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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “I felt the book adequately tied together several other stories in the same world by Anne Bishop which was a pleasant surprise in the first five pages. While I enjoyed seeing Witch, High Lord of Hell, and Daemon, I believe they should have been toned down a bit to introduce the new character and...” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“A good addition to the Black Jewels world, even more so than some of the earlier ties that Anne Bishop has created. The new characters are interesting, the plot is enjoyable and, perhaps most agreeable, Bishop never stops developing the original characters. A nice read. ”
nanashinigami wrote this review Wednesday, November 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I can't begin to add any commentary or review on The Shadow Queen without first mentioning that in all my many years as a reader and all the thousands of books I've read, whenever I think of my favorite reading experience, The Black Jewels trilogy is what I think of. I'm not saying those three books were the best ever written - fantasy isn't my favorite genre, so there are some inherent issues I have to begin with, and there were things in each individual book that I wasn't crazy about - but as a whole, the reading experience of the Black Jewels trilogy is the pinnacle of reading enjoyment for me (though I'm always looking for more). There was something about the way those books, read together, wove characters and plot, worlds and wars, evil and redemption, power and weakness, that struck such an awed chord in me - with attention to detail, ingenuity, phenomenal creativity, and indescribable depth - that as yet has been unmatched.
Tracy wrote this review Monday, October 19 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Even by Bishop herself, and especially including The Shadow Queen.
I enjoyed the story of Jaenelle and Daemon...and I'm truly interested in the evolution of their relationship, given Daemon's exceptionally devastating and at times crippling history as The Sadist, and Jaenelle, with the haunting aspects of Witch and the undefined scope of her true latent power.
I more than enjoyed the characters of Lady Cassidy and Gray, and actually loved seeing the hesitant maturation of a queen who is coming into her own. I detested Theran, finding little redeemable in him at all, and I was a wee bit squigged out by Cassidy's relationship with Gray when he's still sort of child-like, but I'm willing to put my feelings aside on that for now in the hopes of seeing more of Gray's personal development in the next book. I'm also willing to give Theran a chance to evolve.
I ALWAYS love seeing the ties that bind - Saetan, Daemon, Lucivar - three males that will always draw my attention whenever they're on page together.
Unfortunately, the two threads - Daemon and Jaenelle/Cassidy and Dena Nehele - were discordant and disparate, failing to blend together and enhance each other, as the multiple plot lines and character focuses in the Black Jewels trilogy ALWAYS did. And that is where The Shadow Queen falters as a complete novel. Two essentially short stories with solid separate plots and a thin thread of connection...that should have either remained separate OR been blended a little more seamlessly.
3.5 stars for The Shadow Queen. I'll be looking forward to more of Lady Cassidy and her reign, and I'll be eternally thirsty for more of the magic of the Black Jewels trilogy.”
“Once again, Anne Bishop has left me wanting even more! The Blood Jewels series has become my absolute favorite set of books. I am so pleased to see some of Saetan's soul wounds closed. The interaction between father and children has always been one of the most appealing aspects of this story line. I would love to see a story about Wilhelmina coming into her own strength.”
Kelley L wrote this review Tuesday, August 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I was apprehensive about this book since the blurb showed that it was the sequel of characters from The Invisible Ring: A Grayhaven and a Queen from Keeler.
o8oyCe wrote this review Tuesday, August 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this was indeed a sequel set after Tangled Webs, and though it does contain a healthy dose of the Grayhavens and the Gray Lady's Territory, it also involved a good measure of Jeanelle, Daemon and Seatan (not much of Lucivar and Surreal has taken a vacation after starring in One entire book and two Short stories). This book also managed to tell the readers what happened to Terrielle (sp?) after the purge of the Blood that happened in Book 3 while showing the dynamics of a marriage between The Sadist and Witch as well as the dance between father and sons (as always, the books are strongly about family ties, a reason why I enjoy reading her books so much and a reason why it definitely pulls heart strings.
I'm so very happy with the book and hope, as always that there would be more, but if it was meant as a last hurrah for the entire series, The Shadow Queen has done well in its goal of tying both the prologue and the series together.
However, it should be noted that the book could have been better if the Shadow Queen was more fleshed out (it IS her book after all). I liked Daemon and Jeannelle and LOVED that they were in this book, (In fact looked for them a lot) But I NEEDED to see her story too.”
“This book makes me want to read the other Black Jewels novels, which I undoubtedly will do at some point. All of the overlapping plot lines were amazing.”
Olivia W wrote this review Monday, August 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“4.5 stars”
mitabird wrote this review Monday, July 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Every once in a while it is my pleasure to be reintroduced to a world of my childhood. To a time and people and a land filled with mystery and fantasy and the most ideal mixture of darkness and light. Anne Bishop is one of the few authors able to really bring me into this place. Her Dark Jewel Trilogy is one of THE most fantastic fantasy epics every written. The emotion that she writes with is unbelievable, and not something that I think a lot of authors are able to pull off. I do admit that this trilogy is her crowning jewel - most of her others books are decent, but just not up to the same standard. I can't imagine how hard it is to live up those three books. But the Shadow Queen is an admirable new addition to this family. Continuing on the tale of Janelle and the rest of the court of Ebon Askavi, we are introduced to a newer generation of Blood and Kindred, centering on Cassidy, Theran, and Gray. Cassidy is a hurt woman, betrayed by her first court, who finds her future in a land that she's never set foot in before. The complicated relationship that she has with Theran, a man dedicated to Dena Nehele but not to her, and Gray, Theran's cousin, who's pain filled past has stunted both his mental and emotional growth, is a wonderful thing to behold. Again Anne Bishop writes a moving tale of three people finding themselves after their world has gone mad, with the added benefit that she's connected it to the feelings she original stirred up in her first Dark Jewel books. Highly recommended.
Dana W wrote this review Wednesday, July 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Read more reviews at readingamidstthechaos.blogspot.com”
“Love it.”
Jen G wrote this review Wednesday, June 24 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Very good edition to the Jewels world.
Michelle H wrote this review Monday, June 22 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Cassidy is magically weak but personally strong. A great character addition to this dark world.”
“Great book, but could be more about Cassidy and less about Daemon. I loved the main characters from the original Black Jewels trilogy, but a lot of the side stories involving them seemed contrived and didn't flow seamlessly into the overall story.”
Rach wrote this review Saturday, June 20 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
