liashinigami's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
1morepaige's review against another edition
1.0
I was pretty excited about reading these because Bishop's Black Jewels series comes to highly recommended when you say that you like Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel's Legacy books.
I have to say that they didn't match that excitement at all. I read the first three to give them a good chance to turn around and surprise me but after this one I couldn't go on, even though I know that there are more of them.
I really really really hoped that this book would be in Jaenelle's perspective. That would have made reading the first two books worthwhile. If for just one second, we really knew what was going on inside her head and her heart--not just what every single male character who fawns over her thinks that she thinks or feels.
Without any real insight into Jaenelle's actual mind, the books feel kinda creepy and almost...idk, voyeuristic? to me. Ever single male is totally obsessed with her and would die for her and they're so territorial and protective of her. It's not cute, it's gross. It's even grosser that the only thing Jaenelle's character gets to do to is love them so so much in return. She has more power than anyone else in the whole world, but she doesn't have an ounce of individual personality outside of her relationships with the main male characters. Every detail about her is some kind of plot device to see the emotional journey of the men around her. To be honest, that's just boring and lazy storytelling.
Plus, the child rape.... Even beyond the fact that Jaenelle is raped at age 12...which is a plot twist that needs to be done very carefully... The fact that Jaenelle had to have all the men in her life come and save her from how emotionally and physically hurt she was by this left an extremely sour taste in my mouth.
Especially since Daemon has been lusting after her since she was a little kid and fighting his inappropriate feelings for her since they met. But it's okay if he's attracted to her as a child, because she's WITCH and besides he's so noble and would never hurt her like he hurt so many other people and look! he even saved her after the 2Dimensional Very Obviously Bad Guys hurt her! obviously it's a totally healthy relationship...
I have to say that they didn't match that excitement at all. I read the first three to give them a good chance to turn around and surprise me but after this one I couldn't go on, even though I know that there are more of them.
I really really really hoped that this book would be in Jaenelle's perspective. That would have made reading the first two books worthwhile. If for just one second, we really knew what was going on inside her head and her heart--not just what every single male character who fawns over her thinks that she thinks or feels.
Without any real insight into Jaenelle's actual mind, the books feel kinda creepy and almost...idk, voyeuristic? to me. Ever single male is totally obsessed with her and would die for her and they're so territorial and protective of her. It's not cute, it's gross. It's even grosser that the only thing Jaenelle's character gets to do to is love them so so much in return. She has more power than anyone else in the whole world, but she doesn't have an ounce of individual personality outside of her relationships with the main male characters. Every detail about her is some kind of plot device to see the emotional journey of the men around her. To be honest, that's just boring and lazy storytelling.
Plus, the child rape.... Even beyond the fact that Jaenelle is raped at age 12...which is a plot twist that needs to be done very carefully... The fact that Jaenelle had to have all the men in her life come and save her from how emotionally and physically hurt she was by this left an extremely sour taste in my mouth.
Especially since Daemon has been lusting after her since she was a little kid and fighting his inappropriate feelings for her since they met. But it's okay if he's attracted to her as a child, because she's WITCH and besides he's so noble and would never hurt her like he hurt so many other people and look! he even saved her after the 2Dimensional Very Obviously Bad Guys hurt her! obviously it's a totally healthy relationship...
moirwyn's review against another edition
5.0
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures: https://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2020/07/26/queen-of-the-darkness-by-anne-bishop/
Queen of the Darkness is the concluding volume of the Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. In the previous books, we see a matriarchal society that has become twisted and dysfunctional, where the leaders abuse their power, harm those in their care, and poison the very fabric of society. It’s a very clear parallel and warning about patriarchal society, and by flipping the genders from our own world, it’s a lot easier to point out how things have gone wrong and how abusive power dynamics hurt everyone.
In Queen of the Darkness, the forces that have shaped the world have finally built up to the point of a confrontation. The characters from the first book that have been scattered throughout the world all begin to have their paths converge again. Jaenelle is attended by her adoptive father Saetan, her adoptive brother Lucifer, and her lover Daemon, as well as the friends and family whom she has found along the way who managed not to become corrupted. I was very excited that Daemon is finally back in the main storyline rather than being off on the side quest of madness and guilt, because I enjoy his character so much and he really gets to shine in this book.
Queen of the Darkness was a great ending to the trilogy. We see Jaenelle come to the realization that she has to use her powers to cauterize and heal the world and its magical bloodlines from a darkness and terror that has been building for generations. And she’s very clearly preparing to sacrifice herself in the process, which is something she’s struggled with in the previous books. But we also see her friends, family, and lover work together to try to create a future where Jaenelle can survive and someday be made whole again. And the whole book is a slow build toward that ending and it makes you want to scream and grieve and still hope and trust in the characters you’ve grown to love. And that’s what a good book does.
I’m so glad that I decided to give The Black Jewels another chance. When I read the first book over a decade ago, it wasn’t the right time in my life for it. This time it was, and I devoured the trilogy. It’s stuck with me and I’ve spent so much time thinking about it. It’s dark and thoughtful and whimsical and violent and hopeful. Jaenelle is a beam of sunshine in a world marked so deeply by systemic violence and cruelty that in the beginning of the series you wonder if it’s even redeemable.
