It’s the penultimate day of Book Blogger Appreciation Week (BBAW), wow it’s going fast! Todays topic is Forgotten Treasure “..we likely have a book we wish would get more attention by book bloggers, whether it’s a forgotten classic or under marketed contemporary fiction. This is your chance to tell the community why they should consider reading this book!”
I handed this one over to Laura and she’s chosen to talk about the Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop. I’d never heard of these books before but after reading Laura’s very high praise indeed, they are going straight on my wishlist!
Take it away, Laura!
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I needed no time to think about the book I wanted to talk about for this feature. In fact, as soon as I read the BBAW website this book popped straight into my head.
I’ve only ever seen it mentioned on one blog before – The Paperback Dolls. But other than that it’s strangely absent from the book blogosphere.
This is a trilogy, and I can’t really pick out one book from the three as I bought it as an omnibus and read all three as one. If you do buy them as separate books, I advise you to have the next one ready as I guarantee you’ll want it!
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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 Realm readies itself for the arrival of its Queen, the Witch who will wield more power than even the High Lord of Hell himself. But the Queen is still young, still open to influence – and corruption. Whoever controls the Queen controls the Darkness. Three men – sworn enemies – know this. And they know the power that hides behind the blue eyes of an innocent young girl. And so begins a ruthless game of politics and intrigue, magic and betrayal, where the weapons are hate and love – and the prize could be terrible beyond imagining. (Goodreads)
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The ‘Black Jewels Trilogy‘ is a fantasy, set in a matriarchal world. It is dark, cruel and violent. While there are men who choose to serve their queens, there are many who subjugated and tortured into submission. Forced to wear painful rings to ensure their obedience (I’ll leave you to work out where). But, as always power corrupts and society has become twisted and is declining.
Seven hundred years ago a black widow predicted the birth of a queen whose power would surpass all living queens, and restore the balance of this increasingly barbaric world.
This queen is Jaenelle. We meet her in the first book when she’s five, and she grows through each novel until she becomes a woman ready to face her destiny.
The lead, three main male characters in the story are Saetan and his sons Daemon and Lucivar. Saetan is the High Lord of Hell. But, in an interesting twist Saetan and his sons are in fact the good guys.
As Jaenelle grows into her powers, the other queens manoeuvre to find and control her. Cueing ruthless political games and cruelty. Daemon and Lucivar have known of Jaenelle’s coming for years. They have endured suffering and torture, sometimes willingly in order to ensure her safety and survival. When the stakes get higher Daemon makes an utterly heart-breaking sacrifice to save her.
Daemon is one of the characters that makes the books. Firstly he is sexy as hell, but it’s his emotions that make you want to read more. In fact, there were times in these books I could hardly bear it. The pages just couldn’t go fast enough and I found myself absolutely desperate to find out what would happen next. Please don’t be put off by the number of pages, this is the sort of book that will keep you up through all hours of the night, turning the pages like an addiction.
At the core is a stunning love story. It’s handled carefully as for a lot of it Jaenelle is not old enough to have a love interest. But it’s beautiful and selfless and real at the same time. Made up of the sort of devotion most people would kill for.
One of the big things you do have to get around, especially if you don’t normally read high fantasy, is how a person is classed. There are jewels and then abilities. These determine a person’s magical strength. A woman is always more powerful than a man, hence the matriarchal system. This hierarchy is explained in two pages at the beginning of the book and I often found myself referring to them when a new character was introduced to understand where they stood in the system. You do have to get your head into it, but as soon as you get into the swing of it, it’s fine.
A small word of warning, there is some quite shocking violence in these books. I didn’t feel that it was gratuitous, but at times it does take you back. So it’s perhaps not for the faint hearted.
This book is a tight web of deceit, magic and darkness. It is the ultimate combination of romance and high fantasy. It’s been about five years since I last read it and after writing this feature I find myself longing to pick it up again.
As black as molasses and utterly compelling. I highly recommend it. 10/10!
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Thursday’s BBAW Giveaway – Open Worldwide!
You have the chance to win a book of your choice (up to £6) as long as the Book Depository ships to your country.
To enter please follow these rules:
1. Click here to see if Book Depository delivers to your country. DO NOT enter if your country is not listed!
2. Read BCC’s Giveaway Policy
3. Fill out this form
4. One entry per person please.
Winners announced Sunday 19th Sept.
GOOD LUCK!
30 Comments
Please count me in. Thanks for offering to overseas readers.
Much appreciated.
mystica123athotmaildotcom
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thank you for all the great contest!
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Hi Laura — sorry you haven't seen post of this book around..
I know loads of bloggers who consistently have this in their top ten range of books…
I do agree with you that this is a book worth reading – Ms. Bishop does have some style and her world, her characters sucks you in for literally page one and their story never really ever lets you go…
Good choice of a treasure ot share..
E.H>
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I like the sound of the Black Jewels Trilogy. I think I'll be adding this to my wish list as well.
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I had heard of The Black Jewels trilogy but reading Laura's opinion about it made me want to read it ASAP!
