Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels, #1)

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Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels #1)

4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 · rating details · 13,972 ratings · 801 reviews

Seven hundred years ago, a Black Widow witch saw an ancient prophecy come to life in her web of dreams and visions. Now the Dark Kingdom readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, a Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But she is still young, still open to influence-and corruption.

Whoever controls the Queen controls the darkness. Thre...more

Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 5th 2007 by Roc Trade (first published January 1st 1998)

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Aug 21, 2008 Bonnie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think this book gave me brain herpes. A good read, but horrible. The characters are caricatures. The world is nigh-incomprehensible (who includes a list of jewel ranks and titles (broken down by gender), but not a freaking map? especially when this place apparently uses interdimensional travel?!) I wish I could feel sympathetic to the characters- but they all remind me of a too-perfect job interview: "my only flaw is that I love my work... too much." The plot is well-paced, and makes good use...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, audiobook, award-nominee-locus, dark-and-gritty

For her virgin effort at novel-crafting, Anne Bishop has laid down a strong piece of dark fantasy that is richly drawn, psychologically savage and dripping with THROB. I am suffering severe mind-boggle that this is really her first published work as this story has a high quality quotient and prose that displays real polish.

This first installment of the Black Jewel’s Trilogy introduces us to dark, sexified fantasy world called “The Three Realms” which are known individually as Terreille, Hell an...more For her virgin effort at novel-crafting, Anne Bishop has laid down a strong piece of dark fantasy that is richly drawn, psychologically savage and dripping with THROB. I am suffering severe mind-boggle that this is really her first published work as this story has a high quality quotient and prose that displays real polish.

This first installment of the Black Jewel’s Trilogy introduces us to dark, sexified fantasy world called “The Three Realms” which are known individually as Terreille, Hell and Kaeleer. The Realms are not a place full of warm and fuzzies. All power in The Realms is concentrated in those “of the Blood” that you can basically think of as witches and warlocks. Each person born to the Blood is born to a particular color of “jewel” which determines their relative strength as well as their societal status. The darker the jewel, the greater the strength.

The power structure is matriarchal, with Blood males serving/servicing Blood females...and this leads me right into the sex. Sex is an essential aspect of how the Blood to gain and maintain political power and so is a critical part of the plot. If you are squeamish about sexual content, you may want to fantasy elsewhere. Though very little of the “doing the nasty” is explicit (this is NOT erotica), sex and sexual politics pervades every aspect of the Three Realms, and it is not the pleasure pumping kind of sex. It is dark, gritty and should only be practiced with a safety word. It’s absolutely essential to the plot and I thought the strong sense of the sensual without the need for explicit sex scenes was very well done.

Over time, the Blood has become corrupted and a scheming harpy of a witch-bitch named Dorothea now holds the position of Queen. Dorothea has systematically killed or destroyed all those who could challenge her power and has fostered an atmosphere of plotting and mistrust among the rest of the court which keeping all of the stronger Blood males in line by....well, you’ll have to read for yourself.

But Dorothea and her brood are running scared because young Jaenelle has been born and has the power to become the most powerful member of the Blood. Of course, she needs to survive long enough to come into her power.

This is dark fantasy done well. The writing is vividly descriptive and very evocative. It oozes lush. The characters that populate this tale are original and great a strong sense of connection with the plot. I especially liked two of the stronger Blood males: (1) Saetan Daemon SaDiablo, the High Lord of Hell, High Priest of the Hourglass and Warlord Prince of Dhemlan and (2) Daemon Sadi (aka the "Sadist") SaDiablo. Both of these characters just engulf the page when they are present and loom over every scene they are in. The title character, Jaenelle, is also terrifically drawn, but the reader is not allowed inside her head as a POV character so the connection is not as immediate.

In addition to the characters, I thought the magic system was very interesting and quite unique. I do hope that the rules, scopes and limits of the magic are explored in more detail in future novels as I am interested to learn more. What we get in the first one is quick flashes and teases that make you crave more.

Finally, I thought the multi-leveled plot was very well done. It was both complex, yet understandable and so you never felt like you were getting lost in the various changes of direction. Without going into detail, I do want to point out that there are significant portions of the story that can make you cringe (e.g., scenes of systematic rape and torture for both male and female characters). It is quite dark. However, in the hands of a writer as gifted as Anne Bishop, it is amazing to read.

