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Mar 05, 2010

Wealhtheow rated it:

This is not a good book. It is, however, incredibly engaging on a very specific level. If you're looking for reasonable human beings, beautiful turns of phrase, thoughtful politics or believable dialog, this is not the book for you. BUT. If you want melodramatic wish-fullfillment crack, then the only series more suited is Lackey's The Last Herald-Mage.

This is the latest book in Bishop's Black Jewels series. The world is split into two classes: the downtrodden landen (basically More...

5 comments like (6 people liked it)

Apr 17, 2009

Jensownzoo rated it:

Not too many authors give me that electric thrill of excitement when I have one of their books in hand, but Anne Bishop and her Black Jewels books are always one of them. In this book, the main story is focused on a few new characters, but also contains a great deal of supporting plot threads with all the old, favorite characters from the original trilogy. Was a little disappointed that the story ended where it did (I need more, I tell you, MORE, MORE, MORE!!!) but I could see the dramatic val More...

2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 28, 2009

Samantha rated it:

Once again, Bishop delivers a thrilling, lush, sensual novel replete with complex, engaging characters, a healthy dose of humor and that fascinating, wonderful magic system established so well in her previous 'Jewels' books. Anyone who's enjoyed the previous 'Jewels' novels will adore this. You really do need to read all the previous books first, though - there's a tremendous amount of backstory to many of the details here. You can PROBABLY enjoy it without having read the others, but really.. k More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 25, 2009

Shawnna rated it:

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3 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 07, 2009

Lee rated it:

Bishop needs confidence in her new characters. I loved Lady Cassidy and Gray and wanted more of them, but felt that the constant need for Damian and Lucifer. In fact, Bishop insisted on inserting a completely needless subplot of yet another attempt to seduce Damian by a vicious witch. Why? Oh, why?

Lady Cassidy and Gray, two people in emotional pain, find comfort and solace in each other's company as they bring a garden to life. The readers receive a glimpse of Cassidy's earthy leader More...

2 comments like (6 people liked it)

Mar 02, 2009

Jadewik rated it:

Another adventure in the Black Jewels realm. This adventure focuses more on Cassidy, a Rose witch who goes back to Terelle to help the Blood there remember The Old Ways.

You will need to at least have read "The Invisible Ring" to appreciate the many references to Jarad, Lia, and Thera. I also recommend having read The Black Jewels Trilogy since this story picks up approximately 2-years after Janelle has cleansed The Blood of the "Taint". If you couldn't stomach the More...

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Nov 26, 2011

Nicole rated it:

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Mar 16, 2011

Diamond rated it:

One of the things I have always liked about this series of books is the characters, and the rules and world in which they live. While the world itself is not as detailed as some other series I've read, the caste system in which the characters live has always been one of the most interesting aspects of the books.

This particular book deals mostly with a Queen named Cassidy, who is a lower level than most all of the characters that have been dealt with before in the books. Her struggl More...

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Nov 11, 2010

Tracy rated it:

~* 3.5 Stars *~
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 (Daughter of the Blood (Black Jewels, Book 1), Heir to the Shadows (Black Jewels, Book 2), and Queen of the Darkness (The Black Jewels Trilogy, Book 3)) is what I think of. I'm not saying those three books were the best ever written More...

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Sep 10, 2010

Dida rated it:

Perhaps I'm alone...

I just couldn't get into this book. While the first book had it's own list of flaws, masses of cliches and ridiculousness it was never full of characters who were anything less then absolutely fascinating. Jaenelle, Lucivar, Daemon, Saeten, all of them had their own personalities and were just flawed and wonderful enough that you wanted to follow them along in their adventures. When I closed the short story series after the original trilogy, I half hoped that some More...

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Jun 14, 2010

Harmonybites rated it:

This not the book I'd start with if you're new to Anne Bishop or her Dark Jewels series. I'd recommend reading first at least the opening trilogy of Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness, and I think it would help to read The Invisible Ring, which forms the backdrop to this tale set in the territory of Dona Nehele, once ruled by that novel's Gray Lady.

In Queen of the Darkness, Saetan told Alexandra that it's not magical power that makes a strong queen, More...