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@Mystica & @Sry good luck in the prize drawer!
@Erotic Horizon I can honestly say I've only seen this on one blog so far – but maybe I'm reading the wrong ones
Glad you liked the book too 
@Kah I hope you love it as much as I do
@Landslide oh good glad to have convinced you
Enjoy x
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I know this is Tori @ Book Faery's #1 series, hehe
She is in fact who convinced me to buy it! I have the trilogy and haven't read it yet, but my boyfriend has (the dragon on the front is very guy friendly, apparently 
) and he loved it … so much so that I've already had to buy Tangled Webs and Dreams Made Flesh 
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Great highlight!
Here is my BBAW: Forgotten Treasures post!
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I just got the first book through BookMooch and I can't wait to read it. I've heard such good things about this series. I think what puts most romance readers off is that it is more of a "fantasy romance" book. I try to read straight fantasy occasionally, but it just isn't my thing. On the other hand, I'm sure I'll like this because the romance element sounds a lot stronger than in a straight fantasy.
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Oooo…This sounds like a great book! Thanks for the recc
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Hey, Chelle of Tempting Persephone is a huge fan of this trilogy. She's been encouraging people to read the books. I'm really curious but I don't know if I can take the amount of violence in the series. Maybe it's the kind of book that I need to prepare for.
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I heart, heart, HEART the Black Jewel series by Anne Bishop and have all the books but only read the trilogy so far. I heard quite a bit of this series and at one point about 2 years ago I decided I needed to sink my teeth in some good fantasy. I bought the trilogy, started the first book and was blown away. Yes it's got some dark elements but I feel it's an ingredient of fantasy. Isn't there always great odds to overcome, the good versus the bad to conquer that makes fantasy books so fantastic to read.
I loved jeanella, how she was a child but also ancient Witch, and yes, the three men! Saetan, Deamon and Lucivar are perpetual guests in my Hall Of Fame
I couldn't get enough of their interaction, their back stories and the growing love story.
This series is one to savor, I completely agree with you on that one Laura…in case that wasn't evident LOL
PS: And the trilogy is released quite a few years back, I know there are legions of fans out there. With each new release in this series the passion pops up again! Watch next year’s release and you'll find many BJ lovers pop up their head
)
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Thanks for the review looks great,,
and also thanks for the overseas readers,, !!
Katrina
kittee_cat@bigpond.com
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great review! Ive added it to my wishlist:) Thanks for all the great intrnational contests this week
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You're all welcome for the International contests – good luck!
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I actually have this on my wishlist:) I first heard about it a couple of years ago, I think I read it somewhere on the net, but haven't gotten around to buying it yet. However, all the reviews have been nothing but amazing so I will definitely read it at some point in the future!
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Sounds like an interesting trilogy. If I wasn't already waist deep in trilogies, I'd probably consider taking this one on. For now, it'll have to remain on my backburner of a wish list.
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Happy BBAW! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
xx,
E.J.
From the Shadows
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I have to admit I keep seeing The Black Jewel trilogy on the shelf of Forbidden Planet. A couple of times I've picked up but always end up putting it back and picking up another random book (Last time it was Touched by An Alien!). Thanks to your post Laura, I thnk I'll actually take it to the counter this time – thank you!
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Thanks for another great giveaway and post!
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Wow, this one sounds really interesting! Thanks for the recommendation!
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great post! thank you!
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I have this trilogy on my TBR shelf and I can't wait to get to them!
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thank you!
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Please enter me in the drawing. This is such a generous giveaway — thanks for making it worldwide!
esashamartinez[at]yahoo[dot]com
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@Bella I'm impressed your boyfriend read it, I'm not sure I could get my hubby too.
@guatami glad you enjoyed
@JenM it is a fantasy book and not a strict romance, but it does have a beautiful love story. It captured me
@Zee you're welcome – enjoy!
@Chachic Tempting Perosphene is right they're really are great books. There are violent parts, but it fits in the story if that makes sense? It's not gratuitous.
@Leontine – yay someone who loves these books as much as me!
I've read the 4th book, but not the 5th and 6th which I believe are out now, although their are definitely on my TBR pile. I didn't think the 4th was as good as the original trilogy but it tied together a lot of threads.
@Katrina – thank you & good luck in the comp
@Fiction state of mind thanks! Hopefully I'll get loads of people reading this book
@chasingbawa oh good! I don't think you'll be sorry
@Rabid fox well when you next feel like tackling a trilogy give this one a whirl!
@Mel interestingly touched by alien has intrigued me too. Enjoy reading this one if you get it
Thanks everyone else, I'm glad you enjoyed the review and good luck in the fantastic competition!
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Ack, this is the second HIGH PRAISE I've read on the series!! I am definitely eager to read it!!
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@LLL Review – yes you must
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Thank you very much for your great contests
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I tried to read this book a few years ago but couldn't get into it. Now that I've read a bit more fantasy/PNR I think I may give it another try – it gets raves
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