4.0 stars. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Nominee: Locus Award for Best First Novel. (less)

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Jul 16, 2007 Peter rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people you hate

My wife bought the first book in this series and for some reason read it. The whole time she read it she complained how bad it was. Then for some reason I read it and we finished the series. The only explanation I can come up with is that magic is real, anne bishop is a witch and we fell under her spell. Even now I fall into the black obsidian stone.

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Aug 04, 2011 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

*Rating*
*Genre* Fantasy

*Review*

Anne Bishop’s Daughter of the Blood is the first book in The Black Jewels series. It tells the story about a prophecy that was seen by a witch named Tersa. The prophecy basically states that the forthcoming witch will be so powerful that she will be able to travel the three realms (Terreille, Hell, and Kaeleer) by shear will alone. She will also have the ability to reunite the three realms that are currently being corrupted by blood Queens and their jeweled hierar...more

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Jul 10, 2009 Heba rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who appreciate Mary Sues

Let me get straight to the point here: I absolutely abhorred this book. I had to force myself to finish it.

I was actually really excited to start it though. It's widely acclaimed by critics -- professionals and goodreads members alike -- and the plot sounded promising. Plus, the idea of a dark fantasy intrigued me. And don't get me wrong, I wasn't really disappointed by either of those elements. The storyline was okay, and the world of the Blood did prove quite dark.

No, what disappointed me was...more

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Aug 28, 2008 Amanda Ryan-Romo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

If you like feminist fantasy fiction, this is the series to read. Bishop creates a fantasy otherworld unlike any I have read (and I've read quite a bit).

Bishop’s work is highly subversive. It develops a female-dominant society based on Kipling’s reminder: “the female of the species is more deadly than the male.” Bishop does not simply put the female in the power position in a “patriarchal” structure, as Lackey does; rather, she highlights the physical and society differences between female and...more

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May 07, 2013 Surin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really feel that this book should come with a warning that not everyone can stomach it. This is some really DARK F***ed up fantasy (and yes the caps and swear word is there for a purpose). I've been exposed to some really dark fantasy where pillaging, rape, violence, gore, incest, etc.... and it didn't bother me much as Daughter of the Blood disturbed me. I'm going to share with you (and maybe some minor spoilers but they're pretty minor) so you can judge for yourself whether you'd pick the bo...more

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Mar 11, 2010 Zeek rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-all-time, fantasy-rom, fantasy-classic, chick-fantasy, fantasy-dark, kick-ass-heroine, favorite-heroine

Anne Bishop's Black Jewel's Trilogy pinged my radar a few years back when old Blogger friends couldn't say enough good about it. Per usual, it took me all this time to finally get to it, but it didn't take me long to see the appeal.

High fantasy to be sure, The Black Jewel's Trilogy follows along the lines of what made this genre popular. Witches, Magic, Enchanted Jewels/rings, Mystical Creatures and Chosen ones- it has it all! And for those of us gals who need it- a dash of romance!

Book 1: Daugh...more

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Jan 15, 2009 Dorri rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I bought this book with no concept of how much I would be drawn to the world Anne created. It spoke to my soul. Then it slammed my heart to the ground. The ending is quite possibly one of the most painful I've ever had to read. It just ripped apart a fragile little dream and smiled while it did so. After I sat in shock for more than a few minutes, I checked the publication date, thinking the second book might be available soon. No such luck. I bought the book in it's first month of release. The...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Simcsa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, fantasy-paranormal, witches-wizards, high-fantasy

In medias res is where the story starts. Not exactly, but almost. I would abandon it if it wasn't for my friend who recommended it to me and because it's her favorite series and all, I dediced that Geez, I wanna know what she sees in it, so I continued. It took me quite long to orientate myself, but you know what? It's worth it. Don't let the confusing start discourage you!

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Aug 14, 2012 Nenia Campbell rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: x-series-bk-1, x-1990s, did-not-finish-or-skimmed

i don't get it. i really don't get it. i read and liked the pillars of the world (not to be confused with pillars of the earth)--her other book about witches and elves. it wasn't great, but the draws on greek mythology were captivating and made me want to read more, to see if her style developed and grew. many of the reviewers, however, complained bitterly that it was a pale shadow of the 'talent' she showed in daughter of the blood. wow, i thought to myself. well, if tpotw was a mere three star...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Jean rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This Review is for the Black Jewels Trilogy

- - - Spoilers - - -

Daughter of the Blood (Black Jewels, Book 1) by Anne Bishop

Wow.. just wow
and I don't say that word a lot.
This book...
This book Is Not for the faint of heart or squeamish,
if you are a person who likes reading about rainbows, butterflies and happy endings
Do Not, I repeat Do Not read this Series.