4 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 19, 2009

Kim rated it:

Whenever I read a novel by Anne Bishop, I always find myself wondering what issues she may have with men, because the gender dynamics of the worlds she creates are so interesting. That she has much to say about relations between the genders is perhaps most obvious in her Tir Alainn series, the villains of which are guilty of just about everything that has ever been done to oppress women, from female genital mutilation to burning witches. In the Black Jewels universe, in my opinion Bishop’s f More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 23, 2009

Jessica rated it:

What a guilty pleasure.

There's something a little bit trashy about Anne Bishop's books, but as some reviewer somewhere said, the pages are sprinkled with the literary equivalent of crack. I can't help myself.

Yes, the characterization is often possessed of all the subtlety of a brick to the face. Yes, all the bad guys are into kinky pedophiliac sex. Yes, all the good guys are fond of bitchy women. Yes, all the good girls are bitchy.

But...but...but...
More...

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May 06, 2009

Theresa rated it:

Several years ago I picked up the first book in the "Black Jewels" trilogy by Anne Bishop and was totally drawn into the vivid world she created. Using the mystique of slightly-tweaked biblical names like Saetan and Luciver and setting much of her story in a 'demon-dead' realm known as Hell, Bishop successfully blends pieces of Christian religion with her own highly imaginative, magical creation.

Witches and Warlords are the Blood of the realm of Terreille. Queens are the hi More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 11, 2011

Ithlilian rated it:

I have to wonder what happened to the Janelle and Daemon that I loved from The Black Jewels trilogy. The characters in these latest books are flat and boring. I wish Anne Bishop would leave the boring marital lives of Janelle and Daemon out of books about other characters. Cassidy's story was intriguing and heart felt. Things were just starting to heat up towards the end and then...it's over. I hope there are more books in this series about Cassidy. I wouldn't call this Black Jewels book 7. To m More...

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Apr 14, 2009

Cam rated it:

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Mar 22, 2009

Caroline rated it:

This story was a great mix of all of the previous Black Jewels novels and some new and very interesting characters. I loved that this resolved a lot from The Invisible Ring, as well as some from the actual trilogy. This deals with the descendants of the characters from The Invisible Ring, as well as the cast that readers of the series know and love from the trilogy.

I had some issues with Theran Grayhaven, the descendant of Jared and Lia. He's not a very likable character for most of More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 01, 2010

Mirany rated it:

I haven't read a Black Jewels book in about 3 years, so my memory of the previous plotlines were a bit blurry and you should know atleast a little bit of backstory to get why all the characters were important. Nonetheless, I finished Shadow Queen in 3 days and its a great read. Easy to get through with characters that I could semi-relate to, if I lived in world with magic, caste systems decided at birth, social interactions resembling wolf packs more then human behavior, vampire-esque demons, More...

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Sep 18, 2009

Cayleigh rated it:

The Black Jewels Trilogy being one of my favorite series of all times, I was extremely pleased when I saw The Shadow Queen was out and snapped it up and started reading. This book has two interweaving plots that focus around Cassidy, who as a Queen in the Dark Realm is asked to go to Dena Nehele and set up a court by Jaenelle. While at the same time Daemon SaDi and his family keep a close watch since Dena Nehele is in Terreille, where this family has some bad memories. So we get to see Cassidy a More...

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May 24, 2010

Stephanie rated it:

Shadow Queen is a wonderful start to a new series in the Black Jewels series. I know it's labeled as number 7, but with the introduction of a great new set of characters and a storyline that can continue for a while, it's a good place to pick up. The core favorites are there, of course, but we have a new focus as the realm of Terrielle rebuilds after the cleanse. Finally, the loose ends are tied up; Jaenelle is whole, she and Daemon are happy, that family is OK, and we the readers have seen it. More...

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Mar 26, 2009

Donna rated it:

The only problem with Bishop's writing is she isn't nearly quick enough. I figure if the author is this addicting, they need to write a book every 10-12 months. Still, the wait was worth it. The book is marvelous.
Cassidy is a Queen whose court all vacated at the end of their year contract. The Dena Nehele realm lost most of its queens in Witch's purge of the corrupt queens. They want to restore the old ways and the highest warlord prince asks Daemon Sadi to find him a queen not realizin More...

