Scan barcode
satomireza's review
3.0
This temporary rating is for the series, rather than this book specifically.
I discovered this series when I was in high school and could not get enough of it at the time, so when I found copies at the used book store, I immediately got the whole trilogy.
Rereading it, I've found that I still enjoy the magical system based on jewel ranks. It's unique, and ties in closely with the matriarchal social hierarchy that is the backdrop to Bishop's world.
As a young teenager, I found the idea of Janelle (an unexpectedly powerful young child) exciting, and envied her cohort of good-looking, protective male characters. I wanted to be wondrously talented at magic. I wanted to be beloved by friends of all realms. And I wanted to be surrounded by a doting father figure, a handsome protector, and a fierce warrior older brother.
Well, it seems I've outgrown that a bit now. I'm much much more disturbed by Briarwood, and wondered about consent in a world with such a very strong power dynamic. I felt a little sad when the male characters seemed more like flat archetypes now, that the good vs evil felt a little too black and white, and the parts my younger self found spicy a little silly. But perhaps because I wasn't swooning over the men, I think I appreciated the female characters more on this read. Many of the most diabolical and powerful antagonists are women, as are the characters that help Janelle grow.
After a decade and a half of life, I guess The Black Jewels Trilogy is no longer quite my favorite series. Still, it was a nice throwback to my teenage years in a magical world that I think is still pretty cool.
I discovered this series when I was in high school and could not get enough of it at the time, so when I found copies at the used book store, I immediately got the whole trilogy.
Rereading it, I've found that I still enjoy the magical system based on jewel ranks. It's unique, and ties in closely with the matriarchal social hierarchy that is the backdrop to Bishop's world.
As a young teenager, I found the idea of Janelle (an unexpectedly powerful young child) exciting, and envied her cohort of good-looking, protective male characters. I wanted to be wondrously talented at magic. I wanted to be beloved by friends of all realms. And I wanted to be surrounded by a doting father figure, a handsome protector, and a fierce warrior older brother.
Well, it seems I've outgrown that a bit now. I'm much much more disturbed by Briarwood, and wondered about consent in a world with such a very strong power dynamic. I felt a little sad when the male characters seemed more like flat archetypes now, that the good vs evil felt a little too black and white, and the parts my younger self found spicy a little silly. But perhaps because I wasn't swooning over the men, I think I appreciated the female characters more on this read. Many of the most diabolical and powerful antagonists are women, as are the characters that help Janelle grow.
After a decade and a half of life, I guess The Black Jewels Trilogy is no longer quite my favorite series. Still, it was a nice throwback to my teenage years in a magical world that I think is still pretty cool.
reb_can2's review
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
eleso_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
vickeyfoggin's review
2.0
Goths from Hell named Saeten and Daemon stride around in their capes, smoking black cigarettes, sulking. Daemon and his brother are sex slaves controlled by magic cock rings. There's a whore assassin named Surreal. All the men want to have sex with little girls. This book. Ugh. Overdramatic and gross. I did like about 1/6th of it, wherein a powerful girl witch has adventures. It ends on a cliffhanger concerning fate of the one character I like so I am now reading book 2. I am disgusted with myself.
cadimy's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
emmarupton's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
chrissykreads's review against another edition
3.0
This was dark and weird and confusing. But also interesting? I'm intrigued enough to try the next book, but wouldn't recommend this to everyone.
miahikariswonderland's review
5.0
22/1/2013
I totally loved the book. It's amazing.
When I reached the last 3 chapters I couldn't stop reading even to reply to my parents. Immediately after finishing it, I started the second one.
I haven't felt so excited about a book for years.
It is dark, mysterious, funny and complicated enough to make you addicted to it.
After the 3rd time reading it 14/12/2014:
There are a lot of ways that a book can speak to your soul. This book speaks to my soul in a dark yet sweet way full of nostalgia and feelings. I haven't fallen that deeply in love with a series of books for years. Yet, Daughter of the Blood pulled me in in its dark kingdom, so different than the ones I was travelling to until I read it, and since then, I don't really want to ever abandon it. It is part of me, as I am part of it.
Re-read :
Totally love it. Especially when I have this special someone reading the male parts.
Re-read:
the Darkness sings to me...
July 2023
This book sings to me. I could have finished it in a day or two but I kept pausing because I love it so much. I don't think I need to review it again since I did it for bookstagram and there are the previous reviews too but I'll never get tired of talking about Lucivar, Satan and Daemon. The new thing I can say today is that through the years I've never thought of how sensual this book is. I always thought the warning I should give is the rape theme and child abuse. But even though there are no explicit sex scenes, the sensuality of the flesh is often there and there are a lot of scenes about sex since the concept of sexual slaves is really important as part of the storyline.
I totally loved the book. It's amazing.
When I reached the last 3 chapters I couldn't stop reading even to reply to my parents. Immediately after finishing it, I started the second one.
I haven't felt so excited about a book for years.
It is dark, mysterious, funny and complicated enough to make you addicted to it.
After the 3rd time reading it 14/12/2014:
There are a lot of ways that a book can speak to your soul. This book speaks to my soul in a dark yet sweet way full of nostalgia and feelings. I haven't fallen that deeply in love with a series of books for years. Yet, Daughter of the Blood pulled me in in its dark kingdom, so different than the ones I was travelling to until I read it, and since then, I don't really want to ever abandon it. It is part of me, as I am part of it.
Re-read :
Totally love it. Especially when I have this special someone reading the male parts.
Re-read:
the Darkness sings to me...
July 2023
This book sings to me. I could have finished it in a day or two but I kept pausing because I love it so much. I don't think I need to review it again since I did it for bookstagram and there are the previous reviews too but I'll never get tired of talking about Lucivar, Satan and Daemon. The new thing I can say today is that through the years I've never thought of how sensual this book is. I always thought the warning I should give is the rape theme and child abuse. But even though there are no explicit sex scenes, the sensuality of the flesh is often there and there are a lot of scenes about sex since the concept of sexual slaves is really important as part of the storyline.
littlestream's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5