This book is Dark, Twisted and Deep,
it's about any and all types of abuse a person can think of:
Child abuse, Male abuse, Female abuse, Ani...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Nim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, high-fantasy, favorites

I’m going to do my best to avoid spoilers in this review, but a few minor ones might slip in.

First things first, this book (and I expect the rest of the series as well) is not for the faint of heart. I got misled by the cover and thought it was a young-adult book until certain sex toys were mentioned. That got me wondering… until a little bit of full castration was thrown in along with other less desirable practices; be warned this is no YA book. Many parts I found downright disturbing and that...more I’m going to do my best to avoid spoilers in this review, but a few minor ones might slip in.

First things first, this book (and I expect the rest of the series as well) is not for the faint of heart. I got misled by the cover and thought it was a young-adult book until certain sex toys were mentioned. That got me wondering… until a little bit of full castration was thrown in along with other less desirable practices; be warned this is no YA book. Many parts I found downright disturbing and that's not a frequent occurrence for me book-wise.

Thrust into this fantasy world, you’re left to discover the ins and outs of it on your own and rather slowly compared to other books. There’s no big info dump here. Everything you learn is through clues and intuition until at least halfway through the story. I both loved and hated this because I rarely could stop to reflect and try to decipher something because the plot had me hooked too well.

I fully expected to hate Jaenelle. Something about an all-powerful character combined with the fact that EVERYONE wants her for one reason or another just annoys me. I’ll admit I got completely taken by surprise by how modest, cute, and just plain likable she ended up being. Maybe it’s because she was really young or naive or maybe Anne Bishop is a genius, but I loved this heroine and really cared/worried for her as things began to look more and more bleak as the book progressed. I even became convinced she deserved Daemon, but more on that sexy beast later.

Another expectation that ended up being proven false is that these ~~glorified dominatrixes~~ Queens would be entirely two-dimensional “baddies” with a sadistic streak. Sure the sadistic streak was there in most of them, but it didn’t feel contrived. They actually had some personality and some of them weren’t entirely irredeemable.

Saetan and his posse in Hell deserve a special mention. Another misleading thing about this book… you’d think a name like that would mean the guy roasts kitties on a spit for fun, but in reality he is just a big old teddy bear. Yes, he could decimate a castle in the blink of an eye, but that doesn’t mean he would! Really he just brought so much humor and endeared me to the story.

And Daemon. Oh Daemon. I really couldn’t find flaw with you. Sure your cold rage was terrifying and you could probably level the city of Los Angeles… but when you showed your true self, the small bit we saw when you looked at Jaenelle or spoke with your brother, we caught a glimpse of what you could have been were it not for Dorothea; what you could still be if you were merely allowed. (And that questionable scene with your brother that I liked entirely too much) You had me praying for your release and drooling over you at the same time; much like all the other ladies in the book. I’d never put you in that Ring though, Daemon. Promise. Call me?

Honestly, even if the whole story was shite it would be worth the read just for Daemon. But luckily that is not the case. The story is enthralling and the richly built world sucked me in completely. This is a good choice if you enjoy your fantasy with a heavy dose of darkness, complex and unpredictable characters, and just plain good storytelling.(less)

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Dec 02, 2009 Shannon (Savhage Temptrest) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm giving "Daughter of the Blood" by Anne Bishop 3 1/2 stars because I'm definitely in the middle between really liking it and just liking it! The book was a great read as long as you keep an open mind and continue to read the book regardless of the less than savory moments and confusing and sometimes boring moments spanned throughout the book. It had the right amount of pain, suffering, love, deceit, redemption, fear, and mystery to make a reader want to continue on with the entire series.

Jaen...more I'm giving "Daughter of the Blood" by Anne Bishop 3 1/2 stars because I'm definitely in the middle between really liking it and just liking it! The book was a great read as long as you keep an open mind and continue to read the book regardless of the less than savory moments and confusing and sometimes boring moments spanned throughout the book. It had the right amount of pain, suffering, love, deceit, redemption, fear, and mystery to make a reader want to continue on with the entire series.

Jaenelle is a very special child with very special gifts in the Dark Kingdom of the Blood witches, and is destined to become the most powerful Queen among the Blood races when she has fully matured into adulthood. She has kept her power hidden from her family who believes she is mad, but she needs help to develop and harness her power so that she can be the Witch she is destined to be. It's up to the ruler of Hell, a pleasure slave, and some other very loyal "friends" to teach and protect the young girl from falling victim to anyone or anything out to control or destroy the ruler and woman Jaenelle is destined to be.

