The award-winning trilogy, now in one volume—with a new introduction.
Anne Bishop’s critically-acclaimed Black Jewels Trilogy is the saga of a young but still-innocent Queen more powerful than even the High Lord of Hell—and the three sworn enemies determined to win her and gain a prize that could be terriblebeyond imagining…
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“Mesmerizing…a fascinating, dark world…definitely worth checking out.” —Locus
About the Author
Anne Bishop made her first short fiction sale in 1988. Her most recent work has appeared in White Swan, Black Raven and 365 Scary Stories. She lives in upstate New York.
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More About the Author
Anne Bishop is a winner of the William L. Crawford Memorial Fantasy Award, presented by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
189 of 198 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Anne Bishop's extraordinary "Black Jewels Trilogy" is one of the most original, truly spectacular reads I have had in a long time. I am not a big fan of science fiction or fantasy novels, but I became totally absorbed at the beginning of the first novel, "Daughter of the Blood," and remained riveted by Ms. Bishop's narrative until the last page of the thrilling conclusion in "Queen of the Darkness."
Ms. Bishop has created a unique world and populated it with some of the most unusual characters I have met in literature. This is a world where Darkness reigns and power is determined by the color of one's Jewels. In the hierarchy of the three Realms, Women of the Blood who wear Jewels are naturally dominant because of their innate magical powers. Blood Males who wear Jewels can also be extremely powerful, but they are born to serve their Queens. And magical strength is measured by a person's Jewels - the darker the Jewel's color, the more powerful the possessor.
Bishop paints a vivid portrait of two women in a terrible and vicious power struggle. Dorothea, the High Priestess of Hayll, and Hekatah, the self-proclaimed Dark Priestess of Hell, were created to be noble caretakers of the Realms. They have each perverted their Craft and their purpose, infected those who serve them, and threaten to destroy the Realms to fulfill their insatiable greed for power.
The plot revolves around a young woman whose birth fulfills an ancient prophecy. Jaenelle Angelline is born Witch. She is the "dream made flesh." By the age of five she is extremely powerful, fiercely loyal, tremendously tender and capable of terribly destructive anger. This young girl-child is also an outcast amongst her own people and has no idea who or what she is or will be. Most of her birth family, unable to appreciate her exceptional powers and abilities, believe she is mad and she is periodically put in an asylum where horrors are performed on the children who are inmates there. When she is not institutionalized, Jaenelle travels between Realms into different lands, befriending the creatures who live there - from her adopted father, Saetan the High Lord of Hell, to her adopted brother, Prince Lucivar Yaslana, and Warlord Prince Daemon Sadi, who will become more important to her than any living soul. Also included in her inner circle are the demon-dead, unicorns, harpies, Healers and Black Widow Queens, Kindred, etc.. They will all impart wisdom to her and teach her aspects of the Craft. They all have important roles to play in the trilogy.
The three books trace Jaenelle's life, her education in the Craft, her developing friendships, the terrible hardships she undergoes in her attempts to discover who and what she really is and her efforts to escape from the evil forces that threaten to destroy her. When Jaenelle finally reaches maturity, makes her Offering to the Darkness and becomes Queen of the Dark Court at Ebon Askavi in the Realm of Karleer, she is faced with Realms in chaos and the threat of terrible war and destruction. The Blood, corrupted by the wicked Priestesses must be cleansed. To do this and save everyone and everything she cares for, Jaenelle must make a terrible and shocking decision.
Anne Bishop's prose is beautifully crafted, deliciously rich and evocative. Her storytelling is nothing short of top-notch. The author upends the stereotype of Darkness and shows the reader, time and again, how exquisite the Dark can be. Her wry wit is ever present and the narrative is spellbinding. This series is outstanding and I cannot recommend it highly enough! An easy 5 Stars!