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Jan 30, 2011

Angie rated it:

I love the world Anne Bishop created in the Black Jewels. I eagerly await every new addition to this series. This was no disappointment. I love the story of Cassie - mainly because she does not have the power of Jaenelle, but she has an inner strength that shines through for those willing to see it.

I agree that the Saetan's storyline did seem a little bit forced, but it was good to see his vulnerabilities. I actually loved the Jaenelle and Daemon story. Daemon just breaks my heart som More...

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Mar 11, 2009

Ashley Ann rated it:

I LOVED IT!

When I first heard Anne Bishop was writing another Black Jewel book with new characters, I was wary, because I fell in love with the characters from the original trilogy the first time I read the books and came to love them more every time I reread the books. The Shadow Queen was amazing. I fell completely in love with the new characters and I sincerely hope she writes more books staring Cassidy and Gray.

The only thing I can say against the book was that I fel More...

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Aug 04, 2011

Olga added it

It was another superb Bishop's novel. The characters were new and refreshing. Theran was a nice change from the usual great characters. I guess you can't really 'like' him. Probably because he's an arse really. But I liked the way he has changed during the whole novel. In the end you would say he got nicer, but still he was an arse. And of course I loved all the characters from earlier books it's so nice reading about how they live and their problems and everyday life. I think Shadow Queen bring More...

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Nov 23, 2011

Linette rated it:

It was not that bad. But it kinda became boring so I became really annnoyed. It's no that bad buut I think Anna Bishop should have more intense characters. Yet, the cover doesn't match the book AT ALL. In the book, it says Cassidy is not befitting to be a Queen because she's long boned and not attractive at all. But the cover makes her look fantastic! WEIRD. To be honest, I quit at the middle of the book. It didn't hold my attention. And at some parts it just dragged on and on. Also, it really c More...

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Mar 23, 2009

Kristen rated it:

An avid lover of this whole series, I was very excited to find a seventh book coming out. I was not at all disappointed. In fact, the only reason I gave it four out of five instead of the full five stars was because it jumped around a bit and left some holes; perhaps this is a lead into an eighth book, perhaps not.

In regards to the characters, I did enjoy the addition of Theran, Cassidy, and Gray. I wish there had been more of a growth in regards to Theran but the way Gray's characte More...

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Aug 17, 2011

Ashley rated it:

I know a lot of people didn't care for this book but if you read this and have "Shalador's Lady" on hand for afterwards... it's a really good and satisfying read.
Cassidy is a queen whose court had broken on her. They destroyed her confidence and now she is home living with her family. Cassidy is described as a plain looking young woman. She's the type of person that can stick up for herself but doesn't have the pizazz that the other Queens have previously had. She is sent to the More...

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Apr 09, 2009

Janet rated it:

So far, all of the Black Jewels books after the original trilogy have fallen short where I'm concerned, and this one -- while better and more satisfying than "Tangled Webs" is still a bit of a disappointment.

Bishop has been trying to tell stories about other people in this world while continuing the stories of Jaenelle, Daemon, and their family, but the weaving together of the threads is sometimes awkward. Cassidy is a likeable heroine, but her conflict with Theran is frus More...

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Jun 02, 2009

Mary rated it:

I've never read Anne Bishop before and was hesitant to jump in with "Book 7", but the munchkies were getting antsy at the library so I grabbed it off the new release rack as the window of good behavior was dwindling...
I loved it! I probably would have gotten more out of the book if I had read the others first, but as a stand-alone there was enough going on with the main plot line that I didn't feel lost. I checked it out of the library on Sunday and finished it Tuesday morning- More...

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May 28, 2011

Elenariel rated it:

Ancora un ottimo racconto per la Bishop che riesce a conquistare pur lasciando un pochino da parte i protagonisti assoluti del mondo di questa saga. Le apparizioni della famiglia SaDiablo sono un ottimo trait d'union per non farcene sentire la mancanza, ed un buon trampolino di lancio per i nuovi personaggi che riescono a distinguersi dai loro predecessori e a tenere la scena con onore. Una protagonista femminile che può essere definita tutto tranne che bella, un protagonista maschile odioso nel More...

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