This book was definitely a bit of strange read for me even with the magic and paranormal elements I have become used to reading. The book was a different take on these elements, and it blendind young adult fantasy/fiction and quickly attached some very adult factors to the story that kept me interested and entertained until the very end. The realm of Hell became a pretty cool place to inhabit, Darkness was favored over Light, and women ruled to world while men were there for their strength and sexual capabilities nothing more. The book took a bit to get into, and I cotemplated not finishing it within the first two-hundred pages of the story. I'm glad that I decided against it because beyond the confusion and the weird, creepier components of the book, the story came together and the true direction of the story was revealed and made for an enjoyable cast of characters and very complex and original plot for the series. I'm definitely going to read the remaining two books and spin-offs from The Black Jewels world, and recommend it to strong willed readers who enjoy Dark fantasy with a hint of romance! (less)

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May 02, 2013 Anam Ali rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If you can ignore all the trigger warnings that have ever existed in the history of trigger warnings (I literally mean all), you might like this book. Tends to get dramatically flowery at some points but the story still manages to captivate you and you really want to know what happens to the characters despite several contradictions and plot weaknesses. It's dark and twisted (and not always in a good way) and may not be everyone's cup of tea.
A fun read, anyhow.

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Jan 10, 2010 April rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, fantasy

Honestly, I sort of have a love/hate relationship with Daughter of the Blood. I felt certain aspects of the book were fascinating, i.e. the whole Jewels ranking, Saetan, Jaenelle's powers, the island of dead kids. Other parts of this book were kind of yuck for me, such as how women would basically use males for sex and control the males via cock-rings. Yeah, I know this book is supposed to show a society which is the opposite of patriarchy, but oh em gee, Anne Bishop did you need to be so hatefu...more

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May 21, 2012 Mika rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-couldn-t-finish

I should have read the negative reviews of this book before I purchased because then I would have known this book wasn't for me.
Anne's writing style was a bit choppy for me in the beginning but I was determined to get past that.
However what irked me the most was the story itself. It was just too dark and twisted for my taste. Too much senseless sexual torture and violence. And the dynamics between the character was also something that made my stomach churn. I read up until half of it because I...more

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May 18, 2013 Nadia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't really understand what just happened, but I'm moving on to the next book, so I guess it was good?

This is a good book for people who can really get into and get lost into books. At many points, the characters were having such extreme dramatic reactions, and when I was into it, it was a fantastic emotional ride, but at other points I was like "The eff??? That reaction is ridiculous when considering the cause."

In general, I was lost the entire way through and I still am not sure I understa...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was entertaining but I couldn't get over the age of the main character. I understand the flexibility in a fantasy world and how time is warped when the average character is 1500 years old, but it's still creepy to read a scene of a beautiful, sexy man trying to hold back his lust for a child. And yes, I know he had the most honorable of intentions -- but I mean, come on.

I'll have to say that this world is very similar to the series by a writer named Sunny. Meaning, the rules of Demon...more This book was entertaining but I couldn't get over the age of the main character. I understand the flexibility in a fantasy world and how time is warped when the average character is 1500 years old, but it's still creepy to read a scene of a beautiful, sexy man trying to hold back his lust for a child. And yes, I know he had the most honorable of intentions -- but I mean, come on.

I'll have to say that this world is very similar to the series by a writer named Sunny. Meaning, the rules of Demon Dead and how family dynamics work and flying warriors, queens and their dedicated courts who worship them, and talking animals and witches.... Albeit, it's hard for a writer to come up with something entirely new, that is certain. However, I could not help but compare this world with the Mona Lisa series by Sunny. I think that Sunny did a better job in a lot of ways. That being said, these characters by Bishop are very funny, and very endearing. That could also be because I have a very dry sense of humor and enjoy sarcasm...

I also wanted the sex scenes to be longer and more detailed. Bishop has this knack for building sexual tension between her characters, and you, as the reader, really find yourself wanting certain people to just do it and get it over with. Not only does she barely give you any sort of glimpse of what's happening behind closed doors, but she also pairs your favorite characters with people you're only vaguely familiar with (this comment really taps into the later books but it all starts here, where you're becoming familiar with everyone and really starting to predict who you want to see together). Not only that, but when she finally gives you SOME idea, she brushes past it and then moves on to a much more boring scene.