Queen of the Darkness is the concluding volume of the Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. In the previous books, we see a matriarchal society that has become twisted and dysfunctional, where the leaders abuse their power, harm those in their care, and poison the very fabric of society. It’s a very clear parallel and warning about patriarchal society, and by flipping the genders from our own world, it’s a lot easier to point out how things have gone wrong and how abusive power dynamics hurt everyone.
In Queen of the Darkness, the forces that have shaped the world have finally built up to the point of a confrontation. The characters from the first book that have been scattered throughout the world all begin to have their paths converge again. Jaenelle is attended by her adoptive father Saetan, her adoptive brother Lucifer, and her lover Daemon, as well as the friends and family whom she has found along the way who managed not to become corrupted. I was very excited that Daemon is finally back in the main storyline rather than being off on the side quest of madness and guilt, because I enjoy his character so much and he really gets to shine in this book.
Queen of the Darkness was a great ending to the trilogy. We see Jaenelle come to the realization that she has to use her powers to cauterize and heal the world and its magical bloodlines from a darkness and terror that has been building for generations. And she’s very clearly preparing to sacrifice herself in the process, which is something she’s struggled with in the previous books. But we also see her friends, family, and lover work together to try to create a future where Jaenelle can survive and someday be made whole again. And the whole book is a slow build toward that ending and it makes you want to scream and grieve and still hope and trust in the characters you’ve grown to love. And that’s what a good book does.
I’m so glad that I decided to give The Black Jewels another chance. When I read the first book over a decade ago, it wasn’t the right time in my life for it. This time it was, and I devoured the trilogy. It’s stuck with me and I’ve spent so much time thinking about it. It’s dark and thoughtful and whimsical and violent and hopeful. Jaenelle is a beam of sunshine in a world marked so deeply by systemic violence and cruelty that in the beginning of the series you wonder if it’s even redeemable.
jms26050's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
chefgirlsatan's review against another edition
5.0
reread 2021
Hekatah and Dorothea are like cartoon bad guys who constantly have their plans foiled. But I hate them both.
For a world where men are controlled by penis rings the sex scene could have been hotter but because of the penis rings - 5 stars again.
Hekatah and Dorothea are like cartoon bad guys who constantly have their plans foiled. But I hate them both.
For a world where men are controlled by penis rings the sex scene could have been hotter but because of the penis rings - 5 stars again.
rosetyper9's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know how I could not have reviewed this sooner. I have read this book numerous times and every single time it grabs me and pulls me in. This series is incredible. The world Ms. Bishop created is magical and it is dark. This series is not for the faint of heart but I love the realism Ms. Bishop created and the way she isn't afraid to touch on dark disturbing topics. She thrives at making the reader uncomfortable and it works. Her characters are rich, vibrant, and full of life. I expect them to walk in the door and boss me around. They are also very sassy.
Ms. Bishop weaves a tale perfectly. There isn't an extraneous detail in all of this series and I will continue loving these for many years to come.
Ms. Bishop weaves a tale perfectly. There isn't an extraneous detail in all of this series and I will continue loving these for many years to come.
hanishoney's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like the attitude that because a man's penis has been "shaved," he's now useless to be a husband or lover. Full sexual satisfaction for a woman is apparently only possible with a penis. So much depravity or sensuality between men and women, men and girls, women and boys, and even a scene between one father and son (albeit faked) was described. Yet woman on woman? Nothing. Man "shaved?" Relationship possibilities over. Become valet or library assistant instead.
Aside from the sexual, the personalities, friendships, and relationships are engrossing and realistic. Couldn't put the book down right to the end.
Aside from the sexual, the personalities, friendships, and relationships are engrossing and realistic. Couldn't put the book down right to the end.
adularia25's review against another edition
5.0
The end of the trilogy, but in many ways, the start of the rest of the series. All the plots come to head. Friends gone for large parts of the second book are back with a vengeance. Pain and pleasure are doled out left and right. And then there are all the deaths... proving that no war is without cost, without price. The ending is almost as bittersweet as the book "The Pearl of the Soul of the World" (another great dark trilogy). But this ending has just a little more hope, though the same amount of pain. Again, I must state that this is a series I will always reread.
dianashadel's review against another edition
5.0
These three books were the best I've read in SO long. Totally took me to another world, and the characters were so great! I think each character represented different strengths and weaknesses in a personality.
My only sadness is that the next book in the series doesn't continue this story!!! It had resolution but I wanted a few chapters of "then they lived happily ever after" instead of just an implied happy future. So I may come back another time to read #4, but for now I need to let this story sit in my mind until I'm done feeling all these emotions!!
Great story within a very complex and awesome sci-fi world!
My only sadness is that the next book in the series doesn't continue this story!!! It had resolution but I wanted a few chapters of "then they lived happily ever after" instead of just an implied happy future. So I may come back another time to read #4, but for now I need to let this story sit in my mind until I'm done feeling all these emotions!!
Great story within a very complex and awesome sci-fi world!
highladyfireheart's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0