of adjacent lands as well as the Kindred, animals who wear the Blood jewels but are not recognized by the "enlightened" rulers of the realm of Terreille - high priestess Hekatah and the dark queen Dorothea, two of the most nefarious and thoroughly corrupt souls ever crea

Anne Bishop's extraordinary "Black Jewels Trilogy" is one of the most original, truly spectacular reads I have had in a long time. I am not a big fan of science fiction or fantasy novels, but I became totally absorbed at the beginning of the first novel, "Daughter of the Blood," and remained riveted by Ms. Bishop's narrative until the last page of the thrilling conclusion in "Queen of the Darkness."Ms. Bishop has created a unique world and populated it with some of the most unusual characters I have met in literature. This is a world where Darkness reigns and power is determined by the color of one's Jewels. In the hierarchy of the three Realms, Women of the Blood who wear Jewels are naturally dominant because of their innate magical powers. Blood Males who wear Jewels can also be extremely powerful, but they are born to serve their Queens. And magical strength is measured by a person's Jewels - the darker the Jewel's color, the more powerful the possessor. Bishop paints a vivid portrait of two women in a terrible and vicious power struggle. Dorothea, the High Priestess of Hayll, and Hekatah, the self-proclaimed Dark Priestess of Hell, were created to be noble caretakers of the Realms. They have each perverted their Craft and their purpose, infected those who serve them, and threaten to destroy the Realms to fulfill their insatiable greed for power. The plot revolves around a young woman whose birth fulfills an ancient prophecy. Jaenelle Angelline is born Witch. She is the "dream made flesh." By the age of five she is extremely powerful, fiercely loyal, tremendously tender and capable of terribly destructive anger. This young girl-child is also an outcast amongst her own people and has no idea who or what she is or will be. Most of her birth family, unable to appreciate her exceptional powers and abilities, believe she is mad and she is periodically put in an asylum where horrors are performed on the children who are inmates there. When she is not institutionalized, Jaenelle travels between Realms into different lands, befriending the creatures who live there - from her adopted father, Saetan the High Lord of Hell, to her adopted brother, Prince Lucivar Yaslana, and Warlord Prince Daemon Sadi, who will become more important to her than any living soul. Also included in her inner circle are the demon-dead, unicorns, harpies, Healers and Black Widow Queens, Kindred, etc.. They will all impart wisdom to her and teach her aspects of the Craft. They all have important roles to play in the trilogy.The three books trace Jaenelle's life, her education in the Craft, her developing friendships, the terrible hardships she undergoes in her attempts to discover who and what she really is and her efforts to escape from the evil forces that threaten to destroy her. When Jaenelle finally reaches maturity, makes her Offering to the Darkness and becomes Queen of the Dark Court at Ebon Askavi in the Realm of Karleer, she is faced with Realms in chaos and the threat

The Black Jewels Trilogy is one of the most fascinating and spellbinding fantasy series I have ever read. Most important, readers must read this trilogy in its entirety in order to fully appreciate it. In this novel, Anne Bishop creates a supernatural matriarchal society controlled by witches and portrays an interesting view of male and female roles in this type of environment. The story centers around a young girl, Jaenelle, thought to be a living myth who would restore a culture being lost during a time of corruption. The series portrays Jaenelle's development from witch to queen from the perspective of three males who would play an important part in her life. Not for the squeamish, Bishop generates a very dark, sad, and disturbing mood filled with horror, sex, and violence...but she does such a great job with character development that the reader begins to empathize with the characters and appreciate their quest for happiness in this dark world. This novel has everything-action, romance, drama, comedy. I gave the Black Jewels Trilogy 5 stars because (for me) it was a fantastic read - I was unenable to tear myself away from the book and I became so engrossed with the characters, I was literally sad to read the last page.