Oh and I did not like the way she would switch from scene to scene, now that we're on the topic. I found this confusing and too abrupt. While some writers will use a symbol (~~, **) others will clearly show there is a new paragraph, this way the reader clearly knows to switch gears and prepare for someone new. This is not as important, more of a technical detail from a writer's perspective, but it bothers me when I have to reread a line because I find myself saying "Wait, what just happened..."(less)

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Feb 08, 2013 Robin Hall rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Adults

First of all, this is what I would consider "Dark Fantasy". I say this because there are elements of Child Abuse both physical/sexual and mental and some descriptions of torture and light gore (there is a mention of someone eating their own leg). If you can't handle some darkness, don't read.

The book has several main characters, Daemon, Lucivar, Janelle, and Saetan. Janelle is the main focus but you learn and read from all the other viewpoints. Its set in a world with a caste system. The great "...more First of all, this is what I would consider "Dark Fantasy". I say this because there are elements of Child Abuse both physical/sexual and mental and some descriptions of torture and light gore (there is a mention of someone eating their own leg). If you can't handle some darkness, don't read.

The book has several main characters, Daemon, Lucivar, Janelle, and Saetan. Janelle is the main focus but you learn and read from all the other viewpoints. Its set in a world with a caste system. The great "god" Lorn (a dragon) shed his scales onto the world and they became Jewels. When a person is old enough, they make an offering to the "darkness" to see if they receive a Jewel. If you do, you become "blood" and now have the ability to do, in essence, magic. The darker your jewel, and the author provides you with the color levels, the more of a well of power you have. There is a caste system amongst the blood. Women can be Witches, Healers, Black Widows or Queens and men are Warlords, Black Widows, Lords, or Warlord Princes. Queens rule the land( of which there are 3 levels connected by Gates) and Warlord Princes defend and serve them because their drives tell them to. The author provides a great description and map of all of this information at the front or backs of the books.

You learn that every so often, a "Witch" is born who will be of untold power and is made to set the "blood" back onto the right path. The world Janelle is born into is one of sickness. Many of the blood have turned dark due to the influence of Hecate and Dorothea, to Red Jeweled Powerful Witches who have corrupted the way things in the world are. The book takes you through the first chapter of this epic journey.

The daughter of the blood story is a 3 book series that take Janelle from Childhood to Adulthood. It is an excellent series filled with humor, action, tragedy, sadness and joy. There are some truly heartbreaking things that happen and I found myself crying and horrified at points by what some of the characters have to suffer. It is truly a great book and I find myself reading the whole series over and over again. If you want something completely different that will tug you in so many different directions, this is the book.(less)

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Jan 31, 2013 Samir Krishnamurti rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-at-bookweyr

Daughter Of the Blood is the first book in the Dark Jewels saga. Along with its sequels, Heir To the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness, it makes up the Black Jewels Trilogy, although there are other novels and novellas set in the same world. Anne Bishop can sometimes be confusing to the unwary, because while the books follow a logical chronological pattern, SHE doesnt. This means that in a single book, like Dreams Made Flesh for example, you'll encounter events set many years apart, as she hops...more Daughter Of the Blood is the first book in the Dark Jewels saga. Along with its sequels, Heir To the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness, it makes up the Black Jewels Trilogy, although there are other novels and novellas set in the same world. Anne Bishop can sometimes be confusing to the unwary, because while the books follow a logical chronological pattern, SHE doesnt. This means that in a single book, like Dreams Made Flesh for example, you'll encounter events set many years apart, as she hops merrily back and forth with little regard for the reader's sense of chronology. A seasoned fantasy reader will not find this much of a problem, but the unintiated should be warned, especially as the rest of this review is going to be how excellent a series this is, how gifted a writer she is, and why you should most definitely spend money on this. It's well worth it.

This review will focus mostly on Daughter of the Blood and the rich and lavish world she introduces us to. Bishop's greatest trick is in taking the well established and clichéd to fantasy and subverting them, turning them inside out and making them stand upon their heads. The idea of the three realms, for example. The Light Realm (Tereille), the Shadow Realm (Kaeleer) and the Dark Realm (Hell) are each separate but connected, and can be travelled by those who are Blood. The Blood are essentially the elite aristocracy that can wear the Jewels of Power. The Jewels are ranked in order of darkness, with White being the weakest and Black the most powerful. In between are shades with compelling names: Purple-Dusk, Summer-Sky, Tiger Eye, along with the more regular Opal, Green, Red, Gray and Ebon-Gray. The darker the jewels, the greater the power. Matriarchs and Patriarchs are as powerful as each other, and within the Blood there is a complex gender-caste hierarchy. Queens and Warlord Princes are the most powerful respectively, and the sociological interaction construct is defined by how the interactions between them work, whether it's using the most formal sort of protocol in the most powerful courts, or stepping onto "Killing Fields" in order to eliminate an enemy.