JANA
94 of 99 people found the following review helpful
By Val Wiggin
Format:Paperback
The Black Jewels Trilogy is one of the most fascinating and spellbinding fantasy series I have ever read. Most important, readers must read this trilogy in its entirety in order to fully appreciate it. In this novel, Anne Bishop creates a supernatural matriarchal society controlled by witches and portrays an interesting view of male and female roles in this type of environment. The story centers around a young girl, Jaenelle, thought to be a living myth who would restore a culture being lost during a time of corruption. The series portrays Jaenelle's development from witch to queen from the perspective of three males who would play an important part in her life. Not for the squeamish, Bishop generates a very dark, sad, and disturbing mood filled with horror, sex, and violence...but she does such a great job with character development that the reader begins to empathize with the characters and appreciate their quest for happiness in this dark world. This novel has everything-action, romance, drama, comedy. I gave the Black Jewels Trilogy 5 stars because (for me) it was a fantastic read - I was unenable to tear myself away from the book and I became so engrossed with the characters, I was literally sad to read the last page.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I love to read but I takes a hell of a book to hold me for 1,204 pages. I would suggest the Black Jewels Trilogy to any lover of fantasy.
Bishop creates a wonderfully unique world of "The blood" where the strongest are powerful female witches. They rule all the kingdoms in each realm and the men of the blood have an inherent need to serve them.
The story begins with a prophecy of a witch that will come and bring an end to the corruption that has plagued the realms.
Thousands of years later we meet Jaenelle. A mysterious child that has powers beyond the comprehension of those that encounter her, mainly the stories three heroes; Saetan, Lucivar and Daemon. I am sure the similarities to the names of the devil was on purpose. Saetan is the high lord of hell and the other two are his sons.
Anyway if you can get past the fact that all the good guys are from hell. And Bishops overuse of the word snarl, your are in for a real treat.
Black Jewels trilogy is a colorful layered adventure of rich well developed characters, a dark powerful plot and even a romatic tale that is not offered up as a cheap lighthearted relief, but is etched right into the violence and pain that takes place.
Bishop creates a wonderfully unique world of "The blood" where the strongest are powerful female witches. They rule all the kingdoms in each realm and the men of the blood have an inherent need to serve them.
The story begins with a prophecy of a witch that will come and bring an end to the corruption that has plagued the realms.
Thousands of years later we meet Jaenelle. A mysterious child that has powers beyond the comprehension of those that encounter her, mainly the stories three heroes; Saetan, Lucivar and Daemon. I am sure the similarities to the names of the devil was on purpose. Saetan is the high lord of hell and the other two are his sons.
Anyway if you can get past the fact that all the good guys are from hell. And Bishops overuse of the word snarl, your are in for a real treat.
Black Jewels trilogy is a colorful layered adventure of rich well developed characters, a dark powerful plot and even a romatic tale that is not offered up as a cheap lighthearted relief, but is etched right into the violence and pain that takes place.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding series
I don't often write reviews, however in case of the Black Jewel trilogy I want to make an exception. Read more
Published 2 days ago by EllaS
5.0 out of 5 stars
My all time favorite series
I read a great deal. At least 5 books a week and have for over 40 years, so I've read thousands of books. Of them all this series is my favorite. Read more
Published 8 days ago by L. Arnold
5.0 out of 5 stars
How can I not?
I absolutely love this series. It is wonderful and invigorating. The only problem I ever have with this book is even though it has all three books it is one massive paperback. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jasmine Bookwalter
5.0 out of 5 stars
Black Jewels
I was very skeptical about these books. A friend of mine recommended them to me and even though its not something I normally read I gave them a try. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mommabee
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book you will read.
Anne Bishop's masterpiece of fantasy will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions. From the lowest of lows that will pull a tear out of even the hardest heart, to highs that... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Toyotaz
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite Authors.
Of all time. So smitten with the writing, that one of the quotes will be a tattoo. Anne Bishop wrote a wonderful series and it all started with these three books. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ryan Ashley Surbaugh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
This book was well written and keeps you into the story all the way threw and leaves you begging for more. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Deborah J. Derickson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Queen of the Darkness
Spectacular book(s), have read all of them and then reread them at least a dozen times. Once I get started I just dont want to put any of them down. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Ed
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Trilogy
I was a senior in high school when I received this book as a gift for Easter. I read the synopsis for the trilogy and it definitely sounded like something I'd love to read, but I... Read more
Published 12 months ago by littlemonster
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my all-time favorites!
I loved this trilogy. There are other sequels out there now, and they're okay, but this trilogy is some seriously great reading! I only wish the other sequels were as good. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Melissa Zimmerman
Citations (learn more)
3
books
cite this book:
- The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror : Thirteenth Annual Collection by Terri Windling in Front Matter
- Nebula Awards Showcase 2003 by Nancy Kress on page 175
- Daughter of the Blood (Black Jewels, Book 1) by Anne Bishop in Back Matter
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