Daughter of the Blood has four major protagonists. The most important is Jaenelle Angelline, who is WITCH, not a witch, but the WITCH, dreams made flesh, a creation of over fifty millennia of yearning. And the three most intense dreamers who shaped that dream, are the three who will be Witch's father, brother and lover. The father is the High Lord of Hell, Warlord Prince Saetan Daemon SaDiablo, and his two sons, Lucivar Yaslana and Daemon Sadi the brother and lover respectively. Saetan is a particularly engaging character, he starts off as a tired old man, over 50,000 years old, tucked away in his lair within the great Keep on Ebon Askavi, the centre of power in all three realms. Daemon and Lucivar were both taken from him through the machinations of the two primary antagonists; Dorothea, the High Priestess of Hayll; and Hekatah, the Dark Priestess and Saetan's ex-wife. There's also the demon-dead, which is a wonderful concept and very novel. Essentially, when a member of the Blood dies, they don't always fade immediately and become, as the book puts it, a 'whisper in the darkness'. They can live on, so to speak, as demons, in the realm of Hell, of which Saetan is the High Lord, naturally. They do require fresh blood to replenish their power, and cannot stand sunlight. It's a great take on the extremely worn -out Vampire theme, terrifically original and genuinely innovative. Some of the major characters are demon-dead, like Andulvar Yaslana, the Demon-Prince and Saetan's closest friend. Oh, and Hekatah as well, and quite a few others. And I haven't even begun to mention the kindred. There's too much else to be explained here, so I'll return to the actual review. So when the Daughter of the Blood, the one who is dreams made flesh appears, it galvanizes everyone, none more so than Saetan. To him and his kin she is Dreams Made Flesh, the most powerful queen to ever walk the realms and the sole reason his sons endured unimaginable torture and slavery for centuries. To be with her. To serve her. But to her actual blood-kin, Jaenelle is nothing more than a troublesome, badly-behaved child who talks nonsense about unicorns and dragons and is hence a social embarrassment.

Read it to see how this triangle unfolds, as each one discovers their role, the limits of it, and what it will eventually take to save the greatest queen of them all. And considering that Jaenelle is still a young girl growing into her full strength, it's great fun. How do you answer a twelve year old girl who asks the most embarrassing questions and is blithely unaware that she commands the power to annihilate the most powerful men in all the history of the realms with a single thought? Simple. You could do what the SaDiablo family does, adopt her, love her, serve her and protect her with everything that they are. Herein lies most of the warmth and homour and genuine family affection. On the other hand, you have her actual relatives, who think she's nothing more than a troublesome, mentally disturbed child and so toss her into Briarwood, a mental institution for 'disturbed young girls' which revels in torturing and abusing them.

The book tells the story of the adolescent Jaenelle and her interaction with the two men who will most shape her life, and more importantly, the other way around. Her presence means everything has changed. The undercurrents of dark power constantly flow back and forth, and when Daemon Sadi transforms into the "Sadist", capable of destroying whole territories and theirvcourts, the true nature of Black Jewel power emerges.

Most of the book is given over to establishing the personalities of the main characters, with sometimes tantalizing, sometimes blatant hints about where this greatest dance of all will take them. Then towards the end events escalate with such a rapid and terrifying pace that it leaves you literally flabbergasted. Not to mention downright disturbed and angry. It ends on something of a cliffhanger, but serves to grab your heartstrings and make absolutely sure that there is no way in hell that you won't want to read the rest.

This series has quickly established itself as one of my favourites for a variety of reasons. Why? Because of the dance of the Blood and how the Blood sing to the Blood; the whirling shattered chalices and twisted kingdoms of the mind; and political intrigue laced with divine cruelty and polished subtlety; and unique magic in tangled webs and craft. And delivered with remarkable skill, bringing to life such a lavishly sensual world glittering with potent dark magic in a deliciously opulent and exotically charismatic setting.(less)

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Dec 27, 2012 Flightless rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can't say I'm 100% sure what to say about this book.
One one hand, the world the characters lived in seemed incredibly well thought out. The Jewels, the powers, the rankings etc indicated lots of imagination on the author's part.
However, as far as introducing the world to the reader, she did not do well at all. I was lost for a huge portion of the book and about halfway through gave up trying to understand and just read for the story. This sort of reading wasn't nearly as pleasurable because...more

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Dec 23, 2012 Mónica Silva rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...

Começar esta leitura é como saltar para um comboio em movimento: de repente o leitor é imerso num mundo de fantasia tão complexo e singular que pode ser difícil continuar a leitura. Sem qualquer explicação, a autora escreve como se desde sempre conhecêssemos o seu mundo, o que torna a leitura lenta e confusa. Mas quando finalmente compreendemos as componentes desta estória – o simbolismo das jóias, a estrutura social deste mundo e as relaçõ...more

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Nov 27, 2012 Alice rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, saída-de-emergência, fantasia

Depois da "viagem" por Efémera que me tornou fã desta autora, não podia deixar de fazer uma incursão na Triologia das Jóias Negras que há tanto tempo me chamava a atenção.
Embora já tivesse tido um pequeno vislumbre da capacidade da autora no que respeita à criação de mundos e cenários posso afirmar que fiquei completamente desconcertada com este novo mundo. Não tem nada a ver com Efémera, os personagens, a geografia, os costumes dos vários povos são algo totalmente diferente do pouco que conheci...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Stefany rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Premise was okay, but I found the execution a little sloppy. Please beware this review contains spoilers.

It was hard to ignore the silly names (the three good male protagonists are all variations of Satan and demons), including the titles and the jewel names, which felt very redundant. I also had to roll my eyes at the fact that a bunch of these female antagonists are meant to be very powerful and terrifying, but in the end they flail or scream or throw things in a temper tantrum. Basically no o...more

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Oct 09, 2012 Liz rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: did-not-read-all-the-way, not-worth-reading-the-whole-book, sick

I don't get all the good reviews of this book. Thank God it was given to me and I didn't buy it. I thought I knew what I was getting into when I read most of the bad reviews, and even the good reviews disclaimed that it was a dark book. Dark doesn't even begin to describe it. There's no overt descriptions in the 50 pages I read, but not a page goes by without reference or implications to sexual torture, abuse, or violence. It's so ingrained in the culture that it's just there, ALL THE TIME. In j...more

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Oct 07, 2012 Mrs. S rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is an amazing series, but let me warn you; initially it was difficult to remember the numerous characters and the different worlds/realms. Have you ever read a book that there are so many characters that you start jotting down notes because you don't know who or what is relevant to the story? Well this is one of those books. Luckily, if you persevere you will grasp the significance of the jewels, the characters and the story line.

This is the first book in the series and the most difficult b...more This is an amazing series, but let me warn you; initially it was difficult to remember the numerous characters and the different worlds/realms. Have you ever read a book that there are so many characters that you start jotting down notes because you don't know who or what is relevant to the story? Well this is one of those books. Luckily, if you persevere you will grasp the significance of the jewels, the characters and the story line.

This is the first book in the series and the most difficult because many of the characters throughout the series are introduced here. The "Blood" are humans that have magical gifts. They wear "jewels" that signify their level of power - white is the weakest, black the strongest and there are 11 colors in between. The "Blood" were the destined caretakers of the land and it's people but over centuries, many have become corrupt and power-hungry. Jaenelle is the main character in the series and she is destined to be the most powerful "Blood" born. She also has other abilities and powers. Unfortunately, she is born into a family that does not recognize her gifts and is not protected as a young child.

There is a lot of violence in this book, but unlike another reader, I do not get the feeling that the author does not like men. The men in this book are maltreated in a certain realm but are valued in a different realm. The men are depicted as strong, honorable, protective and loving when they are in an environment that does not subjugate or devalues them. I think the author was trying to convey the difference in attitude, beliefs and the corruption of character in this world/realm of Terreille. The character development is strong and Ms. Bishop does a great job at pulling whichever strings of mine she wanted. Even though there is violence, there is also caring, love and nurturing of Janelle as a child when others sought to manipulate and "break" her.

There are horrific scenes in the book and it delves into areas that I've never seen in a Science Fiction Fantasy book. I read this book in one day as I did with each of the subsequent books in the series (Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness). I could not put them down and wanted to know what happened to each of the characters. Hoping that some of them got what they deserved...and they did...and it was good. I'm sorry, she pulled my blood-thirsty string! I hate gratuitous violence, whether in movies or books...but I felt it was relevant to the story and explained the development and responses of the characters.

I highly recommend this book for the ADULT reader, knowing there is violence and other difficult-to-read or imagine topics. (less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Kat rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fantasy lovers, mature teenagers

In "Daughter of the Blood" by Anne Bishop, feminines rule the men. With females at the top of the rank, males are nothing but pleasure whores and entertainment. The Dark Kingdom is slowly being taken over by corrupt Female Blood, and only three men can hold onto the hope for a new Queen to come, a Witch that will be more powerful than the High Lord of Hell himself. Yet the Queen is still young, still innocent . . . and still open for corruption.

Those who want her power to control the Darkness ar...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Wow! I mean Wow! Daughter of the Blood is one of the most mesmerizing, powerful, unforgettable books I have ever read. If I could give it a million stars I would. This book has it all, and it makes you laugh, cry, cringe, think, and hope. Talk about making a splash with your first novel; Anne Bishop does that and more. This is the kind of complex, intricately crafted novel that almost demands multiple readings if one is to grasp all of the nuances worked seamlessly into the story. First off this...more Wow! I mean Wow! Daughter of the Blood is one of the most mesmerizing, powerful, unforgettable books I have ever read. If I could give it a million stars I would. This book has it all, and it makes you laugh, cry, cringe, think, and hope. Talk about making a splash with your first novel; Anne Bishop does that and more. This is the kind of complex, intricately crafted novel that almost demands multiple readings if one is to grasp all of the nuances worked seamlessly into the story. First off this book deals with very dark issues, including abuse and the kind of society that result when trust, respect, and honor between men and women is destroyed. What's saddest about it is that a few people have systematically destroyed those bonds in order to gain power for themselves. Bishop comes on strong right from page one, showing us her strange world unapologetically in all its bizarre and nightmarish glory. But don't be put off by the book's initial shock value - the author delivers a fully realized, complex plot, a unique magic system and social culture, and vivid characters. Daemon is a splendid creation, radiating with sexual energy and brooding intensity. He bursts into every scene with such charisma that I couldn't help but cheer whenever he is allowed to shine in all his terrifying glory. Bishop's male characters are balanced out by her equally stunning female characters, specifically Janelle and Surreal, who we will get to know better as the series progresses. My only complaint is that Bishop tries to include too many characters. By the end I felt I needed a chart to keep them all straight and some of the lesser ones had already faded into the background. Anne Bishop weaves these dark threads with those of hope that with the coming of the new queen, Jaenelle, that thing will change. If they can protect her long enough for her to grow up. Anne Bishop's wonderful sense of humor is expressed in many of the scenes between Jaenelle and the other main characters (namely Saetan and Daemon). This precocious 12 year old never fails to confound them, and the encounters can become hysterically funny as they try to find a way to deal with a young girl with powers beyond anyone's imagination. She's got enough power to do the unimaginable, but can't do the simple things. Their sheer terror at what she is capable of (or sometimes not capable of doing), is humorously mixed with exasperation, frustration, and tenderness. You really MUST read this book if you like dark fantasy, because if you haven't read it you really don't know what you're missing.(less)

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Jul 13, 2012 Coral rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

For me, this is a tough review. At first, I was pretty sure I'd been steered wrong with this one. The scenes through the first section of the book are very choppy, and I had a hard time switching between characters so quickly, especially since I didn't know them quite yet. I also found the magic of this world a little bit confusing, although I did appreciate that it was unique.

That said, there's something engaging about the characters that still had my mind going back to them after I'd put down...more

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About Anne Bishop

Anne Bishop lives in upstate New York where she enjoys gardening, music, and writing dark, romantic stories. She is the author of fourteen novels, including the award-winning Black Jewels Trilogy. Her most recent novel,Twilight’s Dawn, made the New York Times bestsellers list. She is currently working on a new series, which is an urban dark fantasy with a bit of a twist.

Crawford Award (2000)

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Books by Anne Bishop

Queen of the Darkness (The Black Jewels, #3)

Heir to the Shadows (The Black Jewels, #2)

Dreams Made Flesh (The Black Jewels, #5)

The Black Jewels Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness (The Black Jewels, #1-3)

The Invisible Ring (The Black Jewels, #4)

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“There are some questions that shouldn't be asked until a person is mature enough to appreciate the answers.” — 141 people liked it

“A woman with an education may be able to spend more time sitting in a chair instead of lying on her back. A sound advantage, I should think.” — 97 people liked it

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Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels #1)

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